Cultist Brood: Prologue
_I just realized, when I copy and pasted my work from my computer it only got about a third of the prologue -.-. SO I've decided to reupload it sorry bout that guys. Well here it is, the Prologue to the Black Brood now known as Cultist Brood Series being redone. If you want to check out the character pronunciation go ahead and look here: http://www.sofurry.com/page/255401/user Enjoy! _
By the way this series is the sole property of my own, besides character names, everything is relatively my own ReignNAragor Copyrighted Cha Ching :D! Do not reproduce without my credit or authority, thank you. It's not hard to ask, and I'm relatively lean on where you can post this so ASK! Sorry, enjoy.
Prologue
"Darrin!" My body reacted to my name shooting to a sit. I looked around my room, allowing my gold eyes to quickly adjust to the night view. Everything seemed normal for the moment, my royal maroon furniture untouched and unmoved around the room. Suddenly the smell of smoke alarmed me and I shot from my bed, quickly grabbing my cloak from the closet and rushing to the balcony. Overlooking the city, my eyes widened, the walls were aflame and the city was flooded with rushing people. Shortly beyond the black gates were catapults being prepared with a hot flamed boulder.
"Darrin!" I turned hearing Thera's dragon feet running up the stairs. My doors opened with a loud crash seconds after, his eyes meeting mine as if knowing I'd be at the balcony. "Orcs Darrin, Father wants us out of the castle; they brought more than just their normal fleet!" He had me by the arm before I could react forcefully pulling me from my room and down the sets of stairs.
"Orcs?" I asked trying to follow with Thera's awkward hold. "What Orcs would attack the Cultist Brood?"
He shook his black dragon head. "I don't know, we'll worry about that later, just don't get killed tonight."
I couldn't help but smile. "It's only Orcs you're talking about Thera."
Thera pushed open the gates to the court yard where rows of guards were standing in case the Orcs got in. "I don't know, Father said there were more than just Orcs."
More than just Orcs? I rushed past Thera meeting up with Father as he prepared his ancient set of armor. "What's going on?"
Father stayed silent for a moment. "Orcs... Goblins," He sniffed in through his dragon snout. "There's something else out here..." His red eyes narrowed. "Not a Brood... Nor Undead..." He concentrated on the scent. "I can't figure it out... but be careful while you're out there Darrin." I felt his black dragon hand on my shoulder as he squeezed. Watch out for your Brother and Sister also, Morei and Brendon are out there somewhere. Keep them alive and here," He handed me my two blades sheathed away in their black leather case. "Stay safe son."
I nodded and strapped my weapons to my sides. There sleek black blades poured into my head, each intricately designed differently, yet complementing one another as a set. Although unique in design, their hilts were the same: a simple blood ruby carved into the form of a diamond centered onto the black steel, with obsidian dragon talons arching to the tip of the sword. The handle was wrapped with a black thin cloth that hung a good two feet. A small red bulb sat at the blades ends with a clouded red smoke swirling inside. My Father told me of the history with my twin swords; long ago they were used to capture the souls of Loguth's victims, a primitive and so very long ago powerful dragon that were one of the few to save our race.
"Here, take this too." I caught the bow my Father threw to me and immediately he saw my face. "Use the damned bow; don't rely on your agile maneuvers to beat your opponents." Yeah right, the bow was a waste of time; I had no patience for this weapon. Quick movements were the key to killing. I barely managed to catch the quiver he tossed next almost thwacking me against my head.
"No guarantee I'll use this." I spoke pulling the leather strap over my shoulder.
"You leave yourself open for death then, no warrior uses the same weapon over and over. Make your opponent think about what they have to do, change up your fighting style. It's foolish to use the same techniques over and over again in battle." I nodded but said nothing and left his side.
