Author's Note: Hey everybody. Hitting you with a double chapter update! If you enjoyed, please feel free to review! It's always appreciated. Now, onto the final Western Regions mission!
The story has elements of both Dark War storyline and DemonxBunny's Masters of the Multiverse, so all credit goes to both Impact Wrestling and DemonxBunny. I do not own the characters, only the OCs. The story is entirely fictional.
Characters may look and act different than they do in real life. This was done intentionally, and things will change over time in this story, so please be patient.
Rating: M, for violence, coarse language, and mature themes/events that will appear throughout this story. Remember, this is Femslash, so if that's not your thing, you may not like this story.
Pairings: Allie/Rosemary (DemonxBunny), others over time.
Aftermath of the Dark War Chapter 20: Whispers of Wisdom and Death by Jurassicfatt
Rosemary's Pov, Western Road, Morning
I speed down the open dirt roads, not another caravan or rider in sight. Allie clutches me tightly, especially when I make sharp turns. I feel my pulse quicken when she does, but I'm still reeling from our argument this morning.
How could she be so stupid? Withholding those dreams from us? I find it too coincidental that she started having these dreams right after coming in contact with Certrius and the Jewel. The minute we get back to Kaduran, I'm going with Caretaker to meet with 'his contact' and get as many answers as I can on the matter. Hopefully they can make sense of it.
'Didn't want to bother me'? Why would she think of herself as a bother to me? Have I not proved I'll protect her with my life? Even after everything I told her last night? I meant every word of it. I still remember the calm feeling that came over me when we cuddled. I only got up to put our clothes out to dry. Last night was the most blissful sleep I've ever had in my entire life. As if I was floating on air. I hate the fact that she held this back from me.
Well, you are holding back some things from her too, aren't you? The teasing voice amusingly sounds in my head.
No! You aren't hiding anything. What Allie did was foolish. Focus on the task at hand. She withheld those dreams from you, making it her error. The scolding voice returns to say.
"Actually, you should reconsider your current opinion, assassin." a new voice sounds in my head. The voice is that of an older man. It is very low and raspy. I feel my amulet heat up against my skin. I feel my arms turn my bike and park it on the side of the road. What? What's happening right now?! The voice begins speaking again, and I listen attentively. "The bunny made a decision. Now, while not the most insightful one, she was also dealing with the horrors she witnessed by the Warlord Certrius. A revolting cretin who murdered a cherished one in front of her and took her from her world. These surroundings, these notions, this world, is all unfamiliar to her. She was, and still is, adapting to this realm. Do not believe her confusion on and reluctance to tell you of the dreams for deceit and malice." the voice says, before disappearing completely. The amulet cools and I feel my hands grabbing the handles of my bike. What the hell! Who was that? How did he take control of me like that? There aren't any Warlords or dangers here! I look around, concerned that one might be near us. This amulet is getting more and more unpredictable everyday. I really have to see Cal when we return to Kaduran.
"Uh, Rosemary, why did we stop?" Allie asks through her helmet in muffled speech. "You alright?"
I nod, still confused and a bit angry. "Just needed a moment to think." I tell her, before revving the engine and continuing down the road. It takes a few hours to reach the next town. The road turns abruptly and then goes into an incline. As we reach the top, an object comes into view. I lift the visor of my helmet to see it clearer. Right outside of the town is another motorbike, green in color with chrome highlights. The town is similar to the last one, but the buildings here are made of white stone opposed to wood. I can faintly hear screaming coming from the village. I pull my visor down and race to the town, before parking alongside the other bike. Allie and I get off it, pull off our helmets and I grab some weapons, excluding my hook and chain, before running into town. The healing tape and balms certainly helped, but my hook is the heaviest weapon of my arsenal, so probably not the best idea to be wielding it with a shoulder injury.
The chaos and panic in the town is clear. All the men, women, and even children, run and scream in terror. I don't see the Warlord yet, but some of the villagers are acting extremely violent. Some scratch at their eyes with fingers, blood pouring from the self-inflicted cuts down their cheeks, while others bang their heads against the sides of buildings, their blood painting the walls red. Those unaffected run to a large white building with smooth red columns.
"What the hell is happening?!" Allie yells to me.
