THE ANOINTED 3: PROPHECIES OF FIRE (5 page)

The next moment she found his skeleton hand gripping her throat, the jointed fingers squeezing the wind from her body with numbing speed as each cell and nerve was on fire with a freezing coldness.

“I allowed you this show of anger once, my daughter, but do not let your emotions deceive you. I can kill you with just a twitch of my finger. I am Andrew and I am not. You will respect the omnipotent, you are in the presence of death.”

Sam felt her life being sucked through that skeleton hand and she beat at it trying to break the grip it had on her. She knew that the very touch of him was killing her. Sucking her life force dry. Her uncle released her so suddenly that she felt back massaging her throat. She could feel where those evil tainted fingers touch her.

“Why?” she whispered hoarsely, pushing the words pass her aching throat.

“Why have you let the shadows seduce you with lies?”

“Everything is half-truths, once you unravel the true meaning of them Samantha. Here’s a quote I’m quite fond of, ‘an apology for the devil-it must be remembered that we have heard only one side of the case. God has written all the books’ and that is a truth in itself. How do you know that the shadows whisper lies? Only what you were told. I dedicated my whole life to guard against the apocalypse. I served faithfully and what did I receive in return? I was passed over for a boy of a possession leader that didn’t even know what the Pallida Mors were. I deserve it, it was mines by right!” he shouted, closing his skeleton hand savagely. The wooden table that was broken by the woman minutes ago, crumbled to dust before her eyes.

“I gave my life to those fools and my reward was to teach and wipe the ass of a pup that shouldn’t even be allowed out in the field. But, it’s my fault really, maybe I should’ve let his poor excuse for a father live. But he witnessed my meeting with Anais.”

Her eyes opened in surprise. “You murdered Nathan’s father? You were his friend! God knew you for what you were, that’s why you wasn’t allowed to lead us. You’re a disgrace to our family’s name! I wish you would’ve died that night. It would’ve been better than seeing and knowing the monster you are!”

“There is no need to call me names, Sam, it won’t make the truth any easier. Are you upset that I killed Nathan’s father?” His laughter was an ugly grating sound.

“The man had a choice, just like I did. Anais was charitable to offer him true life. He chose to keep his vows and he died for them.” He shrugged indifferently.

“I had other plans. I have seen the future of darkness, power, and glory. And I want my rightful place in it. If I couldn’t find it with Vae Victis, then I will in the shadows of Anais and his brother’s flames. Just think of the power and rewards that awaits us when he triumphs and rules this plane of existence. It is beautiful, Sam; I have tasted its aftermath. Join us and finally feel the exaltation of power. You could rule part of the world from the ashes as Anais and the dark lord prepares their assault on the heavens.”

“Let me ask you something uncle, what exactly are you?”

Her uncle’s green eyes blinked in surprise from the question. He lifted his skeleton hand and turned it over near his face while examining it.

“What am I? Good question. Not many people living actually know. You can’t find a name in the Vae Victis histories. Anais has seen fit to call me a Nightbreeder. Third, in line for power. I choose well when I made my deflection.”

“Well, I will tell you this, uncle or whatever you are, it will be my pleasure to be the first.”

“The first what, my daughter?”

“The first to cut out your black vile heart and send you down into the pits of darkness where your master will never escape.”

A smile lifted only part of his face, making it look like a Halloween mask.

“And what makes you think you’re capable to promise such a thing? I am not very easy prey, I’m harder to kill than the Pallida Mors, daughter. My power is too immense for your understanding.”

“That may be true uncle,” she spat out the last word like poison that had touch her tongue. “But I will make it my own personal vow to find a way to avenge all our brothers and sisters you help murder for your own selfishness.”

“You’re more like me than you’ll ever know.”

“I’m nothing like you. If I was, I would’ve killed myself, right after I killed you.”

“You shouldn’t make threats idly when you’re a prisoner, Samantha. I thought I taught you better than that.”

“You also taught me not to make deals with the shadows, but how’s that working for you? But you know I mean it when it passes my lips.”

“I taught you well Samantha, but remember, I didn’t teach you everything. Like the times when you just can’t win, bow down to the logic.”

“I hope that makes the blade I use on you that much sharper, Uncle.”

“Make sure that the blade isn’t double edge, it cuts both ways.”

The shadows closed in on him and he disappeared. Sam looked up as the light bulb returned to its normal state.

