Dragon Frost (44 page)

“
So we’re
ready to move?” I promised I wouldn’t place myself in an
unnecessary battle but would if I need to according to grandmother
there should be a Codex of Innocence nearby. These parchments maybe
old but it’s the power of its creator that keeps them in
shape.

“
Yes.
Should you give the word,” he says.

“
We move,
now.” I repeat. We mount our horses and glide along the dirt road
that leads to the thicket of the ‘Cazulan Rainforest’. The sound of
our hooves is the only sound that lingers around us—following the
hush voices of some men and their heavy panting . . . the task
seems daunting but I’m determined and stubborn by nature that I’ll
rather die than let these beasts roam free. Though at times I know
not all demons are evil, just like not all assassins are mindless
murders.

The
covert of lush bushes and frequent flocks of birds pass us by—their
flickering whistles glide around us before fainting away. There
below me in the small shallow valley, I sense the presence of
something evil—something sinister. I glance around, the scent of
rotting meat fills my nostrils and I fight the urge to scrunch up
my nose and pull up my lips in disgust. I glance down at my second
in command. “They’re here . . . set up a perimeter as soon as
possible, I don’t want there to be any chance of them escaping.” He
nods before turning his heel and following through with the
orders.

The
perimeter is finally set and a large silver almost transparent dome
seals us and the demons in. The dome itself isn’t exactly a dome
but a spherical energetic cell which surrounds every being within,
so demons can’t go underground to try escape. The wind that
previously caressed my features is no more as the trees that once
danced to the melody of the breeze are still as the air. I scan the
thick brown wood, vines drape over the forest floor while plants,
line our path.

I demount
my horse and Dante is by my side in an instant. “You know you can’t
battle those demons right?” Meaning I can’t stand before the demons
and fight like I did previously instead, I’m to allow my soldiers
to fight for me. I really don’t like sitting on the side lines but
it looks like I don’t have a choice, unless I want to be under
house arrest for the next hundred years. I remain silent and he
takes that as my answer, as always. “There’s nothing.” He’s right,
there’s no sound, no movement and above all, no tingling senses of
the life force that every plant, animal and being has.

“
Akanez,
Lothrello, Mikaza. Take the west wing, the rest right.” I order and
step on head. I hear the shuffling of feet that with expectancy and
continence follow my order.

“
Why did
I have a feeling you would go off on your own?” questions Dante. I
feel him regard my second in command with a risen brow as he always
done when right. I glance over my shoulder to see I was right,
their deep blue eyes lock onto mine.

“
Who said
I’m going on my own.” I say as I turn my heel and call to them as I
glide through the forest, “you’re coming with me. The both of
you.”

We walk in
silence, for several hundred meters, I feel them closely behind me
but with enough distance to not jump in my personal bubble.

“
This is
odd . . . ” comments Augustine.

“
Yeah,
there’s not a single battle—it’s like there’s not a single demon to
fight.” states Dante. I stare at the ground before me. I stop—a
pile of black discharge lays in a dotted trail before us—stretching
further down into the denser part of the forest. I follow the
trail, the boys are quiet now and this much I’m both pleased and on
edge, I know that this silence is just them concentrating on when
to spring into action should I be threatened. Right now I’m
starting to believe whether or not I should act as the damsel in
distress. That just might give me something to laugh
about.

We step
past thick moss covered logs and down a slant of land where the
large leaves move to part way for us. I can feel the moist ground
under my boots which slightly sink upon each step, the air is
warmer than expected—than normal—this isn’t a tropical rain-forest.
I feel something on my shoulder, the smell of it is putrid. I
glance upon my shoulder to seek a long thick slick ooze of black
oil like substance just not as fluid, its thick and sprawls over my
shoulder like lava. I see a trail lining towards the
treetops.

Teeth
bared . . . curdling scream . . . lengthy black tongue.