I was on the rooftops, running for the gates. Letting my agile movements become my guide, I quickly maneuvered from my roof to the one above stopping as the shingles ended. My eyes were running through the view of the war zone, trying to spot my brothers and sister. Brendon and Thera were the easiest to find, searching for the sudden wave of bodies that would get swept into the air or back several feet. The first wave caught my attention at the front gate; it was Thera leading a small group of men. I found Brendon's wave seconds after much further ahead than Thera, he was nearing the catapults. I knew spending time looking for Morei would only waste it and instead leapt from my post into the battle along the black stone walls.
I drew my right hip sword cutting through the flesh of my Orc, opening their dirt blood scent. The left hip followed splitting the stomach of another. The blood smell was getting me and slowly I felt it changing my movements. I smiled knowing the outcome that would soon come fourth. I was becoming faster, more alert and deadlier with each kill. Bounding from the wall I lunged back into battle sending several more enemies to Hell. My attacks never dwindled always strong and fierce plunging into heart after heart. I met with Thera who grinned at my sight as we guarded one another through the various attacks. The craze of war was taking us, Thera more than I as he laughed out in his psychotic way. Blood doused our clothes and dirt stuck to our faces as we fought on dividing a path to Brendon.
We were on Brendon's back in seconds. I swiftly took out a target coming for him releasing my blade and laughing as it struck him in the chest leaving him lifeless before us. I knew I wasn't in control of my actions anymore, instinct had taken over. The blood now tasted like water as countless more bodies fell.
"Funny how you're the assassin type and yet you slept through the attack Darrin!" Brendon laughed gutting an Orc.
"I didn't sleep through it, I'm in the tallest tower, and it took me the longest to get down here." I called back feinting into a spin then slicing the legs of a goblin.
"Right!" Thera chuckled, leaving his axe in the back of an Orc's head. "That's why I had to come upstairs and get you!"
I growled feeling my canine side then Brendon spoke again. "Ha, sorry for disturbing you, your highness!" He said imitating a servant's voice. I felt his insult this time, every time we got into an argument that's immediately what he brought up. I knew Thera had an edge for wanting the crown but he remained silent at a time like this. I always thought it was a way for him to get Thera involved and try to side two against one.
"Watch yourself Brendon, it wouldn't surprise Father if I told him you were killed by Orcs." The insult was more than enough to bring him on edge. Orcs were stupid, careless about their attacks only let themselves believe that strength was the way to win, they were even below humans. Brendon growled and ran to tackle me, but Thera caught him in his arms and forced him back to the ground.
"Don't even start that!" Thera scowled looking back to me. "Not here, not now, this is a serious matter. I swear to god if you two go off, Father will be informed." We knew enough to shut our mouths then. Getting Dad involved would lead to our punishment, his punishment. He found that doing them his own way, were more effective than having us tend to something we hated. His punishments were far more brutal, enough to make it so you couldn't stand from your bed for many days. I knew though I would be the first to recover with my werewolf side. Still, his punishments were very inhumane very close to death depending on the situation.
I focused again into the battle as we traveled deeper into the forest. We found our first catapult and quickly destroyed it. Thera had us divert off now to get rid of the other catapults that were aligned to break down the walls. He said there were a total of nine, I was left with three to my side and quickly went off. I let my scents guide me, finding thick patches of Orc and Goblin blood off to the left and right. But there was also something else; it had an Orc tinge to it mixed with something. I couldn't quite put my finger on it... It was whatever Dad was trying to decipher... The scent was very difficult to make out; never before had I smelt something so distinct. It had a foreign nature to it, something that isn't born here, but perhaps created... were the Orcs becoming more intelligent in that matter? I let it swim around in my head for a minute or two before realizing ahead was a group of Goblins. They were sneaky little demons, greedy for anything that shined. When it came to war, blood was their shine, they mercilessly killed and were cannibals. My body sprinted forward ready to engage and before crashing into them, I jumped high into a front flip and colliding foot with face against a goblin smashing his skull in. The others grumbled in surprise looking to me and running, arms flailed.
