March of The Succubus - Chapter 14 (The Dark Castle)

The full moon was a glowing like a round orb of silvery glare. Nearby, the howls of the winter wolves could be heard even a great distance away. The pines that one bore the fruits of life and birth, now lay dead by the sides of the charred terrain of zule and carnage. Along it's path, blightened lands diminished every last remaining breath of life around it, causing every tree, root and petal to whiter and die. THen, came the eeire, misty, cold that could not be seen, but felt at a devastatingly rapid rate. It takes but only the tingle of your senses, and a moment too late, one begins to feel his skin twitch and burn, his veins begin to dry and crack, and in an instant,his lungs evaporate at the chilling cold sensastion that penetrates though the soul. Then, there will be silence.

Slowly, an image of a little child approaches the barren valley of snow and death, accompanied by a taller female figure. Yet, thier presence did nothing to dismiss the fact that death has its grip upon the land. In fact, it would be the very two duo that were causing all the mayhem and distrot. To start with, the little girl and her companion were misty and shades, and thier eyes... those eyes spelt nothing more than death and sorrow. Deep, watery and blue to the sight, but stare a moment longer, and wacth as all the happiness in within you get drained away.

The older lady was wearing a nightgown that befitted a queen, yet, with every step she took, she would leave a cold trail of death and decay. The two continued thier silent march through the forest, and into the depths of Norshire forest, the moon thier only guiding light, unaware that they were being watched from behind. Then, in the bushes, there was a little rustle, and then 'Its the Witches! Charge! Kill them all!!' There was a huge scattering of leaves, brushes and shrubs as countless soldiers emerged from thier hiding, arms in hand, pouncing out at them like mad tigers.

In that instant, the older lady merely said to the little girl, 'Chean.... Stand behind me...' and with a 'swoosh', raised her hand in the air. Immediately, there was a loud howl, and the soldiers froze in thier wake. Puzzled and confused, the largest of them all shouted, 'Come on men! LEt's rid them for good!' and moved forward, but as he did, shadows began to appear behind the two ghostly-ladies. Little at first, but one by one, they emerged from the darkness ito the moonlight. Wolves... larger that any they had ever seen, began circling the two ladies, as if standing before thier mistress and danger. Then, one of the soldiers yelled in pain. 'Argghh!!!' and then, silence. The leader shouted, 'Bill? Bill?!' Then, another, 'Arggh!!' 'No..!!!!!!'. One by one, the soldiers began to dissapear. The remaining ones faced the witches back to back.

'MORTALS....' the little child suddenly spoke. 'FOOLISH.... THE ICE QUEEN IS VERY... UNHAPPY....' Then, as though posessed, the little child began to levitate, a little at first, then, completely in mid air. The soldiers just looked and stared in bewilderment. One of the soldiers drew his sword, and with a quick dash, charged at the little girl. 'Die, you damn Demon!'. But as the soldier got nearer to the little girl, he could not believe what he was looking at. Something... began to emerge from behind the little girl... a figure... no... it was something else... something huge.... he was bewildered... he tried to turn back.. he ran... but it got ccloser... it was huge... black... and huge..... he ran.... and ran... he darn't look back for a second.. but it was getting closer... the otehrs.. they ran too... and then... snap... he felt as though his neck was snapped in two, and the last thing he saw, were the red, bloodlust eyes of the Werewolf, staring back at him.

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It was impossible. A while ago, he was battling in the palace grounds, but now... he had no idea where he was. 'Helooo~' and all he had for a reply was an echo. He tried again, 'Heloo~' Nothing but his own sanity speaking to him. It was all dark around him. Too dark. Then, he saw something. Something appeared out of the darkness. It was waering some sort of cloak, and in its hand, it held a candle. The creature was nothing June had ever seen before. It called out to him, 'Comeee..' and as it did, it began to dissapear into the background. June shouted, No! Wait! Where am I? Can you please..' but it was gone.

