Here we go my lovely readers! Chapter Thirty, the end of volume one with three more to follow of equal chapter length, or greater!
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The Blood Father
For about the fifth time I drew my hand down the length of my face while sighing. The whelp had more than shattered my plans for keeping his existence under wraps. He had forced Behemoth awake in a time of desperate need for power, and the damn thing had rushed to awaken at it's Masters desperate call.
"Master, it was bound to happen. All plans have hitches in the actual process." a growling beastial voice whispered within my mind. I just snorted, the weakling had more than surpassed my expectations in that regard.
He had garnered the attention of those who are sensitive to budding power as it awakens on the chessboard. My other two sons were born well before I had brought the Pridelings back, they were strong enough to stand on their own. This one was raised in the Pit.
He was still a disappointment; no where near the level of power his siblings had been born with. But he had adequate control of the Void for his age. I just shook my head after a night and day of walking without rest to reach the very edge of Hybroium.
A truly massive forest, it held the entirety of my people; ancient beyond counting it spanned at least thirty percent of Luxio itself. It was the perfect place to set up my people. Still, sadly the numbers were small compared to the rest of the world.
We bred quickly enough, and aged fast as well. However our child mortality rate was high as well.
This was in part to my own rule. Those with defects were killed at birth, those unable to contribute to the growth of our society, and people, joined them shortly after. This included, but was not limited to, the weak, the lazy, and several hundred a year that woke with two many essence genes that were active at birth, it was a rare occurrence but not so rare it happened in only a few dozen.
Those I regretted killing, but it needed done. They tended to blow up and take their parents with them if it went unnoticed.
"Master, if you would but..." And he began his rant again to experiment with the more in depth gene codes of those children. 'Leviathon, you know as well as I that we can't control their accelerated implosions.'
I heard him grumble in my mind, followed by a soft giggle from the depths of my psyche, locked in a box within my mind. Naamah, by far the most dangerous creature I have ever met was sealed there. To temperamental, hard to control, and dangerous. She was the very personification of the void made manifest in a 'living', I stress that word, form. More corporeal than physical however.
My mind wandered once more; it had been good to cut loose a tad at the battle. It had been so long since I last killed so many.
'Leviathon, can you keep an eye on him through the bloodline link? I want to ensure Behemoth grows properly. He's too weak to withstand the assault of his Brothers, or HIM, right now.' Leviathon grumbled his answer in agreement.
Damien...An ancient, and the reason for my species extinction all those millennia ago. I had cut him down so many times, yet he always returned. I would use my whelp to fight him; and take the chance during either my whelps own death, or triumph, to destroy the piece that escapes to allow him to live.
Yes, my little Rage would prove useful to my machinations; either in death, or life. He was but a pawn, and expendable.
I would avenge the family I had once held so long ago, and my little amber, with this child. Like his other brothers I care nothing beyond their usefulness to me. My capacity to care for another single individual was lost that day.
I shook myself from the melancholy and exited the densest portion of Hyborium to Blood Stone, the main location for my people.
As a whole, they were what I needed. I had no problem spending each and every single one of their lives to achieve my goal however. I knew how to create more now, even if it nearly killed me the first time. They were all expendable, all for my goals.
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Rage
The meeting hall filled to the brim with soldiers, and citizens was a rather peculiar sight to behold. I was leaning against the wall to the far left; while all around a central fire that had been erected the cats danced and sang, poorly, in joy.
Hell, most of the Reg Guard, and my own Pride were partaking of the festivities. I saw little point in it all. We had won the battle itself, and we had managed to clear out a good portion of the dead today; but to get so lost in drink and food during the night boggled the mind.
Who was to say they would not strike again? However my 'Master' declared only the bare bones of a wall guard would be placed for the evening. I had growled at the time but could do nothing about it.
I was shaken from my contemplations by a small little blue eyes, platinum blond haired, child running into my leg and hiding behind it while sticking her tongue out at something.
Taking my gaze from Saphiria I saw Hellen looking flustered, and stumbling a little as if drunk. That is not what I needed right now.
Sighing, a bit I asked her a question. "Why are you chasing my pet around?" Saphiria hid further behind my leg as Hellen stumbled forward with a very odd glint in her eyes. I did not like that at all. Growling, I asked the question once more.
She shook her head, seemingly just hearing me. The glare she threw my way could have frozen fire with all that coldness. Two could play that game, and I gave it right back to her.
