A Throne of Fire

Hello! This is my first time doing this sort of thing with my own story I have been working on for a while and I hope it intrigues some people!!!  Witnesses, none, can’t be any, none are allowed to live, none are allowed to see you. Panic,  Anger,  Cold fire, Everything, all, any, it was coursing through your veins at such a velocity. No thinking before acting, you can’t, you can’t, youcantyoucant. Go get rid of everyone, shred their skin, pull out their bones! Leave No One.  Rampage, fire, screams--Yes! Screams! They fill the air, along with panic and fear! It gives you such a rush, such a euphoric rush! More, More, More!  Silence?  Scaredscaredscaredscaredscared.                       Go away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: A summoner appears Nothing’s changed since then. People have still been living in a constant state of paranoia. The world was corrupting itself and ending it seemed. Nature running rampant, buildings being torn down by different weather phenomena. Mother Earth has finally decided to factory reset herself, sickened by the humans and how they have destroyed her. Though she left the outer races alone. Witches, werewolves, christ even the fae got to live (surprisingly). She was sick of it all, time to start anew. Not that Xaylin can really blame her, she herself could barely stand how the humans lived, and she couldn’t even see the bastards.  There was a rumor going around though, of a human that's been appearing and disappearing at random. The thought of it happening got her older sister more than a little bit excited. Herself? Well, she was just curious.           “Stop.” Her brother’s voice rattled behind her, well, below her she supposed, melting in front of her from within the shadow casted by her being.  Night Terror, a class of demons that most overlook for being viewed as weak and undermining. A mistake.  She was a subclass below him, taking more after her uncle, who was a Nightmare. Unfortunately, this breed is blind. Fun, right?  “What?” Annoyance seeped from her tone, already frustrated that they have found nothing to lead them to find any evidence of this human rumor going around. The ravenette was so excited as well, to actually find a human, she wanted to know how they sounded when they screamed. What a disappointment. “We can’t search these parts of ruins, your tendrils won’t be able to guide you properly through them.” Narcissus stated with a voice void of any indication as to what he may be feeling. Though knowing her brother he couldn’t care any less than he already did about this whole situation.  “Then you lead me.” Xaylin stated bluntly, “Just because I am blind doesn’t mean I can’t f-.”  “I can’t.” He interrupted, causing her temper to flare, “I have a meeting soon with the elders. You need to go home to father.”  Another flick of fire boiled in her belly. She wasn’t a child anymore! She could fend for herself. She didn’t need a babysitter. Though before she could protest, Narcissus grabbed her shoulder and warped them close to home. Still a bit of ways, probably to give her time to cool off.  Grumbling she doesn’t argue, instead choosing to swallow her pride for a moment and give a short, but bitter nod of her head. She understood Narcissus’s place in the elders, one step below fathers, so he couldn’t always be around to make sure she didn’t kill herself with her little adventures. Without another word he melted away, leaving her to her tendrils, snaking the floor to find a smooth path for her to walk. Being blind isn't too bad, the more she thought about it, maybe for a human it would be horrible. Though as a Nightmare it’s pretty okay, she can still see, just nothing too detailed. Picture one big, flat, greyscale for everything. Xaylin’s tendrils push as much information to her head as they can, though they can’t pick up too much, only a short distance around her. So she could see, sort of, just not like normal beings.  A sigh escaped her, trailing along behind her while she made her way home. There was no lying that she didn’t want to stop continuing her search for the human that had been rumored to be alive. She just didn't want to cause her brother too much stress, even if she was getting more than a little frustrated with how she's been treated. Walking among these woods that surrounded their territory, how they survived is a mystery all on it’s own. Which makes it all the more exciting to try and find them! It burned through her blood, telling her to stop moving towards the house and to go back to the ruins. She could have been hot on their trails! At this point they shouldn’t have gotten too far if she doubles back and searches. Surely.  Nervousness pings at her belly, along with the thrill of going out on her own, without some stupid guide.  Fuck it. Let’s go. Doubling back she makes a steady jog to the ruins, her shadows a frenzy below her, snaking out anything that could interrupt her along her path. The excitement sends warm fire through her veins, this will be so much fun!  