7: Life and Death

The maiden led them onward. Jason had to admit, with light steps and star ornaments in her hair she gave every appearance of gentleness and beauty.

They soon found themselves in the middle of the tree ringed circle, sixty yards across. There was no fire or tents in that place but the trees extended their branches inward to make a dappled covering. Here were many maidens, some green haired, some brown or golden, but all of them had at least a few strands of green in their hair. He scowled. This was the nature of the dryad. She would slowly transform them to look like her until they met their ultimate end.

Joshua looked through the girls, “We have come seeking Julia Aranson. Is she among you?” he asked.

One girl, a dark haired beauty with starry eyes, came forward. She was wearing the same flowy green gown as all the girls, “I am Julia, you came seeking me?” she asked.

Joshua went to meet her, “Julia, I am Joshua.”

She met his eyes for the briefest moment then inclined her head. “It’s this way,” she said.

He nodded, never looking away from her, and she smiled. “Please, follow me?” she asked then she led them toward the center of the clearing.

Here was a twenty feet wide circle of stones and within them sat a woman with her legs folded beneath her. She wore a longer version of the maiden’s garb and she gestured for them to sit down. “Please, all are welcome,” she invited, her voice warm and gentle.

Jason observed her. Though her hair was silver, and her face gently lined, she had a sort of timeless beauty that could not be denied. Joshua did not hesitate, stepping into the circle. Julia turned to go. “Wait,” Joshua called, “won’t you join us?”

She hesitated. The older woman spoke up, “It is not customary for our junior sisters to entertain guests, that is my duty.”

Joshua smiled, “But how is she ever learn if she does not observe?”

“I am Gaia, the most ancient of the dryads. I know how to train my acolytes.”

Joshua raised his eyebrows, “Do you call them acolytes? I thought they were your daughters.”

“They are acolytes and daughters, there is no incongruity. Whether you can recognize that is not my concern.” She maintained her calm but her voice was decidedly colder.

Joshua watched her, “I wonder why you don’t want her sitting close,” he scuffed the ring of stones, “Do they ever cross these stones? Could it be that they block all senses and keep them seeing what you really are?”

Gaia stood up, “If you have come here only to insult me, then I will have to ask you to leave.”

Joshua’s eyes glowed dangerously, “And what if I insist?”

Her face turned hard, “Every one of these humans has sworn an oath to me. Do you think exposing me will save their lives?”

Jason was amazed. How could she be so flagrant? He looked around but none of the girls showed any reaction. It seemed the stones really did have some power.

Joshua’s gaze was deadly, “Do you think you can keep them from me!?”

Every human and dryad shuddered and Jason found himself covered in cold sweat. So this was Joshua, the most powerful force in the dungeon!

Gaia stood rigid. Her fingernails dug deep into her palms. Blood ran freely over her knuckles and onto the ground and she spoke lowly, “Then what are you going to do about it? Every one of them is loyal to me and you cannot make them break their oath.”

His gaze was unbroken and he nodded, “You are right, but I can give them the choice.”

Gaia’s face turned truly ugly, her green eyes burning with poison fire.

He extended a hand to Julia, “Come, I would speak with you,” he invited.

She hesitated then stepped closer, taking his hand, “Sir, she is right, we have all taken a blood oath to serve her until the day we die.”

He looked at her with eyes full of love then reached up to stroke her hair. “Do you want to be free? Do you want to be a true daughter?”

She trembled even as she looked at him but she nodded, “I don’t want to be here anymore,” she whispered.

His blazing eyes burned even brighter and he held her hand tighter, “Good, that is all you need say.” All the girls had gathered in one place and he turned to address every one of them, “All of you were promised great things, yet you are still here.” He pointed a finger at Gaia, “Only she grows stronger while you only grow weaker!”

Some them looked angry but many of them bit their lips. He looked around, meeting every eye, “Your blood oaths can be broken but only if you allow me,” he extended his free hand, “The choice is yours.”

Gaia stood up, her lip curling in a vicious snarl, “Don’t listen to him! Are you going to abandon me after all I’ve done for you!”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

His voice was steady but his eyes fierce, “What has she done for you?” His words were simple but they rang in Jason’s heart. What had anyone or anything done for them!?

Joshua stood tall, “Anyone who’s with me, come to me!”

A dozen girls suddenly rushed to his side and Gaia screeched, “No! You treacherous whores!” Her hands turned to claws, black and dripping with green poison, and she rushed at them.

A white halo suddenly appeared around Joshua and spread to envelop every girl.

Gaia smashed against it and rebounded in a blaze of fire. Green aura burst from her and quenched the flames and she stumbled back.

Her face was suddenly old, knife cheekbones jutting beneath maddened eyes. “Girl! Come here!” she demanded, beckoning to one of the girls still apart.

“Don’t!” Joshua warned.

The girl hesitated.

“Girl! Come or I’ll cast you out!”

The girl trembled and Joshua reached out to her, “Come to me, I will not bind you,” he called.

