By Christopher Curtis

Sorrows of familiars, compassion of the caring

Hushed whispers filled the dining hall as a lone figure stalked towards the door with grace. He carried his body gently as he tried to battle the fatigue trying to overwhelm him. The armor strapped to him was battered and bloody, his sword tarnished and dull from the bone it cut through. The door to the dining hall slowly opened and the whispers ceased and heads came up swiveling towards the door. Mouths were gaping but no words were summoned they're previous banter seemed to be washed away. He looked into everyone's eyes and saw the questions they wanted to ask but were unable to speak, he sat down with a heavy sigh his head hitting the table and the darkness enveloped him as sleep won over.

"His wounds aren't serious, the worst was the gash across his arm it went from his shoulder to his inner arm by his elbow it looked like a big claw got him." His eyes opened slowly to the familiar voice the sweet and caring voice of someone he loved. Friends crowded by the entrance of the door they're face's brightened when they saw his eyes open and a smile appeared. Long black hair draped down each side of his face blue gold eyes glanced around amongst the faces, a tall man wearing black and brown leather armor seemed the most eager to enter the room his blond hair was down to his shoulders.

To his right was his brother he had shorter brown hair and he wore red robes small bells decorated part of the collar and bigger bells hung at the ends of the strings that were attached to the hood. There was a girl in the group she had shimmering hair her dress a plain white her eyes were moist and looked about ready to over flow with tears, her hands locked together over her breast as if she were offering a prayer. A man he fought beside many times appeared next to her, his hair semi-long and a bit unruly combed to the side wore a grin he seemed to bounce without moving he must have been tapping his foot.

"Come in" the man in bed finally said, with that the silken maiden moved aside and lay down next to him putting an arm around his chest nuzzling his neck gently. Everyone came in, there were more then he expected but couldn't see them with the others blocking his way. The blond man stepped forward and kneeled "my lord" he stated gently "we were worried you wouldn't come back from the war but I guess we were wrong to doubt." A smile slowly slid across the mans lips "their was nothing wrong in doubting for war there are terrible consequences and unfortunate turns with innumerable outcomes the fact that I lay here in the comfort of my friends and family is luck and the lack of skill the enemy possessed, but it was mainly luck. Thank you for being here Eke." With a curt nod Eke rose and fell in line with the others waiting.

The man with bells stepped forward and thrust a finger in his face "do it again and next time I will kill you myself"

"Do what?" the man asked bells.

"Worry us like that" his arm dropped and his head slumped down "I'm sorry I couldn't help you" he stated. "Its ok Somak there is nothing you could have done" just like Eke, Somak went and fell in line. The girl stepped up next her shimmering hair changing between three colors liquid pools stared down at him a single tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and slowly rolled down her cheek. "Don't cry Serena I'm fine thanks to you and the others."

As the man said this her eyes burst with tears her silent sobs choking her the healing magic she contained manifested in her tears as well she just nodded gave him a hug and kiss on the forehead and the cheek.

The unruly haired man stepped up then gently pressing Serena back with hushed promises. He turned showing his back the black leathery dragon wings that were normally displayed with pride were now tucked in tightly to save room and to show he was worried the blood that sometimes coursed through wasn't even noticeable. He looked down with that same grin the pain pinching and tugging slightly at the corner of his eyes, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it and thought for a second about what he should say instead of normally blurting it out. After awhile of thought he resumed "You're a dumb ass for not taking any help you know that right? I mean all you had to do was ask for some you don't need to try and prove yourself to anyone or anything what were you thinking Orellin?" The man on the bed, Orellin looked up at him his smile growing. "I was thinking how easy it was to fight them my knowledge at hand was only a little over half if I would have waited longer then everything would have been sacrificed there would have been nothing I could do. I'm fine as you can see sure I got some scratches but I'm fine honestly."

"Your lucky you got Kyesa here, just don't do it again and we will be fine."