"Sh-She is not youf pwet" She got up close to me, and I growled again while she drunkenly slurred her words, and poked my chest. "She ish a whild, and not pwopewty. *Hic*" At that point Fredrick showed up, and just as drunk as his wife who I was still growling at, dragged her away; his hand rubbing the point just above her tail which caused it to raise and reveal a rather interesting view.
Ignoring it, I grabbed Saphiria's hand and knelt down to look into her eyes. "Why was she chasing you?" Her cheeks puffed out cutely as she stubbornly looked at the ground and put her tiny hands behind her back. Her cheeks were flushed slightly; someone had obviously allowed my pet to drink.
I waited a moment, letting the relative silence stretch before she answered me. "She *sniff* Sh-she said that Mastews leather you gave me wush twash and I would look prettier in a dwess. *sniffles*" Ah, well that explained that.
I picked her up, and stood while placing her on my shoulder to look at the people celebrating. "You earned those dresses in the drawer within our room, Saphiria. We can put them on tomorrow if you want." I felt her tiny little arms flung around my head and giggling issued forth from her. 'How fucking much did they let my pet drink?' I disregarded it, I enjoyed her soft hugs anyway.
"Fank you Mastew!" Alright, perhaps I would thank whoever let her drink. She was rather adorable while slurring her words. I patted her thighs, and ignored the jealous looks thrown my way by Bitter, Envy, and Hate. Surprisingly a few cats females seemed similarly inclined. I snorted at that, not worth my time.
The party itself continued long into the night. I kept Saphiria on my shoulder and she eventually passed out there with her head on top of my using her arms as a pillow. I ignored the bit of wetness trailing down my hair and onto my neck.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed watching people. It seemed to speak to a primal urge to stalk prey. But eventually, that lost it's allure, and the drool hitting my neck was growing more and my three women were starting to stumble around.
I motioned for them to follow me, and we retired to my room. I laid Saphiria down on the bed, well and truly dead to the world, and spent the rest of the night enjoying the bodies of my Drunken women on the floor. They showed me just how flexible they truly were while so intoxicated. It was a very good night.
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Forge
Opening my eyes, I was confused. Everything was blurry; the light gave me a headache and I felt the need to vomit. Shutting my eyes, and shaking my head a little I rubbed them.
Blinking them open, things became more coherent. A soft groan echoed out from behind my on my bed. River, I smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead 'Mine' I thought.
I received a whack upside my head for my effort. "Hurt, go away" Then she pulled the very light blankets up and over her head and rolled over.
I chuckled a bit and got up. Pulling the simple leather pants on and calling out my shield quietly.
It formed readily enough, but I wanted to see what had changed. It had managed small progress over the time we have been here, however nothing as rapid as Rage with his gauntlets.
Turning it in my hand, I frowned somewhat. Change it had. The carapace like rounding along the length of my shield had become more pronounced. The line from tip to bottom had grown thicker spikes; as opposed to the small ones before. On either side it rounded further, aiming outward toward where my blades would eject. On a whim I popped them out. The blades had grown in length. From the very bottom of my shield they started as small points growing wider as they went back; it wouldn't be hard to describe them as wings.
On the sides from the spikes a faint image could be made out as well. All along the length in small indentations you could see what appeared to be skulls, or screaming souls.
Interesting, I ran my finger along the budding indentations and was shocked to feel it warm. Before it had felt cold like the metal armor I wore in battle, but now it felt alive.
Had I grown stronger? Standing I hefted the shield and felt it's weight. It had gotten thicker along the edges before curving. Likely one-hundred pounds or so now. Still manageable for myself.
It paid to be the largest of the Pride, I believe the classification in the ancient books we had been taught from placed me as a 'Ravager' within the Berserker caste. We were front line bulwarks of mass and muscle. I liked that notion honestly.
Rotating my shoulder a bit, I began working the arm that held the shield in it's stances. It had grown, therefore I needed to relearn it's balance in proportion to my own body. I went through a few basic exercises getting the feel, sadly I was chased out by my very pissed mate shortly after.
Laughing as the door shut in my face, catching a final glimpse of her lithe nude body, I went toward the training field. It would be good to see if Anvil could test its sturdiness, he was our only other 'Ravager' class after all. I still did not truly understand why anything over six and a half feet were classified as that, but we did have three in our Pride; including Hate.
