Heaven's Curse

Chapter 5

After a few hours, Asashin, Danteus and Altair rode their horses dow the silent dirt paths that led to New Icarus. “So how much longer?” Altair queried, with tiredness curving his features. 

“It shouldn’t be too far. Now. It’s been a couple of hours,” Asashin remarked equally bored, on his horse beside Altair. Then teased, “Why eager to return to your ‘lady-friend’?” 

“What are you talking about?” Altair questioned earnestly, with a raised brow. “I don’t have any ‘lady-friends’.” 

“Ah-huh,” Danteus remarked, from in front of them on his horse, with a sly smile he peered over his shoulder at Altair. “That’s what they all say until we discover their secret harems at their homemade brothels that even their wives don’t know about.” 

“Hey, I resent that! If anyone has any lady-friends at homemade brothels, it’s the great Lord Danteus.” Altair teased. “Have you seen the line Asashin? I swear it goes from here all the way to the Water Reserve. He’s got a recruitment process and everything.” 

“It’s not my fault I’m more popular than you.” Danteus replied, smugly. 

“Oh please. Popular, yes. Better, no.” Altair retorted. “Unlike you, I have devoted and returning ladies.” 

Asashin laughed. “Returning? Don’t you mean reimbursing? Last I heard there were plenty of unsatisfied ladies who wanted their money back.” Danteus cackled hard at that comment. 

Altair crossed his arms and glanced away. “Whatever, Asashin. Just so you know, the next time we have monster attack. I’m not helping you.” 

“Right,” Asashin remarked, sarcastically. “We’ll see.” 

Black smoke piled into the air. They paused, recognising the black smoke pierce the clear blue artificial sky. “That can’t be good.” Altair remarked, alarmed. Quickly, Altair, Asashin and Danteus urged their horses to the smoke. They paused at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ravine below that cradled a small village engulfed in flames. They rushed their horses down the winding path and towards it, through the forest and through the open meadows. 

Rubble, debris and ashed remained after the uproar of the ever dangerous and consuming flames of the fire. Quickly, Asashin, Altair and Danteus dismounted their horses. At the sight of them, a woman screamed in horror and pointed at the closest building. “They’re still inside! Help them!” she cried, frightfully. Then a distressful scream pierced the air around them, from the same building the woman pointed at. Danteus, Asashin and Altair dismounted their horses and ran into the building. 

The upper level started to collapse and swiftly Danteus, pulled the earth from the ground and stabilised it. Then Altair, quickly sucked the oxygen from the surrounding fire extinguishing the blaze. When it was safe, they sprinted up the partly charred broken stairs and towards the scream. 

The ruined ceiling above the hall began to cave. Asashin threw sharp anchors into the far wall. Then, threw more to the wall behind them. Then small light blue electric wires suddenly appeared and held the ceiling in place. “Go. I’ll make sure it holds until you guys get back.” Asashin declared.

The fire climbed along the walls and the ceiling of the hall. Altair extinguished the blaze for hall and the remainder of the house, then followed Danteus, as he tore the weakened door from it’s hinges. 

 Within, sat a woman curled over a baby. She glanced at them with surprise. “Centurions?” she muttered. 

Danteus kneeled before her. “Are you alright?” 

The woman glanced at her forearm, blistered and burned. Then checked the swaddled baby. “She’s fine. Thank god.” 

“Okay, come with us.” Danteus helped the woman to her feet and guided her out of the room. Asashin glanced at them, and stepped aside allowing them to pass. 

“What’s that?” the woman asked, peering at the wire that held the ceiling. 

“Just a little trick our friend Arthur cooked up,” Altair replied. When they were clear, Asashin followed them after deactivating the power the flowed through the anchors. When they’d finally made it outside, the other woman who had met them, ran towards the woman who cradled the baby. 

“Thank you!” she gasped and plucked the child from her arms. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Eva for saving my daughter.” 

Eva said, “You’re very welcome Lila. I couldn’t possibly leave her behind. She’s too precious.”

“That she is.” Lila declared, hugging her child.

Danteus, Altair and Asashin regarded Lila and the child before turning their gaze to Eva. None of them could make out her features but that didn’t stop their curiosity as they regarded the hooded cloak she wore. The hood concealed her features. She turned to the Centurions and bowed with a hand over her heart. “Thank you, for saving my life.” 

Danteus stared curiously but didn’t reply. Then Altair said, “You’re welcome miss. Do you live around here?”

“No I’m just passing through,” she declared. 

