Curse of Rudra
Chapter 1: Cold, Dead, Hands.
"Curses! A-aa... Arugh.."His body pushed against the gothic manner of the frozen wall. Liquid couldn't help but pour out from behind him as he felt it warm the sudden push at his back. But there was something holding him back from hitting the wall fully. The tip of the blade that had carved his wound anew, pushing out of his back like a solid thimble.. It tore him from who was in two ways, dividing the arm.. The gore than showed itself to the attacker's weapon. A sudden splurge of red poured out against a figure in front.
Blood coated the shining cold armor, as the axe removed itself from the victim. Not by it's own, but by the hand that carved it. As the figure melted and sank against the wall, there was no life, nothing left.. And everything had been taken away from him. A sudden clunk hit the floor as the night of fate continued to freeze over the pair.
He reached over and checked the bloodied arm which he had created himself. The scent of death reeked in the air as the axe rested firmly in his grip. He turned around looking out onto the pews of what remained. Lifting an armored leg towards the the stair, light flickered about as the broken ceiling of the tattered church. A pair of other armored ones then poured in from the inner sanctum carrying what looked like a small box. It was decorated with velvet lining and gold tassles..
"Sir! The Opal is in our possesion!""...""Sir!"".. Who was guarding it?"A forceful answer, that made the guards suddenly churn in their feelings, after looking after each other one piece at a time. They suddenly turned face back to their esteemed captain.
"Er.. Three children, A High Priest and the Princess."A sudden stomp echoed in the middle of the hallowed hall, bodies littered about the floor.
".. Who did you kill?"".. Sir?"
".. Who did you kill, soldier..?"He pointed to the soldier on the left, motioning him to step forwards.
"Your blade.. Though sheathed had blood on the scabbard.. I can see it. Now.. Which of them did you kill..?"The soldier began to shake in fear. Unbeknownst of his fate, not to mention that he had totally bypassed any mental defence he had. He knew the truth.. And the truth would obviously cost him something.
"I said! Who did you kill?! Has your honor as a Mervian soldier felled your ability of speech!? Answer me!"The captain stepped forwards, the hilt of his scythe slammed against the ground. The soldier shook in fear, unable to speak for a moment.
"Your Highness! P-prince Cecil! Please!"Cecil looked at the lowly subject with a prying eye. Staring him down, until finally a sudden step fowards, he hefted his giant silver scythe into the air, swinging it down at the acolyte.. It stopped, just above the shoulder, almost ready to cleave the man in two from his left shoulder downward.
"I-it was the Priest! I killed the Priest!.. H-he put up resistance.. I.. I had no choice.."Cecil stared, before removing his scythe from hovering over the soldier's shoulder. Standing it at attention. And turning his back to the pair.. The soldier relaxed, nearly fainting on the spot as he let out a sigh of relief.. Going to turn back to his post he--
"GAAAAAAAAAAAK!!"
*SHLICK*
A final cry erupted as the body then launched into the air, split into two directly down the middle. Flying into the wall with a sickening thud, as intestines poured out, the parts stuck to the wall, the heart still beating for a few moments.. The other soldier stood nearly dropping the box in his hands. He gasped for air as the scythe slowly lowered from the upwards position and resting back at attention to Cecil.. Red scented the misty air.
".. You lied."Snapping the scythe back down, he then faced the other soldier.
"You!"The soldier snapped to attention.
"S-sir!""Where are you from, soldier..?"The soldier took a minute to recompose himself, gulping hard against his breath.
"K-Karlotta, sir.."Cecil then turned around once more, before taking a few more steps towards the exit.
".. Mmh.. Karlotta.. That's halfway across the continent.. What are you doing here soldier? How old are you? You haven't been in my squadron long."The soldier didn't move, he couldn't. Too frozen to even notice was was going on, only thinking about what had just happened.
"I.. I'm 17 sir.. I.. I need the money for my wife.. She.. We're.. Going to be a family soon.. They say it's going to be a baby girl.. And I.. There aren't many jobs that pay well in Karlotta.. So.. Yeah.. I want to support them.."Cecil stopped in his place, halting his footsteps. The soldier then tensed his body up, as he watched Cecil tense the grip on his glove. Gripping the hilt of his scythe hard. For a few moments, it was silent. There was nothing to be heard, except for a sudden shuffling of Cecil's feet, turning around. He motioned the soldier closer. The young man slowly approached, scared he stopped a few inches from The Prince.
".. You would die for your family?.. You are a true Mervian."Cecil then held out a small bag in front of the young soldier.
".. Here, take this and go to your family. You'll not starve or waste away again. Fifty Thousand Gold peices.. Take it.. I cannot see such a young father die before he sees his newborn."The young soldier reached out and grasped at the bag taking it and in exchange gave Cecil the small box. He looked up at Cecil's face, wide eyed.
"Are.. Are you sure?"Cecil nodded, as he took the box and placed it under his cloak.. But not before.
"There is just one request I would ask..""Anything!"The soldier responded happily.
".. Live.. Protect your family with your life.""Yes, sir!"Cecil nodded, giving a small grin, before letting the young soldier pass and exit out the giant church doors. Cecil then turned his grin towards the sky.
".. You can come out now."A shadow then fell from the ceiling as it gracefully pulled itself up to it's feet, walking towards Cecil with one foot in front of the other, a very graceful walk.
".. Mmh.. You're always so nice, Cecil.. I'm envious, yet honored.."
Cecil didn't budge.
"Provided, the world's best assassin has to be remembered somehow.. Right?"A finger slid up against Cecil's chin, it was slender.
"You were right about the dead one.. He killed two children.. You're so sly.. It makes me shiver, your majesty.. In more ways than one.."A sudden purr of satisfaction..
".. Duly noted, I hope you saved the others?"An unsatisfactory tone, followed by a careful gaze as he peered away from the shadow to look out the doorway to the sudden light shining in from the moon itself.
"Yes.. I made sure to hide them away.."Cecil then smiled once more.
"So.. What do you want as repayment? Ten Thousand Gold coins.. Or a walk with me back to the castle, Luri?"Luri stepped back from Cecil's back, placing a finger to her lip playfully.
"Humm.. Tough choice.. A night with The Prince, or Ten Thousand Gold.. Humm"Cecil then chuckled, before stepping slowly outside of the doors to the church, leaving the young lady assassain behind.
"Hey! Wait! You've got some nerve, Your Snobbyness!"A pouted face emerged from Luri. As she chased after him under the moonlight.
End Chapter 1
