Elyon

Stained

Note: So (most of) you should know by now sometimes my brain takes an extremely gruesome turn with images. It happened this chapter, therefore I am bumping my rating up to an "M" as of this chapter. Ye be warned.

...

Red reeled back, his hand fumbling for the release button. The warrior will protect me! He slammed his fist on the button, as the wires and bonds retracted.

"To your feet!" He roared. "Defend your Tallest!"

Dantie struggled to his feet, and stared around in confusion. "My Tallest," He gripped the side of the table to hold himself up, his system still trying to recover from the torture, "I see nothing here."

The black-eyed Irken turned and made his way out of the room, leaving the way out blocked by all the other creatures. Red rounded on the warrior. "What do you mean you see noth—"

Dantie was outfitted in Irk's best weaponry and giving off quite a bit of light, but around his eyes was tied a thick blindfold.

Reaching forward, Red grabbed the blindfold, ripping it away from his face. Dantie's eyes widened, his mouth forming an "o" as he clutched at the table harder.

"Do something!" Red demanded.

Dantie almost seemed not to hear him. "Oh... Ayam... what is this?"

The creatures recoiled as Dantie spoke, and one of the snake-necked creatures darted toward Dantie. Instinctively, Dantie raised his hands in defense. "No!" Light cracked outward in a wave from him, knocking the attacking beast senseless.

Grabbing him, Red placed the Irken in front of him, breathing hard. "Make a path!" He ordered.

"But, how?" Dantie stared at them.

"You don't know?" Red snarled. "They seem to know what you are talking about, they wanted you dead earlier, how do you not know about them?!"

Dantie tilted his head. "They... are they the Enemies?"

Red groaned. "None of your flirking Krissirk talk, just make a path!"

Dantie insisted, "My Tallest I don't know how, I'm no soldier!"

"You're covered in armor! When you talk they move!" Red shouted. "Tell them to move!"

"M-move!" Dantie blurted. "Make way!"

The creatures writhed, attempting to lock together to block the way, but it was as if they were being pulled apart from each other. Encouraged, Dantie repeated himself, and there, just ahead, they could see the door.

Red propelled Dantie forward palming the lock and darting out. He rushed out, leaving flustered guards in his wake, only one thought in his mind.

I have to find Purple. We can fix this together. He'll back me.

"My Tallest, where are we going?" Dantie stumbled forward as Red kept pushing him. He raised his head and sucked in a breath.

Red didn't respond. He had already seen it, and kept moving. The walls were lined with ancient looking prison bars, dark green liquid pooling out from the cells across their path. And not just dark green liquid. Some was red, some purple, some pink and some blue. Many, many colors, but all assaulting Red's senses with the sickly sweet stench of blood.

He drove Dantie before him almost frantically. The puddles did not touch the prisoner, but as Red passed it surged forward, sliding up and around him, staining his clothes and dripping from his body with every step. He cried out, gagging in horror and flailing, but he could not stop it.