The Vision

 

The air was very different, smelling of fresh oak. Slowly opening his eyes Adonis realised he was not in one of his dreams. Getting up to his feet he looked around, this was very different from his usual dreams.

Most dreams were full of violence, yet this one seemed serene. The smell of burning oak burning in the simple looking cobblestone fireplace. The dangerous and yet beautiful flickering of the hot flames gave the fireplace a nice glow.

Moving his eyes from the fireplace Adonis began to explore the cabin, letting his curiosity take him. A strange saying flashed into his head for a second, " curiosity killed the cat" putting that strange thought aside he resumed exploring.

He realised he was bare feet once more, feeling the refreshing smooth mahogany wood floor. Looking around he recognized the cabin as most likely being a hunting cabin. On one wall were the heads of multiple animals, beautiful well taken fur and eyes making them look alive.

Everything about the interior was quite normal and yet gave a good feeling, walking at the end of the room he noticed a stairwell leading to an upper level. As he began to ascend the door blew open, three people came rushing in carrying a young man in suffering.

It was an elderly couple, looking in their 60s in the least with grayish-white hair and wrinkled skin that was repulsive at the touch. The other man with them looked much younger, thirties at the most although his hair was a glistening silver.

They all knelt down at the man who appeared to be injured, panting heavily in pain and discomfort. His long black hair moved out of his face to reveal ice blue eyes much like his own, the woman spoke, " Tyronis, what is wrong with him? What is wrong with Ares?"

Beginning to take his battle armour off Tyronis replied, " Its the curse mom, he’s got the Moon Spirit Curse. He must have gotten cursed during battle, there is still hope to reverse the effect."

Now with all clothes on Tyronis searched for the mark, the curse mark usually left behind. Then, moving his hair aside there it was. A yellow crescent moon on his left temple, glowing brightly like a strong lantern fire.

His mother looked at Tyronis desperately, the wizard in his grey robe looked up at her and said, " I need to go to town and get some help, I’ll be back as soon as possible."

Not waiting for a response he ran back outside, a bit more snow blowing in. The wind howled savagely at the cabin, almost as if it were alive and trying to get inside. Not having the force to lift him they brought water and clothes.

Wetting his fore head to keep down his feverish condition, but no matter what they did it did not seem to help as Ares howled in pain. Grasping his father’s wrist he pulled him roughly to his knees saying in a strangely amusing voice, " Let me die, the curse has no..."

He was unable to finish his sentence as he stopped breathing, head banging hard on the ground as he became limp and quiet. No more howls of pain, no more life in his eyes. His eyes had began turning a strange yellow orange colour but had not been able to finish.

His heart had stopped, he breathed no more. The warmth of his body slowly evaporating into the air Tyronis came bursting into the room once again, a bundle of herbs and other shaman magic.

Looking down at the devastated look of his father and his mother crying on Ares’ bare chest Tyronis knew he was too late. Dropping all he walked up to Ares, his knees buckled an he fell to his knees.

He turned his attention to his mother, trying to comfort her for he knew his death had been the ultimate cure. They waited grimly around Ares’ cold grinning corpse, Tyronis had not bothered closing his eyes although the lifeless look in them was disconcerting.

They stayed awake all night, watching over the corpse with the yellow crescent moon glowing on its temple. The storm had blown over, without waiting any longer Tyronis grabbed his dead brother’s lifeless corpse and walked to the graveyard.

Adonis followed him as Tyronis began to dig a hole in the cold and clammy ground. The air was sinister, smell of death’s residents was quite evident. The hole was soon completed, although Adonis had not seen him complete.

Dropping the corpse into the hole he mumbled something under his breath and the ground began to fill the hole once more, returning to its former state. Then without stopping he mumbled something else and a marble cross grew out of the ground.

As Tyronis spoke the words were written in a stranger language that Adonis could somehow read,

"Ares, dead with no curse is better than alive with a curse."

Bolting up in sweat he looked around in panic, although he had never done it before he instinctively reached for a sword on the side of his bed that was not there. His sister was awake as well, looking around in the same alarmed way he was.

There was no apparent danger and yet they felt as though they were in mortal danger. There were no noises outside to indicate any danger, the cool breeze came through the room’s windows in a peaceful manner.

Cautiously walking to the window he peered out, the trees moved in a beautiful dance, an owl could be heard far off. And yet despite the serenity of it all, Adonis felt the most vulnerable he had felt in his entire life.

Turning to Jolene he whispered, " We’re in peril, I feel it in the peaceful wind and see it in the serenity of the trees, go wake mother and father."