A demon,
sits high above the branches on all four legs, positioned as if it
were sitting like a greyhound. It jumps and heads right for me. I
quickly jump out of the way as a loud cracking and crashing sound
greets my ears. I feel the need to kill the demon but glance back
at it after, I spin around in a kneeling position. Dante and
Augustine leap towards to the demon, swords drawn and shields
extended. They battle the demon, its claws are extended and
screeches once more, Dante slices at its ankles while Augustine
leaps and severs its shoulder—blood spurs—he tumbles forward and
lands on the opposite side of the thick leaves.

I move to
help but Dante’s voice breaks through, “Stay back! You haven’t
fully recovered!” he yells and I fight the urge to bite my bottom
lip—I was scolded often at a young age for doing that, it was known
to be unladylike—though now I feel utterly helpless. I then realise
that the others may have had contact with the demons, I pull up my
forearm and slide my fingers along the armor’s exterior. A
holographic screen is displayed by my new PCP I can’t help but feel
slightly sad that I have a new once as I was attached to the one
before. “Commander Nindo. Requiring assistance, over.” I
speak.

Silence.

“
This is
AX174, Commander Nindo. Requiring immediate assistance
over.”

Silence.

“
Perfect,” I mutter in annoyance.

I turn my
heel and gaze upon the strange layout of the forest. It’s darker
than normal and suddenly without warning the heat has perked up and
I feel slightly on the verge of hypothermia. There are things in
this world I can’t begin to explain and one of them would be right
before me, a Vipess, the torso of a woman, the rest of a large
snake, her green hair is sleeked back and I can’t help but feel
slightly annoyed at the expression on her face—her black lips are
pulled into a smile. “Lookie what we have here . . . ” she purrs
and I glare. “The 
Princess
. Oh me oh my. What are you doing outside of the palace
walls? Aren’t you aware people are going to take advantage of your
weakness?”

“
I’d like
to see them try.” I remark, her face distorts into annoyance as she
glowers down at me.

“
I’ll
bring you down from that pedestal of yours Nindo!” Vines are sent
my way and I doge the thick weaving trailing plants that are
controlled by the force of the Vipess. I leap back as some whip the
ground where I once stood. I step to the side and leap back, over
and over. There seems to be no opening in her attack and I’m
suddenly in pain, my muscles feel restricted and I’m
panting. 
This isn’t good at this rate, I’ll certainly be
killed.
 I think as
I drape my hand over my stomach—hoping it would help keep my body
upright—taking the job my back muscles were supposed to do. I see
her vines slither towards me once more, the stone boulder under my
feet only adds an extra vantage to my height.

As I go
to move, I’m stuck in place—more like held in place. I glance down
at my arms, legs and torso, to see that the vines have securely
fastened around me. I’m lifted from the boulder and continue to
fight against the vines which don’t seem to be caring at all that
I’m in pain. They tighten around my waist, arms and legs, but
around my waist is where more pain radiates around me. The friction
against my scales places my body into a tense state where my
muscles desperately clench up in order to not allow more pain.
Though it doesn’t help. “I told you I would bring you down from
that pedestal of yours.” she taunts before me.

Her
tongue, slides out and slithers down to her waist, green like her,
she tilts her head back and begins to gag. I regard her
questionably and hope she isn’t going to throw up on me that will
definitely defeat me. The smell will knock me out cold. Then again
I don’t think I would be surprised at all. I attempt to fight the
vines while she’s preoccupied. I clench my teeth to stop me from
screaming out in pain, blood begins to draw between my broken
scales, my skin split open underneath as the vines continue to
slide around me.

My armor
seems to only protect me slightly, though but enough to keep me
from passing out. The hilt of a weapon is revealed from the
Vipess’s mouth and I stare, it’s a human katana, where in the Nexus
did she get that? “Kal!” I hear Dante’s voice, I turn to it and see
him and Augustine attempting to slice away at the vines. The vines
are slashed before they return several times thicker and
stronger.

“
Well
aren’t they cute,” she teases. I feel the cold steel against my
throat as her eyes glare down at me. “I wonder if it’s true, a
Nefaliem will only die if you take of their head. Let’s test that
shall we . . . ”

I snap my eyes
close, praying for it to be quick.

