User blog:Mauller/Absolution 019

Absolution, Chapter:019


I found myself running through various corridors and past rooms that were filled with people. The unbound feeling was growing as De held my hand and dragged me along. She was within reach and yet I was inept. And when I thought about pulling her to the side to end it, other thoughts clouded my mind.

‘Ah no… not that.’ I shook my head at the ideas. My knife should be crossing her heart, not our lips caressing each other’s. Why would I think such a thing? She is my target!

De looked at me, still appearing as worried as before about my apparent condition. But we soon came to a door that she unlocked. ‘Wait here a moment…’ She disappeared inside the room, I felt exposed and vulnerable in the corridor on my own. A few servants and guards passed, eyeing me as they went, but none uttered a word.

It was as though I were someone else. A glance in the mirror disturbed me. ‘That’s not me… the real me.’ The young man that stared back had the bearing of a young noble, if appearing a bit ill. The grin on his face and overbearing confidence in his eyes was disturbing.

‘Hey, are you sure you are alright?’ I jumped when something touched my shoulder and ended up face to face with De when I turned. She let out a surprised yelp before looking down at herself. ‘Oh my dress…’

I looked down and felt my stomach drop. Her breast bone down to her stomach was covered in red. I could feel the sweat beading on my head as my heart froze.

‘What, have I done…? I didn’t… I…’ My hands were shaking and yet when I felt to my side, the dagger was still hidden away.

‘Oh darn… this was my favourite dress; wine is such a pain to get out.’ De pouted at me then sipped a dark liquid from the glass she was holding.

‘Huh? Wine? Isn’t it blood?’

De snorted and started laughing, causing my unease to vanish and the fluttering to return. My face warmed, just like the first time she smiled at me. And I found myself laughing along with her without realising.

How could I be so stupid, why would it be blood? How could I lose it like this, what is wrong with me?

‘Hey? Are you sure you are alright, come here, you have some mess on your face.’ De reached up and started rubbing my nose and cheek with a piece of fabric. ‘Much better, but I think the scruffy look suits you more. But let’s go before daddy finds us breaking into his wine cellar.’ De smiled then locked the door. ‘Now let’s go get me into a clean dress before anyone notices.’

I kept looking down the corridors, I was waiting to be ambushed at any moment. But once my mind caught up with De’s words I turned towards her.

‘Dress? What do you… mean?!’

‘Oh come on slow poke! I need a hand to slip out of this thing without daddy finding out!’

<p class="MsoNormal">The corridors started racing by as my excitable target pulled me along. All I could think at that moment was if others experienced the same thing. What if others met the same fate after coming here, is she leading me to my certain death?

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet all I could do was laugh like a loon while being dragged to my doom.

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">I jolted upright before wrapping the blanket around myself. The apartment was freezing to the point where my breath was clouding. With it being in the attic I thought there would be some warmth, but the stuck window had ruined that idea.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Damn… and after I got it to shut. I thought this place would stay warm for a while.’

<p class="MsoNormal">A glance at the end of my bed revealed the still smouldering embers in the fireplace. I shivered when I felt a draft run across the bed. The door to the living area was only two paces from the bedside, yet it felt open to the elements.

<p class="MsoNormal">The sudden clatter of shutters made me jump. ‘Ah, it is just the wind, Antonio and Mersé were just messing with me…’

<p class="MsoNormal">After a few drinks, Mersé and a group of soldiers appeared in the bar. Antonios Company was enjoyable, most of it talk about the desert cities of his homeland. But the thing that made the night was the rounds of drinking games with Mersé and her group.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet I found myself stumbling up the stairs to the apartment before midnight. The drinks had done something to me, leaving me feeling merry but sluggish. So I decided to turn in for the night after everything that happened. But I still ended up lying awake for hours, thinking about the soul eating demon.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Erm… hello?’ Ah why did I just call out to it? What if it is real? And is hiding under the duvet any safer?

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head then put on my trousers, making sure to creep to the door when ready. Opening it revealed the dark living area, complete with its twin sofas and table at its centre. Maybe I was just imagining things? But to make sure, I left the comfort of the bedroom and snuck towards the bathroom door.

