Lissa stood in the middle of the corpse-filled street, panting. Blood ran in rivers down her sword and armor. “I really hope this is all of them,” Almios said while his back slid down a wall. “At least we are closer to the gate now, only a few more blocks,” Garza rolled one of the bodies over and knelt down to close their eyes, “Sorry I can’t do more.”

Lissa turned around towards Micah. He was leaning forward against a wall, a puddle of vomit underneath him. “It’s alright you’ll get used to it eventually,” Darvick said in a resigned monotone while patting Micah’s back. “How can I get used to this? How long did it take you?” Micah turned slightly to look at Darvick.

Darvick shrugged. “I’m not sure, to be honest, but it will happen.” Micah looked at the street full of corpses and blanched, “I don’t know if that is going to be a good thing.” Lissa looked up at Volamire and then the rooftops, “I am going up to get a better idea of what is in front of us.”

“Want us to get the rest over here?” Almios said while rising to his feet slowly. “Yeah, we may need to make a break for it,” Lissa replied while sheathing her sword. She had noticed the sounds of combat had decreased in volume and intensity. There was still the occasional explosion and scream of pain, but it was becoming more and more infrequent.

“Alright, don’t get yourself killed now,” Almios walked over to Garza, who was still closing the eyes of the dead. “We can do that when it's safe. Come on,” Garza sighed and stood reluctantly. Lissa ignored them after that and went over to a nearby shop.

It had an eave over the broken windows. She leapt onto it and paused as it creaked under her feet. “At least you held,” Lissa muttered while looking at the roof above her. She couldn’t leap directly onto it, but at least her jump would let her grab the edge.

Bracing herself, Lissa jumped. The moment her fingers touched the edge, she grabbed on and hung there for a moment. “You alright there?” Lissa heard Garza ask. “Yeah, I’m fine,” Grunting, Lissa started pulling herself up. “If you say so,” Garza’s reply came just as her midsection passed the edge.

Once on the rooftop, Lissa lay there for a moment, catching her breath. Since the explosion at the temple, they all had been going non-stop. Finally, she put her arm out in front of her. It was shaking. From adrenaline, nerves, or lack of rest, Lissa didn’t know.

“Almost there, just a little bit farther now,” She told herself while standing. The gatehouse was only a few blocks away now, and she could see into the main street that led to it. Corpses, the wounded, and the dying of both Gloomed and non-Gloomed littered the road. Lissa could also see a few skirmishes still ongoing.

The skirmishes where it was just the standard guards were slow and methodical. Their practiced spear walls kept the Gloomed at bay while they slowly retreated. Combat involving Emissaries like herself was a bloodbath. Their enhanced strength and reflexes let them carve a bloody swath through the Gloomed. Lissa’s blood ran cold when she spotted them. The red-eyed Legionnaires were farther up the road, closer to the Academy.

They had formed a blockade of steel against the Dominion Legionnaires that attacked them. Squads of ten probed the blockade with a speed and ferocity that Lissa could not even dream of matching. She watched as a few teams attempted to break through, only to be repulsed by a score of javelins that left two Legionnaires pinned to the road. Whether they were alive or dead, she couldn’t tell from this distance.

Lissa shook her head, “There is no time for gawking.” Then, turning, she walked to the opposite end of the roof. A few rapid breaths later, she sprinted and leapt across the street. The roof groaned as she rolled with the landing. Lissa came to a stop less than a meter from the opposite edge of the roof.

She lay there for a few moments before standing slowly. Lissa prayed to all the gods she knew for the roof to hold as it groaned under her. Once she was sure it wouldn’t collapse underneath her, Lissa repeated the process twice towards the main road. Once she was only one street from her goal, Lissa stopped.

She looked at the road below her and found it barren of life. Some time ago, the corpses that had presumably lined the street had been piled like firewood to the sides. Taking a deep breath, she dropped onto the eaves underneath her and then onto the street. Falling like that wasn’t quite, and Lissa scanned around for any movement. “So far, so good,” She whispered to herself before making her way to the main road.

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Miranda let go of Jasmine and grabbed her wrists, squeezing with all she had. But, even as the bones snapped in her grip, Jasmine’s hold on her throat only tightened. A pained wheeze escaped her lips as she switched to pulling the vices from her throat.

“Miranda, what’s….” Miranda heard the Empress say before gasping, “Charles!” She could feel the pain as Jasmine’s nails dug into her skin. Miranda’s heartbeat thundered in her ears, and her vision was growing dark. “It will be easier if you….” Jasmine began the childlike voice gone. Replacing it was a malevolent echo that sounded like dozens if not hundreds of voices speaking at once.

