4) The Volume of a Lullaby
"Foolish mortals..." an ancient yet sadistic and powerful voice echoed through the shadows of the smoke filled chamber. "Revolting will only get them killed. Do they really dare to defy me?"
"That one little pest just doesn't know when to give up does it?" A high squeaky voice giggled out of no where.
"Rebelling is absolutely unacceptable," a raspy voice screeched out.
"That's the one seems to be leading this little rebellion in the former kingdom of Terrafoire," the lustful voice of a woman pointed out. "I have some unfinished business with that one, let me take care of this."
"I have some unfinished business with that other one as well," cackled another woman. "I don't like keeping loose ends."
"Aww, why do they get to have all the fun?" The voice of a small child chimed in.
"Hmm...I hope the chimeras don't kill them all. We could use some more meat around here," an animal like growl thought out loud.
"Normally, no one would survive a whole stampede of chimeras but the inhabitants of Terrafoire have some powerful people within their midst," a knowing deep voice followed up.
"Then maybe I should go weaken them. What do you think, my Lord?" A gentle voice sang out with the softness of an angel.
The twelve beings in the room silenced themselves and waited for their master's reply.
"No. Let them be," the ancient voice as his cold dead eyes lowering to the cowering ogre before him. This ogre had the unfortunate honor of telling the Lich of the ogre general's death.
"This could prove," the Lich waved his hand and black shadows engulfed the screaming ogre. He flailed his arms frantically as he felt himself being eaten alive by the creatures of the shadows.
"Amusing."
"Marshall! What the hell are we supposed to do with those chimeras!?" One of the villagers asked the tall raven haired man.
I looked at him, waiting for his reply but it never came. He glared at the oncoming beasts, his eyes burnd a deep crimson color. My eyes left my rescuer and stared fearfully at the chimeras. They were tortured beings. Animals as well as any other organism the Lich experimented on were heading towards us. They probably had no idea what their doing. Even at this distance, I can hear the pained howls and groans of the chimeras.
"See what your king has done!?" Starchy yelled at the equally shocked soldiers. "He doesn't give a donkey's ass about any of ya'll! He has forsaken this village and that includes all of you! Will you still abide to that bastard's orders or will you finally free yourselves from his evil grip and live your own damn lives!?" the grave keeper panted as a vein pulsed in his neck.
The soldiers nervously glanced at each other. They shifted uncomfortably in their armour until one of them threw down his spear. That soldier appeared to be leader after the ogres for he had a cape hanging from his right soldier. "You're right. It's about time I take charge of my own life." The other soldiers followed his lead and the clanging of weapons hitting the marble floors of City Hall echoed out into the courtyard.
I stood in the entryway to the City hall. Mochro's reins stayed in my hands as we watched the soldiers and village men scrambling everywhere, passing out weapons and doubling defenses. Others went to homes and transported the women and children in the City Hall, the building that would be most protected. LSP and Starchy helped Meat Man and Grieg while Lollipop Boy went to go get the village doctor.
My eyes wandered to Marshall. He was the man that saved my life, twice. I know nothing about him. He was a complete stranger, yet...
I wanted to go back to Cake, to Beemo, to Lance. I could if I really wanted to. If I really wanted to, I can ride Mochro back to the stables where they were. It could just like the years that we traveled. Who am I kidding? We weren't traveling, we were running away. Running away from all the pain. Running away from all the suffering. Running away from the past, the present, the future. Running away from time, hoping to lose ourselves in out little patchwork family and pretend that the Lich never existed. Pretend that Cake was never ripped away from her family. Pretend that Geemo's village was never raided. Pretend that a blue inferno never created a holocaust out of my village.
A sigh slipped from my lips and a tightening feeling encroached around my heart as the sounds of hooves hitting cobblestone came from behind me. Two horses, a pure white one and a dark brown one, stopped before the central building of the village. The horses carried what looked like the large packs that Meat Man showed me years ago. The packs were everything that a person needs to survive, and even thrive, in the wilderness of Aaa. Water pouches, weapons and other various items hung from the saddles on their backs. Their riders dismounted as my eyes widened in surprise.
