Chapter 9 Run ... While You Still Can

"FOR THOSE WHO ARE YET TO KNOW, THE BEAST IS COMING, RUN ... WHILE YOU STILL CAN."

***

PHASE ONE

The wolves on the hills surrounding the province of Malma howled, and the screeching bats flew past these two figures standing before each other on this narrow path.

"When two snakes find themselves in one barrel, only one is meant to survive", Pointing his fingers at Balkyre Fang, the dark figure sent those burning chains flying in his direction. Wrapping themselves around Fang, they raved.

"While the other dies."

"You got it all wrong Barzak", Fang replied, "they aren't two snakes but seven and none is me. But first, did you even bother to think about the person who trapped the snakes inside the barrel ?"

"Just as I was told", the figure said, "but I'll see how surprising things can get after this."

"Evading my question", Fang yawned, "I'm the person who had those snakes kept captive and I'll have them amuse me with their fight to death."

"Bold words for someone about to die." Barzak growled

"Impudent words for someone speaking to a god." Balkyre Fang laughed.

The skies and earth quaked, the clouds unleashing those flashes of lightning trailing their way to the horizons and the moon - as always - had that bloody grin.

"A god !" Barzak mocked, "you really think ..."

Barzak felt that pressure from nowhere throw him down on his knees. His head rang with pain and his entire body shook.

"I don't just think, you lowly fool", Balkyre Fang said, the chains melting away and his brown eyes blazing gold in this dense darkness, "I said, I AM A GOD."

What was this feeling and what was he seeing ? Barzak gasped, this was beyond what he had felt from even the most powerful opponents he had faced in all his life and career as a subordinate to Theonis in the Mane's Citadel.

"I was lucky to not have been consumed by pride", Barzak said, "I don't see any demon in you", challenging, he summoned, "you're just a bug who needs to be taught a lesson !"

Those countless beings emerged from the darkness, their forms steaming of dense shadows and their eyes glowing red, they were the elite fighters of the Mane's Citadel.

"Theonis sent you prepared didn't she ?" Fang said playing with his thumb, " a hundred elite fighters to deal with a god like me", Fang exploded into another fit of laughter, that made the earth quake.

What was with this bastard, Barzak shivered as cold sweat trickled down his forehead, that made a vampire warrior like him feel so oppressed ?

"You really look down on me Theonis !" Fang thundered, the booming skies echoing his rage.

"Then they shall pay for their impudence my lord." That guttural voice came from behind Fang.

"So you're here Aegus", Fang chuckled.

"You already sensed my presence long before I arrived my lord", that being in a white, hooded robe and a dark mask with two sheathed daggers by his side, knelt behind Fang as he appeared from the shadows.

Barzak had seen what had now really made him struck with terror. The plaque of a crescent on the chest of the masked being in white robes.

"That emblem ...", Barzak stammered, "... Moon Scythe ..."

"Aegus", Fang summoned, "make these cursed congregation feel the wrath of the NETHER."

"Yes lord Moon Scythe", Aegus rose to his feet, "None shall be spared"

Those howls of pain echoed throughout this forest, the howls rose to the heavens and Fang's horrifying laughter became a harmonica accompanying this tune.

PHASE TWO

"The time is soon to come"

"You mean we must prepare."

"Preparation isn't all that has to do with a war like this."

"What more ? Do you think we should accept their offer."

"Why not ? We aren't the only ones they have sought. But more importantly is ..."

"We cannot refuse."

"They are watching, do you feel it ?"

"Gods above us, demons within us and angels beneath us. Who are we in this grand scheme of power to dare refuse ?"

"Even pawns are better off than us."

"But we can't be the only ones to lose, I want not just the Dukedom, I want the throne."

"Usurping the legacy of a hundred millenniums, I admire your courage rascal."

"They have always wanted to exterminate us, but we'll bring them to extinction before they even have the chance to fight back."

***

"His highness", the female voice called as she walked into the chamber.

He felt disgusted within, this witch ! Vel Nor cursed, even a fool knew what she was after.

"Why won't you answer me your highness ?" Queen Fera cooed.

Seated on that rocking chair, King Vel Nor stared at the red moon through the window, a brutal force of nature, he thought, he was really surrounded by many serpents.

"Why would his majesty need to explain his actions ?" That male voice came from behind the queen.

Finally, King Vel Nor sighed, the one person he could trust had arrived.

"How did it go Megraz ?" Vel Nor spoke informally, "I couldn't convince the parliament."

"They insisted on having the bill of five annexations passed", Vel Nor snarled, "the third voting was still not in the monarch's favour, this is worse than I had anticipated."

PHASE THREE

The bloody limbs of scattered corpses littered the path before them. The deed had been executed, Fang smiled.

"One more thing though", he grinned, staring at the shivering Barzak still on his knees, "I'll need you to pass a message to Theonis, why not have some grapes before you go on your errand."

"I'm very sorry Balkyre Fang ... no ! Lord Moon Scythe." Barzak pleaded.

"There's no need for apologies, I am", Fang said, squatting he held Barzak's jaw, locking their eyes in a trance, "a very humble man, so quietly have your grapes."

Barzak froze as his vision was consumed in Fang's bewitching gaze of horror, those eyes, Barzak felt himself losing his sanity. Those vision of dark horrors portrayed themselves in Barzak's mind, making him squirm as blood trickled down his eyes. Those vines grew from the soil, grabbing the ends of Barzak's lips, they pulled at his jaws, tearing his mouth open. After which, a branch of red grapes grew from the earth, forcing it's way into the torn mouth of Barzak, it dug into his guts, twisting and curling all the way. The branch finally resurfaced without the grapes attached to it, and like a fleeing serpent it buried itself back into the soil.

"As supposed of Lord Moon Scythe", Aegus commended.

"Horrifying wasn't it ?" Fang placed a palm on his forehead and closing his eyes.

"But it's nowhere near ..." Aegus said.

Fang's eyes tore open, their brown turning fiery red.

"What I'll do to those godly bastards for stabbing me in the back."

***

"I think that is all father", Magrez said.

"Are you confident in what the priest said ?" Vel Nor asked.

"I placed him there in the first place." Magrez assured.

"The royal family has always wanted to eradicate the seven elite families, most notably ..."

"The Balkyres." Prince Magrez completed.

"Such a goal has been deemed impossible by every vampire king, until now", Vel Nor cogitated, "I can't hold back any longer, the most disastrous times are indeed the most perfect."

"So what is your decision his majesty ?"

"Balkyre Fang is a piece we must have on our side."

***

Walking down this hallway of pillars in the castle, his footsteps echoed and his eyes shone in the darkness of the night. Smiling as he approached a pillar, Magrez took a few steps past it, before stopping.

"I know you're there", Magrez said.

"Is this how you treat your mother, little Magrez" that female voice answered from the dark, it was a voice he had known all his life, yet wished he had never heard it at all.

Magrez could feel the tips of that scar on his left chest, his eyes glistened red, this demon !

"Does the scar still hurt ?" Queen Fera chuckled as she appeared from the darkness, her fangs and claws bare, her eyes glowed of a monstrous red.

"You witch !"

"Then you're the son of a witch", Fera chuckled, "isn't that correct little Megraz ?"

Sighing, Megraz walked on, he had been rehearsing this moment all his life and had allowed his emotions get in the way.

"Why fight a lost battle Megraz, come to mother's side and you won't regret it."

"I already regret being born by you", Magrez replied, "but I'll only tell you this, RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN."