"Wait, what are you doing?" Zoticus seemed to have snapped out of his trance but I already made my move. Propped against the wall, he looked up at me with wide eyes. He bit his bottom lip and I swore I saw his right eye twitch. "Marik, what is happening?"
I press a finger to his lips, smirking when he stands rigid as a marble statue. I affected him enough to make him feel threatened. "You brought this upon yourself. I'm only helping you finish your business."
"Marik, what did I do?" He was so innocent, holding onto my arm although our chests were already touching. His tone didn't tell me whether he was aware of his actions or not.
"You dared to say that I will become your slave for one night. You slammed me against this wall and I let you." I raised a hand to caress his smooth cheeks. He was so warm that I felt my fingertips burn.
Not only were my fingers burning, but my insides had also been ignited. My breathing came out as deep breaths, causing the man in my grip to shudder.
I pulled him off the wall and carried him back to the bed where Lorica slept peacefully. I groaned after smelling a strange aroma that caused my head to hurt. I felt stimulated, craving touch and love.
Without realizing, I dropped Zoticus onto the bed. He quickly sat upright on the blankets to stare at me. He looked like a lost puppy.
"Marik? Are you tired?" Zoticus moved aside to provide more space on the bed although his eyes darted around. He was nervous having me around when he sleeps.
I understood his fear.
He had acted strangely and when he came to, he was trapped between me and the cold wall. "Are you going to come on?"
I shook my head, pausing to listen. I placed a finger to my lips to warn Zoticus. While he was talking, I barely heard a sound. Was it the sound of multiple feet approaching us?
Zoticus quickly grabbed his daughter, whipping his head to stare at me in horror. The baby in his arms shrieked loudly with her tiny lungs.
"What is it?" Zoticus mouthed to me as he struggled to calm the girl. Slightly frustrated, he leaves the bed and tip-toed to the window. He immediately drew back, racing to me.
"Zoticus, what is it?" I grabbed his arms, pulling him to stand behind me. Whatever caused the powerful man to move so quickly must have been shocking. "Zoticus, are you alright?"
"No," he managed to breathe after gasping for air. He continued to rock the baby girl in his arms. "I can't believe it."
"You can't believe what?" I shrieked when a grey hand gripped the windowsill. I think I saw maggots wriggling from rotting flesh and my heart threatened to burst. I felt true fear due to the sudden appearance of the hand. "Oh, my gods!"
A bush of dry hair made way for a horrid face. Staring into the room was an Undead whose left eye almost popped out. Brown teeth were embedded in inflamed gums. Mounds oozing pus and blood covered the newcomer's body.
Damn, that thing was ugly. Even Sebastian would say I looked better.
"Hey there boys," the Undead spoke slowly. Each word had been dragged to be four times longer than when an average person speaks. He lifted his other hand that was barely intact.
I instinctively took a step back, urging Zoticus to do the same until I pushed him into a corner. If I placed him in the corner, all I have to do is protect the front instead of four areas. "Why are you here?"
"Well," the Undead man stretched out the word again. His rusty voice grated on my ears and the baby behind me amplified her voice. The Undead raised a scythe as he attempted to climb through the window.
Once he finally landed into the room, his neck snapped. He grinned while his head ran parallel to the floor. "I'm here to kill one of you. Who is named Zoticus?"
"Zoticus? Did I hear incorrectly?" I stuck a finger into my ear. There must be too much dust and blood that I heard that I wasn't the target. "Are you not looking for Marik Valerius?"
"Marik Valerius?" The Undead leaned against the window and held a hand under his chin. The scythe nipped his eyeball but he didn't flinch.
My heart raced inside my chest and I wasn't the same as when it beats for Zoticus. I stretched out my arms to guard Zoticus.
"No, I haven't heard anything about Marik Valerius so he must be irrelevant. So, which one of you is Zoticus the pretty boy?" The walking corpse stuck out his tongue. Saliva dripped onto the floor. "You both look pretty."
I knew Zoticus was about to answer, but I turned around to clamp his mouth shut with my hands. I stared right beside his wide eyes. "I am Zoticus. What business do you have with me?"
"Our king," the corpse continued dragging out each word as if he's speaking a foreign language or the language of sloths. He cleared his throat, coughing until a splat could be heard.
