Legend of the Holy Sentinels: Night Hunters

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR - UNWITTING DEFEAT

A faint knock at a second's interval echoed around. It repeated for a while till the knock hastened, becoming louder and louder like the beat of a drum.

"Zeba, what on Earth are you doing knocking at this ungodly hour?"

Zeba peered inside Prodea's chambers and frowned as she slips to enter. She found her in her nightgown, tucked on her comforters sitting on a slouch at her bed. And here she thought that Prodea never sleeps. "I thought you told me to fix your human sacrifice?"

"Yes, but could you at least apprise me about this tomorrow instead? You just snatched me away from a good dream."

"I just came here to tell you that the batch of slaves provided by Leonus are now in the Catacombs, I mean on the other side of the Catacombs since we still haven't fixed the one where you... you..." Zeba nodded as if hinting something which she ignored as her eyes crossed in anger.

"What's wrong with you!? Why? Why, Zeba, did you put them all there? Does it look like it's tomorrow already? No! When will we perform the sacrifice? It is tomorrow midnight! Which means they'll be stuck there for at least twenty-four full hours, scattering their filth like animals. We don't treat people like that Zeba! We do not treat people we're sacrificing as rubbish! They're not prisoners, they're not animals! For the love of all that is holy, Zeba, please have some brain and just think, think for just one second before you act!"

"B-but I just thought it'll be more..."

"No, Zeba, No!" Prodea rushed to her with her index finger almost touching her, warning her not to speak again. "Your stupidity astounds me that I think you've gone and upgraded to a whole new level since the last time we met."

"You're killing them anyway!" Zeba contested. "You are treating them like animals and I'm just letting you see that for yourself!"

Prodea got insulted that she flung a slap towards Zeba which she caught before hitting. Prodea was perturbed by her mutinous reaction that she activated her Amplifyers in response to her defense.

"You don't scare me anymore, Prodea," Zeba grunted throwing her hand away. "I'm tired of this. From all of this. From you. From you and your unholy acts. If only I can escape this I could but since we're halfway now all I can do is..."

Prodea screamed in pain all of a sudden, breaking off Zeba's speech, as if she has been stabbed in the neck as she gurgled away grasping it disturbingly tight. She walked back shaking, curling in agony till she reached the center of her room dropping out cold for a few seconds.

Zeba was truly concerned by her sudden fit that she almost ran to her till a flashing light exploded from Prodea's eyes. An eerie sighing sound wailed throughout the room, bouncing back and forth, dimming all the lights. Zeba was forced to crawl to the corners in terror, still shouting asking if Prodea is alright. Fear truly overcame her as she think of a way to get close to Prodea but her shaking knees prevented her from moving forward. This continued for a full minute until the candles returned flicking once again, returning control of the silence that once was.

"G-grand Princess..." Zeba whispered disconcerted, still in the corner. "Are you alright?"

Prodea crawled weak towards the bed. She climbed up with every effort, fumbling down twice on her try. "Zeba," she weakly called. "Send the Royal Strike Teams and what remains of the Four Masters to the Hishma."

Zeba slowly stood up, still looking all around in caution. "What's wrong Your Highness?"

"Just do it!" she screamed.

"B-but Your Highness..."

"Zeba," she interrupted with a weak and tired voice as if that ghastly event has just robbed her of her life. "If you don't get out of this room this instant, I will obliterate you where you stand."