Lyra slowly limped toward the stunned hooded figure, her battered feet gliding through the black pieces of metal that formerly resembled a chain conjured by that man. The inky wisps ebbed and flowed around her, recoiling violently at the presence the man exuded.
The hooded figure, still reeling from the shock, didn't take too kindly to the power she held over his weapon. No one should be able to wield this kind of power. He was infuriated by the action; his brow deepened into a frown.
He contemplated whether to test his abilities again or consider hand-to-hand combat against a lone, feeble human, which seemed the better option. She was already standing arm's length away, hastening his decision-making.
Would he hit a woman? Only if it's a demented, chaotic creature that can cause mass destruction. Yes, he would hit a woman if deemed necessary. This made matters more complicated than he anticipated.
Seeing the woman up close, she seemed injured and weak, though the man wasn't fooled by the appearance—covered in blood with vile tendrils waiting to strike without a moment's notice. Her clothes were shredded, with only pieces barely covering her womanly parts.
The man's eyes quickly returned to her face, rooting them in place. He noticed her voided eyes were faltering as if she was close to fainting. He was confused that she hadn't used her abilities to strike him yet.
"Save…her," Lyra whispered, her impassive expression slowly tensed to anguish.
Lyra arched back, the black void of her eyes dissipating, revealing her shimmering blue ones. Gasping for air, she collapses, falling as the man reflexively catches her in his arms. The black tendrils dissolved into the shadows, and the revolting aura vanished.
Pulling her close to his embrace, the man was riddled with questions in his mind. The slight rise and fall of her chest determined she was still alive for now. He got what he came for, like a blessing in disguise, and began to contemplate his return home.
However, the sound of snarls and footfalls echoed across the courtyard. The demons recovered from the chaos and surrounded the couple at a safe distance. The horde of creatures grew in numbers and showed no interest in small talk as the soldiers descended upon the couple to capture them.
"Dammit," the man cursed. It seemed that blessing turned into a curse, and he should've spoken too soon. Running out of options, his jaw clenched at the idea that seemed the best option; he cursed again under his breath.
He pulled Lyra's body close to his protectively under his cloak. Her head resting against his warm chest with his arm around her shoulder, while the man flexed his free hand, pointing to the sky. His red eyes glinted as he looked up, and the clouds above rumbled. His lips curled into a cunning smile.
Peering back at the sneering demons surrounding the couple like a cornered dog, the demons should have known better. Even a cornered dog still has sharp canines. Hesitant by the shift in the air, the intruder exuded goosebumps crawled their ghoulish skin. This man was no ordinary creature.
"Reach," he commanded with a booming voice.
Countless black chains erupted from the earth, reaching high into the heavens, causing the demons to evade the attack. Thrown off balance and confused, they kept their distance from the strange ambush. Although they were initially able to avoid the move with ease, they were beginning to feel cocky, thinking this man was all bark and no bite. However, the chains mysteriously started to recoil.
A dark, looming shadow covered the vicinity of the fortress. Puzzled by the darkness around them, some of the soldiers looked up. Panic etched in their faces, they began fleeing the area, and the rest abandoned their posts.
A colossal-sized boulder, covered in black, treelike roots protruding out, which had aimlessly floated in the sky, was now hurtling towards the fortress at an alarming rate with the links of the chains connecting to it. Panic erupted among the soldiers as they dispersed, and the hooded figure chuckled at their plight.
Thanks to the diversion, he removed his cloak, wrapping it securely around the woman before carrying her in his arms bridal style. His black attire for his covert operations consisted of a black tunic, black pants, and dark leather boots, contrasting with his white silvery hair that stood out like a sore thumb.
His muscles rippled on his chest as he flexed his shoulders, unfurling his black wings from his back. Revealing his true form to the enemy was a risk he had to take, and it was too late to change his mind. Kneeling slightly, his wings expanded wide, and he leaped into the air. His magnificent wings beat with a powerful force as the wind picked up, kicking dust in the air. Flying into the sky, he scaled over the stone wall with ease, escaping the fortress.
With the impending doom hurtling down towards the fortress, the desecrated courtyard was deserted, apart from the demon corpses left behind. Another figure stepped out from the shadows at the entrance of the keep.
His lean figure, clothed in a royal blue with gold lining attire and his short black hair combed, was adorned with a golden band covering his forehead. His face was impassive despite the discord he observed from the shadows.
Pulling his sword from its sheath and discarding the scabbard, he swiftly swept through the area like the wind. He effortlessly sliced the chains with one stroke of his blade. The colossal boulder, nearly inches away from the high towers, ceased. As if pulled by unknown forces, the boulder drifted back to the heavens, disappearing behind the clouds.
The man released a sigh. He was disappointed in the outcome of what transpired, but his face didn't show it. His red eyes turning into slits, he approached the pit—courtesy of the vessel that managed to escape.
The very person they had within their grasp, and she slipped through their fingers. Someone was going to lose their head if they hadn't died already. He would need his brother to fix this mess, knowing that his authority resides in the dungeons, presenting the results of the vessel.
However, the timing of the intruder was unsettling. To make matters worse, the very intruder was no ordinary angel but a dangerous one. His eyes hardened at the revelation. Neither demon nor angel but cursed one—the fallen.
"How long are you going to linger there while the fallen one escapes with the vessel?" he spoke out, his voice dull as he continued staring into the abyss.
"Buried under all that rubble made it difficult to nap, especially with all that racket going on," Troy joked, jumping out of the pit and landing swiftly beside the man. His clothes were covered with dirt and stained with old blood. However, no wounds were seen on his unblemished skin.
"Since the human was under your care, you must retrieve her at all costs. Unless…" the man paused, "You want to remain here to clean up this mess,"
"You don't give orders to me, little brother," Troy warned, his jaw tensed at the orders given to him. His eyes softened as he looked at his younger brother.
"I'll get her back, Kolton. Just keep that bastard busy till I return," Troy sighed, reassuringly placing his hand over his brother's shoulder.
Kolton remained silent as he stared blankly at his brother. He closed his eyes in reluctance. The reminder of that said bastard, their father, was currently absent. Their father, Zariel, was somewhere out in the realm, scheming demented creatures to join their cause. He had no choice but to rely on Troy. The burden of their father's expectations weighed heavily on him, and he couldn't afford any more setbacks.
Taking Kolton's silence as an agreement, Troy returned to the keep to change his clothes and prepare. His mind drifted back to Lyra; he was pissed off for not sensing it sooner, and his body still ached from the hit he received, but his desire burned more to have her. He chuckled, walking through the dark corridors. He found the role she played in this game of his, wondering if she was aware of it.