Here is another chapter…
It was right out of the same old playbook - dehumanize, destabilize, antagonize - offer an easy solution - always war. That's how theses human psychopaths' rule and even knowing their strategies never helps. It's human nature to think themselves smarter, or that this situation is different.
But here we fight against a legion of demons, darkling's, and the dark witches. Even the children of the enemy were characterized as future criminals of the worst kind - is there anything worse than reducing the inner humanity of a child? The battle was promised to be short, a tactical advantage to our side, almost no casualties for "us." And then those who were schooled on the horrors, we knew better.
I fought with vigor, with many at my sides not just my fellow Gargoyles, but witches and our long-forgotten kin the woodland protectors. The Dark Prince brought them here to battle and yet he is hiding far beyond the battle, waiting and watching as I come for him. With force my body makes its way through the demons, killing with sick pleasure, I hold my ax up seeing Keziah battling with only a few with her. We have been winning this fight, but it has been so long we have fought, days and night mean nothing.
I look at my future wife's protector, her mangled lip and broken nose were caked in dried blood, congealed and cracked. The now browning blood had drizzled down her face like so much rain down a windowpane. Behind her a hag rose from the mist with a golden dagger in hand, Ophir blesses him was trying to get to her, alert her but she was so focused on her battle she zeroed everyone out. I had to help in some way, with fast reflexes my ax made no noise to alert her. Only the small scream that was cut off by her gurgling gave Keziah the alert, she gazed at the witch who was pinned to the willow tree my ax embedded into her neck.
"Be watchful, Keziah," I bellowed removing the ax not even sparing the witch another glance, but her dark black blood covered my blades. When it comes to the fight there's no honor, no code. All that matters is the win and we take nothing for granted.
Levi fought with me, pillars of bright flame erupted all around us, together we make our way to the Dark Prince, who stands like a lone warrior waiting for death. He never age's like us, he looks so young and deadly. Deep inside most fear him above anything, but not I, he will die.
But he stares at me with this sick twisted grin before turning on his heel speaking to his newest right hand. My chance was missed yet again as he vanished taking his remaining demons with him.
he cheers erupt like an auditory volcano. It is all quiet one second and then deafening the next, rising to a crescendo and then falling to a trickle before the same nervous tension commands silence once more.
Sweat and blood poured down my face. My heart smashed around in my chest. My lungs screamed for air as my feet flew across the battlefield. Gale was taking point as Theo's mother was too covered in blood, she fought with us once again. But I knew our Princess was about to have her life changed much sooner than we had wanted. She sits heavily on the boulder, "Send for my daughter in law, the Queen. We must seal the treaty. I am sorry Gideon, Shaylee's destiny is at hand and what a grand future she has," it was like she was standing there with Shaylee in this future seeing her and all she has done.
I wanted to refuse to bring the Queen here, we are only minutes from this battle. Another that would leave Princess Shaylee with fewer and fewer to protect her, she hardly has any now. It's like these three persons meet at a maple table inside my brain. One is as negative and dark as a demon on a toadstool. His voice shakes with anger, as he advises against this move, "because you will fail" and "you will look like a fool. Stay still, and maybe no one will notice that you are breathing." The second voice is sunlight multiplied, "Hey, it's a beautiful day, and you've got the ability. Full steam ahead. I'll see you in the winner's circle." It is her voice. The third voice is from one that's gone to the lounge chair and is lying down. "Look, Kiddo, this is going to take a lot out of you, in time and effort. Why bother? Sit back and take it easy. You'll never get out of this world alive anyway." When all three have had stated their positions, they turn to me for the decision. All three answers strike positive chords to me, but only one can be chosen. Now, let me see…
I have a duty, one I detested at this moment. "Gale take Levi and Barachel and bring the Queen to us. Have four more escorts you back but leave the rest to protect the castle and our Princess," he gave a nod, he was tired, we all are but we fulfill our duty first sleep would come.
He turned back to me, "Any words for your future wife, Commander," I first felt it, the burning in my face as it moved to my head.
I snapped, "Yes, try and not do anything dangerous. To not act herself," her Grandmother whacked me so hard it tore my flesh, it hurt like a dagger.
Her eyes glowed dangerously as she advanced on me, "You will not talk to my Granddaughter in such a way, Commander. She is our only hope, if not for her we would lose this war in the end. You do not end it, she does she rules with her head and her heart. She does not make any choices with a light heart, she is open unlike you and her mother. I will have words with the Queen when she arrives, you might be destined to be with her but as I found out destiny can change," Keziah took her by the shoulders whispering words calming the witch before she could damage me further.
It would be hours before they arrived, as we have no dead they ascended, we bury any witch int heir own way, we mourn with them. We listen to the music as our brothers from the woodlands play the most enchanting music until their kin disappears to the heavens in golden smoke. After we sit in the massive castle waiting and just feeling like death, most sleep and I nod off before being woken by some small noise.
But fatigue hit me as I closed my eyes once again.
