The Inquisitor
Chapter Nine
The prominent smell of burning, or charred flesh had finally managed to get myself stirring. Human flesh as I understood, I swore it wasn't ever supposed to smell good, gritting angrily I coughed loudly trying while regaining awareness. Cautiously when I began moving in a daze I had forgotten something very obvious. Movement alone triggered a sharp blinding pain when nerves had tried to force broken bones to move, "Throne! Dumb idea, real dumb fecking idea!" Stiffing an overly zealous yelp barely managed to describe myself trying sluggishly to use an elbow and one leg in a poor effort in struggling sitting up. Due to being pressed up against charred corpse I reflexively spat out ash and burnt strips of flesh with an aftertaste so fowl I gagged naturally it'd been a futile effort in trying to get rid of it's presence altogether.
Swaying considerably took an effort to look up into seeing a pale orange light streaking through clouds of dust. Distant rumbles of thunderous booms echoed past an ever fearsome penetrated wall belonging to the Emperor's divinity, I blinked unable to comprehend when I heard a shrieking swoop rushing beyond that wall to the outside. Slowly snapping from a daze when huge swaying gusts of wind stirred up even more dirt and loose debris to obscure an orb of yellowish light into an ever gloomy eerie sickly orange. Coughing violently as fresh memories of what invaded me personally sent waves of disgust to encourage myself to prop against an undamaged statue of the God Emperor. When I moved I clamped down rigidly avoiding an ear piercing shriek when I noticed a sharply broken ankle, "If I wasn't feeling agony before I swear it's clear. Broken ankle got worse during that...explosion." Seething I bit down on my own tongue while damn well clumsily in sitting back to a solid surface, soon I felt warm salty droplets to literal liquid tears running down both cheeks as I became aware all these efforts were to just breathe naturally.
Huge pieces of granite and steel fell yet figures were moving through a wall of dust. They had to be apart of these heretics I rapidly rationalized while fumbling around for anything close in order to defend myself. Grasping a suitable piece of jagged granite I gripped it tightly waiting to lash out when those damned animals got closer. Ironically bravery served to remind myself of fear, so I braced myself zealously to see the God Emperor and snarled furiously ready to smash any skull into pieces. "Come on for Emperor's sake, come on you bastard feckers!" Saying those words heaving in several lungfuls of floating dust made my voice sound hoarser. It seriously hurt to speak words yet openly I trembled hearing stones being crushed by thudding steps as I saw a massive armored silhouette accelerating an organ called my heart.
"Marcos!" Safe to say I never expected it to speak my name when a familiar coloration of power armor belonging to Sister Anora appeared like a dream! An enclosed helmet's visor glowed due to inner mechanisms providing sight for her to see my broken state. Shame filled itself to subdue fear, "Bless Saint Alicia and our God-Emperor, bless them both for you're a sight for sore eyes Sister Anora!" I grimly laughed in disbelief when dozens of sharp crackling streams of orange erupted behind. Screams not of pleasure and indignant screeches of shocked surprise were met when a dozen or so uniformed soldiers, belonging to Inquisitorial Storm Troopers fearlessly flooded past a breach, coughing lightly in shock when noticing they were also supporting other armored Sororitas who had fled earlier. They were clearly shouting several litanies I barely understood to burn these damned heretics along with a score of bolter weaponry discharging zealously.
Snarling I hastily jerked my chin towards where the other surviving Sororitas were hopefully alive. Quickly my words were barely heard over a newly minted firefight, "Sister Theresa and the others who survived are up over there! God Emperor willing I beg you, you have to save her Anora, I tried damn it! Please I...I saw them do it, feck they started cutting her up when I tried to stop them..." An explosion belonging to thrown grenades went off a few meters behind Anora's crouched form occasionally striking metallic surfaces. Flecks of metal stung my cheek despite seeing her armored gauntlets being occupied by a familiar blessed chain sword I had seen her instruct me how to bless along with a freshly smoking bolt-pistol. My own reflection peered through greenish glass of a visor as she nodded briefly taking in that newly acquired critical information.
"Understood, I'll back for you!" She promised me through a helmet which couldn't hide concern as I weakly shrugged one good shoulder, "Not like I can get far. Please make sure they're alive, since I can't even walk!" An oddly angled limb resembling a human foot caught my instructor's attention before she stood up lightly tapping one non broken arm with warmed pistol, "You're a stupid child for risking your life for myself and my sisters Marcos..." The projected vocalize inside her helmet couldn't hide her relieved tone as I laughed painfully aware how similar Anora sounded to the elder Sororitas when I found her, "...but bless the great Father of mankind for your faith. Stay strong and keep out of sight!" Struggling to remain upright I made a lone small symbol representing a wing of aquila to show an answer. So within moments once she nodded I saw her move inhumanely quick just as she kept firing a bolt pistol allow shells to clink near a broke ankle causing screams to escalate beyond in the cathedral.
"Thank you my Emperor, thank you." Mentally praising this breath of relief to stop a nightmare called reality. Wetting dried lips I witnessed sharp cracks of over charged las-weapons striking several larger figures and I started enjoying a brutal savage satisfaction in seeing these barbaric heretics being gunned down. It seemed the troopers from the ship orbiting above were expertly avoiding enemy fire, or diving to get lower profiles to shoot masterfully at vague figures I couldn't tell who, or what they were initially. Panting I gripped a jagged rock as a life line praying feverishly to get off this world and allow the great Father of mankind to burn these bastards alive. Hopefully in time dared I imagine these remaining Sororitas would zealously cleanse out those damned animals, I'd personally view that justice through a retribution most accepted as a holy fire.
Laying back against a wall I absently spat out a mess of dirt clearing my throat of annoyances. I peered through a cloud concealing fight fights and possibly other forms merging in bloodied close quarters combat as metal clashed together. Anxiety coursed through veins with adrenaline keeping both eyes alert for anyone not considerably human, I couldn't shake off another cold feeling running up a thing I had as a spinal cord. Heavy plated footsteps grew closer once it became apparently obvious, I started to literally bare both teeth when I heard a mind scarring sound akin to flesh being ripped apart! Sharp audible cracks were bones being broken like thin scraps, I lifted my crude jagged weapon once a massive shape twisted to turn towards my location. I immediately realized it wasn't Anora or anyone I knew because a snap pain practically split open my skull!
That damnable giggling called a warped version of whispering returned, "I will not be denied what I claim is mine, boy." Whimpering internally I literally hyperventilated once a pair of gleaming red eyes made themselves very clear in their intent of malice. Twisted vile icons of a heretical monstrosity belonging to a blackened carapace power armor became very clear. Frightened by a purring creature whose actions in chastising me seemed utterly bemused, "You naughty, naughty little boy. Don't expect crawling away will be enough to make my Dark Prince, or I forget about you because of some party crashers." Her pupils gleamed brightly showing off their malicious intent which increased a painful spike wedging further into my head. I swore silently that this damnable monstrosity surpassed what I witnessed as nightmarish back in my old hive city of a home.
"You will burn." I said those words righteously sneering trying to hide a fact I had nothing but a rock to defend myself. Those pupils narrowed effortlessly amused before glancing over to the side, I noticed a uniformed trooper crouching as if trying to get a shot on my armored nightmare. No such thing as hope became known when an arm casually lifted a warped bolter to fire tearing a man into screaming pieces of sputtering crimson. Reddish smoke idly wafted from a freshly used barrel as its owner spoke mildly intrigued, "No more then you yourself my soon to be disciple. You were so close to saying our Dark Prince that I almost cried out in ecstasy." Gathering what little saliva I could muster it formed a projectile struck this insane atrocity called a creature. An inhumane smile grew while its firearm came to rest against that armored hip ever so arrogantly.
Snapping cracks and flesh being torn asunder enveloped an ever chaotic cathedral. As previously I screamed as hot agonizing signals alerting in a nervous system of a massive armored gauntlet came to snatch a limb. One semi broken foot became a storm of needless torment when I screeched being dragged with a flopping arm getting snared up in burnt corpses, "STOP, NO! GOD EMPEROR PLEASE NO MORE!" Screaming gruelingly tore through my raw throat as I heard the monstrosity dragging me comment ever so lovely, "Oh these sounds you make child are second to none! I haven't been this ecstatic since I listened to that self-driven pompous thing of a man trying to grasp those intestines of his for hours on end..." Wildly consumed by bones snapping within a crushed leg I screamed punching or throwing whatever a singular palm could grasp as it barely effected a torture I couldn't escape, "...oh yes! Those were such wonderful days in that city yet I dare say you're going to be my next favorite child!"
The armored creature hummed merrily while moving towards the doorway where two hidden figures were waiting happily. Through blistering tears I noticed in a growing horror two similar monsters were in appearance eerily chuckle noticing my gaze. They wore akin warped blackened armor painted, I strained to see shapes formed entwined with purplish icons yet I wouldn't begin to imagine, or dare to understand in an unworldly agonized existence. One purring voice idly clapped a pair of armored hands cruelly enjoying a feeling called blistering agony, "And what is this? Beautiful pleasure my Mistress, or another toy for us to play with perhaps?" Chuckles of gleeful anticipation was met when I got dragged past them with their hulking forms following a more terrifying monster, "Oh no, no no!" It all but sang happily making the two tilt their heads mystified yet their eyes glowing akin to reddish pupils I just knew were coyly playful.