The words were cut off as a blue-white blur slammed into the girl. Jasmine was ripped away from Miranda, and her hands took a chunk of her throat with her. Miranda gurgled and sputtered as she gripped her torn throat. The warm blood poured over her hands. Finally, she collapsed to her knees and looked in the direction the blur went. Miranda gasped and coughed as blood entered her lungs.

The Emperor held the girl by her throat against the wall, teeth bared. Jasmine’s head lolled limply to one side, an unnerving smile on her face. Blood poured down the wall from Jasmine, whose spine and back were pulped in the impact. Miranda had her gaze torn away by strong but gentle hands. “Miranda, look at me! Blink twice if you understand me,” The Empress’ soothing voice swam into Miranda’s ears, and she did as instructed.

“Good, I am going to need you to remove your hands. This will hurt quite a bit,” Again, Miranda obeyed, her eyes drifting to the pool of blood accumulating at her feet. She saw and felt the Empress' hands go for her throat. Miranda felt the cold hands touching her, and they were soon replaced by searing heat. Miranda wanted to scream but only felt more blood fill her lungs as she gasped in pain.

She watched the blood she coughed and sputtered out coat the Empress’ face. Miranda saw that thankfully her eyes were closed as blood landed and streaked down her face. “Mommy?” Miranda heard the Princess say as she clutched the Prince close to her chest.

“Hush dear, mommy is trying to fix Miranda,” The Empress said calmly, not even glancing towards her children. Miranda blinked slowly. Her head was swimming. She could feel the flow of the blood lessening. “You’ll be weak for a bit after this,” The Empress soothed as Miranda felt her eyelids growing heavy. She could barely keep herself from collapsing onto the floor.

“Mommy, daddy needs help!” The Princess screamed while taking a few steps back. Miranda’s head slowly turned to look at the Emperor. Two of the red-eyed warriors were attacking him. One had a sharp ax and the other an ornate sword. When had they come in? How did they get in? Miranda tried to stand but collapsed into a heap in her blood.

The Empress’ grip never faltered. “Too much blood, just rest now,” She said while moving one hand to Miranda’s scabbard. Miranda blinked. She was tired and felt the darkness closing in. Her gaze wandered for a moment to the Gateway. The runes etched across the archway were slowly growing brighter while a vortex formed in the center of the arch.

Maybe she would be in a nice warm bed when she awoke next. A hot meal ready at her side seemed like a good reward. After all, she was just following orders. Miranda let the darkness take her as she felt her sword slide from its scabbard.

================================================================

Melinda drew the sword away from Miranda. Her blood-soaked hands made her grip slippery. “Mommy?” Elizabeth asked while cradling Xander tightly. “It’s okay, sweetie, just stay close to Miranda,” Melinda looked down towards Miranda. She had done the best she could to stop the bleeding. A ragged chunk was still missing from her throat, but she had hopefully done enough to make sure Miranda didn’t bleed out.

Melinda took a deep breath. She hoped she wasn’t too out of practice. Slowly exhaling, she felt the flow of her Aether and forced it into her legs. Within a few heartbeats, she was in the melee with Charles. Melinda knew how he would fight and worked herself into a graceful dance with him.

Each step flowed as they danced with death. Blows were brushed aside, and slashes sidestepped. Melinda would strike like a hornet, a stab into an exposed joint and unprotected sides. Slowing them and exposing them to Charles, who would take advantage of the openings with fist and fury.

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Tearing and rending armor off their bodies and shields from their arms. Soon both of their attackers were dead. One had a caved-in skull while the other leaked blood from a dozen deep cuts and stabs. “I had wondered why I couldn’t turn her, now I know. Your crown, it has his stink all over it,” Melinda and Charles spun on their heels facing the echoing chorus of voices.

They both saw Jasmine struggling to stand. Steam poured off her body. Sickening cracks could be heard as she moved her head back into the correct position. “Who are you, and what do you want with us?” Charles asked while stepping forward. Melinda put out her hand to stop him from going further. Something didn’t feel right, and she suppressed a shiver as a chill went down her spine.

“Who am I?” Jasmine shook her head and giggled, “For now, I am Jasmine and your death.” Melinda blinked, and the girl was in front of her. She felt Charles shove her backward, and she landed in a heap far from Jasmine’s reach. A wet and loud snap echoed in the room. Melinda looked towards Charles and saw one bloody fist extended with Jasmine sprawled on the floor.

