Imp Act: The Second Batch
Chapter Two: Liara
'A death knight's life is service, if not to one being, then to another.' -Anonymous
Liara's life had been relatively simple. Of course, the same couldn't be said after her death and subsequent reanimation. It was only after she came to her senses at Light's Hope Chapel that she had the time - or memory, as shattered as it was - to figure this out. It was a quiet life; she had a husband, two children, and an illustrious military career as a mighty and fierce paladin of the Light. However, as it did time and time again, the Scourge proved mightier than any single hero could hope even dare stand up to.
Her death came in the western portion of the Plaguelands, as ghouls and geists alike swarmed her and her party of travelers. It was an assault that played out as quickly as lightning struck, for as Liara found out that day, as small and fragile as the undead beings looked, they were hardier than nearly anything else she had brought her hammer to bear against. For every ghoul whose head she or her friends took for a trophy, three more came in their place. Simply put, their camp was overrun.
It wasn't long after that she was raised as one of Arthas' thrice-damned personal army of death knights. Trained to be a ruthless killing machine that brought death and destruction wherever she traveled, Liara was unable to break the chain that held her to the rest of her captor's hounds of war. She was forced to take the lives of many an innocent, and though her previous incarnation was loathe to admit, she loved every single moment she spent doing so. So, once Fordring had rid her of her blind following to the entity responsible for her death in the first place, she then set days aside simply to try to atone for her actions when they were not hers to make, and to try to remember everything that was hers prior to the turning. And, when that failed, she would do the next best thing. She tracked down those whose lives she ruined through her joyous, ruthless slaughter. Or, as it were, the next of kin to those she killed.
And so, it is there we find Liara, after weeks and weeks of travel, at the door of one such person. Given the nature of her visit, and the nature of the woman herself, the patron of the house was understandably aware of every move she made in his presence. More than that, he was aware of the large blade, scrawling with runes, that hung on her back.
"I am deeply regretful for your loss," she was saying, her voice bearing the duality of the death knight. "And I wish to repay you in any way I can."
The owner of the house was a rather young man; old enough to have a wife, but not quite old enough to take up arms in the military. At the last statement, his face contorted into a sneer.
"Repay. You wish to repay me for what?"
Liara could only sigh at what her next statement would be. This moment was what she prepared herself for after regaining her senses.
"For slaying your father."
"You..?!" was the sputtering reply. Liara simply nodded.
"Light damn you, monster."
"I'm afraid it's already done that," she whispered.
"If you wish to repay me, then you can take your own life, for all I care. It's either that, or get out of my sight before I do you in myself," the young man went on, disregarding what she had just said.
"If that's what it takes for my soul to find respite, then by all means, I'll do it," Liara said, bringing her blade to bear, at the cautious stare of the man. "If it is truly what you wish of me."
The son of a man she killed long ago simply grunted in disgust of the creature standing before him. Within a motion, her runesword was poised to strike. Muttering a silent prayer to the long-lost Light, she brought it down. It held no qualms in tearing straight into her abdomen.
As she lay, the pain seemed to cease. Color drained of the world, save the red that flowed freely from the self-inflicted wound. Above her, the light of the sun brightened, and she was absorbed by its rays. None have seen her since.
A/N: Well. It seems that the Imp Act shorts are becoming more morbid than humorous, I suppose. Didn't expect that at all. Regardless, this is to tide everyone over 'till we get the first chapter of the new story up and running, as it were. Enjoy.