Now I roared in sheer humiliation along with a desperation to have anyone hear me! Shadows of internal pillars shrouded myself in an endless pit of hopelessness to never see the next day. I almost want to bite my tongue off to drown in my blood before being taken, "You should expect a new brother to guide my fellow sisters. In our quest for perfection towards our Dark Prince, it is he who has given me a most delightful disciple who will become my greatest instrument for perfection. As you can see..." Her hand tightened to naturally cause audible cracks muffled under flesh yet for myself I shrieked feeling an almost mind shattering sensation called pain, "...I haven't be able to stop listening to such wonderful noise! But his eyes show me such raw potential it'd be a travesty in ignoring such a blessed gift offered by our Prince." Heaving in air managed to dispel hoarse attempts in scream due to overly taxed throat which hurt to regardless of what I perceived as relief. Pain practically overran what nerves to overload my mind to numbly gasp for air to make it stop.
"No more, please God Empeor! Please make it stop, I can't stand it anymore...Throne, I'd rather die then live at these monster's whims anymore!" Silently I begged to die in a hopeless prayer once it became perfectly clear no living soul had heard my screams. Facing a prospect living in an undeniable hellish existence wasn't going to fecking be anything merciful to ever call it living! Thoughts flew by in an overwhelming surge of sickness when it tempted a process start biting off my own damned tongue to drown myself in blood! Between consider that course of action, or save myself years of body crushing torture I knew it'd be all too easily clear!
An obviously bone shattered arm continuously got dragged keeping a sense of reality in check. Snarling in pure damnation I managed to lunge upwards to wildly start smacking my captors armor with a jagged rock! Chuckling greeted an effort to have a false hope to get away, "Quite a lively one isn't he?" Two glinting reddish pupils stared intently intrigued as I spat futility signifying what I thought about that creature's observation. In response to both my actions and what was stated, I barely had a moment before a broken arm got crushed again! A blackened armored gauntlet casually slammed me against a statue of the Emperor and soon screams filled an endless void called silence. Pure unaltered laughter became so genuine, I nearly bit down on my tongue to fecking end this retched existence.
"Did you accomplish your task?" One looming monster asked ever so merrily making my eyes almost spill out bloodied tears as I rasped in air. I nearly drowned out their words with my own hoarse shrieks of agony, "All our acquired ordinance is active and merely awaiting your orders Mistress, I'm very eager to show case our ascension to enlighten our second world." A faint glowing emitted between clutched armored digits when a palm innocently revealed some sort of large detonator as I managed to glimpse something before being violently flung into another wall nearly shattering another arm. It horrifically occurred to me these creatures in armor were just playing with their would be food, or prisoner. Absorbing all the sheer force alone practically sent bloodied globs spewing onto an already desecrated tiled floor.
"Please let me die, please God-Emperor I don't dare to think...no, I don't want to live in a fecking nightmare." Begging anything hearing prayers seemed absolutely maddening once it I understood my own intentions. Dying by the hands of monsters wasn't going to happen if they had their way, or converted me away from the Emperor's light! Coughing loudly to naturally clear out fleshy chunks of saliva and blood proved to make these armored creatures coo out delightfully cruel. Somehow I managed to clutch a jagged piece of granite which miraculously kept a natural shape to be usable yet I felt myself going limp to just feel everything slip away. Seconds mindlessly trickled on by once I grimly parted both lips to resolve myself to a bloodied end.
Dying by own hand seemed so damned cowardly, I smiled since it wasn't even the worst. When faced with a tortuous fate by heretics who seemed clear to break bones and shatter whatever sanity I had became that comparison. Lightly angling both jawlines in preparation seemingly made things easier once I got dragged down a few stairs to see an ugly orange sky. This entire world seemed destined to be burned under madness and warped monstrosities spawning an overwhelming sense of finality that nothing was worth living. Raw dirt scratched behind the bare nape of my neck to signal if I wasted anymore time then I'd be a hellish imagination to fecking contend with! Smiling towards a rotting sky with what little tears in reserve, I knew what needed to done, so I started to breathing in deeply preparing myself mentally to die by own bloodied suffocation.
They stopped dragging me finally when I looked up grimly to see a once holy cathedral literally burning. Statues of varying Sororitas were on both sides surrounded by bloodied grassy graves and scorched in darkened patches along with limbs were thrown around. I numbly noticed corpses arch over once vibrant green shrubs as many had their eyes gouged out, or several had bled out small ponds worth of crimson. In fact due to being so close towards the dirt, I almost wanted to laugh realizing that all the spilled blood during an entire day had made all into a muddied patch! The damned earth was so soaked in blood of loyal citizens to the Imperium and all were likely followers of our God Emperor, I practically saw on an eye level prints. They actually were deepened impressions indicating an agonizing frenzy to stay live from those who were dead! Taking one last breath I merely stared upwards into a dying sky above a world to clamp down on an effort to die on my terms.
Trembling I opened my jaws as naturally wide as they could ever hope to achieve. Hesitation briefly stopped reason yet I gave one last prayer before understanding I'd gag on my own blood. Clenching a jagged rock kept myself aware, "Forgive your weakened son, forgive his cowardice in taking his own life to not serve you faithfully great Father of mankind. Facing damnation to be converted of a hell, or remain loyal, I choose die now to spare myself the doubts to never turn. Forgive me God-Emperor, I choose to die a loyal son before considering to fall as a barbaric twisted heretic..." I clenched both eyes shut trying to muster what little sanity to go through with it yet I didn't want to die. But if I chose to die now then it's all be over, I didn't dare to argue it terrified myself to willingly die. Sharply inhaling I opened my eyes ready to scream as a brain finally snapped to never live an existence to bring destruction or agony onto those who believed in the Father of Mankind!
Both jaws descended rapidly only as an unexpected loud voice penetrated my ears! Literally an inch separated two sets of teeth from cutting a muscle in twain as a familiar person seemingly spoke absolutely irritated, "Don't even you dare follow through on what you're thinking to do!" Blinking stupidly I couldn't even move my jaw anywhere, I swore I felt a tingle creeping underneath clothing to freeze all commands to a brain. Trying to move any limb became nearly impossible as I heard much to undeniable shock Tartarus's less then pleased voice filtered through both ears, "I can willingly tolerate an acolyte under myself as an irrational idiotic simpleton, ignorance from one as young as you are child is amusing, but making a choice to die before I exact any suitable discipline upon you is absolutely unacceptable." Trying to reply back seemed pointless based on how annoyed I'd heard my teacher speaking. Truthfully I almost wanted to cry out of sheer desperation in order to beg her to die because I couldn't bare to come to terms with what I'd endure on these monster's whims, but unfortunately mercy wasn't a common blessing.
"Stop losing yourself in these pitifully useless feelings due to a mere few broken bones Marcos!" She warned ominously which sounded much clearer as time passed on by. I looked over towards the three armored monsters who were discussing something inaudible as if a sense called hearing couldn't understand their words! I nearly panicked while Tartarus's irritation seemingly grew with my genuine clueless questions, "If you continuously try my patience for your inept rambling I will destroy any notion in having you willingly speak again." I adhered to simply focus on breathing since a gut feeling told me she was joking, or merely bored. Anger became all too palpable once I stared hopelessly into an orange skyline again. This planet's sun gleamed ominously while waiting for what my teacher of an Inquisitor had said her piece.
After a moment I heard Tartarus almost condescendingly approve of my obedience, "Fear is just as an effective tool as respect to command those under you. Yet that's another lesson for another time!" My body got dragged briefly before I found myself flung towards a statue's base. Apart from a dull thud I miraculously blinked disbelieving in feeling nothing but a dull stinging sensation? Throne I had to be going mad since I'd been engulfed minutes earlier in an inferno of anguish! Unsurprisingly the Inquisitor's tone came very close to approaching sarcasm, "Your greatest asset and you waste it on pointless details! Your senses are only as such only if you allow them too, Throne I should have kept you back on the ship if I could have foreseen this irritating inconvenience, never again am I going to doubt you'd be this brainless." Shocked naturally I tried to ask what that meant yet I got pulled to stare right up into an amused armored monster's face. Two reddish pupils were being openly curious along with a serpent extruding from it's mouth tantalizing as it slithered left to right.
"Your hearing is under my discretion acolyte." The Inquisitorial woman revealed somewhat bored once I felt a slight tingle going down my spine again. She explained very quickly to make those suicidal thoughts disappear into a fearful clarity, "Do well to remember I warned you previously to block everything your hear out. You're an enticing target to influence a psyker as young as you are, where is that thing you call a brain, you couldn't follow simple instructions and as a result you're carelessly leaving your mind exposed." I noticed her voice got louder and louder almost as if Tartarus were standing right in front my very eyes. Everything seemed so surreal I nearly passed out in a blissful revelation that I wasn't normal, I technically had burned something just as fowl back when I ran into the Inquisitor herself. Throne of Terra I wanted to vomit due to how insanely quick I descended into blinding horror and panicked in not using something completely out of this reality.
The condescendingly tone barely contained its approval once it followed up with slow deliberate clapping. Somehow I got an overly confident assumption Tatartus seemingly sounded civil, "Stop fretting. Ignorance and inexperience on your studies as a psyker lies in my faults, in time we'll correct them, but for now you must remain strong willed." I steeled all muscles once I locked eyes with a black armored creature not refusing to cover before it. My teacher merely gave me a singular objective, "Remain strong and defiant to those who seek to corrupt you my dear apprentice. I'll be along very shortly to assist, so do what must to survive..." Her instructions were cut off immediately once I got hoisted to dang several feet above the bloodied mud. Breathing heavily though a noise in order to keep my mouth closed to avoid a repeat violation of that damnable serpent called a tongue trying to consume a heart beating underneath flesh.