Her jaw was hanging onto only one-half of her face. Blood and bone fragments were splattered across the dress she wore. Melinda watched as Jasmine grabbed her broken jaw and put it back in place. She couldn’t help but gasp as before her eyes, the bone reformed along with the torn muscle and skin. “So chivalrous, but useless in the end,” Jasmine moved her jaw as she spoke.

Melinda watched Charles blur towards the girl who managed to catch the oncoming blow. Jasmine smiled and gripped his wrist with her other hand. “Mommy!” Melinda whipped her head to the side and saw an Emissary approaching Elizabeth, Miranda, and Xander. The relief was quickly replaced by dread as she saw Elizabeth’s terrified face. Infusing her voice, Melinda spoke, “Emissary, assist your Emperor at once!” The Emissary halted and slowly turned. A well cared for greatsword was in her hands.

Melinda scrambled to her feet and raced towards her children. She had seen the Emissary’s eyes, pitch black and with red-tinted stars within them. She would die before letting her children be taken from her. Roaring in anger and hate, Melinda lashed out.

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Lissa hugged the side street she was in and panted. It had taken her a bit longer to get to the road once she had reached street level. Several small one to three-person groups of Gloomed had been in her path. She had dispatched without stopping to catch her breath and was regretting it.

After getting a few lungfuls of air, Lissa looked up and down the main road. The once orderly but busy road was packed with people, carts, and soldiers. All of them were trying to escape. Occasionally a scream would ring out, which caused the crowded road to ripple.

Soldiers raced to the new opening while everyone else scattered. Lissa could understand the reaction. However, you could not tell if it was because of the Gloomed or something else in conditions like this. “Better safe than sorry,” Lissa muttered to herself before taking one final breath before plunging into the crowded street.

She had found her destination, a fountain in the middle of the road. In it was a mixed group of Legionnaires, Emissaries, and guards. All she needed to do was get the situation from them, head back, and get out of the city. But, unfortunately, Lissa found it difficult to not be swept away by the current. She had to repeatedly push people out of the way, shove the stubborn, punch the opportunistic, and once crush the hand of a pickpocket.

Lissa stumbled as she reached the fountain. A steady hand pulled her in. “Are you alright?” a worried but stern voice asked while their hands patted her down. “I am fine,” Lissa stood straight and looked at her savior. An older woman with salt and pepper hair stood in front of her. A Legionnaire’s helmet hung loosely from a strap down her front.

Lissa stiffened and did a slight bow, “My apologies, ma’am, I am fine, thank you for asking.” The woman shook her head, “Cut the formal shit right now is neither the time nor place to do that. So what do you need, Emissary…….?” Lissa did a double-take at the informality and at the two-pronged question, “Callista and I just wanted to report to someone my team's status.”

The woman gave her an appraising look, “Well, Callista, my name is Miriam, and what do you have to report?” Lissa nodded before beginning.

“My team was sent to investigate the area where the ‘Powered’ Gloomed was sighted, but we were ambushed in the temple they hid in. Something happened, and the temple exploded, killing one of us and trapping the rest of us under the rubble. We got free a short time ago and, on the way to the Academy, encountered a group of nobles from Volamire being chased by Gloomed. We rescued all that we could and found out at that time some of what was going on. Not knowing the entire situation we decided to head out of the city by this gatehouse.” Lissa took a deep breath, and before she could continue, Miriam stopped her. “That’s enough Callista, where is the rest of your group?” Miriam barely flinched as a roaring fireball blossomed a couple dozen meters up the road towards the academy.

Lissa ignored the panicked screaming around her and spoke loudly, “A few blocks away, I wanted to check the road and find a route we could travel through.” Miriam nodded, “Good idea, and good timing, both cities have been declared lost, and we are withdrawing and containing the situation.” A long single note played from a horn in the distance. “That was the first horn, you have until the fourth to get out of the city, or you and anyone else left in it will be contained with lethal force,” Miriam stepped closer as she spoke, and the air seemed to chill at her words. “Understood?”

“Perfectly, ma’am, we won’t be late,” Lissa turned and walked to the edge of the fountain. “Good, I would hate to see your potential wasted,” Miriam’s voice faded as Lissa stepped into the river of flesh. It took longer to get back to the side street as the press had doubled after the explosion. However, fewer injuries were left in her wake as most desperate and opportunistic wanted to escape.

Finally reaching the side streets, Lissa sprinted off towards the nobles and her friends. “To anyone listening, please let us make it in time,” Lissa whispered her desperate prayer and hoped someone would heed it.

================================================================

Saida watched as the woman, was her name, Melinda? Rushed at her sword raised. She sidestepped the poor strike and attempted to counter, but the woman’s arms blurred, and her blade blocked the potentially mortal retaliation.