June was confused and tried to look for the creature again, and then, there was light appearing behind him this time. Again the creatuer appeared, and it said the same thing, 'Come... come to me...' Lord June felt a heavy urge to move towards the creture, to heed its call. But something told him not to. The creature began to fade again, calling out, 'Come... come to me.... come to me, son....' June ran towards the creature, 'Father?! Father! FAther... Wait!' But the creature was gone.

'Fa.. Father!' Lord June shot up from the bed, his pesperations drenching every corner of his forehead. His breathing was heavy, and he was lost. He looked around him. The candles, the light.... he tried to move his feet. Numb. Even his arms... Exhausted, he slumped back into the comfort of the bed, and tried to relax. What was that about? He was sure it was a dream.. But a dream about his father? He was beginning to ask himself questions, when someone entered the room.

The house maid looked around, and the moment she spotted Lord June, she exclaimed, 'Oh, milord! You are awake! I.... I'll call the medics!' And she left the room, racing towards the stairs.
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Robson layed himself on the cold tiles by the gardens, trying hard to digest all that had happened. Was it all true? If so, what did all this mean? And what did Halo say about a Slayer amongst them? Gumption told him that he had to do something. But what?

Just then, a shadow began to emerge from behind the corridors, then, it lay still. Lord Robson had his head down on his palms, but his days in the forests hunter badgers and foxes made it easy to make out those faint hearbeats. 'Its ok.... You can come out now.' The shadow stood upright, then, slowly, approached Lord Robson. It was Princess Wanyi.

Lord Robson immediately knelt down before her. 'Milady!' The Princess smiled, 'No need for such formalities, my brave knight.' Lord Robson stood up. 'And what brings your eminence here in such, chilly weather, and at such dark hours?' The Princess took a seat by the fountain, dipping her fingers into the waters, causing a ripple of water to emerge from it. 'I... Please.. Call me Wanyi... I would prefer more friends that servants, milord.' Lord Robson replied her smile with much enthusiasm. 'Then, Wanyi...' It took some time for it to sink in, much unnatural to be using such a title to adrress the daughther of the King. 'Something is troubling you... I can see that...'

The Princess stood up, and took a few paces forward, her expression was grim and distraught. 'its just that all that's been happening... Lord June.... Prince Wai Kit.... All the men that had lost thier lives for mine.. It's... *sniff* ...It's just...' Small trails of tears began to drip down her cheeks, however hard she was trying to hide them from Lord Robson. Robson came forward. 'Please, Wanyi... Its not at all your fault.... Protecting you and the King is what we have pledged ourselves to do... Much the fact that the lives of me and my men are nothing compared to your safety.' Wanyi didn't cheer up. 'But.. It's... It's ll because of me.. Don't you see? I am what they are after.... But why? And... and I'm putting all of the people I care about in danger! If my father were here that very moment, he would have...' She began to sob, uncontrollably.

Robson felt sorry for her. For all her fair and beauty, within it lies the heart of a true maiden, of her love for her father and her country. Yet she blames it all on herself... Harsh reality for a maiden to endure by herself. He came forward, and placed a reaasuring hand on top of hers, grasping them tight. 'Listen to me, Wanyi. You are a Princess. And you have done more than anything the poeple of Ezaroth has ever envisioned you to do. You love your people, and its only right that we show how we love you..' He paused at the last word, knowing that something didn;t come out right. The Princess turned around and face him. 'But still... I am responsible for what has... and maybe what will happen... Oh.. I... I should just runaway.....' Robson shoke her by the shoulders, which startled her. 'Please, Wanyi, listen! Your people need you! Think about your father! What would he feel? What would everyone feel if you left? No... you have been.. wonderful, milady. You have done more than you could... protecting you woudl be all worth it.... every bit...'

