“RUN,” his mind screamed at him, the sheer terror coursing through his veins but no matter what he tried his limbs would not respond to him. His sister had just been savagely cut down where she had sat mere minutes before telling her brother a story, her back now a mess of bloody tissue and meat. Her dead emerald-green eyes stared up at him from the ground, endlessly pleading for the help he could never provide as her blood oozed slowly from her wounds seeping into the soil giving it a black tinge in the moonlight. The echo of her death cry still sounded in his head.
Behind where her body lay never to rise again her killer loomed out of the shadows of the trees, bloody sword in hand and an evil grin on its monstrous face. It was over seven feet tall with powerful muscles lining the length of its body. Where skin would have shown on a normal man, this creature was covered in black matted hair. In place of feet, it had hooves that allowed it to move faster. Parts of its body were covered in a cracked leather armor, showing years of hard use which was riveted to its frame with steel sharpened spikes. Its eyes where a yellow colour that looked more feline than humanoid. From the tip of its head huge horns grew. Behind it stood a further three Minotaur’s, for what else could they be but beasts sent from the darkest corners of the land. Dark areas where people who valued their sanity avoided in the hope that the darkness would not come looking for them. A kill squad sent to track both Imrik and his sister Saphie. These Minotaur’s were dressed like the first, but that’s where the similarities stopped.
The lead Minotaur slowly raised the sword to its lips and in one swift monition licked the blood of the blade, sharp teeth showing as he smiled insanely. Imrik felt the bile rise in his stomach and had to take shallow breaths not to throw up. Looking around he tried to see a way to escape but all he could see was the lifeless body of his sister. Slowly at first but faster with each passing second Imrik felt the feeling return to his body. After what felt like hours though only a few seconds had passed he jumped up, quickly pulling the short sword from his back and the dagger from the sheath at his waist. Although the death of his sister had unnerved him, making him feel despair he knew in his heart that the mission was more important than anything else or anyone else.
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He had to make it back to the castle with the information he had gathered. If the Moroi had risen again and where forming an army then the Wardens needed to be warned. They were the only line of defense against the Moroi, who were thought destroyed in the last war. How had they survived he did not know?
Kicking the burning embers from the fire towards the advancing Minotaur, Imrik swiftly lashed out with his sword scoring a number of hits on the lead Minotaur chest. Vile, corrupted blood flowed freely from the wounds but instead of falling back it let out a bestial laugh and walked on through the flurry of attacks. Over its shoulder, the others followed.
Knowing he had no retreat he looked back over his shoulder to the great castle that loomed out of the encroaching darkness like a hand reaching upwards towards the sky. Although he could clearly see it in the fading light he knew he would not be able to reach it. Braziers lit the face of the north wall from the ground to the highest reaches, lighting the cracks that ran its length of its weathered face. Along the top of the wall silhouettes could be seen moving a steady march always on vigil. It was many miles off and he cursed himself for setting up camp for the night. If he had kept riding his sister would still be alive.
A sharp pain brought him back to the present. Sticking out of his shoulder was the lead Minotaur’s sword. With a grunt that sounded like pleasure the Minotaur pushed the sword deeper, causing Imrik to cry out in horror and agony. Pinned against a tree Imrik had nowhere to escape to.
“You will tell us what you know,” it growled in his face “and then maybe we will let you die.”
Swallowing back tears Imrik tried to steady himself as best as he could with the sword protruding from his shoulder. He thought of his mission and how he had failed. He had lost his sister and now he had lost his own life, and no one would ever know. No one would know until it was too late. Summoning all the bravery that he could he replied through blood-soaked lips, “I know I’m dead, and I also know that you will be stopped.”
Letting out a final scream Imrik dropped his body allowing the sword to slice up through his shoulder and neck killing him instantly. Laughing the Minotaur’s returned to the fire, dragging Imrik’s body with them. Tonight, they would not go hungry.