Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Wars ❯ Chapter 4

Ice traced one fingernail over the angel on Connor's shoulder. She had seen the mark before, but had paid it no mind. Now that she knew the significance of the tattoo, it drew her attention. "Your Mage. Did he teach you the Death Spell?" she asked, quietly. "He said it was forbidden. Punishable by death should any other mage learn of it's use," said Connor. "That wasn't what I asked." "Yes, he taught us." "If Gunner is no longer human, will you use it?" she asked. Connor's breath hissed in. "You ask much, Ice." "I know. I ask you if you will release the soul of your friend from eternal damnation or if you will allow him to do Arcaine's bidding and destroy this world further." Connor looked at her. "His soul?" "Didn't you know? When the demons bring out the darkness to consume a human, their soul is locked in their bodies," Ice told him. "What, exactly, does that mean?" he asked, slowly. "They are watching everything their bodies do, and they are powerless to prevent it, damned to live forever with what they have done," Ice whispered. Connor stared at her. "All the villagers that he's taken…" She nodded. "Oh, God, we have to help them. We have to kill them."

The Order Of Death sat huddled in a circle, in front of the fire, in chairs pulled away from the inn's tables. "We'll have to take this entrance onto the grounds. There's should be a gap in the wall here. Then we'll have to split up and take these different ways into the castle itself. Ice and Ivy, you two go through here. It's the dungeon outlet for the stream that runs under the castle, so you'll have to swim. Gypsy, you and Rayne will come with me, through this passage here, the one that goes from the gardens to the east wing. We'll meet here, outside the master bedchamber, where I'm guessing Arcaine will be sleeping, after you've got Gunner. He should be in the dungeons," said Hera, pointing at the map. Ivy and Ice nodded, slowly. The dungeons would be where the most bloodshed would occur. Hera had placed them in this mission well, as the two who killed the easiest and without a second thought. Each of them had more expertise in striking a killing blow than the rest of them put together.

"And what about us?" asked Connor, as he and the others came into the darkened room. "It depends on who you want to be with and how much blood you want on your hands," said Ice. "You know who we will be with. Blood is not a concern," said Angelis, placing a hand on Gypsy's shoulder. Hera nodded and it was decided. Angelis and Devin would go in through the gardens and Connor and Hunter would accompany Ice and Ivy through the dungeons. Rayne stood. "We have two hours until we move. I suggest you use the time doing whatever you feel you need to do before you die," she said, with a pointed look at Ivy, Ice and Gypsy.

Angelis clasped Gypsy tightly to him, breathing hard, still buried in her heat. "Oh, God, Angel, don't stop," she whispered, kissing him and renewing his passion yet again. "You will not die today, Gypsy. I won't let you," he said, fiercely. She closed her eyes and pulled his words around her like a blanket.

Ice kissed a path down Connor's chest, her teeth nipping and teasing and he groaned and pulled her mouth up to his. "I want you inside me," she whispered. He was only too happy to oblige.

"I need your help, Hunter," Ivy said. "Anything," he promised, rising to sit beside her on the bed. She stood and walked to where her bundle of belongings lay. Untying it, she withdrew something shiny and jingling. "What-" he began, and then saw it hanging down and recognized the shape. "You have to help me put it on," she said, handing him the silver plates and turning around. Flexible, yet hard, the metal moved in his hands like a snake's scales as he held it up to her back. The strange marks in her skin lined up with holes in the metal and small hooks of some sort, as the silver pieces matched her tattoo. He unscrewed two little balls off the ends of one of the hooks and slid the tiny bar into her skin. When he was through, all he could see was a ball, a strip of skin, the joint of the hook and another strip of skin, before the final ball that held it inside her flesh. From the joint, another little bar extended, coming through the hole in the silver and hooking with another ball on the other side. He inserted the metal into all the major points of her tattoo, on her back, her shoulders and the backs of her thighs. She stepped away from him then and pulled on a pair of abbreviated pants, so short that the soft curve of her butt could be seen below the black leather. Her boots were thigh high, and between the bottoms and the boots, just enough skin was exposed to reveal the metal on the back of her legs. He waited for the top with his lip between his teeth. A strip of leather covered her breasts, barely, with a loop going around her neck and a small strap across her back, so thin it slid under the silver on her tattoo without a hitch, buckling tightly on one side. Hunter stared at her for a moment before she went to work on her hair and he realized that that was it, there was no more to her outfit. Then, he shook his head, guessing he should be grateful that only the bottom half of her dragon was revealed.

