Kaden raced to the house under [Stealth Aura]. He liked how Skully reacted even before Kaden dropped it. The Undead had some sense of the living, even in [Stealth]. “Get ready!” Kaden called out. “The moment Trella sends word, we start.”
Trella had explained the plan twice before but once more never hurt.
Eve emerged wearing heavy silver bracelets he’d never seen. “You’re collecting jewelry?”
“Mana banks. All my vouchers and some gold. They only hold three hundred each, I have to direct mana to them, but they’ll grow in time. More life, more damage.” Eve’s other bracelet was a single-use version of [Resilient Constitution], once a day.
Ashi stood and stretched. “I am ready. Mother has only one request. The slaver must die. His foul branch of magic will die with him.”
Sara came out dressed in her copper green armor, with a new mask and helmet. “I was tired of being subject to status effects. I’m never going to convince people these aren’t snakes on my back.”
Kaden pulled the bound [Match Lizard] into his soul and put the other in a metal box to keep it from burning down the house. “My new armor isn’t ready.” He’d probably never be able to pick it up if they weren’t welcome in Trunistan, or he’d have to [Stealth Aura] his whole way through the city. “We go as we are. Lock the guards out. There’s six staff who aren’t slaves. If they don’t fight, they don’t die.”
Sara opened the front door and stopped. “Kaden, something’s wrong.”
He ran to look down the street at Vermison’s house. Six guards stood at the front gate. Kaden ran back in to the upstairs, then climbed onto the roof. Six more sat at the back gate. “Twice the number of guards. No telling what’s in the house. I don’t like it. We should notify Trella and Mistress Scylla.”
“I’m on—oh, no.” Sara’s gaze followed the black crow that sailed through the sky to land near Kaden.
It spoke, relaying Trella’s message. “Go or call it off. I’m freeing the first slave.”
Kaden knew his answer. “Four guards or eight, I’m going in. I’m willing to bet Portals don’t work from inside or out.”
“Such work requires runes,” Ashi said. “I will go and remove them.”
“Like I’d let you have all the fun,” Sara said. “Eve?”
“Someone’s got to resurrect you all.” Eve followed as Kaden crossed the street. He gave the command. “Skully’s going to make a distraction.”
The undead giant lumbered down the street, his beard and hair clicking with every thunderous step. He passed the gate, and the guard visibly relaxed—then turned and charged, crushing the stone wall that was more formality than fortress. Skully’s charge carried him straight past the house and through the opposing wall, then out into the street on the other side.
Kaden sprinted through the abandoned gate and to the side entrance.
Skully held a guard in each hand, using them as clubs to beat the others, but he yielded with every step, backing up. His orders were to retreat, leave the skeleton behind and hide as his head-spider form. The body could be replaced.
The servant’s door led down broad stairs to a wide tile hallway with bright sconces overhead, just like Trella’s map showed. Once Eve stepped through, Kaden shut the door softly, then rammed spears from the [Marauders] into the hinges, jamming it shut.
“This doesn’t match Trella’s map,” Sara said.
She ducked down stairs. “That, either. The building has changed, and I think I know how. This is a more defensible version.”
Eve looked to the door. “We’re already in. Treat it like a dungeon. The people are either victims or mobs.”
“Who are you!” A guard shouted from down the hallway.
He shone with a sickly orange aura. A slave.
Kaden held his hands up. “Friends. We’re here to rescue you. All you have to do—”
The man sprinted at him, drawing a spear and screaming “Intruders! Intruders!”
Kaden summoned his [Eldritch Shield] and bashed the spear aside, then slammed the man into the wall until the plaster broke. “Sara, I forgot to buy restraints.”
“What kind of party leader would I be if I didn’t have them?” Sara drew leather cords from Inventory and tied the unconscious man. Upstairs, too many feet moved. Too many people.
*Stay*. Kaden pointed right here and activated [Stealth Aura] and sprinted forward, looking for the stairwell that led up. Two guards with swords waited at a T-Junction, working up the courage to attack. Both were level twenty [Swordsman] with the Guard profession and neither looked like they’d splattered a man’s skull with a warhammer.
Kaden dropped [Stealth Aura]. “Listen, we’re here to remove the slaves. If you attack me, I’m going to attack you. On the other hand, if there’s an empty room I locked you in, what I can I say? I can’t search everywhere.”
“The master—”
“Is not coming back,” Kaden said. “How many people are upstairs? Why did the layout change? Where’s the household manager?”
“Master Vermison’s little brother is…” The [Guard] fell over, clutching his chest.
Violating his oath of loyalty has cost Conner Bradford his Class.