It gave us a sense of security in battle before we all lost control.
Most were roughly the same height as Rage. Bred more for drawn out fights, and clean up after the shock value of the 'Ravager' wore off. Thinking about it, I managed to recall their classification within the caste. 'Render' I sensed a theme here, and then those below six feet in height were all meant as a supporting role, biting at the heals or flanks, the 'Ripper' class.
Three in total, and each Pride of Berserkers needed a number of all three to be of use in combat against the Demonic tribe within Luxio.
Thinking about that, I wondered what other Berserker Prides were made up of, there were a number of us, though few. Our life expectancy was not long. Aside from those that had reached the Black Guard.
Shaking myself from my thoughts, I realized I was at the training field. I spotted Anvil, and went toward him; he was watching a few dazed cats with contempt. I ignored the tightened eyes that showed he was in pain; had to be the alcohol.
"Anvil! Fight?" I saw him wince when I called so loudly beside him only to have him shake his head. I frowned, and asked why of course.
He showed me why a moment later by called out his dual mace'. I gaped in shock, just what in the hell?
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Anvil
Damnit! He had to fucking yell right beside me. I swear, I will never again touch that shit known as booze.
I did receive a small amount of pleasure after he saw why I had refused to fight him. My maces were changed, utterly. The first true evolution since the day we all left the Pit.
What once was basically a circle of swords that looked crudely put together to make a mace, were now two large rectangular blocks with a spike protruding from the side of each end facing outward. Fuck the mace, this was a hammer!
The detail went on from there however, which shocked me more than anything; the damn things were not fully rectangular, they curved in an oval like fashion along the side. This was because there were blood faces growing out of the sides that looked like the heads of a few bears I had crushed beneath the previous mace' during the battle. It was as though the blood forged thing had eaten that agony and loved it so much it had grown.
Moving down to the shaft the hammer heads sat upon, it was scaled and curved a little at the top. The scaled reminded me of a fish, honestly.
The handle had changed to a spike, more than a handle, and was bleach white; the same color as bone before it dried.
I smiled at Forge, and grunted at them. "Ah...Yes, they look very frightening. I take it you don't know how to hold back with them yet then?"
I frowned at him, and went to one of the cats that were dazed and snagged his sword, to his protest, and placed it against the dummy not far off.
I tilted my head at it, and the metal of the sword. Forge got the idea, and turned the dummy into a steel dummy. It was good steel as well, well forged and durable.
I took one of my hammer and smacked it from the side. The thing literally exploded from the force and pressure of the swing.
I had not even swung that hard. Forge saw the casual swing, and the resulting devastation. "So, not that you can't hold back, but your damn hammer can't?" I nodded at him.
Growling before he could let loose the odd little twinkle I knew to be his humor out. It didn't stop him. "I feel very sorry for the poor little male you took to your bed so much before. You're hammer can't be controlled, so no doubt he'd blow up from casual...pokes."
That does it! Fuck my headache, I motioned a hammer at him and aimed at the circle the Cats were always using. I'd show him for insulting my boy toy.
Forge grinned, I'd fallen for his bait, like he knew I would. I growled more, fuck him.
We went to the sand filled circle, and took positions to begin our fight; I would blow his smiling face up.
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Cruelty
When I woke up, I was very, VERY, pleasantly surprised to see the previous night had garnered me so many new toys. Three of the female cats were currently in a nude pile on the ground, while my underling Berserkers were curled around me.
They all bore fresh marks from the night before. Disentangling myself from the two curled around me, I went over and ran my hand down a large mark on one of the female cats that went from her shoulder to her ass.
A soft moan escaped her lips as she woke up. Her blush was adorable, it would be so much fun breaking my new masochistic kitty.
I rubbed her head, by the ears, and listened to her purr. "Such a good little kitty. You're mine now, so are the others. If you try to escape I will kill you." I smiled while I said that, and pierced her ear with my claws.
Her breath hitching, the dulling of her eyes as she lost herself in the pleasure of pain. "Y-yes Mistress" Oh yes, this would be so very fun. I loved my new kitties. I'm sure my toys on the bed would enjoy them as well. Though it hardly mattered. I'd broken them long ago.
Scratching the female. Christy was her name, ear I told her to get the others awake and give me a show.
Not five minutes later I was sitting on a chair in my little room and enjoying the sight of my five toys playing with each other for my pleasure.
