Post by Stardrifter on May 5, 2013 14:44:41 GMT -5
by
Stardrifter
#10 - Rebellions Part 3
The Fire Blazes
The sound of breaking glass causes Dawn to jump from her seat. Jason steps forward and puts an arm in front of her, protectively. The trio watch as a horde of demons begin climbing in through the windows. The demons vary in size and shape. Some are black, inky creatures that slither through the windows as if made of a foul liquid. Others are goblinesque creatures with pointed ears, sharply pointed chins, and bright red skin. They're covered in leather and chain armor and carrying various medieval weaponry. Some of the demons are so large they wait outside, unable to get through the windows.
The first demon to head for them, one of the inky black ones, is engulfed in flames that spring from Jason's hand. Without turning, he asks Xanadu, "You have a plan?"
Xanadu smirks. "'Kill them all' springs to mind." In such a fluid motion that they seem to appear out of thin air, Xanadu draws two curved daggers out of her coat.
Jason returns the smile. "Sounds good, though I'd like to add 'save my house' on as an addendum."
Dawn looks at the two with wide eyed confusion, unused to seeing such practiced nonchalance in the face of danger. "Can we get a little serious, please?"
"Indeed." Xanadu grabs Dawn's hand and pulls her to the side as Jason let's loose with a giant blast of air, knocking the demons off their feet. The two women sprint into the kitchen, where demons are just making it to the windows, and run for the backdoor. Xanadu hits the door with a small blast of energy from her hand, knocking it open for them to run through.
Shortly after, Jason emerges from the back door running, occasionally having to turn and attack the demons on his heels. A large magma demon runs up beside him and swings for Jason with his molten hot fist. Without breaking stride, Jason leaps into the air to avoid the hit, rolls along the soft grass, and rises back to his feet running.
The night is dark but for the half moon. This far on the outskirts of Gotham, streetlights and neighbors are few and far between. Jason looses sight of the women as they enter the woods. Their relationship may be damaged, but Jason still knows Xanadu's mind. He enters the woods with demons on his heels, the thick trees spreading their ranks. Out of the corner of his eye, Jason spots a hill with a large rocky outcropping along it. He suddenly turns toward it.
Breathing heavy, Jason leads the chase up the steep hill. He continues on past the boulder, pushing hard along the the thickly rooted ground. Behind him he hears a thunderclap, bringing him to a halt. He turns to find Dawn standing atop the rocky outcropping, throwing bolts of lightning at the unsuspecting demons. Two of the goblin like demons manage to get by, only to be stopped when Xanadu steps out from behind a boulder. Twirling her daggers with the precision and grace of a ballet dancer, she stabs one in the back before he can react. The other goblin cries out, his voice shrill and full of hate, and he swings a serrated sword toward Xanadu. She deftly blocks the attack, entrapping the sword between her daggers, and swings it around until her daggers plunge into the demon's belly.
More demons run, slither, and crawl up the hill. Jason looks behind him and sees another rock formation. Reaching out with magic, Jason causes the rocks to crack apart. Xanadu manages to climb up onto the outcropping with Dawn just in time to avoid the rock slide that impacts the demon horde.
"Woo!" Dawn yells in relief. Overcome with excitement, Dawn pulls Xanadu into a tight embrace. She quickly realizes and let's her go, awkwardly avoiding Xanadu's confused glare. "Sorry."
"Don't celebrate yet," Jason shouts. He slowly walks down to stand on the ground below their outcropping. Having discarded his jacket, he haphazardly rolls the cuffs of his sleeves up before pointing into the darkness.
"That was just the beginning," Xanadu tells Dawn, her voice grave.
"This is ridiculous! Why are we reenacting Lord of the Rings up here?" Dawn growls. She pulls at her hair in frustration. Xanadu sheathes her daggers and reaches out to take Dawn's hands.
"I'm starting to believe this has more to do with us than you." Xanadu looks down to share a look with Jason.
Jason sighs, running his hand through his beard as he stares off at the army of demons in the distance. "You might be right. Whoever raised this army is breaking numerous laws of Hell. As important as I feel you are, Dawn, the danger our attacker is risking is far greater than that."