None of the Order so much as raised an eyebrow at the amount of flesh Ivy had bared. Ice and Gypsy, in fact, had not covered much more. If Connor and Angelis were uncomfortable with the arrangement, it didn't show. Rayne and Hera, of course, dressed more conservatively and all five of them checked their weapons while the guys pulled on their armor. They all dressed alike, in black leather pants and sleeveless white shirts, with boots that came up to their knees. Under the shirts was some kind of thin gold chain mail. When Ice asked about it, Connor explained. "Its Elven. Impenetrable by any man made weapon." The Order glanced around and did not voice the though that came to each of them. What about demon made weapons? "Let's go. It'll be morning soon," said Hera.

They left their horses and cloaks behind, with a message to Mrs. Carter to keep them or sell them for a profit, should they fail to return. It was all they could do to repay the woman for her kindness and console her in the event that they fail to bring home her eldest son. The nine of them slipped through the gap in the stone wall that surrounded the castle and then glanced at each other in the dimness of the dawn. "We'll see you on the other side," said Gypsy, finally breaking the silence. Ice, Ivy, Hunter and Connor just nodded, then disappeared into the mist.

Hunter and Connor both hissed in surprise as the icy water closed over their bodies, but Ivy and Ice made no sound, simply sinking below the surface and swimming like mermaids toward the iron grate at the very bottom of the castle. They surfaced for a moment at the grate and glanced at Connor, who placed his hand on the lock and whispered something unintelligible. The rusty lock broke with a soft sound and crumbled under his fingers. Hunter pulled open the bottom of the grate and they all four submerged themselves in the water, swimming under the grate and into the depths of the castle Morravik.

Like five shadows, Hera, Rayne, Devin, Gypsy and Angelis slipped through the gardens and found the statue of the old woman. Angelis moved her hand, just so, and the old, cracked marble statue slid to one side, revealing an entrance. "Hurry," he whispered. "She'll close again in a moment." They slid into the blackness of the passage.

When Ice surfaced in the blackness of the dungeon, the first thing she saw was the glowing eyes of a demon. Ivy, Connor and Hunter came above the water right behind her and Ivy's knives were already drawn. Before Connor or Hunter could take a breath, both women had struck killing blows. Ice's staff struck under the chin and snapped it's neck even as Ivy's blade buried itself between the eyes. The demon, a large, ogre-like creature, fell to the filthy ground in a heap and the four of them slipped out of the water. Dripping, but silent, they crept along the walkway, glancing in cells as they passed. They saw many dead bodies, many tortured people, hanging from racks and sitting on the ground, holding their knees to their chests and rocking back and forth, muttering. They paid them no heed, searching among the lost souls for a golden head and a pair of bright green eyes. Connor and Hunter paused before one of the cells and Ivy and Ice stopped, glancing around them, alert for more guards. "Gunner," Connor whispered and they felt a soft push of magic as he sent out a soft, preternatural touch. The figure in the cell raised its head from dirty blankets and disoriented green eyes focused on them. "Connor?" His voice was hoarse and he winced as if it pained him to speak. "Gunner, hold on, we're going to get you out," said Hunter, as Connor wrapped his hands around the lock on the cell. A loud clank sounded as the mechanism released and they all four froze as the sound reverberated around the dungeon. They heard raised voices and the thumping of steps as guards approached. Ivy and Ice readied their weapons and assumed fighting stances. "Get him out," Ice said, shortly. Connor and Hunter slipped into the cell and hauled Gunner to his feet. The blankets fell away and they saw that he still wore the remains of the clothes he had been taken in, now torn and filthy with blood and dirt. The two older men led him out of the cell and then waited as Ivy and Ice swiftly and silently killed four more guards, all of them hulking monsters like the first. They were drawing the attention of those prisoners that weren't already insane. "Please let us out," one of them pleaded. "Take us with you," another begged. Ivy looked at Ice, who nodded, then turned to Connor. "Unlock the cells of those that appear sane. They will have to fend for themselves after that. Tell them of the stream." Connor slipped away, to do as she had asked. Soon, they heard the shuffling of tired, injured feet making their way toward the stream and then soft splashes as the prisoners slid into the water. "Maybe one of us should take Gunner back that way," said Ivy, glancing at Hunter and Connor. "No. We aren't leaving you here. This is our fight as well," said Hunter, forcefully. The two women didn't answer, just turned away and led the way up the stairs and to the dungeon's entrance.

