The Deception

It was another beautiful day, the birds chirped in the air as the gently sun’s rays came down on the earth, giving everything a peaceful glow. Ares hated peace, arriving at the house surveyed the home and the area surrounding it.

Nothing was out of place, a thin drizzle of smoke was streaming out of the cobblestone chimney. The light reflected off the coloured windows, other than that there was not a inkling of a sign that anyone was home.

Maybe he’d come at a wrong time, or maybe they were at the farm. Flying over the property of Adonis’ family he seen no sign of anyone walking the grounds for at least a few days. The animal stalls were vacant of feed, piles of uncleaned crap could be seen in the pig pen.

Returning to the house he stopped at the door looking for a way in other than the chimney. Seeing a little hole he turned into a mouse and infiltrated the house. Everything was unchanged. The bookshelf lay on its back, books peppered all over the room.

Turning into a human Ares knelt down and picked one up; the holy bible. This was the book he’d heard the demons cursing at, a book depicting the religious happenings of God’s servants in some far off land.

Putting the book aside he extracted his falcata blades and began to quietly explore the house. There was not much on the first floor, the kitchen was vacant. Opening a cupboard Ares grabbed an appel and began to eat as he climbed turned back and began to climb up the stairs.

He found himself in a small hallway, two doors on the left and one on the far right. The first room was the room Adonis had been sleeping in, the door still unlocked he walked in. The bed was still on its side, Ares could remember the fear Adonis had released, how he hadn’t felt that much fear since... he did not like to think about it.

Walking into the next room he opened it smoothly, finding himself inside a room filled with frozen meat. This room was evidently magically enhanced, the room was filled with the aromatic smell of raw flesh and animal blood. Tyronis had his hand with this, Ares knew it.

Finishing the apple he threw it in the room and proceeded to the last room. He could hear a sobbing noise of a woman, placing his swords in their scabbards he walked into the room to find a woman in her thirties crying on the bed, laying on her lap was the corpse of what Ares presumed was her husband.

She looked up at Ares’ reflective skin and screamed in pure fear; Ares slowly walked up to her and asked, " Who is this man you cry over? Who killed him?"

Her lips quivered in fear, she looked him straight in his cold yellow eyes. Her entire body shook in fear, her breathing pattern was a panicked one and her nails were slowly turning blue. Ares knew he was an intimidating person, and all those weapons were enough to scare anyone, but he’d never seen anyone fear him to that level.

She replied, " Adonis... my son..." She could not longer talk and began crying again, for some strange reason this display of emotions was invoking some sadness within him. He hated himself for feeling this; such feelings could render one weakened to a state of uselessness if not identified and squashed early. She continued, " He snapped his neck with one twist, he did it for me. I loved my husband very much."

The fact Ares was an assassin armed to the teeth with reflective skin completely escaped the woman, she ran to him and began to cry on his shoulder. His plan once more changed, Krale’s plan had been to kill the woman but Ares knew of a way he could gain her trust much easier than Krale’s initial idea.

Rather than kill his family he would let Adonis’ family kill him. " Your son is a spy for the Royal Kingdom, he’d been planning to kill your husband ever since he’d gone to the market the previous day. Here is what you must do."

He layed out the plan, and the woman who was in obvious distress bought into the entire lie as though she trusted him with her life, big mistake. As she awaited in the location Ares had told her to hide in he finished the final phase of the deception.

Going to the village he transformed into a large coyote and snatched a woman in front of over twenty people, they tried to rescue her as he killed he dragged her off into the woods but failed miserably.

The whole house was no ablaze, Ares looked at the bible in his hand and knew it would come in handy at some point. Turning to the tree he said, " Communicatos Portalna" Lord Krale’s face appeared in a small whirling puddle on the tree trunk.

Krale asked in his sinister voice, " Have you taken care of everything Ares? Will we be able to convince Jolene of the lie you have created?"

Ares grinned at this, " I am the master of deception, so there’s nothing to worry about. You just do your part right, its a two way street."

Finishing off Krale ordered, "Come to the prison immediately, phase two commences now."

His face disappeared, transforming into a raven once again he contemplated all his plans. If everything went as he predicted he would gain much more power than Krale would have ever granted him.

