Year 2: The Gathering Fires - Chapter 8

What went wrong?

Curtis couldn’t feel his limbs as the Neikea dragged him through the corridors.

His vision was blurry and spotty in places, but he didn’t know what else was happening.

He thought he saw familiar faces being carried by the Neikea too, but he wasn’t sure.

Our plan…it went off…without a hitch, didn’t it?

The fires spread, we got the jump on them…right?

Lisa…

Please, tell me, at least you got out.

***

In the dead of night, the Dread Keep emptied into the main courtyard.

Every servant, every single tribute for the Decree of Loyalty, every Dread Knight and every general gathered as the Demon Emperor stood above them. He, along with Lilith, Rebecca, Xi Shi and Mímir looked down at the main courtyard as the surviving rebels and their fallen comrades were dragged into the mud, thrown roughly to the ground without care for their wellbeing.

On all sides, they were surrounded by Dread Knights and Neikea, though the former were mainly occupied with keeping the crowds away from the rebels. Out of the corner of his eye, David could spot a strawberry blonde maid trying to pull back two others at once, and failing to do so.

A Dread Knight near them took a single step towards them and the trio backed off with a shriek.

“I trust your Ravens healed the wounded ones.”

“They did, your majesty.”

“Good work, Mímir. Still.” David chuckled. “To think Aeila’s grand plan only amounted to this. Surely the Banners of Themis couldn’t have been stupid enough to try and defeat me with such puny numbers.”

“Perhaps they think you arrogant, my love. Perhaps they thought you’d never have defended your keep with some of your finest warriors.”

“That reminds me. Rebecca, make sure to pass on my compliments to Hersi when you next see him. Tell him his Gørviligr did well tonight.”

“I will, Lord Allaric.”

“Excellent.”

Then, David leapt down from the battlements and onto the ground, creating a large crater where he’d landed.

All went silent as many frantic and petrified souls bowed to him. A few, those who had been present many months ago when the Kelseys faced the Demon Emperor, were more composed than the newcomers.

The rebels, for their part, were too exhausted to keep up with what was happening, and so they could only meekly look upon the tyrant and shiver.

“Bring Aeila and Chelsea out."

Promptly, the two were marched, in chains, into the courtyard. The princess was held by her brother and the Divine Paladin Lawrence, while Chelsea, who had been stripped of her armour and weapons, was held by Hilda alone. The two women were forced onto their knees before the Demon Emperor.

“Princess Aeila.”

“…Your majesty.”

“I’m disappointed in you, in many ways.”

The princess scoffed. “Thank you for your kind words.”

He smiled a little before bending down to her eye level. When she turned away, he grabbed her chin and made her stare at the crimson eyes hidden by his helmet. “The words my people live and die by - did Mania ever tell you them?”

“…She did, once, in passing, so I’ve quite forgotten them I’m afraid.”

“If you obey, nothing bad will befall you. If you serve, you will be rewarded. If you rebel, then you will curse yourself until your last breath.” He released her. “Those words are not to be taken lightly. Lord Ruthven, did you bring her?”

The vampire lord stepped out of the shadows with a young woman beside him. “I did.”

“…Sister Aeila.”

“…Huh?” The defeated princess looked up and saw her younger sister, Theodora stood beside Ruthven, alive, unharmed and healthy. “Theo…dora…wait, why is she-?”

“Theodora, come here.” The emperor beckoned her over. Gingerly, the younger princess did as she was ordered. Once beside him, he put an arm around her shoulders and asked, “Do you love your sister?”

“More than anything in this world, your majesty.”

“And you would do anything for her?”

“…Of course.”

He held out his hand to Hilda and she handed him a small dagger. “Then, if I told you to stab Dame Chelsea in the throat to save Aeila, would you do it?”

Theodora solemnly nodded. “…If that is what it takes.”

“Theodora, don’t listen to him!” Aeila begged with tears in her eyes. “Your majesty, please, don’t make her do this! If anyone has to be punished, it should be me and me alone! Not my sister, not my knight and not my people.”

“Your people?” The Demon Emperor repeated. “They have not been your people since the day I sacked Themis. You have not been in a position to speak to me as an equal from the moment your parents walled you up in that escape tunnel. You, Princess Aeila, are a royal in but name, not in station.”