The rider of the white mustang was a tall man, a couple inches shorter than Marshall Lee, with light pinkish skin and short dull pink, almost maroon hair. His eyes twinkled purple and he held himself proudly with his back straight and chin high. The next thing I noticed was his ears and his regalia. On his hip was a large double handed sword that was protected in its sheath and a spear that was almost the same as his height with a sharp blade on the end with intricate designs of gold and bronze. A shield hung on the side of his sword. He was wearing a brown wide collared shirt with a sleeveless maroon tunic over it. Dark brown pants covered his legs as black shoes covered his feet. From his long pointed ears, I can tell that he was an elf and from his clothing and weapon, he was an experienced fighter.
"Marshall Lee," he called into the crowd of men. "You've really made a mess of things haven't you?" He chuckled as raven haired man appeared behind him, hidden in the shadows of his hood.
"Gumytrin," Marshall responded. "You're late."
"What exactly do you have planned for the chimeras?" The second rider asked. I couldn't put my finger on which race he hailed from. He was a little taller than me with bright orange hair that stood up in a point, as if it was a fire. He had warm golden eyes and darker skin than the other two men. However, he also had pointed ears like the elf named Gumytrin. But it was obvious that he wasn't human. He wore a sleeveless burnt orange tunic, black pants and metal boots. A red sash wrapped around his waist as two swords crossed on his back.
"Well, they won't get here until sunset, Flegimdur," Gumytrin explained. "Which is in a couple minutes."
Marshall clasped hands with both of them. The sun began to set as the three of them planned out a strategy. Gumytrin, an elf. Flegimdur, the name is dwarf origin but I'm not sure on what he is. Marshall Lee, a vamp-?
Another scream tore through the air, much closer this time.
"Everyone into the City Hall! Hurry!" LSP yelled. All the villagers scrambled into the doors as the chimeras neared the borders of the village of the deceased human monarchs. I caught a glimpse of Cake carrying Geemo inside with Lance right behind her. I looked back at the three mysterious beings in the center of the plaza. Flegimdur was sharpening his blades against each other as Gumytrin was muttering a prayer under his breath with both hands on his spear near the fountain And Marshall was ...gone.
"You should be inside," a deep husky voice came from behind me.
"I have a name. It's Fionna," I said and turn around to face him. "And you? What will you do?"
He didn't answer me. Instead, his eyes faded from burning red to deep ebony. He stared straight into my eyes then looked up to where the sun has disappeared behind the horizon. Shadows engulfed the sky and Marshall's eyes illuminated crimson once more. His head turned again towards me. His face stoic and expressionless but waves of emotions crashed and roared in his eyes. I was entranced by his scarlet irises, by his protecting presence, by him. My hand moved as if it had a mind of its own. I reached up and pushed the hood back from his and admired the way the moonlight outlined his features. His eyes closed and a small sound, a barely audible purr, came from him as my fingers pushed the bangs away from his eyes and then cupped his cheek. He leaned into my palm. His eyes faded to obsidian as his fingers tilted my chin up to his face. His thumb hovered over my lips. I was intoxicated by the mixed scent of pine needles and wine. The strawberry scent of his breath reached my nose when his lips parted as he leaned closer. Marshall's head slowly leaned down and mine reached up to him until-
"Hey Marshall let's go get- oh, sorry," Gumytrin yelled. I saw the elf flinch then looked over to Marshal who was glaring at him with blood red eyes.
"Get inside," whispered Marshall Lee. I felt him push gently, but firmly, against the small of my back and into the massive entry way. I tugged slightly at Mochro's reins and led the mustang into the hall were the other humans were anxiously gathered. I looked back onto the door and saw Marshall Lee walking away to his companions. What do they have planned? Can the three of them really take the hundreds of chimeras coming to Terrafoire?
The City Hall was packed. Women were trying to comfort each other and the children as the men shifted uncomfortably. LSP and Starchy were conversing with the human captain of the soldiers, no doubt making plans of their own. There was no way that I was going to just sit inside the walls of this structure while the possible termination of this village approached. Hiding in the shadow of Mochro, I made my way to one of the side doors of the chamber and quietly slipped into the cool night air. Another roar of agony rumbled through the empty streets, much closer this time. Terrafoire looked like one of the abandoned villages that my sisters and I have passed through. Some of the doors leading to homes stood ajar in the owners' haste to get to safety.
