RMW
Chapter Twenty One
Black Dragon Sword
~SV~
Sidonia’s Bedroom, Dark 5 AM, 677, 28th, October
The Oracle struggles to leave the vision, as her mind tortures her with this haunting from her past. The longer six-year-old Princes Sidonia waits, the more she fears Samala is hunting her, and dares herself to run to the basket. Then the dark girl recalls that her mother’s visions will tell her where she is. The tension of what she visualizes will happen, as Samala comes for her, makes it worse.
As time drags on the shadows loom larger and her legs are growing tired of crouching, so she stands up. Certain her mother should have found her by now, Sidonia dares to sneak toward the basket, rather than run to it. She keeps looking around and behind her as she attempts to retrace her steps. When she gets to where she thought the basket had been left, she finds nothing but footprints.
Following her mother’s, she is relieved when she finds the picnic basket, yet is sure it is not where they left it. The Princess thinks it is odd that her mother moved to a new area while counting, feeling she broke another rule. She also set the basket in the middle of the blood red cloth, ‘Mum had her eyes open too, breaking more rules.’ Touching the basket, Sidonia calls out with joy, “Mother, I win, I got to the basket before you found me!”
There is no answer and she worries her mum is lost, she calls loudly, “Where are you? I am at the picnic basket.” Fearing it will be her fault somehow, Sidonia circles the blanket several times, as she looks in each direction. Not seeing Samala, and uncertain which way is home, she sits down debating on having something to eat while she waits. Pulling the basket toward her it feels too light.
She doubts it has much food in it and wonders if she will make mum angry if she starts without her. She then remembers her mother’s gift will keep her from ever becoming lost. The dark girl sighs with relief; her mum cannot blame her nor accuse her of being wicked. Just then, she sees drops of red liquid on her light blue tunic, and fears her mum’s anger. She realizes it is coming from the basket.
Sidonia drops it and it falls, landing on its side, with the lid slightly open. Curiosity has her approaching the basket to lift the lid. Instead of food, the Princess sees a severed cat’s head inside. Sidonia’s eyes go wide in horror as she thrusts the basket away from her and freezes watching it tumble to a stop. The bloody head of her pet cat Dusk, comes out of the basket. Screaming, at the killing of Dusk, her precious cat, Sidonia runs blindly for the Castle.
The Princess whispers, “Mother mocked me, saying I could not bring my cat… her grin tells me that she killed it. Mum also told me that there were two ways to keep me from helping the January Man. I fear, this is the second way. Mum intends for me to be lost in the woods! I prefer confinement in a convent, to this.” Fearful, she seeks her way home through the dark unfamiliar forest.
~*~
Front of Blackstone Castle, Dark 5 AM, 677, 28th, October
Lola’s blue misty form flies at Donatello with outstretched fingers as she screeches, “You shall die.” Donatello feels the sword vibrate as if it is warning him that she nears. He pulls it and sees the ‘Black Dragon Sword’ is radiating an eerie red glow and gasps, “Dark Elf Dragon Lords have red mist!” He senses it is begging him to use it. Donatello is unsure of what it can do to a ghost.
Yet, Sidonia’s Guard knows he must try, as she is almost touching him. Donatello steps aside and swings the Dark Elf’s black blade up into Lola’s chest. He hopes the black Dragon Sword will disperse her mist the way iron is supposed to. As the blade pushes into Lola’s form, all hear a loud roar. Others think it is Lola’s war cry, however, Donatello knows it came from the sword.
Red fire bursts from the sword infecting her blue mist with a dark red liquid-like flow; slowly her chest becomes a deep purple. Donatello is disappointed, wishing the sword did more damage or at least scattered her mist essence. Then he sees the red mist is spreading, turning all of Lola purple.
Brightening as the red dominates and glows, it now causes her to be more solid and blood red. He turns with Lola while she flies by him, screaming. However rather than in anger at him, he believes the Dragon Sword is causing the Sinister Shade pain; now he grins with renewed hope and slight satisfaction.