“Where are you headed?” Asashin asked, with a smile. Though, he too recognised why Danteus remained weary of the woman. 

“New Icarus. I need to speak to the King.” 

“Oh?” Asashin replied. 

“Yes, it’s important.” Eva replied and regarded all the evenly from beneath her hood. “Since you’re Centurions. You don’t mind escorting me back to the castle?” 

“Um, well—,” Altair began, glancing at Danteus.

“—We’d love to.” Asashin declared ignoring the expressions crossing his friends’ faces, “Do you have a horse?” 

“I don’t,” she answered. 

Asashin turned from her. “Then, I hope you don’t mind riding with me.” Beneath her hood, she smiled and followed Asashin. Altair and Danteus shared a look of concern before following their friend to their horses. As they left, Cavaliers and Legionnaires arrived, tending to the mostly destroyed village and its traumatised citizens. 

*

On guard, Gothalia surveyed the surroundings. Taking in the stillness and the darkness of the jungle. It was her turn to keep watch while Maximus and Anton slept. Not that she could sleep. Fearful someone would kill them in their sleep. However, it had been hours since they had watched that timer count down before restarting again. Something they noticed happened every three hours.

The thought of it frustrated her to no end. She knew with every passing hour and every time it reset, that the frustration she suppressed merely grew. Until, it’d become an agitating thorn at her side.

“That’s it!” Gothalia willingly hushed, climbing to her feet.

She scanned her surroundings, once more and considered their hiding spot, on higher ground. Away from any surprise attacks. Surrounded by large sharp rocks. She knew it would keep Anton and Maximus safe until the morning. Unless, the other recruits climbed over those boulders. Gothalia glanced at the largest boulder that towered over them. “This is would be so much easier if I even had an element.” Gothalia sighed.

Then, she heard movement at the base of the hill, below where they were. Quietly, Gothalia crawled over to Anton and Maximus, and silently woke them. She caught their alarmed gaze and signalled them to be quiet. They nodded. Gothalia turned back to the forest where they continued to hear footfalls march throughout the once silent valley. “How many are there?” Anton asked, grabbing his sword. 

“Not sure, didn’t check.” Gothalia replied. 

“What are we going to do if they find us?” Maximus queried. Gothalia recognised the same question flashed across Anton’s features. They had the perfect hiding spot but if the enemy ambushed them—there would be no way out except down the hill. Where the enemy currently moved through the jungle. None of them were fire utilisers she could tell, but that didn’t stop them from carrying torches.

Warriors masked in mud progressed through the shadows of the thick jungle; their eyes gleamed beneath the crescent moon and the timer in the sky, continued to countdown. Jaded crimson eyes locked onto the small clearing atop a hill surrounded by large, ragged rocks. At the top of the rocks, above Anton, Maximus and Gothalia, arose a man. He peered at them, all of whom, were unaware of his presence. Silently, they watched the recruits move through the vegetation below with placid apprehension.

Then, he leapt from the top of the largest rock.

Gothalia shoved Anton out of the way, when the man landed on the small bit of earth. Climbing to his feet, he regarded the trio with bloodthirsty crimson eyes. “What the hell?” Anton muttered, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. Climbing to his feet. Gothalia and Anton pointed their weapons at the man.

“They’re there!” a recruit called, pointing at the hilltop clearing, concealed by thick vines and leaves. The recruits rushed up the hill. While the warriors who trailed them, retreated further into the shadows as if they were never there.

The monster faced them, and Maximus called, “They found us!” He watched the recruits climbed the hill with their deterrents. Maximus, Anton and Gothalia ducked when they heard the recoil of a pistols and rifles. “Can those idiots stop shooting!” Maximus screeched, equally annoyed and terrified. Bullets battered the air above them, impaling the stone. Anton and Gothalia shielded their heads, watching in horror when the bullets pierced the monster’s chest. Blood oozed from the wound and the monster remained standing.

The man before them, glimpsed the recruits who entered the small clearing ceasing their fire, unaware of the danger within. The monster walked towards them; blood trailed after it. The first recruit entered the clearing, and the monster greeted him, with an eerie smile upon its twisted features.

The recruit shrieked in surprise when the monster swiftly slit his throat. Just like earlier, they noticed the fallen recruit later faded from the arena. Then bullets reigned, and another voice screamed in pain and terror.

The monster moved through each recruit quickly and effortlessly. Then it worked passed the vines that hung from the large old trees.

Anton turned to Gothalia, “While it’s distracted let’s get out of here.”

