0 0 0
The darkness of the tent held Slade in a lovers embrace, the quiet black being the only reason behind the pavilion's heavy material. It was bulky and difficult to pack, and truth be told it would easily catch fire, but hey, he was worth it. An added bonus that he'd discovered along the way was that it blocked out the sickening smell of the forest.
Slade's army was currently occupying, or 'looting' as some called it, the city of Beastopia. A few even referred to his troops actions as 'genocide', but really, what do they know? The masked man sat stiffly in a heavily upholstered chair that had at one point belonged to the royal family, and scanned a document clutched in his hands. It was a set of orders from Trigon. He was to take the heirs of each kingdom back to his own. Specifically, they were supposed to be "basically alive". Slade rolled that concept around in his mind but couldn't fathom where the demon had gotten the phrase from.
So, by "basically alive", does he mean zombies? Floating heads in a jar maybe? He just shrugged and dropped the paper into the small brazier on the floor and watched it be consumed by flames. Outside the tent echoed the sounds of creatures moving about, hastily packing up camp and herding the few surviving Beastopian and Tamaranian citizens into slave carts. They would be taken back to Azarath and sold to the highest bidder, the lions share of the profit going to Trigon, the rest to be split among the soldiers.
Slade moved silently out of his tent, heading towards where the two royal brats were chained up and being readied for transportation. As he approached he heard the ear splitting sound of metal being forcefully ripped apart, and the blood curdling war call of a Tamaranian warrior. Slade quickened his pace, and in a few moments came upon a scene of chaos.
Nearly three dozen guards were struggling to restrain a tall orange-skinned girls. She shouted unintelligent gibberish, and pulled at the thick chains that held her. Her hands were, thankfully, still encased in the steel gauntlets that kept her from using her energy bolts, and from the look of it she was still to young to use her eyes. The pair were glowing an angry emerald, but no balls of fire burst from them. Slade barked out an order to the men as he approached, and one gave a hasty salute and sprinted off into the crowd.
As he neared the girl stopped struggling and stared at him, obviously recognizing him as the one in charge. Or maybe she remembered his face from when he tore out her fathers heart, right in from of her eyes, and crushed it in his hands. Either way, she gave him her full attention. "Now, are you going to come along peacefully?" He asked softly. "Or am I going to have to sedate you?"
She just looked at him, her smooth brow became scrunched in confusion, her eyes however, still glowed a heated green. She shook her head, meaning that she didn't understand him. The masked man sighed, knowing of no clear way to get his words across, so in a compromise he moved foreword with catlike agility and slammed his fist into her face.
"Ah well." He said to the guards who began to carry her off and seal her in an armored wagon. "It seems our dear princess will be sick during her journey. How unfortunate." He spared only a quick glance at the carriage that held the Beastopian prince, as his best attempts at escape caused his prison to rock slightly, but nothing more. But even that little bit could slow them down if it continued.
"Drug both the prisoners food and water during the trip." Slade instructed the troops commander. "If either of them escape I won't kill you." As the one eyed man moved away the soldier shivered. In the hands of a man like that, death can only be a release.
0 0 0
The high walls of the Azarathian empire glowed ominously in the moon light. Atop the barrier stood thousands of fiery warriors, standing constant guard. Never changing shifts, never eating, never looking away, they were the perfect soldiers. But, sadly, they couldn't go more than ten miles from the city without dissolving into a puff of black smoke. And so they were destined to spend eternity watching the walls, waiting silently and without complaint for the day the attack came.
But that day was no today, and they stayed unmoving as two armies approached, one form the north, the other the south. A great cheer rose from the people of the city as its soldiers returned.
Conquering hero's.
Slaughterers of the helpless.
Murderers.
And damned to an eternity in hell as soon as this one was over.
0 0 0
Raven ghosted silently down the entrance hall of the castle. The gruesome portraits on the wall looked strangely appealing now, and the flickering torchlight no longer set her on edge. Completely demon now, the young woman no longer feared her heritage. And with a confidence never felt before, made her way towards the king's throne room, and to face her father.
But a moment before she stepped through the door a voice rang out behind her. "Well now." It called jauntily. "Aren't you going to welcome me back before the meeting? I'm sure you've missed me as much as I've longed for you." Raven turned and looked over at the masked man behind her. He was striding easily down the hall, a black cloak billowing from his shoulders, and a quiet defiance in the tilt of his skull. As he reached her he stared into the depths of her hood and shook his head sadly. "Are you still wearing that thing darling? I thought you would have outgrown it by now."
Raven laughed dryly and pulled down her head covering, revealing the shining golden mask still planted firmly against her face. "We've become very attached."
Slade's eye narrowed in anger. "Take it off." He ground out.
"Who are you, mortal, to presume to command me?"
"I'm your fiancée." He replied. And during the split second it took for her mind to catch up with his words his hands darted out and he wedged his fingers under the edge of the mask. And pulled. A terrible screeching filled the hall as the mask was slowly pried off the demons face, and the horns slid into their proper place. Black energy glowed in Raven hands, and she began to attack, but before she could land a blow the golden monstrosity was completely free and it skidded across the plush floor and clattered to a stop against the opposite wall, its eyes staring blankly at the two of them.
Raven swayed where she stood, and began to fall, but Slade wrapped one strong arm around her waist and pulled her close. They stood together for a full minute, both just trying to get their breath after that close call.
It had almost been too late.
"You know." Raven said softly after a few more seconds, her head buried against his chest. "This doesn't mean I like you." She pulled away, still not quit steady on her feet, but refusing his offers to help. She turned away, and the pair walked through the door and into the War Room.
0 0 0
Authoresses Note: There you have it. One more chapter. Enjoy.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
--Queen of the Gnomes,
NumbuhZero