I am back and bad as ever, last time Malek's sisters and his Mistresses got it on in a forest, Gnarl found out. So, will Gnarl turn them in? Will Malek find out? Stay tuned.
Poison runs through my veins
"Well that was fun" Sierra and Laurcelle descended into the throne room.
As they touched down Malek stirred on the throne.
"Where have you two been?"
"The docks" Sierra replied quickly, "Showing Laurcelle my babies."
Malek frowned for a moment and his eyes dulled a bit, "Okay then, have you seen Cynthia?"
"Hiya!"
Cynthia and Gwen floated down from the portal and landed beside Sierra and Laurcelle.
"And where have you been?" Malek rested his head on a hand.
"The beach" Gwen glanced at Cynthia, "How are you feeling?"
Malek struggled to his feet, "Rather tired. I'll see you later" a group of Browns rushed forward to help him up the stairs to the Private Quarters.
"Is he going to be okay?" Cynthia was wringing her hands nervously, "He seems really weak."
"After a few days of taking it easy he'll be fine." Gnarl walked forward with a creepy grin.
Sierra examined her nails, "So what should we do in the meantime?"
"I know what you did" Gnarl chuckled nastily.
All four women stiffened.
"What do you mean?" Gwen took a step closer to Cynthia.
His eyes gleamed dangerously, "I saw the four of you in the forest."
The sisters looked at each other.
"We saw you" Sierra admitted, "Then we kinda done the same."
"I knew I sensed magical beings." Gwen muttered.
Gnarl clapped his hands for attention, "This is unheard of. The Overlord's Mistresses and his sisters together!" scowling darkly he glared at them, "The Master's health is delicate at the minute, if he finds out the shock could have serious consequences."
"How bad we talking?" Laurcelle asked concernedly.
Pausing for a moment to consider the effects Gnarl then drew a line across his throat.
"It might kill him!" Cynthia shrieked.
"It might" Gnarl admitted, "Or it might cause him to kill the four of you."
"Is that possible?" Sierra pouted, "Or are you just trying to scare us?"
Gnarl looked slyly at her, "Do you want to risk it?"
There was an awkward silence.
"So, we just pretend nothing happened for the rest of our lives?" Cynthia held Gwen's hand, "But I'm sure if we give Malek time he wouldn't hold it against us."
Sighing deeply Gnarl started walking away.
"Tell him if you want" he called back, "But if you get banished, or worse, then don't say I didn't warn you." He vanished through a Minion sized door leading to the lower levels.
The group exchanged glances.
"Even if he is lying I don't think we should let Mal know, at least not yet." Sierra glanced at the stairs, "In his condition I think it's better we play it cool."
The others silently nodded, before hearing metallic footsteps on the stairs and quickly starting up a conversation.
Malek appeared, fully dressed in his pitch-black arcanium armour.
"I am going to conquer" he stumbled forwards, "I am not spending another minute here." His hand rose and sent blots of lighting into the portal which pulled him directly into it.
"Get after him you fools" Gnarl scurried into view, "Are you just going to let him go on his own?"
After parting words to the Mistresses, Cynthia and Sierra likewise ascended into the portal.
(LEVILLE BRIDGE)
"I can do this" Malek arrived at the bridge.
A loud thumping echoed around him. A unicorn emerged from the forest, with two very familiar passengers.
"Mal!" Cynthia dismounted and strode over to him furiously, "You need to rest. What are you doing here?"
Her brother drew his sword and glanced around wildly, "Last time I was here I sensed something. Something powerful, and it wasn't the Paladins."
"Are you losing it?" Sierra walked over, "Look Mal, as an Overlord you may think you're invincible, but you're not. Now, why don't you go back to the Netherworld until you've fully recovered?"
Something emerged from the tree line. It was the Elder Dryad, and it looked terrible. The leaves were blackened, and the normal green was now a sickly yellow.
"Help us" it cried, "The forest is poisoned. Save us!" with that it flung itself at Malek.
Sierra sprang into the air and delivered a powerful kick to the creature, sending it back far enough for Cynthia to ignite it.
The Dryad shrieked in pain before it turned into ash.
Malek waved his sword.
"Onwards" he groggily strode towards the tree.
"Shouldn't we get some Minions?" Sierra asked.
"No need" Cynthia grinned, "Look who's here."
A small army of succubus armed with magical flaming swords were landing nearby. They saluted Malek before falling into line behind the trio.
