Chronicles of the Brotherhood: Genesis

Act II: Falling for Vengeance

 The sun beat down with unimaginable heat on a quiet summer day. A gentle breeze blew across the beautiful, lush, valley, washing over the grass that glinted from the remnants of dew left from the morning. The valleys small patch of heaven where the entire world was to never know about or to ever touch.

The valley was framed by a rugged range of mountains called The Scrag Peaks, which ran the length of the valley on it's western border. On the eastern side were tall and rocky hills, with a thicket that housed a variety of wild life, The greens sat in a bowl made up by the framing elevation.

From the shadows of the thicket strode a tall, grotesque figure, dragging the carcass of a doe in its claws. Blood dripped between the lengthy fingers from the fresh kill. With its other claw it picked fur and flesh and other such decaying matter from its jagged teeth.

Spiral horns protruded from the skull like cranium. It's skin, a sickly red, was covered with blemishes and scales. The creature walked on the balls of it's talon clad feet, the claws digging into and kicking up dirt as it walked, A tail whipped around playfully rooted from his spinal column. It's abdomen was concave and showed it's ribs. A hole sat in the middle of its chest where one could peer through and see the long greasy black hair laying matted over its shoulders.

The demon threw down his catch and sat down beside it with hungry eyes. The ground around him began to die as did the path where ever he had stepped. He grimaced and dug his fangs into the doe , ripping out a hunk of flesh and devouring it in an unsavory manner. The blood gushed out over the grass as the demon sank his teeth deep into the tissue before ripping off bits.

The demon continued to consume his meal laughing and singing a tune that played through his mind. A large shadow passed over him against the sun but he was too busy to notice as he ripped off a leg causing the blood to ark and splatter across the grass. Nothing free and wild moved in the valley. All tiny creatures had retreated into the thicket for fear of the beast dining in the open field.

A squirrel hid under a a bush just on the edge of the thicket. Out of fear, it it scurried away up the pant leg of a second shadowy figure walking through the wood. This shadow moved silently as the squirrel cowered behind the figure's coat collar. Malicious green eyes were locked on the demon in the midst of the dying grass. As the figure neared, the squirrel gave another peep. The shadow stopped and glanced at the little critter, his eyes changed to a soft and almost compassionate way.

"be still, little one," the figure spoke. "All shall be well and balanced again."

The squirrel remained silent and watched fearfully as the figure stepped out of the shadows, the sun caught the white, blood-stained, coat along with a tattered shirt and trousers. Long white hair fell from the figure's head to just below his pectorals in long straight strands. His hair covered most of the figure's face but his eyes, which returned to malice were almost glowing in the sunlight under the strands of hair.

The demon chomped away at the last few bits of the caucus burping in satisfaction. "Oh that was lovely," he boasted to himself. "The best in the region if you ask me!"

"You look like you could use a second one," the worn looking figure spoke smoothly.

The demon turned quickly to look at the one who spoke, not realizing that he had been approached so casually while enjoying his meal. His black soulless eyes were filled with curiosity and dismay. He was more surprised at the fact that he had been approached at all. Not very many people casually approach demons anywhere.

He spoke, "how long have you been watching me?"

"Not long," the figure replied standing perfectly still, his face was unreadable.