The Ladies of War
Prologue
No sun seeped through an impenetrable layer of thick, gray sky. Once there was light, sky, and growth, where a barren wasteland now spread. Gray, ashy earth stretched as far as one mortal eye could see or for an entire day a sparrow might fly.
Ruinous craters sunk into the earth, dark splotches stained the ash, and crumbled ruins lay scattered across the plains. No water washed across the parched land, and a thick shadow cloud hung over the earth. Only a quiet dojo sat in the middle of the desolation of countless millennia. A small, green tiled roof outlined the building that huddled at the edge of a huge heap of rubble. The old, crumbled remains appeared a hundred times larger than the only building that contained life in the gray world. The skeletal stones, once part of a great palace, lay lifeless beside the breathing dojo.
The Netherworld might have been a lovely place, but none in the little dojo remembered such a time. For all, this wasn't their world, but they'd come, by choice or force, and now, they stayed. Some stayed because their physical bodies became mutated, and unrecognizable as containing a soul. Three stayed, however, because they'd helped mutate the others. They were too old, not physically inadequate, for the mortal world. Their mortal world died centuries ago.
In the still, gloomy morning, Dais mused over this, staring out his little window into the hazy sky. Was this his purgatory? Was he meant to guard the gate Talpa had used to the mortal world until the end of time? Was he to pay penitence for ruining countless lives?
Maybe so, but he knew he'd do it, never saying a word in complaint. However, sleep escaped him, and the atmosphere seemed thicker than usual. He rose in his silken robe, quietly making his way to the front of the dojo. He sat on the cherry wood porch steps, perceiving the silver shimmer in the misty morning. He thought it odd, how nothing grew or bloomed, but warm winds still blew from the West, summer in their breath. Yes, the seasons still came and went in the Netherworld.
"Did sleep escape you, too?" Dais turned his pale face to the bright purple plumage. He gave a half smile. How bitter sweet to see Arielle, when he was so haunted by his past deeds. The brilliant harpy, whose plumage was a mix of several complimenting shades of purple, had been one of his best mutations. Anubis complimented him on his 'superb' job once, after he'd seen Arielle. He'd quite liked her silver talons and beak, and how Dais 'perfected' her from her simple human form.
"I feel unsettled." Arielle nodded, and reflected Dais's feelings. Another pair of footsteps quietly tread upon the dojo floor. Deep eyes, framed by thick, rugged, navy hair stared at the unlikely pair. Kale personally thought it unhealthy to socialize with the creatures. He knew what he'd done, but he couldn't change it. It only unsettled him more to think on it.
"Don't be." Kale towered over Dais and Arielle while they both sat. "The portal gleams a lovely silver this morning. The air is warm Dais. It is your summer."
"A bleak, gray summer." Dais responded dryly. Kale's deep-throated laugh echoed across the drowsy dojo.
"It's good the seasons still come." Kale strode out into the mist, a smirk on his face. He stared back at the melancholy pair. Pity, mourning, and meditating about fate and the past were a waste of his time.
The chilly autumn is next to come, Sekhmet let a smile stretch across his pasty face. From a window, he saw Kale's outline in the mist. He'd be up long before Dais walked outside. He'd heard both he and Arielle leave the dojo. Yet, he remained.
She dwelt on his mind. Kayura's dark eyes, her pity and penitence surpassing any Dais or any of the three ever felt. She'd gone away. She'd abandoned them, leaving this Netherworld for the mortal realm. She missed the sun, the rain, and the sky that illuminated the mortal world. Had she asked them to go?
No, she told them to watch the gate. She feared some one still might try to use it. Who? Talpa was dead, but Sekhmet felt the gravity of her orders. He'd protested the longest to go back. She'd looked at him with her piercing midnight-blue eyes. Yes, she feared something.
