Chapter 3: Negotiation
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"He's got to be dead this time. The little coward." A sandy blonde man paced the woods, scanning the area with a weary eye.
"He's come back every other time." A blonde girl said, leaning against a tree and watching him. Her blue eyes met his purple ones briefly, but she backed down.
"Merik, I'm sure you killed him this time. There's only so many times the dead can come back to life." A brunette girl approached him, rubbing his shoulders and trying to get him to relax.
"He's turned half the pack. How? I've beaten him. I've beaten him every time, yet they still go to him! I barely have enough to fight off those damned demons my brother keeps sending." He growled, the thought of his brother enraging him more.
"We don't need those traitors. We'll destroy them in time." The brunette chimed, trying to soothe him. A sudden movement caught his eye, and the three froze. A bush in front of them rattled, then a sand colored wolf emerged. Merik didn't hesitate to launch at him, turning into a large humanoid beast mid air. His claws came down at the wolf as he roared loudly, but the smaller creature darted away easily. The two girls transformed as well, snouts, ears and fur like a wolf's, but able to stand on two legs and larger like a person. The brunette launched at where the wolf landed, but was assaulted mid leap by another.
The small wolf had brought it's pack. The brunette female kicked her assailant off, lifted her head and howled. She launched herself to her feet, jumping at the black hybrid again. It's powerful claws tore into her side, flinging her into a tree. More of the small wolf's friends appeared and the battle seemed in vain.
The sand wolf dodged and dodged again, every angered swing Merik attempted, landed on air. His ears twitched as he heard his own pack closing in. The sand wolf heard it to. It darted backwards once, twice, three times. Leading Merik farther and farther into the woods. Merik knew the wolf was trying to separate him, but didn't care. If it was one on one he knew he would win.
He launched at the pup, but the wolf was too quick. It stopped short, and he overshot it. While Merik rolled to a stop and turned, the wolf locked itself onto his neck. He swung violently and clawed at the wolf to get it off. Finally, he whipped his body hard against a tree and the wolf let go. Blood poured from his throat as he fell back, watching the wolf try to rise. He seemed to have injured the wolf's leg. The animal tried to get up, but only fell back every time. Merik could feel his own transformation slipping, knowing the gouge in his throat weakened him too much for him to be able to sustain a hybrid form.
Human again, Merik approached the wolf, who tried to back away desperately. Merik kicked the thing against the tree it was backing into. He smiled as it yelped in pain.
"Do you know why you are a wolf?" He asked menacingly as he stepped on the creatures chest. "It's because I sired you. I locked you in this form. You will never be a full werewolf. You'll die, a pathetic dog." He slowly crushed the chest of the creature below him when he was attacked from behind. He was pinned face down in the dirt. He barely managed to turn his head before freezing in place.
"Y-You!" He cried out, unable to breath in for anything else. The white and tan hybrid above him shifted back into human form and the small blonde girl smiled. "Traitor!" He called, gaining some air under her reduced weight.
"Funny, Merik, you never suspected me. You were too desperate to believe you were in control, you never realized when it slipped through your fingers." She said. Her blue eyes flickered over to the wolf who had finally succeeded in standing. "The only way you can control your body again is if you are the one to end him." She said. The wolf hesitated a bit, but started towards him. The entire forest resonated with his scream, but as soon as it had started, it ended.
Serenity spun and looked wildly around. The voice seemed to appear from nowhere, but everywhere at the same time. She backed against the boulder and tried to steady her breathing.
"It isn't nice to keep a lord waiting." another voice called. She looked again, unable to find the source.
" I... I've come because... I'm here to make a deal."
"A deal?" The first, the lord, spoke again. "What kind of deal would I make with a human?" it asked, amused.
"One you've made in the past... The town of Eadenburg needs help." She informed them. "Once, a long time ago, you accepted sacrifices to protect us. We were hoping we could come to a similar agreement." Serenity was surprised she could find her voice.
