The Maelstrom

Chapter 19: The Path

"Go run! I will hold them back!" Josiah yelled out as another wave of demonic minions charged the front lines. Standing with the determined man was a line of soldiers, fighting along side as they attempted to hold back the horde from getting within the deeper walls of Fha. Bloodshed and carnage ran rampant along the streets, bodies that fell only rose once more as they joined the ranks of the damned. These dark spirits and monsters cared not whom they carved down; men, women, and even children became vessels for the darkness.

"We be needing just a bit longer!" Grog yelled out from the walls above, shoving barrels of molten oil down to the enemies below. Merle stood next to him and readied a flaming arrow, firing it into the skull of one of the damned. It's body lit aflame, engulfing those around it in a blaze of charred flesh. Together they moved down the wall helping the archers from above.

Standing next to the gates of the inner kingdom was Elizabeth and her commander. They worked together with soldiers to rush in what remaining citizens they could rescue. Blades swung wildly, gunshots rang out and even Greta and Naga fought from the ground, tearing through their enemies, as the gates began to plunge down toward the earth from above. "Retreat! That is an order! Fall back within the walls!" Elizabeth yelled out, demanding her soldiers to return.

"Josiah! We be needing to fall back!" Thomas yelled out as he plunged his dagger into the skull of the undead demon before him. Lifting his foot the large man kicked his enemy back as another jumped upon his back. "We-" Thomas swung his skull back, colliding it into the nose of the demon. Reaching over his shoulders the young man grabbed his enemy and rolled him forward into the ground. "-need to hurry!" His head turned to face Josiah as he called out.

Surrounding Josiah was a unit of fifteen undead soldiers. Each of them charging as one, in attempts to tear the flesh from the muscular man's body. "Aid me Isabelle." Josiah said, whispering to the blackened blade that he held up before his face. With a deep breath and closed eyes Josiah stood still as his enemies dove in. With an almost god like speed Josiah rose his head, stared into the enemies soul, and made quick work of the arisen soldiers. Their bodies fell to pieces around the pirate, as blackened blood coated his skin. "Go, there is a path I must follow." Josiah nodded back to Thomas as he ran into the depths of the city, tearing down enemies that dared to cross him.

Thomas stood with an outstretched hand unable to protest his friend's words. With a face of determination the young man straightened himself as he spun on a heel, making way toward the gates, only to be stopped by a wall of undead enemies. Unarmed, and separated from his allies Thomas froze. "I won't go down so easily!"

With a growl Thomas began to charge at the enemy, preparing to take them down with him. Yet for a moment the young man felt weightless as he was lifted from the path he paved. Within a split moment Thomas was sent from the ground to the back of the blackened tiger. "You will live to fight another day." Called out Patricia, galloping along side them on the albino tiger. "Naga, Greta! Go!" They yelled out as the two animals carried their companion within the gates, moments before it sealed the enemies away.

Tumbling through the gate and into a small clearing the two animals dropped their riders. "Mother! Josiah is still out there!" Thomas quickly rose to his feet and rushed along side of Elizabeth.

"He chose this path. I'm sorry, but we cannot allow the life of one to hinder those of what we can save." Elizabeth said in a stern tone, but the tear she held back told another story. The queen wished she could save everyone, she wished that blood would no longer fall. Yet within the week since William's attack the city of Fha was crumbling once again, each death granting their enemy a new arisen undead soldier. "Secure this gate! We must hold out until sunrise!"

"But mother!" Thomas took a step forward in protest. "He is fam-"

Elizabeth cut the young man off as she placed her hands upon Thomas' shoulders. "He is on his own." The queen said, raising her hand to Thomas cheek. Even in this moment the woman wanted to break down, to hold Thomas within her arms, but she needed to be strong. "I'm sorry." Turning from the boy Elizabeth looked up toward the sky, praying daylight would fall upon them soon.

What remained of the collapsing outer city was void of hope. Buildings burned and crumbled under pressure. Those that fell behind were consumed by the darkness surrounding them as their calls for aid only guided the monsters to a new feast. The streets that were once paved in shining glory now laid home to a river of blood that washed out to sea, toward the docks...

....where the Vile Whore stood.

"The western front holds solid, our enemies have retreated to the inner walls." Kietsaru stood over the magical and swirling map, placed upon a table within the captain's quarters. "They are weak but our soldiers are growing stronger. Soon they will be able to walk within the daylight."

"What of Beatrice?" William said as he stepped forward from the shadows of the room. "What word do we have?" The monstrous man walked over to the table and leaned upon it with both hands. The image of the Seas of Nine before swirled and reshaped taking upon the scenes of a battle within the waters. Ships burned and sank to the depths as horrors rose from the water's aiding the damned enemy.

"The Queen's navy have fought back, but not even their might can withstand our numbers. As you know, each death for them...is another to our ranks." Kietsaru stood straight and crossed her arms. "Soon you will rule the Seas of Nine." She said with a dark grin.

"They will all fall before me, one by one." William said as he turned to look out a large window that stretched across the back of his quarters. His eyes danced with the flames that burned across the lands before him. "The Maelstrom will consume it all."

Kietsaru walked to stand next to William, with her hand resting upon the hilt of her blade. "They refuse to surrender." The young woman looked out upon the damage that ravaged the land over the past week.

William stood silently as memories replayed within his mind, taking him back to the days of old when Fha burned by his hand. "They be sealed within their own coffin. Backed within a corner with no escape."

"They be fearless, I expect them to fight back." Kietsaru drummed her finders across the blade's handle, fighting the urge to draw it upon William. The young woman knew it was not the time, if she were to attack this man she needed to ensure he would not rise again.

"Then I shall line them up, force them to watch as I tear their loved ones apart bit by bit until their souls shatter. I will take away their will to live, they will bend at knee.... or be cut down to them." William grinned at the thought, the blood lust energizing his being. "Yes, they will-"

On the docks below screams of death and anguish echoed out as the damned army was carved through. Dozens of undead soldiers and creatures fought against a shadowy figure below, only to meet their end in a shower of carnage. "Voggak!" A voice called out, which drew the Captain's attention.

"Now that be a name I have not heard in ages." William said as he opened the window to look upon the figure below. "I thought that be you. My how ye have grown...." Below surrounded by horrors of all shapes and sizes stood a being coated in gore and blood that dripped from his long black hair. A long black ebony blade extended outward from a fist by his side, his eyes locking with the Captain's. "....Josiah."