“Why is it that the bad guys have all the cool toys?” she asked to an empty room. She looked around and saw that the room was escape proof. “Great. Just fucking great.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Cornelius squatted down at the edge of the stairs that descended down into the darkness. He waited. At first, he sensed or saw nothing until a pair of glowing eyes emerged slowly from the usual locked door that had been left slightly ajar. Another pair followed the first, stopping tentatively to sniff the air for the drifting aroma of hot blood.

They had heard his call. Good. That meant he didn’t have to go search for them. It also meant he didn’t have to take a trip inside their empty minds. One time that he had done it, he came across gibberish he couldn’t understand. What made him afraid was he felt something in them he felt in himself, the constant hunger for blood and flesh.

He felt eating flesh was beneath him. But he had to come to understand that they were just like him in some twisted way. A slave to Anais. Would he end up a mindless decaying animal in the end?

He snorted loudly at his thoughts, bringing himself back to reality. He had found himself in dark moods, as of late. Especially, since he had found out that the dark lords had placed an omnipotent over him. He had thought he would be among the first to be crowned a prince, after all he had done. He had been wrong.

What had the omnipotent possibly given Anais or his brother to receive such an honor? Had he not searched the whole earth for the essence Anais needed to reborn the dark lord? But another was given the title of omnipotent.

For now, anyway. There were ways to bring about lethal accidents. Even for the omnipotent. He found himself soothed by the thought. It helped clear his mind somewhat. Thin wasted arms reached out for him, hunger. The creatures had climbed the stairs while he was lost in thought. While they couldn’t overpower him, (they had amazing strength) they would eat anything that did not put up a fierce enough resistance.

The skin hung off their bones like rotted cloth now, in some places you could see where the skin had given way to the white/grayness of bone beneath. They looked exactly like they were, the walking dead. They seemed incredibly stupid, except when it came to food and that’s what made them dangerous. He quickly summoned the deep dark power within himself and made a solid wall of fire in front of the mindless creatures.

Deep guttural sounds followed as the creeping hands were snatched back and they retreated back down into the darkness. Cornelius could see that their arms smoked faintly from the intense flames. A pity he couldn’t feed the current omnipotent to them. He would’ve enjoying hearing the man’s limbs being torn apart as they ate him alive.

He sighed heavily as he let the fire vanish. One could only dream. He looked over to the trembling shape beside him and shook his head sadly. He did not envy the boy’s fate. The boy, all bones really, couldn’t be no more than thirteen. He wore fades blue shorts with a white shirt that read;
Warning: Addicted to Video Games. Will Work for a Power Source
was printed on the front of it.

His white sneakers were scuffed up and dirty, as was his short blond hair. His eyes were wide with fear. He had seen parts of the creatures below the stairs. Cornelius knew it was the boy’s fresh blood they smelled. It was like hanging a steak in front of a starving man. Their guttural growls were making their way back up the stairs again, pulled by the thoughts of food.

They had already forgotten being burnt the last time. The rope securing the boy’s hands and feet were unnecessary really, but Cornelius didn’t want to be occupied or distracted while feeding the creatures. Deciding on mercy, at last, he reached over and took the frighten boy’s head in his hands. The snapping of bones came easily. He then carelessly tossed the body down into the advancing creatures.

They grabbed it and tore off bloody meat in huge chucks. Cornelius did not feel like witnessing them feed, so he, once again, summoned fire and pressed it down into the opening. The creatures hissed as blood dripped from their teeth before dragging what was left down into the darkness of the door. Cornelius released the fire and placed a sealing ward on the door, once he closed it, locking them in the cellar’s darkness. Harsh laughter broke out behind him, causing him to spin around as his dark power filled him completely.

“Who dares trespass on this property in the middle of the night?” he asked, seeing nothing.

He didn’t believe such a feat was even possible with his range of sight and hearing. Moments ticked by before the omnipotent stepped forward out the darkness, as if they were a blanket. It was like a camouflage to him. Nothing but the glow of his eyes were visible, even though the moon was full tonight. A night when the blood lust became uncontrollable in his werewolf brothers, the light did not touch the omnipotent.

The only way Cornelius knew it was him was the feeling of immense power radiating from him. It was not enough to be Anais’ power, but close. He bit into his lip angrily, drawing blood as he felt how much stronger the omnipotent was. He still had the dark power coiled up inside of him and for a fleeting moment, the thought of unleashing it came to mind. But to try and not kill the omnipotent would result in a painful death immediately.

