Fan Fiction ❯ Trancending Death ❯ Undeniable Fear ( Chapter 23 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Baou, Yaza, and Scriar hurried through the forest. They moved with the swiftness that came with the feeling of impending doom. None of the three soldiers knew why they felt as if a cold hand had grasped their heart. They had seen much death in their lives, death was not something that they were not accustomed too. Still, none of them were prepared for the horrors that had awaited them when they discovered the Cult of Rajah.
The trees were nothing but blurs as the demons ran. Each one was panting heavily, not because they were out of breath, but because the sight that they had beheld had scared the Hell out of them. What they had seen, wasn’t a simple execution of all the members of the Cult. What they had seen, what they had uncovered was the end result of massacre and a tomb.
“Baou, what the Hell happened back there?” Yaza asked breathlessly.
“If that man was Alex, what on earth possessed him to do that? It was like a Devil tore those men to shreds. I couldn’t even recognize that one man’s face, but it had to be him. That mutilated corpse had to belong to Senka. He was the only one we couldn’t identify,” Scriar added.
Scriar’s words brought the ever to vivid memories of the cave rushing back to Baou. He remembered how, when they neared the cave entrance they could still feel some traces of demonic energy looming around the place. When they entered the cave, they instantly realized that what they felt was not demonic energy but an extreme sense of murderous intent and bloodlust that had filled the room. The bodies of the deceased were all pinned to the walls of the cave. They had been pinned there, by having their own hands be stabbed through their chests. Every single body was decapitated, all except one. The most gruesome sight of all was the one that captivated their eyes the most. In the far wall of the cave, all the dismembered heads were collected and stacked together forming a monument. There, pinned to the wall behind the monument, was the mangled body of who they could only assume was the previous leader of the Cult of Rajah. He too was pinned to the wall, but he was pinned with a pair of black blades. One through each of his arms, making his body form a cross. His face had been slashed and torn into so badly that they couldn’t even tell who it was.
On the same wall that this gruesome scene was displayed, there was a message written in blood. It was after reading this message that the men had fled, as if the Devil himself was chasing after them. The message read: Those who judge, shall now be judged. Those who consider themselves righteous shall be found at fault. This is just the beginning, but it will not last long. Soon my task will be complete, and then I shall vanish back into the darkness from which I came. Still, in that brief time the land will know the meaning of fear and the meaning of loss. For there can be no joy without suffering. For without suffering, joy could have no meaning. The blood of the fallen shall pay the price I need. Fifteen down, eighty-five to go. Go tell them, tell them all. Tell them, I am coming.
Baou shivered at the thought of the message. He felt cold, even the sweat that dripped from his face felt cold. He knew it was because just a few minutes ago he had stared the Devil in the face and had not even realized it. He had seen bloodlust in his eyes, but that was natural for a man who had slain as many as he has. Eyes like his never lost their fire or their gaze. Yet the carnage he had witnessed within the cave gave rise to many questions. Questions, that Baou realized, he would rather not answer. One of which, he knew he would soon have to face.
That man, he was Alex, of that I have no doubt. Alex could never do something as terrible as this. I know Alex! Alex is too rational to let his emotions drive him like this. I had heard talk that he had called the mages to question them about necromancy. Alex would never lose his mind, but if I am correct, that means that Alex knew what he was doing when he did this. Alex, I’m afraid, doesn’t have the heart to do this. The Devil that lies within him however, the being once known as Razriel does. The way those bodies were pinned to the wall, even the message written in blood, Razriel had once did that long ago. He did something very similar to that to prove a point to everyone. He did it so that no one would mess with him. He did that, the night he wiped out all the necromancers and all those who had plotted against him. He did that, the night that Scion swore his revenge. I don’t know what is more disturbing, the fact that Alex is actually trying to go through with this act, or the fact that if he does indeed do this, that means we will have to stop him. How can I fight someone who I fear has no control over what they are doing?
Baou sighed as he caught glimpse of Alex’s castle. Already he could make out the forms of several wolf demons who were attending to things around the outer perimeter of the castle. “Please God, tell me I am wrong. Tell me that the Devil known as Razriel has not come back.”
Even before they had gotten to the castle gates, Baou was already ordering them to open the gates. “Open those damn gates! Get word to Kiba, I need to speak with him!”