"You got it" replied Orellin. They shuffled out of the room and he was finally able to see the rest of who followed into the room, they seemed like neighbors and villagers from nearby to pay homage and to give thanks.

The next couple of days were spent laying in bed recovering his wife comforting him or running off to do various tasks. Orellin spent his days playing his instruments, reading books, and painting.

The Fight of Three

(Racer: A duplicate of the underworld soul controlled by the second party soul stuck on earth.)

His long black hair was flying in the wind his blue feathery wings got an extension of leathery dragon wings becoming half and half. Half a mask covered the left side of his face a wicked grin splayed across his face as a maniacal laugh escaped his lips. Slashing his sword in wild arcs sending out furious waves of black energy bordered in red. His laughter filled the night. Orellin looked on at the sjirn manifestation of him and dodged the large energy blows. His sword and shield at the ready he sliced through energy with his sword and deflected it with his shield the fight would be his but he didn't know how.

The battle raged on for a few minutes until a racer showed up, looking just like Orellin except using his glaive. The two of them had at the sjirn breaking energy chains and dodging blows Orellin got nicked on the shoulder by one but maintained his composure and didn't falter. The racer tried with his might to fold the Hollow's energy in on itself succeeding at it he didn't know but he didn't waste time, he slowed it. As the fight dragged on the racer split the glaive into two parts making them duel axes, getting some hits on the sjirn then backing away. The sjirn continued his laughter and kept the pace up spewing even more dark energy up from underneath him like evil tendrils. Fusing the two back together the racer channeled energy through the glaive changing it to a vibrant blue energy beam its size increasing. He slashed at the sjirn getting more hits in on it distracting it long enough for Orellin to come up from behind and impale him. He sliced his sword up splitting the sjirn's body in half from chest to head where he proceeded to slice him into a pile of gore.

His remains turned to dust and various chunks of metal, bone, and a lonely shell of a mask. Orellin Almost doubled over but remained standing, clenching his stomach as a power change ran through his body. His eterial released and his sjirn mask placed on. His wings got larger and more lustrous turning from blue to a solid white, a griffons head grew over his own his eyes peering out of the mouth, his armor turned from blue to a glorious white with gold trim, his usual round shield morphed into a white triangular shaped shield, as for his weapons that is still a mystery.

The Death and Rebirth of the Great Blood Dragon

The sky was blacker then deaths cold enthralling grip, a blood red glow reached out of the cracks and the horizon. A dark and lonesome road led up to a black castle sitting on a small cliff, its spires daring to touch the tips of the sky. Dragons and griffins soared through the sky fighting one another they're armies having a mix of both, below them were two vast armies locked in a bloody raging war. In the castle fought two souls, Aaron~ana~lasanuman and Gistle. Blades twirled and slashed through the air.

The two bodies danced through the center chamber going in circles and exchanging blows. Gistle lowers his guard; Aaron swings and misses as Gistle sidesteps bringing his sword down and slashes Aaron from shoulder to the bottom of his rib cage in a diagonal slash. As Aaron fell Gistle spun around kicking Erin in the face.

Aarons body was laid out on a stretcher and taken away by an entourage moving through the forest. His soul hung to his body already knowing what was going to happen. They came across a great temple of white stone, a water fall fell in the middle of it and two big saucers of fire were posted on either side of the entrance.

His body and soul were reborn by the three elements fire, wind, and water. Fire the flames of creation and rebirth, destroying and consuming everything in its path for the new to grow. Wind the breath of life sending the spiritual healing properties into the soul and to provide air for the body. Water the magical healing capabilities pouring into the body healing all wounds and cooling the fires of creation so destruction doesn't happen.

Daddy's Gift

Orellin sat next to his daughter in her bedroom his voice coming out gentle and caring. "I think its time to start teaching you how to fight so you can protect yourself in the future when you go off on your own." She looked up at him and smiled. "There are a couple of things I would like to tell you before I even hand you a weapon. When you get into a fight use your head and fight with your heart. If you don't think and let fear or anger consume you, you will most likely die. Think about your next move, what's around you. Fight with your heart, put everything you have into your fights or you may under-estimate your enemy." With that said he presented her with a sword made for her size.

