This Life of Sin 2: Demonia

Trespassers Will be Shot

Chapter 19: Trespassers Will be Shot

I, along with Kieran and Lidia, continued forward on Rougier's back as he brought us toward where I had asked Frost to gather the demons. I needed to heal Rougier, and I could only hope that the brave wyverns as well as the two queens could hold out long enough for me to do so. There was just no way to separate the Creepy Guy and the giant squid without Rougier occupying the monster. And Rougier could hardly be at his most effective while stuck to the ground.

But healing was in no way a talent of mine. It would not be instantaneous, and likely would be painful for the dragon. But it had to be done.

"Demons are starting to arrive." Lidia stated. She and Kiran had hopped off the back of the dragon once he came to a stop. They stood either side of the his head, sort of like guards, while Shinra and myself had our eyes locked on the fight in the not too far distance.

"Good." I managed to mumble. I was too focused on both my task, as well as the battle, to form full sentences at that moment.

For a good five minutes, as demon's began to assemble, my mind was locked into healing my dragon, trying not to hear the painful grunts he wasn't able to suppress completely. Eventually I cut the spell and patted the purple dragon on the back.

"Sorry." I sighed, tired from the effort, as the spell circle faded. "Probably best if you avoid injury around me." I chuckled, brushing my dark hair out of my eyes. Task complete, I focused instead on my rag tag army.

Most of the men looked afraid but determined. After all, they had a queen to lead them once again. The weight of responsibility was heavy, I clearly had less confidence in my leadership talents than they did. Hopefully that faith didn't get us all killed.

"Alright." I said, under my breath. I took several steps forward and turned, now facing the group. One Pangar cat, a very large dragon, a disheartening number of demons. It was almost laughable, now that I knew the demon race better, that the people of Hearth thought that it was the demons who engaged them in deadly combat every couple hundred years. This battle alone proved that, though very strong, demons were not a war minded race. Heck, the very stability of the race depended on there not being excessive amounts of fighting.

But fighting is what was needed today.

Before me were my soldiers, and to my back raged a battle between three woman and a giant squid. If three woman on their own- sans wyverns- could hold off the Enemy this long, than surly we could tip the scales.

"Demons." I called, and the group grew silent. "I know you have survived much this day, but your Queens still need your aid. They fight, even now, to protect your homes and families from the Enemy. They think they are alone in this battle, their numbers failing, and hope fading..." I was not made for speech making, but I hoped I could get these people motivated. The truth was that, the majority would be nothing more than a distraction to the beast, but that distraction could very well win us the battle. "But they are not alone! We still stand. And, I for one, am not willing to turn tail and flee. Not when, beyond these dead and poisoned mountains lay all that we hold dear. Today we protect what is ours. Today we fight!" I called, and in true cringe fashion, lifted my hand into the air, my white stick held high and a stark contrast to the toxic purple clouds above us.

Instantly, all the demons set about cheering. Well, more like a collective battle roar, than a cheer. And Rougier wasted no time joining in the call, his great head pointed toward those clouds. He opened his maw, and as if in challenge to the squid that had felled him once already, shot a torrent of blue flames skyward. At the sight, the demons roared again. I guess having a massive, famously evil, dragon at your back was more of a confidence boost than my tiny, lack luster speech. Oh well, what ever worked.