Suddenly a gust of white rushed past me. Poes, I thought as they disappeared with the Goblins. They were spiritual figures, ghostly and slightly disturbing with their single emotion faces. I found some of them comforting though, as I could communicate and manipulate them. A trait only Dad and I seemed to have, he however could only communicate, mine seemed to develop further as the genes passed on.
My first catapult was loading when I shattered the large plank connected to the stone bowl. The Orcs were finished quickly after that, and I fled into the forest again searching for the next. From a distance I watched the burning stone launch over the city, getting dangerously close to the courtyard and castle. My pace quickened, dodging the blur of trees and coming into contact with the next carrier. I slashed through the targets surrounding the catapult and cut a rope. The log arched up, but did not stop like normal and smashed into the ground sending embers of flame everywhere and igniting the figures standing near. I smiled at my cleverness and disappeared again running to my last target. The cranking of wood gave me notice that I was close and before I entered the battle, I spotted something. The elusive scent became clear; it was coming from the giant. The giant was not normal, parts of his body patched up with stitches and had the face of an Orc, teeth deranged, eyes black as night and of course uglier then Satan's ass. In his right arm he dragged a hellish mace across the floor, curled spikes and a fat end. Already you could see parts of the body still lodged against the thorns. He seemed to be patrolling the catapult, guarding it with his life.
I felt hesitant all of the suddenly and backed away. But my instinct took me and I regained my confidence sprinting into the heat of battle. Catapult first... then giant, you've got this Darrin... Don't hold back, be merciless, watch your back you'll be fine! I told myself nearing my first target. His head plopped to the ground several feet behind me. The giant was eyeing me now picking up his mace and preparing to smash it on the ground. I dove underneath him just as it hit quickly slicing his inside thigh, but leaving nothing but a bloodless cut. I turned my attention to the catapult now reaching out my sword to slice the rope. My face turned to horror as I was yanked out and lifted. The breath in my chest was forced out of me and I chocked desperately gasping for air. Higher into the air I was lifted in front of him meeting him face to face. His breath smelt of rotten meat and I felt dazed, stomach churning and I couldn't help but let out a grotesque burp. I swung my blade against his face slicing above his upper lip and he roared out thrashing me around in the air. _Darrin, break free or he's going to choke you! _ I tried to break free of his grasp, but it was no use, the choke he had on me was only making me weaker. I panicked feeling my legs breaking under me and thought nothing more but to throw my sword. I threw as hard as I could, aiming for his left eye. I clasped my hands over my ear drowning out the booming roar. My sword made contact with his eye, spilling blood all down the weapon and feeling droplets hit me as he flung his neck back and forth too dumb to release me. Not dumb... just a delayed reaction-his hold on me let up and I took the advantage without a moments reset dropping to the ground stumbling from my weak legs.
"Darrin!" I heard Morei's voice call off in the distance. She was over me in a second dragging me from harm's way as the half blind monster threw his mace down. The monster was grabbing at his face, eventually stripping the blade of his eye fluids and throwing it into the ground beneath him hilt deep. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked lightly tapping my cheek. I nodded sighing, feeling my blood flow back into my legs.
"Morei... what is that thing?" I asked watching it flail its arms around and sweep the floor under him looking for us.
"I don't know, but here get up, quickly. We have to find Thera and Brendon. This isn't the only one, the others are attacking the wall, and the north side near the Elder District has almost been breached!"
"Fuck!" I called out getting to my feet. "Morei, we have to finish this one. Before we get Thera and Brendon."
She nodded understanding me. "Where's your sword?"
"I left it in an Orc further back."
"You're an idiot!" Her voice was harsh. "Then we go and get Thera and Brendon!"
I shook my head. "If we leave, that gate is going to be pulled down, you go get them. I'll meet you at the Elder District."
She held firm on my wrist. "I'm not leaving you; you're going to do something stupid again."