He released Theodora and grabbed Hector by the neck. “If I wanted to, I could kill Hector, I could’ve killed him when he was first brought back here, but I didn’t. Do you know why? It’s because of what I gained from it. The first was the Divine Paladin over there.”

“Former Divine Paladin, your majesty,” Lawrence corrected.

“…In exchange for Julius’s life and a vow never to force any of his siblings to undergo the Awakening process, Hector volunteered to become an Awoken.”

“What?!”

“Lawrence had no say in the matter and, truthfully, neither did Hector, but his arguments and pleas were rather effective. He’s quite the orator, and I agreed as long as he helped me keep his siblings under control. Alas, Hector, it appears your sister has wasted your last gift to her.”

“…I must deeply apologise for the actions of my elder sister, your majesty.” Hector bent down on one knee to the emperor. “If it pleases you, you may take my life to make up for my failure to keep Sister Aeila in line.”

“What are you talking about, Hector?! Hey, snap out of it, please! You…you aren’t like this. It’s all a big lie, right? You…you’re just pretending…and then you’ll.” Aeila’s sobs became too much and she could no longer speak coherently.

“Where did the young, powerful woman I saw all those weeks ago go I wonder?” The emperor taunted.

“Demon Emperor.” He lazily turned to face the vicious stare of Dame Chelsea. “I don’t know where you came from, but your day will come, much sooner than you think.”

“Is that right?”

Chelsea spat at him, making Hilda and many others aim their weapons at the bound knight. “The Summoned Heroes, the last gift of the great Saint Themis and the Goddess Harmonia, will bring you your death, even if we’re not there to see it.”

“At least you know where you stand. Theodora, hand me back the dagger please.”

The younger princess did so without hesitation, though she remained steadfast and confident, unlike her sister who had long since reached her emotional limits.

“Aeila.” The emperor's icy tone was enough to snap her out of her sobs for just a few moments. “You have a decision to make.” The Neikea behind them gathered around the rebels, beating their hands, feet and daggers against the dirt and grunting indistinctly. “Either you submit yourself to me, become my concubine from now until the day you die, or I kill them all, your sister, your brother and Dame Chelsea too.”

“W…what?” Aeila looked up at him with vacant eyes. “You…you’re…you can’t-”

“I can’t?” His aura flared up as his tyrannical presence spread throughout the courtyard, an oppressive atmosphere so great all but Xi Shi, Rebecca, Hilda and Lilith shuddered. “I am the Demon Emperor and I do as I please. You would do well to remember that. I could torture your brother, hack him limb from limb, right before your eyes, and you could do nothing about it. I could force myself upon Theodora and Chelsea, and all you could do is watch.

“There is nothing I can’t do in this world.”

Those words truly broke Aeila’s spirt, perhaps beyond repair.

“No! No, no, no! Mother, father, save me! Brother Julius! Brother Augustus! Anyone, please, help me! No, no! No!” She began balling uncontrollably as she writhed around on the ground, trying to shake free of the hands holding her. “Someone, anyone, please!”

The generals remained expressionless.

The Awoken looked at her with pity.

Her sister, held her hands in fists, digging sharp nails into her palms.

The tributes cried and begged for mercy, some much more vocal than others.

The Neikea increased the volume of their chants.

Rebecca, who had seen and had a hand in many atrocities with the Demon Emperor, watched on without emotion.

David felt nothing.

…If I’d seen something like this when I first arrived in Aangapea, I imagine I’d be tearing myself to pieces inside. He laughed beneath his breath. I’ve really come a long way, haven’t I?

“You have until I count to five. One.”

“No! No, no! Mother, father! Brother Julius!”

“Two.”

Aeila cries grew louder as snot, tears and mud streaked down her face.

“Thre-”

“Your majesty!”

Dame Chelsea spoke up and, with a heavy sigh, shuffled to face him, keeping her head and gaze low.

“Yes?”

“W-what…” The knight bit her lip in frustration. “What if…if I offered…myself to you?”

“…Oh?”

“Dame Chelsea,” Theodora whispered.

“I did not expect that,” Mania commented, appearing from a nearby archway with a big grin across her face. “The proud knight offering herself up to our Master? You’d never do that for free now, would you?”