"My, my, my. You're full of pleasant surprises aren't you boy?" This vile daemonic creature of a woman in warped armor mused tilting her head interestingly. I briefly glanced behind seeing her two companions kneeling in some crudely bloodied drawn circle and they had knives cutting themselves while gasping out in either twisted pleasure, or demented pains speaking words I couldn't understand. Again two pupils brightened considerably, "You've stopped making that beautiful noise so suddenly, I must say perhaps you truly are a great gift given to me, by our Dark Prince." Renewed by words of a teacher who was either going to kill me immediately, or possibly do a lot of painful lessons to determine acting rashly wasn't without consequences then proceed to kill me, so resigned I merely grinned to provoke it. Somehow whether it'd be confidence, or my lack of self-concern I got a creature extremely intrigued.
Exposing a serpent which hissed rather aggressively dark forward to encircle my neck. Briefly I imagined it to have it's own forked tongue tasting flesh appetizingly. In some sick sense this creature's voice sounded warped yet words were capable to be used, "Keep resisting the inevitable child. No matter how much you struggle, I'll break you to open yourself to pleasures and power you can never achieve serving that corpse on it's throne." Damn scales coiled tightening around my own neck forcing me to inhale rapidly through nostrils nearly being smothered by unnatural blackish hair. I barely could see light through those inhumane strands to grasp that jagged rock again. Angling an arm back enough to unleash a reserved act of defiance, I leaned over to the right as that serpent tongue tried to worm its way past sealed lips.
It's constant hissing grew in volume until tunneling past the corner of my lips. I snarled in allowing both sets of teeth to chomp down hard on a serpent which screeched in panic, "Fecking burn bitch!" Yanking wildly left to right came to reward once I heard a slight tearing of flesh being ripped as a jagged rock slammed into an exposed temple! This fresh boon of defiance spurned me to never stray away from my God Emperor's light, so without hesitation I kept biting down and rigorously tore into a being that deserved to have its soul burned. I gleefully heard an armored woman screamed in either complete shock, or possibly in unsuspecting pain once a sputtering headless serpent's decapitation drenched my own face in a misty red.
However I soon learned no action came without a damn consequence. As such I got slammed harshly onto the ground forcing me to spit out a twitching serpent's head onto a bloodied ground. Oddly enough any pain seemingly became numbly muted despite having an armored foot crushing my abdomen. Smiling in any manner possibly could have been sensibly an act of utter madness yet an expression cracked to do so without regret. Although feeling a tingle prick of a crimson sword capable of cutting through my neck nearly made me stop smiling, barely. It's owner held a look of bewilderment mixed with a heavily suppressed fury that quickly turned back into a familiar amusement. Unlike previous occasions I swore those eyes were almost burning themselves in those fowl sockets on this woman's face.
"You and I are going to have quite some fun times child, I promise you." She stated sweetly as I spat out corrupted blood to sneer back purely defiant. Her serpent's tongue started to bugle considerably until a newly minted head popped outwards, it's first act was to hiss out angrily exposing two miniature fangs dripping a light green droplets, I knew it'd betrayed it's hosts facade of an expression. Somehow the only good hand capable of creating a fist firmly held onto the jagged rock like a lifeline, I stared justifiably hateful into those pair of eyes whose glinting hues merely grew brighter. Ever so sharply an inhumane twisted face carefully to study what it perceived as utter infatuation, "You're never going to make my interest wane in you child. I'm genuinely looking forward to taking you back to a place where I can have all the time in the world to discover your passion, I will break you and find what you desire most, all in a place where I initially conquered an entire world for pleasurable perfection to our Dark Prince."
One serrated blade's edge nicked just underneath my jaw singing skin into a deepening burn. Biting back down a hiss I only managed to spit onto this armored creature's shinguard. It crouched down moving a gigantic armored foot on an opposite side barely mindful to not crush a good limb. While kneeling to press it's warped blade closer to cutting an exposed throat, I swore a wave of numbing nausea gripped my stomach which churned violently. Disbelievingly I tried to lean away from a tenderly placed digit covered in armor tracing down my neck as I heard it practical coo in delightful anticipation, "Praise my Prince child because your eyes are enchantingly...devious. I've always held a fondness for those with green which always signified a pure soul whose strength demands that I break them into my will." She appeared to shudder openly expectant as that vile serpent of a tongue started to uncurl to descend aggressively hissing towards me. Throne it knew better then to try to violate a throat when its old head lay not even a few scant feet away.
A newly minted serpent reared itself as ready to strike once it centered itself between my eyes. I refused to blink when it lunged forward and I braced myself mentally to experience an agony going beyond all known limits. Yet a stream of heat zipped to smash itself through the serpent serving it and striking an open wound through an armored abdomen. The once horrified monstrosity shrieked painfully due to a blessed round burning its way through vile armor once blessed by the Emperor's most holy purity seals and by those praising his light. Gasping shock I craned backwards to see a smoking bolt pistol in the hands of Sister Anora herself, I realized even while upside down her face looked absolutely enraged. Apparently she had witnessed whatever fowl and twisted actions to fire two more shots sending a blackened creature off me quickly.
"Dare not to touch him again you vile disgusting heretic!" Anora snarled stalking forward firing another shot providing myself an incentive to move. Digging an elbow I practically kicked with half a functional body to wiggle forward as a dark laughter erupted seemingly to when anyone relished their natural feelings. An unworldly grueling grip crushed my literal broken leg forcing dragging me back forcefully as I rasped out a shriek when pain refused to be dampened. Eyes straining from numerous tears I swore that I refused to be used like some damned shield, so I started to wildly and blindly smashing a jagged rock against the creature's armor who merely clamped down on its intended target. Being twisted casually to face Anora whose helmet had been discarded, I watched her expression shift from a fearful uncertainty into a blatant hatred whose very glare could have burned flesh alone.
Gentle vibrations originated from a delightful humming as a chin propped itself on a shoulder. I shuddered disgusted when my captor spoke directly next to an ear deliberately, "Such powerful emotion you carry for a child. Is he yours perhaps, or rather..." Honestly both eyes tightly closed when a hissing serpent started to wrap around my again, I could literally feel its forked appendage taste flesh underneath a sweating jawline, "...you care enough to fear for him? Isn't that a very naughty and forbidden thing to cling too my fellow Sister?" An eager serpent hissed exceptionally loud as it coiled itself around me to start choking off air when I feebly elbowed gasped for oxygen. Unable to do anything except to wheeze in air, somehow in rare show of natural anger I managed to struggle an inch, or two at best.
"Take your words you traitorous blight and have them when the great Father of mankind purges your very soul before his gaze." Forcefully take in heaving gulps of air managed to keep an awareness to have that jagged rock tightly clenched. Lightly maneuvering said object became a hassle as my head got forced back when a serpent tantalizingly wanted to bury itself down a throat again, "Oh isn't that very scary. Such loathing I see yet it's wasted for that pitiful corpse you maidens dedicate yourselves too, I also felt such devotions until my Dark Prince uplifted me to see true perfection." It laughed so simply as I strained to see figures moving behind the livid Sororitas who thumbed her chain sword in a warning. However several black uniformed Inquisitorial troopers with their las-guns were cautiously flanking around as several other surviving Sororitas were starting to move out of the cathedral's entrance.
"My, my, my how time seems to flow like a river." The humming monster holding me captive began to muse a bit nostalgically, "Order of our Martyred Lady...I do like to forget those miserable days praying to a corpse and not indulging myself when I desired it so." An armored finger began to lightly trace a small circle along my sternum while feeling an inhaling intake of breath. My very flesh felt it being inhaled upon forcing my own will to actually openly gag. Between being handled effortlessly like some twisted toy churn internal guts to nearly retch, or rather imagining what was going to happen me, I shuddered when that serpent retracted finally. Truth be told I mentally thanked the God Emperor for a small mercy to be enacted.
Slowly bringing an overly warm jagged piece of granite level with my own chest, I prepared myself whenever I had a chance to stab a monster in its eye socket. Anora's sharp gaze followed it momentarily as she moved carefully to her left trying to get an angle. Yet a monster went opposite in blocking said angle to laugh very condescendingly, "Why do you not shoot us Sister of the Bloody Rose? I'll help you to find out where a little black heretical heart is beating, it is right..." Its armored finger slyly slid up to where my own chest heaved up and down rapidly to cruelly align two hearts, "...here! Go ahead and pull that trigger to cleanse what many among you misguided maidens have long sought out too accomplish." Gleefully tapping where I felt my own heart rate increase I knew it wanted to bait Sister Anora to charge as one serrated blade tapped itself against the ground. Gathering what little composure I retained I managed to croak out throats clutching a granite clump like a lifeline to maintain sanity.
Rasping out words which startled both monster and mentor, "Shoot...it." Tightening knuckles that were popping I said it again to make it very clear, "Shoot. It...please." Anything else I tried to say got smothered when an armored gauntlet covered my own mouth. But both eyes were staring intently forward not willing to flinch when Sister Anora subtly trembled, I knew only due to her training me in close combat combative drills while in the chapel's inner sanctum. Darkly amused, or evilly aroused I heard a low chuckle disturbingly tickled an ear lobe due to its hot breath exhaling enjoying what I just said.