" We haven't seen a goat or cow in hundreds of years, and now you come to us? Where have our sacrifices been?" The second voice chided.
"Our deal wasn't one you can just stop and start at your will, little nymph. Where is our sacrifice now?" The first added.
"...I am." A boom of laughter filled the forest. The second voice apparently thought her notion was hilarious.
"What would we want you for?" It asked between stifles of laughter.
"We have nothing else to offer you... Even... Even if you don't take our deal...If you don't accept me... I think you should know... Mizzdred plans to raze the town. They're going to turn it into a training ground. And then... they want your castle." The second voice's laughter stopped. The silence in the forest was unbearable. She began to wonder if they had left. "H... Hello?" She rose and took a few steps, searching again for any sign of life. Suddenly before her was a robed man with pale yellow hair and dark violet eyes. She let out a scream and backed away from him as rapidly as she could. Unfortunately she only made it about three feet before crashing into something.
She turned her head slowly, to see the thing she had collided with and her honey eyes met two of the most beautiful ones she had ever seen. Blue, like the clearest lake, with a ring of silver around them. She gasped and tried to move away but was stunned at his smile. She couldn't move. She couldn't scream. She could barely breath.
His hands moved her body for her, making her face him. He had fine dark brown hair that dusted his eyes and wore an intricate cape of black with silver embroidery. His leather vest had many compartments and pouches and complimented the leather chaps fastened to his body with many belts. She was positive he had many weapons on him, not that he seemed to need any. His hand guided her eyes back to his and he finally spoke.
"You say you are a sacrifice... yet you come willingly." He observed, not even forming the question he was asking. She nodded and understood.
"I would give my life... my soul for my town. I am scared... but...I wont let them die." She said, finding strength in her own words. He nodded, then quietly thought to himself. His gaze wandered to the blonde man's and they exchanged looks Serenity couldn't decipher.
"No deal." He said and she paled. Be began to turn away from her when she found herself reaching out and grabbing his arm.
"Wait!" She called before she could stop herself. The demon froze. His gaze traveled down to where her hand clenched his sleeve, then up at her. His eyes made her tremble and release him and she fell to the ground. "P-please... We'll do anything." She sobbed. " I cant let them die... I cant...please..." She was beginning to shake. She was bowing before him as he looked down at her. He offered his companion a smirk and spoke.
"There would be one stipulation." He said, and she looked up to him. "You already belong to me, sacrifice or no." He pointed out. She looked at him quizzically and he smirked down on her. "You've trespassed numerous times, taken pieces of my forest, and littered it with your scrawlings. You're mine." Serenity sunk into herself. It was true. The town had warned everyone not to enter the forest unless they wanted to be taken. They had every right and ability to kill her every time she entered, but they had spared her.
"Then... what is your demand?" She asked, agreeing to his ownership of her.
"Eadenburg." he said plainly. She looked at him, trying to understand and he sighed. "I want the town. It will be considered my territory, like the forest, and in turn will be free of the King and whomever else wants claim on it. You will pay taxes to us instead, and we will defend it as our land." He explained.
"I... I cant make that decision for the town." He growled above her. "Let me ask them, I'm sure they'll say yes. I just cant make that decision for them!" She begged. He knelt in front of her, lifting her face to his again, but this time, not as gently.
"Fine... Go. You have until sundown to return. If you're not back in time, I'll raze the town myself." Her eyes widened, but she agreed. She rose as he did and turned towards the town. A startled cry escaped her as he gripped her arms, bringing her back against him roughly. "I'll be watching you." His hands seemed to disappear from her, and when she turned to look at him, he was gone. There was no sign of either of the demons. She just swallowed hard and started for Eadenburg.
"Se-... Serenity!" One of the towns folk cried. They ran to embrace her and more people started pouring out after hearing her name. Arthur broke through the crowd, giving her a squeeze and holding her out, to look at her.