Jolene nodded and began to quietly jog to their room as Adonis ran down to the entrance room. Peering outside the window he seen no immediate danger but still felt its lingering presence.

Nothing had changed, nothing but the crickets could be heard in the gentle winds, this did not comfort Adonis in the least. Still fearing the worse Adonis looked around the room for something large, seeing a tall bookshelf in which he had gotten his education he moved toward it.

Pushing the bookshelf to block the door, he brushed his hands together as though his work was done. The fear was not distilled but Adonis felt a little safer, however this is when all his fears were confirmed.

" Nice try Adonis, I’ll give you ten seconds to run. 10, 9..."

Adonis had immediately recognized the voice and ran at the assassin got closer and closer to zero. Running quickly up the stairs he tripped half way up when the assassin reached zero.

Stopping to see what was going to happen the door suddenly flew open, sending the bookshelf plunging to the ground. Books everywhere the assassin walked in calmly, the sound of his multiple weapons making a small noise as it hit his armour.

Pointing at Adonis he began to walk toward him, Adonis panicked and ran up the stairs quickly. Getting into his room he closed the door, bolting it locked. He knew there was not much hope of stopping the assassin with a locked door but he needed time.

Jumping on the other side of his bed he began to search under his bed, looking for the hammer he had left under the bed a few days ago. His mother had always said keeping his room clean might save his life, but he’d always dismissed it.

However he was forced to scrummage through bundles of junk as he searched for the large handled hammer. Always looking up expecting the door to fly open it did not, that is when the latch of the lock slid open.

The assassin gently pushed the door open he walked right to the opposite side of the bed. Finding the hammer Adonis acted quickly, not having much manoeuverability under his bed he smashed the assassin’s toes.

However if there had been an effect Adonis had not seen it, without hesitation the bed was pushed against the wall with invisible hands, pinning Adonis to the wall. He tried to push the bed on its legs to run away but his efforts proved fruitless.

The bed only pushed harder against the wall, every second that passed the pressure increased , making it harder and harder to breathe. He began to suffocate, turning blue in the face as he grew inches away from the grasp of death.

He felt its cool fingers all over his body, slowly pulling his living essence out of his body. The assassin grinned with pure amusement at the sight of his suffering, on the verge of laughing hysterically when the pressure suddenly left.

The assassin was down on his knees, groaning in pain. Looking him over quickly Adonis seen the cause, the large silver war axe was deep in his side, red blood with clots of yellow oozed out from the fresh wound.

Paralysed by shock he seen his sister standing behind the assassin, hands still on the handle. She looked into his terrified eyes, ordering, " Run, now!"

For a fraction of a second courage filled him, Adonis wanted to refuse and stay and fight with his sister. However his fear was much stronger and, pushing the bed aside, he stormed out of the room.

Before Jolene could follow her own advice the assassin had regained control, what should have killed him had only momentarily stunned him. The assassin plunged for her but she dodged his first grab, pulling a steak knife out of her belt and stabbing it in his neck.

Distracting him for a second she dived toward the window, shattering it on impact. She knew the fall from the second story of the house might kill her as well but she had to risk it.

As she fell she felt a cold hand grasp her ankle, she fell forward hanging upside down outside the window, her face smashing against the maple wood wall. Without a second’s hesitation she was lifted into the house.

Swinging her as easily as one swings a pole the assassin threw her hard against the wall. Not hard enough to kill her but plenty hard to knock her out. As she lay there out cold the assassin drew one of his falcata blades and was going to kill her when a thought struck him.

A memory extracted from his brother’s mind, Jolene was very important to the prophecy as well. If he killed her it would end it but he could follow an alternate path. One that would not only permit him to manipulate the prophecy to his victory, but free him from Krale.

Falcata blade back in its place the assassin threw Jolene’s limp body over his shoulder, her arms and legs hanging like those of a raggedly doll he teleported to Beta camp, much easier than diving head first in the cavern of souls.

 

The moment he appeared in the entrance he sensed a large difference, rather than the usual stink of leather tents there was a fleshy aromatic scent. Looking around Ares seen no humans, there was noise in the tent and sentries could be seen from afar but no humans.

Walking toward Krale’s tent he realised where the humans were, the tents had been replaced by tents with human flesh as leather, bones put together to form the poles. Ares laughed at this, Krale was so typical.

This camp was so typical of demons and fiends, always going for the looks and melodramatic impulses rather than practicality. Skin was a piss poor excuse for a wall and human bones were so weak anything could break them.

But they did emanate an insidious aura, would have scared most assassins trying to kill Krale. Fear led to mistakes, and in Ares’ experience, mistakes led to death. At the entrance of the tent he was blocked by two tall guards.