I smiled, and bared my fangs while the Berserkers ran there claws down the kitties backs and drew blood; to the delighted squeals of pleasure from my kitties. Women were so very fun.
I allowed them to continue to play while I regarded my dagger; there sounds of pain and pleasure making my lower regions ache with needs as well.
But back to my dagger for now. I was pleased with it. Unlike my siblings whose weapons seemed to grow, mine remained the same length for the most part. Though aside from the main blade itself, dozens of tiny little blades continued to sprout from the blade and guard.
Each one was sharp, and if I twisted juuuust right, the blades caught in the flesh and caused immense amounts of pain. The steel was red, oddly enough, perhaps to match the color of the blood I so loved? Didn't really matter. I knew a few had grown images, or depictions of creatures on their weapons, mine remained bare however.
I was happy with that, I wanted any victims to remember my face, not an image in my weapon. I stroked the dagger a little, before recalling it to my blood, and moving to join my kitties.
I had no duties today, and I wanted to play.
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Hydra
Rolling my eyes at the rather detailed ice sculpture I had created of Rage, I smashed it's face in and reformed it. Currently, I was outside the fort by the river.
I growled a bit as I formed an image of Bitter as well. The little bitch had tricked me. What I thought of as hatred had been nothing but fear, and even that had turned away for lust of a strong male.
I called my whip blade from my blood. The sword in it's natural state had gained a green tinge of color that blended and faded into the icy blue it had after it's initial change.
I regarded the ice sculptures again, trying to overlay the real image of them both in my mind and pretend it was them. I threw my arm out, and my blade separated into three main lines that were small, and scaled like a snake. The scales had gotten thicker, and were wedged in the green tinge, while about mid way up, roughly six inches, the blade separated further. Each of the main lines growing two extra segments that split further out; my blade had received damage in the battle, some scales breaking off.
It seemed my weapon would take after the beast I was named for. From there they were segmented and extended well beyond the length of the sword while not like this, a total of a foot in length, and grew to be almost six.
The tips each ended in what looked like fangs, tinged fully green as well. I absently wondered if that meant poison; meanwhile the whips each wrapped around the two sculptures and with a small flick of my wrist the blades constricted like a snake strangling it's prey.
I heard the ice goan, and then it burst into pieces; the whip like extensions returning to their blade shape with another flick of my wrist.
After that battle, those bodies exploding, and the power Rage displayed, it showed me I would have to wait longer to fulfill my goal of killing him. I'd need to be careful, never let it slip. The Void was growing further under his control slow enough I doubted it would be a true problem, for now at least.
I created another sculpture of Rage, alone this time, and destroyed it slower than before. Yes, another sculpture destroyed, bide my time.
I continued this for a time, before having to stop. I heard a great explosion from the Fort, and growled at my free time being taken from me before rushing back to investigate, chunks of ice littering the small river behind me.
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Curse
Why? Why did I have to be outside the third gate, stumbling around like a newborn calf? Growling under my breath, and cursing my lack of tolerance for that drink; I set about ordered the few, very few, Hellhounds I had summoned.
Already they strained at my control, and it took all my ability to keep the five I had summoned on tight leashes. They were relatively behaved, I was feeding them corpse after corpse after all.
It would fuel their power, and allow them to mate quicker in the Abyss; thus allowing me access to a larger pack in the future.
The only pleasant surprise of the morning had been when I called out my weapon to begin the summoning. What once was a normal short sword that had grown thinner, and slightly shorter; was now a ceremonial styled dagger.
I could still use it in combat, it was thicker and more sturdy than others I had seen. The blade was curves, and razor sharp; roughly eight inches in length with the blade.
The guard was an interesting showing however. It was more a blade holder than an actual guard. It was a stylized version of a Hellhound, with it's maw open, and the body being the handle.
Personally, I adored this weapon now. It fit better with my personality. It also allowed me to slice my wrist for the blood needed to summon my hounds much quicker.
The five Hounds I had summoned could no longer devour the dead. They were full which spoke volumes to the amount of dead present, considering there abnormal appetite.
When I had released them back to the Abyss, and was preparing to call forth more, my shooting head pains subsiding thankfully, I heard a large blast from behind the third wall that made me jump and turn around.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Dust was flying up into the air, it looked like a mushroom in shape. I could also hear shouting. What had happened? I destroyed the circle, and rushed toward the gate, fearing the worst.