When I
feel nothing, I pull my eyes open. A chain is wrapped around the
katana, it shakes against the shackle—against the strain of
counteracting forces—I glance along the silver sterling chain to
see that it ends in the thicket of the canopy. “What the –” begins
the Vipess. I regard her expression to see it is both in a mixture
of distress and anger.

“
Hasn’t
anyone told you . . . it’s not a fair fight to restrain a person.”
came the familiar voice. I search around the thick branches, trunks
and large leaves to find nothing, instead his voice resonates all
around me I can’t pin point exactly where he is but I know who it
is. Asashin.

“
Show
yourself!” growls the Vipess. I hear grunting coming from below me.
“That or I’ll shed them to pieces!” she threatens, I notice than
that Augustine and Dante are restrained like me with the vines. I
scowl. The vines wrap more tightly around their torsos, blood
begins to pull out and I attempt to fight the restraints. The more
I fight, the more pain is inflicted upon me, but I can’t give in, I
can’t give up otherwise, I have no right to call myself a
Knight.

Knives
fly through the air and slice her in several areas, still Asashin
doesn’t show himself. I smile, the vines begin to loosen. I force
out my forearm blade and sever the bonds on my wrists, they loosen
and I begin to fall to the ground, I twist around and slice the
restraints at my ankles and place my hand firmly on a stone and
immediately back hand spring away from the vines. More knives are
released towards the woman and I race towards Augustine and Dante,
slicing at same vines, they fall to the ground, twisting and
turning to successfully free themselves from their
shackles.

I smile at
them, once they were on their feet.

The
Vipess moves her thick tail and slams it into the trunk of the tree
where the same black skinned demon, climbs quickly up the trunk of
the tree—its claws extended and tongue dances—it hisses and it
disappears. I hear nothing. Within the canopy there is quick
movement, the clashing of steel and the sound of the demon hissing.
The Vipess moves towards it and Dante plants both of his feet to
her face sending her across the clearing. “That was for touching
our Princess.” I glance at him and Augustine picks up his blade
that he lost his grip on when taken by the vines.

“
You
filthy Nefalim!” she hisses and several knives embed themselves
into her limbs, deep green blood oozes out upon her scaly skin and
chains branch off in all directions. The Vipess regards Dante with
a dark scowl. The strong rustling of the leaves overhead causes my
gaze to snap to the canopy. Within a blink of an eye Asashin is
protectively before me, sharp daggers in both of his hands. His
black scales are like mine with a silver cloak, his silver hair is
long and cascades down his back in silky tresses.

His fists
are firmly wrapped around the hilt of his daggers which glisten
just barely. I feel as though I’m forgetting something, it’s at the
tip of my mind but I can’t reach it. A deathly blood curdling
scream rips through my thoughts. The demon clenches its hands
around the back of my throat. I’m stunned. Its claws dig into my
throat inches away from my carotid artery and my glazvic artery
(the one transporting our energy), if they are both severed . . .
than I will die.

It’s
strange and bizarre how slow things start and how quickly it ends.
Though, I’m not surprised instead I find it strange—odd even and
absolutely thrilling. It’s in these times when you truly begin to
see the world in a different perspective. To see a world in much
more detail than you have never expected. Dante’s face scrunches up
in annoyance and Augustine scowls. They all tense including
Asashin—his body may show his fear—but his face like mine as always
impassive.

I refuse to
allow these demons to flood fear through me.

“
So what
will it be the Princess’s life or yours?” the demon voices—the
disgusting gurgling sound erupts around us and I can’t help but
want to strike it now. I know I can I just have to be given the
correct timing before I can make any moves otherwise, I’ll be
sorely wounded or dead even. Yet this feeling of my life on the
line, this threat, gives me a sense of pride a sense of security.
Shouldn’t a person find it odd that they enjoy such thrill that
they enjoy such an adrenaline rush? My blood quickens throughout my
system.