"Our king," the Undead man continued. "He has found interest in you and he knows of your massive power. He told me to bring Zoticus to him dead or alive. Since he's planning to make you his spouse, I think I'll have to give him a body."
"You can try taking me but I belong to Marik, the man holding a baby. I'm going to Eternal Damnation before I marry an old geezer!" I scrunched my nose when Zoticus licked my palm. I was not going to lift my hands off his mouth.
"I'll do the talking for you," I whisper quietly. I chuckled after seeing his eyes widen even further, beyond human capacity. "Keep quiet and I'll protect you."
The Undead man a whining noise, dragging his feet as he approaches us. He got so close I can hear his laboured breathing. Walking was a struggle for him, how will he defeat me or Zoticus?
"I don't understand," I said slowly. I know he had stopped shuffling. "Why would the king of Mesoa send you to abduct me? Why would he even want a man to marry him? Did he send an army after me?"
"Young people think too much. Being chosen by our kind king is an honour! And yes, he did send an army!" The Undead man leapt into the air.
I take my right hand off Zoticus' mouth and sprayed my blood into the air, satisfied when I hear pained shrieks. My blood is so toxic that flesh could melt if I give enough blood. I hoped the Undead would leave us alone.
"Wow, you truly are powerful, Zoticus! Our king has always been a smart man. You would make a great bed warmer and companion." The corpse warrior used the last fragment of his energy to chuck his scythe at my head.
I deflected the vile weapon with my black sword, horrified to see the scythe continue to attack me. I heard the Undead take his last breath but the scythe keeps coming for my head.
"Marik," Zoticus said although his voice was muffled by one of my hands. He grabbed my wrist, gasping once he removed me. His cheeks were flushed and I wanted to do something with his full lips. "Let's get out of here before the rest arrive."
I stared at the twitching Undead, shrieking when the corpse regained its life and the man's limbs contorted as he rose from the floor. I grunt as I deflected the attacking scythe, hissing loudly. The blade had sliced the flesh of my lower arm. "Damn, you should run first! Take Lorica and jump out the window. Use your wings if you must."
"No," Zoticus pulled my shoulders and slammed me into the corner, using one hand to push my face into the stone-cold wall. Only he is able to muster the courage to touch my face in this way. "He was lying, I am Zoticus and he is Marik Valerius. Your king has broken the laws of nature by letting you live on his power. Why would I accept his disgusting approaches?"
"Oh," the Undead caught his weapon as the scythe prepared to attack once more. The man who should be buried deep underground showed his rotten teeth through a smile. "He knows nature's laws. He doesn't care if you or Nature objects."
I struggle against Zoticus' hold, hissing when I fail to remove my head from under his warm hands. I growled against the cold wall, shocked to see a hand punch through the stone. I tugged Zoticus' skirt, writhing away from the hand near my face. "Zoticus, we have a problem here!"
"No, we do not!" A tanned fist smashed the wall and the hand that was grabbing at my face was snapped. Then, the fist removed itself to reveal a large hole. Zoticus returned to focusing on the Undead man.
I wince as the being on the other side howled loudly. Under Zoticus' grip, I was a pathetic mortal. I could not use my arms or legs as I would on the battlefields and this angered me. I sucked in a deep breath, "Zoticus, let go of my head! It won't be long until we find ourselves going against Mesoa's secret army."
"We will face it soon enough even if you are free from me." Zoticus' anger was loud and clear in his voice as he spoke. The brilliant man thrust his daughter into my weak arms and roared, calling all things evil into the inn's room. His voice had morphed into something terrifying, no longer within the range of human voices.
I raised my hands to cover my ears against his fierce battle cry. Peeking around his waist, I see Undeads have rushed into our room through the window and one slowly opened the door to allow humans to enter. I have fought humans all my life, but the thought of fighting the Undead was terrifying.
The Undead are not living nor dead -although they should be. They will fight until each of their limbs is ripped or sliced off and even then, their body will continue to move. Until their puppet master retrieves his magic.
The Undead have been used in warfare in the ancient days, employed by tyrants and dark magicians who thrived on fear. Their stench frightened my nose. Their dismembered body frightened my eyes. Their existence frightened me as according to nature, one must not be revived or kept between living and dead.
