The Gods at War

Vlad of Vasmi

Vlad shook his wrists , squinting down to see his hands tied to the table. Brown leather travelled across his whole body. Next to him there was a table , filled with a doctors supplies . A door was in the corner of the room, closed . It reminded him of the games he used to play as a child, puzzles where a character was stuck in a room and couldn't get out. Vlad had always figured it out , finding a secret key or a vent to climb out of , but it seemed the talents didn't transfer to real life. What was going on? He couldn't remember how he got there .

He was contemplating this when the door swung open , and Zila strolled in.
" Zila , thank god you're here "
" Vlad , are you okay?" she kneeled down , stroking a hand over his forehead . He noticed she was in a doctors uniform , a stethoscope wrapped around her neck.

"Yeah, yeah , I'm fine. Are you okay? "
" Of course I'm fine... why wouldn't I be?"

What? Had she lost her memories too?

" Zila , why are you wearing a doctors uniform?"
" Because I'm your doctor , silly"
" Help me out of these so we can get out of here"

Her eyes , before soft and kind, hardened. She stood up straight. " Z-Zila , you okay? "
" Of course I'm okay... why wouldn't I be? We are all together again Vlad "
"Wha-" the door swung open again, this time the rest of his friends coming through, identical in uniforms .

They gathered around the table while staring at him, expressions unreadable . " So Zila , what's the diagnosis? " Aron said , still peering at him.
" I'm not sure yet , Vlad . He seems to have some memory loss"
" Hmmm..."

Aron picked up what seemed like a...Trephine. Oh no. It was used in ancient Azmar to treat skull fractures. They cut a hole in your head .
" Woah , hey Aron cut it out man. "

The trephine got closer .

" Aron, we're friends, what are you doing? "

Closer.

" Guys we are friends,you are my friends."

Closer .
It hit his head one time.
He was getting ready for the big hit.
Again.
Again.
Aron swung the trephine back.
Closer.

" STOP IT " the scream escaped Vlad , reeking of desperation and fear.

The whole room seemed to pause , as if time had sympathy for Vlad . The buckles came loose .
Vlad leaped off the table , running straight for the door . He was nearly out , his hand on the doorknob and...

EUHHH. Taking a deep breath in , Vlad was brought back to consciousness . His friends lay asleep around him. They had been propped up against the wall. The twins , sitting on the couch, smirked at Vlad . They clearly weren't afraid , being so much more powerful , they hadn't bothered to tie them up.

" Good , your awake . Need to have a little chat with you. "
" Whatever you have to say, it's a no. And the minute my friends awake we are getting out of here"
" Slow down , pretty boy. You might just like what we have to say" the girl drawled her words out, menacing and ugly .
" Doubt that."
" We want to have your countries . Save them. Think about it , we are so much more powerful than you. We get it under control, then ten or twenty years you five can come and take your pretty little thrones back"
" Say the work was yours for all we care" the boy added.

Vlad paused . Why did the idea sounds so easy? So simple? Right here , he could snatch it up and let them solve the issue of the Dark Army. That wasn't what he wanted though. He knew that. He wanted to be the one to bring his country out of darkness .

" Seems I was right in doubting then"
" Ugh, your so boring " the girl leaned forward , grabbing a cookie off the table . Zila's cookies.
Vlad ignored this , determined to keep them talking , distracted.
" Anyway , even if you convince me there is no way your gonna convince the others."
" We only need to convince you, the rest will follow"
" You underestimate them"

They just laughed . A look passed between the twins , the girl nodding her head in Aron's direction. Slowly , the boy stood , and Vlad caught sight of a knife in the boys hand. " Hey, stop that"
No reply. The boy leaned down , crouching over Aron as he raised the knife to his neck.

" Are you so much of a coward you would slice a mans neck while he isn't conscious to fight back?"
" I'm persuading you, Vlad"
The knife was close.
Blood pricked at Aron's neck.

Vlad could feel the room pulsating beneath him , the rise and fall of the twins lungs . He wished he could reach out and squeeze them. Squeeze them until they shattered.

The boy put his hand to the floor, an attempt to stay upright . Vlad couldn't even see them though. His eyes were burning , and every movement in the room echoed inside of him.

CRACK. His mind pounded , begging for release . Another crack. He could see Efi , sitting up in the corner. The twin, his shoulder at a strange angle. Why is he sitting like that? Has he hurt Aron? What is that cracking noise? The thoughts fleeted through his brain. He paid no attention.

Thrill rushed through him making his legs feel both weak and invincible at once . Vlad threw his other hand out , stopping the girl from running at him.
CRACK. Her head spun to the side . Then she fell
, falling on top of the coffee table.

The boy was standing now , writhing towards him , hands outstretched . Suddenly , Vlad's vision cleared . It was as if something else took over him, something hungry for pain and suffering . He wanted this boy to hurt.

A flick of his wrist. The boy's leg . Vlad wrenched his elbow socket out , a giggle escaping as blood spurted up the walls . He stretched his hands out , spread wide, and then clapped them together. The boy exploded , guts and bones a messy pile on the floor. All of Zila's precious plants were smeared with fresh blood.

Then he saw Efi. Unbothered , as usual. She wiped a smear of blood off her face , then took a look at her usually fresh white clothes . " Your paying for these , Vlad"

It was at that moment , the other three woke up. Gasps escaping them as they took in the scene. Zila flung herself off the floor . For a moment , she just gazed at Vlad , her usually bright eyes clouded with worry. Then she hugged him, wrapping her arms around his neck. A simple glance at Efi was enough.

She could never be speak of what she saw.