“Stand down, Emissary!” Saida could feel the power in the words, and part of her wanted more than anything to obey. But, unfortunately, obedience was out of the question. If she obeyed now, she wouldn’t get to see her family in the future. All of this would be for nothing. “No,” Saida replied while shoving the woman away with her blade.

“Stand down, now,” Saida felt the compulsion double, and her grip slackened for just a moment. Melinda took the opening and was able to get under Saida’s guard. The burning pain from the blade’s cut broke the hold. Growling, Saida violently countered. Her assault was like an avalanche. Melinda faltered and was pressed back under the barrage of blows. Saida slapped the faltering guard aside, and Melinda faltered and fell to the floor. Smiling with all her teeth, Saida pressed for the kill.

“Leave my mommy alone!” the child’s voice roared as a stone slammed into Saida’s head. Saida spun and saw the little girl, the baby at her feet with another stone just now leaving her hands. Saida dodged the projectile and stepped forward. The scraping of metal on stone barely registered as she took another step forward. “You will not touch them, bitch!” Melinda’s roar made Saida turn back.

She couldn’t entirely block the oncoming slash at her head. Bringing her own sword up and turning her head slightly changed the potentially lethal blow to a non-lethal one. The blade dug a shallow trench from her jaw to her temple. “Fuck!” Saida screamed while reflexively touching the wound. Melinda stood between Saida, her children, and the armored woman in the puddle of blood. “You can speak? Are you like that girl then, monster?” Melinda spat as the air around them crackled.

“No, I am nothing like them. My will is my own,” Saida replied while feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rising. She took a cautious step forward. “Then how and why are you doing this?” Melinda stepped back, one hand pressed into the girl’s chest.

“With their help,” Saida flicked her head towards Jasmine and the man, Charles? Their duel had turned into a blur of movement interspersed with only the occasional snapping of bone. Saida stepped closer, “The why is not important as you’ll all be dead soon.” Melinda scowled, “I always knew your kind was heartless, but this is low.” Saida stopped and laughed, “What I am doing this for is the opposite of heartless!” She stepped forward as the air around her thrummed.

Saida watched as Melinda’s eyes darted to the archway and then back to her. “Pick up your brother and run when I say,” Melinda turned her head slightly and spoke to the girl. “Mommy?” the girl responded, confused and terrified. “Grab your brother Elizabeth!” Melinda shouted, turning back to Saida, who continued to advance slowly.

Saida took one deep breath as the thrumming reached a fever pitch. She bounded forward as a thunderclap echoed from the archway. “Run!” Melinda shouted while meeting Saida’s charge. Their blades clashed for only a moment before Saida pressed with all her strength. Melinda fell to her knees into the puddle of blood. Saida pressed her blade down and kicked at Melinda’s wrists. The blow connected and sent the sword Melinda held flying away.

Saida blinked. Wait, the puddle of blood was empty? Where was the armored woman? Saida received her answer a moment later as she was tackled from the side. She felt one of her daggers pulled clumsily out of his sheath. Saida shoved her assailant away. It was the armored woman. “Miranda?” Melinda said, disbelieving. Miranda only nodded, blood still dripping from her throat. One shaking hand rose and pointed towards the archway.

Melinda looked at Miranda and then to the archway, “Thank you.” Saida growled as Melinda scrambled up and towards the arch. She stepped forward and jumped back as a clumsy swipe with a dagger drew her attention back to Miranda. “Fine then, what’s one more death?” Saida whispered while stepping towards Miranda. She feinted left and turned the blow up as Miranda took the bait.

Saida felt her sword meet resistance as it bit into Miranda’s breastplate. The blow stopped at her sternum. Miranda coughed and looked Saida in the eye defiantly. Saida shoved her blade forward and felt it enter Miranda’s flesh and slide off her sternum into her heart. She watched as the light began to leave Miranda’s eyes, and her dagger fell to the floor. Saida pressed until her hilt met Miranda’s armor. She watched Miranda’s lips as they formed. “Fuck you.” Saida snarled and shoved the dying woman away. Turning to the archway, she now saw the gateway was active. Standing just on the other side was the one person Saida did not want to see.

She watched as Lissa’s eyes flickered to Miranda before going back to her. “Saida?” Lissa asked while her hand stretched out. “Emissary, kill her,” Saida felt the power in the words again, but knew the order wasn’t to her. She watched as Lissa’s eyes grew cold, and her hands went to her sword. “No, please anyone but you,” Saida begged as Lissa stepped forward, drawing her sword.