The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

SEHIRA

When Sehira watched the doors of the city falling and the chaos getting a hold of the panicked people, she had turned around and taken the only option she had left: Running for her life. She'd found a sewer where she hid herself from the enormous monsters that flooded the streets in no time, chopping heads left and right, a series of loud booming sounds disturbing the land's entrails.

She had stayed there, covered in muck. Trembling and silently crying as the invaders advanced and the screams of the desperate villagers tore her ears, making her cower in fear.

The c*****e lasted all day, and by the time the laments turned into a muffled constant ripple, the moon was already high in the sky.

Shaking and drenched in grime, she finally gathered the courage to adventure herself out of her hiding spot.

Her hand darting to her mouth in horror as she fought the urge to shriek and vomit at the sight of the piles of bodies littering the cobbled roads. She ran as fast as she could, aided by the shadows, and reached the unguarded entrance, which she exited feeling the air leaving her lungs as she tried to keep her sanity at the terrifying view of their entire army slaughtered to pieces.

With her heart on the verge of ripping out of her chest, she kept running as far from the horrific scene and away from all that dread and pain as she could get, before finding a hollow tree trunk and collapsing in exhaustion inside it.

A wrinkled palm covering her mouth had woken her up in a fright as her eyes widened in shock, and she struggled to break free from the bony fingers clutching her arm, yelping with distress.

-Do not fear my child - The old woman holding her had whispered as she let go of her and Sehira sat up with difficulty- I am here to help you. Now hush and follow me, please.

The sun loomed on the horizon when the elder woman placed a steamy bowl of broth before her and nodded at it.

-Go on, eat girl. You must regain your strength before you go back to your fate - The woman said. Sitting in front of her.

-I am not going back- Sehira replied, slurping greedily on the contents of the bowl - Don't you know? The city has fallen. There is nothing to go back to.

-Oh, but there is. And you must - The stranger answered, shaking her head- It is a cruel path, the one that you are about to walk, but I assure you that you will have your vengeance in the end.

-No! You have not seen them - The girl exclaimed with startled eyes-They are demons!

-Those are not demons, child. They are just men. A very dangerous kind, but still made out of flesh… And flesh can bleed. Remember that.

-What do they want from us!- Sehira asked, finishing her food and sighing in despair.

-The same thing they have always wanted - The woman looked at her with sadness- To finish what they once started a hundred thousand suns ago… To reign on the land below our feet.

-They killed my family!- She cried out, quaking in anger-They killed everyone I ever loved!

-Not everyone - The strange hermit spoke firmly, offering her a weak smile- Souna lives, and she has just departed on her own quest. Now it is time for you to play your part too.

-Who are you?- Sehira jumped from her seat and retreated in shock, almost falling to the ground - How do you know my sister? You sorcerer! How do you know who I am?

-My name is Anam, and I am your flesh and blood, child. I am the one who gave birth to your mother. I am the one who once put her crying newborn body into Kahela´s arms and made her the parent she could not afford to be.

-Are you lying?- The girl asked with incredulity, her upper lip shaking in disbelief.

-Sadly, I am not- Anam muttered, looking at her with remorse- I did it, so you could live. I did it, so you could grow and fulfill your destiny. Now you must return to the city and claim your place.

-What place?- Sehira scoffed bitterly - There is no place there for a frightened, helpless girl.

-Oh, but you are not a girl anymore - The Elder replied, running a finger down her teary cheek- You are a woman now. And men have always had a weakness for that. Now, let us get to work and turn you into the pretty wolf in sheep's clothing you will have to play from here.

That night Sehira stood at the edge of the treeline staring at the city entrance and shaking like a leaf, wrapped up in a long vaporous skirt with a slit descending all the way down from her thigh, and a small leather garment laced around her torso, generously displaying her heavy breasts.

-Be brave child- Anam whispered into her ear- You are going to need a lot of nerve for what is about to come.

-I am scared - she whimpered, holding onto the old woman’s hand anxiously.

-That is a good thing - The ancient woman replied, gently rubbing her back- Fear will keep you alive.

-So… What do I do now?- Sehira asked, biting her lip and tugging at the loose braid over her shoulder.

-Find their leader- Anam nodded at her with resolution - Gain his trust and I will see you soon.

With that, the Elder retreated to the shadows and Sehira started pacing firmly towards the fallen doors.

She had just sneaked to what once was the center hall of Ahau´s palace, and she was hiding behind a large tapestry watching the large, golden-haired, muscular beast that seemed to be their leader sitting on the ruler's throne, when a strong hand grabbed her by the neck and dragged her out, tossing her down to the floor.

Sehira yelped slightly when she landed with a heavy thud and lost all the breath stored inside her lungs. Her eyes clenching in horror as the pale monster that had found her waved a huge, strange pole before her face. And she braced herself to meet her end.

While she muttered a silent prayer, a loud voice yelling in a foreign language echoed all around the place. And Sehira cracked her eyes open to find her attacker bowing to the beast leader, who was now extending his enormous hand at her.