~*~
Young Sidonia is running west, not south. Tears fall as she hurries for home, fearing her mother plans to keep her from it. She believes Samala killed her pet cat, putting its head in the basket for her to see, as a punishment for somehow betraying her. The branch’s rough bark catches her gown and hair; she tries to avoid them as she runs. The thick dark forest keeps most of the sunlight out.
The small girl thinks she is nearing the Castle, until she comes to a deep stream. Sidonia knows they did not cross water, and realizes she has gone the wrong way. The dark girl groans, “I should have tried following mum’s footsteps.” Then she sees movement in the dark shadows of the trees, which are across from her on the other side of the creek, she stares ready to call for help, hoping it is someone kind. Sidonia shakes her head, ‘It is too low to the ground.’
Princess Sidonia backs away, toward the northeast. Wanting to be brave, yet she has a whimper of fear escape, as she turns and runs away. The chill of the afternoon air, bites at her skin and Sidonia thinks this is the worst of it; until the first howl comes from behind her. Shaking with terror, Princess Sidonia now knows what was in the shadows across the Black Forest Kill.
The dark girl gasps, “Wolf!” Going faster as she hears it howl again. After the third time, Sidonia cries out, “Father!” The only hope she has is that somehow her father will hear her and know she needs him. Then she realizes it is still day, and her father is unlikely to be awake or hear her. Fleeing, the dried tears sting her cheeks. She silences her fearful cries; hoping to hide from the Wolf.
Princess Sidonia runs with no breath to spare for calling. The Wolf in the west howls again, then to her horror, another howl answers in the north; Sidonia now turns from the north, going east. Desperation helps her find the air to scream, “Father, save me!”
~*~
Donatello keeps Lola in his sight, as she spins to come back. He watches in amazement and is hopeful, as the red brightens. It is infecting her mist, as it spreads through her, like poison. As she nears Donatello, he sees the red is thickening to a molten lava. It scalds the Sinister Shade, causing her to scream in pain, “Kolo, he is burning me, help me!” He is far enough away to not hear her clearly.
At a safe distance, Kolo frowns as he tries to see through the trees that block some of his view. Not understanding that anything is wrong with her, Kolo assumes it is just reluctance and yells some encouragement, “Just kill him!” The scorching of Lola’s mist keeps her in fear of Donatello, and deathly afraid of his sword. Instead of attacking, she flies by him well out of his reach, going for the safety of her twin. The Dragon’s fire has drastically weakened her.
Its poison is now forcing her down. Fighting it, she falls, landing sixty yards past Donatello. Slowly, Lola stands up as Kolo yells in disbelief, “What are you doing?” Lola staggers like a drunkard in her effort to get further away from Donatello’s blade. Her brother mocks her, “You wanted vengeance coward, go get him! It is our chance for revenge!” Crying, Lola’s whole form is glowing.
It is a deep red, as she slowly goes toward safety, reaching out to her twin she wails, “The pain, I am not used to this agony, it hurts!” Kolo cannot make out her moans, he moves through the trees as the molten red starts to cool; her hands and feet turn black as it hardens them. The Evil One furiously yells, “You are a hypocrite, lecturing me on my reluctance, stop being a coward.”
His own fear of facing the guard in his weakened state makes him add, “Do not flee from him; just take possession of a guard and fight. Kill him, so we can get Sidonia and go home!”
~*~
Dark Elf Desert Castle, Night, 5 AM, 677, 28th, October
As Alnesa is calmer and settles, Alrod forgets his apology, and turns to her fuming, “You have to tell your father that you lied. Tell him I never touched you!” Alnesa retorts, “You did! I told you I was not ready. You swore this was the only way to leave them, to be free to do what I want, when I want. But then you just stared at the stupid floor!” The guard in the outer room, now hears voices.
He follows the shouting to the Princess’s door. Prince Alrod yells, “You do not understand, your father wants to kill me!” Alnesa shrieks, “I told you of his temper, you promised it would be alright! You vowed to protect me from him! You failed and did nothing!” The guard tries the door, finding it locked. Hearing the guard’s attempt, they both become silent and afraid of what will come next.
