The Last Colony

Part 23

From the stands, everyone glanced between themselves and chatted in excited voices. Mark coughed, staggering up onto his feet with a stony glare. Suddenly the Death Stalkers all around them stated aloud in almost perfect unison. "All praise he! Death has chosen his Adam!" The people in the stands slid from their seats to their knees and bowed with their hands extended out, exclaiming aloud in a thunderous roar of voices. "Praise he! Praise Adam!" Lilith locked her jaw, but unlike the others was anything but happy about this. Death removed his lips from Sean, licking his pale lips. Sean staggered away from him, wiping his lips with the back of his hand and shivering with disgust. Death didn't take his action as a sign of insult. Instead, he extended a hand out for Lilith to join him, announcing loud and clear. "My sweet Lilith. Come. My Priestess should meet my chosen Priest. Together you both with stand by my side." Lilith moved closer to Death, leaning in to kiss his cheek and discreetly hiss something into his ear.

Death ignored her, simply extending his free hand out to Sean as he told him seriously. "My dear Adam. Come embrace me." Sean spit across the ground, then glared back at Death to say sternly. "No! Stay away from me!" Death took a menacingly slow step toward Sean, his eyes locked on him as he told him in a voice as cold as ice. "Embrace me or I'll make your life a living hell." Mark stepped toward Death, snapping out darkly. "Touch him and I'll-" Mark froze as something whizzed past his face to hit the sand. Death slowly turned to look at Mark, just as Mark turned to look up at the thrones. Standing with his bow drawn was a man that could only be classified as the very definition of a white knight. The sunlight reflected off his shiny white steel and blue trimmed breastplate, gauntlets, and knee-high boots. He wore chainmail pants and over his face he worse a beautiful masquerade type mask. The mask was made of shiny steel that only covered his eyes and attached around the top was a silver steel crown. The crown was adorned with big sapphire blue gems. In his hand was a beautiful metal recurve long bow with a white string.

Even from this distance, Mark could see his long braided golden hair hanging off one shoulder and his bright blue eyes stood out like the gems of his crown. Mark didn't doubt who he was looking at. This had to be Conquest. He was beautiful. Death followed his eyes back to the thrones, before announcing happily. "Ah! Brother! Perfect timing as usual." Conquest lifted his chin, lowering his bow as he retorted icily. "I didn't do it for you." Death waved a dismissive hand at him, stating just as carelessly. "Wasn't saying you did. Just an observation." Mark glared at Conquest, watching him closely. Was he implying that he was saving his life? Why? Wouldn't that just go along with this whole twisted act? Death turned away from Sean, asking Conquest loud and clear. "What of the others?" Conquest eased down onto a white and blue throne, replying neutrally. "Last I heard, they were on their way. But that's not my concern... Another devotee, Brother? Wasn't your precious Lilith enough?"

Death chuckled hauntingly, announcing to the stands. "Oh, my poor brother. So, obsessed with spreading deceit and disease. He can't see the vision for the future. For he is only an instrument to erase this world of old." Mark glanced discreetly down at the white arrow with blue feathers. It wasn't a weapon of choice, but it was something. Slowly inching forward, he casually reached his hand out for it. His leg blocked his action from almost everyone's view. Curling his fingers around it, he slowly pulled it from the sand trying not to arouse suspicion. With it in hand, he started toward Death, until Conquest stated out in a bellowing voice. "I'd be careful with that, young man. One prick from that bronze tip and you'll suffer a fate worse than death." Mark froze as all eyes turned to look at him. Mark lifted the arrow pointing it at Death's back as he told them bluntly. "Let us go. Or I'll kill Death!" The stands gasped in shock, but Conquest merely chuckled beautifully. Mark grabbed Death's shoulder firmly, yelling out. "I MEAN IT!"

Conquest's smile faded and he leaned forward on his knees to tell him very tenderly. "You can't kill Death with that. He's immune to the plague, boy... and I don't negotiate with terrorists." Conquest then slowly rose from his throne, removing an arrow from his bronze quiver on his back. Notching the arrow, he carefully drew his bow and told him in a bitter tone. "Go ahead. Stab him. Then I'll kill you for your trouble." From behind him, Sean shakily told him. "Mark, put it down... Please..." Mark's grip on the arrow tightened, until he let out a frustrated groan and snapped it in his hand. Tossing the broken pieces into the sand, he stepped back away from Death. Death crossed his arms, turning around to face him with a neutral look. Mark clenched his jaw. Part of him was so angry that he hadn't killed Death, but his more rational side knew this was a losing fight. Above, Conquest lowered his bow very slowly, telling him with a smirk. "Good. You're at least smart enough to know when you've been beaten. I can respect that."