Lucia already knew why he was being summoned. Even from where he was, he could sense the demonic energy and the evil aura that had begun to engulf the demon realm. The matter of which the council had convened for was a grave one indeed. Still Lucia couldn’t help but smile at the predicament.
“One sells his humanity so that his actions won’t kill his soul. Another gives up his soul to save his humanity. He gives into the evil, because evil itself is tempting him. He also gives in because he knows that his purer side wouldn’t be able to face the reality of what he has to do. Still, while he falls deeper and deeper into darkness, the heart of that realm grows brighter and brighter. Maybe that is why I am not worried. The hearts realm is reflecting the real him, the part of him that the darkness cannot touch. As long as that light is there, things should go according to plan. Let’s just hope the council isn’t in a bad mood today,” Lucia quietly said to himself as he gazed out towards where he knew Brittany was. “Let’s hope for his sake, as well as yours that I am right. Let’s hope that his soul, is one that shines in the darkness.”
Lucia passed through two large white doors, and entered into a chamber in which several men wearing white cloaks were already gathered together. Lucia noticed Zemnas, who’s golden eyes and tan skin set him apart from all the others. His black hair was tied back into a high ponytail, and it was obvious that he had been waiting for Lucia’s arrival.
“Lucia, what do you have to say about the growing matters concerning the events that are occurring within the Demon Realm?”
“What makes you think I have anything to say about that? Events have gotten out of our hands, things are happening, things not even we could’ve predicted,” Lucia calmly stated.
“Like people whose death’s occur before they are supposed to happen?” Zemnas countered.
Lucia raised his eyebrow in an appearance of confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You know as well as I do that those men who passed through our gates died hours before their appointed time. Fifteen of them, all of which were humans, never came at all. Their souls never came here, but their bodies are no more. Explain that to me Lucia. Explain to me why you still harbor that girl. In fact, ever since that girl has arrived here everything has been going to ruin! I want to know everything you know about the one who slaughtered these men!”
“Do you want to know about the man who killed them, or the man who should be held responsible for the senseless slaughter of these men?”
Lucia’s question took Zemnas by surprise, but he recovered his shock quickly and snapped back. “What the Hell are you talking about? The man who killed these men is the one who should be held responsible. The men you speak of are one in the same!”
“You are correct about that to a point. The man whose hand spilt these men’s blood, and the man who is held responsible for their deaths, they are one in the same. Two identities, two people, both as different as night and day. One a being of light, the other a being of darkness. Both shall be held responsible for these men’s deaths. Were he the one who instigated this, were he the one who was truly responsible, then I would agree with your words. However, you know that is not the case, Zemnas. You cannot tell me that you can honestly say that this man’s actions are of his own.”
“Every man acts according to his own will. No one can force him to do anything he doesn’t truly want to. Especially a Devil like that man. You saying that this man has any light to his soul is a mockery to everything we stand for. That man is a Devil, for only a Devil could commit such and act as this.”
“You are right. Only a Devil could do this. Still, the question is, do you have the right Devil?”


“Where is Kiba?” Baou demanded. His voice was almost that of a madman as he questioned the whereabout of Kiba. It wasn’t until one of the demons had run to go find him that Baou realized how much that scene had affected him. His hands were shaking, even know he still felt as if an imaginary blade was being drawn against his throat. Never before had he felt such a sense of terror.
Get a hold of yourself! You’ve got to get a grip. You’re a solider, a little blood and gore shouldn’t scare you. Hell, you were going to kill those men anyway. It shouldn’t make any difference, but still.... What kind of monster could’ve done that?
Baou watched as the wolf demon came running back a few minutes later. “I’m sorry, but Kiba’s not here. He must’ve gone for a walk. Either that or he’s in one of the secret chambers within the castle. If he is, good luck finding him. You could search for a hundred years and still not know your way around there.”
“Shit, is Aurora or Shadow here?” Baou asked. He inwardly smiled to himself at the fact that he had recalled their names.
The brown wolf demon shook his head sadly. “No, they too have gone. The master left last night and his departure has affected us all deeply. We are still trying to overcome the death of Brittany, with the Lord’s...I mean, with Alex’s departure it’s as if everyone has died. It truly is sad. I’ve never seen such a beautiful day as this in my entire life. Never before have the flowers seemed as beautiful, nor the sky so brilliant as today. Why do such bad things happen on the best days? It’s as if the world is trying to make up for robbing Alex of his mate. Still, I doubt he’d enjoy the scenery so much.”
Had Baou not just had the shit scared out of him, he might’ve agreed with the wolf demon. Today was unusually bright and cheerful. Still, he could care less about the scenery of anything else for that matter. All he cared about was getting some answers.
“When do you think they will return?”
“I’m not sure...wait, there’s Kiba now,” the demon said. Baou turned in the direction the demon pointed to see Kiba walking towards them. Kiba’s face was grave, but still he managed a cordial wave towards the three demons.
“Baou, to what do we owe the visit?” Kiba asked as he approached them. He shook Baou’s and the other’s hands. “I hope it is not unpleasantries that bring you to this castle. I can assure you we’ve had more than our fair share of tragedies as of late.”
Kiba could tell by the look in Baou’s eyes that this was a matter betted discussed in private. Kiba nodded and without another word about the subject looked at the wolf demon and said. “Fuhma, if Shadow and Aurora return, have them sent up to the library.” He then turned towards Baou and motioned for him to follow. “Come, I believe I might know what this is all about.”



Author's Note: Not too much to say. Only two more days till I'm out for the summer! I hope you enjoy the update, please review. Thanks!