Bellatrix: Swords of Chaos, Book One

  ***

  The first scream alerted Range. He made a mad dash to the front of the inn, where a nightmare was in progress.

  Stepping into the lamplight was the Osaban Priest with two smallish demons hopping around his feet.

  The priest had Zoë in the crook of his arm, and his wicked blade at her throat.

  “Let her go,” Range said. He felt for his sword, but he had not strapped it on.

  From above he heard the window open, it was Miriam, she had heard the cry.She yelled for Zoë, who cried back in a choked sob. Tears streamed down the girl’s face. Music muffled incoherently from the inn.

  “I will let this pretty little thing go when I have the Sword in my hands. Not a moment before.” the cold voice from behind the mask said. Range felt icy dread fill his stomach.

  “The Sword. Or she comes with me,” the priest said.

  “You will have to get by me to do that,” Range said, moving toward the priest and his daughter.

  “One more step, and she gets my blade. I want the Sword.” He touched the blade to Zoë’s neck.Out of the shadows stepped two human-sized demons.They were core ugly, with distorted faces, and horns jutting from their heads. Their skin was neither black nor crimson. Their muscles flexed effortlessly in the darkness. Their feet were cloven, and huge teeth grew out of their faces like a perversion.Both were naked, small tufts of wiry hair covered their groins and chins.

  Nicodemus’s head popped out of the second story window next to Miriam’s.

  “These are my protectors,” the priest said, motioning toward the two demons standing behind him.

  “They wont help you if you’re dead,” Range said.

  “You speak too much. Sword. Now.” He pressed the blade against Zoë’s neck. She cried out. Range felt his heart leap in his chest. Tears slid silently down Zoë’s cheeks.

  Range was panicking; he could not remember where he had put the Sword. He was going to give it to this man. His daughter was not worth the price of the Sword.His daughter was worth more than a hundred magic swords.But where had he put it? His memory had left him.

  “Miriam, throw me down the Sword,” he said without looking up at the window.

  “I will get it,” Nicodemus said, disappearing.

  “As soon as the Sword is in your hands, run. Am I clear?” Range said.

  “Very clear.” The priest did not seem too worried about Range, especially with four demons hovering about.

  “I will get you free,” Range promised Zoë.”You’re not alone, I am here with you.”

  She sobbed,”Please father!”

  Range almost choked up tears.”Don’t be afraid, you will be free in a moment.”

  Nicodemus appeared at the window with the gray bundle and tossed it at Range.Range picked it up and offered it to the Priest.

  “Toss it here,” the priest said. He sounded almost mesmerized.

  “Release her.”

  “How simple it would be to cut her throat,” the priest said waving his blade around.”How much plainer can I make this?”

  Range tossed the Sword, Miriam gasped.

  The priest bent a little.”Pick the Sword up, Zoë,” he said.Range cringed. The name of his daughter on the tongue of that creature turned his stomach.

  Zoë picked up the Sword and held it. Nicky and Miriam watched from the window. Range stood on legs as taught as wet noodles.The priest bent over the Sword, as he did Nicky disappeared again in the window above.

  The priest appeared to sniff the Sword.He nodded to himself.”Fools.”

  Range felt his insides suddenly leap,”Don’t--!” he screamed.

  The priest pulled the blade across Zoë’s neck. Blood spurted out over her nightgown.A heart-rending wail erupted from Miriam. Range sprinted to his daughter who was trying to scream, but only managed wet gurgling noises.The priest plucked the Sword from her falling hands, spun and walked between his two demons.Zoë crumbled to the ground.

  Suddenly, Sterlin, Rolin, Cortibis and Nicky flew from The Squealing Briggle.

  Miriam wailed again, and fainted back into the room.

  The look on Zoë’s face was of surprise, fear and pain. She tried to scream, but was unable to.Her eyes pleaded with Range to rescue her.Her anguish was his.

  He seemed to be moving through water unable to reach her, while her blood spilled in deadly amounts.He cried out for her,”ZOË!”

  Range fell upon her, trying to hold her sliced neck together, trying to keep the life force inside. His hands were slick with her blood. Her last bit of life ebbed away. Her last strings that held her to this world were rapidly being cut.

  “Please, father Ooln, save my daughter! Give me the power to save her life!” he cried while placing his hands on her throat.He felt a warmness in his hands going into Zoë; he felt a moment of hope rise.But then he looked into her eyes. They were already glassed over. Her breathing had stopped. Her spirit had left her body.

  “NO! NO! NO!” Range cried. His vision had dropped to a small circle that included his daughter’s face, and nothing else. Her eyes were still open, but no heart beat in her now.He cried hard tears, and hugged her to him, oblivious to the blood covering his clothes.”I am here with you my sweetness, you’re not alone!I am here with you!Ah my beautiful daughter.” He cried more and more. He continued to rock, while holding his daughter.

  “Range,” Nicodemus said, but Range was not listening to him. He was not listening to anything. A hand came around his shoulder, gripped something on his neck, and tore it away.His daughter was dead. His daughter was dead. His daughter was dead.

  Around him the fighting continued.Range’s party battling the demons.He didn’t see the fighting and didn’t care.His daughter was dead.Suddenly it was quiet.The night was still again. He crushed Zoë’s tiny body against his.

  “Range? Is she—” He heard a voice from over his shoulder.It was Nicky.

  Range raised his head violently to the heavens,”Oh my god why have you let this happen!Have I not been a good disciple? Have I not done my part to properly do as your edicts say! MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD!” He broke down again. Thundering sobs interrupted by curses and utterances of despair wracked his huge body.Nicky dropped to his friend’s side and laid his hand on his shoulder. Tears came to Nicodemus’s eyes and slipped down his cheeks. Rolin, Cortibis and Sterling stood apart. They said nothing, but stood watch.

