The evening's moon gave what little light it could offer to Barbara's path as she walked through the towering mound of rock that loomed over her like silent sentinels. The Vermillion cliffs were truly a sight even this late. A mixture of brilliant red-orange rock tinted with the white light of the moon. If it was for any other reason, Barbara would have slowed down to take it all in.
But it wasn't, for tonight she had a purpose.
The last few sleepless nights were finally catching up with her but she couldn't afford to rest. It was here, she knew. The ancient thing that lived in her blood stirred from the presence of it.
Darkness.
The other places where she'd placed her wards were still in place though she was hardly reassured. The darkness was potent here and she would not leave until she found the source. Pulling out her sword forged from fallen stars, she stepped deeper into the shadows.
She followed the gentle tug of her magic that lived in her chest, the illuminated threads of her aura that lay like intricately woven nets all over the hard earth. Their blue glow threw her aged face in shadow, bringing the hard lines of concentration into sharp relief.
A cold shiver slithered down her back at the sight of the disturbed threads at the far side of Vermilion. The way they lay knotted and tangled told her that something had made it through.
She broke into a run, her blood rushing, following the knotted threads to a space free from the looming rock then she stopped dead in her tracks.
There. Spread as far as she could see in the dark were bodies. Lifeless. Still.
The Stillness plague.
There were men, women and even children. The nearest being a boy of about four, his glossy eyes fixed in terror. Their bodies laid disregarded like ragdolls and she saw that they all wore ragged and torn mix-match of clothes caked in mud.
Barbara's nose wrinkled for the putrid scent of death as she scanned the scene. They all looked to be running from something since the bodies were facing back the way she came, so that meant-
"They were running from the border."
"That they were," said a cold voice from behind her ear.
Barbara started and turned but saw nothing beyond the fiery red glow of her long sword, "Who's there?" her voice sounded odd in her ear, "Show yourself."
"Humans, am I right?" the voice continued as if she had not spoken, "So weak, so pathetic! And yet ironically so very, very valuable."
"Show yourself, demon!" she dropped into a defense stance, the move embedded in her subconscious from years of practice.
"Now, now," the voice chuckled humorlessly, "There's no need for violence. We've had enough of that, don't you think?"
A shadow from the left of her solidified and moved into her sword's light. An young, impossibly handsome man in a sophisticated black tux came into view. His luxurious locks, the shade of the night sky, framed the sharpness of his pale face. His silver eyes swirled and gleamed in the light, his thin lips curled with a predatory smile.
Barbara's eyes widened with recognition, "Cassius Vlad." She tilted to survey him up and down and scowled, he looked as gorgeous as he had on that fateful day, "I thought I killed you fifteen years ago."
"Indeed, though I must say that Mother is quite fond of me so she brought me back," the Nephilim said, circling her with a hungry gaze, "Hmm, still beautiful even after all these years, Barb dear. Did you miss me?"
"Clearly, leech, I didn't stake you hard enough," she growled then charged at him with a long arc of her sword. He dodged with a laugh and slashed at her with his lengthening claws, catching her cheek.
The cut sting like a thousand needles under her skin; she winced.
Cassius chuckled, "Not as fast as you were, eh Barb?"
With a roar, she attacked. They moved with a speed that the human eye could never follow, a clash of metal on gnarled claws. But as Barbara was growing weary, Cassius barely broke a sweat.
"Come now, Barb! We both know you can't keep up," he tormented her, that infuriating grin still in place, "You've grown too old for this, dear. You know what it is I want. Tell me what I want and I'll end this quickly."
Barbara blocked a move for her neck and jumped back, "Oh, I know what you want, Vlad,' she said with a slight pant, "It amuses me that you'd think I'd ever tell you anything. Still naive, I see."
That wiped the smile off his face. He attacked her with new vigour, pushing her back. His strikes sent thundering shudders in her arm. He found an opening and took it, kicking her hard enough that she flew back several feet.
Barbara landed hard enough to knock the air out of her and wheezed from the pain in her chest, her vision doubled as she sought her sword which lay a foot away. Desperately, she tried to crawl to it and Cassius' boot came down hard on her fingers.
Roaring in pain, she pulled back.
Cassius let out a soft chuckle and grabbed of fist full of her auburn hair. Bringing his lips close to her ear, he said, "This was fun, Barbara," he tugged at her hair viciously, relishing the scream she made, "But time is money as you know. Now tell me, where are they?"
He twisted her arm behind her back till she had the significant pop of shoulder. The pain was unbelievable but she refused to give in, "I...will never...tell you!" she grunted out and Cassius sighed.
He released her and Barbara let out a sigh of relief.
Cassius tsked, "You were always stubborn but that hardly matters." He grabbed her in a headlock, forcing her to look back to the wards she lay...that were now completely destroyed.
Dismay choked her as Cassius laughed maliciously.
"You were stalling me."
"Took you a while, dear. So you're slow in body and in mind, huh?" he tormented, "My forces have already passed through and soon they will find them."
"What do you want with them?" she asked, dread churning in stomach, "They're of no consequence to you or your kin. We made sure of that."
Cassius smiled and this time, fear came with it, "It's not what I want, dear. It's what she wants."
Utter panic striked and her face paled, "No...no!"
Cassius laughed, "Did you really think you could hide them forever? The Queen has ears everywhere."
"That's...that's impossible! He killed her!"
He scoffed, "Please. If I can respawn, you really think the Queen can't? She made her orders and her children are here to deliver. Now," he tightened his hold on her and licked his lips, "It's been too long since I've drank Seraphim blood."
Barbara caught the gleam of his lengthening canines and braced herself and when he sank his teeth...she let out a blood-curdling scream....
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