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Rage
Admiring the sight surrounding me a bit, Hate, Bitter, and Envy were either curled around me, or on top of me. We had enjoyed a very frisky night. Rather, I had. I was beginning to enjoy this sex thing. Something inside said Saphiria should not witness this, but I ignored it.
I ran a hand down the curve of Hates back while she lay on me, and enjoyed a small shudder that went through her body. I was still inside her.
Interesting, I did it again, and enjoyed the same sensation. Growing hard while delved inside, she woke up with a moan and grind.
Things were actually beginning to get interesting before I heard a dull 'boom' like an explosion. Well that was a mood killer. I growled, and shoved Hate off of me. I heard Envy, whom she landed on, growl as well before she woke up followed by Bitter.
I was already throwing the door open, calling out over my shoulder as I left. "Join me when you can stand!" then I was gone, still nude.
I was rushing down the twisting corridor that led to the greeting hall, and from there outside; ignoring the stares of the female cats, there gasps and odd motions where they fell down face first, along with the male guards stunned reactions before rushing after me.
When I reached the greeting hall, there was a crowd at the door but no panic seemed to be occurring, so I slowed my sprint and shoved my way through.
After a moment they opened the way, and gave me odd looks, I had no idea why. It made me frown, and when I reached Fredrick who was already at the head with Hellen, and currently had his jaw on the ground watching something before him.
I ignored Hellen's sudden red cheeks as she took in my appearance and looked over where everyone else was; the sparring arena.
I blinked, slowly, before moving out and roaring as loudly as I could. The cheers, along with the members of my Pride who had just arrived, all stopped. No more cheering, no more roars. Just the loud 'boom' as Anvil struck Forges shield.
It had several dents in it, and the ground was beginning to form a hole where Forge was taking all the hits one after the other. I rolled my eyes, Anvil held the Earth Essence, he was touching the ground. It was a simple matter; but Forge was having fun.
I got right at the edge of the area circle, and waited for the next 'boom' before moving in quickly and grasping Anvil's arm at the wrist before it struck, and pulling him out of the way of Forge moving forward with his shield, it clipped me a bit.
I roared once more, the sound filling the courtyard, and growled in annoyance. "Rules!" I screamed at them. They both ducked there head, submissive, and repeated my rule. "Do not fight each other"
With that, I snapped Anvil's wrist, leaving him to cradle it, then took the top edge of Forge's shield, and bashed it back into his face while he was distracted by Anvil's growl of pain. He roared a bit with his nose broken, and his jaw being dislocated with the force used.
"Go help Curse with clearing the dead. You!" I pointed at Hydra "Get the gawking soldiers to help with the task of gathering the weapons, and metal from them."
I turned to Inferno, the only Red Guard present, and growled at him as well. "Get the few Re Guard still standing and patrol the second wall with fifty of the cats. Enough playing" He saluted, his hand over his heart, and went to his task without complaint.
I rolled my eyes a bit, trying to calm down. I was so very angry, and I had no real reason to be. I disliked being angry without knowing why. Taking a breath, I calmed myself before turning around to see Saphiria with Hate, Envy, and Bitter staring at me.
Saphiria was looking at me oddly, and her cheeks were really red. Not her as well...
Fuck this, I growled, and went back through the group toward my room. Passing on orders for Hate, Envy, and Bitter as I left. "Hate, help Forge with the dead, Envy, get River and start working on those still in the medical area, Bitter; watch Saphiria."
Then I was past them and gone. I ignored the laugh of my 'Master' as he collected himself. It's like they have never been nude before, annoying, pathetic cats.
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Hate
That was...anticlimactic. I enjoyed the sight of Rage walking toward us nude, swaying all about as he was. But he seemed annoyed, and confused as he gave us our orders. I pouted a bit after going down to help Forge, who was having trouble talking, and Anvil who was one handed move the dead bodies.
I wanted to continue what he had woken me up with. Sadly it was not to be. I sighed, and tossed a stripped body, a wolf, toward the growing pile to my left before taking a break.
I wanted to double check my sword before I continued. When I called it out, it was more a giant hunk of steel (A.N Can't think of a better description atm, think Guts sword from Berserk Anime series) than the fine blade it was before. It was an almost perfect rectangle, and thick. It had an edge of course, and oddly weighed no more than before in my hands.
The cross guard it had before was gone, instead it flowed into the handle seamlessly. The handle itself was red, and shaped like flames licking at my flesh. I thought it looked pretty.
