The sky was dark overhead, with grey clouds dimly illuminated by the glowing moon. The orange glow of flames faded as the Blackrose royals rode further from the castle and town. In front of them, flat plains spread out far and wide and beyond that rose a thick forest. It was towards the forest that they rode.
Adrian turned forward, his heart racing, and urged his horse to faster speeds. The demon hound was tailing them closely. An arrow whizzed past his face, narrowly missing him, and Adrian flinched, but kept control of his horse.
Oh gods above! He thought, Pelos save us all!
“RIDE TO THE FOREST!” King Aeraias yelled, “And split up! Don’t let yourself become a target!”
Another arrow flew by, this time landing in the ground beside the king’s horse, startling it.
Aeraias swiftly brought the horse back under control and continued, “We’ll meet in Kenstel! KENSTEL, ALRIGHT!? SEEK THE GUARDIANS!”
Adrian nodded and veered right. Zaiela joined him and Leyon continued forward. Queen Elysadora rode left with Elvina and king Aeraias followed them.
As Adrian continued to ride, the darkness closed in and a light drizzle of rain fell, soon turning to a downpour. He dared to take a peek back again and saw nothing but darkness.
He slowed down, then stopped completely. Adrian got off his horse and stood silently for a moment, the rain drenching his whole body. Zaiela followed suit, throwing him a questioning glance.
“It’s… gone,” He whispered, no longer hearing the terrifying thundering steps of the demon hound, but instead the sound of rainfall and his harsh, rasping breaths.
“We should keep going,” Zaiela said quietly, “Kenstel is within Throeyns territory, so we’ve got a long way to go…”
“Wait… no, what about Eli and Leyon and father and mother?!” Adrian protested, “We should go back to make sure they’re safe!”
Zaiela grabbed his arm and held him from getting back on his horse.
“No! Adrian, father told us to wait in Kenstel! We cannot go back!” She protested.
Adrian’s eyes met hers and he recognised the emotions brimming within them—fear and worry and anguish.
He sighed and gave her a hug, offering whatever comfort he could.
“You’re right, Zai… but can we at least head diagonally? Perhaps we could meet Leyon o-or…”
She gripped him a little tighter and whispered, “Yes… let’s do that.”
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The relentless rain beat against his face as Aeraias rode northeast with Queen Elysadora and Elvina and the demon pursued them relentlessly.
How did they breach the castle?! He wondered, A traitor? No… if that had been the case, we wouldn’t have made it out alive. As far-fetched as it sounds, magic is the other suspect.
An arrow flew by and he heard a gasp. He looked up and saw, to his horror, an arrow lodged in Elysadora’s arm. She barely flinched and kept up the pace. He knew, as well as she did, that to stop was to face certain death.
Aeraias gritted his teeth and withdrew a small dagger from his horse’s saddlebag. Raising himself slightly from the saddle, he twisted his body to face the demons chasing them. He waited for the right moment and threw the dagger with as much force as he could muster. His eyes met the crimson, snake-like eyes of the demon archer as it loosed another arrow that flew past him. The dagger flew straight and true, burying itself in the chest of the demon archer, and it was thrown off the demon hound with a dying screech. He had no time to celebrate, as he turned back only to see the arrow hit Elysadora’s horse. The horse started, losing its rhythm and it collapsed, throwing its riders off its back.
Elvina screamed as she was pulled into her mother’s embrace—shielding her from the fall. Elysadora fell backwards heavily, the shaft of the arrow breaking upon impact and she gave a shrill cry.
Aeraias grimaced, his heart throbbing as he longed to rush to her side—but he could not, for he was all that stood between them and the demon hound. He swiftly tugged the reins, stopping the horse, and dismounted. Aeraias drew his sword, turning to face the demon hound.
If I die here, He thought grimly, it will be after I take the life of this beast!
Aeraias steeled himself and tightened his grip on the sword as the demon hound approached with bounding strides and leapt at him.
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He ran at the demon hound and swung the sword with all his might, feeling it cleave through flesh and bone. Aeraias plunged the blade deeper, but cried out when the fiery claws of the demon hound slashed his back and shoulders, sending him flying backwards and into a tree. Hot, burning agony flared up along his back and he felt warm blood flow, but he struggled back to his feet and raised the sword in shaky hands again.
The demon hound growled, dripping shimmering golden blood from a large gash in its side, and stalked closer to Aeraias. The ground was far too sodden to ignite, though the beast’s pelt remained aflame despite the unrelenting downpour.
His heart sank as the demon hound approached and he instinctively knew that the creature was far stronger than he. Still, he charged forth and swung his sword at the demon hound’s neck. The demon hound dodged, but howled as the blade bit into its shoulder and it whirled around, sinking its teeth into Aeraias’ arm. He gave a hoarse cry and quickly retaliated by swinging the blade back and deep into the beast’s neck. The demon hound loosened its grip on Aeraias’ arm, allowing him to pull it free.
