A history of sorts

[autumn_sun]

{{CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISM WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED!!}}

 

 

The pallid figure shrouded in black held back a scream as the whip hit his back again and again, his traveling companion Kat only able to watch in horror. Pain and torture were nothing new to him, but he had hoped that the abhorrence against him in this small farming village would have passed by now. Clearly, it hadn’t.

 

Three years earlier

The young girl’s shriek of horror woke Shade with a start. He grabbed his sword from beside his bed, and ran into her room. Over the girl stood a large black demon, fangs dripping with blood. Shade let out an angry yell and ran at the thing, sword extended. He hit it once before it vanished into the night. A few moments later, the girl’s father ran into the room, seeing Shade standing over his dead daughter, his sword soaked with blood…

 

Back in the present, Shade shuddered. He had urged Kat to leave as quickly as possible, but she refused. She told him she was going to get him out of there whatever the cost.

 

Neither one considered the other a friend, but they were the closest thing to a friend that either of them knew. Despite the mild resentment towards Shade for bringing her back to life (he was a necromancer, he needed to find some “answers”) she had made up her mind early on to stick with him. After all, a necromancer is helpful when you’re fighting 9th Gate Demons, the second most powerful demons around. The only things stronger than them were the two Ancient Ones. Kat glared at the villagers around her, barely able to resist the urge to kill them all. How could they be so BLIND?! Why didn’t farmer see that the blood on Shade’s sword was BLACK, not red?! And, oh why, did Shade come BACK here?!

“If only he had told me earlier…” she muttered, turning away from the crowd, the cheers and taunts directed at Shade making her sick. The only one to notice her walk off was the farmer’s wife.

 

 

Late that night Kat sat in the room given to her by the farmer and his wife, the farmer telling her that “It’ll be all right, you’ll get over the enchantment that horrible man put on you.” Ironically, it was the same one Shade had been in three years before. She held the piece of charcoal between two fingers, staring at the walls. Over the course of the night, she had managed to write “murders” over every inch of all four walls, a few bloodied hand prints thrown in for effect. Sighing, she looked out the window; she had a lovely view of the stocks where they were keeping Shade. She sighed, running a blackened and bloodied hand through her brown hair. She had to get him out of there, and soon. She didn’t know how long he was going to be able to hold out, but it was already going on three days. She quietly slipped out the window, a sheepskin bottle filled with water hidden under her cloak. She slipped by the passed out guards, the smell of wine strong.

 

“Shade?” she put her hand on his shoulder.

“Unngh…” he moaned, his eyes swollen shut.

“I brought you some water, here,” she gently tilted his head back and poured some in his mouth.

“Thanks,” he said weakly, coughing a little.

“Listen to me. We need to get you out of here, otherwise, you’re going to die.”

“No…Kat, go on without me. I’ll just make more trouble for you,” he said slowly, his words slurred.

“No, you’re going to make more trouble for me if I don’t save you,” she said, something in her voice making him not question what exactly she meant by that.

“Kat, if they find out that you got me out of here, we’ll BOTH be dead!” Shade said helplessly. “Don’t!”

“DAMMIT, SHADE! I’m not leaving you!!” Kat said firmly, putting her hand on his forehead.

“Stop it, they’ll only do worse if they figure out that I’m being healed,” he tried to pull away, but the stocks and his lack of energy prevented him.

“Ssh. I’m only giving you enough energy to stick it out one more day,” she said, almost like a mother caring for a sick child.

A loud grunt from one of the guards made them both jump.

“You better go,” Shade mumbled.

“Yeah, I’ll be back.” She ran towards the farmer’s home.

“Stop, dearie,” a kind voice behind her spoke. It was the farmer’s wife.

“Oh shit,” Kat muttered under her breath.

“I won’t tell Jon about this,” the woman continued. “I’ll even help you.”

“Is this some kind of trick?” Kat turned, glaring at the short, medium built elderly woman.

“No, I want to help you,” she replied, in the same kind manner, ignoring the cold look Kat was giving her.

“Why? So you can prove that it was me who saved him?” Kat growled, eyes narrowed.

“No. He was nice to us when he was here the first time. I don’t believe that he killed my daughter. He was too kind to her. I can usually tell when a person is being honest with me,” the woman replied.

“THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING?!” she yelled.

“I did. But Jon was convinced that he had put some kind of enchantment on me.”

“Hmph. He hardly knows how to throw a fireball, let alone enchant people,” Kat rolled her eyes, wiping her dirty hands on her pants, hoping the woman hadn’t noticed. “You’d really help us?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “You two are a very sweet couple.”

“WHAT?! NO!” Kat glared, blushing, knowing very well that they’d never ever be a couple.

“Mmmhmm…” the woman said in the elderly, “I’m always right about this sort of thing” way.