Alnesa whispers to Prince Alrod, “What can we do now?” He shrugs, the Princess glares, “Again you have brought me nothing but danger and trouble, as you are doing nothing to resolve it! Why did I ever believe you?” The guard knocks, calling, “Princess Alnesa, you must open this door.” Alnesa loudly replies, “I just had a nightmare, I am in bed and have a headache. Just let me sleep!”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Suspicious, the guard goes for the King. Alnesa glares at Alrod, hissing under her breath at the Prince, “See what you have done! How am I to get my father to believe that I do not want you here? You saw how furious he is; you are going to get us both killed! I never should have trusted you or your deceptive, lying father!”
~*~
Lola makes it to a guard, and tries to possess him. The Shade finds she is too dense to enter him, and Lola’s arms burn him into fleeing her. His twin stumbles a few feet toward Kolo; but her legs have become hard, solid, and are turning black, like her feet and hands. It comes up over her knee, she wobbles trying to walk. She feels like she possessed someone and is trying to move their body.
It spreads up over her hips, Lola is stuck in place, she cries, “I cannot move!” As it comes up to her chest Lola screeches in horror, “Kolo help, Donatello is destroying me!” He nears the tree line as it flows up the Sinister Shade’s shoulders. As it encases Lola’s neck, she warns in a banshee wail, “Brother, he has killed-!” It covers her mouth. Limping nearer, Kolo gets a clear view in time to see her, just as the terrifying silence of his dark twin greets him.
Her charred form horrifies him, as Kolo sees the terror in her eyes, just before they go black. Stunned, Kolo gasps, “Lola, no! What the Nifl happened to you?” Even Donatello is shocked by this; he has never heard of nor seen anything that equals its destruction. Even the guards gasp in awe and stop circling him. Guilt has the Evil One spitting at his guards, “Why did you fools fail… to protect her?”
Kolo’s compelled guards back away horrified at Lola’s demise. It has them unwilling to meet Donatello’s Black Dragon Sword; and face his wrath. Kolo helplessly watches as her blackened form begins to crack. Furious, he yells at Donatello, “You will pay for this and beg for mercy before you die!” Slowly, the cracks in Lola’s form widen to then reveal hints of her deep blue mist.
Pointing at his sister, Kolo chuckles with relief, “See you cannot hurt her. Lola, you can break out! I knew you were stronger.” Reassuring himself more than trying to comfort his twin, he adds, “Lola you are going to be fine, just break free.” Still a few hundred yards away, the Evil One smugly yells at Sidonia’s Guard, “You cannot win against us! No one can defeat Lola!” Donatello’s disappointment causes him to feel defeated, powerless, and doomed.
~*~
Sidonia tries to be quiet; still the beasts are tracking her easily. She stumbles, yet manages to right herself without falling. The dark girl continues to run trying to be careful, when she hears two more in the alpha’s pack respond from the east, in front of her. She turns south, toward the Castle. Sounding closer, the Wolves are coming from all directions, except the one in which she is running.
Princess Sidonia fears she cannot outrun them and looks for a tree, each one she passes is too tall with branches above her reach. As the west wolf gets so close that Sidonia can hear the twigs snapping behind her, she finds herself screaming as she flees. She panics at not having enough time to turn to see how near it is.
As Sidonia looks for a tree, she doubts finding one in time. Just as she is certain that she is doomed, the little Princess finally sees a smaller tree and runs for it. Jumping Sidonia gets hold of the lowest branch and quickly pulls herself up, climbing on to it. The wolf is too near to her, then the girl sees that she is still too close to the ground, and grabs hold of the trunk. She feels truly hopeless, when the gray wolf launches at her, and its teeth grab onto her dress.
The wolf’s bite almost gets her leg, and its weight starts pulling Sidonia downward with it. She manages to cling tighter to the trunk and holds on even though the tree’s bark is tearing into her arms, as it yanks her downward. Still, she succeeds in stopping her fall as she sits on the branch. However, her grip is beginning to fail and the gray wolf continues to still pull on her clothes.
At the final moment when Sidonia fears toppling out of the tree, the wolf’s teeth, rip away the fabric from her dress. It drops the vicious animal to the ground, and keeps her from being at the gray wolf’s mercy. Shaking, Sidonia manages to quickly stand and climb up to the next branch. The fierce gray wolf jumps higher, this time getting the back of her ankle boot, pulling her foot with it.