Dawn begins to pace along the outcropping, her mind happy to focus on something other than the incoming army of demons. Xanadu, standing perfectly still, watches her with an amused look on her face. "So who could be behind this?" Dawn asks. "How many enemies do the two of you have in common who could pull this off?"
When they don't answer, Dawn stops to look up at them. The roar of the demons can be heard in the distance, growing louder. Xanadu looks at Jason, her mouth thin and crooked. Dawn looks to Jason, who looks away and scratches the back of his head.
"Really!" Dawn shouts in frustration. "You two have that many enemies?"
Holding her hands up by her sides, Xanadu explains, "We've been alive...a long time. Jason and I have crossed a lot of people in our time t..." She stops herself from finishing the last word. It's not lost on Jason.
"It's not a pressing concern right now," Jason tells them as he begins to pull power from the earth below. The demon army finally reaches the base of the hill and begins to climb. Xanadu and Dawn follow Jason's lead and begin gathering energy themselves. They wait, holding their breath and the energy inside them, for Jason's order. The ground begins to tremble below their feet, the sound of the demon army's footsteps almost forming a rhythm. Finally, Jason exhales and shouts, "Attack!"
****
-1193-
England
"That's it, Blood!" Robin says, his face a mask of determination. "You're going down!"
"You think you're man enough? I've defeated men twice your size!" Jason mocks, a bead of sweat sliding down the side of his face.
"Go!"
The crowd cheers as Jason and Robin begin chugging their ale. The tavern is darkly lit and so small that the twenty some odd people inside barely fit. For the farmers and peasants in the tiny village, it's more than enough. Excitement is high tonight, as the regulars have long since become bored with sharing the same stories and drinking challenges amongst themselves.
Jason slams his mug down, takes a deep breath, and wipes some ale from his beard. The crowd cheers at the winner, many slapping Jason on the back. He offers up a loud burp and smiles wide at Robin, who finally finishes his ale and scowls.
"You cheated!" Robin slurs. "There's more ale in your beard than your belly!"
"You're just jealous I have a full beard," Jason laughs, "since all your ale washes down your boyish cheeks!"
The crowd laughs at Jason's insult. Robin's already red cheeks darken. He leaps up out of his chair, not certain what he planned to do when he got there, but quickly finds his feet unsteady and falls backward. The group of farmers behind him, in a move so perfect you'd think they rehearsed it, all take a step backwards, leaving Robin to fall back onto the hard dirt floor.
Laughing so hard he can barely breathe, Jason rises to his feet slowly and walks around the table. His laughter dies out and he looks down on Robin, who is staring blankly at the ceiling. Jason starts to bend down to pick Robin up, but stops midway, suddenly woozy. He takes a deep breath, trying to keep from vomiting. After a few seconds, sure he has his stomach under control, Jason drags Robin to his feet.
After saying their goodbyes, Robin and Jason stumble out into the cool night air. The sun has just set, still leaving a haze of light in the sky. They head to the stables and, once safely out of sight of the tavern, Robin wretches into a pile of hay.
"Can't allow the people to see their great hero vomiting up his ale?" Jason teases. When Robin finally stands up, some vomit remains stuck to his chin. The sight of it is enough to send Jason over the edge, and he quickly turns to empty his stomach as well. Jason's wretches are punctuated by Robin's self satisfied laughter.
Once they're both on their horses and outside the stable, the moon is beginning it's climb through the night sky. Jason looks up at the stars and breathes in the cool night air. "Are you sure you don't want to spend the night here?" he asks Robin, the prospect of the long ride through Sherwood doesn't sit well with his stomach.
"Aye I'm sure for you, a night in the hay above the stables looks mighty appealing," Robin says with snark as he trots off down the road. "But I have a beautiful woman and a warm bed waiting for me back home."
Jason scowls at the back of Robin's head. It's been weeks since Robin has made a remark at his expense about Marion. Jealousy threatens to boil up inside him. A fleeting image of Jason throwing a ball of fire at Robin's back. Jason shakes his head, trying to expel such thoughts. It's the ale, he assures himself. Just as the ale must have made his friend say such a thing after so long.