<p class="MsoNormal">A bang and scream echoed within the darkness, but it was my own. Looking across the room, something had fallen from the mantel piece.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Urhg, just the wind. Those drinks are bad…’ So I turned to the bathroom door that was behind me and froze.

<p class="MsoNormal">The door was open and standing in front of me was a pale skinned figure. I felt my heart jump and took a step back. The figure groaned from behind the long white hair that obscured its face. It raised a hand and started to move towards me. My legs would not budge as it reached for me. So I did the only thing I could think of and went to push it away.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I ah… soft… and warm?’

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked down at my hands, it appeared I was holding onto two large yet firm mounds. And from what I could tell the groaning increased in pitch with each squeeze.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Da… dam… p… perv…’

<p class="MsoNormal">I could just make out an eye looking at me past the hair, it was staring into my own. And just below it I could make out a mouth with a full set of pure white teeth. The smile it was giving me was blood thirsty.

<p class="MsoNormal">Without a moment’s hesitation I dodged to the side, the figure lunged at me and fell onto the sofa. I didn’t care what it was or why it was there, so I ran back into my room and bolted the door. Once I was back in bed I felt a little safer, but only since I blocked the door with the dresser, table and bed.

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">My breakfast the next morning tasted great, but my dull mood left any appreciation for it behind. The Olive skinned Innkeeper still found it amusing that his little story had worked.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh come on, I was only pulling your leg.’ His bellowing laugh hurt my ears. I did not manage to sleep in the end, instead I spent the night listening to the noises coming from the living area.

<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning was when I found the source of those noises.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mersé elbowed me in the rib while we sat at the bar. ‘You eating that bacon? Or you just going to play with it like my tits?’ I shook my head and she stabbed the bacon while glaring at me. The grin she gave as she chewed on it sent a chill up my spine. The worse part was the way she looked at me when she stabbed her sausage. ‘Good grub as always Antonio, complements as always.’

<p class="MsoNormal">In the end, it had been a Mersé all along, I remembered that she asked me to keep the door unbolted. I must have done so when I stumbled up to bed.

<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning was a big shock when I found her sprawled out on one of the sofas half naked. She forgave me for what happened, although she wouldn’t let it go.

<p class="MsoNormal">Considering letting me stay here was a favour of hers, she still wanted me to pay her back for it.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Great… so I am in debt to more than one person now, Kimiko would kill me if she were here…’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What was that runt?’ Mersé moved her face close to mine, I shuffled back as she glared.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh nothing… just appreciating all the help you are offering. Being the generous and strong person you are.’ I smiled as she inspected my face. But the bluff appeared to work since she grinned and punched me in the shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well, I don’t exactly do it for free now, you better come to the barracks and help out.’

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked at Antonio, but he began whistling while cleaning glasses. A glance back to Mersé revealed the dinner knife that she was holding towards me.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I erm…’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘No butts except yours being kicked, you are working for me now Mart. When I sneeze you are to get me a tissue, when I fart you take the blame. When I say jump, you say?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Erm… up or forward?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘No! but… well that is rather intelligent to be honest.’ The brazen woman rubbed her chin and started chewing on my bacon. ‘I like you, do well and we will get on like sticks and stones.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Antonio snorted, leaving Mersé looking confused. ‘People tend to say “like a house on fire,” sticks and stones is a different saying.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Is it? Oh, well thanks Antonio, I shall remember that. And don’t you start grinning errand boy, we have work to do.’

<p class="MsoNormal">My mood uplifted, yet my breakfast remained half eaten. Just as I was about to eat my sausage I was dragged away from the counter by the adamant soldier.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Come on Martin! I can forgive you but times wasting and I have arses to hand.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Wrong saying Mersé!’ The chuckling from Antonio fell on death ears as I was dragged out of the building.

<p class="MsoNormal">Where in the hells are Malachi and the girls? And why have I become so critical all of a sudden?!

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Come on you scrub! I want to be able to see up skirts in those boots!’ Mersé nudged me with her good foot then crossed her legs. ‘And if you are a good boy I might let you massage these.’ She grinned and wiggled her toes. The paperwork on her desk was piled up, I thought I was forgotten when she started reading.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘As if I would want to massage your feet… you have been training and I can smell… gah!’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘That’s it! Right between them!’