Gothalia eagerly agreed.

When the screaming faded into the distance with the reiteration of gunshots. They recognised their chance. Quickly, Gothalia and Anton ran to Maximus, who had not moved, and pulled him to his feet before yanking him out of the clearing. In the darkness, they crept from behind the vines and towards the large palm leaves. They ran behind a large tree and paused, their ears alert.

Silence greeted them.

“Do you think it’s gone?” Maximus murmured in a quivering voice. Anton peered around the bark while Gothalia worked to calm her racing heart. Anton’s eyes made out enough, from the full moon. Then ran behind another tree. Gothalia and Maximus followed, their wide eyes searched the area behind them before ducking behind a large moss-covered log.

“Don’t know.” Anton eventually replied. “It’s best we avoid it as much as we can.”

“That’s what you said about those mud warriors and now we have a monster after us.” Maximus remarked, alarmed.

“What are you implying?” Gothalia challenged.

Swiftly, Anton shushed them, and they watched him startled. “Hear that?” he asked them.

Gothalia and Maximus listened. The same stillness ensued the jungle. “I hear nothing.” Gothalia replied, confused.

“Exactly. Where’s the constant hum? Or the buzz of mosquitoes and flies? You can’t even hear the frogs or cicadas anymore.”

“Um, you do realise that the environment we’re in is fake. Right?” Maximus questioned and crossed his arms with a raised brow.

“Did that monster look fake to you?” Anton retorted, annoyed.

The monster momentarily forgotten.

“I said environment. Not monster. They’re two totally different things.” Maximus casually clarified. 

Anton groaned and ran his fingers through his hands in frustration. “What does that have to do with—”

“—Enough!” Gothalia growled equally frustrated. A little louder than she should. “Let’s just keep moving before that thing comes back!” She turned from them and shrieked in fright when that same monster they ran from stood before her, towering over them. Anton and Maximus stared at the man who they knew was anything but, and slowly backed away. The monster stepped closer and Gothalia didn’t move. Quickly, Anton gripped Maximus’s arm and Gothalia by the back of her collar and vanished into a cloud of smoke. 

The monster stared at where they had once been before turning his heel and vacating the area. When Anton, Maximus and Gothalia reappeared. They plunged into the mouth of a river below them. The cold river, was that much colder than the air around them. Quickly, they resurfaced. “Next time can you choose a drier place?” Sarcasm embedded Maximus’s tone and Anton shoved water in his face. Gothalia rolled her eyes, at the brotherly banter, and swam towards the bank. Soon, both Anton and Maximus followed. 

“You know, you could at least be a little bit grateful, Max.” Anton remarked crawling onto the bank, drenched in water. He climbed to his feet then glared at his brother before walking away. 

Maximus regarded Gothalia perplexed, “Why is he so mad?” 

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you didn’t say ‘thank you’ like you’re supposed to when someone saves your life?” Gothalia queried, then sighed at Maximus’s surprised expression. “Look, I know you didn’t mean any harm by your words, but we’re family. Right now, fighting among ourselves, isn’t smart.” 

“Um, sure. I’ll go apologise.” Maximus declared, and climbed to his feet. He strode along the bank and towards where he last saw Anton disappear. 

Gothalia rolled onto her back and laid on the ground, for what felt like hours. She stared at the starry sky above with her lower legs settled in the cool smooth water. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and listened to the silence. 

The shimmering of leaves as the wind picked up from the ocean, the trickle of the river as it faded into the ocean, the waves in the distance, the ribbit and croak of frogs. Gothalia relaxed, “It must be safe now. There are frogs.” After a moment, she sat up and crouched by the riverbed, cupping her hands she drank until she was certain she no longer craved water. Then, she climbed to her feet and muttered, “Ok, time to find these idiots.” 

When Gothalia turned from the stream, pain struck her. She collided with the ground. Her unfocused gaze drifted over her attackers. Pain radiated from the side of her head and blood trickled from her wound as she gazed up at the dark shifting figures surrounding her. “That was surprisingly easy.” Then laughter echoed and darkness consumed her.

*

“Hey!” Maximus called. “Will you wait up.” 

Anton stormed through the jungle and over a small stream of water. “Why? You’re not going to be grateful if I do.”

“I’m sorry okay.” Maximus retorted. “I just have noticed I have a tendency to be a little bit of a jerk under stressful situations.” 

Anton glanced at Maximus. “I have noticed that too.” 

Then they heard the crunch of hard soil and ducked. Their ears peaking at the sound of shifting leaves and distant voices. When they were close enough, Anton and Maximus heard. “What happens if we run into the other two?” 