Jason trots off after Robin. He can feel every step his horse takes in the pit of his stomach. He tries to put his mind off it, and as so often it does lately, his thoughts turn to Marion. Or rather, Nimue. Try as he might, he can never see her as anyone but Nimue. Even after weeks of being a member of Robin's little rebellion, he still has to watch himself or he'll let her real name slip. Only when they're alone, moments few and far between, does he call her Nimue.
Moments few and far between for good reason. At first, Jason's decision to join Robin and his bandits was selfish. After so long apart, Jason found himself wanting Nimue back in his life. He fully intended to steal her out from under Robin, a suitable fate for such an insufferable braggart. Only as time went on, Jason found Robin not quite so insufferable. Having taken the time to get to know Robin, he found a man true in his intentions to help the people of Nottinghamshire and England as a whole. His cocky attitude was a mask to hide the burden of his responsibility.
"Jason!"
Robin's voice stirs him from his thoughts. He looks up, unsure why Robin spoke in such a harsh whisper. Then it hits him, a smell on the wind. "Smoke."
The two speed up their horses as fast as they dare in the dark forest. The smell of smoke grows stronger as they go. When they spot the first body, a mercenary of some kind lying in the underbrush, Robin risks a full gallop. Jason follows suit, casting a small spell on their horses to help improve their eyesight. It isn't long before they spot the fires blazing through the treeline.
The sight that welcomes them is horrific. Homes and people burning alike. The ground is littered with bodies, more of them theirs than the enemies. Not just the men, but women and children as well. Jason has seen such horrors before, but it never gets any easier.
Seeing the state of many of the women, Robin panics. "Marion! Marion!" He leaps off his frightened horse and begins frantically searching the bodies.
Fear in his heart as well, Jason closes his eyes and reaches out with his mind. He searches the area for Marion, a presence he knows almost as well as his own. After searching as far as he can, twice, he comes up with nothing.
"Marion!"
Jason runs up and grabs Robin's shoulder, gripping it tight. "She's not here! Robin, she's not here! Alive or dead."
Robin tries to shake loose of Jason's grip. "How could you know? She could be dying! I have to find her! I have to..."
"Robin, I know!" Jason grabs Robin's other shoulder and shakes him slightly. "In all this time you must have noticed that Marion and I are...different. We can do things others can't. And I'm telling you, if she were here I would know."
Robin nods slightly, his vacant eyes staring through Jason. When Jason finally let's go of him, Robin looks around at the carnage, unsure of what to do. Jason leaves him for the moment and focuses his senses toward finding any survivors.
"Robin!" Jason calls out as he rushes over to a collapsed hut. "Over here!"
Still in a slight daze, Robin rushes over without purpose. Seeing Jason digging through the debris, he follows suit. Soon they uncover a large hand and Jason takes it in his. One heave and they pull the large man out from under the debris. His bushy brown hair and beard are singed from the fire. His exposed skin is covered in cuts and bruises.
"John!" Robin exclaims, the sight of his friend alive clearing his muddled mind. "You're alive!"
"Not for the Sheriff's lack of trying," John coughs. He rubs his shoulder while rotating his arm, trying to work the kinks out.
"The Sheriff?" Jason asks.
Robin ignores him and instead asks, "Did you see Marion? John, do you know where she is?"
John looks away, shame in his eyes. "They took her. The Sheriff and Sir Guy. It all happened so fast. These fires all started at once like...magic."
"Magic?" Jason asks, more to himself than them. Checking the air, he can sense the residue of magic. Demonic magic. Cries from other victims stirs him from his thoughts. "There are more injured we need to help! Come on!"
As the trio walks off toward the next victim, Robin announces, "And when we're done here, I'm heading to Nottingham Castle! This ends for good!"
****
The light is harsh to Marion's eyes when she awakens. She raises a hand to block the sunlight shining in through the castle window. The expensive feather bed beneath her is more comfortable than she's had in quite some time. When she finally sits up, she sees three human shapes across the room.
"So kind of you to join us, Maid Marion," a haughty male voice says.
"I could hardly refuse," Marion snidely remarks. She hears a feminine voice chuckle.
