Mary Ann was used to it after a certain point.
Being reborn then killed all because of a prophecy.
She would watch the knife slowly rising above her tiny body. Each face different, yet all played a similar scene.
"For the prophecy."
They were the last words she would hear before entering the lake of lost souls again and again and again. Some faces held remorse, others held anger as if seeing something hideous. Finally there was the one that had not a single pint of emotions. This stone faced man looked at the child before him as if she was but an inconvenience.
The blackness soon took over and the infant, Mary Ann wondered.
What had she done wrong.
It must've been something terrible to make her go through this loop of just a piece of consciousness and then a sudden toss into the void of unconsciousness.
But this time was different. She was before another man who was caged in an ebony prison. Beside him a woman of indistinguishable beauty resided.
"You have such a pitiful existence." Donavon sighed. "A prophecy has cursed you into this hell. However I can help you, descendant of Beowulf."
"A prophecy... This is why I'm suffering..."
"Don't you hate it." Daphne's emerald eyes glistened. From the air a puff of green smoke emerged, faces appeared in the mini cloud twisting about screaming in desperation. "With this death won't follow you for you work for her Master."
"Swear fealty to me." Donavon smirked. "Then I will bestow upon you this power to rule."
Mary Ann's hands extended, taking in the vapor it's green intoxication took over quickly as she soon had a fury unlike any other.
The stone cold expression transformed in fear as the child grew to the size of a fully grown woman. Within her hands was a sword coated in a blue steel that glowed menacingly.
"The demon..." He gasped and walked back. "You have to die or Brigaden will fal...!"
His vision flipped suddenly. His head had been completely flipped, something had snapped his neck with force unlike anything in his brief life.
Two large paws slowly slipped back to the side of a man dressed in a butler's attire.
"Speaking to royalty in such a manor isn't easily forgiven." Creighton bowed. "Your faithful servant, Cerberus. But I'll leave you to my new name, Master."
"... Creighton..." She looked at the book in the arms of the terrified woman. "From this day forth I'm the Queen of this country."
Rusi heard of the death of the previous ruler of Brigaden, they knew the prophecy was upon them when news of the wolf scarred child had taken over. Killing off most of the royal family and many of their citizens. There was ones who resisted and were killed and some who joined the new Queen, tired of the treatment received from their previous monarch. Eventually they had taken over the small country with the help of the lycanthropy fluid that changed many of the people into beast.
Rusi tried the first invasion and it ended in disaster their soldiers were devoured by the wolf threat or worst forced to join in the mass army of teeth and claws.
She was always used to the coldness of being standing above everyone.
Fear and respect mixed it's dominating concoction making all eyes face the ground instead of her. Only Creighton would look directly at the Queen, but only for conversation.
For the first time someone didn't look at her with fear and for the first time she has felt a new emotion.
It was rage, this rage came because for the first time someone betrayed her.
---
Gunfire rang through the clear meadow, along with it the moon's somber face looking at the onslaught below.
"I'm out of silver bullets." The Rusian soldier shouted. He threw away his magazine and reloaded while his comrades continued to rain hell upon the enclosing beast. They fell, howled and turned to rot instantly with each bullet.
"These bastards." The soldier spat as the last lycan fell. "General Yuri sure is a genius with infiltration. He said he saw how crazy these Greek institute guys are. They really will help us bring down this monster kingdom."
Suddenly from above came a crash, dust took over covering the soldiers.
"What the hell?!" One gasped. The dust finally cleared he looked at the ground first taking in the sight of his four teammates beneath a set of horse legs. Each hoof was straight through their chest, blood poured about his feet. "What... What is this... Thing..." He looked up to see the deadly gaze of Brigaden's Queen, except she wasn't in her usual form. Only her upper body remained the same, below resided the form of a horse.
Mary Ann's answer didn't come from her lips, she let her sword converse in the art of war, cleaving the young man's upper body from his torso.
"What is this feeling?" She pondered.
She recalled Japheth's words.
"An angel..." A resentful snort escaped her lips. "You lied to me..."
From behind her a large pillar of fire came from where she left Creighton.
"... Impossible..." Mary Ann's eyes were held in disbelief. "He can't.... Why... He..."
"Hello your Majesty." Aria landed near Mary Ann. "Now I was ordered to capture you as long as you aren't violent."
Rage again took her, she leapt towards the area.
"Ah I was ignored." Aria laughed.