“Ugh…anyway, how will you help us?” Kat glared, practically gagging at the idea.

“I’ll invite everyone over tomorrow for tea. Around four, the guards are usually drunk by then. You’ll come too and stay a while, as not to arouse suspicion. I’ll get the key for the stocks from Jon tonight. He’s still asleep, you know,” she explained, adding the last bit as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Uh huh…” Kat nodded.

“Excuse yourself from the table half way through and say something to the extent of I’m sick or something. Then sneak out. You’re good at that,” the woman smiled.

“Sounds good, but how are we going to get away? Neither of us have a horse,” Kat smiled inwardly, all of Shade’s horses were on some other plane of reality.

“Take Bessolf. She’s ours, you’ll find him in the stables behind our house. I’ll put her out on the paddock tomorrow, you can get him there then.”

“Thank you very much,” Kat smiled, shaking the woman’s hand. “You have no idea how much of a help you are. May Gods bless you.”

“Oh, you’re welcome, dearie. Good night.”

 

So it was decided. Kat went back to her room, lying down on the bed. She closed her eyes, remembering bits and pieces of her travels with Shade.

Edited May 20, 2003 by autumn_sun

[autumn_sun]

Six months earlier

The dying Kat is sitting slumped underneath a tree, several shadowy forms of wolves lying next to her, fading away slowly. Her broadsword is covered in thick black goop, blood running down her side. Her vision swam, a thin black haired man appearing in front of her. He had walked over to her, but in her eyes, it looked like he had just poofed right there. He knelt down.

“Who are you? What happened?!” he asks urgently.

“K…K…at,” she say slowly. “I was…attacked…”

“By what?!” The man’s eyes widen, her attempt at stopping the blood was failing.

“Those things…” she points with her sword to the almost invisible wolves.

“What in the…” the man blinks. “Are those demons?”

“Yeah.” She says weakly, her strength fading.

“Why? What did you do?!”

“None…of you…business!”

“Let me at least help you…” he frown in concern.

“No…I…deserve to die…” she gasps, her arm sliding off her chest, her body going limp.

“Shit!” the man pulls out a bell from the bandolier across his chest. “I need to figure out what’s going on here!” he rang it once, moving it in a strange pattern, the world melting away to the Underworld.

The cold water of Death swirls around the woman’s legs as she trudges towards the first gate, looking almost relieved that she was no longer with the living.

“Hey! You’re going to tell me what’s going on here, or else!” The man yells

“Or else what? I’m already dead,” she turns her head, laughing slightly.

The man glares. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s not any of your business! Besides, I don’t even know your name,” she glares back.

“Call me Shade.”

“Alright, Shade, I’m still not telling you a damn thing.”

Shade sighed. “Don’t make me bring you back to the living.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that. Besides, I deserve death,” she walks toward the gate, Shade grabbing her arm.

“FINE. We’ll do it the HARD way,” he pulls another bell out from his bandolier, rang it, and ‘pulled’ her spirit back to Life.

 

She shook her head, waiting for morning to come.

The next morning the woman made the announcement to her husband, and sent Kat door to door to spread the word. With a forced smile, Kat complied; being nice to these people, even if it was just pretend was difficult. At the stroke of four, the entire village was either sitting or standing in the farmer’s dining hall, Kat leaning against the wall doing her best to look calm. As planned, half way through, she excused herself from the table and went to her room to “lie down.” She quickly grabbed her sheathed sword and pack from next to the wall and looked around to see if she had forgotten anything. She glanced at the walls, feeling slightly guilty. She closed her eyes, a white rose appearing in her hand. She put it on the pillow of the neatly made bed, and slipped out the window. As the woman had said, the horse was in the paddock. She whistled and it trotted over to her. She mounted it bareback and spurred it towards the stocks. She stopped a few yards away, a guard laughing and punching Shade in the face. Jumping off, she yelled to get the guard’s attention.

“Hey! You!”

“Huh?” the guard turned and yelled in shock as two vines sprouted from her hands. “What the!” The vines wrapped around him, two inch thorns facing inwards. “Hey! What’s going on?!” The guard struggled to break free, making the thorns dig deeper.

“Shut up,” she spat, kicking the guard in the face and shoving a large balled up handkerchief in his mouth, securing it with more thorny vines.

“MMMMPH!” the guard continued to struggle, his eyes wide.

“Don’t like it? Too bad,” she snarled.

“…Kat?” Shade said weakly. “Is that you?”

“Yes. Hold still.” She walked over to him and pulled out the keys to the stocks, unlocking them.

“What’s going on?” he asked, confused.

“I’m rescuing you,” she smiled slightly and pulled him out gently.

“I think my rib’s broken, Kat…” he mumbled, sounded child-like.

“That among other things,” she frowned and lead him to the horse, setting him up on it.

