Balance And Control

Death Becomes Him

!!!! TW: Violence, Blood, Cutting !!!!

The alarm sounded in the middle of the night, waking me from a deep slumber. A very sleepy Druig stirred beside me. “What’s happening?” he grumbled. 

“Deviant alarm. I have to go,” I said, stretching my arms. 

“I’ll come with you.” He started to get up, but I pushed him back down. 

I shook my head. “No, you need to rest. I think we can manage without you for now, but if we need you, I promise I’ll come get you myself.”

“Eri, I’m fine.”

“I know you are, but I would feel better if you stayed here. You’re still healing.” 

“But…”

“Dru, please,” I pleaded. 

He grudgingly nodded. 

“I’ll be back soon, sweetheart.” I kissed his cheek and hurried from the room, joining the others outside. 

“Where are we headed?” Ikaris asked Ajak. 

“Just beyond the southeast wall. Caesar’s men are holding them off for now, but I’m not sure they’ll last much longer. Thena and Gil are already there. Makkari, I need you to evacuate the border village to the arena. Ikaris, attack from above. Kingo, you’ll have to go with Ereida.” 

“Do I have to?” he whined. “I hate shadow travel.”

“Come on, Kingo. I’m sure it’ll be better than last time,” I encouraged, taking his hand. 

“Shadow travel makes me naus…” he trailed off. 

Before he completed the thought, I yanked him into the Domo’s shadow, heading towards the southeast side of the city. The sounds of Deviant snarls let me know we were close. I pushed Kingo out into the open, snickering as he tripped over his feet. 

“Not funny, Ereida!” 

I stepped out behind him. “I thought it was hilarious.”

I spotted the group of Deviants quickly; they were all fairly close together, a group of Roman soldiers circling them, prodding them with spears. 

“We need to get them out of here!” Ikaris called from the sky. 

“They won’t leave,” Gilgamesh explained, appearing at my shoulder with Thena in tow. “Caesar’s orders.”

“That’s stupid, they’re gonna get themselves killed,” I scowled. 

“Apparently that’s the punishment if they do leave, they’d be branded deserters,” Thena said.

“Why don’t we just have Druig do his mind control thingy?” Kingo suggested. 

“No, he needs to rest. I’ll talk to them,” I decided, striding towards the group of soldiers. “Gentlemen, your savior is here! Please, get yourselves to safety before you become breakfast!”

“We do not take orders from you!” one of the soldiers groused. 

I let some darkness pool in my palm, “you don’t have to take orders from me, but know if you get in my way, I will not hesitate to take you out. Move!” I threw the ball of darkness I had created into the mouth of a Deviant as it lunged towards the Romans. It writhed a bit as I urged the dark to grow and shift beneath its hide, then it froze. “She’s about to blow, boys, you might want to duck.” The Deviant exploded from the inside, spewing thick black goo over everything. 

The other Deviants howled in misery, the slaying of their friend infuriating them. The soldiers scattered. 

Makkari skidded to a halt beside me, signing “village clear.”