I was amazed with the flames that danced about Chris he smiled at me and gave a peace sign.
"What happened." I chuckled, seeing the three of my friends with relax expressions.
From behind me came a sudden crash, dust and rock flew at my back with such an intensity it almost threw me off balance.
Once I turned around a half horse-half woman emerged she held a sword in her right hand tightly. It's blue haze reflecting my disturbed gaze. The energy coming from her was completely different she was oozing a bloodlust much more sinister than Christopher.
"You all will die here." Mary Ann coldly stated.
"Now hold it Miss Queen." Aria landed near her. "You can't just..."
We watched Aria's head swiftly be taken from her neck and flung into the air.
Her body went limp and fell.
"What the hell!" Chris gasped.
"I'm okay." Aria chuckled.
"What the hell!" We all exclaimed.
Misery arrived and looked about the rubble and saw us.
"Your fast." She nudged me. "So this is one of Donavon's furies?"
"You know and still continue this meaningless slaughter." Mary Ann came closer. "I will admit you all are a peculiar bunch, I can see the soul in each one of you." She stared at me. "For some reason two resides and I can see it being quite chaotic." She dashed to me and readied her sword for a wide slash. "Such a disturbing soul you have!"
I felt the coldness of the blade nearing my body, on instinct I suddenly twisted out of the swords reach and leapt back.
"You bunch are a bit different." Mary Ann chuckled. "You killed Creighton and have destroyed my castle. I think death isn't enough for this crime." She sighed and came again relentlessly disturbing the night air.
Each one getting closer to me until I bumped into a boulder.
"Die!" Mary Ann swung downwards.
"Enough!" Japheth grabbed the boulder behind me and slammed it into Mary Ann, the impact created a moment of respite.
I took a long breathe of thankfulness that my head was still attached. My heart was doing laps about my chest, this was a lot different from Christopher. Mary Ann was a true hunter who would finish the job immediately instead of playing with her prey.
Misery placed Aria's head back on her body.
"She's not complying." She turned to Misery exorcist style. "Should we eliminate her."
"Samuel said if she isn't useful then terminate." Misery reminded her.
"Japheth..." Mary Ann stared at him. "Creighton told me to not trust you, still I can only blame myself for this."
'I didn't know they were going to do this." Japheth shouted truthfully.
"Lies!" Mary Ann screamed back. "You used me, destroyed my castle and killed my butler along with my people." She wailed. "You think I want to hear what you say. First I'm going to kill you all then I'll destroy Rusi... I can always start over." She began to laugh uncontrollably. "Yes! I can rebuild this kingdom and use you all as it's foundation."
Aria dashed forward and slammed her shoulder into Mary Ann's back. Her thrusters at full power managing to push the centaur woman into the air.
She quickly spun slamming Aria into the ground, while she fell, Mary Ann's sword transformed into a blue bow. As she drew back the empty string, a thin light glowed. Her fingers quickly pulled and released creating a machine gun like effect.
"Every one get closer!" Japheth yelled. He dashed over to Aria.
We sprinted towards him as he stomped creating a dome of stone over us. Above I heard the pelting arrows strike against our shield, some even managed to penetrate our rocky defense.
Mary Ann landed, the sound of her footsteps getting closer was horrific.
"What now?" Chris let out a deep breath.
"Listen we have to all attack her at once." Misery's eyes turned red. "Darren you'll get closer and use that dark power you got."
My uncertainty showed for a bit but I nodded in agreement. I felt Malvick laugh a bit.
"I told you." He echoed. "You'll need me eventually."
"At least die as warriors." Mary Ann's bow became a blade once more.
"Now!" I shouted.
Japheth released the rock shield, we all separated into different directions and circled about Mary Ann.
Misery was the first to attack, her knife slashed about nearing Brigaden Monarch however she was way too fast even with that monstrous sized body.
"Get back!" Chris sent forth a line of azure flames.
Misery swiftly jumped back avoiding the swaying blade.
Flames from Chris encircled about Mary Ann, after taking Mary Ann's surroundings with a blazing heat; Chris made them grew more violent eventually exploding about her.
We all watched the crackling fire in anticipation, we knew she was still alive within it. We were just awaiting her next move...
"Tiring flies."
Fierce winds pushed outwards disrupting the dancing flames, Mary Ann's burned skin was returning to a state as if she wasn't harmed at all.
"That has to be against some kinda rule." Chris groaned.