The blade itself had indentations of rising flames all along the length as well. I stared a bit more at it's beauty; then Forge tapped my shoulder and pointed at the bodies on the ground, grunting at me. I frowned, having been taken from my musing but went about it all the same. Snickering at his inability to speak the entire time.
I did love how Rage caused pain. Even more so when on me with his claws....The thought made me wet, and I had to control myself. I felt I was going into heat, and I did NOT want every male Prideling trying to mate with me.
Rage would have to kill them, then me after I had relented. Luckily, his marks acted as a form of claiming among our kind. No one would attempt it, but last night showed how susceptible we were to booze. Another night may end badly.
It meant no alcohol when nearing my heat cycle.
Sighing once more, my left eye twitching, I heft the massive body of a bear over my shoulder and threw it on top of the pile of bodies, before creating a new one, and clearing up space. Today was going to be a long day.
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Bitter
I frowned down at the little child that had been left in my care. She was frowning up at me. I had wanted to talk to her before, but now I was not sure.
Things had changed after all. "Where will we go?" I heard her soft little voice ask, and I shrugged before turning and heading toward my special place.
It would be quiet there, and perhaps we could talk then.
When we managed to find the small glade within the keep itself, I heard Saphiria gasp in shock and then run into the grass and stop on her hands and feet to look into the water at the tiny fish there.
I smiled involuntarily before covering it back up. This child was treated as special to Rage, more so than I was, or the other two. It angered us all. We knew what would happen if we touched his precious pet though, and none of us wished to die yet.
Going up beside her, I sat down with my feet in the water and wiggled my toes in the cool stream. I saw Saphiria giggle as a fish tried to nip at my small toe.
Well, almost quiet. "Why do you get treated so well by Rage?" I wondered. I must have asked the question aloud because the little cub answered me confused.
"Special? I am Masters Pet. Nothing more, nothing less." I saw her frown thinking about it. I shrugged as she went silent, and contemplated her strips on her tail and tiny little ears. They were not black. I knew Rage had done something because she smelled different.
All of us Pridelings could smell a difference, and her stripes being a deep set scarlet nearing on black showed that change.
It was a matter for another time. I let Saphiria be with her own thoughts, and called my sword to my hand.
The blade hand changed again, it was now white as the clouds above; it retained its overall shape and design. The real changes were in the guard and hilt.
Though a vine like growth was shown traveling down the center of the blade, from tip to guard. The guard now was a single leaf that reminded me of the ancient trees in Hyborium, an odd mix of pine and oak, The hilt was made of vines growing into that leave.
It seemed a minor change, but it felt so odd in my hands, as if it were pulsing in time with my own heart beats.
I squinted my eyes at it, and put a bit of my light essence into the blade as an experiment. It made it come alive, the vines felt like they moved, and the blade shone with an intense light that blinded me. It shocked me so much that I dropped the sword a moment, and then I heard a gasp of pain and looked at Saphiria who was holding her hand and trying not to cry. The blade must of grazed her.
I called it back quickly, and grabbed her hand, hoping it was not to bad. Rage would kill me for it if it were, or not longer mate with me.
When I forced her hand open after growling at her, I stopped. What I saw was shocking. The there was only blood. What in the hell?....
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Saphiria
My hand hurt! Then in a matter of seconds it stopped, aside from the sudden increase in pressure from one of Masters Mates as she squeezed my wrist.
"What did you do!" She half yelled, half whispered.
"I-I don't know." I heard a soft whisper in my mind, it sounded like the little voice that forced me from something I wanted, but I couldn't grasp the memory fully. Even the small whisper wasn't understood. "Regeneration" was all I could make out.
I'd said it aloud, because Bitter dropped my hand and looked at me with wide eyes. "Not...possible..." I did not like the look in her eyes, so when she was distracted by her thoughts, I got up and ran like the wind toward Masters room.
Master would know, Master would keep me safe from the scary Bitter.
I heard a roar behind me, and felt my feet move faster. I arrived in record time, and dashed into the room, jumping over Master who was just laying down, he had leather pants on now, and hid behind him shivering.
"What ha.." He was cut off by Bitter barging in and demanding to know what happened.
That ended quickly after Master grabbed her by the neck and started to squeeze. "I smell blood, Bitter, my pet blood. On your sword. Explain!" He had moved so fast...He was also slowly choking Bitter to death.