"See how much your child struggles maiden of the Bloody Rose!" This creature proclaimed almost lovingly as it forcefully pulled me back into its armored chest plate, "Pure valiance! Simply untapped potential masking a perfection that will have many witness him rise beyond any who've been sent to arrest or destroy me! I offer my compliance only if obey your precious child's pleas my fellow sister, you obey him and you shall ascend into perfection to grant yourself satisfaction whenever you so desire it." Throne my eyes went wide fearfully aware now to see a hidden ploy at work. Something in this monster's words caused Anora to physically falter briefly and I got a sense of dread in knowing I acted similar not too long ago to something a lot worse. Struggling feverishly I started screaming to stop her from saying a word yet the muffled noises weren't able to dissuade since her mouth tightened into a thin line.
"Feck! Fecking grox shit, please Sister Anora don't listen to it!" I shrieked internally trying to avoid panicking as I barely could twitch my own skull. Snarling underneath an armored gauntlet I desperately tried to think clearly, "Think Marcos, think damn you! I don't have any weapon except for a blasted rock, so use that and try to think of..." Hot fiery sensations of realization struck me harder than I experienced in what this monster had physically destroyed me. I wasn't normal, I wasn't normal when I heard voices and Tartarus said my mind was my greatest weapon to be used. Although I gulped uncertainly in exactly understanding how to even become a psyker, or whatever in the name of our God Emperor it was supposedly called! How I could use power with my mind and use it to snap Anora out of its vile grasp?
Almost instantly in coming to those terms a mildly impressed teacher of mine's presence returned to speak. Now I must have been going absolutely mad only because Tartarus's voice returned ever so approvingly, "Perhaps I misjudged you too early. It seems you do have a brain and perhaps its your first rational decision without being clouded by emotions, I might need to sit down once this is all over after all." Maybe her amusement triggered a little thing I swore to be anger, I viciously clamped down to stop myself from screaming. Instead I forcefully managed to ask what I needed to do in order to do anything fecking useful, or risk seeing someone I cared for to fall into these creature's will. It downright shamed and disgusted my own sense of understanding to have considered words meant to damn me eternally.
"What say you maiden of Mina's Bloodied Rose?" I heard it say temptingly causing Anora to lower her bolt pistol, "Will you shoot myself and your righteous martyr's heart to be stained in a holy act of your precious corpse Emperor? Blood never lies what it hides, all perfection is never anything but raw truth and you yourself even now are hesitating, only because such an act is just martyrdom worthy to keep faith to that pitiful thing we're to believe is a God..." My ears were nearly bleeding due to sheer heretical words being spoken and once it hit me, God Emperor protect me because I couldn't stomach it anymore. Clutching that piece of granite I shifted to feel an overly warm chin and without hesitation I snapped an arm forward to collide with an unmistakable flesh. Something distinctly popped, or cracked as an unprepared scream of genuine pain preceded my descent to crush face first into blood soaked mud.
Wincing when trying to move to avoid suffocating I barely heard Sister Anora scream as a chain sword roared to life. Rolling over I witnessed a surreal image of one blessed chain sword grinding furiously against the unholy monster's blade sending orange sparks anywhere. Yet it only used one due to it cupping a bleeding face and I smirked tiredly in seeing a bloodied rock, I guess I had punctuated an eyeball of all things which was a fortuitous miracle. Two armored clad beings were locked as a singular reddish pupil narrowed angrily in a first openly shown humane emotion, but I knew it looked directly right into my hateful sneer. If I hadn't doubted beforehand on dying painfully, well then I'd take a wild shot to assume a monster wanted to tear me apart now. However naturally my entire body wanted to rest, I felt it in every minuscule movement called twitching, I swore every part of flesh screamed to stop and I adhered to it finally.
Anora unleashed several remaining bolt rounds managed to penetrate an armor who user rasped out in either agony, or bliss. An unnatural strength sent an enraged Sororita stumbling back just as a serrated crimson blade nearly decapitated her own skull off her shoulders. Ducking underneath its massive length a bolt pistol spent its entire magazine sending the blackened power armor stumbling away momentarily, I noticed an ear crackling sizzling series of flakes due to molten metal seeping outwards. Each weapon's edge gruelingly met in a shower of sparks as serrated teeth belonging to Sister Anora's chain-sword fell short to grind against its intended target. Whirling screeches of mechanisms inside a blessed instrument of the Emperor started to fail, I stared in an exhausted terror to see one blacked leg send a hunched over Sororita with an expression of pure hatred. They immediately clashed once direct eye contact was made in one quick moment, I inhaled quickly trying to ward off tremors filtering upwards into my spine through a damp ground to know powerful forces were at work.
The bolt pistol got tossed aside when Anora grappled to lock her adversaries arm. All in order to angle her chain swords to barely cut into an exposed hip. Serrated teeth churned relentlessly intent on cutting through twisted and corrupted armor yet I heard clearly a gleeful laugh, "Such raw hatred! I'm starting to get an impression you not only care for that little one..." Two power armor users locked together as I saw the black haired creature lean forward to whisper something. Whatever got spoken made Anora scream zealously enraged to take a solid knee to her armored abdomen as blessed metal immediately dented loudly upon impact! My own fecking heart betrayed me in seeing an impression crushing a friends body inwards forcefully making her spit out blood briefly to shake off said hit. Although the monster grinned once it performed an inhumane feat of flexibly and agility kicking out both legs under Anora with one might sweeping action.
I watched a shocked Sister of Battle who wasn't expecting it hit the mud with an audible splat. Barely catching herself another metallic foot slammed directly against an exposed rib-cage, I thought I heard bones cracking at first in a growing panic yet it only originated due to crushing an armored carapace instead. Glancing around trying to figure out where those Inquisitorial troopers were doing with Anora being thrown around and soon enough found out why. Several among them currently were being rushed by cultists who'd been waiting behind hedges or in the Emperor's very shadow. Somehow I used some common sense to assume the black armored monster merely wanted to draw others into a killing ground of sorts. There wasn't going to be anyone who be able to help Sister Anora in her fight, or really even myself as another induced brutal stomp crushed blessed armor yet this time around I heard an overly familiar anguished scream.
Blinded by rage or perhaps raw pain I watched a chain sword get crushed into the ground with little effort. Now starting to grow anxious I nearly yelped when Tartarus's voice came back warning me irritably, "Marcos do not lose control. You have to keep your emotions focused and clear, or you risk attracting even more dangers to your rectifiable mind." Disbelief surged to kindle a burning fury to do anything to prevent this barbaric creature stomping on a downed Sorortias. It wasn't even a single leg stride or two away and I was supposed to be a helpless damnable grox to watch someone I cared for to die? Biting down all efforts to throw a bloodied piece of granite to catch a monster's attention, I retorted hissing into open air, "What can I do? Please tell me I can do anything to stop this...this nightmare Tartarus, please!" I pleaded wholeheartedly making a humming flood both ears as cruel laughter became blatantly bemused in beating down an enemy.
"Nightmares imply you're not aware nor are you awake to control what you perceive is to be real." I heard her lecture casually as I watched trembling in seeing Anora being crushed alive. The blackened creature knelt down yanking up a bruised face to stare naturally delighted, "But more often reality is ironically as cruel as a nightmare. To many they find themselves unable to stop it, so why should I invest into a child who refuses to listen? Perhaps making you watch is a suitable price for defying my words, I haven't forgotten why you're in that situation because you openly refused to heed my authority and orders apprentice, so one must wonder if suffering as a powerless child will teach you a thing called humility." Blindingly numbly because fecking throne it didn't take me enough time to immediately realizing something terrible, I swore on my very soul she was deadly serious in making me watch helplessly.
God Emperor help me because I froze in sheer disbelief to know I had indeed defied my teacher of an wanted me to watch Sister Anora literally get crushed into a literal pulp of metal and broken flesh, I gritted both teeth in nearly snapping a canine tooth once a serpent tongue descend towards my friend's disgusted expression. Rage burned beneath flesh so hotly I exhaled loudly trying to stop myself from throwing my only pitiful excuse of a weapon, "You know what Tartarus, I got something interesting to say." Fear became prominent inside my own heart yet the words of a Sororita whose prayers kept it from overruling my mind. Distinctly I heard an amused tone to actually humor a subtle growth of courage, "And what do you have to say to me about that Acolyte?"
Remembering Sister Theresa's exact words I called upon what strength in I dared to say, "What good is a teacher who doesn't teach someone to use power to kill daemons? You make me watch Sister Anora die when I have power to do something no can't do, then I promise you by the God Emperor himself as my witness..." Taking one large breath miraculously had lifted a weight off both shoulders causing me to widely grin, "...I swear I'll show you exactly how cruel I can make a monster's nightmare become a reality." Silence met my words for a few agonizingly slow seconds as I watch a serpents tongue hissing loudly once Anora desperately had tried shoving that creature off her. But her efforts failed once words were being whispered into her ear in an eerily similar fashion to what it tried to say to me, now I knew time was short and clutching a prayer I saw that twisted crimson monstrosity of a blade angled downwards.
"Respect can always become cruelty when masking one's doubt." Tartarus while not visible seemingly smiled based on how pleased her tone sounded as I glanced upwards hearing something odd. Within moments in trying to locate an origin, I witnessed an object or something large rapidly approaching from above just over this cathedral's massive God Emperor's statue, "But I sense you aren't consumed in doubt. You have acquired a goal to always learn that power alone can easily dictate cold cruelty, or heartfelt respect when you're humbled to realize being helpless is absolutely an atrocious trait, we of the Ordos Malleus will never tolerate to exist whenever confronting nightmares of our universe in reality, apprentice." An ear shrieking sound started to become aware as several were staring upwards in either confusion, or apparent bliss in hearing it. But I heard an Inquisitor state ever so resolutely that to doubt her brutal assessment to treat weakness, or doubt would be anything but as an obstacle to be destroyed.