The creature staggered, the golden blood flowing freely from the large wound in its neck, shorn nearly to the bone. With a roar, it raked its claws down Aeraias’ chest, opening four deep, long gashes. Aeraias gasped as pain erupted and he toppled to the ground, his vision blurring for a moment. He tried in vain to get back up, but found his body unwilling to cooperate. Aeraias coughed, blood spilling from his lips, and felt strangely numb.
The demon hound had stopped its attack and sat, watching him as though it was waiting for something. Dimly, Aeraias registered that the near-lethal neck wound he’d dealt earlier was healing at a rapid pace and the flesh was knitting itself together.
If only I’d been stronger… He thought, as he breathed his last and his eyes fluttered closed.
However, moments later he found himself able to see again and somehow standing upright.
No, floating would be more accurate, He corrected, peering down at his see-through hands. He heard a faint ringing far in the distance and felt a light tugging sensation that he brushed off as his gaze shifted to the demon hound, which stood up and slowly padded away from where his body lay.
A sinking feeling spread from the pit of his stomach as he realised where it was headed.
No! That’s where Lysa and Eli are! He thought in distress, trying desperately to move, but to no avail.
As the tugging sensation grew stronger, Aeraias could only watch in growing despair as the beast stalked closer to where Elysadora and Elvina lay. Elysadora was unmoving, but Elvina knelt by her mother’s side, tears streaming down her face as she tried to wake her. She failed to notice the silent creature as it snuck up on her.
Aeraias threw his fading hands out as he yelled, “No! Get away, Eli! Run!”
However, his voice did not reach her—no sound he made did—and as the demon hound leapt at his unknowing daughter, he was pulled away so fast the scenery blurred and Aeraias found himself in a massive hall decorated with magenta banners that radiated a chilly feeling from all around.
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Hours had passed and Adrian saw no sign of Leyon or any of the others. Zaiela looked increasingly uneasy as the time wore on, but Adrian knew she didn’t press him to head straight to Kenstel because she also wished to find them.
It was entirely dark now, and Zaiela lit one of their precious oil lanterns, lighting their path. Just as they were about to give up, Adrian spotted a few shimmering golden drops on the ground near crushed leaves and twigs.
“Zai! I see something…” He said, dismounting his horse and tying its reins to a nearby branch. Zaiela followed suit, then lifted the lantern higher into the air so they could get a wider view. Adrian knelt down and gingerly touched the substance, then lifted it to his nose and smelled it, noting a metallic scent.
“Adrian! I see more drops this way,” Zaiela said, pointing to another patch of the golden substance.
The two followed the trail of golden drops and increasing destruction of the surroundings with a heavy, sinking feeling building up within. Adrian’s heart beat fast as he hoped and prayed that what they had found was something else… anything else but what they both feared.
Zaiela cried out and staggered back a step, dropping the lantern as she put her hands to her mouth in horror. Tears began to spill from her eyes and Adrian’s heart skipped a beat.
“...Zai? No… please, no…” He mumbled frantically, then grabbed the lantern and held it up.
There, lying motionless on the ground like a broken doll was their mother, her once pristine white dress stained with mud and blood. Beside her, nestled partially in her dying embrace, lay Elvina, her pallid face coloured only by the cruel gash at her throat. Further ahead lay their father, his beard coloured golden and his body covered in wounds, with his sword lying beside him. Around him were burn marks and puddles of golden substance that Adrian now believed to be demon blood.
“Father… h-he died protecting t-them,” Zaiela sobbed.
Adrian sank to his knees as numerous emotions welled up within him. He clenched his fists and bit his lip so hard he tasted the metallic tang of blood—all in an effort to keep the tears at bay, even as they threatened to overwhelm him.
Eli… was only thirteen! He thought, a wave of grief washing over him, And mother… the last words I gave her were cruel, hurtful ones… Gods, I wish I could take back my words!
He forced himself to stand and took a few stumbling steps to his father’s body. Adrian felt a fiery rage surge through him as he thought of the demon that had murdered his father and mother and sister and of the demons that had invaded the castle and turned his life upside down. He bent down and closed his fingers around the sword handle, lifting it. Barely visible beneath the golden coat of blood on the blade was an engraving.
“Bilsryn…” He whispered.
Father, you were supposed to hand me this sword when I am crowned king of Sanobar, Adrian thought, But now I stand here, ruler of your kingdom a-and you’re not even here to witness it!
Out loud, he whispered, “I swear I’ll hunt down every last filthy demon and kill them with my own hands!”
Adrian rose and strode over to Zaiela, who had tears streaming down her face. He pulled her into his arms gently and held her as great wracking sobs shook her tiny frame. He stared blankly into the darkness with his red-rimmed eyes and did not utter a sound as hatred and grief filled him.