Twilight Storm (Story)
#2 of Short stories
Authors note: Here's a quick story a worked up in an hour or so to describe the epicness behind this scene. May not be the best, but eh, I like it. And some of you can see Gilian's personality at last. So hope you like!
Like most of my things, creative Critism is always welcomed. So please don't try and spare my feelings if you see that I can improve on, let me know!
Link to picture for story: https://www.sofurry.com/view/619741
Rick, how the hell do you get me into this shit?! I screamed as loud as I could in my head as we ran across the country side. It hadn't been long since we ditched the horses, much good that did. The fox, Jerry, was barely keeping up and trust and believe I was more than tempted to risk the possibility of prying eyes on the road versus having to backtrack for my wounded charge.
"Pick up the pace Jerry! We ain't got all day." I called back, with maybe more annoyance than I should have, from the way he flinched. Even through the roaring of the winds, and the thunderous boom that roared across the sky, I could be heard with great ease. A bonus for being a Deity in the works.
"I'm trying!" He panted, struggling to keep from sinking into the soggy ground. "Couldn't you just fly us there?"
"Yeah no. Not in your condition." I shook my head and slowed my pace so I kept by his side right as the high grass slapped hard against my chest, and Jerry's face, from the loud whimper that came from my side.
Really was regretting having that panther come over to Rick's bar that night. Regretted even more how much I got into our little time together that it caused the guy to claw straight into Rick's stainless oak bar top.
When it rain's, it fucking shits on you. I growled and with one fluid move, swept the fox up by the waist, trying to ignore the loud gasping groan that came from him. The long black hood that draped over Jerry head, flapped back from the move, and I winced, loosening my grasp around his waist.
Ears clipped, cheek tore deep from the unburnt eye down to the chin, and a very impressive tattoo done not too skillfully that lined right around the cut. Which, by the way, stood for possession. Possession of the Lord of Torture, the only demon lord able to escape his kingdom from the depth of hell onto this plane.
Rick was ever so nice to have given me the duty of taking care of Mr. Jerry, and escorting him to Tivana, the city of light. The ONE place I truly did not want to be going too. Rick even so kindly added a bonus. Escort him safely, or pay him back every last penny of what I owed him.
Hopefully I don't need to mention just how poor I am.
Add that with the Lord of Torture wanting his beloved priest back for betraying him to Alexander, (Again, the reason I do NOT want to go to Tivana) and I had more than I wanted to chew.
Thankfully the only thing I had going for me at this time, other than the dead weight that was now hanging from my shoulder, fighting hard not to grunt and moan in pain, was that the Lord of Torture wasn't one for direct confrontation . That didn't mean he didn't have some nasty companions on his side.
I paused, stopping by the end of the grassy plain; listening, feeling. The winds were my ally, more so than ever. With the storm above spreading my energy across the area, it made it a bit harder (damn right impossible) for any powerful mage who might have even close to my talent of picking up ones energy trail.
When I was sure that everything was clear, I placed Jerry down. Whatever they did to the poor guy, must have been horrible. His dirty orange coat was close to pale after riding on my shoulder for a short period of time. "Alright little guy?"
"Yes...I'm fine." He wheezed and coughed, rubbing at his mouth. "How much farther do we have to go?"
I looked across the plain. It was a stretch, but the Vale Forest was not too far, and from there, only a few hours of running , jogging, and lugging the fox around, would we be at our destination.
"Four, five hours tops. If we keep up this pace."
Jerry groan, but the determination in his eyes to get to Tivana made them as bright as they were at the Inn. "Okay. I'll try my best to keep up!" He shouted over the loud gust of wind that bellowed past us. "Do we go through the woods?"
"Fuck no! Around."
"Around?! But that'll be longer!"
"Longer and safer my good fox. Do try to remember. Tree's aren't the place to be, especially in the midst of night." That, and my powers would be weakened if I went in the forest. To many things moved there, too many noises and smells. Even for me, that would be too risky to attempt with Jerry, even if it sounded kinda fun.
Jerry nodded, but obviously didn't look to happy that'll this would take longer. The sooner we got to Tiviana, the quicker he can finish what he needed too with Alexander's Priests. Then from there, well, I doubted they'd let him stay too long in their sanctuary. The people of Tiviana may be some of the sweetest people in Felidor, however, even the gentlest have their twisted sides. Jerry was a priest of the Lord of Torture. The people would fear him, and eventually toss him out. Where he'd be at the Mercy of his previous master.