High above an aerial transporter sharply aligned to circle above as I started to make key details. It wasn't the same kind of ship we descended upon the planet's surface with, I made out las-weaponry and several markings of local Planetary Defense Forces. It was without a doubt an armed and fully functional Valkyrie! Feck my near blind stupidity to recognized it due to lessons involving famed and blooded Sorortias who had fought alongside the Imperial Guard in past campaigns. My tutors weren't above in revealing all known elements of the our God Emperor's mighty forces especially to Sister Anora, or Theresa herself when I mentioned what was used during documented historical tales involving past enshrined Saints of their own orders. As I looked upwards I came to settle on seeing a creature bringing its blade to slit a throat of someone I came to care about.
"Power isn't given freely, nor is righteously used without understanding. What happens next is your test to cope with something you've certainly acquired but a natural taste for..." Waves of heat followed when Tartarus's voice seemed to spoke so clearly, I actually swore to the Emperor himself she must have been grinning, "...pain. If you struggle against me then I will be a cruel monster, if to teach you respect, so do exactly what I'm telling you to do apprentice." That warning barely kept myself aware in noticing limbs starting to move on their own! Panic naturally surged when my good arm and legs started pushing themselves upward as broken bones started snapping into place beneath flesh. Gasping in sheer muted agony, I almost crushed a piece of granite when I realized Tartarus was forcing bones to realign, I felt them inch by inch forcefully shifting while sending waves of electric fire.
"Psykers can achieve feats beyond the normalcy of humanity, so as long as your mind never breaks, I say mundane things called limitations are but moot." Her ever so amused voice stated as it caused my vision go white spotty flashes due to unnatural raw agony. Wincing intently witnessing crooked fingers resetting themselves by muted crunches certainly made all efforts to not scream impossible. Tears which must have been close to bloodied were falling uncontested once an I snapped down a shriek to see an ankle rigidly snap back into place, "You remember what I asked of you back on your home world, do you not?" She humored an oblivious eye when I stumbled trying to use formerly shattered bones, or perhaps they were just being held together by means not of natural forces. Yet I managed to take in huge lungfuls of air in order to cope with miniature fires spreading along a leg towards an arm effectively numbing any feeling but pain!
Clutching one meager piece of rock managed to remind myself that I had natural feeling one limb. Staring hatefully towards at a black armored creature's back I raised fingers once broken and undoubtedly crooked straightened themselves with small cracks. Unintentionally I yelped briefly when reaching outwards as if grasping something skin searingly hot. Tartarus's voice sternly remained unyielding, "Never lose focus regardless of who, or what is around you apprentice. Imagine fire so hot it'd burn your very flesh, will it to burn and use that zeal for you hatred of the daemon to fuel your will to have it exist to your whims." I stared endlessly snarling in seeing Anora weakly punch the black haired monster in a futile bid to stem death's grasp. My heart burned when I kept crushing this damnable rock to fuel natural pain to create an unnatural heat, I momentarily swore rapid flashes of whitish yellow were flicking near my left peripherals. Also I could help to notice everything seemed noticeably brighter for some reason.
"Nullify every emotion that hinders you, ignore every feeling you know as pain..." The Inquisitor's instructions were pleasantly reasonable considering I practically started to gasp when my own palm came close to boiling itself, "...and focus on one clear objective! Use fire as your will and weapon to destroy what stands before you!" Not glancing away for any reason I barely heard someone shouting, or saying a warning as the black armored creature paused immediately. I gnashed both sets of teeth feeling an absolutely inferno that once my left hand, I kept the other clenching a colder granite as a means to create something even hotter. I soon learned to battle a constant will to not scream in panic when yellowish flames trickled just below an eyelid, I managed to ignore heat less flames as if they weren't innocently licking flesh that wasn't being charred.
Heat expanded when I kept imagining a face being burned off into ashes. Exhaling sharply I grasped the only cool piece of granite to know I could go further! My gaze never left an intended monster whose metallic foot stomped Sister Anora into the ground facing its fellows. Unknowingly an arm reared back as if to throw something large enough, I felt weight and sheer heat coursing through all veins to feel it consume every sense I held. Tartarus's command filled whatever courage I held whether she intended to do so, or not, "Condense those flames! Use your will to inspire what you seek..." That twisted face with those brightly lit red pupils looked right into my own and I smirked once they widened in a stunned manner, "...and let nothing but your imagination to show that limits are nothing to consider apprentice! Now, do what you must to exact holy retribution upon heretics and daemons who stand against the Imperium of Mankind!" Her voice echoed loudly to make every syllable as I felt a subtle snap to know I wouldn't be powerless ever!
I'd damn my soul before everything to never remain helpless and by the God Emperor himself I wouldn't be powerless. I would guide myself to either an end, or to attain power to eradicate monsters of reality! In the end I smiled as I zealously screamed with a throwing of the flames of holy retribution, "Burn! You hear me you fecking bitch, burn!" That skin crawling sensation akin to my own arm being stretched occurred as flames shot out of my own palm like a heavy flamer, I watched in sheer fascination to see anything and everything burn whenever if I imagined it as such. By the Emperor himself I even saw the very ground churn an ugly charred black with green foliage lighting up all too easily, or seeing grass lawns turning into grayish ash and scattered piles of dust!
But when it hit a genuinely stunned black armored monster? Voluntary a loud laughter rushed past my lips to override ear shattering shrieks when the very same monster tried to smother flames that weren't of reality itself. Every fiber of what made me alive burned in absolutely seeing justice! I laughed so loudly I swore I must have gone mad when another skin tingling sensation appeared, I felt heat solidly form to fill a palm so strongly that I quickly threw it again to send that damnable monster stumbling back. Unable to control an urge to gloat zealously I shouted with blood trailing down my chin, "Scream you miserable heretic, go on keep screaming! I'll fecking burn you to ash, I swore I'd do it and every other creature who gets in my way!" I walked taking several steps forward unleashing an outlet for all this flesh charring heat that continuously kept on rekindling itself, I couldn't stop using an arm to throw actual flames when an entire reality seemingly made itself alive! Waves of heat were scorching grass whenever I took a forward and the only reason why I was able to understand was due to Anora's horrified expression.
So horrifically pronounced I actually paused once I managed to send that heretical creature back. Bruised and battered I couldn't mistake how shock she looked when a whispering damnation became clear, "By the holy father himself, you're a...a blasted witch!" Spitting out something akin to a vile aftertaste I looked away ashamed in seeing veiled disgust mirrored yet by another of the Sororitas. It almost crushed my bleeding heart in knowing she was looking at something scorned. Feck I wasn't given a choice born with these gifts to use, I only wanted to use it to protect them and to kill these damned monsters in the Emperor's name. For all I knew I wasn't just a freak of nature by chance, I was a literal freak made by nature itself for whatever reasoning and also I enjoyed it only because I wasn't so powerless anymore.
"Don't lose focus, alright?" Breathing heavily I winced feeling yet more heat practically burning a palm, "Kill this fecking bitch for twisting you and the others around! Don't allow a chance for these heretics to..." That line of thought snapped into oblivion itself when delightful laughter froze all blood inside veins. So delightfully ecstatic I watched with a growing sense of disbelieving disgust in seeing that black armored creature removing its hand revealing charred flesh. Flames were scorching flesh so thoroughly I swore I saw whitish bones along its cheeks until a hissing effectively snuffed out embers with a rapid flash of purple? Blinking to clear away any misconceptions I watched absolutely livid in seeing charred skin replenishing itself with no effort to heal, but I felt something strange for a better lack of a word practically looming out of sight.
"By the Prince I almost forgot you were there boy, oh dear me." The armored creature mockingly scolded itself ever so bemused, "Not only are you stubborn! You have a tongue crudely full of wit, but now child..." Unable to resist shuddering uneasy when seeing a lidless eye widening to clearly expose unnaturally brightened blood vessels surrounding an actual crimson pupil glowing eerily, "...you present to me what our Dark Prince has graced me to feel absolute pleasure. Your impassioned fires only have sparked me to never release my thoughts in seeing you cry out, boy." I sneered angrily trying to ignore the fact I wasn't even close to destroying this creature! It just became so aggravating to hear it speak that I desperately wanted to it to choke on literal flames, I couldn't take it anymore and have it just get back up without fearing for it's existence.
Infuriated in seeing it stand back up smiling ever so pleased I rasped out clenching that heat in one palm, "What is it going to take to kill you! You're going to scream to that fecking Prince of yours once I find out how, by the Emperor himself do I swear it's not going to save your sorry flesh when I fecking burn you alive heretic!" At this point Anora managed to get onto her feet panting loudly as I glared angrily gnashing both sets of teeth together. Surprisingly I actually imagined that I swore this creature gave me an actual look of pity, or else I had to be going mad when it replied, "You'd more or less seal your own expected fate even if you managed to kill me child. Did I ever mention to you what awakened witches are entitled too whenever Sisters of any order discover them untrained or not bound to that corpse on its throne?" It asked me so obviously confident I refused to do anything except to give a look of confusion. Morbidly I chanced a glance over towards Sister Anora who looked extremely uneasy, so it actually gave an opportunity for this creature to smile cruelly.