Before leaving he noticed Adonis coming to the house. Before going he had something had something to do, Ares liked how his plans could always be modified right on the spot.

Each person involved in his plan was completely oblivious to the full plan. They knew what he let them know, and Adonis would not come into his plan. Glancing at the bag of gold with the Emporial Conqueror’s insignia upon it he put his plan into action.

************************************************************************

Her vision was blurred; all she could see was the extremely distorted images of the objects surrounding her. A pulsing headache hit her like a hammer smashing full force on an iron anvil, sending pain throughout her entire body.

Jolene had no idea where she was; there was a high-pitched noise, highly distorted by the pain inhabiting within her house like an unwelcomed guest that refuses to leave. However, it wasn’t that hard for her to deduce it was most likely the sound of a door with rusted hinges opening as she saw two distorted figures appear out of nowhere.

The left figure spoke in a gruff, masculine voice, " Hallo bonny lass. You are now a prisoner of the Royal Kingdom. If you do not resist, we will not harm ya too..."

Noticing the look of agonizing pain and confusion imprinted upon her face like a stamp, the other guard spoke in a more gentle feminine voice, " The effects of the drugs will be wearing off shortly. I apologize for the pain we may have put you through, I assure it is much better than the alternative options."

Simply hearing their voices was like getting kicked in the gut by a horse, and that had happened on many occasions. Sitting very uncomfortably she attempted to get up but found herself bound to a cold metallic chair by heavy chains giving a burning sensation against her naked body.

As promised her vision suddenly returned to her, the pain was still there but now she could finally see her surroundings, and having this ability she now wished she could not.

The dark mucky grime covered walls gave a feeling of timelessness, as though this place had frozen in one moment of eternal torture. A squealing sound came over the constant echoing drops hitting rock sound, looking down she seen two rats running along the floor fighting over a little scrap of dried mouldy bread.

The kinder guard that was indeed a woman began to say something but it was as though she wasn’t speaking at all. There was one large gray rat covered with scars fighting with a smaller white mouse equally scarred.

If the rodents in this place were in such poor condition then the prisoners must have been worse, the large rat was attempting to use its superior size over the small mouse but the victory could go anywhere.

Where one guard failed the more violent male guard gained her attention by hitting her across the face with a steel baton; she glared into his eyes with feral beast, blood running down her nose.

Her captors were dressed in leather Royal Kingdom armour, with the golden dragon’s head on their chests. " You doing the good guard bad guard routine? You both suck, your parents must have been rich. Why don’t you two posers move along to the next cell and..."

The guard hit her across the face again, with more strength only adding to the pain building up within her. Spitting her blood on him she asked, " What am I being charged with? I have not committed any crimes, at least I haven’t yet. If you two Royal goonies won’t let me out I will..."

Hitting her across the face again her head went bashing against the back of the chair. As her face slammed hard against the steel back, the cold numbing her skin, she was unsettled by the sight of the small white mouse devouring the large rat’s corpse.

Surprisingly not hitting her again the guard spoke again, " You be in a position to demand nothing, our orders were to arrest ya, and arrest ya we did."

Leaning closer he whispered, " But if ya want me personal opinion, I be guessing you be guessing you somehow upset our almighty Royal Highness. She does have quite a temper at times, ever since her husband was murdered that is."

Putting his hands on her breasts he began to truly torture her, Jolene insisted that he stop but he only seemed to be doing more and more. As she was about to bite his ear off the sound of orchestrated music came from outside the door.

The guards looked at each other, frowning in confusion at what could possibly be the source of this orchestra of beautiful instruments that only seemed to be getting louder and louder. Motioning for the female guard to investigate she pulled her broad sword out and began to walk toward the door.

Before she had reached half the way to the door a look of pure and intense fear took over her face, blood draining out of her face leaving her as white as a corpse. Her entire body trembled ferociously in fear, her skin suddenly beginning to rot away more and more with every panicked breath she took.

She screamed in pain but the sound never escaped her mouth as her tongue dropped to the ground as well as her entire jaw with a resounding smacking noise against the stony floor. The rotting had gotten to a point where blood began to pour out of forming cracks in her skin, she tried desperately to stop the affliction.

