Chapter 3

Demon King Kale shook his head as he watched the five heroes slink away from his castle. When his surviving generals finally arrived in the throne room, they called for the heroes’ heads. He was inclined to agree with them, but he needed them to bring his message to the king in Relancia. The war had gone on too long. Besides, the heroes’ bravery deserved this much respect. They attacked a superior position with only five people.

Samantha led them away, dragging the bagged Holy Sword toward the Deadland forest. He wiggled his tusk and winced as it moved. Her strength was undeniable. Besides the mage, she forced him to fear for his life. He understood magic and could plan for it, weaving defensive spells into his armour and clothes. She was an anomaly. Even now, watching them go there was a knot of trepidation in the pit of his stomach that he couldn’t get rid of. It was working its way up and attacking his chest. He’d never felt anything like this before.

Leaning back, he sighed in relief. When she’d burst from the wreckage of the wall, he had felt his hopes at winning drop. He still couldn’t believe she had broken that sword in two. That thing was insidious. When he stopped that weapon, a seductive song tried to worm its way past his defences and put him to sleep. He almost let it.

Samantha’s call for a truce was surprising, but welcome. She surrendered and promised to send a delegation to open trade with the demon realm. Her promise to bring the Hero’s party to justice was admirable. It would be human justice and useless here. Kale wanted peace and was willing to take a chance, but what would the rest of the demon realm say? He needed to protect his land, and he doubted his allies would agree with him.

“Did I make the right choice? Should I have let them leave?” he asked.

“Yes, sire,” said a voice behind him. “They were dangerous and this way they are gone. Maybe now they can act as messengers and show the world how magnanimous you are. Hopefully, the human king will see it that way.”

Kale turned to Hobbi, his best servant. The well-dressed brown goblin was indispensable to the running of the castle. Like the rest of his kind, Hobbi stood four hands high, was meticulous, and fretted over the slightest detail. This devotion allowed them to see what Kale often missed.

“Yes, but that woman is different. I gave her some reinforced clothing to replace her chain mail and I’d swear she blushed at me,” He shook his head. Humans were difficult to understand. He had his soldiers watch the heroes and report if anything unexpected happened.

“Do you think that dagger was poisoned?” he asked Hobbi, moving toward the stairs in the outer wall.

“We are testing your blood now. If it’s poisoned, Healer should know soon,” Hobbi scowled. Kale had never seen him smile, just different levels of scowling. He was probably preparing the documentation for Kale to sign. Hobbi loved his paper.

The two moved back into the castle, away from the fallen heroes. “Do you think she’ll come back?” Kale couldn’t focus.

“You invited her, told her she could return anytime,” Hobbi spat out. “Why you’d take such a risk, is beyond me.”

“Samantha was a warrior and deserved my respect,” Kale responded, even if it cost me everything. Even now he couldn’t get the sight of her out of his mind.

“If you say so, sire. However, I am opposed to it,” said Hobbi, grunting.

“Thank you for your counsel, Hobbi. Your opinion is invaluable. I do wonder what’s going to happen to her. She’s too naive. If I know my average human, they’ll find a way to cause trouble.” Kale went down the stairs and staggered. He stumbled against the castle wall for support, ignoring Hobbi’s gasp. The strange feeling he’d been having was getting worse. He had cast a healing spell on himself after the battle, but it didn’t feel like it was working.

“Hobbi, send for Healer. Now.”

“Yes, Sire!” The goblin ran down the stairs shouting for the dryad. The panic rose in his voice.

“I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I? That was the first time I’ve seen you make a different face,” Kale muttered to himself as he crumbled to the ground. “Serves me right.”

***

Sam stomped ahead of the four others, pushing her way into the ominous-looking black trees and leaving the group behind. In the nighttime, the darkness hid their strangeness. In the afternoon, the black trees gave off an unnatural feeling that was difficult to define. It was as if something was watching her.

Mel was shouldering Akira and Rock was dragging Ayasse on a travois, slowing them down. Kale had called it the Deadland forest and it was perfect, everything looked as if it was dead.

“Come back here you traitor!”

Sam ignored Akira’s shouts as she stalked towards the trees.