"Thank you Laurcelle" Sierra grinned as she was sure the Succubus Queen was watching in the Netherworld.
They advanced into the forest. Malek had ignored Cynthia's repeated instructions to ride on Ventrika so now the fiery hybrid was riding her pet.
There were some distinct changes in Ventrika. Her normal white coat was darkening, and small wisps of fire encircled her hooves. The horn shone a vibrant red.
"She's adapting to her new life" Cynthia patted the unicorn fondly.
They finally arrived at a large clearing, Sierra recognised it as the one where she had spoken to the Elder Dryad.
Now it was in ruins, plants were dying, all the same sickly poisoned colour. It was the perfect picture of destroyed nature.
"I like it" Sierra licked her lips, "Wonder what happened."
"Spread out" Malek ordered, "I want a complete sweep of the area." He bent over and coughed violently.
The succubi lifted into the air and soared around the clearing. Cynthia prodded several plant remains while Sierra stood beside her brother.
"Hey are you okay?" she frowned as he coughed and spluttered again.
"I'm fine" he replied, "Now go help Cynthia with checking the remains, you're the scientist."
Sierra rolled her eyes and walked over to her sister. "What've you got?"
"We've got some form of disease eating through these magical plants" Cynthia held up a poisoned leaf, "It only seems to affect the plants, we are immune unless you eat it."
Her sister carefully examined the leaf, "Any idea what caused it?"
Cynthia nodded, "The magical explosion, when Malek and Edward fought."
"Then they fell in the river and polluted it." Sierra continued, "So the plants absorbed the water and poisoned themselves. It'll kill itself, shortly with nothing to spread to unless some…"
Both sisters stared at each other in horror before hearing a loud thud. They spun around and found Malek flat on the ground.
"MALEK!" They sprinted towards him as several succubi landed beside his body.
"He's been poisoned" Sierra explained quickly, "The water was polluted briefly after his fight with Edward, they were both in the river and he must've drunk a lot of it."
Cynthia whistled and Ventrika charged over, they lifted Malek onto the unicorn, Cynthia jumped into the saddle and hurried away.
"Let's go!" Sierra was carried by a succubus as the group flew back to the Tower Gate.
(NETHERWORLD/PRIVATE QUARTERS)
Gnarl grunted as he was slammed against the wall.
"You said he was okay!" Cynthia threw him into a pillar, "You said he would be fine!"
"I didn't realise he was poisoned" the Minion scurried over to his master's side. "The poison isn't moving as fast through him but it is still weakening him, unless we find a cure he will most certainly die."
Sierra turfed Gnarl aside, "Remove his armour"
The Minion attendants quickly unfastened and unclasped the arcanium armour, revealing the man underneath.
"Oh no" Laurcelle gasped.
His arms and legs had thick green lines etched in the skin. A deep green patch was visible in his chest and a single line was growing on his neck. He grunted painfully and scratched at his skin frantically.
"What do we do?" Gwen looked at several Blues, "Could they heal him?"
Gnarl approached carefully, staying out of range he answered, "The disease was created by consuming poisoned magic, it is inside the master now. We must find a way to remove it, and fast."
Laurcelle, Gwen, and Cynthia stepped back as Sierra called Jagged and Reaper forward.
"Here Mistress" Jagged held out a beaker while Reaper handed her a syringe.
Sierra quickly extracted a sample of Malek's blood and placed it in the beakers with instructions, "Take these to my lab at once. I shall be down shortly." Her assistants scurried away.
"I shall investigate Heaven's Peak" Laurcelle offered, "They may have medicines, herbs, anything." She flew for the stairway.
Gwen hurriedly kissed Cynthia, "I'll check Everlight, the other elves may have antidotes for their poison bombs they made during the reign of the Empire." She vanished in a blue flash.
Cynthia and Sierra hurried down the stairway, "I'll check the nearby villages" Cynthia explained, "There may be a healer, or a doctor, or something"
"He's going to be fine" Sierra tried to sound confident, "I'll see what I can find with the samples of his blood and try to create a counter, or at least a solution to slow down the poison and give us more time."
They spilt up in the Throne Room, Cynthia ascending through the portal while Sierra continued down to the lower levels.
(HEAVEN'S PEAK)
"Mistress" a Brown gave a deep bow to Laurcelle as she and a dozen succubi arrived.
"Have the people rounded up" she ordered, "All of them, right now"
After a quick bow the Brown scurried away to inform the other Minions.
