A Serpent in The Night

By: Suladan Posted on: September 30, 2013

Litesyde patrolled the blackstone military quarter, just north of Champions' Bridge, on a one-two step. His right hand gripped the hilt of his longsword, the scabbard held at exactly the prescribed angle to ensure a quick draw. All perfectly regulation. His plate armour, boots and gauntlets were polished every night. He did his exercises, he ate what he was supposed to and prayed the required hours each dawn at Deucalion's temple. He even combed his hair to match the company Captain's!

Nexus shook his head, sighed and leaned back against the side of the closest building. The back plate straps creaked as he put his full weight on it. Putting his hands into his pockets and staring off into the sky, he muttered to himself, "Why did I have to get stuck with him as a patrol partner?"

Twilight waned and the moon rose higher in the sky.

Nexus called over to Litesyde, "Hey! You gotta be tired of all that marching by down. Besides, it's break-time. Come over and grab a drink."

Without pausing in his stride, Litesyde looked up at the height of the moon, judged it then nodded to himself and approached Nexus. "I hope by 'drink' you mean water, brother Nexus." Getting closer to Nexus he sniffed the air, then furrowed his brow and warned, "You know we are not permitted to imbibe spirits while on duty."

Nexus put his hand over his chest and put on his best innocent looking face, "Of course, brother Litesyde. I would never think of violating our directives."

Litesyde raised an eyebrow, "Unless it involves the Captain's daughter, that is. I don't trust you."

"Listen Brother Fun-Loving, don't talk about Tesslyn. That was all just a misunderstanding. She was in trouble and I helped her. It's not my fault if she was grateful and wanted to acknowledge me in her own way." Nexus' paused and eyes glazed over as he stared into space for a minute. Frowning and focusing again he looked back at Litesyde, "We're supposed to be protecting all that's good, right? Well, let me tell you - she's good!" Colour flushed Nexus' face and the smile came back again.

"We are on PATROL, Brother Nexus! This is not an appropriate time or place for such ... discussions." Litesyde sneered down at Nexus, "Pour out your spirits and I will report that you rectified your infraction immediately upon request. Otherwise you may get lashes this time. Violations of discipline are harshly looked upon, as you well know."

Nexus stared back at him in shock. This bastard was actually going to make him face this wretchedly cold night without any spirits! The shock fading, a sneer came across Nexus' own face as he raised himself up to his full height and looked straight back into Litesyde's eyes. Without breaking that stare for a second, Nexus pulled the stopper out of his drinking flask and poured the contents all over Litesyde's boot. Nexus growled, "Sorry Brother Litesyde, I didn't see your boot there."

Litesyde pulled a pure white crisp linen handkerchief from his pocket and wiped off his boot. Discarding the handkerchief, he took a step closer to Nexus. "Unlike you, I will not let hatred and evil into my heart." Litesyde's lip curled, "I don't need to. The law has ways to deal with your kind. Righteousness will prevail. It always does." With that he turned on his heel and marched back out into the street.

The moon had started its descent and was close upon the horizon. Daybreak had nearly come.

Nexus sat on the walkway, struggling to keep his eyes open. His head nodded as his eyes refused to open. THUNK! Nexus jumped up and looked around, adrenaline starting to pulse through his body! Nobody was around, the streets were still empty. Nexus eyes focused on Litesyde, standing at the far end of the street with a stone in his hand.

Litesyde yelled down the street, "Sleeping on a watch is treasonous. You have been warned. Fall asleep again and I'll let Righteousness have you." Without another word he started his circular marching pattern again. His feet still fell in perfect cadence.

Nexus gripped the hilt of his sword. His arm trembled and his knuckles went white. Softly, Nexus growled back, "Later, Litesyde. Later. But you WILL pay and damn me by all that's Holy if I don't drain your blood into a cesspool." Nexus closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to calm down.

A ear-piercing scream of utter terror sounded from the far end of the street.

Training immediately took over and Litesyde and Nexus ran towards the sound of the alarm. An arrow whizzed between them. Simultaneously they crouched and touched their shield tattoos, a shimmering field of energy surrounded each of them.

Nexus looked over at Litesyde, "Do we sound the alarm yet? This could be a raid!"

"We need to know before we report. We have no certainty yet. Per regulations we need to be sure before we alert our superiors." Litesyde looked back at Nexus, "Did you pay attention to anything in the academy?"

Before Nexus could respond the shriek came again. Closer this time. Another arrow flew between them.

"We'll know soon enough. Looks like the party's coming to our place," Nexus said.

"This is NOT a party. This is DUTY and potentially an enemy engagement!" Litesyde yelled back. "At least pretend to display the honour and decorum of your order."

"Whatever." Nexus muttered back under his breath.

The two soldiers gritted their teeth and glared at one another.

A girl in a light blue dress streaked between them! She was barefoot and running as fast as she could, holding a pair of heels in her right hand. She screamed again as she ran by.

"Tesslyn!" Nexus shouted and turned to run after her.