“Well, I guess we take them out as we did her.” the other voice replied. Alarmed, Maximus and Anton glanced at each other. 

“They wouldn’t?” Anton questioned and peaked over the shrub of plants. 

Maximus peered out of the bushes. “They would.” His anxious eyes on Gothalia’s unconscious body as the group of men carried her through the jungle. “We’re going after them, aren’t we?”

Anton regarded the retreating group, “Yeah, we are.” 

*

The group strode through the jungle, aware that Anton and Maximus trailed them. Though, they didn’t make it obvious and continued until they arrived at their small camp they had made. “Leon! You’re back!” a woman cheered, climbing to her feet. She ran to the man who carried Gothalia over his shoulder. “That was exceptionally fast,” she remarked, pay very little interest to Gothalia. 

“It was exceptionally easy,” a man behind Leon Nero-Ignatius declared, striding passed him. “Have you been keeping the fire going Aramina?” 

“Of course I have Drayus.” Aramina Grimory-Rienheart declared, with a bright smile, until her eyes tapered on Lucius Brutus-Marius. His disinterested gaze drifted over her before he strode to where the other two men sat around the campfire within the cave. 

“Back so soon?” Titus Frustus-Ignatius declared, with a playful smile. His blue eyes drifted over Gothalia’s conscious form with intrigue. “Surely, taking out the demoness wasn’t that easy?” 

“Surprisingly, it was.” Leon muttered and joined them as they sat around the fire. Then his eyes drifted to the red-haired man who sat from the group and against the stone wall of the cave. His gaze lingered over everything aside from the people surrounding the fire. “You should eat something.” The man didn’t respond, and Leon climbed to his feet and strode over to the man, ignoring the warnings of his teammates. Leon kneeled and presented a large leave with cooked meat and berries. “I know it’s not anything fancy but it’ll fill you up.” 

Just as Leon arrived, he returned to the group. The red-haired man didn’t acknowledge the plate of food before him. Instead, his golden eyes drifted to the unconscious woman beside Leon. Her hands and feet bound. He frowned, then glanced away. 

Leon’s blue eyes observed Leviathan Ignatius-Dragor with mild curiosity. “Is everything okay Levi?” Aramina asked, gently. 

Titus growled, “Aramina, don’t be so familiar with him!” 

“What are you implying? I’m just asking a question.” Aramina remarked, glaring at Titus. 

Levi climbed to his feet and strode passed the group without a single glance back then to the mouth of the cave. He paused, his eyes lingered over the shrubbery opposite the cave. “Is everything okay?” he heard Lucius ask from behind him. Levi glanced over his shoulder, and evenly regarded the dark haired man. 

“I’m fine. Go back inside.” Levi declared, then exited the cave. Lucius bowed with a hand over his heart before retreating further inside. 

Levi strode passed the green vegetation and observed the two men crouched behind the shrubs, amused. “You must be her bodyguards. She’s unharmed and inside. You better hurry, don’t want her to disappear on you, now.” Then without another word. Levi strode from the men and further into the jungle. Anton and Maximus regarded Levi’s retreating form with suspicion before regarding each other equally perplexed. 

“Um, was that . . . ?” Maximus declared, surprised. 

“That doesn’t matter right now.” Anton regarded Maximus and remarked. “We need to make sure Gothalia is okay.” 

“He just said she’s fine.” Maximus declared, gesturing in Levi’s general direction. 

“Yeah well, I don’t trust him. It is Prince Leviathan, we’re talking about.” 

“You know . . . I never understood why the King or even the Queen named him that. Doesn’t that mean sea-god or monster or something? And, considering he’s from the Fire Reserve it doesn’t really make that much s—”

“—That doesn’t matter right now Max. We gotta make sure they don’t kill her. We are being tested you know.” Anton declared, and observed the mouth of the cave. 

Maximus returned his gaze to the cave. “I know. I was just saying. And, quite frankly this doesn’t even feel like a test. It actually feels very real.”

 “Regardless, of whether it’s real or fake. I know one thing, that being killed is just as painful.” Anton said, his thoughts drifted to the woman who he’d stabbed when they’d first entered the arena. Anton glanced at the timer, in the sky and then back to the cave. 

“So what are we going to do? I mean, how are we going to get to Gothalia. They kind of have the advantage here and I don’t just mean in numbers.” 

“Not sure, yet.” Anton replied. Then he glanced at where Levi had vanished.