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Soooooooooooooooooooooooo where exactly are we going?” The question came out more frightened than the man had intended it to be, but like, he was absolutely terrified. One minute he was at home in bed and the next he was being awoken by the most absolutely terrifying looking female he had ever seen. Being hauled off, saying that this random place in the woods where he just…..appeared? Was just too dangerous to be in. Was someone’s territory? He couldn’t remember the name of who, but they were not to be trifled with. To be honest this entire situation is just messing with his head, maybe he was still dreaming? Yeah that’s gotta be it, he’s dreaming. There is absolutely NO feasible way that he is actually awake right now. Everything was just too….random to be real. Maybe he just needed to pinch himself and he’d wake up? Yeah that has to be it.  The steady pace that this girl started ended up being a solo rather than a duo. Damon slowed his pace, looking around at the environment, wild hues of oranges, yellows and reds. Vines running rampant up trees and throwing out green hues into the air. Bushes taller than him, towering over a six foot two man, splattered with more reds and oranges.  At least the seasons seem like they are staying the same. So yeah, he’s gotta be dreaming. The wild flora looks like it hasn’t been cut down in years, just, growing. Non stop.  Giving a shake of his head, his fawn brown hair waving just above his eyebrows, “Alright, Damon, alright. Just give it a good pinch and go home. Good pinch, then home.” Grabbing his top right shoulder with his left hand he gives a quick painful pinch.  ….. …….. ……….. …………... Everything felt the same. He was still standing, the ground didn't feel like a hardwood floor. Huh. Opening his honey brown eyes he sighs in defeat and suddenly becomes very fearful. Cold fire ripping its way through his veins and suddenly he can’t move, he has no knees. None, legs are gone, no longer in service.  Suddenly the fiery auburn haired woman whipped around, “What are you doing?!” She shouts from the distance away, her lips peeled up in obvious annoyance. He sees it then, her teeth, sharp, so sharp. No one’s canines are that large. Something didn’t settle right in his belly, it turned and churned. This wasn’t his world, this wasn’t the real world, what happened to him? Where did he land? Why did he land here? Panic arose in his chest, so much panic. The woman began to close the distance between him and her, and everything he was feeling for the last two minutes hit him in the face and he booked it.  Turning right on his heel he ran like his life depended on it. Stumbling and bumbling around the overgrown weeds, he looked at anything he could, trying to see if he could find some familiar territory. Something had to be the same, maybe he had managed to sleep walk into the woods? No he has never slept walked before there is no way he could have done that. Whatever was happening was something close to what you would see in apocalyptic movies, or read in books.  Behind him he could hear the distant yells of the girl, boy, she sounded angry. He picked up on little words, like dangerous, or stupid. Albeit he might be one of those, he wasn’t about to let himself be killed by a vixen in the woods.  When he felt like he ran enough he checked his surroundings. Still a whole lot of trees, and leaves…. a couple bushes. f**k. Where was he? And why did this woman seem so keen on suddenly just helping some random guy in the woods? Taking a much needed gulp of air he actually took a good look into his surroundings while he began walking at a slight brisk pace. Didn't want to give her too much time to catch up.  Ahead of him just seemed to go on forever. So. Many. Big ass trees. It seemed almost hopeless to find some sort of civilization. Until he saw the opening of what looked like a large temple of some sort. It appeared like it was well kept, seeing it from the twenty or so feet away he was, Damon guessed he couldn't be too picky of detail. Golden pillars held up a rather large red roof that seemed to also have been built into the mountain it penetrated. Almost like how Chinese roofs are, with the red shingles and cool looking little dragons on the sides of the pillars. Coiling up like snakes. Seeing more detail as he got closer he realized it looked like something close to the monks temple back home.  Excitement rushed his body, causing him to get a second wind and run straight for the entrance. Just in time too, it seems as though the angry girl from before has caught up slightly. Maybe he could lose her inside. If it was anything like the temple at home.  Rushing up the stairs two at a time he felt his calves burning, though head no intention of stopping anytime soon. Not until he was inside and felt safe. Well as safe as the situation might allow him to feel.  Hitting the heavy front doors Damon took a second to catch his breath and then gave a mighty shove, it wasn't as hard for him to move as he thought they would be. Slipping inside the almost too small opening he made sure that they closed behind him. Looking around frantically he noticed a wooden bar that slides down to lock the big golden doors. So that's just what he did, right on time too, hearing the large thud and a string of curse words follow suit.  “You're being ridiculous!!” The woman shouted through the doors, her voice muffled.  “Me!? I am not the one trying to haul off some random person in the woods, which mind you, I have no idea as to how I got here in the first place. If anything I think this entire place is more than then a little ridiculous, and confusing!” Damon hollers back, his frustration finally catching up to him. None of his questions were answered, nothing looked familiar to him, and this… woman thing was apparently trying to help him. Pretty sure his mother told him stranger danger.  “Just get out of there you stupid sack of meat! You're going to get yourself killed!” She sounded even more angry now, wonder how angry he could make her.  A s**t eating grin appeared across Damon’s face as he leaned against the door frame, being sure to make the sound loud enough for her to hear.  “I don't knooooow, my mother always told me stranger danger.” A smug ass tone carried through the door and a loud bang answered it. Followed by, “Oooohhh the last thing you have to fear around here is me.” She stated it with such cold malice that it almost made him shiver. Almost. He wasn't that much of a wuss, not going to get scared over words. “Yeah okay, like I fear you anyways.” He gave a click of his tongue, expecting an angry response in return though silence was the only thing that answered him.  Maybe she left? Or maybe she was trying to trick him into unlocking the door in hopes he might venture out? Well jokes on her, he's not that dumb.  He hopes.  Well only one way to find out. Pushing himself off the door he looked into the dimly lit corridor of the temple. It didn't look too different from his at home. Maybe it was his temple?  Deciding that he was sick of asking questions to literally no one but himself, the brunette boy made his way down the long hallway. Feeling only the slightest bit unnerved. Dragons lined the walls in black ink, a red decorative rug went on for what seemed like miles. Until finally everything opened up into a very large, very open room.  It was exactly like his at home!!!  Relief flooded him and his knees gave out. Finally, he can sit and just think on what's been happening for a bit. The inside looked a little more under kept then the outside, though it wasn't too bad. Cobwebs here and there and some rubble. Was this a dream of the past? Was he having a seizure of some sort and his brain is just freaking out?  Maybe he is on the floor at home just dead, and he is just wandering aimlessly, forgetting how each day has gone.  That's a morbid thought process. Damon feels his stomach twist, something didn't feel too right. It was far too quiet in  the temple. Even in silence there is normally a simple sound. The temple settling, maybe a mouse skittering here or there. But there was nothing, not even his breathing seemed to make much noise.  Something slid up his leg, curling and cold, the minute his brain registered that he should look down and see what it was or to even properly react he was being dragged across the floor. Rug burn sliding it’s way up his back as his shirt gets bunched up under his chin, Damon lets out a scream of fear and surprise, trying to kick and grab onto something, anything to stop the sudden thing that caught him.  “Let me go!!!!” Just as the words ripped out of his mouth he had suddenly been dropped, the sudden stop making him a little motion sick. Before he let himself get distracted about how his insides got a little scrambled, he sits up. Looking around quickly to see what had grabbed him like that. It was dark, the only real light source coming from the sunset through the stain glass windows.  Wow it’s actually kind of pretty in here…off-topic, bad, don’t be thinking about how it’s pretty. He should be thinking about how there is a little girl just sort of chilling near one of the large golden pillars. That is definitely something to be paying attention to.  She was small, probably like five three or so, with black hair that fell a little way past her shoulders. She wore some really weird looking clothes? Well a weird looking dress at least. It looked like one of those old Victorian style ones. White ruffles flowed down the front, framed by black at the sides. Maybe she’s a lost child? Why would a child look like a doll? Wow what a day it’s been, sure wish he could just, you know, wake the f**k up.  “Uh..Hello?” Oh yeah, perfect, great thing to say. No, not a ‘why the f**k did you just drag me all the way down this f*****g hallway and give me rug burn.’ Nah, let’s just say hi.  “Bonjour.” Soft spoken, though she sounded cold.  Wonderful, doesn’t even speak english. Standing up, wincing slightly at his poor back, he offers an awkward grin, “So uh, you speak english?” It was worth a shot.  The girl's eyes narrowed, “I am not that incompetent. I am well acquainted with your language.” Whew, sassy.  “Alright then, Short Fry. Mind telling me why you felt the need to just you know, rip me from my perch in the middle of the main room?” The rug burn didn’t hurt as bad at this point, though he was still more than a little annoyed.  Something wrapped around his leg again and pulled violently, his guess at trying to knock him over, though he caught himself this time. Throwing his hands out to grab at a wall railing, he gives her a smug as f**k look. Feeling her own annoyance snap across her expression.  Her eyes seemed a little weird though. They weren’t exactly...looking at him, just in his general direction. Almost seemed like she was looking at the wall next to him. “I might be small but I can surely have you on your knees in an instant.” Oh, she reminds him of a small dog. Oh yeah, definitely an ankle biter.  “Is that a threat or a promise, shorty?” It has crossed Damon’s mind that he should probably stop harassing this...girl? Child? Thing? He wasn’t really sure what to pin her as exactly. He didn’t really know any girls that used weird.. Tentacle things.  “Oh god please don’t do any of that weird hentai s**t man.” The words blurt from his mouth before he can really stop himself. Though she looked more confused than anything.  “...What? I just want to know if you’re human or not.” She squints icy blue eyes towards him. Those weird tendrils snaking around his legs and further up, waving around in the air at his calves as if searching for something. He didn’t really appreciate these weird shadow snake things touching him, though he was afraid to move in case he got hung upside down and bullied.  Middle school was not a fun time. “Answer me!” She all but demanded. “You just have no manners, I am sure your mother is proud of that.” Maybe if he could buy himself a little more time he could figure a way out of this. He just wanted to go home, or to wake up, whichever one came first. Looking about his surroundings there wasn’t much he could really go off of in plans of an escape, the windows didn’t open any, and he had absolutely no idea which part of the temple he was dragged to with how little light there was. Why was she so keen on knowing if he's human? “My mother has been dead for centuries.” The ravenette states between clenched teeth. Oh? Maybe hit a nerve?  Wait, centuries? Before he can ask how old she even is, or what she even is (even though he probably should have asked that sometime beforehand.) the she-demon chasing him before suddenly burst through the stain glass windows. So much for the temple not being ruined.  “YOU CAN’T RUN FROM ME FOREVER!” She bellowed as she rolled across the glass gracefully. Shame she couldn’t use her inside voice, damn it echoed in this place.  The sudden appearance caused the little girl to startle, retracting her little shadows back to herself and then melting away into the obsidian behind her. Well, that gets rid of one of them, he is still at a loss on what to do with the loudmouth over here.  “I mean, I feel like I could if I really wanted to. I am just feeling a little lazy at the moment.” Stall, Damon, stall.  If he could get them to somehow rotate their positions he could probably jump out the window that she came in through.  “I am trying to help you, what part of that do you not understand?” The auburn woman throws her hands in the air, obviously frustrated. There were little rivulets of blood running down her arm and dripping off her elbow. Though she didn’t seem to be affected too badly by it.  Slowly, Damon sidestepped to his left, to which she raised a dark eyebrow, “I wouldn’t recommend jumping out of a two-story-high window.” Crossing her arms now she gives him her own s**t-eating grin.  Well s**t. There goes that plan. Maybe he should just hope to outrun her down the hallway then? But what if he runs into the other girl?  Wait how did she get up a two-story building and then breakthrough?  “Listen, I swear to you that I am not going to hurt you in any way.” She attempts a different approach. Okay, so maybe he should just stay and talk? It seemed rather futile to try running, as much as he wanted to, it’s either he gets hunted down by the wrath of this female, or get dragged down the hallway by the demon child.  Fuck it.  Damon lowers himself to the ground and sits Indian style on the floor and looks up at her expectantly. Placing his chin in his hand and waving the other almost impatiently. “Alright. Lay it on me. I know that I am a devilish lad but that can’t be the only reason you want me.”  Her vibrant green eyes all but roll into the back of her head at his comment. You know, for someone who seemed super hardheaded and stubborn, she had a sort of grace to her features. High cheekbones, angled jawline, and she looked pretty well built for what he could tell. No Wonder it didn't take her long to catch up to him.   “Well, as I have been trying to tell you, and explain to you. Is that you are in danger. A lot of it. But you seem to be oh so keen that you can just wander off on your own and survive.” “I was in boy scouts I am sure I will be fine.”  “Yeah okay buddy, I am sure the knowledge of being able to tie a noose will help you out real nice against whatever is out there. Save them the trouble of killing you themselves.” Hip c****d, arms cross, oh man she has the mom stance. His nerves kicked up slightly, probably more out of habit than anything else. He wasn’t entirely a trouble maker at home, but he wasn’t the most innocent child either.  “What exactly is out there? More importantly, where is out there?!? What is even going on? Where am I?” His voice raised slightly higher than he wanted it to, though the frustration of this entire situation was really getting to him.  “You’re human correct?” Her question threw him off, and that was it, anger just boiled right out of his stomach and into his throat.  “What kind of  f*****g question is that? I am not going to be answering anything until you or somebody answers mine!” Standing now so he can be eye level, “Who even are you?”