She grabbed at her skin only to rip it further, exposing her muscles and bones as the blood began to gush out where it had been trickling only moments ago. Finally she stopped moving and dropped dead to the ground, the sound of rotten flesh and weak bones sending a strange sound throughout the cell.

The remaining guard stood as though frozen, getting over his shock he came to his senses and seen what was left of his partner laying on the ground. Beginning to breathe heavily in fear he began to reach for his sword, his hand too shaky to get a firm grip on the pommel.

Finally pulling the sword out he began to head for the door, running in a very undignified run. They were only going to interrogate the girl for stealing bread fro the store, the guards thought they would have fun with her but now this was happening.

Suddenly there was a brief blur in the corner of his eye, turning quickly he dropped his sword to the ground emanating a loud clang noise. Replacing the small white mouse was a large wolverine glaring at him with cold yellow eyes. Going down for his sword the wolverine jumped on him, taking a large chunk of his face off in one mouthful.

The guard flopped a fish out of water, blood pouring out of where his face had been at some time. As the wolverine began devouring the guard alive Jolene doubled her efforts to escape. She had wanted to bite his ear off, but eating his face was going a little too far.

The feeling of rusted metal against her bare flesh burnt as though rubbing salt in a wound, but she felt she was making progress. A dark robed figure entered through the room; stepping over the corpse he looked very sinister. Horns sprouting from inside his hood of darkness she knew he was a demon by his red glowing eyes.

He spoke, " Fear not young mortal, for I may be a demon but I, Lord Krale, am a demon that has come to rescue you." Noticing her fear regarding the wolverine he said to reassure her, " He shall not harm you without my express order, and if all goes well I am certain I will never give such a command."

He motioned his gauntleted hand in a dismissive manner toward the wolverine, it looked at its meal and reluctantly walked away to stand beside Krale. He continued to talk in his sinister voice, " The corrupt, deceiving Royal Kingdom shall not claim yet another victim."

The chains snapped in two like tearing papyrus, a loud clank almost as loud as the dropping sword resounded throughout the dungeon, the music was still there but at a lower level. She was free of her bonds, pressure off her breasts, exposing them to the demon and the wolverine.

She cared not for her nakedness, she began to talk very quickly, having much on her mind, " My home... my family... they’re in danger... from that horrible, cold blooded, yellow eyed killer... I must go save them... my brother..."

Lord Krale chuckled lightly, giving her a black dress, although even this positive emotion sounded demented, he said, " That horrible, cold blooded yellow eyed killer was there to save your mortal life. We know the Royal Kingdom has been observing you and your family for some time, therefore we in turn spied on them."

As she put the dress on the wolverine transformed into its human form, ever since she’d fist met this assassin her life had taken a large turn for the worse. Firstly in the farm, this assassin had faced Renaldo and killed him in cold blood, ever since that first encounter although she hadn’t been seen his mirrored face and unusual speech had remained in her head.

Then they met him at the market, using the law as an excuse to kill the Turtle Gang mercilessly, she still wondered why he hadn’t killed Mal, his magic was so strong he could probably have destroyed the entire village on a mere whim.

And to top it all off he’d broken into their house while they’d been asleep and attempted to kill Adonis, her worries for her brother emerged once again. She hoped strongly he had gotten away, that this assassin with the yellow eyes hadn’t chassed after him and killed him. All these thoughts came to her in one second, and for that one second she had a strong impulse to kill him in pure hatred.

But she pulled herself together, not only had he contributed in her rescue but even if she wanted to do anything she would die a pointless death. Therefore he was not her foe; but he was far from being her friend.

Krale continued, " I sent Ares my most loyal and skilled demon spy and master assassin to rescue you from his midst before you and your innocent parents were killed, however, you interrupted him and your brother escaped."

Ares finished the story in his usual sardonic voice, " The Royal Guards came rushing in shortly after on your bro’s word and they took you away. I would have attempted to save you but it was too late. Adonis had personally killed your father and all your lands were burned, however..."

She could no longer contain her rage and disbelief building up inside of her like the vines that had been growing on the walls of the house, " Its not true! My brother would never do such a thing! Why should I take the word of a demon and his lackey spy! He loved his family very much!"