"Yes, well, you're lucky our benefactor wished you captured alive," a different, rougher male voice says. "Had I my way, you'd have been left dead and spoiled amongst the other refuse you call friends."
"Enough, Guy," the female voice admonishes. Her voice is dark and silky, and instantly recognizable to Marion.
"Of course," Marion sighs. "You two cretins would have to sell your souls to stand a chance. But what is your stake in this, Blaze?" Marion's vision finally clears, allowing her to see the indignation on Guy and the Sheriff's faces. Before they can respond, Blaze holds up a hand to silence them.
"My stake?" Blaze repeats. "These men and yours are all pawns in the Game, of course. And I have a vested interest in seeing Prince John on the throne, something your 'Robin Hood' would like to stop."
Marion studies Blaze's face, her perfect red skin and black eyes showing little of her inner thoughts. "So why take me? Revenge? I didn't think you were so petty." Guy and the Sheriff look at each other and the women with obvious confusion on their faces. They remain silent, knowing better than to interrupt.
"While I would love to pay you back for your meddling, I have more lofty goals than that." Blaze walks over and sits down on the bed in front of Marion. She reaches up to run a finger down Marion's cheek, an evil grin spreading across her lips. "Besides, after my plans are done, I shall have my revenge anyway."
"So I am to be bait then?"
"Of course," the Sheriff speaks up. "Robin wasn't there during the raid. Rather than wasting manpower searching for him, we can just wait for him to come to us."
Marion looks at the Sheriff and back to Blaze. Suddenly, her shoulders shake and laughter bursts forth. Guy and the Sheriff are unsettled by it, while Blaze's eyes narrow as she tries to discern the meaning behind it. "Pray tell, what is so amusing?"
"You...you..." It takes a moment for Marion to quiet her laughter. "You have no idea. Robin will come, but its who he brings with him you should be worried about."
Blaze continues to stare at Marion, not sure if she's bluffing or if there's truly something she's unaware of. "Whom do you speak of?"
Marion turns her gaze t the open window. The faint sounds of shouting can be heard. "I believe you're about to find out."
Blaze's eye twitches momentarily before turning from Marion and walking to the window. Down in the courtyard, guards rush over toward the gate, weapons ready. More shouting and the clashing of weapons can be heard from over the wall. Then it's suddenly drowned out by the roar of an explosion, as the gate is torn apart. Fire and guards fly in all directions, and when the smoke clears, Jason, John, and a dozen men rush through the hole.
"Blood," Blaze whispers through gritted teeth. In an instant, fire engulfs Blaze and she disappears, only to reappear in the courtyard.
"Get down there," the Sheriff shouts at Guy, his voice filled with fear. "Kill them all n..."
The Sheriff is cut off by a boot to the face. He falls down onto the floor as Robin swings in through the window. Guy quickly draws his sword, preparing to attack, when Marion reaches out and throws a small gust of wind toward his back. He stumbles forward and into the fist of Robin, knocking him onto his backside up against the bed. Before he can rise to his feet, Marion lunges forward, wrapping an arm around his head. With her other hand, Marion unsheathes the dagger on his belt, and in one swift motion, slits Guy's throat.
The Sheriff rises to his feet, rage overcoming fear, and draws his sword. "You will pay for this, Loxley!"
"Let's end it then!" Robin draws his sword and lunges forward. He drives the Sheriff out the door and into the hallway.
Marion gets off the bed and heads off after them. As she goes, Guy grabs the hem of her dress, stopping her. She turns and meets his gaze, his eyes filled with fear. The only sound he makes is a gurgling noise through quick, shallow breaths. The front of his tunic is covered in blood. His eyes plead with her, like a drowning man trying to clutch to life. Marion reaches down, tugs her dress out of his hand, and walks away.
When she catches up to Robin and the Sheriff, they clash of swords are furious. Robin has the advantage as he forces the Sheriff down a spiral staircase. Realizing he's at a disadvantage, the Sheriff blocks an attack and then turns and runs down the steps, looking for equal footing. Robin chases after, his sword at the ready. He follows the Sheriff through the main hall and out into the courtyard, Marion at his heels.