"Come with me" Laurcelle glanced at her guards, "Angelis Keep may have something." They soared into the air.
(EVERLIGHT)
"What do you mean you don't have anything?" Gwen flared up, "Those bombs you made worked with toxins, I'm sure they made a counter in case of friendly fire."
The elf she was interrogating was on the verge of hysteria, "It was a long time ago, we stopped making them."
Gwen brought her hand round and dealt him a brutal blow to the face. The force knocked him clean out.
"Search the rest of this place" she ordered the Minions, "Tell the people if they have nothing to offer their Master then they have no reason to live."
(NETHWERWORLD)
"Mistress" Jagged and Reaper bowed as she entered the lab.
She quickly examined the beakers, "Bring me a test subject."
Jagged scurried away and quickly return with a gnome in his claw.
"It'll do" she sighed.
After securing it to the operating table Sierra injected a portion of the poison into the tiny creature. It died instantly.
"Bring me something bigger" she took a note of how long the gnome lasted. Zero point zero, zero, zero, three seconds.
(INNOCENT TOWN ON THE EDGE OF MALEK'S EMPIRE)
It was a usual day, bright skies, green fields, birds singing, children playing.
"Ah" the mayor took a deep breath and smiled broadly, "Tis a good sign. As long as we don't draw attention to ourselves that dark feller will leave us alone."
The warning horn sounded and the mayor hurried to the town's outskirts. In the distance he spotted a blazing trail of fire.
"Hand me that there looking glass" he held the telescope to his eye, "Oh no"
At the front of the fire trail was a unicorn. It was as black as the darkest night and its horn was a midnight blue. A line of purple fire ran from its head along the back and broke off into lines that ran down the legs and encircled the hooves.
The rider was a bright fiery red against the unicorn's black. Smoke trailed from her body as she incinerated the trees around her while the unicorn scorched the ground beneath its mighty hooves.
"Prepare to receive a visitor" the mayor spoke in a very high pitched voice.
After a minute the rider entered the town to find everyone gathered waiting.
"I am Lady Cynthia" she declared, "Sister of Lord Malek the Overlord. My journey is to seek a cure for a deadly poison. If you can provide one this town shall be spared and riches shall be showered on you. If not then I will burn it to the ground."
There was a brief moment of silence before the crowd scattered, leaving the mayor behind.
"Would you ah, care for some refreshments?" he gave a feeble smile.
The flames emitting from the unicorn and Cynthia vanished as she dismounted.
"Have some food provided for Ventrika" she nodded at her unicorn before following the mayor inside the Town Hall.
A plate of food and a glass of the best wine was quickly set before her with the mayor looking on the verge of panic.
"Does this place have a healer, or some form of doctor?" she demanded.
"Yes" the mayor spluttered, "Do you require attention?"
Cynthia stood up and grabbed the mayor by his throat. She easily lifted him off the floor and slammed him against the wall.
"Bring me everyone you know who can work with medical ailments." She hissed, "Or this town will need a new mayor"
(HEAVEN'S PEAK)
The people watched as Laurcelle and her guards scoured the city. Several people had already been picked out for their insight into medical treatments.
"Is that everyone" she growled.
"Yes Mistress" the Brown captain nodded
Laurcelle turned to the group, "You will be taken to the Netherworld. A member of our Overlord's family is ill. If you heal them, riches and power shall be yours, if not you will be devoured." She licked her lips for effect.
(OPEN OCEAN)
"Lord Edward" some of the Paladins grouped around his bed, "What ails you?"
He gasped for breath, "Poisoned… by…. the Overlord's… magic."
"Is there a cure?" one of them asked urgently.
Edward flung a hand out towards his staff, "Must… find the Overlord's…body… can return his magic… get it out… of myself."
One of the Paladins hurried from the room and shouted, "Turn the ship around! Back to the forest!"
(NETHERWORLD)
"Nothing is working!" Sierra hurtled a dead sea lion across the lab, "It's like the disease has no cure."
Jagged and Reaper scurried forward.
"But Master will die" they looked horrified.
Sierra gave them a curious look, "Who would be in charge then?"
Jagged and Reaper exchanged looks.
"Gnarl, but if Master has family" Jagged paused, "Then family would rule."
"Me?" Sierra whispered.
"As long as Lady Cynthia doesn't mind" Gnarl appeared in the lab, "It is true if the Overlord was to perish you or your sister would take his place. Are you evil enough to let your brother die to take his throne?" the Minion grinned evilly before scuttling out of the lab.