“I’m talking to you. And give me my sword!”

She knew he was shaking his fist and could feel him spitting his words. He was useless now with the broken leg and he couldn’t even hold himself up without Mel acting as a crutch. It was all she could do to keep up with Sam. Kale had taken everything from them, including the mana potion. He was willing to let them go if they didn’t cause any more trouble.

Sam tried to put Akira out of her mind, but he had a way of worming in. The twit caused the veins in her face to twitch. “One, two, three,” Sam closed her eyes and let out a long breath. Losing control here and breaking his neck wouldn’t bring justice to anyone no matter how good it would make her feel.

Sam stopped inside the tree line and waited for her former party to catch up. She no longer wanted to think of herself as one of them, but she needed them if she wanted to get out of this place. With her memory coming in slowly because of the sword, she needed time to sort it all out piece by piece. Now, she remembered she wasn’t even from this world. They had used her and that was unforgivable. She needed time to process all this.

“Akira, you’re hurt. Take it easy,” Mel said. “You need to stop moving so much. You broke your leg and Rock is out of potions.” Mel had some minor healing spells, but the lightning spell should have drained her power, which eased Sam’s mind. It would take some time for her to gather mana from the air. After that, Mel would probably side with Akira and attack, instead of wobbling as if she were drunk.

Why don’t I kill you now?

Sam dismissed the thought. She wasn’t there yet but she could feel her thoughts boiling. It was getting harder to pull back.

“I’ll stop when I find out why she broke my sword! You saw her do that, didn’t you, Rock?” Sam watched him turn to the lanky archer dragging Ayasse.

“Leave me out of this. I was trying to get to you guys when it happened. I missed the end.” Rock shifted Ayasse on his back. The black-clad thief still hadn’t recovered from the landing and had to be carried around like a sack.

“Fine! But you’re going to pay for abandoning us. I know you tried to run and I know you did something to the potions,” Akira sneered at him. Rock just hunched his shoulders, looked down and continued carrying Ayasse while mumbling to himself. The only word Sam caught was jackass.

“I’m not done talking to you, traitor.” Akira turned and glared directly into Sam’s face.

They had caught up to Sam and the Demon King’s castle was no longer visible. This close she could smell the leaves on the trees. The sun was in the middle of the sky and at this pace, it would take them almost two days to reach their camp and the men they left there to watch the horses. Sam grimaced.

“What? Are you going to say something? Grovel at my feet for destroying our chances with the Demon King,” Akira taunted her.

Sam was silent.

“Say something!” Akira yelled, pulling away from Mel in his anger and

falling over. He cried out in pain and turned to her. Before touching that sword, Sam would have been the one to pick him up. Now she liked him there.

Sam glared at Akira. Her eyes drilled down, deep into him. He didn’t look away and Sam knew there was no way he was going to back down here. His pride was the strongest thing about him and his determination. He refused to give up. Neither would she.

“You sold me to that filthy man for Mel’s spell. I trusted you and thought it was for the good of the team,” Sam said, her voice quiet. “You used me. I accepted it because I thought you loved me, that we were childhood friends. I now know the truth. I know you lied to me.”

“The truth? What in the five hells are you talking about?” He screamed in her face, spittle landed on her chin.

Sam dug her fingers into her palms to keep from smashing his face and wiped her chin, “I remembered who I was and where I came from in that throne room, you useless sack of garbage. I am Samantha Morningshire. I came here from another world called Earth. It was ruled by a beautiful queen and had better technology and better governments with indoor toilets. We didn’t fight with swords, that was centuries ago in my world. We use our minds and hearts. I want to go home, but I’m not leaving you here to cause any more trouble. I’m sure that the waste of a king in Relancia can send me back. That thought is the only thing I’m sure of. Even if it’s impossible, he's still my best chance. When he does, I’ll make sure he knows what scum you are.”

“What do you mean by some kind of spell? That would make you…” Akira stared at Sam, his eyes widening. “There’s no way you can be the ‘Realmwalker. I’m the hero of this land here. Not you!” Akira stomped his good foot on the ground and yelled at Sam.