"No fucking idea!" I answer. I pull my knife from my boot and hand it to her, given she lost the other one during my fight with Jed. She quickly puts it in the sheath I gave her, resting her hand on the handle. "The villagers are heading to that building." I point to it. "Let's get over there and see if the authorities know why everyone's acting like this."
We run with the crowd and I help shuffle the villagers into the building. I head inside and the men of the village close the double doors and barricade them with a large wooden bench. Many villagers weep, their sobs echoing off the walls. Some older villagers close their eyes and pray. Mothers and Fathers hold their children in their arms, their small bodies clinging to their parents in fright. Some men carry broomsticks and gardening tools like hoes and pitchforks. A large demon with orange skin, flaps for eyes and jutting canines comes into view. He wears a blue vest with a red crest of a snake wrapped around a cup on his left shoulder. A healer. He is cleaning the wound of an older Realmer, whose neck is scratched and bleeding. Allie and I walk over to him, and I can see Allie is struck by the images in front of her. A Realmer calls the demon and he turns around.
"Another one? Oh, thank the guild! We believed no others would arrive." he says in a surprised tone of voice. "I am Geoffrey, healer of this village."
"What is going on? Why is everyone outside hurting themselves?" Allie asks.
"It happened after the Warlord sighting. About a week ago, one of our herdsmen said a weird looking demon stalked him while his cattle drank by the stream nearby. A day later, people started complaining of headaches and said they heard whispers in their heads. The hospital was flooded with people, mostly Realmers. Some remained in my care, while others returned home. Yesterday night, the Warlord arrived, and started picking off people in the center of town. We barricaded ourselves indoors, but then some of the villagers began complaining of the whispers again. This morning, they went berserk and broke down the doors of the houses, burnt the hospital and began killing themselves, causing widespread panic and forcing us to run here."
"Where is the head of the village?" I inquire.
"Dead. 62 deceased in total, 23 missing. Are you from the Northern Heights, assassin?" he asks.
"No. I'm from Kaduran, originally the Hive. Why?" I ask in confusion.
"Come with me." Geoffrey says, motioning with his hand to follow him. We walk past the sea of villagers into a makeshift infirmary. Some people lie on cots, others on the ground, bandages wrapping their head and/or appendages. On the left side, a large row of bodies with white sheets covering them greets us. Geoffrey brings us to one slightly away from the others, in the corner of the room. He lifts the sheet. Underneath it is a large, yellow, four eyed demon with blood on his face. He has dark black hair with a large gash on the right side of his skull. He must be at least 6 ft.6 and very muscular. He wears a dark green sleeveless shirt, white shoulder, elbow and knee armor, green pants and boots. His shirt is streaked with blood and he has six horizontal cuts on his chest. Next to him is a large broadsword, gleaming chrome with a dark yellow hilt and silver symbol at the bottom; the Northern Heights crest- two icicles stabbing into a mountain, forming an X. Shit. Allie turns to me.
"Is this…?"
"Another assassin." I answer lowly. Fucking hell!
"He arrived during the night. Some said they saw him chasing after something in the darkness. We found him like this, near the wells of the village. Come down here for a second." Geoffrey tells us, motioning me to kneel. He lifts the shirt and I see six deep gashes in the ribcage, with fresh blood stains going down his stomach. "The Warlord stabbed him through the small separations between his ribs. Very precise." he explains.
"Do you know what it looks like?" I ask.
"Only saw it in glimpses. Thin, walks on two legs, and has these weird markings on its arms and legs." Geoffrey tells me. I pull my sword from the hilt.
"Tell me where it was last seen. And get some of the villagers to barricade the door behind me." I say. Geoffrey tells me it was last seen near the wells at the center of town.
"Hold on. If this thing killed an assassin, it is really wise to go out there alone? What if that's exactly what it wants? You, out in the open, so it can catch you off-guard. You're not even 100%! It's too dangerous." Allie argues.
"Allie, 62 people are dead, with possibly 23 others. One of them is an assassin from the Northern Heights academy. This Warlord needs to die. It's too dangerous to be left alive." I emphasize. She looks at me, concern etched on her face. She's trying to stay brave for me, but I know she's scared. "Stay here with the doctor. See if anyone needs help. And I know: be careful." I say as she opens her mouth. She closes it and nods. I look at her one more time before making my way over to the front doors. The villagers have moved the bench and are preparing for my departure.
