Titania sat silently out on the deck, nursing her bruised knuckles. Jennifer and Meriel had both gone deeper into the cabin to sleep. Both were anxious to get moving, but Titania was starting to have second thoughts about her plans…and theirs. Blemish was asleep too, but he had insisted on sitting outside with Titania. However, his injuries were wearing him down and he had passed out by the doorway, snoozing peacefully. Titania glanced at him calmly and smiled, remembering how he’d hugged her so suddenly but with compassion. It’d been a long time since she’d felt anything like that. In her lap she had a long wooden club with metal studs embedded around it; a kanabo. It was a fitting weapon…large, cumbersome, and destructive to everything in front of it…much like she was before coming out here.
The Cataclysm had taken Titania away from everything she loved. When she’d transformed from a high school aged young man into the muscled and fierce ogre that she was now, her parents had been so patient and tried hard to accommodate her…even protect her from others who saw her as a threat. But as the first two years went by, and Jessai began his hostile take over, ogres were hunted and killed…and the more her parents tried to protect her, the more danger they were put in. She had no choice but to flee…but before escaping, she cut her arm with a broken piece of a car window leaving a pool of blood behind her…and then cut piece of her hair to create a message…
“I’m dead.”
For a whole year she lived alone in the mountain forests…living off other creatures and hunting to stay alive. It was only by good fortune that Grognor had found her. Titania knew him from their childhood days when he was still named Ethan, and she was still named David. Grognor had allocated the Craftsmans Guild to build a cabin for Titania…had built her a few weapons and tools to use. In return she’d hunted and cooked for him, given him a place to escape to when he needed time to vent or to be alone. He’d been a close friend for this dead wandering demon. He’d even helped start the rumors of the mountain demon so that orcs were less likely to go beyond the Citadel. She smiled at the laughs they’d shared. The tears they’d shared. The curses they’d hurled at the stars and at Jessai from the safety of this cabin.
“Titania.”
She didn’t look up at him. As Grognor stood there, wearing his cloak and carrying a short sword by his side…a weapon she’d never seen Grognor with, his eyes held a fiery anger that she’d never seen in him, but was not at all surprised by.
“I guess you’re not here for tea?”
“…My father saw him. The secret is out now.” He hissed. “Jessai knows about Blemish.” Titania nodded slowly tapping the kanabo solemnly.
“Yes…he does.” She answered. Grognor winced at the news he already was too familiar with and bit his lip clenching and unclenching his fist.
“It’s over.” He snapped. “We can’t hide him here anymore. We have to hand him over now!”
“No.”
“It’s not up to you.”
“I said ‘no.” Titania growled. Grognor winced at the venom in her voice. “I won’t let Jessai have him.”
“What the hell is your problem!?” Grognor nearly shouted, but was careful to keep his voice down. “That THING is an Inquisition Arch Angel. It was bad enough you patched him up, but now you’re giving him shelter!? For what?”
“He’s a child.”
“You want a kid so bad, go fuck an orc!” Titania’s eyes flashed fire and she glared at Grognor with a snarl that would have made a wild bear flee in terror, but Grognor returned one of his own.
“Watch your mouth.”
“What, am I stepping on toes here?” Grognor snapped. “Jessai wants the kid! He’s furious about Blemish being out here and protected by you!”
“He won’t dare come here. I have the advantage in these mountains, and he knows it. He’d lose more than he’d gain.” Titania argued.
“Of course he would…but you think he won’t do something worse!?” Grognor barked. “You don’t know do you!? It must be so goddamn nice out here in your little cabin of freedom where you don’t get to suffer under that tyrant! Meanwhile the rest of us all have to live under the boot of that monster!”
“I know, Ethan.”
“The HELL you do!” Grognor snarled. “You don’t know shit….those girls you’re sheltering!? Do you know that Jessai never honored Meriel’s agreement!? He’s slept with her mother…numerous times. Do you know that Meriel’s been forced to play music for every one of Jessai’s war parties!? Had to stand idly by while he FEASTS ON HER KIN!?” Grognor was shaking with rage.
“Why don’t you just come out and say what it is you want, Grognor?” Titania growled. “What’s he done to get the boy?”
