With the door bolted shut Yuliah moved from corner to corner inside Lucan's old Manor, loo8king for furniture or anything heavy to barricade the door with. Each room she glanced into stood empty.
Just great! Now what? She was back in Lucan's shed again with no weapon or anything to defend herself with. Mold and dust were flooding her nostrils, and the door rattled behind her.
"Yuliah!" Lucan's fist struck the door repeatedly. "Let's talk about this. Please."
How did he free himself already? Yuliah held up her arm. The blood vines were gone, and only the crescent indent was left. That explains it. She shook her arm. How useless.
"Please don't make this harder than it has to be," Lucan called from outside the door. "Marry me Yuliah. We get along well. I know we'll be good for each other and I can show you how to use the Mark. Together we can control the Nomens. Show everyone what this new breed of Nomens can do."
"I'm not going to marry you," she screamed. "Give up on that delusion Lucan and what else you have planned. It's not going to work. If Ryas finds out that you are Nomen, he will kill you all," Yuliah answered him. "Let me go, and he might spare you." She hated having to rely on Ryas or having to be saved by him all the time, but she prayed he'd come. That nothing happened to him.
When Lucan didn't answer, Yuliah moved closer to the door.
He gave orders to his guards. "Send for my wives and have them bring the ceremony here. I'll marry her here instead. Bring me an ax too."
Unbelievable," Yuliah's feet scrambled back across the floor. He even had multiple wives. What a liar. He was too good at hiding his real character. If he thinks I'm going to become his sixth wife, Yuliah shook her head. He's in for a rude awakening.
There had to be something here she could use. Yuliah took another look around the Manor. Ryas said that anything could become a weapon she just had to look harder.
Her eyes passed over the boarded windows. They were old; if she removed the boards, it would make it easier for them to break through. Her thoughts raced, and Yuliah exhaled.
The mark on her arm, it could control them, but how? She paused and took a deep breath as Ryas taught her. She sensed for the Ethereal Spirit in her blood.
Yuliah's entire body, every inch of it, pulsed, as her breaths became more profound. A tingling sensation raised the tiny hairs across her arm straight up. There it was, an endless flow of energy running continuously throughout her body. Now, where to find the Ethereal Spirit? She closed her eyes and listened again.
Found it! Hidden in her bloodstream, the Ethereal Spirit moved within the flow. Yuliah quickly latched onto her Ethereal Spirit. It engulfed and burned through her entire body. It wasn't the Mark of the Nomens, but this was better than nothing.
Outside the Manor, Lucan's Five Wives, two elderly Men, and a guard with an ax arrived. "Break the door down," Lucan ordered. The guard began to hack away splitting pieces of the door into the air.
The hollow sounds of the ax chopping wood soon turn sharp. It was only a matter of time before they got in. Her breathing increased again.
Next to the kitchen stood a small built-in cabinet and single wooden bars held up the shelves.
Yuliah rushed over, her fingers wrapped tightly around one of the wooden bars and tugged. Her face scrunched up, as she pulled harder, but the bar would not budge. A few more pulls and finally it snapped off. She had a weapon now! Taking a breath, she looked down at the wooden bar.
It wasn't much, and the edges were too dull to cause anyone damage. In its current state, she could use it to hit someone with that's about it.
Glancing around she could see the stone fireplace and sprinted over. Yuliah rubbed the ends against the rough edges of the stone, and a sharp tip started to form. Yes! Now it could be useful and possibly even kill.
Behind her, the ax hacked away the final piece of protection between her and Lucan. The guard kicked what's left of the door in right as Yuliah stood up with the stick in hand.
"Careful she's got a weapon," he called out to his comrades.
"Bring her out here," Lucan instructed.
Three guards, sturdy and much taller than her came through the door. "That stick won't do a damn thing to us, and it's three to one," the shorter guard laughed. "Just make our day easier and leave quietly."
Yuliah took a few steps backward. The grip she had on the stick loosened in her calmly hands, and she released her Ethereal Spirit.
"I'll take her head on," the middle guard smirked. "Damn you're beautiful. I'll be jealous of Lucan tonight," he advanced towards Yuliah, and his eyes swooped left to right at the other two guards. Who also took steady paces at her.
The pounding in her chest accelerated when she made eye contact with the guard.
Yuliah wasn't going to let them take her that easily. She sprung forward with the stick in her hand ready to attack. The guard threw up his arms and caught her wrist midair. She dropped the stick but caught it in her left hand, then jammed it right into his gut. He stumbled back and fell over.
Shit! It went in too deep. Yuliah lost it. Her only weapon stuck inside him.
Shuffling steps moved behind her as Yuliah spun around. He was the bigger of the three and reached for her waist. Her leg kicked up and right into the guard's groin.
"Bitch!" He cupped his private and fell sideways.
"What the fuck is going on in there," Lucan yelled. "You guys better not hurt her!"
"She's putting up a good fight and took down two of us already," the guard called out.
Lucan motioned for three more guards, "Get in there!"
Three more guards joined them inside. Leaner but still taller than her. Why did they all look so handsome? How vain, to surround yourself with only good looking people. Something Yuliah didn't notice about Lucan until now.