They stood an entire 8 feet tall with dark blue skin full of encryptions written in the demon language from hell itself. Their eyes glowed a bright blood red, with horns sprouting from their heads.

It didn’t take a scholar to figure out they were demons, the left demon said, " Why does though seek a presence with his excellency Lord Krale hybrid scum, take your trash and leave."

Ordinarily Ares would have played with this, but that day he was not in the mood and certainly did not have the time, time was key. "Very amusing, I may only be half demon but I am your senior officer. I am much more powerful than you, the moon curse combined with my demon makes me a hundred times your valour."

Looking them fearlessly in the eyes, knowing exactly how to kill them he said, " I will kill you both for your imcompetence."

He said " Olkapi Nolo" suddenly both demons started to harden, a look of genuine malice mixed with fear filled their faces as they turned to stone. Ares smashed the statues to pieces and walked over the debris into the tent.

The tent was unchanged, no new trophies on the wall, everything polished so well medusa could turn herself to stone just walking in the tent by seeing her own reflection. Lord Krale sat on his throne, looking over Ares he said, " You better have a good reason to come without warning Ares, insubordination is non acceptable and punishable by death."

Ares smiled, " been there, done that. Death is overrated boss, I got a good reason. Here is our way to absolute victory."

Dropping Jolene to Krale’s feet he asked, " How can a mortal woman, even as beautiful as her be..."

Ares hissed in annoyance and interrupted, " Use your brain boss! I killed Tyro the wicked wizard of the north and extracted all information pertaining to the prophecy. Believe it or not, but she is the downfall of the golden boy, saviour of times and undeserving people Adonis."

Without waiting for the obvious question he continued, " To fulfil the prophecy they must work together, I could have killed her off the bat but then it struck me that we could use her against the little schmuck of a hero."

Although his face was not visible Ares knew Krale probably had a puzzled look on his face, he continued growing in his sardonic confidence, " We convert her, she becomes part of the Coronian Empire and the prophecy goes fubar."

Krale finally managed to get a word, with his overly sinister raspy voice he said, " Don’t want to ruin your little plan, as good as it sounds, but what good will she do us?"

Ares sighed, he’d just been over this but he simplified it, " I am your best assassin, and yet without training she managed to sneak up behind me and plunge a big silver war axe into my side. She can become a formidable warrior and she is the key to my... our victory."

" With her we will ensure that your rule last the time it was meant to last and the Emperor will have his victory, see the big picture now boss?"

It was evident Krale was displeased by the lack of disrespect Ares always demonstrated but Ares was a valuable asset to his power. " Very good plan, and I suppose you know how to convert her Ares? I know as well, I will take care of her. You go and burn her house, kill her family. If Adonis is there kill him, either way he’s done with."

Ares grinned, everything was going as planned. He did a mock bow of respect and said, " As you wish, I must say that your demon slaves do not show much respect to senior officers. Next time I will have the respect I deserve."

Walking out he went to accomplish his mission, new demons had taken post as guards and they bowed with respect. Ares ignored them and teleported away, barn burning was so much more fun than barn raising.

 

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The next morning Adonis emerged from his hiding place after having spent an entire night in the wilderness, cowering deep within a dark moist cave. His parents and himself found Jolene missing.

Adonis recounted the unfortunate events of the preceding night while they had slept and his father grew furious. " You could have fought for her! Defended Her, you are her brother, that is your task! Now she has been taken!"

 

Adonis quickly retorted in a shamed tone " I know! I should have, could have and would have! But the truth of the matter is I am no fighter and would have been killed, or is that what you would have liked father?"

His father flustered in anger as Adonis continued, " I see, it’s all clear now. You would rather have a dead son who died an honorable death defending his sister who would have been kidnapped anyway rather than a living one who is a coward! Sorry to disappoint you"

 

The mother sobbed and said " It was not his fault, leave him alone Harold!"

 

His father was extremely furious and slapped her hard in the face, sending her against the ground. Adonis could not take such behavior; he kicked his father hard in the gut. His father doubled down in pain, Adonis kicked him hard in the head knocking him out.

He knew if he let him live he would beat his mother again, he kicked him hard in the head breaking his neck. His mother fell to her knees near his corpse, glaring up at Adonis with extreme sadness.

 

Adonis ignored her and walked into the house, the blood stained axe was laying on the floor where the demon had thrown it.

The axe that laid there was a family heirloom, having belonged to his warrior ancestors from long ago. Made of pure silver for hunting werewolves, he summoned the courage of his ancestors and decided to go find his sister, wherever she might be.