He's alive
CHAPTER 1
Ɗagun
The ground had come faster than I thought it would. We landed in a marsh, sloshing into the muck. I could barely keep my face above the water due to the bastard’s weight holding me down. His leathery hide probably weighed the same as a cloven bear, and his bulk was making it nearly impossible to maneuver my way out from underneath him. There was also the probability of a broken arm and bruised ribs halting my attempts. I would gladly let the demon drown if I could only move so as to shove his face under but as it stood, I was holding him up just enough for him to keep breathing.
He was still breathing when he should have been dead. The imposter had played at being my brother. I knew there was something wrong. I should have trusted my gut, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I thought I had no room to judge and now it was all my fault that I had allowed this demon to infiltrate our town and masquerade as my brother. I am worthless. I couldn’t even tell the difference between my Thaden and a repulsive beast.
He had put up a decent fight. Compared to his little show with the goblins, he was much more capable than he had let on. My whole body ached, and I couldn’t even get the air to yell with him lying on top of me. That was how we had landed after we floundered through the air, and I got in a good hit to the back of his head causing us to crash land. I had no idea where we were but hopefully, I had gotten him far enough away from Tali. I swear I was going to make him pay once I was able to move. He shall feel my wrath.
I tried to shift the creature, but this caused the water to slosh, and the level was treading dangerously too close to cut off my air supply. I had to find a way to get free. My right arm was useless as a shooting pain surged through me when I tried to move. Any upper body movement was out of the question so I would have to use my legs. I slowly dug my heels into the mud, forming a foothold and pushed backward. With any luck I could inch my way out from this position before he woke up.
“Kaleel, is that you? What news?”
I froze, stealing my breath as a woman’s voice rang in my ears. Someone was calling to the beast. Who was this? The beast began to stir, slowly moving his head. I closed my eyes and pretended to be unconscious. I could feel the weight shift as he lifted his head.
“Do not keep me waiting,” the voice commanded.
Just the very sound sent a shiver down my spine. The volume hadn’t changed but there was power in her words. More of his weight lifted off of me and I allowed myself to float. I would draw attention but moving to try to get away would be worse. There was no hiding the fact that I was there.
A fist snatched me up by my shirt and tossed me on to the bank. More cracks could be heard as my ribs and arm cascaded with the rocks, but I had to suppress any sign of life. My insides were screaming at me, but I concentrated on my breathing to calm my body and my mind. I was in a better position to run yet still too close to the threat.
I could hear sloshing before he responded, “Yes, your Majesty. I hear and obey.”
“Do you have her?”
“I’m sorry, your Majesty. There was a situation, and my cover was blown.”
His breathing was labored as he responded. I hope he was in as much pain, if not more, as I was. Hopefully I had caused permanent damage. Either way he wouldn’t live long enough to worry about it. I would be his death.
“Did I ask if your cover was blown?” the woman replied. The callousness of her words stopped my thoughts of how I wished to kill the imposter. Something about this woman was striking a nerve within me that made me nervous. Where was her voice coming from?
“No, your Majesty.”
“I asked if you had her. Why have you failed?”
Her words held a sense of doom and foreboding. Even if I could move unhindered, I wouldn’t dare if I were in her presence. He had called her Majesty. So, she was a ruler. That could explain the power I felt from her words. Probably a monster just like him.
“The brother intervened.”
His tone was holding even but I could still detect his labored breaths as he tried to control his responses.
“Then take care of the brother and bring her to me,” she replied. She spoke as if it were the obvious action and he was too dumb to have understood.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Oh, and Kaleel?”
“Yes, your Majesty?”
“Consider your punishment awaiting you for making me wait. You better have her within my reach within a fortnight, or I will have no more use for you.”
I could hear his swallow before he responded, “Yes...your Majesty.”
The air eased as the silence was replaced with the sounds of the marsh. Crickets returned to their ballades and the deep breathes became louder and more ragged from the monster Kaleel. I hadn’t even noticed that the area had silenced itself when she was speaking.