"Watch out. She's got some power that makes her stronger than us," the last standing guard warned them.
Yuliah's Ethereal Spirit turned off and on while she punched and kicked the Men as they attacked her. Unable to keep her concentration the Ethereal Spirit shut off completely.
The guards circled her as she continued to fight them but her natural strength had returned, and the hits she gave them were no longer as effective. The four guards managed to overpower Yuliah and pulled her out kicking and screaming.
"Let me go," Yuliah dragged her feet. "I'm not going to marry you, Lucan," then elbowed a guard and he lost his hold on her arm. She threw her herself around a wooden beam outside the Manor and clung on. Her screams and the commotion caused a crowd to form.
"Help me!" Yuliah begged as the villagers looked on and did nothing. Two of the guards pried her hands from the beam. "Noooo. Stop!" Yuliah looked to the villagers for help, but their stoic faces just glared back at her. What's wrong with everyone? Why wouldn't they help her? "Please someone," Yuliah screamed.
"Make her kneel," Lucan demanded. His lips stretched side to side. "You two," he pointed to the Old Men. "Start the ceremony."
They dragged her to the front, and two guards forced her to her knees.
The Old Man had a hook nose and wore a golden robe. He took a step towards Yuliah and lit three incense sticks. "Prepare the sacrifice," he turned to the other Man.
—————————
A Few Hours Prior
He smoothed the cleft of his eyebrow upward and traced over the scar above his eye, "You have two choices. Leave here and don't come back or resist and die," the guard looked over at Ryas.
Ryas kept his back to them, and his eyes across the valley. At least they brought him to the other road, the fastest route to Murai. He felt a bit conflicted. He worked with two of these Men for the past week. One of them he was sure had only seen a few summers as a Man. Killing them would not feel good, but they had made their choice.
"Do you know who I am?" His fingers clutched tightly around the cold hilt of his sword as he pivoted around. Death was always cold.
"Look. I don't give a fuck who you are, but if you don't leave. I'll have to kill you, and I'm not in the killing mood today," the guard sounded annoyed.
"I'm General fucken Ryas," his eyes burned violet. With one giant leap, he closed the distance between them before the Men could even draw their swords.
A whistle in the wind followed by a squelching sound was all the boy heard as he scrambled to the ground after his sword. To the left and right of him both, his comrade's bodies dropped. He looked over and retched from the foul stench of feces and urine. His entire breakfast scattered next to him as he reeled away from Ryas.
"Tell me what you know?" Ryas crossed the two blades, stained in red, over the boy's neck and he stopped moving. He didn't want to do it but he would if he needed too. "A quick flick of my wrists and your head would roll right into the piles of shit pooling in front of you," Ryas snarled at him.
"Decide quickly. I'm not usually this patient."
His face whitened, "Kill me then. I do not fear Men who rape their sisters," the boy's eyes hardened.
A bellowing laugh erupted across the valley as Ryas drew his swords back and the boy cowered down. "Is that what they told you and you believed them?" How fucken ridiculous Ryas laughed again. "Do you know who I am?" He asked.
"No. Should I?" The boy's confidence returned. His golden eyes bore back at Ryas — his dark features were familiar.
"You should. That woman is my wife, not my sister," Ryas said.
"The Regent would never lie to us,"
"Men will lie to anyone if it serves their purpose. Don't be easily fooled."
"He said you're a murderer of Woman and children.
"I've killed those who deserved it. I don't take innocent lives."
"Why should I believe you?" The boy asked.
"The fact that I didn't kill you yet," Ryas bent down until he looked into the eyes of the boy. "You can't return to Novas. Go to Murai if you survive the journey there. I will allow you to join one of my Captains ranks," Ryas stood up then wiped his blades on the two dead guards.
The boy also rose to his feet, "Why are you letting me go?"
"Thank your eyes they have saved you," and he walked away.
"The Regent has her. He's going to marry her today. You can find him on the other side of Town," the boy said. "The townsfolk are innocent; they don't know any better. Only what Lucan has taught them."
Ryas stopped, "Tell me your name?"
"I don't have one."
Ryas sneered, "Find one before we meet again," he walked away and past the guard's horses where he noticed a bow and arrows. Ryas took them and left.
He raced back to Novas, passed the Inn, and Catia who stood outside her shop. She tried to wave him down, but he rode straight down the dirt road ahead. He had to get to Yuliah. If anything happens to her, he will kill everyone responsible.
The seconds turned into minutes as he continued down the path until the buildings thinned out and only a few scattered buildings remained. Yuliah's screams burst out from down the road. Ryas stopped his horse then crept alongside the broken fence. His eyes wereye tight and straight ahead.
Slung over his shoulder hung the arrows and bow. He now stood next to a rundown house and peeked around the corner. Twenty guards, 21 including Lucan who stood right in the middle. Five women and two old Men. Another twenty villagers. His heart raced as he hid behind the fence again.
Seven arrows, it's all he had. Three at a time the most he could shoot. His arm lifted straight up and his fingers curved around the bow. His right-hand nocked three arrows to the bow, then stepped out and released.