Sierra examined her long claws, "Lady Sierra" she whispered.
(THAT NIGHT)
A crowd of doctors, healers, and more had been brought down to the Netherworld.
"There is no need for these people" Sierra muttered to her sister, "Malek's illness is beyond these peasants."
"We need to try" Cynthia wrung her hands.
Sierra took a deep breath, "If Malek did die…"
"Don't say that" flames ignited around Cynthia.
"If he did" Sierra continued firmly, "One of us would have to step into his place as leader of the Minions and ruler of the Dark domain."
Cynthia snorted aggressively, "You can have it. But Malek is not going to die."
"Damn right he's not" a smile curled onto the green face. If Cynthia had wanted to take control that meant she cared more for power than her family. But she didn't want the power, she wanted her family.
And the same was true for Sierra.
"Send these people home Jagged" she ordered, "They cannot help us."
He bowed and scurried away.
"Let's go Cynthia" Sierra raised a hand to the portal, "We've got a Paladin to meet."
(SURFACE)
A group of Paladins arrived at Heaven's Peak. After passing through the forest they had heard the Overlord was abducting large groups of people to serve as slaves in his lair.
"If the Overlord is here we must take him alive and at once to Lord Edward" one of them reminded the others. "Stay on your guard, we are about to enter his territory."
As they crossed the drawbridge and ascended the steps into the city a loud cackle filled the air, then another, and another till the sound echoed all around.
"Well, well" Laurcelle and a dozen succubi looked down from the rooftops and battlements, "Look what we've got here girls, a band of men who cut off their only useful part when they took an oath of purity."
Several of the Paladins shuffled their feet, embarrassed as the beautiful demons laughed.
"Listen here you overgrown spawn of sin" one of the Paladins stepped forward, "We are here for your master, where is he?"
Laurcelle snorted, "As if I'd tell you."
"Then we shall force him to come to us." The same Paladin sent a sphere of green energy at Laurcelle.
She calmly flew into the air and avoided it, "Tear them apart."
(PALADIN'S SHIP)
"There it is" a voice whispered to Cynthia as she crept to the small arbor.
Sierra materialised into view beside her, "I count three guards."
"I got the two on the mainland" Cynthia pointed, "You take out the third on the ship."
After a quick nod Sierra turned invisible and darted away.
"Hold on Malek" Cynthia fought off another shudder, guilt was eating away at her over the fact she was seeing her brother's Mistress. If he passed away without ever knowing… or if he found out…
She almost didn't see the blood spray as the Paladin standing on the ship's deck got his throat slit. Quickly rushing from cover she sent two streams of fire at the Paladins standing at the gangplank. Caught off guard they struggled to respond, which isn't easy when you are on fire.
"Where is Edward?" Cynthia hurried onto the ship.
"He's in the cabin" Sierra pointed, "C'mon"
A blast of energy exploded through the door and hit Sierra; she flew into the air and over the edge of the ship.
"Looking for me?" Edward moved out of the cabin. He was leaning heavily on his staff and drew breath rapidly as though his lungs were failing.
Cynthia ignited a fireball in her hand, "My sister tells me you can save the Overlord."
"And he can save me" Edward coughed and spluttered violently.
"Then come with us" the hybrid held out a hand, "I'm sure once you are both healed my brother will let you return to your homeland."
The Paladin shook his head, "No"
"What do you mean?" her face went pale, "You'll die."
"And so will he" Edward gave a strained smile, "My mission was to defeat the Overlord, I am willing to die if it means the same for him."
Flames erupted around Cynthia and the deck ignited. The mast was incinerated into ash along with the sails.
"You will come with me, you will save my brother, and then you will return to your home." She walked forward, the flames growing larger around her, more and more of the deck ignited fire streamed around the prow and along the hull.
Edward slowly moved to the side of the ship, "I cannot allow that." He stepped onto the railing.
"No!" Cynthia ran forward.
A blast of energy sent her skidding along the deck. While the entire ship was on fire it was an enchanted vessel and had a resistance to magic. Thus it was taking a while to completely destroy it.
Edward fell backwards into the water.
"Where is he?" Sierra shouted from the mainland, with the ship on fire she didn't try approaching. Cynthia might be able to control her flames but when her temper flared then the best advice was to stay far away.
"In the water!" Cynthia yelled.