The blade looked like that of a dagger, almost a short sword. The blade was crimson with a black leather bound hilt. Inside the blade swirled fire and crackled lightning. Each swing of it the blade was consumed in a volatile mixture of liquid flame and racing electricity. She held the blade in her hands, staring into the blade her eyes came up to look into his and she hugged him around the neck whispering "thank you daddy!" After a couple of swings Orellin tucked his daughter, Corallina away to bed.

Too the Heavens and Down Through the Hells

Soaring above the clouds Kyesa rolled and dodged the energy beams shot at her. Her creamy wings flicking this way and that way, her battle dress black as the darkest abyss shone like marvelous oil in the sunlight. Her long hair tied up and her face set stern. The beast chasing her was that of a dark soul entity, the evil stench corroding the very life out of everything it touched. Two long sets of claws were on two mangled hands charged with red orbs of energy ready to spurt out and hit they're target.

Its face looked like a mask of wicked lies mixed with a metallic, sardonic grin of pain and malice. The wings on its back red and dripping with blood, the armor was brown and looked like carved flesh, it was covered in fleshy spikes and horns, long black hair flowing out from behind its mask.

Another barrage of energy shot at her and she vanished. The beast looked about turning its gaze every which way, a blade plunged its way through the back of his chest, blood splattered out of his chest.

It Ties the Knot

The shallow depths of the basement pressed in to crush and suffocate me, the oak timbers dark and stained through the seasons of rain. The stone floor crunched as I walked along towards the back, small rocks had found they're way in on shovels, hoes and picks. I reached the back and found the small wine rack; I found the bottle mother had sent me for it was the only one with a dark red cap its color hinted towards a mix of purple though. I turned around and ran back up stairs leaving the creeping darkness at my back, feeling the clutches of something evil; or so I thought as my imagination sometimes got the best of me.

I contained myself enough not to burst through the door but I was breathing heavy. I shuffled over towards the kitchen; it lay a little beyond the living room which was just in front of the front door and the basement door just to the left of that. I passed the couch and reached the kitchen my mom sat at the table, arms crossed and her head resting to the side on her arms facing away from me.

I quietly walked over and place the bottle on the polished wood table, the grains glistening like the eye of some great beast staring down at me. I turned to leave and felt a sharp grip on my shoulder and spin me around. My mom looked at me with those brown hideous eyes. Those eyes that every time I looked at them stripped away any bit of joy and shelter, my armor and my existence.

My flesh crawled under her withering leer. The gaze of stone. I shrunk back a little bit waiting for her next commands the pain from her fingers digging into my shoulder seemed to go numb. She moved closer towards my face, the smell of booze rolled out of her mouth like a fog washing down the mountains to enclose the valley in its cool mist. My pulse jumped into my throat my eyes going from one of her eyes to the next. I started to tremble a little as if I were shivering in the cold my fingers fidgeting slightly like I was being shocked.

She smiled then, that cold, lifeless, wicked smile that of steel. It bit into my brain clawing at every recess and clutching the fears that lay buried deep within that unfathomable amount of space you reserve for love and hate, fear and joy, pain and pleasure. But there was no love in those crevasses, no joy to be found in the inky depths, no sense of pleasure to rake over my skin with the back of my mind. She said in that honey sweet voice, ever so alluring "Thank you honey, why don't you have a drink with me? Talk perhaps? How about doing mommy a favor?" I shivered with every syllable that escaped those full red lips her tongue slid over them slowly drawing back in the saliva that had almost found its way out with her drunken mouth.