"Master...It was my fault. I touched her sword because it was so pretty..." I mumbled. He looked back at me, and dropped her to the ground, leaving her to gasp for air.
Taking my hand he told me to open it, and I did slowly. He licked the blood from my hand, and his eyes widened a bit at the lack of a wound. Just a small little scar remained.
"You taste, different.." I heard coughing behind him after he said that. "*cough* Why I *cough* was trying to catch her. She has Regeneration, Rage"
I saw him frown, and heard a muttered name. Behemoth, and I didn't like that name. I saw his head tilt to the side, as if listening to a voice only he could hear.
"An accident, of me healing her. I didn't know enough, and she gained an advanced version of self healing. Near ours, but weaker by a fraction." He sounded like he was quoting.
Bitter looked angry, and I cowered a little under Masters hand.
"Enough, Bitter, it's done." he said, followed shortly by her screaming "It isn't possible unless the Blood Father turned her!"
From there everything kind of became a blur with her roaring and Master growing angry as he explained that he did not understand either.
For some reason I felt drained as well, as if my body had been taxed heavily. "She also moved almost as quickly as..." That was all I heard before I fell face first onto the bed.
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Envy
Healing, that was all I did lately. I hated it, River seemed just as inclined. We had both hoped the Red Guard would have a few water essence healers, but none of them held it.
It was so damn frustrating! I was saving lives when I was bred to take them. I wanted to roar and scream my anger at that injustice. That hypocrisy.
But I continued to ease the passing of dying cats, and finish attaching limbs on the Pridelings. After several hours of this, I grew tired. But we had finished the worst, and so I sat down with River beside me.
"How is he, Envy?" I heard her ask. I snorted at her question. "Like a maniac, per the norm, River." She frowned at my lack luster answer.
We had grown somewhat close and I suppose she wanted details. I didn't feel like sharing. She rarely shared them about Forge after all.
I shrugged at her frown, and called out ym axes. I was curious. Yea, they had changed. The blades of what now could only be called throwing axes, were in an exact depiction of wings. Feathers and all, grey in color. The center spike between the blades looked like a bird beak, while moving down the shaft, toward the hilt, resembled the body, all the way to it's tail feathers and legs.
I took it to be a hawk, though it looked like a sparrow. MY pride wouldn't allow me such a weak looking bird as a Sparrow in my mind. Hawk was much better.
I liked the changes in the twin axes however. I began running my finger lightly over the feathers, waiting for the next patient, and for the hours to tick by.
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The Blood Father
I finally arrived at Mastix, my 'castle' at the center of Blood Stone. Really it was a glorified fortress of stone, and wood. It blended into the forest itself, with the only mar upon it's beauty being the town below; even that though was made mostly of wood, aside from the arena itself.
When I entered, I was escorted by two of my Black Guard. Two of the few that survived the years from first bringing them back into the world.
Chaotic, glorious years they were as well.
Arriving within my own version of a Throne room, which consisted of a massive chamber bare of any and all seating aside from eleven chairs, the center being the largest made of obsidian, and carved obsidian lions with amber stone settings for eyes on each side.
The five chairs flowing out in a form of half circle belonged to my Ten, each chair designed by them. I had laughed at there idea for this, but allowed it.
It didn't take a genius to know who ruled my people. But I gave my pawns there wish.
Taking a seat, and placing my left hand to rest on the main of the stone lion beneath it I regarding the only two members of my Ten present.
Aegis, the bulwark of the Pridelings, the eternal shield, protector. Ogre had been somewhat angered his whelp, Forge, had chosen the shield, while Aegis' whelp, Anvil, had taken the dual mace weapons.
I'd laughed inwardly, they had a rivalry centuries old form the time they were less than what they are now.
Aegis was a quiet soul, preferring actions to words. He was seven feet tall like his whelp, however his hair was white as snow; in contrast his skin was a grey color, much like ash. He wore a long flowing overcoat in red, and black, with simple black leather pants, and no shoes.
His shield, which he had named 'Bulwark' oddly enough, was a kite shield as white as his hair, with a grey undertone. One of the great weapons I had made early on with my blood. A weapon of unique design and purpose which held an essence ability all it's own. It's siblings, held by each member of my Ten, were the same.
This one could increase it's width, and height, truly shielding all before it.
