A king will not tolerate threats to his power, however real or perceived they may be.
Tag: Fragment
Agony And Ecstasy
A slight whistle hummed on the breeze, growing ever louder as the midday sun shone down upon the crimson desert canyons. The whistle grew loud until a man crashed through the dirt, like a meteor sent from the heavens. He tumbled end over end and skidded until finally finding his footing and sliding to a stop, his left hand bracing him from falling over. The dust cleared as the man glanced up from his perch, his dark eyes imbued with rage.
“Had enough?”
The man turned as his Master stood behind him. She was small in stature, yet strong enough to have overcome an army in her past years. He stared longingly at her, not a passion of beauty, but respect. He lunged, and she blocked effortlessly. As she slid his strike away from its mark, her hand hit like a mallet to his ribs. The soft tissue and muscle buckled over the bone and thankfully, bone withstood the challenge. His elbow returned to pass through some hair that had fallen from his Master’s pony tail and she kneed him clean off his feet. He felt it pass between organs and push on his spine as he lifted from the ground and landed flat on his back.
“Well?” She asked.
Sounds of agony escaped his lips, betraying him to weakness. As he pushed off the ground, he looked to the Master. “Never…” He gasped slightly as his whole abdomen throbbed in pain. He felt her move before she visibly did, and quickly he pushed himself from the dirt. He sneakily grabbed two handfuls of the dust and clapped them together before himself to create a screening effect. He smirked amid the sudden reduction in visibility at his own cleverness. A fist connected hard across his jaw, and a kick landed solidly beneath his right arm. He swung wildly in frustration and a precise strike disabled his left arm from use. The numbness was sudden, and jarring. He blocked a flurry of blows, or a few, as fists pierced the veil of dust and struck many body shots. He could barely see himself, let alone his opponent. With a loud a gust, the Master was standing strong in front of him as she spun on her heel and kicked him square in the face.
***
The sky was blue and birds were chirping as he opened his eyes. He glanced around from his new bed and found his master training another. She moved with grace and precision, a one woman ballet of accuracy and death. Her hands moved as blurs, blocking and striking almost simultaneously. The man she fought began to cower as her hits landed between ribs and rained upon precious internal organs. He collapsed as she shook her head.
“Take him away.” Her voice boomed the command as two women gathered the moaning mass of anguish from the ground. Her attention turned back to her student as he stared back. “Awake are we, Altenir?”
“I believe so. Or you’ve knocked me into a dream like state permanently.” Altenir glanced down at his torso and examined the various shades of purples, greens and yellows. “I see you took it easy on me then.”
His Master stared at him through cold eyes. “I never said this would be easy. Nor did I guarantee your longevity or health.”
“I suppose not.” Altenir groaned as he shifted into a sitting position.
“Then stop whining. We must get back to it.” She demanded.
Eyes wide with shock, Altenir stared at her. “Now?” His whole body groaned in protest of another tenderising.
“Will they wait for you?” His Master pointed to a cage of skeletons who tugged at the bars of their prison. “I think not.”
“Death waits for us.” Altenir mentioned.
His Master’s eyes widened quick as she grabbed him by the arm and launched him from the table and into the dirt. She spat on the ground before him and shook her head. “Death waits for no man, woman, child or animal. Death comes when he does, and there is no stopping that.”
Altenir rolled on the ground in pain, but he had heard the stories. Who hadn’t? A young woman had single handedly dismantled an army and there had been word that she was in league with the devil himself to avoid death. People said that when Death came for her, she had fought and bested even him. Stories mostly, but as Altenir writhed in agony, he considered the truths in it.
***
An effort in action, hopefully it is an enjoyable read and now I’m going to sleep despite only wanting to play Diablo on PS4. If you’d like to add me on there, simply email me your PSN name and I will add you ASAP! Night everyone! (21 Days until Canada!)
Fragment: The Truth About Heaven and Hell
Fragment (Noun)
1. a piece broken off or detached
2. an incomplete piece or portion
3. a scrap, morsel, bit
I’m looking to reorganise my blog and start focusing more on the quality of writing hosted here. With this in mind, I’ve come up with some new ideas that I will try and maintain going forward. The concept of a “Fragment” in this case will refer to an incomplete idea or scene that will come to form a larger work, such as a short story or novel. Today’s instance will be the concept for a story I’ve had for awhile, and involves the fallen angel Lucifer explaining the reasoning behind the symbolism of Heaven and Hell and what the real purpose of Hell is.
***
The duo stood before the hooded man, his golden hair flowing from the ashen hood cloaking his face in darkness. Unsure whether to be afraid, or relieved, Alex cleared his throat as he stared at the faint glow from the man’s long, ivory sword. “Th-Thank you…” He stuttered as he glance down at the savage dog-like demon at the man’s feet.
Drawing back his hood, the man revealed a face fairer than fair, not a mark nor speck of dirt to be seen. His golden hair framed his face as it trailed down his shoulders. “Alexander… it is I, Lucifer.” He shifted uncomfortably as he looked to Alex for any sign his memory may spark back to light. “Do you not recognize your old brother at arms?”