It lifted an armored finger waving itself left to right while cooing, "Your anguish is so sweet I may actually cry in ecstasy." Two crimson pupils were growing brighter when flesh melded itself back into its default unnatural smoothness. This creature, or monster casually grinned allowing its serpent tongue to hiss deceptively amused, "You fight so valiantly in order to defend maidens. Maidens of an order who'll burn you alive child as much as I, for sure they'll purify you in 'holy' flame in that corpses name as it's righteously adhered when discovering witches." Grinding both teeth to avoid falling under those words temptations I couldn't fight an urge off, I again turned to stare at Anora who actually looked genuinely serious. Even while feeling heat center of my own palm I stared pleadingly trying to hold onto hope that this monster's words weren't true, I may do things as Tartarus mentioned but would they really kill me for being a psyker?
The black armored creature laughed abruptly hoisting it's blade over a shoulder to gleefully point out an obvious truth, "Your silence to your child's stare is merely damning dear sister." Anora snarled openly while drawing out an actively humming chain sword to step forward blocking my view, "Such passion I sense in you, I'm impressed you'd defend him even with what your order preaches and I have to say it's so heart warming to see such devotion when not to a corpse on a throne. Perhaps you do actually care for him when such attachments are forbidden?" Evidently I watched a red suit of power armor angle itself with a user ready to charge, I numbly lifted a palm that currently held an actual burning ball of flames. An entire sphere roughly fit snug to see flicking coloration's of yellowish orange and occasionally it licked into a pure white to have my own mind realize I was maintaining it's existence in reality.
Trying to understand how wasn't exactly simply yet it actually became once I lightly tapped it with my own finger tips. Small sensations of warmth tickled past a palm up into a forearm and I actually imagined it growing larger. Now that I took a brief lull from any distractions, I tried to create an enclosed fist but the flaming ball grew larger without even thinking about it! Owlishly staring I looked upwards noticing faint orange like streams curling through the air as if it were a watery river? Anything and everything became brighter once I narrowed trying to see images faintly appearing and they were human shaped once I looked down seeing a corpse leaking some sort of coloration. I had no idea exactly what I had to be seeing yet these streams, or whatever were moving towards somewhere off behind my right shoulder, so following the source I actually turned around to suddenly have an inkling to stop breathing.
Heretics and other creatures who were aligned with a monster hadn't been idle. I stared trying to make sense as they were kneeling down and speaking in words I couldn't understand fully. Those swirling streams were condensing around their kneeling forms, I felt a chill run up my back once one took a knife to cut into itself sending rivets of blood seeping onto the ground. Following it's course dimly aware of metal clashing nearby, I never needed to look away from something incredibly wrong, I had all tingles running down my spine to ignore Anora and that monster fighting. Another danger became clear once one of them actually had turned to notice my frozen expression. If I wasn't going mad earlier in seeing all these strange details, I realized it'd only be the beginning once a kneeling heretic actually did something to make myself go wide eyed.
One of them winked right before as a knife engraved in runes similar to eight pointed stars were used to slit their own throats! Not a moment past when two opposing bodies were drenching each other in blood as I got an entire clarity to see why! Those orange like streams suddenly descended from above snaking their way around soon to be dying heretics who expressions were mixed of orgasmic bliss and utter bewilderment once I stumbled back when humanoid forms appeared around them. They weren't humane in any sense as horns, or twisted crude appendages called arms in which I tried to form a cohesive word to apply too had nothing yet they stood like humans all the same. Two heretic bodies immediately let out silent wails that were met by convolutions and they arched their backs to have bones snapping in a dreadful sympathy of a tune, I nearly vomited because it actually sounded like a depraved music of sorts.
While staring I heard an entirely different voice slither it's way into existence,"Do you like what you see?" Feeling suddenly ill I shook off an oncoming headache seeing one of those woman stand up while contorting violently, yet I noticed an arm shifting dangerously exposing raw muscle and skinless pinkish flesh as it churned into an insect like pincer? Bones before my very eyes snapped apart into splinters as a horn grew out of the left side of the skull when newly minted orange slit pupils snapped open grinning, "I think he's shy sister, even I can't stop staring at you either." These voices weren't the same when comparing them to what I encountered, I blinked when they seemed to be watered down versions if I had to guess. They weren't natural due to how innocently murderous their expressions gave off as horns sprouted around two formerly alive heretics in a twisted crone and clothing burst into a small burning flames revealing a perfectly twisted body to be considered as a female?
Smiles widened to show sharpened teeth akin to predatory and it suddenly became all too clear. These weren't humane, or anything natural because they were daemons! I watched them stand up stretching as if trying to adjust themselves accordingly and one of them actually cupped one of its breasts to enticingly coo at my terrified gaze. It spoke moving a mouth to heard verbally yet somehow I found speaking to me internally, "My, my, my." Walking forward swaying hips side to side became lost on me when a pincer like claw got licked by a serpent like tongue, "Our great Prince is awaiting you to speak the name of your ascension child, oh you're so delicious I might actually take a bite out of you." I nearly yelled out in sheer fright knowing they were deliberately taking their time! I practically almost lost my stomach when they were occasionally stepping over corpses crushing faces delightfully giggling, or ripping out entrails to wrap around their own necks!
Both held knives in opposite hands not looking like a twisted nightmare of limbs yet their horns were dripping bloodied droplets. Tongues were lapping them up akin to a person who was desperate to drink water, "Tartarus! Daemons, I don't fecking believe it, but there are daemons here now!" I cried out backing away from two hungry inhumane gazes as their teeth lengthen while chewing on organs being ripped open like some demented gallery. God Emperor help me because I nothing except a literal bloody rock and possibly fire to stand up these demented twins of daemons, I snarled angrily trying to stop myself from sprinting. I held no illusions to imagine they'd outrun me regardless of what bones were broken, or not as this nightmare called reality just went completely fecking mental! Apart of me wanted to say it couldn't be real to some aspect but I knew I wasn't that insane yet to lose it totally to stand my ground.
"Such devoted shells we've acquired sister, perhaps these mortals aren't so petty after-all." One daemon remarked absolutely delighted as it's sibling's tongue wrapped around the bloodied soaked dagger, "So gracious and self-less that I cannot refute your claim sister. I'll cut this little cutie's fingers off one at a time, these mortals are too raw to hide their more devious...passions." Definitely panicked to scrambling back, I watched both sets of orange pupils narrow naturally bemused to see myself garner some distance and it all came to a halt. They eyes flashed momentarily to giggle while waving me forward, I went rigid when they spawned a sense an unnatural reluctance to get away. My tongue got nicked by a set of jaws just managing to resist that temptation altogether, I nothing to consider killing them or getting away.
Nearby a chain sword gnashed out sparks followed by an ear shatter screech futilely cutting against a blade whose user hadn't lost any of their lunacy. Anora got sent stumbling back when two reddish pupils narrowed, "Do not spoil what I intend to personally break my dears. Do not break, or spoil the boy..." Two high pitched whines of disappointment were nearly deafening as I scowled trying to shake the sound off, "...but you may play around for a time. I'll be along shortly, I intend to add another sister to our lovely band for our Dark Prince!" Two identically cruel smiles appeared to make my spine tingle in a warning as they started to circle where I stood. Occasionally one would trail a pinch claw as another serpent like tongue lashed out hungrily while moving in a jeeringly hypnotic rhythm to their overly swaying hips. Much to my growing disgust and damnable fear I couldn't help but stared for a moment or two.
They weren't even naturally human once I got a closer look at them, I shivered when orange slits were occasionally shifting into something beyond monstrous. Each held a knife in an opposite limb from one another yet both pincer limbs intentionally snapped sharply. It scared me beyond anything to know these things weren't normal, I couldn't help but snarl instinctively to ward them off and their expressions changed to gleeful smiles. Harmonic giggling not as potent to what I encountered earlier became a precursor whether I knew it, or not. They were lining up angles to do whatever God-Emperor knew, I tried to block it out, but it was for naught when my own mind caved. Truly I betrayed myself to picture violent images imaging how they'd torture me, I cringed openly to feel every limb tense up while anticipating that one moment to give them cause to strike.
Suddenly I realized what heat I held inside my own palm ceased to exist once it flicked out of sight. Two daemons grinned universally pleased, "You're so fearful aren't you child?" One asked cooing deceptively playful as it teasingly raised a pincer to snap the air sharply. Fecking throne I tried desperately keeping both in view yet they were circling in order to close a shortening gap as the other inhaled, "I can smell your confusion boy, I can taste what delightful pleasures that are making you so terrified of my sister and I." They were toying with me, I couldn't mistake it and I had nothing to drive them back once audible sounds of metal grinding together almost made both eyes wonder off them. If I did that I just knew I'd miss them, I'd end up at their whims for whatever they were trying to do and the best circumstance to this insane reality of a danger, I nearly wanted to scream in looking down to see I had nothing but a bloody piece of rock!
To my personal horror I heard Anora shriek in undeniable pain as I glanced over to see her shielded a bloodied face! But in that natural concern I realized I had made a terrible mistake, I took my eyes off two creatures who screeched eagerly in languages that weren't natural. An entire world vent vertigo once I got slammed into the ground, it became so surreal seeing anything twist, or churn by being handled so effortlessly and I shrieked as something sharp sliced across my back. Unable to force a scream to not come into existence, I dimly made a connection to know something had placed a knee upon where my spine met while face down in saturated mud. Without any mercy it stomped hard as bones were threatening to splinter once I yelled trying to swing blindly to offer a pitiful defense to shake this creature's hold off. Unfortunately I soon watched something just as terrifying because I felt ever moment as it occurred.