To say he was living on borrowed time would be an understatement. Even Alexander wouldn't be able to help him much. Not after being branded. And Jerry had to have known this.
The thought bugged me more so than I should have let it, and continued to as we ran across the plain, along the edge of the Vale. To make things easier on Jerry I made it so that the winds around him would make it easier for him to run. Again, I kept my powers from flashing too much so not to exhaust myself any more than I already was.
An hour, maybe two, I lost track as I kept my ears up and my focus sharp. "Jerry. You know after this, you're pretty much fucked right?"
"What?" His voice shrank as it looked about time for me to attempt to lug his tired hide across my shoulder again.
"Once you're done doing this little mission, you know that the people of Tivania will toss your ass to the curb and leave you for dead, right? They can't risk keeping someone the Lord of Torture want's in their city. Even with Alexander blessing it."
Jerry ears laid back, as he glared defiantly at me. "It doesn't matter. If I'm to die, then that's it. I have to do this."
Brave last words. "Yet that won't be all, you know that. You're old master will keep you locked in his realm for all eternity, to torture and play with you like his bitch. So why betray him? Wouldn't it have been easier to stick by his side?"
Jerry head bent as he slowed down to a stop. "It can't be helped. I...lost something important to me. Something I don't want to talk about. But it's something I've staked my life on."
"Even though you know Alexander won't keep you safe?" I asked, and stopped alongside him. Alexander, hell, the Seven in general were more observers than actual gods who rule and control the realm we watched over. We governed nature, from the winds, fires, to earth and water, to the ice tundra, down to the darkest of nights and brightest of days. Alexander, although he'd love to go to war with someone such as the Lord of Torture, couldn't do so without damn good reason, and at best, Jerry here was only one of the small pieces that might allow him to do so. But still, Alexander would not risk endangering those he personally protects for one who has already been tainted.
"Even if he wont keep me safe, as long as he keeps my old master from grabbing his hands on those I cherish in the afterlife, I'm willing to sacrifice myself."
I sighed and shook my head. "You're funeral bud." I said, then paused as an all too familiar sensation crept along my spine. Immediately I stepped in front of Jerry, unable to keep the smirk that tugged across my lips from spreading. "Isn't it a bit too late in the evening for you to be out and about, Curse?"
"Curse?!" Jerry flinched and stuck close to my back, bit too close.
For a moment nothing stirred but the wind that rustled the leaves of the forest. "I would not have thought the winds to be so observant." Curse said, dull but slightly serious as he stepped out from amongst the trees. He was a wolf, pitch as night, an after effect from the experiments done to him . He wore a long trench coat that bristled back in the air, giving a sense of pause as he moved effortlessly through the stormy winds.
"Not sure if I should take that as a complement or an insult." I chuckled and crossed my arms as he stood just a bit aways from me. Amongst the night, his presence was hard to feel, even with him in my view. "What brings the shadows out at this time to night to greet us?
He glanced lazily at the fox then back at me.
Lovely. "I take it the Lord of Torture called you up for a hit?"
"Correct."
Even more lovely. If Curse was hired in to take me on, shit just got real. Fast. The two of us, well; in personality we were similar. Powers, complete opposite. While I pride myself for my skills on tracking and well, sensing out the flow of energy, Curse was a master of sealing his presence, as the night has always been good at that. In the midst of midnight Curse's power of stealth was downright horrifying. Even with the storm brewing above and the winds whipping around us, I was at a disadvantage. "Is there any way I could persuade you out of this?" I asked.
"Gilian, I highly doubt you even have close to the amount of money to do that." Ouch. "And once paid, I get results." He said in a matter-of-fact manner as he slipped his paws behind his back and drew his twin blades.
"Gilian..." Jerry whimpered behind me.
I sighed and shrugged, smiling back at Jerry. "I would suggest you step back a bit, but try not to get too far from me. Things are going to get--" I whipped out Kervanos, and blocked the oncoming attack that was aimed for my ribs. Sparks of lightning rippled from the steel edge of the blade, making the storm spark to life.
"Nasty."