“Yes. I was summoned here. I don’t know how. Something happened when I arrived and I lost all my memory, which you and the King used against me,” she sneered and thrust her face into his, almost breaking his nose with her forehead. His feted breath stung her eyes. “You’re the scum of the earth. Making me believe we were friends, becoming lovers just to get me to do what you wanted.”

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“Calm down Sam. We can work things out,” Rock remarked as he came up behind Akira. He put Ayasse down and stretched his back.

She turned to him and glared, he started shaking, looking for a place to hide. “You bastard. You tried to rape me the minute we met. All you’ve ever done to me is brush up against me as if I was your plaything. I’m glad I broke your jaw. I wish I’d caved in your skull, but Akira said we needed you and I trusted him, then.”

Rock backed over a tree root and fell over Ayasse. He was trembling and Sam could swear he messed himself.

“Take it easy Sam. I’m sure you’ve had some trauma from the fight but that’s no reason to take it out on your friends.” Mel said, still supporting Akira.

“Friends, Melisia? When have we ever been friends?” Sam turned on the white-haired woman. “You hate me. I’ve seen how you look at me and I know what you are. You like to pretend to be all prim and proper but I’ve seen you pick up those pretty boys in the bar. Every time I’ve invited you to come out with me, you’ve ignored me. Friends share things. You’ve shared nothing with me and I know you were the one suggesting Akira use me to get the spell.”

Mel’s face turned a bright red as Sam continued. The other two looked at each other. They probably had no idea that Mel even liked to drink. She was always so cold to everyone.

“How dare you say those things.” Mel’s face turned the same crimson as Akira’s. “You’re the one walking around in those tight clothes, breasts ready to spill all over.”

Sam’s lip curled up in a snarl and she took a step toward the smaller woman. This was how Mel thought of her. She’d always suspected it. Now that her secret thoughts were out, there was no way she could take that back.

Mel thrust herself into Sam’s face. “Yes, it’s true. I think you’re a slut. If you weren’t here things would be different,” Mel sneered, twisting her head slightly towards Akira. She put her hands on her hips. “Thrusting your monstrous body out for everyone to see. You are asking for them to take advantage of you.”

Sam felt the shadows cover her face as she gritted her teeth. She needed to stay in control here. If she killed Mel, there would be nothing left of her pride.

“Let’s leave before someone does something they regret,” Sam spun around and plowed her way deeper into the dark forest, forcing her way through the dense black underbrush. Anything to get away from them.

Sam imagined Akira’s face on the trees and punched them as she passed, leaving a trail of green sap oozing out for the others to follow. She yanked the bag with the holy sword in it when it got caught in the roots of the black trees. That insidious song was gone, but the sword was too dangerous to leave. When she grabbed it to kill the Demon King, the music flooded her brain, shattering the blocks in it. Her memory came rushing back with that song. Sam still couldn’t sort everything out. There was more to the sword, a secret it was hiding. She’d seen the design somewhere before, but couldn’t place where. The sooner they got to their camp, the sooner she could get rid of it and the sooner she could try and get home.

Home. With its blue skies. Not this orange haze clouding everything. She’d always thought the orange colour was strange but couldn’t put her finger on why. Now she knew. She needed to get back there. To Nadia.

Sam stopped as the memories hit. How could she forget her cousin, Nadia? Nadia’s family had taken Sam in and raised her for the last eight years after her parents had died in that carriage accident. Nadia was two years younger than Sam and although they weren’t sisters by blood, they were as close as two people could be. Sam quickly rubbed her wet face. These so-called heroes couldn’t see her cry here. They already hated her and she wasn’t going to lose control here.

“Why are you stopping?” Akira chided, wiggling his way into her space. “Having second thoughts? Ready to give me back my sword, traitor?”

Sam could hear his contempt and snorted. He wasn’t worth the trouble. She heard his teeth grind as she continued walking.

Sam’s thoughts went to the summer day five years ago, when they were having a picnic in the countryside at Nadia’s parents’ home. It was a yearly tradition started by Nadia’s mother before she passed. Sam, Nadia and her parents would take the carriage to the country home. Then Lord Robert would take the time off work at the factory to join them for that special day. For one day, Sam promised she wouldn’t fight him. For the last few years, it was just the two of them. Nadia’s father had shut himself away in his study after his wife died.

