The Nightshade Prince

The screams. The blood. The death. She could see it. Smell it. Feel it around her and all she could do was watch on in paralysed horror. They came with rage and the intent to kill. Armies of the damned purging the village that she had once called home. Murdering all in a blood frenzy euphoria as innocent people succumbed to their fates, defenceless and bound to the reaper's hand. A great beast of a man idf a man is what you could call him tore through the thick smog and heavy rain, galloping in on a great horse of black a giant sword swinging wildly as he cut down any innocent villagers that dared cross his path. He was a vision of terror. A terrible manifestation of evil itself and he was heading towards her now, riding at full speed as she clung in fear to her father as he so desperately tried to defend his child. Eyes filled with fear her father raised his own blade to defend his kin and for a moment she believed in her childlike innocence that her father stood a chance but that hope failed her when she felt the hot,swicky spatter of her fathers spilt blood spray into her open mouth and felt his severed head roll to her feet. The stench of death permeated the air as fear gripped at her heart, and when she looked up at the great beast that had slain her kin she saw those eyes of red glowing menacingly behind a bat winged helm raising the sword in his monstrous grasp for one final blow. She jolted awake and with a rage filled scream locked eyes on the person who had disturbed her. It was only when she saw the glint of steel against the neck and the look of fear in the young girls wide eyes did she realise that it had all been another dream. Another nightmare. Another memory. Tassia sighed. Sweat glistened on her brow as her heart rate slowed at the sight of her familiar friend. “Reva,” Tassia whispered exhaustedly. “I almost gutted you.'' Her voice was hoarse as she pushed herself up into a sitting position retracting the cold steel of her knife away from her terrified friend's throat. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders as she sat forward trying to gather her senses. Tassia saw Reva's booted feet move backwards before she heard her speak. “You were dreaming again.” Reva uttered and Taissa lifted her eyes to her friends. She was tall, red haired and slender, the tunic and the leather breaches she wore made her very much the vision of a warrior that Tassia was. Albeit her hair was black at night. “They never stop.” Tassia replied, rising to her feet and heading over to the stone wall where her own sword stood against the stone. She began fastening her sword to her belt, her mind racing with the images still of what the nightmares had brought. She should have been used to them by now for they had had haunted her since her childhood. She was a grown woman now. But still they plagued her. “All these years Tassia and still we do this?” Reva said.her words forcing her to turn her eyes towards her. “It has been a decade that we have hunted for the dark one and still we have not found him. Is revenge really worth this?” Tassia grew angered at Revas' words then. “That bastard slaughtered my family in front of my own eyes. His army stormed my village, murdered innocent people. The dark prince's infection has hurt these lands long enough. I swore I would put an end to this. You do not have to follow suit Reva!” “but you know that I would not leave you to fight this battle alone. As much as it pains me you saved my life. For that I owe you. I have been your faithful companion since were children tassia. My friend. I just cannot bear to watch this madness consume you. “ Tassia knew that she meant well. But it not stop her from feeling angry at her words. How could reva forget what fate had almost be fallen her if she hadn't swooped in and pulled her red haired friend from out of danger. God knows what would have become if her. But a slave to the darkness was her best bet. Tassia turned to her full height then and faced reva. She fastened her cloak of black and stole a glance at her friends pale features. She knew that reva remembered that night. Death had stared its foul complextion into her face. “while the silver haired Prince lives I cannot “ Tassia told her firmly. “These are godless creatures Tassia. If they find you you will succumb. You know this.” “all I know is that too much blood has been Spilled. This land stinks of fear. Those who swore to protect it threw down their honour in hopes that the bloodshed would cease. It was nothing but a ruse. If that means I give my life in hope of ending this blasphemy then I will die willingly. As long as he dies too.” "and what if your plan dies not work? What then?" Reva snapped lunging at at Tassia grabbing her cloaked shoulders in an attempt to awaken some sort of sense within her. Tassias eyes ignited with rage then. "my plan will not fail!" the dark haired girl hissed shoving her friend backwards. Reva stumbled from the force before steadying herself and rising to her full height. Chin raised stubbornly. Defiantly. "I have fought by your side Tassia since the day you saved my life and took up the sword to battle the filth that infects these lands. I have killed for you. Belived in you. But now I fear you have become blooddrunk. You don't sleep. You hardly eat and all that consumes you now is your thirst for vengeance. You have become a shadow of your former self. You know naught else but the hunt and the kill!" Tassia glared at Reva her hand twitching. How could she speak like this. All she did she did for their survival. Why couldn't she that? "aye," Tassia spoke low almost threateningly. "perhaps I have become blooddrunk. But I refuse to live in fear any longer Reva. And if you can't handle that then you do not need to come with me." "this is madness!" Reva shouted. Exasperated. "you have become a blind fool Tassia! You think that you really can win?" Reva forced her own cloaked self in front of Tassia glaring at her with full anger burning bright. "we're not winning Tassie. Have you forgotten why we're still stuck in this fuckin hovel of a hideout? It's because out there we are still being hunted. Those things that attacked us last night they are still out there Tassia. And whilst you wandered admist the realm of a troubled slumber I sat watch waiting for those bastards to find us! Our horses are lame, our food source almost depleted. The only thing we have left is the stench of this filthy inn and the hopes of roaming one town after another until you find this silver haired Prince so you can end our suffering!" Tassia felt every sting of Revsas anger but she would not show it. She remembered all to well the previous night. The hard riding, the fanged dark Grotesqueuries emerging from the forestry hissing, sharp teeth glinting against a silver moon ready to tear into their flesh. They had barely made it out alive. But made it they had. The old tavern had been a welcoming sight after their ordeal and Tassia as if rembering still felt the crisp, dry, fetid blood of one of the creatures upon her brow from where her sword had thrust into its stinking face. As a cold silence fell between the two Tassia turned once again from her flame haired friend, her anger glowing as red as her hair, and pulled her hood over head. Tassia turned her back indicating that the conversation was done and tore open the tavern door. Tassias senses was intantly overwhelmed by the stench of pungent ale, drunken howls bellowed from the floor below, men and women drowning their deepest fears in the bitter taste of alcohol. Behind her Tassia could hear the faint voice of Reva calling out to her but she did not stop. Nothing is going to stop me. Tassia thought as she pushed her way into the heaving room of drunkards.