I was thrown against the wall by one of the beasts of Khorne. A heady mixture of panic and dread filled my heart as the reality of my weakened state set in. I felt the stone crack, so I ducked beneath the next strike. As its fist crashed upon the stones, I came up with a blow to its chin that snapped its head back. I felt its neck crack, and the sound brought a semblance of satisfaction and confidence amidst my earlier anxiety, if only by a little. Swiftly I kicked the other Bloodletter, but it managed to block my blow, though its claws did cut through the stone as the force pushed it back. They were getting stronger the more that died, and yet I could not use my full strength. This weakness tore into me, only serving to make my near nakedness more pronounced.

The bloodletter swung once more, and I let loose a flurry of blows to each of its ribs until they began to crack. In a cry of rage I punched through its ribcage and tore out its heart with my uninjured hand. The look of blissful victory on the face of the creature stirred deep revulsion in me. I crushed its still beating heart, the viscera splattering to the stone at my feet. Grabbing one of their swords, I used it to clear a path through the Khornate warriors, until I saw an affront to nature: the son of one of my brothers, twisted by Khorne. I was in shock, frozen as he beheaded one of the Inquisitor's guards. His armor was as red as the blood spilt on the stone floors, brass framing the crimson hues and adorned with the bones of his fallen adversaries. It was battered and worn, the lower half of his faceplate torn off to reveal his sharp, gruesome maw of teeth. The greatsword he wielded seemed partly made from bone, the bloodied blade cleaving through any and all who stood before him. I lunged forward and slammed my injured hand into his face, forcing my blood into his mouth after he uttered the Khornate warcry.

I watched his eyes go wide as he cut into my arm, desperate to be free of my grasp. Yet I did not yield. In a fit of defiance he opened his mouth further and clamped his teeth down on my hand, which only served to flood his mouth with more of my blood, hastening his downfall. Once he had gone limp in my arms, I gently lay him down.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Rest now, dear nephew. The nightmare is over."

I turned and surveyed the fight: we were losing. The one called Sarai's forces weren't enough. Not as they were. Only Sarai kept pace with the demons.

"Inquisitor, we need to fall back."

"There's nowhere to fall back to!" The Inquisitor made to drive her power stake through the Khornate marine, but I gripped her wrist.

"He is not a threat. Focus on the others."

"I will put an end to this corrupted thing!"

"I already have, Inquisitor." I forcefully turned her towards the demons. "We fight here and now, against our true enemies."

The Inquisitor made to snarl, but before she could speak she was forced to fight some of the lesser demons. I closed my eyes and focused, bringing to bear my full psyche on the women around me. They all perked up, filled with my will as it pushed them beyond the limits of their bodies.

It took too much. I was too out of practice, and I fell to my knees, barely maintaining it. As my will wavered, so did theirs. My eyes tightened, and I held myself as I felt my mind begin to fade. My thoughts turned to desperate cries from the depths of my soul. Please, please father... Do not let it end here...

The air crackled with an unknown energy, and I opened my eyes to see Adeptus Astartes in blood red armor, standing taller than any marine should. Their pauldrons bore a soft cream color, and a black bird spread it's wings in flight with a drop of blood on the body. I could do nothing but stare as they tore through the demons before them.

"Sisters, fall back and cover our Lady!"

My heart soared. Tears of crimson flowed freely from my eyes as I felt their hearts, their connection to mine. I felt the smile on my lips, the pride in my heart; the last things I registered before I passed out.