Marshall, Gumytrin and Flegimdur were no where to be found. Where were they? Did they go meet the chimeras? I felt the warmth drain away from my body as an explosion erupted from the eastern side of town. In no time at all, I jumped onto Mochro and sped of the source of the commotion with my bow ready in my hand. That was the first time I laid eyes on one of those forsaken beasts. The chimera that made that noise jumped over a small barbershop and faced me. The grotesque frame of the monster went shivers going down my back. It crawled on what looked like four human legs bent in a way they weren't supposed to. A long tail about the same size as its body flicked back and forth, knocking down barrels and even breaking the walls of the shops and houses that lined the streets. It had the head of a lizard but one eye dominated its head. It opened its jaws and unleashed a blood curling cry of agony and rage. The flesh that covered its whole body squirmed and looked like the fat that Meat Man scraped off my kills, as if not connected to the muscle and internal organs within. It's completely black eyes found me then charged.
The chimera was only ten feet away from me and thanks to its legs, it should have reached me in no time at all. However, my horse was terrified and bucked. Mochro stood on his hind legs and brought his front hooves crashing down on its back. A scream of pain came from down under then suddenly the beast reared up, throwing the horse on his side and sending me flying. I crash landed into one of the barrels. With adrenaline racing through my veins, I was immediately on my feet, bow at hand, and aiming at the beast. Before I knew it, my fingers released the arrow. The projectile shot through the air and landed in its eye. The chimera roared and writhed in pain on the ground, unable to take the arrow out. My breathing was getting heavier and heavier as I fought down the panicked feeling that was beginning to rise up from my stomach. It somehow staggered to its legs and approached me. I shakily staggered backwards as I fired arrow after arrow after arrow but the chimera refused to die. Could they even die?
At last, that thing collapsed and its panting became visible through its exposed ribs. Before anything else happened, I quickly ran to Mochro, who was laying down on his side. After positioning myself, I heaved the horse up, helping him get to his legs. Seconds later, I was shooting through the village streets and back to the Needlesworth. An explosion somewhere east of me shook the streets. A chimera's scream of agony joined the discord of explosions and screams as those abominations spilled into the streets of Terrafoire. The scream was quickly cut off, as if its head was severed. That must've been one of them. I imagined the elf's spear embedding itself in the bodies of these forsaken creatures as the twin blades of his companion's decapitated others. I remembered the way Marshall easily dismembered the ogre general. The memory of the blood splattering over the walls, its foul rotten stench clogging up my lungs only to be replaced by sweet scent of strawberries and pine needles...
I pulled at Mochro's reins as another chimera crashed through one of the houses on the street. This one looked a like a bull with a lion's head coming out of its back. Both of the mouths roared as something crashed into its body, knocking it into another house. I quickly loaded two arrows in my bow and pointed them towards the beast that jumped back out on the street. It let out a roar but was silenced when a hooded figure grabbed the bull's horns and pulled. I lowered my weapon watched in blood curling horror and fear as Marshall ripped the creature in half, freeing it from its damnation. Screams from both the ox's and lion's mouths joined the sickening symphony of bones breaking, organs ripping and blood spluttering.
Marshall dropped the two halves of the body and stood motionless over the mangled up corpse before him. Mochro jerked and neighed in fear and I fought to stay on. Marshall's head snapped towards me. The animalistic killing intent in crimson his eyes turned to surprise when they met mine. My blue eyes widened at the sight of him. He covered head to toe in different colors of blood. Blood ran down from his hands and from his face. His clothing were torn at places and he was panting slightly. Cold sweat dripped from my temple as shivers shook my body. My muscles tensed and my grip tightened around the reins. My panting became shallow as absolute terror surged through my body.
"Fionna?" His voice breathlessly asked as he raised his hand towards me. "Fionna! What are doing here? You should be in the- Wait!"
I yanked at the reins and raced away from him. I knew what he was. I knew his kind were capable of. I know what he can do, heck I've seen it. Twice. So why did I...why do I trust him? How can someone be so cold blooded one second then concerning the next?
Mochro was practically flying though the streets. I dug my heels into his side. I did my best to ignore the calamity our once great village fell into. As soon as we arrived at the front of the tailoring shop I once called home, I literally dove from the black mustang's back to the door. Once inside, I scrambled to my feet, knocking down some boxes waiting for delivery, then thundered up the stairs to room I shared with Geemo. After almost knocking down the door, I dropped to my knees and dug my fingers into the rug that covered most of the floor between the two beds. Desperately, I yanked the rug and tore it of off the ground then started to claw at the floor boards underneath. Gasp escaped from mouth along with tears from my eyes as I became more desperate. At last, I caught the end of the wooden plank then lifted it up. There, amongst the shadows, was a cloak wrapped tightly around a long object. My breathing calmed at the sight of the last thing my father gave me before his demise. I grabbed the bundle then thundered back down the stairs.