Mary galloped towards him with a terrifying speed, she raised her blade once more.
Joshua flew in and sent a swift kick into her stomach pushing the monster Queen back.
Her face scowled not in pain, it was a strong annoyance towards all of us not being victim to her sword.
"Aria hold her down for a minute!" Misery commanded.
"You got it!" Aria dashed onto Mary Ann's back and mounted her like a regular horse. "Giddy up!"
"Insolence!" The Queen kicked and jumped violently, but the girl held on tightly not letting her go at all.
"Now Darren!" Misery pointed at Mary Ann.
Darkness spread across my left hand, once it was coated I went in for a finishing blow. Mary Ann's eyes darted to me and she moved out the way avoiding a deathly blow, still my hand connected to her left arm detaching it from her body.
"What..." Her stunned face was riddled in questions and pain. "It's not healing... What have you done!" Her voice thundered. The blade in her left hand glowed ominously. "Now I see how you all had gotten rid of that mad man." Mary Ann twisted her body into a destructive spin, sending Aria into the air. Her hind legs were towards me and raised legs upwards I saw a kick coming for my chest. Using my arms as a shield I prepared for the devastating blow, a sickening crack came from my forearm.
I was pushed into a pile of rubble with a horrible crash. Pain ripped through my arms, blood drained from my lips not from any internal injury, my teeth were fiercely digging into my lips too strongly trying to substitute to get through this hellish agony.
"Darren!" Japheth came to me.
"You... Bastard..!" Mary Ann's bow returned. She didn't need another arm as the string was being pulled by an invisible force.
The arrow flew towards Japheth and no one could've reacted faster as it struck his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and fell to the ground clutching his injury.
"She's strong..." I managed to spurt out. "Japheth you need to get back for now." I pushed myself to stand.
"Damn." Joshua growled. "She doesn't have any openings at all."
"Then we gotta make one." Aria suggested. "If we got her once we can get her again." She bent her body into a sprinting form, eyes trained on Mary Ann.
An explosion from her flying into Mary Ann.
With just her left arm, Mary Ann sent a devastating slash towards Aria, but the attack was too wide so the hilt was the thing causing damage on on the robot. The impact buried the Aria's upper body.
"Aria use your self destruct mode, body only." Misery commanded.
Immediately Aria stood up her once hazel eyes changed to a red hue, she latched onto Mary Ann's remaining arm and started to glow brightly.
"You two should step back!" Aria laughed manically.
Japheth grabbed me with his good arm and leapt away from the sudden explosion, the shockwave pushed us further from them.
From the plume of smoke and debris flew a burnt object that was laughing. Once next to Joshua it spoke.
"Hey I kinda need a hand." Aria's voice came from the dark object.
"That's just plain creepy." Joshua shuddered.
Mary Ann's outline was seen within the dark cloud of smoke, she was panting heavily. once it cleared we caught a glimpse that her other arm wasn't regenerating, a bloody stump remained showing a brutal display of bone and mangled flesh.
"Ho... How is this possible?" She panted. "I can't heal at all..." A sudden flash of the dark power being used to take her arm came to mind. "I knew it." She turned to my direction. "That darkness is dangerous."
"Enough." Japheth limped forward. "Mary Ann just stop you don't need to fight anymore or you'll die!"
"You... Have the audacity to think I fear death?" Arrogance was heavy with this question. "I've been brought into this world and taken from it multiple times, every waking moment was met by death."
Blue aura grew about Mary Ann.
"Each day after I had taken this kingdom I wondered why was I even born."
A dark blue armor grew about her, it shifted into two new arms one with a shield and another held her sword.
"You have yet to see the underworld, Japheth." She spat. "I acknowledge you and your friend's power, still I will not surrender. So long as I the heir to Brigaden stand you will not leave here alive."
A wave of pressure swept across the rubble.
"I... I see..." Japheth tightly clutched his fist. "Darren, how's your arm?"
The pain had numbed, still it felt like lead trying to raise them.
"I'll be fine." I lied. I didn't need to worry my friends anymore, especially with Mary Ann's burst of power.
"She can't heal anymore." Chris announced. "That means all we have to do is wear her down."
Mary Ann snickered.
"Try if you think you can."
"Then don't mind if we do!" Joshua flew towards her, he sent sharp gust of winds at her.
"Foolish..." turning to let the shield grow, Mary Ann had negated his attack.