The Princess smiled amidst her tears. 'You... You're right... I don't know what I was thinking.... My people need me... My father... oh.. how foolish of me.... I.. I apologize...' Robson smiled. 'No, Princess, there is no need. I uderstand.' There was an uneasy silence, and then, Wanyi asked Robson. 'So... you, will protect me? No matter what?' Robson felt a sudden starnge feeling dwell withi him. He looked at the beautiful Princess Wanyi, and he suddenly felt this... feeling that he would do anything... anyhting at all... to keep her out of harms way. No matter what it took. He replied, slowly, 'No matter what..' The Princess took a step closer. 'No matter what?' Robson took another step. 'No matter....' and thier lips touched, as they held each other in an embrace, Robson wiping away the last of her tears, Wanyi finally feeling that warmth within that she could never find in another man.
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Lord Siow strolled outside the gates. The stars did nothing to ease the pain he was feeling. That assasin... There was something rather familiar about him... Part man... Part contraption. It was nothing he had ever seen. Yet... They way he was able to control so many weapons at the same time, and without even moving his arms at all... It was puzzling at the very least. The holwing of the wolves tonight were disturbingly loud and clear... but he could worry about that later. He sat upon the damp grass, and lied on his back. Impposible... He could not be human.. But when the contraption came off... there was no doubt about it. And the speed. To be able to carry soemthing so large and still bounce off walls with such agility..... He pondered the same question over and over again. Until something caught his attention. He could only catch a glimpse of it... But it was clear as day. He swore he saw a face in the shadows, but it had vanished. He got up, his gaze never leaving the site where he saw that face. Was he dreaming? The fight must have exhausted him.

As he turned to leave, he looked back to catch another glimpse, and there, he saw it again, but a moment later, it vanished again. He drew his sword, and grabbed a nearby torch as he approached the shadows. 'Who goes there? Show yourself!' There was nothing at first, only the gentle rustle of the leaves. Then, it appeared. A craoked, bent figure in a tattered and torn cloak. It was an old man, not higher that his waist. His face was cracked and burnt marks were on his back and arms.

"YOu, old man. What business do you have here. You are not allowed in the castle grounds!' The old man looked up, and then in a harsh, shaky voice, 'Pl..e..ase... yo..ung ma..n.... He..lp... me... I... ne....need.....wa.....wat...water......' Lord Siow didn't blink. Then, with a quick blow, he charged forward and thrust his sword at the old man, who jumped just as the tip was about to slice his heart, mising by inches.

'Nice try...... I know what to expect from you Demons.... You killed my whole army......' The old man stared at him. Then, there was a most wicked laughter. It echoed through the entire woods and the castle grounds. 'Nyahahahahahaaaa!' Then, blue smoke began to appear under the old man's robes, and in an instant, he began to transform. He grew, and grew... taller. The cracks and marks disspaeared, but in its place, strange defomities emerged. His eyes were bigger at one side, and smaller the other. He was bent and crooked, and his was limping. And then, as the last of the blue mist evaporated, a staff appeared before the old man, who held it fast.

Lord Siow pointed his sword at the old man. 'Who are you!' The old man just looked at Siow, and laughed. 'I... am.... your worst.. nightmare.....'

Siow felt his world suddenly crashing down. For a brief moment, he felt all the joy and courage within him, seeping away. He begin to have thoughts, and he felt depressed. Sad. Sorrow. Life was no longer worth living. Unconsiously, He held his sword high into the air. Why.... why live... when you can just die and end this misery...... All this pain... all this torment... end it... save yourself...... your soul...... And with that, Siow's hand came down swiftly, and his own sword pierced through him, and out the other end.

When he came to his senses, he felt immense pain, and blood began to spuw from his wounds, andd mouth. He felt weak and he was in agony. Laughter filled the air. His eyeswere weakening. This was it... it was all going to end.. He had to tell... someone.. intruder... The old man was coming forward, to finsih him off.... He could still make out the blurred lines. His breathing was getting harder, and he knew soon they would stop. He closed his eyes, as he saw the old man hold his staff high in the air... 'And now.. You DI.... Y.. You!!' The old man suddenly retreated a few paced behind. A blinding flash of light missed the old man, then came another. Siow could hear those last words, before he closed his eye...' Hang on there.... Please... Don't let me be too late...'.