The Marquess Ostia slumped tediously on his throne. It had been awfully quiet the past hour or so, and he was getting impatient. Where were his servants, his guards, and his advisors…? He sighed, going over the possibilities in his head – only two really made sense: perhaps they had gone to a party and left him behind? No, that wasn't right. Perhaps they were plotting mutiny…
Suddenly a horrible thought came into his head. One word: Massacre…
The Marquess sat up with a jolt as the door flung open with a BANG!
In the doorway stood the most hideous creature he had ever laid eye on. It definitely was not human…perhaps demonic? He was glad that it wore a cloak; he certainly did not want to see any more of it than was necessary. Its eyes glowed with a dark fire – it confirmed his worst fears. Where were his priests? They would be able to cast out this monster…
The beast spoke, with a raspy voice that sounded like something from nightmares. "Marquess Uther of Ostia, I presume?" Uther trembled. Upon noticing the blood-spattered katana in the demon's claw, he began to hyperventilate…
"W-who are you? W-w-what are y-you doing in m-m-my c-castle? And how did you g-g-get past my guards?"
The creature cackled with a laugh that chilled the bones. As if in answer, it opened the gilded double doors with its tail…
The sight was so terrifying Uther was lost for words. For across the marble palace floor were strewn hundreds of dead, each one a soldier, guard, or another in service to the marquess. Each had been slaughtered differently: some with slashes to the neck, while others had been beheaded completely; some were missing limbs whilst still others had merely been stabbed through the heart. But they all shared that same look of horror on their faces; their expressions like to that of one who had just entered hell. Their limbs (those that were still attached to their bodies) were twisted into awkward positions; their blood had almost painted the floor. And now the marquess was about to be the victim of the one who had done this monstrous deed.
The beast closed the door, and Uther pulled out an axe from under the throne. "I'm warning you! I'm armed!" he yelled. The demon nodded towards the door. "So were they," it said, smiling.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Uther. Perhaps this demon was the angel of death, come for his soul. But why? He hadn't done anything wrong…
The demon smiled. It was reading his thoughts…"I was expecting you would come without a fight, milord. You are a man of honour, no?"
Uther lowered his axe, trembling.
The katana swung towards him.
He screamed in pain.
Then all went black…