Outside, Mochro was stomping on a small chimera, about the size of a cat. One of his large hooves crashed down on its head, making a squishing noise and a crack. On other days, I probably would've thrown up or screamed at the horse to stop but instead, I grabbed his reins in an attempt to calm him down. "C'mon Mochro! Shhhh. It'll be okay. Calm dow-"
Something pounded into my side and I flew through the window and into the back shelves of the shop. I groaned in pain and found that a chimera was pinning me on the ground, this time a two headed wolf. It snarled at me, drool dripping from its mouth and to the floor next to me as more smaller chimeras poured into the shop. It bared its teeth and pressed harder on my stomach making me gasp in pain.
Suddenly, the weight was yanked off of me. The sound of hooves on the wooden floor filled my ears as Mochro shoved the beast off of me. I inhaled gratefully and basked at the air filling my chest. As soon as my mind began to work again, I unraveled my father's cloak to reveal his most prized possession and my family's heirloom. A blood red sword gleamed in the moonlight as I held it how my father thought me. Miltiades. The red blade of my forefathers. A cross ran through the circle just above ebony hilt. Its blade as sharp as those meant for royalty.
Calm your breath. Clear your mind. Relax your body. Steady your sword.
I followed my father's directions as memories of my mother's and father's smiling faces flashed painfully through my eyes. My body moved gracefully, swinging the sword with expert precision, through the numerous little monsters. It looked as if they were moving slowly as they jumped at me. The red sword quickly cut them down. I parried their attacks, sliced through their tiny bodies, and took away their misery. My breath was calm. My mind was clear. My body was relaxed. My sword was steady.
Chimera after chimera fell before me. I was soon covered in blood. The shattering of their bones. The elasticity of their blood. The thickness of their skins. I felt it all. I felt it all running down from the blade, into the hilt, into my hand, into my mind. The last of them fell with a huge incision on its abdomen. It tried pathetically to snap at my ankles. I glared down at it and crush its head with the heel of my foot. I slowly made my way to Mochro who was pounding his hooves on the wolf chimera. I grabbed his reins and yanked. He backed away, panting, then snorted. My cold, unforgiving glare matched the wolf's. Mochro broke its body pretty badly. Ribs stuck out from its sides. One of the heads was crushed in, its brains pouring out. The other glared at me, its tongue lolling out of its broken jaw.
The taste of copper reached my mouth as the blood of my victims dripped down my face. I raised my father's sword. I stared into the creatures eyes. One set had fear and pain forever etched in its lifeless state, the other quite the opposite; calm and the acceptance of death. It was panting as it laid there, in the ruins of the shelf that it threw me into, panting against the back wall. My face was stoic. I felt nothing. No regret, no guilt, just the need to survive. To protect. My grip tightened on the hilt. I brought the blade down and watched as it closed its eyes before I took its life.
Cold fingers wrapped around the wrist of my right hand, the one I held Miltiades in. A powerful, yet gentle, arm wrapped around my waist as his torso pressed against my back. I was instantly intoxicated by the scent of pine needles. Marshall Lee lowered my arm and slid his palm from my wrist to my hand. He slipped sword out of my hand then I felt my knees buckle. The world turned around me. My body trembled at the emotions that came crashing down on me. I gasped for breath as Marshall turned me to face him. My arms quickly wrap around him, barely meeting at his back, and buried my face in his chest. He sheathed Miltiades back in her sheath on my hip then wrapped his arms around my shaking shoulders. Marshall lowered us to our knees. Sobs escaped me as I lost control over all emotions.
I was covered in blood. Oh Glob what have I done? I killed them! I took their lives! They were alive and now they're not! Because of me! I killed them! I felt sick to my stomach. I gripped the back of Marshall Lee's shirt as his fingers ran through my hair, something that my mother did when I needed comforting. His other arm wrapped protectively around my waist, a comforting pressure telling me that he was there because I needed him. A low humming, a deep lullaby reached my ears and Marshall began rocking us to its beat. Despite all the screams and explosions happening around the village and the overwhelming noise of all the commotion, I heard only the lullaby that night. I remembered only the lullaby that night.