The dark girl nearly tumbles off the branch screaming as she holds onto the trunk, just as the wolf’s teeth slide off the leather boot, nearly unbalancing her the opposite way. Hurrying, Sidonia steps up to the next closest branch, taking her a little higher from the ground, and hopes that the wolf’s fall has killed it. As she ascends the tree going five feet higher, she dares to look for the gray wolf.
She is dismayed to find the wolf is alive, as it gets up, snarling at her, as though she is doing something to earn its anger. The wolf proves it is unhurt enough to try again. This time she is out of its reach. She ducks around the branches, holding one as she puts her foot out to get to the higher limbs. There is a larger gap to the next branch, and Sidonia nearly falls off the limb when her foot slips off the next one. The Princess hopes that she is high enough.
The dark girl looks for the wolf. Just then, it jumps and she is far from safe. The wolf has landed on the lowest branch and goes for the one above it. Sidonia is stunned, as she did not believe the gray wolf can nor would try to climb up after her. It is a nightmare.
~*~
Donatello sees Lola’s blue mist fade and her black form turns to gray ash. A small piece floats down, revealing nothing is behind it. Hopeful, Donatello’s smile returns, as he runs for her. Kolo’s eyes go wide in terror, knowing he is too far away, and helpless to stop Sidonia’s Guard in time. Kolo screams, “No!” Donatello swings the Black Dragon Sword, as he answers with a confident, “Yes!”
Hitting Lola’s ash form, Sidonia’s Guard causes the Sinister Shade to explode toward her twin. Kolo’s disbelief sinks in, like seeing true demons, he feels her demise. The fiend screams out in horror, “Nifl, nooo!” Her ash scatters in the air over the three hundred yards between them. Kolo pleads, “Lola?” A cool breeze from the north brings her ash and the dried leaves toward her twin.
Disbelief turns to devastation, as Kolo whimpers, “You dark demon!” Donatello holds the sword in wonder as he sees nothing is left of the Shade, only the autumn’s crisp air, and darkness. Kolo feels no hope that Lola has survived. The Human Guards shiver at the sight and the wind, pulling their cloaks around their legs, wishing to go to the fires behind the gate. Kolo’s command keeps them here.
All watch as her ashes slowly float down and Kolo feebly calls out to his sister in horror, “Lola? Come back to me!” He slowly sinks to his knees in despair, as the nearest piece of the ash cloud falls before him, onto his finger. His rage builds as he looks from it, to glare at Donatello. Kolo phases into a vampire, his eyes become blue, and his darkening veins are visible. All witnessing this, feel it, and now back away from his wrath, as the evil fiend slowly stands.
Kolo thrusts his finger, pointing it at Donatello, as he announces, “You! You have earned yourself a fiery burning death!” Chills go up Donatello’s spine at this very real threat, as Sidonia’s Guard believes him and fears it. He is stunned at the power of the sword, and stares at its black blade in awe, guessing, ‘It has to be one of the legendary mystical weapons of the Demon War!’
It gives him courage to stay rather than flee his foe’s threat of a horrible death. Sidonia’s Guard focuses on Lola’s brother, as he runs toward Kolo. Donatello sees that his burns force him into wearing the least attractive form of the fourth male, a hunched, creepy middle-aged man with a pointy nose and beady brown eyes. He believes this haggard image is his true form, which might help him learn who the fiend is. Kolo slowly limps forward.
Getting closer, Donatello also sees that his left eye is more black than brown, and realizes his eyes are the same in each form he takes, it is useful in recognizing Kolo, if the fiend gets away tonight.
~*~
The Guard returns to Alnesa’s door with King Haldir as well as other guards. Prince Alrod has said nothing to sway her; he now realizes he was a fool to stay, when they hammer on her door, “Princess Alnesa you must open the door, now!” Pounding louder, her father vows, “You will open this door this instant. So help me, I will kill anyone who is inside!” Alrod rushes to her balcony.