Only the earsplitting sound that vibrated the room woke me, in the doorway was the Queen and the guard's that I had sent for her. My body fumbled to a standing position as she smiled at me, "My Queen, please come sit," I placed my hand to her back leading her to a throne that would be at the very least decent enough for this meeting.
We gathered as the Queen spoke, "I welcome your great coven and any others that wish to join our cause to protect the humans,"
"We have always done our share, my dear. We just do not always value the humans as you do, but we join you not only to use our powers against our comin foe but to protect Shaylee. Her destiny is at hand, such a black world she could make us fall into or a future so bright and filled. The choices lie within her now, let us sign you all will stay and depart mid-afternoon or late evening tomorrow after Helga arrives she would also like to have words before signing," all I wanted was to go home tonight, but the Queen must stay since we needed more to our cause.
As rested and clean as I could get here, the Queen was ready to depart as I spoke. "We will return home as the sunrises," she nodded her understanding as we took to the air like a legion of dark birds that flew higher and higher away from the eyes of humans.
I dearly loved to fly, but home was calling, and a very long bath was in order.
The sight that greeted us broke me, I bellowed. "Secure the Queen," my body diving into the battle in the courtyard of our palace. My eyes zeroed in on the bobbing blond hair of the Princess in her green gown, she was fighting with her all. Around her demons perished all but the largest, the leader by his stance and frame. He was fighting Helena who was close to the Princess, she looked horror stuck as his fighting stick was sticking from her chest, like that the last of my childhood friends are gone from this world. It hurt, finally I realized how she had impacted my life as my friend and confidant. In the end, we would honor her, I would avenge her death.
She couldn't take him his tone is luring and sends me into a rage hearing it. "You can't take much more Princess," his voice eerie.
"Step away from the Princess, Demon," every once of anger poured out as she stumbled back, bleeding from her chest. I wanted to scoop her up and vanish but right now this demon was my chore.
"The almighty Commander Gideon has come to save his Princess. We won't stop until we have her,"
"Then I shall have to kill every demon before I kill your so-called Dark Prince. Keziah take Princess Shaylee to her chambers," my voice was harsh my one torn with anger.
"We will meet again Commander, retreat," his voice was clear, with our forces renewed and strong they would be obliterated.
"My Princess," I take her to the healer, she was not responding any longer. She was being worked on with her guard and mother at her side, my eyes couldn't seem to move from her she was a warrior now. Her second battle and she let none cross into our holy place she held against all odds. Pride filled me, we lost many, but they never got her or into our castle.
Healer Jabra cut into my thoughts, "She can rest in her chambers now,"
Her mother nodded as she left us alone with the Princess. "Commander Gideon take her to your chambers. I can watch over her during the day while you watch her at night. I rather none see her in this state, she has made us all so proud and should be able to rest in peace, not with others outside her door," her voice was like melting butter.
Fuming Keziah cut in, "I understand your point my Queen, but she is better off with me, I am a female and her guard unlike Commander Gideon," she was right.
"Keziah, he is her future husband. I have faith he will not taint her,"
"Do you have no faith in my skill, to let him watch over her. Her father placed us in charge of her care yet you time and time again go against it, I do not care if you banish me for this. You make very wrong choices with her care," she stormed out and she was right.
"I do not think Keziah is wrong my Queen. You have made poor choices with Princess Shaylee's care but as we see she can handle herself. I will of course watch over her but even I believe Keziah would be better suited for the task,"
But now with Keziah not being able to be found our Princess has been in my chambers, the Queen and Keziah sit by her side during the day all meals being brought to them while Ophir and myself deal with the daily duties. But at night it was just us, she was getting better but has not woken yet.
Each day passed but color returned to her face, she was tired, and something told me her powers are about to re-kick in and make life harder on us. On the third night I lay next to her in pants, my arm draped over her when her meek voice chimed. "Where am I? Why am I back in your chambers? Wouldn't the Infirmary be a more suitable place,"
"In my chambers, it was best so I could watch you heal. You have been sleeping for three days, the Queen and Keziah are very worried they stay by your bedside most of the day unless she is needed, I am here all night to watch over you. You, of course, were first in the infirmary but your mother trust me to watch over you much better, a place other Gargoyles could not see you," my voice was deep and husky with sleep as my warm breath was hitting the back of her neck.
"Three days. I am very sorry to have worried anyone. I should go,"
"No, you will rest. I will get you nourishment, but I advise I don't find you out of my bed," leaving her alone to get her a platter of cheese, fruit, and chicken. But she of course moved from the bed you could tell but there she sat her blonde hair glowed in the moonlight.
On my knees with my hands around my own throat was how this ended after she punched me with great force in the throat. I sputtered after a few minutes I leave to take the Queen to her morning meal but the moment I alerted her that her daughter was in her chambers she was off at a sprint and I would have to wait outside Princess's Shaylee's door with Ophir.
"She punched me,"
"You deserved it, I am most certain,"
"Maybe,"