Edward slowly drifted towards the open ocean. Neither of the girls could stop him.
Or so he thought.
"Let's go" Cynthia dived into the water, Sierra followed suit.
As Malek predicted the Blue Minion within them reacted to the situation. Their hands and feet became webbed and gills appeared along their throats.
"Awesome" Sierra grinned.
They shot after Edward. He only had time to see two figures heading his way before they were on him.
(NETHERWORLD/PRIVATE QUARTERS)
"Hold on Malek" Gwen tenderly held his hand, "You know they won't let you down."
Laurcelle flew up the stairs and landed beside Gwen. Her wings had blood splattered across them but she was looking rather happy with herself.
"How many?" Gwen asked politely.
"There was about twenty" Laurcelle answered, "I think I killed four of them, might've made one bleed to death."
Looking rather disturbed Gwen turned back to the Overlord, "Cynthia reported they have Edward and are bringing him here."
"Hope they know what they're doing." The Succubus Queen watched Malek spasm violently. Almost all his skin was a dark poisonous green and his eyes were hardly glowing at all.
"We're here!" Cynthia and Sierra hurried into the room. A group of Browns carried Edward into view. He didn't look too good either.
The Minions positioned him onto the bed beside Malek and retreated to a distance as Gnarl scurried over.
"What do we do?" Cynthia looked at her sister.
The green hybrid tapped her cheek, "These two fought, used a lot of magic that intertwined. They poisoned the other, now they must retract the magic to heal themselves."
Tendrils of white energy stretched from Malek into Edward. At the same time black tendrils emerged from Edward and linked into Malek.
"It's working" Sierra hugged Laurcelle.
Of course as if that jinxed it something else started happening.
Malek's body and Edwards body started moving towards each other. Energy surrounded the bodies and as their shoulders touched they went through each other.
"No!" Cynthia grabbed her brother's arm and tried to pull him away.
It was the equivalent of a gnome pulling a rock giant. A shock coursed through her and she let go.
Malek's body and Edward's body was covered in white light, then black smog.
"What do we do?" Cynthia looked frantically at Sierra. Her sister merely shook her head, looking completely baffled.
The smog vanished and a body fell onto the bed. It was Malek.
"MALEK!" Cynthia grabbed his shoulders, "Wake up!"
For a moment there was no response, then Malek opened his eyes.
"Hello there" he smiled, "How are you?"
Cynthia pulled him into a hug, "Not too bad" she felt tears in her eyes, "You?"
"Hungry" he sat up as she pulled away, "Hey Sie, how've you been?"
Sierra tilted her head, "So so. Bout time you got up." She turned to walk away.
"I missed you too" Malek smiled as he stood up. Next minute Sierra tackled him into an embrace.
"Don't do that to me ever again" Sierra was actually crying as she hugged her brother, "Cynthia and I have been worried sick."
Malek carefully patted his sister's back, "It's okay Sie, I won't make that mistake again."
"Welcome back Sire" Gnarl bowed, "Is there anything you require, apart from sustenance?"
A dark look appeared on Malek's face. "When I was unconscious, my mind was linked to the Netherworld. I was able to watch what was going on."
Gwen, Laurcelle, Cynthia, and Sierra cowered as he turned to them.
"My sisters, and my Mistresses" his voice rose furiously, "In a forest, together."
The four of them huddled together as he paced back and forth.
"What do you wish to happen to them Sire?" Gnarl grinned evilly.
Malek stopped and turned to the group of females, "Throw them… a party."
"Excellent idea Sire" Gnarl started laughing, which cut off a few seconds later, "A what?"
With a great laugh Malek threw his arms around the four women, "A party Gnarl, music, food, drink, dancing, this is a celebration."
"As you wish Sire" Gnarl waddled away, looking puzzled.
"You're not mad?" Cynthia asked as Malek stepped back.
He put a hand on his heart, "You think I'd be mad my sisters and Mistresses got busy while I was sleeping? I'm happy for you girls. Just promise me two things."
"Anything"
"One, if you are going to... you know… do it. Please leave a warning so I don't walk in on it."
Sierra giggled, "No problem. What's the second?"
Malek took a deep breath, "Can you promise me you won't let this get out? I hold nothing against you but it would look bad for my reputation if I lost my two Mistresses to my sisters."
The four of them sniggered, "We promise"
"Excellent" Malek clapped his hands together, "Let's party."
Okay, that'll do for now. Please review, pretty please?