With this word a dozen more girls ran to him. Jason looked around. Now only six remained, vacillating between Joshua and Gaia.

“Last chance, come to me or she’ll bleed you dry!” Joshua warned.

Three of them took a few steps toward him but then they stopped. “No, she is our mother,” one said with defiance and she ran towards Gaia.

In a moment she reached her and Gaia snatched her close. Her clawed hands dug into her back and she laughed wildly, “Good girl, you know I love you,” even as she spoke life drained from the girl, her hair turning white and her skin gray. In short seconds she was only a dried husk and Gaia dropped her to the ground.

She appeared a little younger and stretched her hands to the others, “Now, come girls, your sister has ascended and you will too.”

Joshua looked at her with terrible fury then to the remaining five, “You have seen her true nature, now the choice is yours.”

Jason held his breath. How could they possibly choose her?

For long seconds, all was silent. “I can’t!” one girl cried and she ran toward Joshua. He drew her in but the remaining four stood still.

Finally, one of them shook their head. “We cannot turn from her now, she’s given us all that we have.”

The others nodded and they walked as one towards Gaia.

Joshua closed his eyes and Gaia laughed aloud, “Yes, come my daughters, I love you, I love you!” even as she spoke, her claws extended, shooting like snakes and piercing every one of them.

Life and color drained from them and Jason gritted his teeth. This vile witch! How many times had the same scenario played out!? How many innocent young girls had she deceived!? How many had lost hope!? How many had died upon her hands!?

He gripped his sword. All of these girls were mere puppets. But they stood forth for real girls and real boys, all those deceived by such as Gaia. It was time, time for this scenario to be finished. This was no ordinary quest. Once resolved it would never play out again. He took half a step forward. Joshua was the real hero but he would play his part, gladly, and with great fervor.

Gaia stood straight and retracted her claws. The girls fell. They were not dead but looked a hundred years old and Jason was grim. There was a reason she had spared them. With time she could restore the appearance of health in them and would send them forth to find new acolytes.

He set his face. No such thing would happen.

Joshua stepped back, “I will keep all these safe, it is your job to slay her,” he ordered. He glanced over their group, “Though three is the ideal number, I know you can succeed. Now go forth!”

Gaia cackled manically, “Succeed!? Let’s see if a single one of you survives!”

“Let’s!” Jason agreed and he charged straight at her.

“Darkness!” she cast and a dense black mist rushed from her palm. It buzzed like a million gnats and shot straight for his head.

It struck his halo and burned up like so much fog. He grinned. He really was a bad match for her. Curses were her greatest power. Too bad they were useless against him.

“All of you stay back!” he commanded and he leapt straight for her. He would be tanking her and no one else.

“Conceited wretch!” she shrieked. “Weakness!” she cast and a sickly green lance of light shot straight for him.

It knocked him back three steps. Whoa! What powerful mana! Curses were not even meant to have physical force but the sheer weight of mana had driven him back.

“You have thirty seconds to establish aggro, then we’re coming in,” Amelie called from the back.

“I’ll let you know!” he answered and he charged again.

He came before her and lightning blazed over his sword. He struck with all his might. She blocked. Bang! Her arm exploded into splinters.

Her other hand slashed out. He retreated with all his speed. She missed by an inch. He focused and her life bar appeared. It was down by a quarter but suddenly her arm regrew. It refilled.

She laughed disdainfully, “I have stored more than a thousand years of lifeforce. Do you really think you can kill me!?”

Jason was grim. She was right. Even with a team of a hundred it could take some effort to burn through all of her life force.

He took a ready stance, “It’s only a matter of time,” he vowed.

Her claws grew longer and she ground her teeth like never before, “I see, you’re the only real threat! I’ll kill you first!”

“See if you can,” he muttered.

He flashed straight to her and unleashed a barrage of strikes.

“Darkness! Weakness! Confusion!” she cast.

He stumbled as if drunk.

“Die!” Her claws went straight for his throat.

He lifted his chin adroitly then slashed down hard, straight upon her crown. Her head exploded into wooden chunks and lightning ravaged all over her body, blue rivers burning blackened furrows.

He suddenly felt weak and stood still. Several healing lights fell over him.

She started to reform. “Now!” he shouted and Amelie shot forward.

“Hellflame!” she roared and her sword exploded with crimson fire. She slashed straight onto Gaia’s chest and her whole body exploded into a raging inferno.

“Lightning Burst!” Jason shouted and his sword raged. “Ha!” he released it all at once in a crescent moon of crackling power. It split the blaze right in two then exploded into both halves, mingling and bursting in a terrible display of power.

He could actually hear Gaia screaming within it and almost felt pity for her. He looked around at the fallen girls, moaning on the ground. He would not! He would never!

“Get in position,” Amelie ordered and the whole group spread out around her.

Slowly, Gaia reformed.

She glared at them with a heaving chest then flexed her claws, “Fine! I didn’t want to do this but you leave me no choice!”

“Look out!” Amelie shouted and everyone leapt back.

“Absolute Domain!” Gaia roared and the skies turned dark.