Outside they find a fierce battle, as Robin's men subdue what remains of the castle guard. Blaze and Jason throw spells back and forth, neither gaining a distinct advantage. When Marion reaches the courtyard, she looks between Jason and Blaze and her lover's duel with the Sheriff, not sure which to help. Deciding Blaze to be the bigger threat, she gathers energy from a fire next to her and throws a blast of energy at Blaze's back.
"Aargh!" Blaze yells, the attack knocking her off guard. Jason takes advantage and hits her with an entrapment spell. With Blaze unable to move, Jason runs toward her with his sword. A quick glance at the Sheriff fighting Robin alone and Marion free, Blaze does the only thing she can, retreat. A column of fire engulfs her, returning her to Hell.
"Are you all right?" Jason asks, running up to Marion. Overcome by the moment, his wraps his arms around her and kisses her. At first she returns the kiss, her old feelings for Jason returning. Then the clash of swords awakens her mind, and she pushes Jason away.
"I'm fine," she says curtly. Jason avoids her gaze, embarrassed by his outburst.
"It's over, Sheriff!" Robin shouts with a quick nod toward the courtyard. "Your men are defeated! Surrender and face your crimes!"
The Sheriff takes a step back and surveys the battlefield. His men are either dead or on their knees. Blaze is nowhere in sight. Marion stands safe, staring at him with pity. He turns back to Robin, rage and desperation in his eyes. He lunges forward, swinging his sword in a wild, two handed attack. Robin easily dodges it, bringing his sword up and into the Sheriff's belly.
"I relieve you of duty, Sheriff." Robin pulls the sword out of his foe, standing aside to let him fall to the ground. With a heavy sigh, he looks up and sees his lover. "Marion!" The two run into each other's arms.
For a moment Jason watches, the passion in their kiss like a distant memory. Finally, the threat ended, he turns to leave.
****
-The Present-
Flames fall like rain from above Dawn. She jumps out of the way and looks up to find a fire demon leaping out of a burning tree. Raising her hands, she rapidly lowers the temperature around it. When the demon finally reaches her, it slams into the ground and shatters into small pieces of ice.
Something flies past her cheek, causing Dawn to turn in panic. Behind her stands a goblin with one of Xanadu's daggers sticking out of it's eye. It falls back in a heap and Xanadu runs over to retrieve her weapon.
"You all right?" Xanadu shouts, parrying an incoming axe.
"Never better!" Dawn growls. She reaches out and grabs the axe handle, sending electricity through it and into the helpless goblin.
The two women position themselves back to back as they wait for more attackers. In the distance, they see Jason fighting his own battle. In his right hand is a long, curved sword he acquired from somewhere. He rolls out of the way of a giant, bull like demon, only to find a shadow demon in front of him. Without hesitation, Jason raises his sword and stabs the shadow demon in the chest. An eery wisp of laughter comes from the demon, but is quickly silenced when the sword starts to glow white, burning away the shadow demon.
A large stone golem lumbers toward Dawn. She raises her hand up, using her mind to lift a large boulder beside her. With a wave, she sends it flying toward the golem, knocking him down the hill. "I don't suppose your future sight sees us winning this?"
"The immediate future is in flux," Xanadu shouts.
"Well at least you don't see us losing either."
Dawn cries out when a hand grabs her wrist. A goblin twists her arm and draws back with a club. Her immediate reaction forgoes magic, instead Dawn slams her fist into the goblin's nose. Xanadu plunges a dagger into his back while Dawn shakes her hand in the air, pain shooting through it. Then, in the distance, Dawn notices someone walking toward them.
"Who...?"
Xanadu turns to follow Dawn's gaze. She sees a man walking slowly toward them. Dressed in black leather with a longsword on his hip, his pale skin shines in the moonlight. The demons give him a wide berth as they run past. The man's piercing stare is locked on Xanadu.
"It can't be," Xanadu whispers. She meets his stare, taking in the pure hatred coming from him.
"What can't be?" Dawn asks. "Who is he?"
"A dead man," Xanadu says with certainty. "Sir Guy of Gisbourne."
"He doesn't look dead to me."
"He is. I killed him."
-To Be Concluded-