"Damn." Joshua
"Is that all..."
From above came a boulder and holding it giving a loud battle cry was Japheth, he swung it downwards, but saw how the rock was split in half.
Mary Ann's blade had dissected it.
"Crap." Japheth gasped as he fell towards a readied sword strike.
With an ambush Chris snuck up behind her, his arm being held by the other.
"Try getting through this!"
A burst of flames spew forth covering Mary Ann's upper body completely. one of the armored arms launched forward and grabbed Chris' neck.
Half of her face had melted creating an even more disturbing image for the baffled teen.
"You are mere flies." She spat blood into his face, her grip increased ready to snap his neck.
"Fire!" A voice roared.
Bullets flew taking Mary Ann's four legs, she fell forward releasing our friend.
"Nice timing." Cleondra came forward, behind her was the remaining soldiers of the Rusian Army. They had every single gun trained on the mutilated woman.
"Queen Mary Ann." Yuri spoke in a tone Japheth never heard before. "Today we Rusian will make sure our Founding Father's Prophecy is stopped."
"Prophecy." Mary Ann laughed. "You Rusian's disgust me." She struggled to stand back up. "I've seen the archive. The previous king of these lands was afraid of your tyrant Emperor, so he made sure to give you all what you need from our beautiful lands. You all use this prophecy as a way of invasion, you knew the many warnings I gave you all. Still you persisted in bringing chaos here, had I not given my people strength they would've been kept under your rule."
"What!?" Japheth shouted.
"That isn't what Samuel told us." I blurted out. "Cleondra what the hell is going on!"
"Nothing you should worry yourselves about." Yuri glared at me. The knives in his eyes drove themselves back into Mary Ann. "You have taken many of our brethern with your stubborness."
"And you've sent them here as cattle for Brigaden." Mary Ann insulted with a sneer. "You are no better than me, hell your even worst a mere puppet to a paranoid little man."
"Hold your tongue." Yuri warned. "I won't allow such insolence in our great leader's name."
"Great?!" Mary Ann shouted in a condescending tone.
The ground trembled.
"I won't allow you all to even breath." As if the injury never existed, she used her legs and dashed into the wave of soldiers.
Bullets flew and either bounced off of her armor or drilled into the exposed parts of her body. She paid no heed to them instead she flew into a frenzy, slashing and stomping the many soldiers as if they were nothing but insignificance she happened across.
Men shouted as their bodies were mangled beneath her feet, or swiftly split apart by her sword.
"T-Squad!" Cleondra shouted. "Finish the job you were sent here to do."
A piece of me wanted to help, but the words Mary Ann spoke of still lingered in my mind.
We were used to slaughter her people.
Yeah she was a fury for Donavan, but she herself didn't started the war with Rusi.
It was them all along.
A sudden slap snapped me back to reality.
"Now isn't the time to think about unimportant things." Cleondra hissed. "She's killing those men out there, once she's done you and your friends are next."
I glared at her, but she was right.
We had to stop her.
A deep breath gave me control over my troubled heart.
"Enough!" Japheth jumped into action, he stomped the ground and created a large pillar of stone. With his insane strength he split it in half and swung the new yet crude weapon into Mary Ann. She flew from the blow far away from the remaining Rusi army.
"I don't know what's going on." Japheth scowled. "But no one is killing any one anymore."
"Are you kidding me?" A random Rusi soldier got up. "She just massacred my comrades and you think we all should stop cause you said so?"
Japheth slammed the pillar near the guy, his brave front soon faltered, melting away into an awkward silence as he sat on the ground in fear of the heavy slab of stone.
"If you wanna test me try that again."
The soldier aimed the gun at him quaking in fear.
A sharp gust of wind soon took the gun, it flew to Joshua who broke it with his bear hands.
"The man said no more killing." He repeated.
Each Rusian gazed at us, we were just as ready to put them all down.
"Enough." Yuri sighed. "I hope you know what your doing, Japheth."
Japheth gave Yuri a disgusted look and went to Mary Ann.
Mary Ann was breathing heavily, her vision dimming and returning. This familiar coldness was death, she recognize it's hold on her it's just that such an embrace was long forgotten.
"Mary Ann..." Japheth's voice called out sadly.
"You... are the last voice I wanted to hear." She said sarcastically. "I'm now ruined by you Rusian's, are you happy now?!"