Reluctantly, Chelsea shook her head. “…If, if you’d…if you’d spare, the princess from…from becoming yours…I’d…I’d be glad…to take…her place.” She pressed her head into the dirt. “Please.”

Mania burst out laughing at the plea. “This is even better than I imagined, Master!”

“Indeed,” Lilith floated down into the courtyard gracefully. “Tell me, Chelsea, what in the world would make you think my husband would accept that offer?”

“…While I know that my beauty pales in comparison to you, Demon Empress, I believe that.” Chelsea swallowed hard. “I could…please his majesty.”

“And? What else?”

“…I would…be not just his…his partner, but also…a loyal sword.”

“He has many of those already, many much greater than you. Isn’t that right, Xi Shi?”

The demon general lept on the battlements giggled gently. “I could have cut miss knight’s head off before she’d blinked once.”

“I have…inside knowledge of-”

“We already have plenty of information about-”

“Not about the Summoned Heroes you don’t.” Chelsea cut Mania off. “You don’t know them like I do.”

“Don’t we?”

“Dame Chelsea, this is a pathetic final gambit,” the Demon Emperor said, shaking his head a little. “There is nothing of value in this deal for me at all. Aeila, you have two more counts to-”

“Your majesty, may I speak up?”

“Lawrence? How rare - go ahead.”

“Then, with your blessing.” Lawrence released Aeila and stood beside Chelsea. “I have fought alongside Dame Chelsea several times and I have battled her many more, and I do believe she has great talent with a blade. Of course, I acknowledged that I have many shortcomings when compared to Lord Abaddon or Lady Xi Shi, or any of your council, but I feel that it would not hurt to have more lieutenants and servants to do your bidding.

“Let Chelsea undergo the Awakening process, let her become enlightened to the truth just as I and Prince Hector have been, and I promise you she will make a fine knight of the Demon Empire.”

“I already have hundreds of fine knights. The Dread Knights have no equal in Aangapea.”

“…May I speak, your majesty?”

David laughed. “Theodora, too? Very well.”

“…Earlier, Dame Chelsea mentioned that she knows the Summoned Heroes quite well.”

“She did, yes, but all that information is something we-”

“Her value is not her knowledge, but her bonds with them.”

“Princess?” Dame Chelsea looked quizzically up at Theodora.

“…As I understand it, after being turned into an Awoken, Divine Paladin Lawrence appeared at Atryus and the psychological impact of his appearance routed the invaders decisively. What if Dame Chelsea could be used in a similar fashion?”

“Theodora…wh-what are you?”

“Be quiet, Sister Aeila.” David could see the pain in the younger princess’s face even if no one else could. “If Dame Chelsea appeared on a battlefield with the Summoned Heroes, would they not hesitate or freeze when they see her? Would that not create an opportunity to strike and kill them?”

“Princess, why are you saying such horrible things?” Dame Chelsea asked.

“…If Chelsea became an Awoken and you used her to such means, would you please find it in your heart to spare my foolish sister and these rebels?” Theodora bowed deeply to David. “I know it is very forward of me to ask such things of your majesty, but they are my family. I imagine you would do the same if you ever found yourself in my position.”

“…Yes, I imagine I would…not that that would ever happen,” David mumbled a little, a faint sense of nostalgia and regret appeared in his chest. However, he dismissed those emotions as quickly as he could. “Very well - remember, all of you, that this is your last chance.

“Aeila, you are to be confined to the Dread Keep for all hours of the day for every single day until I say otherwise. You will not be permitted to see anyone without explicit permission from me personally and you will eventually be allowed to serve as my wife’s handmaiden in time.

“Chelsea, you are to undergo the Awakening process. Should you survive, you will be welcomed into my empire as a loyal subject. Should the process fail or take too long, then I shall expect you to still be a loyal warrior who fights under the banner of the Satyr Skull. Should that ever change, Aeila’s life will be forfeit.

“Theodora, your courage and mannerisms have impressed me. Lord Ruthven, give her greater freedoms and allow her to visit the Dread Keep and Dread Town once a week.

“As for the foolish rebels and the Banners of Themis, consider yourselves very lucky that I am not taking your lives or those of your loved ones. If, under any circumstances, even one of you commits any act that could be constrained as rebellious in nature, I shall personally see to it that your home towns and villages are raised to the ground. This is the last time I shall ever give this mercy to anyone in Aangapea.”