“My family.” Grognor hissed. Titania’s eyes closed in agony at the words. She’d suspected…but had dreaded to believe it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry!? SORRY is it!? When you faked your death, you guaranteed your parents protection. But what about me!? My family…MY MOM!? MY SISTER!? She’s going to make my Mom a sex slave….put my sister in the mines…she might even execute them! THEY’RE ALL I HAVE LEFT!” Grognor cried, tears running down into his beard. “And all you can say…all you can muster up…is ‘sorry?’”
“…That’s all I can give, Ethan.”
“Give me the assassin…if we hand over the kid then Jessai will be merciful. We need to do it now while he’s weak from his injuries.”
“You’d trade his life for your family?”
“…I’d trade YOUR life for my family, David.” Grognor sneered, pulling out the short sword and holding it out threateningly. “Just give me the Arch Angel!”
Titania didn’t move a muscle. Her body sat on the deck of her cabin darkly, her eyes boring into Grognor and his sword. The look in his eyes pained her…the desperation in her voice broke her heart. She wanted to cry for him, but the sword only feet from her kept her tears at bay. She could only inhale deeply and shake her head.
“It won’t change anything.”
“My family will be free…and that’s what matters.”
“For now.” Titania shrugged. “Sure, your family won’t be hurt for now, but then what happens when more show up? What happens when Jessai wants more from you in the future? How many will you kill to keep your family safe? How many will you betray for them? When will you get it, Grognor!? Your family isn’t free! None of us are! While Jessai lives…we’re all under his control and whim.”
“And what do you suggest!?”
“We KILL Jessai.” Titania barked. Grognor twitched in disbelief, but didn’t lower his sword.
“K-Kill Jessai!?” He laughed. “That’s rich! How do you propose we do that!? The Arch Angel couldn’t do it…you’re too scared to do it…and now you’re so sure of yourself as you lick your wounds that you can kill the unkillable!?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“No, I can’t kill him myself. I’ll need your help.” Titania explained. “Stop producing arms for him…force him to get anxious. If you put pressure on him, he’ll have to fold. He needs you, Groggy.”
“No! NO! You don’t get it. You just can’t get it through that thick stupid ogress head of yours! JESSAI IS THE LAW! WHAT HE WANTS, HE GETS!”
“Not until someone stands up to him!”
“DAMN STRAIGHT! THEY END UP IN A SHALLOW GRAVE!” Grognor shrieked. “If I refuse to smith for him, he’ll just torture my family until I do.”
“I know what I’m asking is a lot.”
“A lot!? Tell you what, you giant bitch, you walk down this mountain and expose yourself to Jessai. Tell your family you’re really alive so Jessai can use them as leverage over you, and THEN you tell me what ‘a lot’ looks like!” Titania didn’t answer but her face was growing more fierce with each insult.
“Ethan, I’m trying to be reasonable here.”
“You want reason!? Give me Blemish. Just hand him over!”
“I can’t do that! He’s just a boy! He needs the opportunity to live!”
“HE’S AN INQUISITION ASSASSIN!”
“I know but…but Ethan you should have seen him. He broke down when I defended him…he hugged me and cried…dropped his mask. The kid needs love…he needs direction. I think there’s a chance for him.”
“It’s just an act, David. He’s pretending so you’ll let down your guard and make it easier to stab you in the back. That’s what he does. It’s what he’s trained to do.” Grognor rolled his eyes. “He’s manipulating you and you’re letting him.”
“I simply don’t think he’s that malicious. Why come to me for help then if he truly hated us that much?”
“Because he’s a damn good actor and you’re a sentimental idiot.” Grognor added. “Only way to make sure he’s not using you and manipulating you is to get rid of him.”
“No…he’s the key to killing Jessai. I’m sure of it.” Titania added, shooting a glance back at Blemish, smiling at his sleeping form.
“Hahahah! AHAHAHAHAA!” Grognor burst out laughing a hearty and disbelieving laugh. “I can’t believe it! You…you’re really that stupid!? You’re really gonna trust and protect that little murderer instead of my family!?”