They were too occupied and no one noticed, when Ryas stepped from behind the gate. It took three guards to drop behind Lucan before he turned around.
The crowd of villagers scatters, and woman screamed and ran in all directions.
Three more headshot kills, followed by an arrow through the heart for four unlucky guards.
"Kill HIM," Lucan spat out.
With both swords in hand Ryas took another four lives making his way closer to Lucan. He glanced at Yuliah who fought to free herself but was still held to her knees while two old Men held a chicken close to her head and some incense sticks.
His body exploded with the ethereal spirit as he launched his swords straight ahead and killed the two guards next to Yuliah. The remaining guards moved in as he kicked and punched them back.
The two old men trembled trying to hold onto crowing chickens and incense sticks.
"Stop whatever the fuck it is your doing. If you two want to live." Ryas chucked a shield at them and they scattered - freeing one of the chickens.
Lucan drew his sword and stepped behind his five wives. He shoved them forward. "No, continue the ceremony." He ordered the two men.
Now that she was free Yuliah stood up, kicked the an old men between the legs and shoved one back as they tried to restrain her. She ran back inside the manor and slammed the door behind her.
Ryas looked pissed. She could see it in his face and when he released his ethereal spirit. He would kill everyone. Yuliah knew it, and she couldn't watch it. Her entire body trembled. Forget them all. They didn't help her why she should save them.
Back outside the guards had Ryas trapped behind a circle of shields. "He's strong as fuck. Don't let him escape!" Lucan shouted from behind his wives.
A few brave guards jumped at Ryas. Their movements were quick and stealthy. Faster than a man and almost matched his.
Ryas punched a guard in the chest as he lunged too close. The guard rolled across the dirt gaged but stood back up. With that force, his chest should have caved inward. A man would have died already. Ryas looked over at Lucan. "What are you?"
Lucan laughed from behind his wives. "A new breed of Nomens. We will become more powerful than the Geneoshi or any other being. You must be the great General Ryas Ib," Lucan mocked. "I thought you'd be bigger."
"A new breed huh?" Ryas half-smiled. "That explains why you look like a bunch of underfed mutts. Let's test how strong your new breed of Nomens will be," he moved slowly as the remaining seven guards followed along with him.
The guards rushed forward and grabbed onto his waist and limbs. "Take him down," they yelled pulled.
Ryas shifted from side to side dragging the guards with him. His fists rained down on them, but they held on tightly.
He released more of his Ethereal Spirit this time. Each punch he landed hit harder than before and knocked the guards out cold, until none were left standing.
"It's just you and me Lucan. You fucken coward." Ryas dashed at Lucan who pushed his wives forward.
They broke out into screams as Ryas dodged and shoved two of Lucan's wives aside.
He stood in front of the shed and retrieved one of his swords from a dead guard.
He turned to find Lucan charging right at him and swung his sword up, blocking Lucan's strikes.
"The Nomens will sing songs about me. How I killed the great General Ryas and even took his woman as my own." Lucan laughed.
Ryas snickered at Lucan. He'd seen this many times before. Men who thought they could take from him, and lunged forward. They exchanged blows until Lucan grew tired. Ryas needed to end this fight quick and released his ethereal spirit.
Lucan's overconfidence caused him to charge without a care.
Ryas met him head on and knocked the sword from Lucan's hand. With three powerful strikes to Lucan's stomach, chest, and head Lucan flung backward and rolled up against the side of his old Manor.
Ryas took his time walking over to Lucan and then knelt beside him. "Let's see what kind of songs they'll sing about you now Nomen breeder." He plunged his sword into Lucan's groin then cut away.
Lucan's pupils rolled back into his head, and only the whites of his eyes remained.
"Noooooo!" A Woman's voice screamed. "What have you done!" She charged at Ryas, but when he turned to face her, she stopped midway.
"Don't make me kill you too." He glared back then made his way toward the shed. "Yuliah, open up it's me." Ryas pounded on the door.
Inside the run down manor Yuliah no longer heard the screams and fighting outside. She didn't want to see the aftermath. Ryas killed with no mercy, she'd sensed it back in the cave. Slowly Yuliah slid the latch aside and pushed the door open. Her arms shook as she rushed out to hug him. "Ryas." Yuliah grabbed for his hands. He was the most incredible person she knew — the only one who would take on the whole world for her. Tears dropped from her eyes.
The left side of his lips curved upward as he reached for Yuliah's hand but suddenly stopped.
"Die, demon," a woman screamed from behind him.
It was the same sound she heard when Liang stabbed Yujen. A blade through flesh, right out his left side. Yuliah could see the silver tip covered in blood as Ryas landed inside the grasp of her left arm. It was one of Lucan's wives.
No... No... NO." Her eyes gleamed crimson. The ethereal spirit surged through her body stronger than before. She lifted her right arm and swung it towards Lucan's wife. Lucan's wife skidded backward and landed next to his bleeding body.
Yuliah's voice screamed out in pain as her entire body exploded into a fiery flame.