I lifted the sword high above my head, channeling power into it until the blade glowed bright blue. “Die, you unholy rat fucker!” I screamed with all the rage I could summon.
…Now I wish I could say I brought down my sword with Herculean strength. That I cut loose a battle cry so terrifying, even the gods trembled. That I cut him to shreds, and made a garter of his guts.
But I just couldn’t do it...
I stood poised, blade ready to end this loathsome bucket of pus. Dub was crusted with dirt, clinging to the bloody gashes spread across his body. Dragging himself backward. Whimpering. Terrified.
But the thought of killing someone lying helpless at my feet? No matter the atrocities he committed, even with the blood of the war goddess flowing in my veins, I couldn’t execute him in cold blood.
Maybe I could just poke him a few more times with my dirk, and let the guys finish him off… I wish…
Aaaaand that was all it took.
Just a slight hesitation from me, before an invisible barrier slammed down between us and Dub. Now, two glowing red spheres appeared on either side of Dub. They grew in size until they exploded in a blinding flash. I threw myself into Orin, as he instinctively turned to shield me from the light. As the blinding light faded, Dub extended his hand. “‘Bout time, brothers,” he said.
Two dark figures materialized. “Looks like we arrived just in time.” The creaky yet bass-deep voice reminded me of ancient doors opening and releasing something that perhaps should have been kept inside. The one on the left materialized as perhaps one of the tallest men I had ever seen, towering over Dub by at least a good foot or so. He pulled back his hood and looked at Dub with his evil red eyes.
Dub couldn’t meet his brother’s stare. “Couldn’t have shown up a few minutes earlier, Dothur?” Dub grumbled, almost to himself.
“This place is well warded,” said brother three. “Took some time to break through.” Dian pushed back his hood now too.
“So you found her,” said Dothur, practically spitting the words onto Dub. “When were you planning to tell us?” Dothur is what nightmares are made off, pure evil in the form of a demon. He was nearly seven feet, with long stringy black hair. His eyes were a bright red, with no whites to be seen. His lips were stained black, though the rest of his skin was so white it looked like powdered snow. Evil wore an outfit of leather and metal armor, with skulls and bones etched into the metal.
“I’m in no mood to argue,” Dub groaned, and gripped his side.
I stepped up to their magic barrier. I batted Weylyn’s hand away, as he reached to pull me back. “You killed my mother!” I yelled at Dian, and slammed my fist on the barrier so hard that the magic rippled.
Dian placed his hands behind his back and walked right up to me. Safe behind the barrier, he was taunting me like an animal behind bars in a zoo. Dian was about 5’11, and sported a mohawk, his scalp riddled in tattoos. Like his brothers he wore leather, and was covered in knives and weapons. Dian was Violence. Mayhem personified, a deadly assassin, whose eyes held the promise of pain and suffering. There was a necklace dangling below his throat, and when he got closer, I realized it was a string of human teeth.
“Nice bling, asshole,” I said. “Where’s your string of severed ears?”
Dothur walked up to Dian and shot me a wicked smile. He spoke to Dub, mocking his little brother, but he kept his eyes fixed on me. “Looks like you took quite a beating, Dub.” I could tell he was evaluating me, his enemy. “She’s quite beautiful. Looks a bit murderous as well.”
“And to think we were just going to siphon your power and kill you,” Dian said, “but now I think we should keep you around to have some fun.”
“Sadist! You can kindly go fuck yourself,” I told him.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Dian licked his lips. “Of course I’m a sadist, Keira. I take pleasure in causing fear and pain. It is simply who I am.” Dian grinned. “So yes, when I finally get my hands on you, I’m afraid I will hurt you. Very, very badly.” My innards tied up in knots.
“That sounds a little bit rapey.”
Dian let out a cruel laugh “And she’s funny. Lovely.”
“Your outbursts are childish and aggravating,” Dothur said in a dark, evil voice. “Dub, I thought you were better than this.”
“I wasn’t quite expecting the boy band to be here,” Dub wheedles.
“Piss off, you whining little bitch,” Keegan said. “I’m not the one hiding behind a fucking wall.”
Dian pulls a knife out of his jacket, and starts picking the dirt out from underneath his nails, looking very unamused.
“Consider this your lucky day,” Dothur said.
“Our younger brother made a very grave mistake thinking he could best you and your guards alone,” Dian added.
“So we will make this a short visit,” Dother said. “We will take our eager sibling, and get out of your hair. For now.” Dothur walked up to Dub, and placed a boney hand on his shoulder. “I look forward to seeing you again, Daughter of Morrigan,” then they morphed into balls of red light and flew away.
Dian remained, and that made me shudder yet again as I speculated why he was sticking around. He approached the barrier with a thoughtful hum, then gently placed his hand over where my hand was, making me recoil. “You’re a lively one. I do like that in a woman,” he said with a suspiciously soft smile.
“You killed my mother and grandmother” I hissed, feeling the barrier warm underneath my palms. Just saying that out loud sent another flurry of desperation through me, and I gave the barrier one more bang.
“I’m afraid you can’t break it. Nice try though,” Dian says. “You’re