Sekhmet rose, walking towards the dojo porch. Dais and Arielle turned to their shorter friend. He'd taken up leadership and management of the dojo since Kayura's departure. This was the little colony of mortals, or half mortals, or people who at least were mortal at one time, left in the Netherworld. They were an island of something, if not entirely good, at least not demonic.
"Evil can't last here forever," Sekhmet looked out over the ashy plains. He stared at his two companions. Evil couldn't last forever.
"I don't think the Netherworld will ever be pure again." Dais replied solemnly. Kale chuckled heartily to this. Sekhmet looked between the pair, but a gleam caught his eye. No, the silver reflected the light of the portal, but itself wasn't the portal.
In a fatal moment, Kale lay on his side, groaning in pain. Dais rose, startled, as the shaded figure thrashed out at Kale.
"Snake Fang Strike!" Sekhmet downed his armor, racing from behind Dais, dislodging the attacker from Kale.
"It can't be!" Sekhmet screamed, gazing into those deep, midnight-blue eyes. The lanky warrior clad in ornate black leather and silver armor struck him with one of her swords. Sekhmet didn't believe his eyes, as the long, navy hair flowed effortlessly behind her back.
"I got her!" Kale, now clad in full armor, charged the maiden. "Black Lightening Slash!" She moved effortlessly, striking him across the back. Kale gagged, falling on the ground. She turned her malicious gaze on Sekhmet, who prepared to fight her.
"Take off your armors! Arielle, get out of here!" Dais screamed from the porch. An evil grew a, great shadow of darkness spread across his mind. Some one lurked beyond their sight, and he felt a great evil coming, effortlessly sliding in the mist towards them.
Arielle flew, swift and true, into the portal. Dais chucked in his kanji. He felt the connection break between himself and his armor. Sekhmet paused, and fell, blood dripping from his left cheek.
The two companions met eyes. Sekhmet took his armor off, abandoning it to the glimmering portal. "Kale!" Sekhmet pleaded to his friend, still clad in full armor. He stared at Sekhmet, and then at the female warrior, ready to strike him. In an instant, Kale removed his armor, throwing it straight and true through the portal.
The silver blade struck his bare shoulder. He gasped, blood seeping out of the deep wound. Sekhmet ran towards his injured friend. Dais stayed rooted, fears increasing across his features. It had come.
A hypnotic, melodic laugh floated across the still air. The atmosphere charged with her beautiful voice, and all three froze, their breath unable to exit their lungs.
The unnaturally tall, lanky figure materialized out of the fog. The long, sleek black hair sucked away the light, which seemed to burn deep in the crimson eyes. A golden Egyptian headdress hung over her head, stopping just above her eyes on her dark forehead. The golden mail went down to her knees, and where the mail ended, mahogany leather boots began. A shear, see through piece of gold silk served as a skirt that trailed to her ankles.
All the Warlords remained transfixed on her eyes. They barely saw her draw her sword from the golden sheath on the beautiful belt made of black stones with a singularly beautiful belt buckle in the shape of a serpent's head.
"You've scattered my armors." Her deep, sensual voice accused them singularly, yet all at the same time. Dais felt sure she was the oldest thing he'd ever seen. Sekhmet felt her power flood his soul like a poisonous tonic. Kale felt he'd never beheld such a beautiful creature, whose beauty seemed utterly toxic.
In an instant, the samurai warrior grabbed a stunned Kale. She twisted his arms, breaking both of them. He fell on his knees, eyes looking up at the lovely face. "You're . . .K . . ."
The hypnotic woman effortlessly struck Sekhmet down with a blow, and then did the same to Dais. She grabbed each by their necks, dragging them over to where the female warrior stood.
"Shall you kill them?" The female warrior asked.
"Not yet. Let us to appeal to the pity of a mortal fool."
A/N: This is the sister story to Interim Battles. The Ronins will appear in it, also, so don't get too upset. I thought the story needed this little bit of information, though, to continue. I hope you enjoy. Tell me if I need any corrections. Thanks, MorganRay.
