I saw him, in the red suit layered over his white undershirt and dark brown trousers.

His skin disfigured before me in this dark haze that followed behind him. Those eyes never wavered when he looked at me.

He was not the one I saw back in the forest. This one was bulkier and his eyes heavy-set like he had not slept in days. His hair was crossed in a myriad of thick long strands.

He breathed out as if exhausted. Fidgeting, he whipped his head back and forth in some dire effort to shake off something. I did not know what, but I knew it creeped me out.

He took a purposeful step toward me. I wanted to step back, but my body was ice.

No bone was at my command. I trembled and rambled incoherent, yet I did not heighten it beyond whispers.

Were they going to strike, for nothing occurred.

What were they waiting for? He was right in front of me, kill him!

He cried out loudly, twisting to the right. An arrow lodged in his neck and a rope was attached to it. That was not the only arrow, for many arrows flew into the back of this champion.

“Carmine! Carmine!” My wrist squeezed from the grip. I turned to see Yodan, who grabbed my arm. “Come on now!”

I found strength and moved into his stride as we ran. A heavy thud shattered my thoughts, but the ache shook me senseless. I was weightless in my flight, but only for a second, for I dived hard and scratched my arms hitting the ground.

Bricks and rocks dropped all around me as I saw a shadow charging at me.

The rope twirled and spun. It rolled around the champion and then it tightened. The champion shifted back into its human form.

I glanced up to see the shadows of the men on the roofs of the houses. Were that Valor and the others? The ropes tightened and pulled into the shadows which dragged the man to the ground.

“Got him!”

A rock, that stone, the musothin slid across the ground toward the champion. The champion drifted back from it in fear, so the champion tried to rip the rope by pushing out its arms.

"Carmine!" Yodan said.

Valor's axe sailed toward the champion, but the champion threw his restrained feet up to slap the axe away from nearly hitting his head.

Blood dripped, for he didn't come out unscathed.

I rolled off the ground and shifted onto my knees. Yodan grasped my shoulder, but I was frozen to the spot.

Xallion came out from around a building's corner.

The champion grit his teeth and rolled which caused his restrained legs to flick up the musothin.

That rock gets thrown further away from the champion. If that was enough to make him happy, he probably was.

Xallion moved in on the champion’s side stabbing him with the spear, yet there was no blood. Instead, it was black smoke leaking out of his punctured skin.

The champion broke apart into black smoke and smiled at me.

A disconcerting charge went up the length of my back. Valor jumped down from the roof and shouted, “Go!”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Yodan dragged me up and we sped off. I was wraith with anticipation, or the hope of safety. My legs ached, but I did not tarry.

I heard stories, but I thought it was all lies, falsehoods meant to distract us and deceive us or to scare me into a good Princess.

This was insane as loud crushing thuds broke my serenity. We moved parallel as massive puffs of dust raised with each loud bang.

It was powerful and it was too close. My heart jumped each time I heard it. I looked away from the looming battle that was ensuing over there and wanted no part in it.

Really, I should not have come here. I really should not have come. Damnation to Valor and his bright ideas.

A blood-curdling scream cut through the air. That better not be Valor. As much as I hated him right now, that was not something I would wish on anybody.

Yodan dragged me and we ran down a wider street. It must be the main one. The ground shook and I almost lost my footing. Yodan looked back, and so did I.

The building, a block down from us was shattered like glass. It was like a child tearing paper into shreds and propelling huge pieces of the wall onto the street like pebbles.

The champion jumped out and slid a few feet to a stop and looked at me, narrowing his eyes. A chill riveted through my body as I was sure of one thing, Valor was dead and so was I. Yodan dived left, and I surged in behind him.

He swiftly rammed into a door and bashed it aside. The darkness wrapped around us. My breathing was loud, and part of me was shackled by this horrible tension that channeled continuously through my body. I was still, for the outer reaches of my skin tingled from those pin-like spikes in pain.

Something was close, so I tensed.

“It is me, I am near.” It was whispered so close to my ears. I almost thought myself dreaming, but I never relaxed. The ache of my cuts along my arms set in. A dizzy thrill reverberated throughout my head like a rumble of thunder.

There was an urge to cry, but I held it in. Not here, I needed to contain my confusion and despair. If I couldn't do that I was destined to always find myself in situations like this. Where I could do nothing at all and it infuriated me.

A screeching wave preceded the stream of light that came through the door that burst open. We saw him as he moved with his back hunched over. Blood bled out perversely from his arm unto the brick road.

His head turned. I stiffened. He couldn't see us right? It was too dark in here anyway. A pain traveled up my lower body to my shoulder. I drifted back as the scream came out and this bright red glare showed the champion right next to me.

How, the, hell, did he reach here so fast?!

Yodan was lifted as the Champion stared coldly into his eyes with the tender blue of a vicious glare. Yodan kicked and gasped for air. I had to do something, but what? There were three arrows lodged into the back of the Champion’s neck.

The dagger, could I, should I, I considered. Curse it, I was bound to get ripped apart anyways. I unclothed it out of my belt and I froze. Yodan's eyes rolled back in his head.

I could not move.

Why?

The champion's eyes met mine. He flung his arm into me. My head became unfocused as pain flared in my stomach.

I hit the ground on my shoulder blades. Convulsing, I turned to the side and gripped my arched arms. No, It couldn't end her, so I jumped up and ran for the door.

Hands gripped my shoulders and I phased out of what darkness rested in that place.

I looked and saw it was Xallion.

“Go outside my Lady.” He stepped in with Valor in tow. Valor threw the stone on the ground. The champion hunched over heavily with erratic breathing.

A soldier was beside me with a bow and arrow drawn in hand. The champion whipped his head up and laughed. The musothin stone was sparkling with reflected colors. How did a stone so black shined so brightly?

The Champion laughed. “You really think your old tricks can beat me? I will rip your heads off and drink your blood!”

“Your power is weakening so that is an aimless threat. Surrender now demon,” Xallion said.

“We don't surrender to grass. Valor you disappoint me, but I guess you would always fall by the wayside, no?”

Xallion turned towards Valor. The Champion charged.

I turned away.

The Champion screamed.

I heard gurgling and then nothing.

My heart pounded in my head as comfort gathered around me.

That's how death was, quick and without much noise after the brazen hit. Bile filled my throat thinking about it.

Valor and Xallion stood over the body for a moment. Xallion turned to Valor. “Finish the deed."

“Hoping to stay clean today?” Valor asked.

“Silence, we don't have all day.” Valor swung up the ax over the body. Xallion turned to the door. “Get the lady out of here.”

My blouse was tugged, but I was not completely dragged away before the ax went down and a loud clank followed.