"Something stupid, I'm trying to defend my city Morei... you're the one running off on your own."
Her red eyes narrowed now. "Fine... if you kill yourself I'm not taking responsibility, nor will I mourn at your death."
I ignored her and said. "Meet me at the Elder District with Thera and Brendon. I'll be fine, the giant's half blind and I can finish him quickly!" War had an insane impact on her. She seemed to revolt to anything somone would say.
"Fine!" She snapped disappearing from my side.
_ She was very pretty, but she sure as hell had an attitude._ I shrugged it off and looked back to the dumb figure walking back and forth. The catapult behind it fired off into the air hitting our walls directly and sending crumbling blocks to the earth. I rushed back into battle now, feeling a slight reduction in speed with my legs but still fast enough to throw my enemies off. I knew retrieving my sword would be useless for the moment, the giant already had me spotted and was pursuing me for revenge. Swiping up a dull sword from the mess of bodies I quickly circled around him. I dodged what I could, trying to search for an opening, his mace flew down just behind me indenting the field and shaking the ground. I tumbled into a roll back up at my feet in a second and continued my run around him. He struggled to pull his mace up and I knew the opening right away. I paused and turned to the giant readying myself. The monster waddled to me and raised his mace high into the air and slammed it down. Sidestepping into a roll I felt the impact knock me further then I intended. I caught the mistake and corrected myself, dragging my fingers through the grass and pulling me back to a balanced position. I rolled with the opening, stepping onto the base of the mace before leaping high into the air and onto his shoulder. He jerked his body as I landed, but I had a firm grip and launched the blade into the side of his head. The jerking motion stopped and he let out a deep grumble of sighs then fell to his knees. I leapt before his body hit the ground, feeling myself panting. My weakness was setting in. Good... For a second I was starting to think I would never feel this sore feeling again. Tomorrow I'll be tired. I retrieved my weapon from the earth wiping away the mud as best I could.
"Darrin," Morei's voice came from the trees. "... You killed it?"
I looked back seeing Thera and Brendon joining her then smiled and nodded. "One Hell of a beast."
She nodded and Thera spoke. "One Hell of a beast indeed, this thing is uglier then the Orcs themselves." Thera lifted the head by one of his fangs. "Same look... just... bigger."
"More stupid." I added and all but Morei laughed.
She was glaring at her stand eyeing the three of us. "Come on you three, there's still the Elder District we need to defend!"
"Oh come on Morei," Thera started only to be hushed by Morei's finger.
"We're only having a moment of fun; you can't take war all too serious." Brendon said finishing his sentence.
Morei crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "We can have fun later; right now our people need our help." For a female, Morei really did have the characteristics of being a Queen; Father wouldn't let her though, with being the female and all. They were thought as weaker and though Morei fought strong, the people wouldn't agree if Father made her Queen over the rest of us.
"Meet you there then." Brendon said axe in hand and taking the lead with a burst of speed. I smiled following after him leaving Morei and Thera behind for a moment. I always thought they had something with each other, they were closest in relation but the thought of incest sent shivers through me. Leaving the thought for another time I focused realizing I hadn't caught Brendon yet. Leaping I hit the ground with a powerful foot and pushed off increasing my speed dramatically. I caught Brendon in seconds grinning as I passed him before focusing myself for the final battle.
Ripping through the trees I descended into the field of battle cutting away at the attacking force. I managed a good ten men before Brendon leapt in after me pummeling the same amount with a single blow. We moved together through the battle spotting three of the giant Orcs pulling away at the castle gates.
"I've got the far right." I yelled out running for my target.
"First down, owes the other a night of booze!" Brendon called back running to another.