“AAAGHHHHHHH!" the beast roared. I risked opening my eyes to see him smashing his fists into the water, his rage bare. Guttural groans escaped as he slumped into the muck, holding his wing close to him. He paused but a moment, silent, before whipping his head around and staring straight at me. Our eyes met and I knew this was it. There would be no cowardly retreat today. This ends here.
***
Ƙaleel
It was all his fault. This sorry excuse for a meat suit cost me my prize. Too long have I catered to his peoples’ whims. Trying my damndest to appease him, to be the brother he had only wished he had had. A whole year, wasted! It was perfect. I had them all under my spell, but that damn Pixie shit ruined it all! This would never be excused. My life would be forfeit if I couldn’t get Talia.
Even if that annoying insect ratted me out, I still had her in my grasp. I should have flown away as soon as I had grabbed her. Why did I hesitate? It didn’t matter. This bastard was going to pay. Once I dealt with him, I could easily come back and play ‘Dagun’ for a day or so until I got her alone again. I would just need to take out the pixie first.
I could see her now, running into my arms, thankful I was alive. If only it were for the real me…Snap out of it! I have a mission, and she will be destroyed. I can’t let human emotions invade my thoughts. Now to eviscerate this puny human.
I turned to see the weakling staring straight at me, still lying where I had tossed him.
“You mongrel! I will see to it that your death is slow and agonizing.” The shit smiled at me as he staggered to rise to his feet.
From the looks of it he was injured. His right arm was hanging loosely at his side. All the better to extract as much pain and suffering as possible from him. I tried to stand, but my legs gave out, pain searing all the way up through my groin. Fuck, both legs broken and the tear in my wing was going to put me at a disadvantage. I just needed him to get close enough. I smiled, drawing my face into a calm facade.
"Think you could help me up, brother?"
Dagun's face snarled, "You are not my fucking brother!" He stepped closer, a few feet from the bank.
I gave him my best pout, "Oh, poor pitiful Dagun couldn't tell his real brother from a phony. You know that makes you a terrible sibling, right?" I watched as his snarl deepened at my jabs, "If I were the real Thaden I would be ashamed of you." He wasn't moving any closer, just standing there looking like a wet pissed off mutt, which was irritating. "Thaden was the lucky one I guess, not having to see you like this."
Dagun, shook his head, "You are pathetic, you know that? I see what you're trying to do. It's obvious you can't use your legs, so you're trying to goad me into getting close. I think I'll just leave you here to rot."
He turned to leave. I needed to find something else, something to unhinge him. Then the one subject I could think of popped into my head as I smiled, "Oh, I won't die. I'll heal before then and I'll make my way to Talia."
It worked, Dagun swung around, striding back to the bank as he pointed at me, "You will stay the fuck away from her, do you hear me?" He stepped into the water; yes, come closer. Just a few more steps would put him within my reach.
"Don't you ever think of her again. I don't give two shits if the bitch you work for will punish you-"
I stayed still, waiting for him. Just a little further and I would tear him limb from limb. He stooped down, just out of reach, keeping his right arm hanging by his side, his forehead sweating and eyes crinkled as he tried to shield his pain from me. I just needed him to lean in a bit more. I chuckled as his restraint was evident, holding himself back. "-I will take great pleasure in taking what you couldn't from her."
Dagun's eyes widened as rage painted his features, "I will take great pleasure in watching you die," he grumbled.
A whistling sound shot through the marsh, halting Dagun's momentum towards me as a dart with red feathers impaled the side of his neck. His eyes rolled back in his head as he fell to the side. Blast it! I had him, he was right within my grasp! As he splashed into the water I heard the whistle again, feeling the sting as I was jabbed in the shoulder. I turned to see our attackers, but my vision gave out, black spots taking over leaving only glowing gold-slitted eyes to fade from view.