He wasn’t willing to risk that. Not now. He released the power instead. There would be other times to try his hand.

“Playing with your pets, I see,” spoke the omnipotent, amusement danced in his eyes as he watched Cornelius’ battle with his emotions.

“It’s a shame the dark lord’s brother is like his own pet or I would end the hatred and animosity that glows in your eyes, general.”

“You mistake a gesture of greeting omnipotent, however, I do dislike talking to veil of shadows that hides the face of the dark lords’ omnipotent.”

The shadows suddenly vanished around the omnipotent, letting Cornelius study the man in front of him.

“I am the dark lord’s omnipotent, general. I am their voice, I am their death. I don’t need to hide anything from you. Remember this half human/half skeleton face, for if you test your ambitions against me, it will be the last thing you ever see before I banish you to the planes of hell. You will enjoy your first taste of the flames. But enough of these petty pissing contests,” he said absently dismissing the conflict with a wave of his skeleton hand.

It gave off a cold glow under the moonlight.

“Anais has a task for you.” He then proceeded to tell Cornelius what that task was.

“He wants me to go to the Vae Victis headquarters and give the possession leader a proposal?” Cornelius asked with a look of disbelief.

“And what am I supposed to do? Walk in and tell the enemy that wants each of us dead that I’m sorry we just burnt two of your compounds to the ground and attacked three others, but we will like to talk?”

He snorted in anger.

“Am I supposed to believe that they will respect any olive branch I might offer or is it expected that the messager will get his head cut off to give their response?”

“Stop being an idiot general. Idiocy is not for someone of your standing in the dark lord’s armies. If a sacrifice is needed, we could always send one of those mindless pets you keep in your wine cellar. Do not assume my dislike for you will in any way effect the dark lord’s wishes or plans. You’re not that important of a threat to me. As for getting in…” He shrugged his shoulders.

“A creature with your power and talents should have no problems. It’s convincing the enemy you should be allowed to leave with your head attached that might prove difficult. But after you give the proposal, you should be safe enough. Call it an inquiry, if you will.”

“And his proposal, omnipotent?”

“Tell him that we have the commander of his guards of Gabriel. If he wants to see her whole once more, he will take our offer. Make sure you tell him that we will not kill her but we will turn her soul dark against her will. That’s worse than death. Anais offers a trade, the girl for him. He is to come to us once his organ falls into alignment. If he refuses, the girl’s soul becomes forfeit.”

“I’m curious as to why would he agree to such a suicidal offer when we know Anais will just kill the girl anyway?”

“There are two things that will drive him to accept. One, he will believe himself clever enough to halt the dark lord before he realigns. Plus, two words, guilt and duty. Both are heavy burdens to bear and both can eat at the soul. For one of the ones who walk in the light, he has no choice.”

“I hear the dark lord’s omnipotent and will obey.”

“Know this general, time for games has passed. Anais and, soon, the dark lord will make the rules now.”

*****

“Kimiko I need you to get back to the troops. If you are to hold that unit together, you must show them that you hold the position by right of skill. Their commander is M.I.A. and presumed dead. As second in command, you will lead the guards until a replacement can be found.”

Data support PPH system appeared amongst them. There was only Kimiko, him, and Thomas in the room after Kimiko returned with news of the ambushes.

“Possession leader, you are needed on the main level. My systems have detected an intruder alert. Security personnel has the situation contained for now, but the intruder is asking to speak to you and also shut down our shields as he has come to parley.”

To ask who the intruder is was pointless, only the shadows of Anais had the power to appear almost out of thin air and need their protector shields to be shut down.

“Kill him. Have our security forces handle him and tell them to burn the body. It will be no negotiations with an enemy that has already killed many of our people. Do it and be done with it. It will send Anais a message, we take no prisoners.”

“Nathan, you’re not supposed to kill an enemy that has come to parley,” said Thomas. He was able to walk a little today.

“It’s as old as war itself. Enemies do want to save face before surrendering, you know.”

“Anais doesn’t surrender; it isn’t in his evil nature.”

“All the more reason to hear what this parley is about. It can reveal a lot of the enemy’s mind set.”

“Well… I guess hearing what he has to say won’t hurt, but I hate shutting off our shields, even for a second. I’m telling you, Anais is up to something.”

“There is only one way to find out, go see what it wants,” replied Thomas.

“And take Kimiko here. I would hate to be wrong and this is a snatch and grab attempt.”

“If it is, I will see that it would be the last thing he ever does,” stated Nathan.