Rayne opened the door to the master bedchamber very slowly. It was dawn and that meant it was time for evil little demons to be going to bed after a long night of torturing humans. Sure enough, Arcaine, in his human form, was lying on the bed, snoring loudly. She closed the door and looked at the others, nodding. Now they just had to wait for Ice and Ivy. The two in question came up the stairs at that moment. They were splattered with blood and worse, more lumpy things and they were still dripping from the stream. Behind them, Connor and Hunter half-dragged, half-carried Gunner. Devin and Angelis moved to help them and they leaned their friend up against the wall. Gunner was looking at the Order of Death, confusedly, but was wisely silent. With a nod from Ice, the Order burst through the door to Arcaine's chamber, drawing their weapons. The Demon Lord leapt from his bed, naked and baring his teeth at them. "So, come for me at last. I wondered when you'd show," he hissed, and then laughed as his soldiers appeared from every possible hiding place. "Scatter!" Hera shouted and the Order burst apart like so many sparks from a flame. "Go, you know where to meet!" Ice screamed, as one of the demon men grabbed her around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides. Hera and Rayne made it out the door as Ice broke her assailant's nose with her head. "Enough! Subdue them!" Arcaine shouted. Ivy and Gypsy still struggled against the many hands holding them and Ice let out an enraged roar as a pile of attackers fell onto her and held her down.

"Go, don't look back!" Hera yelled, shoving Hunter and Connor down the stairs. Angelis was holding Gunner up. "Where's Gypsy!?" he demanded. "She can take care of herself, Angelis! She knew the risks of this mission," said Rayne, pushing him along. "Our responsibility is to get you and Gunner out of this place, so move, or they'll never forgive us, or you!" Hera shouted. With a cry of rage, Connor shoved past Hera and Rayne and raced back up the steps, Hunter and Angelis hot on his heels. "Christ," Devin spat, holding Gunner up and dragging him down the stairs. They reached the entrance to the secret passage none too soon and quickly slid behind the tapestry, as a regiment of demon soldiers came around the corner. "Hurry," Hera hissed, as they made their way down the narrow, twisting stairs. When they reached the tiny space under the statue, they all froze and listened. Hearing nothing from the gardens, Rayne opened the statue and they moved into the dim daylight.

They dragged Gunner through the gap in the fence and then through the misty woods, until they reached the edge of the village. All four of them were breathing hard when they pulled Gunner into the inn and leaned against the door. Thankfully, the inn was empty of customers, but Mrs. Carter came out of the kitchen when she heard the door slam. "Who- Oh, God, Gunner!" she cried, rushing to him and pulling him against her. "Where are the others?" asked Kalin, as he bounded down the stairs. "Caught. We'll go in after them tomorrow morning," said Rayne. "Oh, no, you can't leave them for a whole day and night," said Kirsten, her eyes wide with terror. "We have no choice. They'll be waiting for us tomorrow as it is, but we have no chance right now. We're exhausted and they're too ready for us. Hopefully, with a little help from Devin, we can get Gunner on his feet and he can tell us what he knows about their operations," said Hera. Devin nodded. "I'll go down to the cavern and get what I'll need." "Excuse me," came Gunner's soft voice. They all looked at him. "Not to sound ungrateful, but who the hell are you?"