Do not violate oaths of loyalty.
The remaining guard looked at his buddy and began to sweat. “Better my life than my class.” He tried to raise a sword in a defensive stance.
[Moment of Speed] let Kaden hit him with Remembrance square in the chest. The look of confusion in the man’s eyes made Kaden sad. He’d never realized what was happening.
Crippling Strikes has inflicted a Mortal Injury.
You have defeated the Guard Jamison Petty.
“Take him. Hide his corpse with you,” Kaden said. “You already broke your oath. What haven’t you told me?”
Connor shook his head. “That’s just the first of four. I’ll die. I’ll permanently die.”
Kaden opened doors until he found a pantry. “Last chance.”
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
[Split Second] activated as Connor attempted to stab Kaden. He threw the man into the pantry and jammed the door closed. The other guard could go with him as a corpse, but now he had something critical to report. Sara had advanced to the end of the hall with the others behind her.
“The household manager isn’t a servant, he’s Davos’s little brother. No wonder Trella says he has to know.”
“Kaden and Sara, you’re the only ones who could conceivably win against him. He’s a [Swordsman] and will close to melee immeidately.” Eve looked to Ashi. “You and I are backup for that battle.”
“I must find and disable the runes,” Ashi said. “I do not sense them here.”
Kaden took the role of scout, scouting the servant’s quarters and finding three more slaves. None of them could tell him where the others were, and two directly attacked, weeping as they did so.
Sara’s [Anthem of the End] was the fastest way to put them on their knees so Sara could tie them up. But now they had a problem.
“Up or down?” Kaden looked to Sara.
“Up. I want to bar and lock the front and rear doors.” Sara headed up the stairs with him under [Stealth Aura].
The ground floor was wide open with a central fireplace, and sitting in a plush high back chair was a younger man, probably late twenties.
[Selion Vermison - Household Manager]
Everything else [Identify] produced was garbage. And the man held a cup of wine as he leaned back. “I don’t know who you are, but my brother will be very angry when he returns. Also, the wards say you’re there, even if I can’t see you. And I don’t need to see you. I have [Nightfighter] as a talent.”
Sara looked to Kaden, nodding.
He dropped [Stealth Aura]. “We’re here to remove your brother’s slaves. You know he’s a [Slaver], right?”
Selion nodded. “He let me in on the secret a few years ago. Please understand, he’s not a terrible man. He chooses the lowliest. The most worthless, and gives them purpose. Cares for them. I sign off on expenses and I would be honored to care for as many as my brother does.”
“I don’t want to kill you,” Kaden said. “But I am gong to take every slave in this house. It’s your choice if that fight involves you or just your brother.”
“Neither. You two, kill each other.” He waved toward them.
Sara drew her swords. “That isn’t how the world works. I’d be happy to provide an object lesson, if you insist. Or you can simply surrender the slaves and we leave.”
“I said fight! It always works when Ducat says it. Always.” He drew a sword from [Inventory]. “I don’t like fighting myself. I like it when you do it. And I said—”
Selion staggered forward, clutching his chest. “What did you just do? What did you just do? I lost Renya. I can’t feel her anymore, but I’m…stronger. I feel so much more powerful. You. Kill her.”
ERROR: SLAVER INFECTION ENCOUNTERED.
EXTERNAL CONTROL INJECTION IN PROGRESS.
BLOCKING EXTERNAL CONTROL OF ENTITY.
BLOCKING UNSUCCESSFUL.
The [Slaver] Selion Vermison has assumed control.
You must obey his commands.
Kaden had felt this before, the feeling of someone else pulling strings attached to his arms and hands. But this time, he didn’t hold back, pushing back on the power that hit him.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
His hands still moved. He spoke by sheer will, forcing a body that didn’t want to obey to do the slightest thing. “Run.”
“You, snake woman. Kill him.” Selion waved. “Go on, kill him. Do it! You, [Priestess], kill them both. Why are neither of you listening?”
Oh, gods. Mistress Scylla had assumed they were dealing with a slaver with the ability to enslave thirteen. Instead it was one who could control twelve, and one—Selion—with the ability to control exactly one slave.
Over and over, Kaden resisted the command.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
At this rate, he’d kill Selion. And that’s when it hit him. If a slaver died, so did his bound slaves. “Sara. Run. He’s a godsdamned [Slaver], too.”
“Oh, good. You can fight!” Selion shouted, clapping his hands. “I lost something, it actually hurt. But now I have a new toy!”
Kaden summoned Trinity. “Kill him. Whatever it takes.”
Trinity needed no more encouragement. She charged straight for Selion.