A clawed foot broke a formerly broken forearm back into a familiar position. Pure white fire swarming over my vision became all too apparent, I watched it crush its own heel to have myself swimming in an electric agony as it overloaded my nervous system. Even while screaming I heard overheard them chuckle so cruelly fond, "I see why our Prince's champion is so glamored with this child. Such wonderful sound he creates, oh I can't help it..." It'd been a daemon crushing upon my own back to lean forward, I felt it's breath above an ear lobe, "...but I have to hear more of this wonderful music he makes for us. Let's us feel your pain and we shall embrace our pleasures." Seeing an arm broken had been one thing, but to actually witness a pincer stabbing through the back of my own hand? If I thought pain's pinnacle had been reached, I found out by yelling and shrieking so shrilly it became but a drop of fire to which I felt crush me whole.
Disabled by an impaled creature's limb not of reality and to have another brake an arm I barely mustered enough will to just yell. My eyes were tightly closed as I heaved in air wheezing gasping breathes trying to cope with unmistakable agony. Blood freshly spilled started to run against the very fleshy cheek it'd once flowing under, I seriously wanted to die by the God Emperor's mercy in order to save myself from enduring this torturous existence called living. Somehow air blew past inflamed skin to cool it off, I swore I must have been going mad to imagine such sensations. Distantly it seemed I heard a dull roar as inhumane shrieks were coming from two creatures above myself. All pressure lifted simultaneously as I inhaled an overly amount of dirt? I coughed violently while trying to open both eyes yet they were watery due to something extraordinary.
Everything had been covered by dust being kicked up all around where I laid. Blinking tiredly I witnessed dozens of orange beams crack into existence as figures shrouded in blackened armor were storming forward unflinchingly. Greenish orbs were piercing an orange gloom of dusty concealment when the two daemons shrieked off toward my right hand side. Cradling a bloodied palm close to my chest I saw their faces being burned off, I watched limbs being singed right off their bodies and one of them literally caught flame to burn into ashes shrieking in a language not of reality's creation. But it's utter rage couldn't be masked as several figures stepped over me to toss small objects, I gasped shielding my own face to hear grenades going off. An entire ground shook so tremendously violent I actually felt myself uplifted for a split second.
Coughing violently to expel an actual lungful of dust I managed to roll over trying to be painstakingly careful in not moving a broken arm again. Staring upwards to see a circular ball of orange in the sky, I got pulled back to face an encroaching danger as I heard someone approaching due to the fact a silhouette started to emerge. Air whipped past both my ears to frequently sting sensitive skin and I almost cringed due to keeping my gaze unshielded, soon I found out what stirred up so much dirt. I barely made out a large object with reddish active propulsion engines vertically angled downwards it'd been kicking up so much dust and much to my growing disbelief, by the Emperor I swore it looked like a Valkyrie's hull or so I guessed. So fecking surreal it all became strangely uplifting once I feebly shielded small pebbles hitting my face, I nearly started to cry and laugh once I heard my teacher's amused voice.
"Is it really so shocking to bare witness daemons appearing in our reality apprentice, I do recall we are after all apart of the Ordos Malleus." Tartarus walked to stand in full view holding her hat's brim slightly forward while wielding a bolt pistol in hand ready to be used. Being shrouded in darkness I couldn't see her face exactly due to a hat yet it'd been impossible to not notice a pair of stark white eyes glowing ominously, "Yet again you foolishly open your mind to creatures who will not hesitate to claim you body, mind and soul." I assumed the Inquisitor's irritation had come full circle once she roughly got me onto my feet, I almost rasped out a muffled scream due to one broken limb. Unfortunately it seemed I received little sympathy, or rather anything considered to be mercy as her limb yanked the scuff of my own clothing in an upward motion.
Tartarus's expression barely changed as she held me suspended face to face speaking very plainly, "Disobeying my orders will never become a habit of your own. Because of your brazen, irrational and ignorance attitude I'm wasting resources to secure you..." Almost with a subtle twitch I couldn't resist turning my face to stare at an inquisitorial trooper's intestines bloodily sprawled across an entire section of earth, "...and as such, I'm fluently not happy to waste lives so needlessly again Macros." She warned me very clear once her fingers started to grasp around a neck. Said neck that belonged to my quivering form as I snorted tiredly unable to ask anything. I expected to be physically crushed, or possibly sent flying back yet my Inquisitorial teacher smirked.
Words could be heard even though her lips remained closed with a smirk in place, "My apprentice did you not understand? I didn't state your decisions to act in such manners weren't exactly useless to I, or the Ordos Malleus as a whole." Between hearing snapping fire of las-weaponry and occasionally bolter pistols going in such frequent intervals made my expression remain utterly exhausted, "Just consider yourself in our God-Emperor's favor because you've discovered something beyond a mere warp-rift on this planet. I don't reward senseless actions yet when they ultimately lead to anything of actual value to myself then it becomes different. For now I say I can...allow it to slide for now." Her expression seemingly grew into an unexpected smile yet it's been fairly possibly I considered it a fleeting gesture once she brought both eyes forward. Warily surprised I craned my own neck backwards all in an effort to notice a pair of crimson gleaming pupils meeting Tartarus's gaze.
"My, my, my..." I heard a creature ever muse thoughtfully entertained as its hulking mass of blackened power armored started to become visible, "...it seems the Great Prince has truly blessed me with numerous delights on this day." That massive blade came to perch itself on an armored shoulder and I immediately started searching for an any sign of Sister Anora. I barely held a moment until Tartarus's voice crushed any notion for hope, "Don't even dare to take a foot in any direction apprentice. Our holy God Emperor only has enough divinity to keep you in one piece, right now prioritize this danger that stands before us, I will do what I must to have remain you in a suitable condition." It hurt trying to imagine any other Sororitas dead out of sight, feck I couldn't do anything remotely useful, but it honestly tore open an organ called a heart to listen to the Inquisitor's order. If praying to our holy great father of mankind was my only option then I'd do so with a grieving heart to hope for the best.
The Inquisitor merely stepped past my silent form fully intent on combating a monster who had an inability to suffer. I distinctly watched her pull out a glowing blade off her back while keeping a bolt pistol at the ready. Despite closing a relatively small gap between us my teacher spoke absolutely not amused, "Save your praises and prayers when you're judged by the God Emperor himself, heretic. I'll have an honor in sending you on your way personally." For once a sneering hiss of either anger, or revolting disgust made itself known, "And you dare to assume you'd be powerful enough to come through on that promise?" I pegged a monster to be insulted as Tartarus merely snorted loud enough to not even consider a reply to fairly idiotic question. How in the name of the Emperor she could remain so aloof or calm, truly it started to eat away towards a fleeting imagination that I could do something like that, well so into my future as well?
Two white orbs met a black haired creature's crimson pupils as it sneered openly, "I'd recognize your arrogance by its mere sight, am I right to assume...Inquisitor?" Cruel laughter mockingly got backed with jeering applause as lunacy took a hold in twisted openness, "Oh by the great prince himself! This is truly beyond perfect to be granted so many possibilities, I get to acquire an overly adorable disciple, a new sister to my band of followers and now I get to relive one of my greatest conquests." It laughed so damnably insane I couldn't relate how it'd ever been human! However its words managed to make even Tartarus grimly acknowledge a fact that shocked me to my core. God Emperor help me because I hadn't ever expected what was said next by any means of an imagination, " I'd imagine you take pride for what you've done. Your exploits in torturing a rather foolish yet an acquaintance I called of a colleague of mine is very well known."
My expression went from utterly bewildered into undeniable horror once I got a clear picture of this monster. "What in the God Emperor's name have I been trying to...survive against?" An Inquisitor thumbed her blade to have it lightly make a humming sound as a pale light surrounded its edges, I got another dose of disbelief to see a creature frown briefly. Whatever weapon Tartarus held in hand managed to offer a sense of danger to ward off a creature whose intentions to seem superior in any combat to hold cautiously. As much as I wanted to continue staring I heard my teacher's voice order ever so coldly diligent, "Crawl, or run behind yourself to the valkyrie waiting for us to depart. Right now I'll have to deal with this heretic, so do whatever suits you best apprentice." Too familiar with a threat I didn't dare to disobey her as much as I wanted to find out if the others were alive. Grimacing to avoid moving one shattered arm again took an effort to start getting myself off the ground while cradling a profusely bleeding palm.
Stumbling through dust became nearly a constant effort to remain standing as blood trailed down fingers that were going numb. Trying to twitch they hurt beyond belief yet it managed to keep both eyes open to see a distant shape kicking up so much loose earth. Weapons were firing just out of sight on all sides and I nearly started to lose all hearing, I dimly became aware when yellowish light suddenly engulfed itself behind. Tiredly to glance back I blinked trying to make out strips of light seeping through the dust as metal clashed together, I swore screams of rage were most prominent among all the shouts or what not. So thick this damnable dirt clouds being kicked up it hurt to breathe at times, occasionally small granite rocks were pelting torn pants to sting exposed flesh, eventually I needed to cover my own mouth to cough out a growing need to fall to the ground. Although I came to ask myself a half delirious question which not a soul could answer.