<p class="MsoNormal">The domineering woman’s toes gripped either side of my nose. She shook my head a few times before letting go.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You should feel privileged, it’s not every day that I let someone see me like this.’ The lounging woman chuckled before returning to her paperwork. Her other foot was still bandaged, but her fortitude still allowed her to kick people with it. ‘And besides, I am still annoyed that you saw me in that state. You are lucky I did not manage catch you. Although I don’t remember much between the groping and waking up, you better have not tried anything in the night. Since I woke up, sprawled over the arm of the sofa with my bare backside on display.’

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head and raised my hands. ‘No! I did nothing! I thought you were a ghost or some monster, remember? I locked myself in the bedroom and only knew it was you when I found you in the bar.’ Although I knew it was a lie, I was not willing to tell her that I was awake long before her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mersé moved a lock of her hair behind an ear and smiled. ‘Well, make an arse of me and I shall do so in kind. Here, I have a job for you, take this to Mimiru Milte. She can be found around the yard at times, just listen out for the kid with a big mouth.’ She extended her hand and passed me a plain envelope, it was sealed with a serpent insignia. The same as on her banner.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I heard that you did not like this serpent?’ I went to stand but ended up being held by Mersé’s foot again.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh? Someone been telling stories about me? Well, there is a funny one behind my insignia. And if I like it or not, I use it to honour the events that lead to obtaining it.’ She let go after giving me a push backwards.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘So in the yard then?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The white haired woman nodded. ‘Yes, now if you come back alive I have another job for you. So, chop chop! Get that butt of yours in gear.’

<p class="MsoNormal">I felt obliged to leave, so hurried out of her office and headed for the work yard. Merse’s office was on the ground floor, it appeared the nobles occupied the higher levels. So the work yard was a short walk away.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh great, she sent me on a witch hunt. Heh, witch hunt, if only that pointy hatted brat was here. She has a big surprise waiting for her when she arrives.’ The thought of her finding who the “cute pervert” was amused me.

<p class="MsoNormal">Why is that amusing? It could cause her untold psychological damage. Why do I care? She needs bringing down a peg or ten. But still, what if she did think I was someone who could be a friend? Why would she be so desperate to be friends with a naked boy she just met?

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head and walked to the centre of the yard, almost tripping when my foot caught on something. When I looked down it appeared that a groove was carved into the stone. It curved into a circle that spanned the majority of the paved area.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I wonder what that is about…’

<p class="MsoNormal">The high pitched trill of a young girl pierced my ears. sounding as though she were insulting someone while reading from a dictionary.

<p class="MsoNormal">What is a dictionary? A book of words and their meanings? Huh, was I a scholar of sorts?

<p class="MsoNormal">I soon spotted the epicentre of the commotion. One of the soldiers was mending a piece of armour while talking with a young girl.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What? Is that her?’ Innocence came to mind from the appearance of her flamboyant pink outfit. Although her mouth soured that naïve image from the tirade of words she was vocalising. More suitable for a sailor than a young girl.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Soldier carried on sharpening his sword, while the girl continuing her cacophony. I smiled as I noticed the smirk on his face, he seemed more content than the others around him.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh come on Mimiru I am not that bad, if you want I will get you a sweet roll when I am done.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I said I don’t want anything from you! It would be a waste of time since you would trip and break your neck through the effort. You might as well curl up in a hole and die. Cowering is all you are good at. It still surprises me that a monster has not made you its meal.’

<p class="MsoNormal">He chuckled then smiled at the girl. ‘Mimiru, I am not that bad, now run along and play, I have training soon.’

<p class="MsoNormal">His words irritated her further as more vitriol spewed from the barking munchkin. Hey, that was a rather good analogy.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘And who are you calling a vitriol barking munchkin you uncouth cretin?!’

<p class="MsoNormal">My big mouth, why is there a lack of control between my thoughts and speech at times like this?

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I don’t know, maybe it is because your brain can only do one thing at a time?’ The girl had turned toward me, clear irritation on her face. The soldiers near us started whistling and backing away as the girl stomped forwards. ‘Go on then! Out with it!’

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked for an escape path then felt the paper in my pocket. ‘I have a letter for you from Mersé.’ The girl snatched it from my hand and tore it open. Her mouth moved as her eyes darted over the paper, her eyebrow twitching on occasion.