Then there was Moon, the youngest female of my Ten. She was a beauty to be sure, ephemeral like the orbiting rock she was named for, distant yet ever near.
She was the calm one, the mediator, and was the sole reason for keeping most of us sane through the centuries. Always at the back, and with her weapon, really an instrument, a harp. She played music that could rile the blood, or sooth the most savage of beasts. It was the only known method to stem my own rage, and stop all the BErserkers in their tracks when they lost it.
I believe she had named it 'Serenity' Her child, she refused to acknowledge her, was Cruelty. By far the most savage, and cruel of the whelps Pride. It shamed Moon to have such a child, her only one, and had not spoken to me for a week after she had seen her daughter do what she did in the Pit.
I smiled at them both, thinly. "Aegis, I want you to get proper clothing for the Whelps, all twenty-nine of them. An assortment of color, and styles. Let them pick it out. You will also be leading a group of around ten with you. More Red Guard. "
Aegis tilted his head in confusion, it was a large gift for untested youths. There little siege with those beast men was no test of metal. True, it made them stronger, but we pitted our youth against nightmares from the Abyss before they earned their red armor. HEre I was however, gifting them a choice, along with ten more men.
"He surprised me." I stated simply, and he nodded. It was not easy to surprise someone our age any longer.
"Father...What would you have of me?" an enchanting voice, enough to make a person give anything, BE, anything, just to hear it whisper against your ear.
"You are to go with him. You run our history, our knowledge, teach the youths to work with there blood. Show them the power hidden within the caste, and rankings. You know the breeding program, what I strived for better than most. Teach them, Moon."
I saw her full lips frown at me. She truly was beautiful, and I used her beauty as a weapon against those that visited for a few guards for their personal safety.
Her luminescent pale skin was revealed provocatively around her small, but decent bust, covered in a matching tone of pale silver that flowed down her body, hugging every curve. Her own hair was silver as well, like my Whelps.
"As you wish Father." was all she said. I smiled at her, and rubbed her head softly; she was rather close. Then sent them on there way.
I had to ensure things went as smoothly as possible toward my end goal. My revenge would not be stopped because of one intervention. Not now, not after so long of planning. I would not allow it.
I watched them leave the chamber, and was left alone in the darkness at last. I was home here, none could see me in the dark. The predator stalking his prey through centuries of planning, and contemplation. I bared my fangs at the empty room. I will finally kill you, Damien.
Nothing will stop me, not Gods, nor the Demons you control in the Abyss. Whether in a decade, or a century, you would finally die at my hands...I just needed to keep my whelp on the path.
I will arrange for him to meet his Brothers, my morbid Cristoph, and raging Cristopher; their mothers had been warriors as well. Human, but the blood always runs true.
Perhaps killing them would increase his likelihood to reach where I needed. It mattered not of course, they had their reasons for wishing my death. Good ones as well, but they were but ants before me. Either as aids, or stepping stones, they will join into my web at its center with Rage.
All would dance to my tune, and all moved toward my goal. Soon...Just a little longer, I chanted to myself. 'Soon, patience will lead me there...'
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Hello! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. There are several POV's and several are small. I do hope you enjoyed the character growth and changes in each of the eight, as well as Saphiria.
Now then, the main winners of the comment contest were BlazingFrost, and Bomann! Congratulations!
I do try to implement all of your wonderful ideas and suggestions of course, though it is difficult at this time. It will be easier in later Volumes, I do hope you like the little incite into The Blood Fathers reasoning, and a slight glimpse of his past, along with the 'main' (To him) focus of his ultimate designs.
But here it is! The end of Volume One, and leading to the future of the story, more character growth, changes, death and violence.
In Volume Two, expect deaths of people you may have grown close to. This is a tragedy as well. Not everyone will survive the upheaval that occurs in the world that was hinted at here, and in the last chapter. Who that is, will be decided through oh so fun POLL EVENTS! hahahahaha. Make you all think :p
But I digress, Thank you, one and all, for continuing to follow my story. I look forward to seeing you for Volume Two of Blood Born to be released in one week's time, perhaps sooner if I decide to pop out the prologue for you all hahaha.
There will be a minor time skip of about a week, because honestly, nothing earth shattering happens, within relationships, or the known areas during the time. I hate time skipping, regret doing it, but I have little choice at this time.
During the wait for Volume Two, you will be getting DAILY updates for Olympus starting tomorrow! I hope you all look forward to it.