Her yells echoed louder than the breaking chains, again another comment of his lowered rank. He was far from being a lackey, he had Krale right where he wanted him. " Then your saying his family was one million gold pieces, if you won’t take our word for it maybe you’ll take your mommy’s word for it."

Krale turned to Ares and both himself and Jolene said in unison with a look of shock on their faces, " She survived?"

This was comical, Krale was doing exactly what he wanted him to, being stupid. Regaining a semblance of control he muttered a word and they found themselves at her house, or where her house had stood once upon a time.

Everything was in ashes, flat on the ground. Bones could be seen in the rubble but she was uncertain who they belonged to. Looking around she seen the farm and all the crops had been burnt to a crisp as well, there was no hope.

Her surveying of the lands was interrupted as her mother came running out of the woods, she looked like she’d been there for at least an entire night. They both ran at each other, joy and relief overflowed like nothing Ares had seen before. He always regarded such things as weaknesses.

Her mother said, crying in joy, " Jolene, I was so worried they’d hurt you." She proceeded with recounting the events of the preceding night, or at least Ares’ version of the events of the preceding night. How Adonis had murdered her husband and then taken Jolene with him and knocked her out, she would have died but Ares came and rescued her just in time.

As they hugged Jolene’s world shattered in an instant as she lost the last link to her life, her mother stopped hugging her, the life in her eyes was gone. As her mother fell Jolene went down as well, a poison tipped arrow had punctured her neck, snapping it in one shot. Upon it was the sign of the Royal Kingdom.

Looking up in rage she seen twenty Royal Guards coming her way, the archer was preparing another arrow. As Jolene began to run forward in rage she was pulled to Krale by some magic.

Ares smiled and faced them all. The arrow was coming right for him, he simply grabbed it in mid air and threw it back with tenfold the power at the archer. The arrow entered his left eye, blood squirting out like orange juice coming out of a crushed orange.

The guards were outraged and began to charge, none of this was part of Krale’s plan but Ares knew he hoped he would die. Despite all Ares had done, Krale wanted him dead. But this had been part of Ares’ plan, after this all would fall in place.

Running toward them he hadn’t even drawn his falcata blades. He could simply use magic but wanted to demonstrate his fighting skills, as the first guards neared Ares went into action. Moving his arm swiftly he snapped the guard’s neck with one blow.

Then came the rest of the group, this would be fun. Pulling out his falcata blades he fended the first attacks and moved in fluid motions, stabbing and slashing while defending himself in the midst of the pack of guards. They tried to defend themselves and failed, sword meeting flesh and cutting through bones the enemy forces were slaughtered mercilessly.

Placing the bloody falcata blades back he calmly walked toward Jolene, Lord Krale released her and she ran to her mother’s corpse. Crying over her now deceased mother she whispered, " I will avenge you mother, I will kill Adonis for what he has caused."

Closing her mother’s eyes she turned to Krale and said, " I do not like to ask this but can you help me? Train me so I can kill my brother."

Krale nodded and replied, " Certainly my dear, I shall train you to the best of my abilities. You will train with Ares, he’s been in many battles, as you can tell by his scars, he’s even learnt more than I taught him."

She looked Ares over, all seven feet of him. Seeing him in action was incredible and frightening, he’d cut through their ranks like a hot knife through butter. She could see the power in this yellow eyed demon as he grinned coyly, his sharp teeth covered with fresh blood. Despite this and his reflective skin she found him very attractive, she hated him but she could use him as she had used Renaldo.

Krale concluded as though he’d planned everything himself, " You must now swear your allegiance to the Coronian Empire and myself."

She bowed on one knee, exposing her perfectly smooth leg, " I swear on all that I live for and my mother’s caring soul that I shall serve loyally the Coronian Empire and your eminence Lord Krale."

There was a slight pause, no one moved for a minute. As Jolene looked up Ares said spitefully, " There’s a little more to the process than that princess."

She suddenly felt a sharp sensation on her face, it stung with the pain of a thousand bees. A cut formed from the top of her left face, going down just above her eye and continued below her left eye to the bottom of her face.

The cut quickly scarred over, despite its largeness it only multiplied her beauty. As she wiped the blood from her face Krale said, " A mark of your allegiance, I Lord Krale along with Ares welcome you to the Coronian Empire."