|[ THE BROKEN SEAL - 3 ]| UNDERGOING MAJOR RE-WRITING

Chapter 5 // To Slay what is Dead

Cold dirt pressed against my cheek. My eyes fluttered open and I could see the hard ground beneath me. the rest of my body suddenly became present and I could feel the cold earth through my pants and blouse. I wore no armour – I shivered, feeling vulnerable.

Somewhere in the far distance a bird called, its harsh voice piercing the night like an arrow. I climbed to my feet and glanced around. I stood on a barren landscape, with nothing living in sight. I flinched as a burning log shifted with a loud crunch, sending sparks up into the air. Everything that was still standing was in flames, being consumed by the ever-hungry beast. I turned slowly, confused. Why was I here? I didn’t recognise the place. How had I come here?

“Halfling.” A voice rumbled and I started as Abbadon materialized before me with a whirl of blue mist and black leaves, his cloak a blue smudge on the grey and red landscape. He held his scythe up, the length of it taller than he himself was, and its blade gleamed with a cruel shine. I felt a ripple of fear move through me, despite the times I had already encountered the reaper.

“What do you want?” I asked. Abbadon didn’t answer. Beside him a red cloak flamed into existence, sparks brewing as Death rose from the earth through a fiery portal, his own scythe gleaming. His mask burned with amber eyes and he stood, watching silently.

“We have come because Alninė has fallen,” Abbadon said darkly, “We protected its borders with the best of our magics, we sealed every exit…” he sighed deeply and his hand slipped on the hilt of the scythe,

“She broke our enchantments,” Death said, tightening his own grip, “And even now as we speak to you the dead crawl the way to the surface of this land, eager to join with their souls.”

“So the first Seal is broken?” I asked, feeling like a lead weight had just slipped into my chest and down into my stomach. “Truly broken?”

“There is no doubt. And even now she will be preparing to raise the damned.” Death said grimly, “My brother and I will attempt to stop her – we can tail her easily enough, but you must go to Iškas. You have tarried far too long with that Seer.”

“That Seer,” I snapped, “has told us far more than you two. So sorry that I feel inclined to listen to her rather than you.”

“Do not test my patience, Halfling!” Abbadon growled, “You can be held accountable for all that she has done and will do. You are lucky you can be useful or I would kill you right here, right now.”

“Useful?” I snapped, “I’m useful, now am i? well you know what would make me even more useful? If I knew what the bloody hell is going to happen!”

“We have told you of the Seals…” Death began.

“And a great deal that has helped me, yes, thank you.” I snapped, “But you haven’t told me how to stop the Pareģis. You haven’t told me how to save these Seals. And what happens if another Seal breaks. While you two stand here and talk to me like I’m a child the Pareģis is probably already raising the damned. And by the way, what the hell are the Damned?”

“They are monsters,” Death said grimly, “Once souls that were tortured into madness. Not even the reapers know how they got that way but they are far worse than the Dead. they are malicious, and cunning, and if they rise the living will certainly disappear quickly.”

“Can you kill them?” I asked, “Can I kill anything that she will throw at me or am I going to have to continue running?” the Reapers looked at each other briefly before Death nodded. Abbadon stepped forwards, scythe in one hand and a blade in the other. I didn’t even see him take it from his robes.