Hellfire

Chapter 2 - December

                Daemonium stared at the side of his tent. This is why he stumbled out of his tent late every morning – he could never fall asleep. His father would be upset, but, then again, what didn't Daemonium do that didn't upset his father? There was rustling outside and he heard his father's voice. "Please, do this. For me?"

            "I will, of course I will." Comondante Eric. "All you have to do is ask and I would go to the ends of the earth for you." Daemonium rolled his eyes, Eric thought too highly of his father. There was a strange noise before the crunch of shoes on dying grass. His tent moved and he rolled over to meet Comondante Eric's eyes as he entered his tent. For a split second, maybe longer, he looked nervous. "Training exercise, let's go. Get dressed – full gear." Daemonium scrunched his eyes, confused. "Just do as I say." Eric spat. With a heavy sigh Daemonium rolled out of his cot and got dressed in his battle gear. Daemonium walked outside in his dress to be greeted by an agitated Eric.

            "Alright, let's get this over with." Daemonium sighed.

            "We will be traveling for a little while, try not to tire out."

            "Our destination?"

            "Cittadina, it's a small village on the outskirts of Regnos, near Barbaros."

            "The mission?"

            "Kill a man."

            "What?" Daemonium asked, he felt like he'd just been slapped in the face. "Why? This, this isn't right. It's murder! The man is asleep!"

            "Shut it." Eric said from gritted teeth. "It is an order from your father. I don't like it."

            "But you didn't disagree. You didn't argue. You just allowed him to make you do this."

            "You need to be okay with hurting people, killing them. It's a part of this path you're down."

            "But, the man won't even know."

            "Better for him. No pain, so long as you do it right. Plus, it can only improve your relationship with your father."

            Eric knew all about the damaged relationship Daemonium held with his father. It wasn't fair of him to use it against him, even if it was a perfectly valid point. "Fine; I have a condition of my own, though."

            "Which is?"

            "He can't be married or have kids."

            "Fair enough, let's get travelling." Daemonium took off first and Eric followed him. He lost track of time as they jogged. They went through the plains that surrounded the camp and found themselves within a forest. Daemonium felt his chest growing heavy as it got harder and harder to breath. He was exhausted, but this was probably part of the exercise. He needed to keep a steady hand when he wanted to collapse. He stumbled and fell but Eric didn't wait for him. Daemonium cursed and stood back up. He took a moment to sigh and take a deep breath before quickening his pace to catch up with his Comondante. It was hard to keep his footing when he couldn't see the forest floor. He thought he saw a young girl to his right, but dismissed the thought. No one in their right minds would be awake at this hour, much less in the forest. All the better he was with his Comondante at his father's orders. So typical.

            Eric stopped at the edge of the forest and Daemonium fell against a tree, using it for support as he desperately tried to get his breathing under control. He noticed Eric was breathing hard as well, but much quieter. "Now then, let's pick a house and a victim." Daemonium nodded solemnly, he really didn't want to do this. They peered into a couple windows before finding a man alone in his bed. They forced their way into the house as quietly as possible. Eric began to go over the anatomy of the man. The best spots for a slow kill verse a fast kill. The places that wouldn't provide a kill at all. Daemonium was barely paying any attention. He was studying the man he was about to kill. He was bigger and looked like everyone else from Regnos. His apartment was littered with metal, wooden handles, and various weapons. Eric nudged him and it jolted Daemonium back to reality. "Kill him, quickly. Let's get this over with." He hissed. Daemonium nodded quickly and unsheathed his sword. He wanted to slice the man's neck. That way there was no risk of missing his heart and it would kill him quickly without allowing him to scream. He took a deep breath and placed his sword over the man's throat.