  Sterlin leaned over to Cortibis,”Those were demons.What’s an Osaban priest doing here?”

  Nicodemus explained what happened.

  Rolin stood, looking about.”Why did the Osaban priest kill Zoë?”

  Mel came running from The Squealing Briggle and dropped down to where his father was clutching his sister. Tears streamed from his eyes, he let out a pain-filled sound.Range reached out and brought the boy to him. Holding them both, he rocked back and forth.

  “Why does an Osaban do anything he does?” Nicodemus said, caught.

  Rolin looked at Nicodemus dead on,”What mysteries you keep is your own business, but I have been paid to protect this family, and I cannot protect them if I do not know what dangers stalk us.”

  Range piped up,”Tell them Nicky! Who cares anymore! That bastard took the Sword.”

  Nicodemus stood.He put his hands on his hips and blew out a long sigh.

  “It is a mournful night. What I tell you must stay in our group.All of you have been paid an extreme amount of money to protect this family on this journey.Serious matters are afoot and honest warriors are needed.”He eyed the three men before him.

  “Go on,” Sterlin said.

  “We are carrying one of the Swords of Saddig.”

  The three men stood and said nothing for a moment, surprise evident on their faces.An ice-cold wind shot by, shaking the hanging lamps nearby, but none noticed.

  Cortibis spoke up,”It is a heavy burden. Truly you are an oak, Range Ironstone.”

  Miriam burst from the inn toward her family.She dropped next to Range and Mel and Zo?
?’s body.She wailed once and then grabbed her daughter’s body and clenched it to her.Range hugged Mel to him. They were a family, together.Alone.

  “We should get them inside,” Rolin said.

  “Aye,” Sterlin said,”but give them a moment.” Tears floated in his eyes.

  The family sat on the ground, sharing in their misery. Range finally pulled away and peered at the sky.He had work to do.

  The next morning, Range and Sterlin were outside the inn, smoking a durry. Range had not slept the night before and his eyes were hollow red circles. He felt like he had nothing inside. He was hollow. He felt like he was looking in on someone else’s day, someone else’s life.His daughter was dead, and he no longer carried the Sword.He felt the grief and relief battling in his head.

  Nicodemus and Rolin came out with supplies, placing them on the wagon.

  Miriam and Cortibis came next, with Mel in tow.

  Nicodemus had something wrapped in a brown fabric.He handed it to Range.

  “What is this?” Range asked.

  Nicky said nothing.

  Range peeled back part of the fabric. His heart slammed in his chest. He thought we was about to faint.

  In his hands was Bellatrix, the Sword of Saddig.

  “How?”Range asked. His voice shook.

  “I wrapped the gray blanket around another sword before throwing it down.”

  Range didn’t know how he felt. Good that he still had the Sword?Did he even want this filthy thing with innocent blood on it? His stomach turned.The Sword was still his. The released burden, slammed back down on him.He didn’t want the Sword. The yoke was reapplied to his neck.

  Range dropped the Sword, grabbed Nicky by his tunic and threw him up against the wall.”How dare you jeopardize the life of my daughter for a Sword! Because of you she is dead!”

  Nicky said nothing, his eyes wide with surprise and fear.

  “Why did you do it?” Range yelled into his friend’s face.

  “He was going to kill her regardless!” Nicky yelled back.

  Range pulled him a little from the wall and then slammed him against it again.”You don’t know that.”

  “She was dead no matter what!” Nicky said.

  Range drew back and punched Nicky in the jaw.Nicky fell to the ground. Range stepped away. He ran his hands through his hair and turned away.Zoë had died, possibly because of Nicky. His mind raced.

  “We are still going to see Garon,” Range said, turning to the group.

  They said nothing back.Range made up his mind about something else too.”Nicodemus, you will take Miriam and Mel to her family in Crompulous to bury my daughter.”Miriam’s hurt look almost undid Range.”Now,” he completed. They had wrapped Zoë’s body and placed it in the back of the wagon to be buried with her family.

  “No!” Miriam said.”I will not be separated from you now. No! I will not go.”

  “Well since my friend Nicky has decided to keep me with this thing, I have no other choice. I will not have my family put in jeopardy again. I cannot lose you all.”

  “I cannot leave you,” she said.

  “You must.”

  “I cannot.”

  “There is no choice. I love you too much to risk you.”

  Tears spilled down her cheeks.Mel hugged to her hip.”Range, do not do this,” she said.

  “I must. You are all that’s left to me.”

  She turned from him and got onto the wagon.Mel climbed up with her. She sat, looking at her lap. Mel leaned against her.

  Range turned to Nicodemus,”I’m trusting you.” He was still angry with his friend, but he put it away for now.

  “I will see they get there safely. Do not fear. Once there, I will make my way to you as quickly as possible.”

  Nicky boarded the wagon along with Mel and Miriam.Nicky’s hair was the same walnut color as Miriam and Mel’s. Range was satisfied, they looked like a family. Nicky did not look at him.

  “Be safe,” Range said to Miriam. She leaned over and hugged him, her cheeks were wet with tears.

  “I love you Range Ironstone,” she said, quietly.

  “I love you Miriam Ironstone. I will come to you as soon as possible.”

  They released and Mel received his hug from Range.

  “Be good and safe, son. Protect your mother.”

  “I love you father, you be safe as well.” His young face was tired and worn from no sleep.

  Nicodemus shook the reins and they were off.Mel turned and waved to Range as they went around a bend.Range waved back, pain evident on his face.

  “Sharpen your swords men. We leave shortly,” he said, without turning.

  .

  CHAPTER 15