<p class="MsoNormal">The soldiers around me were whispering, all of them eyeing me and pointing to the girl. And I jumped when a hand rested on my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hey, easy now. No need for someone to lose an organ or two.’ The young man who had been on the receiving end of the powder puffs verbal assault stood there. ‘Mind putting that knife down?’

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked and saw the ornate dagger poking him between the lower ribs. Within seconds I hid it inside the jacket that Mersé was making me wear.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh, sorry. Just a bit jumpy.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The young man raised his palm. ‘No worries, Mimiru is a good kid, even if she can be a pain.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Go let a Minotaur bash your head in Taryn! You should do it sooner than later with how pathetic you are! And here! Go give this back to Mersé scrub.’ The irritating girl almost pushed me over with the force she used. It was surprising how strong she was for her size, but I seemed forgotten in an instant. She had turned to the young soldier to begin her barrage of insults anew.

<p class="MsoNormal">I started walking back to Mersé’s office, a few talking about me when I passed them. It was odd, I seemed to be the new interest for the time being. And I thought I would find solitude once I opened the office door.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Why is everyone calling me a scrub?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The white haired woman who was lounging on her sofa turned to me and chuckled. ‘That is because you are the scrub. It’s the title we use for the newbie who runs errands.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh great… well that is disheartening.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Merse raised an eyebrow before straightening in her chair. ‘Well, I have some good news and some bad news. We have had word from Malachi, his group and your friends are held up in a town two days by cart from here.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘So what is the good news?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The domineering woman smiled. ‘That was the good news, the bad news is that a group of monster scouts were sighted a mile from the city. From the number of scouts and their movements we assume there will be an attack.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘So what does that have to do with me?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh it has everything to do with you, if you want to work for Malachi in the end then you better know how to survive. You know, give a man a knife and he will fight for his life?’

<p class="MsoNormal">For some reason I knew that the saying was wrong, my hand was already tracing the outline of the dagger in my pocket. I was hoping that the girls had made it away, even after Inka’s abrupt appearance, I had not seen her since.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Something on your mind? Or you just filling your pants scrub?’

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked Merse in the eye and straightened. ‘When are they going to attack?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘In a day or two at the most, from the west, Malachi will be coming in the east gate. But we will meet and repel their forces in the fields long before they reach the walls.’ Her demeanour changed, becoming as serious as when she fought me. ‘Half of our forces are away and with the first… Malachi gone, Morale is already low among the men. Look, I know it is not my place to ask, but we need every able fighter we can get. And from our little scuffle I think there is more to you than you are letting on.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The air became tense as an untold conversation passed between us, our eyes remaining locked. The white haired Soldier blinked and sighted, resting her chin on her hands before looking at me again.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You don’t have to- ‘

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I will fight; I need to fight. If I want to get anywhere in this world, then I need to do all I can.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Merse stood, appearing to have put her bandaged foot into her boot. ‘Good, then we start right now.’ She walked towards me and almost threw me out of the door. I stumbled a few steps before falling onto my rear. With a click she locked her office before turning and standing over me.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What do we start?’ I grunted when she forced her boot into my chest.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Start? I start kicking your arse into gear, that is what I start, now get that backside off the ground and get out to the training yard. I only have a day to get you back into shape with how sloppy you appear. Although that will be a small miracle if I manage.’

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">I could not remember if this was the first time in my life, but I was terrified. The screams and animalistic cries on the battlefield filled the air with dread. We had marched out of Lescatie at dawn, two days after the conversation with Merse. And before we knew it we were ambushed and spread thin by a platoon of armoured cow women.

<p class="MsoNormal">Their physique reminded me of Lin, but their brutality and fury sent me reeling. Linette’s rampage across the farm was nothing more than a tantrum in comparison.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hold the line! Reform rank and file! Get the ballista’s in position and reinforce the left flank!’

<p class="MsoNormal">Merse’s voice boomed across the battlefield. Blue circles with strange symbols floated in front of her face as she sought to regain order.

<p class="MsoNormal">I was unfortunate to be among the soldiers that were struck. Over a hundred men had been knocked out of formation while a quarter of that number laid immobile. The Ambushing Minotaur’s had laid waste to ten times their own number in a matter of seconds.