Sam remembered the golden sunlight streaming through the trees as she and Nadia talked and ate. They had discussed the newest steam carriage, how fast it could go, the flying machine in development. There was more after that, but there was a blank in her mind. Something was still missing from her memories. It was like a thread. She had to pick at it more.

She started walking faster as other memories flooded her thoughts. Things she did here after she arrived one year ago. Most of the early memories had been everyday things, eating, and practicing with the sword and mace. King Eon introducing Akira to her and saying they came from the same village. That one hurt the most.

But one stood out. It couldn’t be real—that village on the border.

A fire burned the thatch houses of the small village, licking Sam with its heat and the smell of burnt flesh. She cried and cradled the half-demon child in her arms rocking back and forth, smoothing the young girl’s dark hair over her face. She caught her hand on the small tusks jutting out from her mouth, the only symbol of her mixed parentage. Bodies of men and women lay stacked to the side, wood piled around them Sam couldn’t tell anymore which race was which. Red blood covered everything. Soon, the fire would reach them and destroy all evidence that they existed.

Akira limped forward, a long gash leaving a bloody trail behind him. His right arm was swinging at the wrong angle. He stopped in front of Sam. Rage burned in his eyes as he stared down at her. “Why did you do it, Sam?”

She glared up at him, her contempt distorted by the tears and blood gushing from her face. “Do what? Try and stop you?” She spat to the side. “I thought you were one of Relancia’s best. How could you do this?” Sam reached down for her broken mace. Akira had already shattered it, but maybe she could use it.

“I was good enough to take you down,” he said, looking behind Sam. “Do what you have to do, Mel.”

Sam spun around, but she was too slow to stop the wispy-haired mage from casting the spell.

“Freeze.”

Sam toppled over, dropping the girl.

She tried to move her arms and her legs, but nothing worked. It was like being locked under a paralysis. Mel straightened and sauntered in, close to Akira. “Why can’t I kill her here? She can’t fight anymore and usually just forces her way through everything?”

“You know why we need her. Her strength will be useful. Besides, you’ll see that she’ll forget what happened here, right?”

She grimaced and turned back to Sam. “I can weave the memory spell, but there’s a problem.”

“What?” Sam watched Akira sit down on a stump and take out a healing potion. Rock was busy looting the bodies, but he’d given Akira what he needed before he left.

“Somebody else has performed a memory spell on her before. I think my Master. He was a genius. My application might cause a reaction and cancel it out.”

“See that it doesn’t,” Akira said, drinking the potion and wincing at the taste. Grunting as his bones started to knit. Sam could hear them shifting. To his credit, Akira refused to cry out, gritting his teeth. “Why does Rock have to make everything taste like Porku dung?”

Mel scoffed. “Who are you talking to here?” She tapped her finger on her lips. “However, if something were to play with her mind, it could cause the memories to resurface.” She glared at Akira.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Keep her away from your sword, lover-boy. I know it speaks to you. It could have a worse effect on her.” Mel bent forward and placed her hands on the side of Sam’s head. “I can change the images of the massacre and replace them with ones of her fighting some of the Demon King's minions. It won’t be perfect, but we should bring her here before we finish torching the place.” Sweat beaded Mel’s brow and a glow surrounded her fingers. “Let the two override each other.”

“Good idea.” Akira stood up and tossed the empty potion. “Let me know when you’re finished with her. I have to work on my forms.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe she broke my arm.”

Mel smiled and turned back to Sam. “I’m going to make you wish you had died, slut.” She dug her fingers into Sam’s forehead and whispered, “I should have been Akira’s lover, not a piece of trash like you.”

Sam tried to force herself to move, but Mel’s spell was too powerful. She felt her mind screaming as Mel played with her memories and then, blackness.

She threw up along the side of the trail. Turning back, she wiped her mouth and tried to see if the others had caught up. She had been ready to rip Akira’s head off then.

The blood was everywhere and, oh god. Sam grabbed her head to stop the memory from coming back, but it was too late. The children. It wasn’t Kale, they did it. They butchered those people.

“I remembered everything.”

