Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 34:Break

Gem and Vas advanced through the palace, with Vas leading the way towards the throne room. They passed many relics and artifacts along the way, displayed proudly to show triumphs of the royal family.

A recent sculpture of the last king, a long beard to show age, yet still possessing the face and demeanor of a warrior.

A tapestry of a revolt long ago, with the old king much younger, slashing away at a horde of his unruly subjects, who had favored his brother over him as their ruler.

They approached the door, and Gem noticed one last prominent relic of the past. It was a painting of Mav'Tirren the Just, the first king. It was a painting of their conquest, with Mav grinning wickedly as he raised a sword to the sky. Underneath him was his ship, crashing against the shore.

Beneath that were Sai, men and women being crushed beneath the planks.

One in particular that stood out was at the side, reaching up to keep her child safe, with a wicked looking Deena snatching it away.

Vas paused a moment to look at it, then slashed across it with his borrowed blade."....'s a bloodah past ma people've wrought. Ah plan on makin' it better ons ah'm king." He said, as she looked at the torn face of Mav.

Gem simply nodded, then walked into the throne room.

Pol smiled."Ah, brother. How lovely of you to refrain from expiring just a little longer, I had worried your wounds would prove too much for you." He poked a fang absent mindedly as he turned his gaze to Gem."Ah, and you've brought that little treat too. A Nrevacian, I see...Silent Sword, is it?"

Gem narrowed her eyes, pulling her sword from its sheath. Vas followed suit, pointing his borrowed blade at Pol."Nah more chances fer ya. Ye'll die here."

Pol shrugged."Maybe so, maybe not. We'll see."

Gem looked at Vas and signed."No mercy." Drawing a finger across her throat for emphasis.

He nodded, but she repeated the gesture more forcefully for emphasis.

He growled slightly."Ah agreed, didn' ah!? Quit ya hand-naggin', hawd 'nuf ta be killin' am brudda wit'out it!"

She nodded, quickly observing the blades."Odd...no edge to them, only a point. How would they have made those cuts I saw then?" She thought to herself, trying to strategize for the battle at hand.

Vas ran forward, growling. She grunted in an attempt to have him halt, but he did not listen. She noted the devilish grin that appeared on Pol's face and swore mentally, running after Vas.

Pol grinned, and they heard a clicking sound as he pressed down on the hilts of his blades. They became thin whips of flame, and he cut out at Vas.

Gem's eyes widened, and she quickly pushed Vas aside with her hand, dropping her sword in the process. He fell to the side, the flames barely licking at him. He got back to his feet, sighing in relief. Apart from a slightly singed beard and a few scraps of charcloth on his shoulder, he was fine.

He nodded to Gem."Tha-"

He froze, slowly taking in the sight before him.

A small puddle on the ground, bright crimson, shining in the torchlight.

A few clumps of flesh, scattered through the blood and sending small ripples along its surface.

A few drops of blood, falling through the air and adding to the slowly spreading stain.

An outstretched hand, the fingers maimed, cut off down to the second knuckle and making them nearly level with the thumb.

Gem grunted in pain, wrapping the hand in her shirt, which soon had a stain spreading through it.