Bloodshed

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Bird flown from the cage

The stormy weather in the dark woods of Konar, always suggested a bad omen. In the deep heart of the forest was located a prison, Shav, the death house. The lightning and the thunder made the light almost impossible to be maintained in the prison cell, but this was not the matter of worry for the cell in charge, Ross. Ross was the jailer of the prison for last decade, there were no successful attempt made in his regime to run away from the cell.

The two guards at the main gate of Shav were on the guard, even the dense darkness and the storm did not affect them. They were chitchatting as usual, suddenly a bat came flying towards them from the woods. It took them while to notice the bat until it settled on the wood rim of the main gate, one of the guards took notice of it and tried to make it fly with the help of his spear. Suddenly smoke begin to spread from the mouth of the bat and the two guards fainted.

Ross was as usual having his glass of wine in his office, as usual chores. One of the guards of the prison entered his office panting heavily and said, “Your sire, attack_ we have been_ attacked.” The guard gasped for breath and Ross looked at him in astonishment, he could never believe that someone would ever attack a prison. The guard gained all his inhalation and said, “We have been attacked, the main gate has given up they are after the second gate.”

The prison has five gates including the main gate, the second gate was unprotected but from the third gate onwards the protection began. Ross office was after the third gate, in the center of the prison, after his office was cell holding culprits, and after the fifth gate was the heart of the prison which everyone called “Graveyard of Beasts”. A person who has committed a crime of higher order or has committed crimes were kept in this section. Black souls also receive a special treatment by placing them in this section.

Ross thought for a while and then put his armor on and took his sword with him. While walking to the balcony of the third gate he said to the guard following him, “Are the archers ready?” the guard nodded then Ross said, “Increase the security on the third door and wait until they broke the second one. How many of them?” the guard replied, “They are taking the advantage of the storm, we can’t tell the quantity.” Ross nodded. Then he stood on the balcony of the third gate and waited. Then he heard a huge noise, as if wood collapsing to the earth. Ross knew the second door has given the enemy in.

Suddenly the third door begin to tremble, as if someone was implanting huge blows from the other side. Ross was not expecting this, at least not so soon. But he trusted himself, after few seconds the third door gave up it fell down before them. There was no one to be seen, still Ross ordered his men to shower bows. For a second or two there was no movement outside. Then suddenly a folk of bats flew inside the door, Ross observed them and suddenly he shouted, “Cover your nose and mouths.” But it was too late, smoke spread everywhere in the chamber. Very few of the men were able to rescue the fainting smoke.

Ross signaled the remaining soldiers to stay still, a figure emerged from the door. It was blur at first but then by its attire anyone could have tell that he was a black soul, long Robe covering his body. Behind the shadow were more shadows holding bows and moving ahead. The figure looked confident about his successful move. When ross saw that no more shadows were entering the chamber, he signaled his soldiers to attack. The soldiers rose from there hideouts and attacked the archers, as the distance was less it took the archers time to notice what happened.

Ross went for the captain of the troop, despite of his sudden attack the leader was able to dodge it. As Ross was going for another blow, he heard running steps approaching them, he saw towards the gate there were elephants rushing into the chamber to pin the next door. Ross knew that those were soldiers transformed into their complete beast.

The mad elephants pined the fourth door again and again, Ross saw towards the leader, he saw grin spreading on his face, Ross cursed him and suddenly a punched was thrown towards him, Ross tried to dodge, but his fat body made it unable to move faster on the contrary the opponent was faster than guessed. Ross fell with a thud, few feet away. Then the fourth door gave up and fell. The leader threw the same bats inside the gate like previous time. Then a soldier came near him and he said to the soldier, “Free all the black souls in there.” The soldier nodded and left; Ross knew it was easy for them to cross the fourth door as it had no protection. Ross stood up on his place and saw towards the leader and said, “You think you will succeed.” The leader laughed again, and said, “I think, I will.” Ross examined his surrounding, a lost battel. His comrades were lying on the floor half dead and he was surrounded by elephants, but he had faith. Ross looked straight in to the eyes of his opponent and shouted, “Awaken Beast.”

The soldier that went inside of the Graveyard cell started unlocking the chambers. When he was in one of the chambers, he heard a strange noise from the dark corner it asked, “Why release me?” the soldier replied, “We are heading back to Yusan, you are free.” The voice laughed from the dark.

Ross was lying at the feet of the leader all defeated, he lost his beast form but he was not alone lying he took with himself all the elephants that boarded his territory. The leader was about to s***h his head with the sword when he heard a voice calling for him filled with terror. He turned towards the voice; it was the soldier who was sent to retrieve the prisoners. He came running towards him and said, “He is killing everyone.” Suddenly a spear pierced through the soldier’s body and he fell down. From the dark of the chamber there was nothing to be seen, the leader stared towards the third gate, there were faint footsteps that were approaching towards them.

The figure was seen in the dark nothing but a dim figure, possessing a sword in one hand. The figure entered the dim light and a black fur appeared. The leader turned towards the figure; Ross got up and again fell down he slipped towards one of the walls for support. The leader asked, “Who are you?” The figure sniffed a little and a roar left in the tense atmosphere, the leader said in low voice, “A black panther.” The figure swiftly moved towards the leader, there was no chance for the leader to defend, and soon he was on the ground. Ross was watching the scene and soon he witnessed the assassination of his foe.

The figure turned into his human form, and came near Ross. Ross was no longer in any state of a fight but he knew that the figure would not harm him, he laid in his position and said, “Go away before I might lose against my duty.” The figure rushed away and left Ross in his situation.