“Don’t let me fall…” he said, swaying dangerously.

“I have no intention in doing so,” she swung up onto Bessolf, putting her arms around him and holding onto her mane. “Jah!” she spurred the mare into a gallop, leaving the little town forever.

As soon as she was positive that they were safely away from the village, she stopped, Shade passed out.

“Aie, God’s around, what a lovely time for it to start raining,” Kat cursed, picking up the extremely light Shade and putting him beneath a tree. “Aie…” she repeated, putting her hands on his temples, a slight bluish glow emanating from them. After about half an hour, Shade’s wounds healed into nothing, his energy restored. Kat, on the other hand, had nearly burned herself out.

“Kat?” Shade blinked, after puking up the little bit of food he had in his stomach. Healing spells never agreed with him.

“I’m fine, just need to lie down for a bit,” she mumbled, curling up in the grass, falling asleep almost immediately.

Shade frowned, looking down at the woman who had saved his life and closed his eyes. She was quite a fighter, determined, and refusing to back down, even when the odds were stacked a mile high against her.

[autumn_sun]

About a month after their first meeting

 

Shade sit at a bar, Kat pacing nervously.

"Whassamatter?" =he tilts his head, mouth full of potatoes.

"They're coming..." she mumbles, her hand on her sword.

"Who? What?" Shade blinks, looking confused.

"Them. The demons, Shade. Who do you think? Your grandmother?!" in her stressed out state, she has little regard for anyone else's feelings.

"I can't even REMEMBER having a grandmother. I don't even know who I AM!" Shade snaps, finding it ironic that his companion can't seem to remember that he's an amnesiac.

"There's three of them," Kat continues, ignoring him. "One's weakened, but only slightly..." she closes her eyes, 'sensing' the demons presence.

"How do you know that?!" he raises an eyebrow, trying to find a scrap of the demons aura, but failing.

"Hallmarks," she mutters. "When you fought them as long as I have, you pick up on their signal."

"Ah...are they close?" he gulps, his pansy side evident.

"Mmmyep." A scream from a woman, the loud frightened whining from a horse, and a large crashing noise proved her statement.

"Soooo...shall we go out there and fight?" Shade looks at her, shifty-eyed.

"YES!" Kat grabbed his arm, forcing him to drop his fork and run out after her

"Ooooh shit...oooh shit...ooooh shit...." he looks up at the three giant blood red demons and twitches, Kat's angry yell and hopeless attempts at trying to weaken the beasts by throwing spells only making him more nervous.

 

[[sorry for the cliffhanger...I just want to know if it makes sense so far, so I don't get too far along and have everyone tell me to do it over]]

[smallscale_mind_games]

I like it. I see one or two minor errors in the tense, but other than that...awesome!

[autumn_sun]

you mean the way i switch from past to present in the flashbacks? I like it that way. Nyeh

[smallscale_mind_games]

nono, not that...other bits...chunks, you might say

[autumn_sun]

=rereads= I see what you mean...I have such a hard time staying in one tense...it's annoying -.-

[troubled sleep]

The random lady popping out of nowhere was a little...spontaneous...but other than that I like it quite a bit. Don't worry about switching between flashbacks and the present, though. To me, at least, it still makes sense so long as you keep the flashbacks all in italix

Edited May 30, 2003 by troubled sleep

[Quincunx]

Style. . .I like this quite a bit. I am not having trouble following along with what's flashbacks and what is current (I think). The only jarring element, to me, are the long unbroken stretches of banter. While you did take care to not label it he-said she-said, it could be further broken up visually with sometimes placing those before the quotations and sometimes not identifying the speaker of a line, once the order of bantering has been established.

[Damon Inferel]

Mrowr. *brushes hair with new cat brush* Um... i might have to read this when I have about three hours. I'm a little slow in the reading speed department, but from my skimming of it, you have my interest. Sorry... *notes Pip said to stop apologizing* Um... er... i can't help it. sorry for apologizing, as for that one too... and the implied one, as well as the apology for apologizing for the implied one. It's inevitable i'm afraid... I'll try to hold my tongue though. Is 'forgive me' the same thing? *notes he's gone off on a tnagent about apologizing* Mrowr? *runs away before he apologizes again*

[autumn_sun]

....so does that mean you like it...or what?? =winces= crap. I'm being self centered. RGH!!

[Damon Inferel]

*scurries into corner before pip explodes* Yes! Anything you want pip! I like it! A lot! *cowers more in fear before changing expression to completely blank* Or do i hate it? Eh? No, I like it, for what I have read, yes... I like it.

[Ayshela]

(completely off topic shrieks of laughter echo from Ayshela's usually quiet corner, quickly muffled as she realizes how much this sounds like conversations she has with her best friend, and how very much she misses him)

 

 

 

edited to fix a dyslexic spelling error