The Maelstrom

Chapter 20: Domino Effect

The dock was covered in flames and gore as demons circled around Josiah. The blade he held outstretched in his hand kept them at bay as they wished not to join the numbers of vanquished. The tall tanned man stood straight with an enraged stare, his eyes never leaving that of the monstrous pirate captain. Blood oozed down his face and body like sweat as his chest rose and collapsed with determined breaths. The young man spoke no words as he stood there, awaiting his enemy's next move.

"Do you really think it be wise to stand before me alone?" The monstrous captain said as he circled around his opponent. His hand drummed the hilt of his blade as he paced around, looking toward the crowd. "With a snap of my fingers you would be swarmed by army, they will tear you limb from limb and feast upon your flesh." The tone in the captains voice changed as the true demon within emerged. Voggak stopped and turned to face the back of Josiah. "Then you will become no more than another vessel to my cause."

"No." Josiah said quietly, as the grip upon his blade tightened.

"Excuse me?" Voggak said leaning forward toward the boy.

"I said no!" Josiah spun and rose the blade, pointing the tip of it at the massive man. "You will die this night." The young man withdrew the blade back to his side as his muscles tightened.

Voggak stood still for a moment before bursting into laughter. "It is not I who will die." The captains face quickly changed to a more serious demeanor. "This war shall end before sunrise, I have no time for a failed warrior." With that the shadows consumed Voggak as he teleported away.

Josiah charged toward the fading monster, but the blackened portal had collapsed inches before him. The surrounding undead and demons took this moment to leap in and attack their enemy. With screams of rage Josiah was swarmed, swinging his blade and fighting back the dark army. Blood, and gore showered the battlefield as the young man became overpowered and swallowed by the swarm. "Voggak!!" Josiah's scream echoed out through the ending night stretching across the lands...

....reaching the castle in the distance.

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"Barricade the walls! Fortify the-" Elizabeth stood within the walls of her castle as her attention was drawn toward a distance scream. For a moment she stood and stared out into a blank distance before regaining her composure. "-walls! We must ensure this place is prepared if our walls should fall."

The soldiers within the castle nodded and scrambled to follow orders. Windows became barricaded and doors became locked and blocked. Outside the castle walls the screams and yells of battle drove the Queen's men to work faster to ensure their safety. Women and children were ushered into the throne room as it was the only area large enough to house the remaining populace.

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Outside along the walls archers showered the field with flaming arrows, lighting the oil pits below in a blaze of charred undead flesh. "Grog! The archers are running out of ammunitions." Merle yelled out toward the older man who perched on the walls above. "We can't hold out much longer!"

Grog stood behind a massive cannon as he looked toward the young diplomat. "Fall back! Get within the castle!" The grizzled old man lit the fuse of the steal weapon; after a few moments a grapeshot rang out and tore through the attacking army. "Daylight be on the horizon!"

Merle looked up at Grog from the ground below and nodded. "You heard the old man! Fall back get into the castle!" Adjusting his coat the young man stood straight. "That's an-" Before he could finish his words the wind shifted behind him, collapsing him to his knees. Blood trickled down the side of his lips as he rose a hand to meet it. With one final breath, Merle's body split in half from his torso and fell limp to the ground.

"Merle!" Grog yelled out with an outstretched hand. The soldiers around the body followed suit, as an unseen force cleaved them in half and showered the inner grounds in blood. The wind swirled and twisted into a small dust devil. When the wind faded out from the center arose Beatrice, holding a bloodied blade. She stood amung the dead and locked eyes with Grog, staring him down.

Deep and enraged breaths panted from Grog as his muscles tightened and his eyes burned with anger. The old man snarled leapt from the walls with his fist and hook high above his head. Tears flew from his face as he plummeted down toward the horned woman as winged demons flew in to join the fight with what soldiers remained.

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Within the throne room the Queen stood upon the landing in which her throne sat. "Light is upon the horizon! We must hold out just a bit longer!" She said standing before the denizens that had taken shelter in this room. "We will not fail....I will not fail you! Fha will not fall again!"

Bursting through the doors of the throne room was Patricia and the Admiral. Together they slammed the massive doors shut behind them, sealing it with a large wood beam. "They have breached the inner walls!" The admiral yelled out in fear, causing the citizens inside to stir.

"Fear not! We are safe within these walls!" Elizabeth rose her hands to calm the masses. "When the light hits the horizon once more we will be free of these creatures. We will survive this night!" Looking upon the crowd she could see and feel their fear, how they acted and looked was the same feelings she fought inside. Yet she stood tall and brave, she could not let her people see the weakness she hid away.

"The sun will not rise...." From behind the Queen a shadowy portal emerged. Out stretching from it's depths was a massive hand, that encompassed the Queens head. "...at least not for you."

Emerging from the darkness was the possessed pirate captain, who raised Elizabeth into the air. "You know, these thoughts that I see?" Voggak said slowly squeezing his enemies head. "They are not mine. But this vessel? It wishes the same as I do."

Before anyone could react the massive man crushed Elizabeth's skull within his grip and tossed her limp body aside. "It craves the blood of your Queen." Voggak brought the bloodied hand up to his lips, licking the remnants of gore free as he took a seat upon the throne. "Now bow before your new King."