"I'm not a Rusian." Japheth admitted. "I'm from the Dracon Archipelago, I grew up on the island of New Port. A lot of things happened and that's why I'm here now."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I just... wanted to tell you something true about myself." Japheth rubbed the back of his neck. "This shouldn't have happened, you, your butler, and your people. Why did you join Donavan."
Mary Ann went silent.
"He helped me about fifty three years ago." She remembered. "I was born into the royal family, but was also cursed by it. The founder and king of Brigaden at the time had a vision before his death. A child will be born into the crowned family, upon her face will be the markings of the wolf." Mary Ann moved her scorched skin towards the moonlight, showing her accused eye. "Every birth I was given, each life I had obtained was quickly taken away from me. Then he came to me, and asked if I yearned for a better life. All I had to do was bring him a quantity of souls after the battles within the Colosseum. At first I didn't care much about it, but then you were the first to speak to me in a way I never expected. You didn't care about me being royalty or even your enemy at this point, why do you try so hard to remain by my side and help me. I am not even human." She looked down at her horse half, it's legs twisted grotesquely from her injuries.
"Well where I'm from I'm not really popular." Japheth chuckled nervously. "My friends either had girls they liked or have ones they are interested in now. I didn't really have any of that. When I saw you come in the room I thought you were taking me to the afterlife, so I thought you were an angel."
"Me an angel?" Mary Ann snorted. "You really are strange, Japheth."
The two laughed.
"So are you... going to die?" Japheth eyes filled with worry.
"Yes..." Mary Ann smiled. "I have been disconnected from Donavan's magic, but it's alright I'm used to death. Your friend has a mysterious power indeed, he cut off the spell by Donavan making me a mortal again. If he can get stronger, then you all might have a chance to..."
A sudden gunshot rung out.
Mary Ann's body fell limp, any sign of life within her was taken away drastically. Japheth's stunned gaze was now upon the Rusian soldier who had taken a pistol from his side.
"Damn beast talking so much." He growled. "It's all because of her our friends and family were slaughtered and eaten." He kept firing at the already deceased queen. "I hope hell keeps you warm tonight."
In my life, I've only caught glimpses of Japheth's anger. His face fully scowled into a rage unknown to any of us. He slowly got up and walked towards the Rusian soldier who fired the shot, the man smirked as if Japheth wouldn't do anything.
Little did he know my best friend cared less about being surrounded by an army with guns drawn.
Japheth's hands curled into a fist, squeezing out the possibility of air in his palms. Once tight enough, he sent it into the guys face crushing the helmet and sending teeth into all directions.
"I thought I said..." He got on his knees above the soldier, fist covered in blood and teeth. "No one else is killing anyone." Another blow rung out loudly then another, soon we all realized he was about to smash that guy's face in.
"Stop you idiot!" I ran forward and grabbed his arm. My strength wasn't there so it felt like pulling a whole tank on my own.
Joshua and Chris came to stop him too thankfully.
"You bastard." The bloody soldier screamed. "You think I will stand for this?"
He got up once we had Japheth removed.
"We stop here." Yuri spoke out. "It doesn't matter how any of you are feeling, our task is complete another one of that crazy God's envoy is dead and Brigaden is free from the accursed prophecy." He removed a cigar and smoked it. "Japheth you developed useless emotions for the enemy, that's why I recalled the idea of telling you our plan. If it is to save your country, no the world, it doesn't matter what death comes. Man, woman or child a mission is to be completed."
Yuri walked away leading the remnants of his army.
We had arrived back to New port, but Japheth hadn't spoken the whole way home. A distant gaze had taken his eyes, it also made sure he was mute with thoughts.
Samuel had called our squad and began his explanation.
"It seems the Rusi had other ideas." He sighed. "I must apologize for their..."
"Shove it." Japheth insulted. "Your telling me you had no idea that those guys were gonna do something like that?"
We all stared at him.
"Japheth." Chris placed his hands on his shoulder, but it was shrugged off.
"I don't know what game your playing." He continued. "But if it's something as underhanded as this, I don't wanna be here at all. Those bastards killed everyone and thing without question, the next thing we all know we're all out there blowing up a literal city."
"I assure you..."
"Assure my ass." Japheth scoffed. "Darren, Joshua , Chris. I'm sorry but I don't want to be in this place anymore."
"What!" We gasped.
"Japheth wait..."
But he held up his hand to shush me.
"This guy is shady." He snarled. "And I don't plan to help him anytime soon."