I gazed into those eyes and asked trying to sound strong but failing my voice a little to high "Anything you want mom…anything" Her hand moved up to cup my cheek, her nails trailed lightly down my face tingling then grasped my neck in an iron vice not on the verge of choking but letting me know she had the power. "Good" she purred sending jolts and pin pricks of hysteria up my body and boiling in my stomach. She opened up the bottle and drank heavily from it, the liquid smelled like cherries and dandelions.

She drug me to the back room where we had a second fire place to heat water for our bath's. There in the room was fire pokers and shovels for the coals, buckets for water and a table with iron bands across it. She wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed my neck then whispered in my ear "I want to play my favorite game" with that my back straightened and went stiff dread racking my brain. She shackled me to the table the iron loops and chains cold and heavy left soot on my wrists and ankles and if moved wrong would bite into your flesh.

She leaned in close and kissed my forehead then my cheek and then my mouth exploring with her tongue. Bile started to rise to my throat the thought of knowing that this was my mother making me cringe and sag disgusting me to the most extreme but I knew she wasn't done she was never done it only got worse in this terrible perversion that rotted her mind. Her hands explored my body touching my flesh intimately with her fingers and nails her hands found they're way to the waist of my pants and drew them down. "Tonight is going to be extra special son, it's my birthday" She smiled again and rolled her eyes in the moment about to happen. I just screamed in my mind because screaming out loud would bring more pain. Twisting through the darkness about to envelope me I looked down at her as she kissed the most intimate parts of me and wrapping her lips around them, I turned my head and closed my eyes, my breathing fast and shallow the vomit rising in my throat.

I tried so hard not to puke but I couldn't hold back and it came pouring out into the bucket beside me, she had placed it there because she knew it would happen she knew I hated this, and she loved to do everything to me that I was afraid of. The spell had taken its full affect the past couple of days. The shaman had said greatness would come but only darkness and evil had risen to take over what I once loved as only the mother who raised me. She bit down just hard enough that a little more pressure would draw blood "That wasn't very nice son, now it smells in here. Now I'm going to have to punish you for it." Her voice had taken on a low growl her eyes turning black and the pupil a dull shining gold color.

She pulled a poker out of the coals and lifted her skirts. She climbed on the table and slid over me. I puked but it ended up being a dry heave. I kept dry heaving until blood came up the horrible smell of burning flesh filled the room and I noticed the poker had made its way through my belly and into the table.

Blood ran down the table and dripped into pools on either side. The pain felt excruciating, the smell horrendous and the pleasure disgusting. She yelped and moaned her pleasure as I heaved and drowned in my own blood. I saw the lights of a distant plain come in my vision, there I saw my old mother, my father, and my sister the end of existence sweet on my tongue. How long I waited for this moment. What took only days to come to this felt like the eternity of a never ending death. My soul stripped from my body I saw what happened above me and the words of an angle ringed through my head.

"The days are past and thou have been pained, woes to be given sacrifice not your soul but the shell of your creator, the splendor of all waits to be shared with you and whole."

I reached out and found a rope it was so smooth and so soft I cried. Not with pain or sadness but with joy and relief, I tied the knot and slipped it around her neck and yanked. Her mouth gaped to the ceiling but no sound I looked up at the ceiling and saw myself.

I woke and found myself in bed, the bandages around my abdomen spotted with blood. I heard a knock on my door and it opened, standing there my father stood with my sister. The tears fresh on they're eyes "were so happy you made the right decision the gods have blessed you and given you another chance at life." Mother walked through the door at that time; it was my old mom the old happy nice mother that cared for me.

The crossed

Sifting through the clouds and stars one bright minstrel had started to sing a song casting pictures across the heavens. Her gentle fingers trailed through the enthralling sky, the mists above swirling in cosmic colors of red, blue and purple.

Her gentle laugh was filled with joy and bubbled forth. Dancing across the clouds her bare feet glided and danced dropping little rain drops upon the heads of little forest creatures and moistened the leaves, slowly rolling off to the earth reaching the parched lips of the soil.