"What in the fecking God Emperor's name am I really going to do?" Throne of Terra I swore so much had happened so quickly, without any sort of understanding I couldn't comprehend exactly what had happened fully and I swore on my own sanity, I must have been going mad to assume today's events alone wasn't even close to true insanity. Perhaps losing too much blood started to shed an actual answer that made sense for once, I laughed fluently trying to cope with it all. Whatever I chose to do it ended up with someone dead, sliced in half or possibly ending up in the hands of a monster whose whims were absolutely barbaric without a doubt. Even getting close to an ear shattering scream of engines I made out several bolter pistols shots, I stopped immediately looking back over my shoulder to see an eerie glow of yellowish and orange swirling around. Whatever battle between Tartarus herself and that monster were locked into I had a hunch I wouldn't have done anything useful, I knew inside my own guts I'd have been thrashed around again.
I actually started to feel light headed when heated gusts of air caused myself to sway. Resisting all urges to vomit I looked upwards breathing heavily to keep myself straightened, "I fecking hate coming to this planet." Whispering vindictively angered in being tossed around so easily, I couldn't stand to be so powerless and useless anywhere ever. Being a liability back in the darkened alley ways of the under hive city spelled a nasty end, I shuddered imagining nights in seeing homeless hivers being gutted for food by things less then fully human. Fortunately I actually started moving forward clutching a blooded tightly against ruined soaked cloth yet I'd become stronger. I'd become something dangerous so nothing in my way would be able to stand on two legs, I'd burn them into fecking pieces, I'd gun all these heretical bastards down and nothing would dare to tempt me to turn away from the God Emperor's light ever again.
Glaring hatefully I actually witnessed blurred silhouettes approaching along with several glowing green eyes. They were rather bright enough to make me wince, I may have been momentarily blinded yet a clear synthesized voice due an internal modulator behind a mask spoke up, "Acolyte Eius. Inquisitor Tartarus sent word we're to secure you and any survivors to get off planet effectively immediately." These were possibly the same Inquisitorial troopers who I met outside during her private study, I felt they weren't so cold yet were holding leveled weapons. Without any doubt I'd say that those weapons alone weren't exactly standard lasrifles, but to avoid anymore trouble I nodded to offer a weak tired smile. Under my own strength I stumbled to move around an inner ear shattering roar to be lead towards where I be sent off planet. One of them actually had a gloved hand to firmly guide me, I swore it must have been more akin to keeping myself from running, so I ignored any thoughts mainly out of sheer exhaustion.
Truthfully I wanted to sleep like a dead man for possibly forever after today. Coming up alongside a semi hovering transport I watched a door slide over to see an interior, I noticed it had been occupied and I immediately recognized Sister Theresa! She looked extremely pale and a few other Sororitas were bloodied yet they were obvious alive as I ducked my head praising the Emperor's grace. The two Inquisitorial troopers must have noticed because one of them reported their conditions, "You have our God Emperor's blessing, we just received them from the cathedral and currently are mopping up any enemy forces Acolyte. As long as they reach our ship, I do believe they'll live." The tone of this man wasn't meant to be gentle but I tearfully prayed graciously thanking him and the Emperor altogether as I slid into the compartment with the two getting in as well. It seemed they have been escorts, or overseers to make sure I didn't run off yet I couldn't give a damn otherwise.
Each Sororitas had been propped up against an interior wall vertically in stretchers yet they were breathing to signify themselves living. Despite already being cramped I noticed another trooper tending to their wounds who looked up to see my own bloodied palm and an obviously shattered forearm, I weakly shuffled over towards Theresa to see her panting heavily. Freshly minuted scars were aligned cruelly to overlap on her face, I nearly felt devastated in seeing an expose jawbone and by all rights she looked absolutely terrible, feck me I almost started to cry when her notable tattoo had been removed. Yet throughout it all, they were alive to see another day to smite those who stood against the Emperor's light and I could live with what I had done. Numbly aware in feeling an inquisitorial trooper wrapped a profusely bleeding stab wound remained blissfully superseded by praying to the Emperor for his mercy and grace to see those who I cared for to remain living.
Once a hand had been tightly bandaged I allowed my head to fall back, I felt so drained literally. Regardless I smiled faintly when I looked up to see the soldier stick a syringe of sorts right into an broken arm as a subtle warmth trickled its way up my spine. Both eyelids became utterly heavy when I started to fall sleep, I felt happier for some reason and the trooper cautiously lifted the shattered limb in order to splint it accordingly. Nothing seemed to hurt, I barely contained a weak laugh yet I leaned back to allow an oncoming darkness to sweep me into a welcomed blissful unconsciousness. Although right before I went under I blinked only once in seeing a familiar servo-skull hovering opposite of where I lay with a singular red eye, an eye glowing bright red just before dimming into a normal, startled once I realized it clicked.
Skit had been recording every moment without me knowing. Perhaps I should have been concerned, or remotely frightened to have my familiar acting without orders. But for the God Emperor's mercy I put aside those thoughts to smile happily in seeing the servo skull functional and unharmed as well. It never ceased to amaze me what a machine's spirit could invoke as grateful, I wanted to ask if he was well but it became impossible as I slumped forward. In the end I could only be happy in knowing everything I cared for survived today so with one last thought I gave a singular prayer to the Emperor for his will of mercy, "Thank you great Father of Mankind for sparing your daughters and in return I shall never falter to destroy any daemon, heretic or alien in your name. That is my vow to you for answering my prayers, blessed be to your Imperium and to your ever lasting light."
End Chapter Nine
Author's Note: Before anyone asks in why he didn't obliterate the person in question into dust, well I'll have to say having someone pushing a psyker to use their own power isn't without effects. Until our character actually tries to willingly tap into what makes him powerful, it's a watered down version and to be fair it'd certainly rush things for having him go unfettered/push to possibly have something in the warp attract its attention onto him. Least right now it's fairly grounded and believable for an untrained psyker to at least push himself to go beyond human limits, I mean having broken bones mended or at least popped back into place aren't enough to push too many boundaries. As much as I ended this first mission with a saving grace, I seriously doubt you or I could expect this kid to really do anything between an Inquisitor and a fallen Sister in power armor which regenerates flesh, or wounds so generically rapidly it have been ridiculous to say he could do anything at all. Trust me the day will come when we see our character actually do something incredibly worthy of Warhammer 40,000.
Regarding the idea of suicide in the 41st millennium is a bit shady unless someone knows otherwise. Personally I don't know if its an actual sin by the Imperium or perhaps a mercy to oneself when dealing with Chaos or daemons as a whole. But as a whole I can say currently Marcos is a believer, not an actual zealous one yet you still see signs of a practical/realistic human of the Imperium who hasn't been totally converted. I don't like writing zealot like characters too much as a main character, but personally it's always fun to write them when they're needed, or used in proper manners to showcase the dogma of humanity in its absolute glorious destruction of the enemies of mankind. At this point in time I can say again, our character's view on the Emperor (well the belief every act of will, or luck is blessed by said man on Throne) will inevitably change into something a bit more...grim, or shall I say numbed too eventually. Why you ask, or perhaps how this mentality will change due to an Inquisitor's stance on key issues.
The big question you'll have to keep in mind, as well as myself, is Tartarus's own alignment in the Inquisition's internal affairs. Bluntly put the constant rivalry, or hatred of Puritans and Radicals. I won't say too much about this Inquisitor but you'll see a few on each side, I mean you could try to argue what Marcos's teacher could potentially stand upon with the information I've already offered in previous chapters. But that's another subject later down the line when you see some really dark and shifty things in the Holy Inquisition of the Imperium, I do plan on eventually skimming a few unsavory subjects the Inquisition just loves to implement whenever anyone catches wind of their activities. So let's move onto the Sororitias themselves, oh boy I bet many of you are either sadistic enough to see the results of when an untrained and unsanctioned psyker is taught by them.
I do know many Sisters of Battle are pure unreasonable fanatics to the Emperor, the average one is so zealous it's utterly bemusing to imagine them not as such. Thankfully I'm pretty sure they're all zealots yet their is a rare moderate. In this case its called actions, Marcos has gone beyond the call of duty and expectations when risking his own life to save them, so expect a tampering of 'tolerance' to show he isn't against the Emperor's light. Hell, I'm pretty sure they'll give him the benefit of the doubt with what he's already done, and what his intentions are to continue learning under them. After all children aren't exactly subtle when they want attention, or rather want to earn praise from those they latch onto, as I think someone may forget he's still a kid. So his genuine youth and age do work along side with the Sister's beliefs in seeing him for as long as they've known him to study, to unwavering pray and continuously devote himself to destroying the enemies of the Mankind. Least that's how I'm rationalizing it, he literally got his body wrecked multiple times fighting for them and alongside them, so you have to give credit when it's actually grudgingly acknowledged.
Now regarding exactly as to who had been tossing him around, or the black power armor person? There's a reason why I was so deliberate to avoid dropping a name, I mean in the lore you can easily figure out who yet that's not the point. Mystery works when its very well placed, I like to think and hopefully assume you do, that trying to imagine something stalking you in this universe isn't a good thing. Or rather it's not a healthy life choice to have someone trying to claim you body, mind and soul for an entity whose name invokes pleasure and pain: case in point the Chaos God Slaanesh. Now do your research and there's only one answer to who this person is currently, yet ironically said person isn't even considered to be insanely powerful, hell I mean this is only a minor tier champion based on Warhammer 40,000 standards if I were trying to be respectful. Either way, next chapter I will reveal the name just to impart knowledge on both our character and your own curiosity if people are still confused...unlikely as it sounds.
Well I got nothing else to say, so hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please leave reviews. I happily enjoy seeing them appear whenever I write this story, so as such I wish you all well and to have a good day.