Litesyde grabbed him by the arm. "Stop! We have to find out who's firing those arrows and who's after her. Running after her won't help anything! There're protocols to follow here!"

Nexus looked at the hand on his arm. He slowly looked up at Litesyde. His vision was blurred. A burning anger washed up over him, threatening to consume his body and very soul. Nexus opened his mouth to shout a retort -

Another arrow flew between them. It flew after Tesslyn and grazed her right calf before it embedded itself between two stones.

Tesslyn screamed in pain and collapsed in the middle of the street!

Nexus stared back in the direction the arrow flew from.

A shadow materialised into a large rajamalian serpent. His scales bulging up over his black fur. His eyes were a glowing amber. Strapping the bow across his bow he pulled an Assassin's dirk from his belt and splashed some poison on it from a vial. The serpent growled at them, "Evening, toddlers."

Nexus lunged, his sword outstretched to impale. The serpent dodged to the side of his lunge and pricked him twice in quick succession in the back. The poison spreading almost instantly, Nexus crumpled to the floor - already fast asleep. A length of rope appeared in the serpents hands as he bound the guard.

Finishing his work the serpent stood and looked at Litesyde, "You wet yourself?"

Litesyde telepathically alerted the city to the attack. Per protocol he was to strategically retreat until reinforcements arrived. Pulling a pipe of skullcap from his pocket he edged pack, caressing the shield tattoo and smoking to ward off any attack.

Nexus' eyelids fluttered open, he writhed to free himself of his entanglements.

The sound altered the serpent, who turned back towards him. As the serpent approached he bared his fangs, a greenish liquid dripping from them.

Just as Nexus extricated himself from the last of the bonds, the serpent dove at him and sank his fangs deep into Nexus' neck. Immediately Nexus flushed, blood started to drip from his nose.

The serpent stepped back to admire his work.

Thoughts raced through Litesyde's mind. Conflicting protocols raged at him. Protect his Brother, but City Defence Protocols... Order before City... Don't be reckless... Others before himself... Suddenly ending the immobilising indecision, Litesyde lunged at the serpent, whose body shimmered as Litesyde flew through it - an illusion!

Litesyde spun around, knowing the serpent was behind him. Face to face he could feel the warm breath of the creature on his face. The remains of excreted poison splattering on his visor. The serpent snapped.

Litesyde fell to the floor and started twitching uncontrollable.

Nexus wept, knowing that his incautiousness had cost them both their lives. The blood mixed with tears as it started dripping from every orifice of his body. Sight left him, everything was only a blurry red. He felt a pulling sensation. Thoth must be calling...

Then he mysteriously started feeling better, vision returned to him. Nexus looked around, he was still sitting on the cobblestones, blood - his own blood - sat in a pool around him. He looked up at the serpent standing over him with an empty vial in his hand. "Why?"

The serpent didn't answer. Instead he walked back towards the still-twitching Litesyde. Tesslyn had also been dragged over. Her arms and legs each had a deep gash in them. Those arrows must've each grazed her. The serpent picked up Litesyde's body, stood it up and then flung a dirk straight at Tesslyn!

Tesslyn fell back against the cobblestones, her head bouncing sharply. Blood started to seep out of her ears.

The serpent growled at Nexus, "You kill this ... Brother ... of yours and I'll let her live." He held out a vial which must've held an elixir of immunity.

Standing up Nexus responded, "Why should I believe you?"

"You're alive." The serpent answered. "If you don't kill him, I will. So really it makes no difference."

Tesslyn gargled an attempted scream as blood gushed out of her mouth. Nexus ran over to her side. "Save her!"

"You first." The serpent shrugged, "I'll make it easy for you." He leaned over and bit Litesyde.

Litesyde's whole body froze, paralysed head to foot.

Tesslyn moved her head towards Nexus, her eyes full of fear. She slowly mouthed, "help me."

Nexus gently set her down. He stood up and looked over at the serpent, who now had an arrow knocked and aimed at him. "You can't run, boy. There's no hope for you or your friend. At least you can save the girl."

Nexus drew his sword and walked over to Litesyde.

Litesyde's eyes were wide with terror. His body shuddered slightly as his muscles locked and tightened convulsively. "I.n.t.e.g.r.i.t.y ... the C.o.d.e..." he managed to mouth out.

"Love." Nexus replied.

With one swift motion, Nexus pulled back and swung the blade down, decapitating his friend.

The serpent laughed.

Nexus turned around to face him. "I've killed one of my order. I'm evil now. I'll go with you."

The serpent laughed harder. "Evil doesn't accept such pathetic offerings. You're soft, weak and a liability to yourself and those around you." The serpent shook his head, "Love. What a joke. Maybe next time around you can move up the food chain - I hear rabbits are in demand." The serpent pulled back on the bow to let loose.

"WAIT! What about Tesslyn?!" Nexus shouted, suddenly frantic.

"An illusion."

Nexus whirled around just in time to see Tesslyn's body shimmer away into nothing.

Spinning back in confusion toward the serpent, the last thing Nexus saw was an arrowhead flying straight at his head.