He hopes to get away, as Alnesa watches with dismay that he is abandoning her, yet again. Alrod gasps, “It is a four-story drop to the ground, not even a ledge to escape onto. There is no way out; if you do not help me, I am condemned to die here.” She glares as he begs her, “You must convince him that you love me.” Alnesa shakes her head. His terrified mind is blank, “Just say that you-ah-aw.”
Alrod’s struggles for an idea, as he stammers. “You-you will kill yourself if he hurts me.” Coldly, she scoffs, “No.” The Prince urges, “Maybe, plead with him to let me go?” Angrily, she mocks, “Why should I? I want to see how you feel having him this angry at you!” He panics, “Why? Are you serious?” Prince Alrod tries his crystal. As he disappears, she screams in frustration.
Prince Alrod sighs with relief, until the glow within the fading crystal goes out. He becomes visible, groaning, “Now, I am dead for sure!” Princess Alnesa coldly states, “You never planned to face him! Did you? I am not sure I even hate you. It is much closer to loathing!” He fears for his life, recalling what he failed to do, “I-I am sorry, alright? Mum is angry with me; I intended to apologize to you, I-I just forgot. I am trapped and scared the King is murderous!”
He groans, “It is not what Father said would happen; I fear he was wrong. Please Alnesa, help me! Surely, you do not want your father to kill me, do you?” Princess Alnesa quips, “Fine. I am going to help you… the way you helped me. By doing nothing, and saying nothing, to defend you! Alrod, you are a horrible person, a dirty liar, and a rotten coward!” They pound against the door again.
Alnesa gets out of bed and puts on her robe. Alrod rushes to the balcony, and the Princess unlocks her door. As it bursts open, the guards and her father push Alnesa aside, rushing to search her room. She turns to see that Alrod is gone, instead of relief at him vanishing, she feels abandon. The guards go to look over her balcony, Alnesa gets a dark smile, hoping he has jumped. She imagines Prince Alrod’s body lying dead on the patio four stories below.
When the guards turn coming back to the King, with a shrug, the Princess is disappointed. She now suspects that Alrod’s crystal has worked and he just ran out. Alnesa exhales, slowly admitting she did not want the Prince dead. She now realizes her anger is more with her father, mother, and herself, than at Alrod. She fumes at her father, “How dare you come in here threatening to kill me!”
Alnesa’s flaming anger, overrides the fear of her father’s temper, as she huffs, “I wish Alrod were here, facing you. I only believed Alrod and was intimate because he promised to be devoted and get me away from here. All of this is because of how overbearing you and Mother are. I made a mistake expecting Alrod to stand up for me, before you, like a man.” She feels it is worse that Alrod came here demanding that she lie to protect him.
Princess Alnesa now sobs, “I thought he would defend me and profess his love and commitment to me; so, you would forgive us. Instead, Alrod acts like a scared little child, cowering, and unwilling to say a single word.” The King says to the guards, “Wait in the outer room for me.” Haldir is humbled, yet seethes at her, “You humiliated us!” Princess Alnesa sighs, “I am sorry, Father.”
She adds, “I never meant to hurt you and Mother. I made a mistake, not realizing how bad it was, until it was too late. Still, you made it worse. You should love me unconditionally. Instead, you make me ashamed and on trial with Alrod. It feels like you betrayed me.” Haldir focuses on his anger at Alrod as he marches out.
~*~
Kolo nears, his right eye sees the red glow of the Dragon Sword, causing him to halt. Donatello keeps coming, liking the fear he sees. The fiend does not have a sword, nor does he need one, as he brings three-foot flames to his palms. Sidonia’s Guard is fearful, yet not deterred, believing his swing is longer. Willing to be burned, he risks all, in hopes of destroying the Evil One; ending this now.
His own fears of burning are nothing compared to the panic he sees in Kolo’s eyes when his fire sizzles out. Weak, the Evil One cries in an effort to bring his fire, he manages just before Donatello is close enough to swing. Kolo desperately throws his flames; instead of his average twenty-five feet, he only manages a seven-foot stream. Donatello sees Kolo’s success; he quickly turns away.
The fire hits Donatello’s back, rather than burning his eyes and face. Dropping to the ground, Sidonia’s Guard avoids most of it.
~RMW~