“What do you remember? That you’re a bitch?” Venom dripped from Akira’s words as he came around the tree.

“I remember what we did at the demon village on the border, how we massacred those people. How I helped you kill them.”

“So? They were traitors, intermarrying with demons. Humans should have better judgment than that.” Akira rolled up his lip and spat to the side. “I was ready to kill you there. You broke my arm that day. You’re lucky Eon’s orders stopped me.”

“They were children. I tried to save them and lead them out of the village with their mothers. You, Mel and Rock stopped me.” Sam raised her head. “What did Mel do to me?” Sam put her hand to her mouth. She felt a creeping horror etch itself across her face.

“I used a spell to erase your memories of that day, my dear,” Mel chuckled, stepping out from behind another tree. Her hands were loose at her side as if she were going to perform a spell. “It was something my master came up with. I’ve been working on improving it for a while. I’ve tried it a few times on some of the men you’ve seen me with,” she continued. “I had trouble getting it right. My master was much better at it. When I use it, they tend to try and pull their eyes out. I guess it still isn’t working quite the way I want it to.”

“Traitors deserve death. That’s been the motto of the kingdom for centuries. You should know that. Oh! That’s right. You were brought here. You’re not one of us.” Akira sneered at her.

More memories flooded Sam, threatening to overwhelm her—bloody images of children screaming in terror. Akira was the hero. He was greeted by the mayor with open arms and they even held a feast. Then night came and the slaughter started.

A sudden sharp pain pierced Sam’s chest. She looked down and saw a small dagger sticking out the side of her chest. The reinforced tunic had stopped some of it, but not before it grazed her and stuck in the fabric.

“What the hell?” She knocked Akira’s hand away and fell to one knee. It was a small thing, barely able to get through the thick tunic. “Where did you get this? Why do I feel so weak?”

“I don’t think Ayasse will mind me borrowing his dagger. It was pretty small. I wish he had something bigger, but this was all I could find. There’s no way I could kill you with it. You are too damn strong, going toe to toe with the Demon King like that. But I know Ayasse has some lovely poisons on his things and that should do the trick. Too bad about you though. I’m going to miss you.” Akira bent down and leered at Sam, his face inches from hers.

Forget control. Forget pride, Sam snapped. She pulled her arm back and crushed his jaw. Teeth flew out of his mouth as the punch thrust him back, smacking him into the tree behind him.

“Akira!” Mel shouted. “Damn, you!” She waved her hands and unleashed a small fireball at Sam, just missing her and hitting the tree. Mel started chanting another one before the first was even away. Sam had left the shield and her mace at the Demon King’s palace. She had nothing and was already stumbling. If Mel had her magic back, it was too dangerous. She had no choice but to run away, and attack from the side.

Mel’s eyes narrowed. “You’ll pay for this.”

Even a weak Mel could still kill her. Magic wasn’t something to be trifled with. Sam ran through the forest in the general direction of the camp.

***

Mel watched as Sam vanished through the trees without the bag. That fireball had taken all of the power she’d been able to gather. She felt dizzy again and stumbled against a tree. Experiencing mana exhaustion twice in one day was going to cost her. If that barbarian had stayed, she would’ve won. Mel pursed her lips and ignored Akira. His mouth was bleeding, but he was ripping open the bag with his Holy Sword. cradling it and crying.

“It’s dead. I can’t hear the song. Why won’t it sing to me anymore?”

Mel sighed as Rock came up next to her.

“Ayasse’s awake. He said he could walk. Why’s Sam running that way? The camp’s in this direction.” Rock pointed to the right.

“Good. Do you think you could help Akira?” Mel asked. “That bitch knocked out his teeth.”

“I don’t have anything for his jaw right now,” he sighed. “If you help me gather his teeth, maybe we can put them back into his mouth when we get to the camp.”

“Damn. If I see that woman again, I’m going to turn her into a cinder,” Mel vowed, clenching her fist.

Rock looked to Sam’s path. “She shouldn’t get far. Ayasse said that the dagger was especially brutal. He was shocked that Akira had stolen it. We might have a problem later, though. He started to crawl away after her and disappeared into a shadow before I could stop him.”

“Good. Give me a hand.” Mel sneered.