***

“Our agent has confirmed it, Princess Raeanne - the Banners failed.”

“…I knew it.” Raeanne sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead. “I wish they’d listened to us.”

“If nothing else, their sacrifice has proven that any direct assaults on the Dread Keep are truly foolish.”

“Is that a good thing, Gregor?”

“Of course not, Wallace. Worse, I think the other groups in the south might have been marked too.”

“…The Demon Emperor doesn’t do half measures,” Raeanne said. “Focus all our efforts in the north; we can’t afford to waste anymore time in the south now that the Themis Resurrection Rebellion has failed.”

“Yes, Princess Raeanne!”

***

Without warning, four burly men and two women had burst into Penny’s home armed with knives.

She tried to scream, but a man covered her mouth with his hand, putting it into a tight hold, while the others bound her hands or secured her brother.

Please, don’t hurt him! Penny begged, tears trickling down her face.

However, her silent thoughts went unheard.

Her brother, whom she’d betrayed Princess Raeanne and the others for, was fighting back, flailing and kicking all of his limbs at the intruder, and then it happened.

A knife found its way into his heart.

Time froze and only resumed when Penny screamed through her gag.

“What are you doing?!”

“I-I didn’t mean, I mean…he-he!”

“For fuck’s sake, we’re here for her, not him! He didn’t betray Lady Raeanne! Dammit, Vic, see if you can’t stop the bleeding. Quick!”

“I’ll try. Oh Themis, it’s in so deep-I, I don’t think I can-”

…Lady Raeanne…the princess.

Henry died…because…of me…

Why?

He didn’t do…anything wrong…I did.

No…no, no, no!

I didn’t do anything wrong! You people did!

Penny fought hard against her captors, but they were not kind in forcing her to stop. They hit her and kicked her, and pinned her by her neck to the bed.

“Traitorous bitch!”

“Gut her, then hang her body outside so everyone knows what happens to traitors!”

I’ll kill you.

I’ll kill you.

I’ll kill you all!

“I was too late,” a deep voice said, just before the men holding Penny were cut in two.

“Wh-?!”

Then, those holding Henry’s body were spilt open from cranium to hip.

Penny, too consumed by her grief, didn’t notice Tres, the Dread Knight holding a glaive, at the door and ran to Henry.

“Henry! Henry! Please…open your eyes, Henry.” She wept as she cradled her little brother in her arms. “This…wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“…Lady Penny.” Tres took a step closer, but the former maid grabbed a nearby knife and pointed it at him.

“Stay away!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“…Why are you apologising?”

“His majesty feared something might happen to you and so he sent me here to protect you both, to ask you to come to the Dread Keep to be treated as royalty,” Tres explained melancholily.

“His…majesty…did?”

“Had I been faster, this would not have happened. Forgive me.”

“…You…you don’t need to be forgive.”

“…I understand. My offense is-”

“You have nothing to be forgiven for. You avenged him, Henry, and saved me.” Tears fell again from Penny’s eyes. “I just wish…I could’ve…been better, stronger…for him.”

“Lady Penny.” Tres knelt across from her, setting his glaive down. “I was too late to save your brother, but I can make you stronger.”

“…Stronger.”

“Yes, stronger than any one of these ruffians, strong enough so that no one could ever take away what’s precious to you again.”

“…Even if I’ve already lost everything?”

“I thought the same as you did once, Lady Penny,” Tres confessed. “Until the Demon Emperor found me and Lady Hilda forged me into the man I am today. Now, I have found a reason to live and I hope to one day find someone to live for again, just as I used to. My wife and two sons were taken from me, but my love for them has never faded and never will. The Demon Emperor understands our pain and understands that scum like this doesn’t deserve to say whether we’re right or wrong in our actions.”

“Right…or wrong.”

Tres held his hand out to her. “Lady Penny, would you please come with me to the Dread Keep?”

“…Can I…have time to bury Henry first?”

“We shall give him the finest grave in the most peaceful place in the empire if you come with me.”

“Then.” Penny, still clutching Henry’s warm corpse, shook Tres’s hand. “I’ll follow you.”