"Arthur... I... I need to call the town again." She said sadly. He looked at her with confusion, but nodded. Everyone gathered quickly to where she stood and waited for Serenity to speak. "The demons will agree to protect the town-" The people began a chatter, cutting her off, and she put her arms up and called for them to listen. "If! If we agree to give them the town." Everyone quieted again. "They want this as their territory. They'll defend it as their own and instead of paying the King and the Viscount, we pay them." She finished. There was a murmur in the town, but Arthur stood.
"I would rather pay the Demons than the Kind and his nephew." He called out. The town's murmurs were turning into nods and agreement as people weighed the choices.
"Really?" In one motion, the town faced the knights that had taunted Arthur and Serenity in the bar earlier that day. The knights drew their swords and the towns people began to flee. Arthur grabbed Serenity and pulled her towards his home, but an armored hand grabbed her by the hair and yanked her out of his hands. Her back landed painfully against the metal shielding his body. His other hand traveled her body as he chuckled. "I was hoping I'd get this chance." He whispered into her ear.
Arthur yelled as he turned and started back for the knight, but the monster was too quick. He removed his free hand from her body, drew his sword, and sliced down. Serenity screamed and Arthur cried out. The wound was bad, but Arthur could still stand.
"Move, back to the center." He instructed, making Arthur walk ahead of him. The other few knights had rounded up the village through threats of violence. They were all kneeling, crying and worried as Serenity and Arthur approached.
"Our orders sir?" one of the knights asked.
"Kill them. Kill them all." gasps and shrieks filled the crowd and the Captain threw Arthur down in front of the group. "Start with this one." Serenity felt sick as his hands began to roam her once more, touching places she never wanted him to touch. Tears fell as she watched one guard raise his sword over the crouching bleeding man.
His sword never made it down. The entire area gasped, knights included, as a tall, brunette halted the sword with one hand. His icy blue and silver gaze landed on Serenity as he turned his head to see her.
"Well?" He asked her. She swallowed hard and nodded. "Good." His eyes turned to the man who's sword he held and a smirk crossed the demon's lips.
The sword bent in the demon's grasp and flew off to the side with a flick of his wrist. Before anyone could blink the demon lord's hand pierced the heavy breastplate, ripping deep into the guard. The Captain threw Serenity to the side, charging him, but never made it. The demon's heavy leather boot connected with his jaw and sent him flying back. His leg swung back down and around, tripping the man. He removed his hand from the chest of the now dead guard and kicked the Captain hard in the head.
His stride turned into a jog and after three large steps he vanished from sight, only appearing a second later behind another guard. The demon's arms wrapped around the guards chest, crushing the guard inside of it. He dropped the wriggling man and watched as his face turned purple and he struggled to get the broken metal off.
Serenity's scream alerted him to something behind him and he turned in time to see a mace swinging at his head. The weapon came down on him with a tremendous force and he slid back a few feet as the mace connected with his arm. He had curled down behind his arm, bracing it with his other hand and taking a knee in the dirt.
His blocking arm grasped the mace and brought the guard forward and off balance. The demon turned slightly, allowing his leg free movement and struck the guard with it, sending him flying backwards. The demon vanished again, but the guard didn't have to wait to know where he was now. A strong arm grasped him from behind, bringing him against the demon. He watched the demon's hand pass in front of his face, then felt it rake across his throat, opening it. His scream was mute and the only noise escaping him was a sickening gurgling noise as he fell to the ground. The demon looked around, making sure this guard was the last, and approached the Captain who was just coming to.
"You," The demon said, lifting the mans head and looking into his eyes, "are going to have the honor of telling your liege that this town is mine. Step foot in it again and I wont let you just walk away."
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So, what do you think? Lots of action in this one. Lots of bloody bloody action. The Demon lord is quite ruthless isn't he?
Read, Review, and Enjoy~ Love ya