Chapter 4 RISING DARKNESS

The Kingdom of Vlastisi, a kingdom under the reign of King Aaron Bert, it is also one of the six kingdoms independent from the Southern Empire ruled by His Lordship Bishop Ekmond Alexander the seventh. The Castle is built at the cliff top while the town, split into two by a vineyard and a meadow covers the remaining hectares of the cliff then follows a large Fir forest.

It was the nineteenth hour of the day, yet a flock of Finch still peeper around the Fir forest; the puff of air blowing across was chilled but tepid in an oddly way. At the Meander of a river dividing the Fir forest horizontally into two halves; five Men gather around a camp fire chatting while awaiting two rabbits burning in the bright flame.

"Seriously, why are we here?" asked Ben, the youngest and innocent looking one amongst the men

"Quit complaining Ben" replied Alan

"I'm supposed to be with my wife" Ben stretches his hands wide then gazes at the cloud "enjoying this wonderful atmosphere."

"Two bad, your wife may probably be lying with another man" Alan proposed resulting in a general laughter

"Fuck you Alan." Ben caused.

"Not me Ben" Alan replied with a smirk, one brow raised above the other causing in a general laughter, but this time louder.

"Ha-ha, you all keep laughing, at least I'm living a Godly life."

"Oh really, you think heaven will welcome you as its citizen." Alan asked sarcastically

"I live to please God, so yes; heaven will embrace me with open arms."

"Suit yourself Ben, all I know is there's no fucking God."

"Oh He exists" A female voice spoke from a corner, immediately the men procured a defensive position with drawn swords.

A wished-washed skinned lady with bulgy eyes came from a dark corner; she wore a dirty torn white gown, water dripping from her long wet black hair.

"Who the fuck are you?" Alan asked

"Me? You must be mistaken; we are multis (many)." The lady replied with a giggle.

"Looks like she's mentally unstable." Gerald suggested

"I'll take her to town." Luke proposed

"Don't Luke, I've read stories of Demons possessing humans in the Holy scripts" Ben warned

"For pit sake Ben, shut up; Luke carry out your plan and take her to town." Alan urged

"Come let us see the gloriousness of the Creator." The lady proposed with a grin then brings her hands forward unveiling two knifes.

Staring profusely at the knives Alan could see a serpent inscription, "She's harmed with a weapon of the dark souls like in the report, Gerald give the order" Alan yelled

"Cut her down." Gerald ordered.

Alan and Luke quickly dashed towards the lady, who seems to be prepared for the fight.

The first attack from Luke came from above which the lady deflected with ease then stabs his chest.

Before Alan could thrust his sword through her the lady quickly pulled the knife out of Luke's chest to counter Alan's attack before slitting his throat.

Now wide open, Gerald thrust his sword into the lady's chest. "Fuck you" Gerald caused with a scream. No indication of struggle or pain, Gerald was stunned, his eyes were wild open as he gazed at death in the lady's chuckle.

"God is great" the lady praised as she stabs Gerald's neck with both knives "God is good" she praised again as she pulled the knives out allowing blood to stream out "God is terrible" she proclaimed as she stabs Gerald's neck again.

With an alarming scream another man impales the lady from behind. "He his marvelous and His presence shall endure forever." The lady proclaimed with two bold voices as black blood spout out of her mouth.

"To hell with you" the man caused as he plunged the sword further into her till only the hilt remained.

"Let everything that moves" the lady spoke then gazed defiantly at Ben who has been watching and trembling, unable to move or speak "and breathes praise His holy name" her eyes twirled black "Glorificamus sanctum nomen eius." With the words of the Lady, a black flame engulfed her then explodes in black fumes.

In a Valley of black sand, no trees, no mountains, no hills; crows feast on gutted, headless and limbless corpses of Drokan soldiers as well as Lancian warriors.

Within the mist of the sore sight, a pale slim oddly good looking young man with black hair knotted to form a ponytail, dressed in Lancian armor stained with dirt and fresh blood cheerfully whistled his way through the corpses while flaunting his Katana from side to side. The young man soon halted as he got to the front of a huge bald man with beards, vested in Drokan armor, kneeling in the mist of six Lancian spearmen, ready to impale him.

"All hail the great general, Zodiakal." The young man praised mockingly.

"It's an honor meeting you, Richard of the Levia household." Zodiakal complimented

"I'm flattered Zod, can I call you Zod." Richard asked jokingly

"I have heard about your family, you in particular; how you get in the heads of your prey, playing mind games with them" chuckles "too bad I didn't get to fight you."

"I'm beginning to like you already, I also heard about you Zod; sixth in command of the Drokan raiders" smirks "you know what, I'll give you the opportunity to choose life."

"I don't need..."

"Shut it Zod I'm not done" Richard interrupted, "denounce your god and accept Christ as your Lord and savior."

"The Drokan Empire serves no god."

With a chuckle Richard spoke, "Empire you say, you dogs have been scavenging and looting towns and growing kingdoms for years, with no Kingdom to call your own or to show for it; hiding in caves and mountains, is that what you refer to as your so-called Empire."

"Wengi iku peteng lan medeni banget (The night is dark and full of terrors)" Zodiakal warned

"Enough with your blabbering Pagan; accept Christ and I promise you a peaceful death."

"Dam your god" Zodiakal caused then spat on Richard's black leather boot

Vexed by Zodiakal's words and action Richard slashed at his head with his blade then drags it out allowing the body to fall and bleed out.

"No one has the right to insult my creator, no one" stares intently at the warriors, forcing them to pull back a little "bring me his head" he ordered then walks away whistling.