“Try to understand, Ethan, I-”
“No it just figures, I guess! I mean I should’ve known becoming an overgrown demon would make you evil, but I guess it’s true that ogres are dumb as logs! You goddamn stupid bitch! WHEN THAT HORN PUNCHED ITS WAY OUT OF YOUR HEAD, DID IT SHOOT YOUR BRAIN OUT WITH IT!?” Titania was starting to fume with rage, her grip tightening on her kanabo as she raised herself to her full height, towering over Grognor.
“Shut your mouth!”
“WHY!? MY WORDS NOT GETTING THROUGH THOSE EARS OF YOURS!? I’LL SAY IT SLOWER! YOU BIG. STUPID. HORNY. BITCH! IF YOU’RE SO DESPERATE TO BE SOMEONE’S MOM, I KNOW PLENTY OF ORCS YOU COULD SCREW, AND YOU CAN RAISE YOURSELF A HAPPY LITTLE ORC BRAT! WHY NOT!? YOU’RE ALREADY RAISING A HALF BREED ASSASSIN, SO WHY NOT LET AN ORC SHOVE HIS BUSINESS RIGHT UP YOUR-”
The next word never left Grognors mouth. Titania swung her club with all her strength, smashing Grognor across the chest and sending him trumbling into a tree. She sprinted down the hill after him, grabbing him by the throat and raising him up off his feet. Blood was dribbling from his teeth as she’d probably broken his ribs. She dropped her club from her hand and punched him hard in the face, tears rolling down her face as her fangs were bared.
“SHUT UP! SHUT UP, ETHAN! WHY WON’T YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!?” She cried. As Ethan dropped his short sword, blood fell from his nose as he stared at Titania desperately, tears fell down his face like a fountain and he was choking on sobs. “ARE YOU TRYING TO PISS ME OFF!? DO YOU WANT ME TO LOSE IT AND JUST…just…” Grognor didn’t speak, but his weak whimpers told her all she needed to know. “You did…you wanted…”
“I knew you couldn’t give up on him, David…I knew it but…but I had to try.” Grognor cried helplessly. “But Jessai won’t let my family go without him. I can’t live with this, David…I can’t watch my family suffer…I can’t…I can’t I…I…” He broke down into uncontrollable sobs as Titania dropped him back to the ground. “Just kill me, Titania…please…I want to die…I want it to be over. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep building for that psychopath…I can’t watch my family go through…through…this…”
“Ethan, I…Ethan, I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t know if I’d be able to turn over Blemish anyway…” Ethan confessed, bawling like a baby. “I couldn’t do it…I couldn’t turn him in…goddamn it I admire that little brat! He’s the only one who ever tried to do in that pig Jessai…I can’t just…I won’t…DAMN IT ALL JUST KILL ME, DAVID!”
For the briefest of moments, David and Ethan were back in high school, laughing about the football game the other night. They were clapping each other on the back and David was congratulating Ethan on building up the courage to ask out the cheer captain. He’d done it! He’d gotten Jessica to go out with him. It was the happiest they’d ever been for each other…and now…now here they were…one begging the other to kill him. Titania lowered her fist and shook her head.
“I can’t do it either, Ethan…”
“…And what am I supposed to do now, Titania?” He asked, using her ogress name now.
“…I don’t know, Groggy.” She answered. “I want to kill Jessai…but I can’t do it without help. Please…please, help us.” She tried to reach out a hand to him but Grognor swatted it away as he struggled to his feet, clutching his ribs.
“I’m going to Aynor to patch me up…” He answered.
“Groggy I-”
“I’ll think about what you said,” he grunted, hobbling down the hillside back towards the Citadel, “but if my family suffers and dies for this, Titania…I will never forgive you…I’ll hate you for the rest of my miserable life.” Titania watched her former best friend walk down the hill, weakly and in pain as she began to resent her decision. He was right…he was completely right. What was she throwing away for the sake of Blemish and her own stupid pride. Maybe she was just a dumb demon bitch…a stupid ogress. She dropped to her knees and began to cry, beating her fist into the ground as she wailed helplessly and in agony.
Behind her, laying on the deck pretending to be sleeping, Blemish was wide awake and listening to the whole thing, mulling over everything in his mind, and resenting the fact that he’d been unable to kill Jessai the first time.