Alex blinked a few moments before shaking his head. He looked to his girlfriend who was in awe of the man before her. Brave, handsome, well put together… He turned from her back to Lucifer. “I don’t know who you are… am I supposed to?”
A sadness washed over Lucifer’s face as he glanced to the ground. “I was hoping… well, you reminded me of an old friend. We fought together to beat back the demons as Heaven burned around us-“
“Heaven? As in the Heaven?” Alex interrupted.
“There is no other.” Lucifer stated bluntly. “If you are he, I require your aid.”
Alex glanced uncomfortably at the surrounding alley. “What if I was… he? What would you say?”
“I’d tell him the black gates of Hell have fallen.” Lucifer began. “I’d tell him we require his power to beat the demons back from this world, before they reach Heaven again. Before it’s too late.”
With a sigh, Alex shrugged to Lucifer. “I wish I was him. I wish I could help you… but I’m just a guy. A guy who couldn’t protect himself and his girlfriend from some rabid dog-“
“Hell hound.” Lucifer corrected.
“-hell hound… But I’m worthless.” Alex looked down to his feet as he admitted his defeat. Suddenly, Lucifer was standing before him, and his sword had seemingly vanished into thin air. He embraced Alex’s shoulders, one in each hand, and stared him in the eye.
“You are worth more than you could ever understand. Even if you aren’t the man I once knew.” Lucifer smiled warmly, a strangely reassuring moment for Alex. “I believe in you. The Gods believe in you. Only you need to believe in you.”
Suddenly a torrent of memories and images came flooding back into Alex’s mind as if that phrase were a key. Scenes of dead angels, scenes of hell hounds ripping at flesh, scenes of demons being chased through a large obsidian gate and finally, Alex being gifted by the Arch Angels with a mortal life again.
Alex wrestled from Lucifer’s grasp and leaned against a nearby wall as he felt weak. His knees wobbled and his mind felt light. A retch or two later evacuated his stomach of its contents, and he wiped at his mouth with his sleeve. “So many gaps, so many questions…”
“I may fill you in.” Lucifer smiled broadly, happy to see his friend back from beyond his reach. “The story is as such. Many millennia ago, there was only the Lord and his three guardians. Myself, Gabriel and Dullahan. The Lord had finally finished his greatest masterpiece in creation, Heaven, and required us all to perform tasks in its function. I was the protector, Gabriel was the watcher and Dullahan was the guide.”
“What do you mean protector, watcher and guide? People here believe you’re evil!” Alex interrupted.
“In a sense, I am. I fell victim to temptation.” Lucifer swallowed the feelings and pushed on for his friend’s sake. “I fell in love with a newcomer to Heaven, despite having sworn an oath to The Lord. He replaced me with Gabriel and replaced him with Raguel. I walked in shame through Heaven for sometime, as The Lord knew not what to do to punish me, me being one of his chosen.”
“After many years, demons began to flood from this world. Evil had risen and a darkness had taken shape while we became consumed with the beauty of Heaven. They came from the depths to sack the Heavens and I lead the charge against them, uniting angels new and old alike. You were one of my recruits then, an angel terrified of himself and what was to come. I told you then to believe in yourself, as I did now, and you rallied with me and lead your own group into battle. Together, you and I beat the demons back from Heaven, back to Earth where war, plague and famine were ravaging the angels of the future. As we pushed them deep into the canyon they had emerged from, we passed through the obsidian gateway into Hell and together you and I helped to close it.”
“Then why does everyone think you’re evil, and when they’re bad you go to Hell?” Alex asked innocently enough.
“Because you do. Every soul becomes an angel, but if you’ve given into the temptations of the darkness then you are sent to Hell as a guardian. Just as I was. We are the defenders of the world against the demons below. I chose to be considered evil so that others could enjoy the beauty of Heaven.” Lucifer stood tall and proud, as Alex straightened himself back into a standing position.
Alex furrowed his brow. “Then why are you here? Isn’t there some Hell to be guarding?”
“You’re why I’m here.” Lucifer clarified. “The obsidian gates have fallen, my army overwhelmed. I have failed.”
“You need me? But I can barely remember who I am!” Alex proclaimed. “I have a life, a partner!”
“Who has left you in the dark alley with a strange man.” Lucifer stated as he pointed in the direction the young lady disappeared into. “I can see her devotion.”
“How am I supposed to help?” Alex threw his hands into the air in frustration. “I’m a mortal, this is supposed to be my reward!”
“We must find Dullahan. He is why my army fell so fast. Supposedly the great equalizer, and he failed to recruit me more guardians.” Lucifer unfolded a piece of parchment from his pocket. “I have an idea of where he may be hiding.”
“I can’t remember anything about Dullahan, who is he exactly?” Alex asked.
Lucifer turned from his parchment as he folded it back up and placed it into his pocket. “He’s the Archangel of Death.” As he spread his expansive, black feathered wings, he extended a hand to Alex. “And he’s ignored his duties for far too long.”
***
I’d love any comments or suggestions about the writing above and the ideas and concepts I’ve introduced! Anyway back to my other story writing and working on the “outline” behind Jefferson & The Eternal Mana (Book 2 of the Circle of Magic Trilogy). Also, what books or events have inspired you folk out there into writing? I’d love to hear about it!