<p class="MsoNormal">The worst part was hearing the screams and seeing the fallen dragged away by waiting monsters. While the minotaur’s broke up the formations, others waited to strike. Monsters that I had not seen before attacked and pulled men away. A few jumped into the clearing and began fighting with the soldiers. But it appeared to be a losing battle, the Monsters seemed far too strong.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was like standing in the middle of a nightmare.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lamiae bit various soldiers before darting away with one in their coils. While Orcs swung their great clubs knocking as many away as the Minotaurs. And this was before the shadows descended from above. Many men heard the screeching too late before dark figures dropped from the sky and flew away with them.

<p class="MsoNormal">I was lucky to notice a shadow hovering overhead before jumping to the side. Something landed next to me in a flurry of black and silver before It turned to face me. A slender woman in light silver plate glared at me from inside her helm before she took off into the sky.

<p class="MsoNormal">Merse’s training had taught me various ways to counter these creatures. But none of it had readied me for this.

<p class="MsoNormal">In the midst of the panic the soldiers in my group were dropping in number, leaving me a bigger target amongst the crowd. A few soldiers and monsters laid unmoving among the fray. A number of soldiers had grouped near me and started forming a wedge with me at the front.

<p class="MsoNormal">I thought we could manage to survive this, until a minotaur turned and started charging towards us.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Keep your weapons ready! Pikemen behind! Form up the shields at the front! Get ready for the crush!’

<p class="MsoNormal">I found myself shouting orders, the moment felt surreal yet familiar. And among the chaos the men followed regardless of who was commanding them. Those that remained rallied behind me in formation and began to hold back the various monsters.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet the minotaur, larger than the rest and in more ornate armour, began charging towards us. She was looking at me in particular, it sent a chill down my spine when our eyes locked.

<p class="MsoNormal">A brief look to the side was all it took to survey the army. The bulk were in ranks and holding back various groups of monsters. Merse near the front and fighting the odd foe head on.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Minotaur roared as she approached while hefting her hammer above her shoulder. My hand remained ready on my dagger, the memories of the farm girls were a sweet dream compared to this. Something felt wrong, but in this situation these monsters were my enemy.

<p class="MsoNormal">I gripped the handle of the dagger to the threshold of pain, I would not die this day. Pikes filled the periphery of my vision while I stood ready to strike.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hold the line and remain in formation!’

<p class="MsoNormal">Something came over me, a sudden burst of energy that filled my body. With a powerful kick I rushed to meet my assailant head on. The distance closed between us, the world turning silent as I watched her motions. I was Judging how she would move and where she would strike. It was as though time had slowed as my dagger flowed from my side to ready for a lethal strike.

<p class="MsoNormal">But the world started to tilt when my legs stopped moving. The ground coming into view as I fell forwards. I had not noticed the bola throwers. Smaller minotaur’s that were waiting for unsuspecting targets and I had just become one.

<p class="MsoNormal">As I looked up, the large Minotaur roared and raced faster than she had before.

<p class="MsoNormal">It happened within moments, something dropped from the sky between us. The glowing figures Blade clashed with the descending hammer and sent it flying. A following punch from a silver gauntlet knocked the cow woman back. The following streak of silver and red was all I saw before the Minotaur dropped to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked up at the figure standing in front of me and felt awe struck. Four silver wings that were twice my height extended from its back. Brilliant red hair flowed in the wind from under the helm it was wearing. The way the sun caught both made them to appear aflame.

<p class="MsoNormal">I had seen more of them in the barracks over the past few days, but this Angel stood out. She turned to look at me, her silver armour polished to perfection. Her green dress free from any signs of the previous encounter. Her icy blue eyes filled with confidence and intelligence.

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked down at me and stepped towards me. The smooth features of her face made her look out of place in her armour.

<p class="MsoNormal">I could feel myself seeping deeper into a trance as I watched her. She raised her sword and brought it down behind me. The heavy warmth that had been filling me started to dissipate as I felt my legs lighten. But I was just glad that she was there and stood over me. Her beautiful smile filled my heart with joy as she inspected me. She was the embodiment of what it meant to be angelic.

<p class="MsoNormal">At least I thought that up to the moment she kicked me in the chest and dragged me off the ground.

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