“Stop!” He shouted—then screamed as she dodged a swipe and bit deep into his shoulder. “I hate Beasts. I hate them!”
Trinity dodged another swipe, and another, then blocked a blow with her bone head.
“[Ultra cut!]” Selion screamed.
His blade glowed black as it whipped out.
Kaden could only cry as Trinity blocked the wiped with her bone head, which threw sparks—and shards of bone. He willed her to leave. To run. But when he tried to pull her into his soul, the skill failed to activate.
You may not inject Entities into another’s soul.
Access is denied.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Selion bled from his nose and mouth. “If I die, you die! Why are you not killing her? I said, kill her, I said—”
Trinity struck, tearing deep. Selion’s scream made Kaden happy, even if he knew it was his own oblivion coming.
“[Sacrificial Cut!]” Selion screamed. The blow barely glanced off of Trinity’s scales, but Selion’s sword glowed brighter. Five more times he screamed it out, the last vomitting blood.
Trinity speared him straight through the gut with her tail.
“[Final Sacrifice!]” Selion screamed. His sword incandesced as he swung. It cleaved off two of Trinity’s heads in one blow, leaving her snake head with a gash that showed the spine. “Forget the snake woman, save me.”
The command took over, and Kaden couldn’t help as he drew Remembrance. Run, girl. I can’t control him.
But he could fight back, unleashing [Planes Wielder] over and over, even as he willed Trinity to flee. Her serpentine head struck over and over, poisoning Selion with every strike.
“I will not die to you.” Selion slashed, taking Trinity’s serpentine head off, and she fell to the ground. Then he looked up. Blood ran from both eyes. “Hunt her down. Kill her. Don’t stop until she’s dead, and then come back and protect me until my brother comes.”
Clarity came with acceptance, that this was the end.
Was it truly oblivion, or Mortis’s Court that waited? Kaden didn’t know. But he knew he wouldn’t be killing his friends.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.
*Kaden, come to the lower levels. Sara’s there. Unguarded. Vulnerable.* Eve’s voice came clear and calm over Mind Speech. He turned and sprinted, the commands sinking deeper into his skull with every moment. Living a life like this would be a horror beyond imagination.
Worse yet was how it whispered into his mind. Moving faster wasn’t just a release of pain, it was sheer pleasure. Obedience would let him drown in delight, even as his hands became someone else’s tools.
Kaden raced down the stairs and then scrambled through hallways to find one that lead lower.
*Almost. She’s right here. Unarmed. She’s got her back turned.* Eve spoke with sweet, light tones.
The knowledge spurred him on. The command wasn’t subtle or conditional, it was clear and clean and absolute. Kaden descended three more floors, reaching ones that were no longer decorated, only utilitarian. Motivational chambers with bars lined the hall, and others had wooden slat doors.
“Sara! Run!” He spotted her down at the end of a hall with huge wooden doors. She kneeled on the floor, not looking, even her psuedopods studied something on the ground before her. She hadn’t even heard his warning.
Kaden sprinted forward, drawing Remembrance for an overhand swing that would split Sara down the middle.
Wham!
His feet left the ground as a gust of wind hit him, throwing him over Sara. Kaden’ couldn’t help spinning to land lightly. He couldn’t help that a thick sheet of ice covered the floor. He slid helplessly into the stone wall and bounced back dazed.
“I’m sorry.” Sara said as she hacked down on his right hand. His injured hand.
Kaden fought—and lost.
Sara tore Remembrance away.
[Plague] struck, making him slide and sneeze and shiver.
Hard to Kill has given you a new resistance: Resist Plague.
“Now!” Ashi shouted. A fireball formed before her.
Kaden summoned the [Eldritch Shield] to drink in the spell—and slid sideways as Sara’s horror clamped down and used the ice to slide him through a door that slammed shut.
“Not that side!” Ashi shouted. “The other. How hard could it be? The other side was empty. That side is not.”
Kaden hurled himself against the door over and over. The command slowly subsided, waiting. He couldn’t physically reach Sara, and it wasn’t sophisticated enough to say what he should do about it.
Something rammed into Kaden.
He looked back. A level fifteen minotaur backed up, lowered its head, and rammed again. Kaden ignored it. It was not Sara. He did not need to kill it. Sara. He so despearately needed to kill her.
Deep in his mind, Kaden raged against the part of him that not only accepted the [Slaver]’s command, it worked with it. Selion had killed Trinity. Trinity, who he hadn’t been able to control.
The minotaur rammed Kaden again, then brayed in frustration and rammed the door. Deep in Kaden, the part of him stil in control caught a desparate hope. All it would take was something impossible.