"Okay. On my mark, open them. Ready?" I look at the men, who nod in agreement. I twirl my sword and take a deep breath. "Now!" They pull open one door and I run through the opening, before they swiftly close it. I felt some pain in my shoulder when I moved too quickly, so I opt to walk instead. I head to the town's center, keeping an eye out for the Warlord. Bodies of deceased villagers layer the sandy floor of the town, the flies swarming around their fresh corpses. The longer I walk through the village, the more I feel as if someone's watching me. I then begin hearing something. At first, I thought it was the flies buzzing, but then I hear the sound near my ears…
Whispering. Unintelligible, but there. Sounds like the voice is right next to me, but as I peer over my shoulder, I see no one. I finally make it to the center of town, three large wells made of white stone in plain sight. The whispering has intensified. I look around, still not seeing anything but bodies. Suddenly, I feel my eyes grow heavy and my arms tire. My eyes drift close and, unable to stop myself, I fall asleep where I stand.
*dream sequence*
I wake up. I'm lying on the ground, the coarse sand bristling against me as I shift to my feet. The sky and landscape are black. I no longer have my weapons. Then, the whispering returns and this time I can make out the words.
"Another one… Excellent. Join us. Give up. I will take care of you." a female voice says, her tone like that of a mother to a child.
"Who are you? Where are you?" I yell out.
"A voice of concern. You have grown strong. Fought in many battles. Let me take care of you." the voice tells me ever so sweetly.
"Uh, yeah, no thanks." I say.
"Warrior, do you know who I am? I am the 'Mother' of this territory, and I wish for my subjects to be free of burden and sacrifice." she explains to me.
"Yeah, so you kill them or force them to violently kill themselves while they attack others." I argue with her.
"That is not true. They have not died; they are with me." A smooth, peachy colored hand with long purple nails then appears, and changes the surroundings. A gleaming river valley comes into view, where many of the dead villagers smile and laugh happily. They dance, eat, and play music all around us. Really creepy. "They feared hunger from low harvests and death from beasts. I gave them salvation. The assassin of before refused my offering, and was chastised. But I believe you will be more receptive to my gifts."
"Are you fucking nuts?! I'm not falling for this shit! Show yourself!" I demand.
"Assassin, what has your life been so far?" Images pop into the sky. A young girl, wearing tattered clothes, being whipped as she pulls a carriage. She has black and white face paint on, blue eyes, and short black hair. I recognize her: a younger version of myself. It then shifts to me at the funerals of my squad mates from the Hive. Most of them were murdered by Warlords shortly after graduation. "You have worked so hard, but the fight never ends. I can save you, and the woman you love." she claims. The sky changes to Allie, standing in her pink shirt and a smile gracing her lips.
"What? Don't fucking mention her! Show yourself, coward!" I shake my head, trying to free myself of her spell. The hand comes closer to me.
"She has pain. She suffers. Let me help the two of you. In my paradise, you two can be together. Never worry about anything else but the love and affection you have for each other. And I can guide you to this paradise, if you just give in." the voice says, as the hand comes to touch my face. I try to pull away, but my feet are like lead as she keeps coming closer. No, damnit! Get away! Her hand is inches from my face, the long purple nails hovering just over my cheek-
Out of nowhere, a blue light shoots down violently onto the hand, causing it to wince in pain.
"Ahhh!" the voice cries out, it's hand burning to grey as it gets hit. It pulls away, the peachy color returning momentarily.
In front of me are three clouds of blue smoke, barely visible in the darkness. They wisp all around me, like a barrier protecting me from the Mother of the territory. Then, voices begin speaking from the smoke clouds.
"Hahaha! You want to play? Play with Nikki!" a female voice with a thick accent laughs out from the left side.
All I hear from the right side are a bunch of hypnotic children singing: Follow the leader, Follow the leader, over and over again.
Many voices all begin speaking in unison, including the raspy one from before. Their tone is threatening and angry, causing the hand to shake in fear.
"We claim dominion over the assassin. Any transgression towards her or her loved ones is a transgression against us. Surrender to death or suffer our wrath!" they yell.
"You wish for death? SO BE IT!" the voice yells in fury, before I'm pulled swiftly out of my dream-like state.
To be continued!