I'll take that bet. I thought to myself slicing the tendons behind the knee cap of my Orc. Stabbing my blade into his back, blood spewed out bleeding fresh into the night air. I growled feeling my feral side wanting to break free, but as much as I wanted it out I knew it was better for me to with hold it. I became unpredictable inside my form, most of the time I fought without thinking, not like it mattered yet. Every foe I came against in my werewolf form I tore to shreds and drank in their blood. Climbing higher on his back I yanked my sword out only to plunge it in again this time near his spine. Another coat of blood poured down his back and I continued to climb. The giant shook himself violently knocking me off, I quickly rolled in mid air hitting the ground softly but was too slow to react to his next attack. My vision sparked feeling a hard hit against my face and then the sting of pain come next. I tumbled through the dirt but stopped myself from receiving the full impact. I looked around for the beast when suddenly a large shadow covered my body. A putrid foot came down and I braced for the pain. All I heard was a grunt though, a familiar grunt of my Father who stood over me struggling against the foot.
"Move damn it!" He growled through his snout. I did as told and he followed behind me. "Now watch and pay attention Darrin!" He was gone from my side in an instant sprinting straight for the monster. It was waiting for him, ready to grab when he neared, but as its arms shot forward Dad was gone, knocking the monster with an upper cut against his jaw. The monster stumbled back and tried to reclaim balance, but Dad was already up his arm pulling its shoulders back to the earth. It was like the sound of a drum being hit when the earth and body collided. I smiled watching as Father finished the beast, removing his double bladed axe, and slicing the head clean from the body. He took no time bathing in his glory of a great kill and moved to the next giant finishing him as quickly as the other. He even took on Brendon's kill leaving the three giants beheaded on the ground. By the time he came back Brendon and I were starring in awe. He didn't grin as his usual humor was off and instead said: "Where is your brother and sister?"
"They're... somewhere in the forest not far behind." I said recalling last seeing them.
He glared at me. "I told you to watch over them."
"They're together Dad, Morei has Thera, there's nothing to worry about."
He growled at me walking away. "There's plenty to worry about, this wasn't a battle for the Orcs... it was a test!" Brendon and I looked at one another and followed. "They didn't bring an entire arsenal how they usually so blindly do! It served a purpose this time... and by the looks of it, they were testing how these... things do against us. There's plenty to worry about Darrin, do not assume!" I glared behind his back saying nothing again. "This entire assault could have been a distraction or a set up for the two of you, or for the two of them! They're getting smarter." We met up with Thera and Morei who were still at the field where I fought the first giant.
Morei was standing over the Giant, the head removed and shaking as blood smeared her forearms. Dad ran to her scooping her up in his arms and cradling her close calming her with hushes. Thera was off to the side, lying motionless but still breathing. "It... I-It came back a-alive!" She stammered. She was much smaller compared to Dad who stood at a good seven to eight feet while Morei and I were an average of six foot.
"These things don't die unless they're beheaded Darrin... which is why I told you to watch out for your brothers and sister... They could have died tonight do you understand me?"
"You pretend like this is my entire fault, how was I suppose to know how to kill them. You sure knew a hell of a lot about them more than I did. Why didn't you tell any of us?" I revolted with a glare.
"I didn't know they were bringing the Harvoc back." He spoke. "But I told you to watch over your siblings," His eyes looked for my bow. "I take it you lost your bow as well, and didn't fire a single shot with it during this attack?"
"I told you there was no guarantee of using it! Tonight wasn't the night for me to comfortably use it. With these new.... Harvoc things coming form no where I didn't know what to expect."
"Brendon get Thera, Darrin, help your brother. Tomorrow we will speak when everyone's well rested. I'm very disappointed in you tonight Darrin."
I rolled my eyes and dropped my shoulders but listened to his commands. What was his deal, where the hell did this attitude come from all of the sudden? Like everything that happened tonight was my fault? How was I supposed to know to behead the giant, sure as hell looked dead to me? Brendon and I hoisted up Thera's unconscious body, dragging his feet over the earth before entering the city. Tomorrow... I would expect some kind of stupid lecture from Dad. I shook my head stepping over the ruined city gates and toward the large black castle that awaited us.