I accidentally pinched Lorica's fragile abdomen and she made my mistake known by kicking my chest. I froze in my spot, my mind went blank and I did not know how to handle the baby girl. I knew she was frightened of the Undead. If I was not under Zoticus' magical hands, I would be able to protect her.
Despite this, Zoticus is having a great time fending off the waves of Mesoan soldiers. A crazed smile was scrawled across his face, his tongue licked his bottom lip. His golden eyes blazed until I can no longer see his pupils. Instead, they were only spaces of light. Those eyes pierced through the Undead.
I meant it literally. I watch as beams of light cut off arms and legs like knives, except they left burns instead of just a cut. This Zoticus made my knees knock against each other. I gripped onto his daughter, terrified of seeing his reaction if I do not hold the crying child.
"Perish, you fiends!" Zoticus' iris returned to their golden glory for only a moment until violet blossomed like dye in water. Energy crackled around his arms and head. "I have returned. It is exhausting taking possession of this beautiful body twice in one day! Are these the Undead?"
"Why are you asking me, you have been fighting them for gods knows how long!" I gulped upon seeing the sunny man glared at me with eyes the same colour as mine. I felt relieved when he removes his hand from my head, allowing me to feel my power.
"I was not fighting them, Zoticus was. Marik, my dear, Zoticus is someone very important to me. I will be disappointed if you cannot protect him. Why are you in a corner looking like a coward?" The new Zoticus grabbed my chin and stared into my eyes. With one hand he continues to throw Mesoan soldiers away.
"You didn't tell me who you were last time. Who are you?" I hissed between my words. The amount of strength used by the man hurt my jaws.
"My identity is not important, as of now. As you may have noticed, Zoticus can seal your powers which I have not considered a possibility. Under no circumstances should he be standing in front of you." The purple-eyed Zoticus raised a menacing eyebrow. "Do you understand?"
"No," I breathed shakily. I do not understand and I want to understand. "Make it clear for me to comprehend. Who is Zoticus and how can he affect me like this?"
"He is someone important to us both. His body is important for the life of your world, it is the capsule that will heal you." It was odd to hear Zoticus speak about himself in the third person. Perhaps, this strange eyed Zoticus is a spirit.
"Finally, I can move again!" I took a step forward, pausing when I felt the weight in my arms. I returned Lorica to Zoticus' body. Then, I rushed into the fray.
"Ah, is this what mortals call a baby?" The odd Zoticus mused to himself. In the corner of my eye, I see him pinch Lorica's cheeks. The man gasped. "It made a noise!"
"Shut up and leave Zoticus' body!" I swung my arms around, hacking and slashing through the infinite number of soldiers. Humans fall at my feet, tripping me while Undead soldiers lunge forward.
"Marik, I claimed this batch. Next time we are attacked you can fight." Zoticus placed a hand on my neck, efficiently immobilizing me. The real Zoticus had returned. He breathed loudly in my ear, "This is my fight. Somehow, I am their king's target, not you."
"I don't understand," I reply quickly. I watch in horror as he thrust Lorica back into my arms. "But, I will fight for you. If only you will let me go!"
"No, I'm not letting you go today! Marik, you are tired and that scar on your head will open again." Zoticus grunted as he shot beams of light at our attackers. He must be tired after being possessed.
I shook my head, "We are both tired. What about you let me go and we fight back to back. Damn, how are there still more Undead pouring into the room?"
I watch a pile of writhing bodies grow as more and more bodies climbed over each other to get closer to us. The Undead soldiers resembled cockroaches -grey, ugly cockroaches! "Zoticus, You are not fighting alone or I'm not your master. You would not want me to kick you from my household, will you?"
Zoticus froze, his hands raised above his head to bring the Undead to their doom. He snatched the baby girl from my arms and held her by placing one hand beneath her bottom. He was holding her like a bowl!
Although I am not familiar with the art of parenting, I am sure he is holding the baby girl incorrectly -on a battlefield! Despite feeling dizzy and exhausted, I followed Zoticus into the heart of the battle.
I felt his back press against mine, burning me each time he releases energy from his hands. I find myself facing a dozen soldiers from each corner.
Only a few were mortals. The rest were Undead people, the opponent I have not gotten to experience. Burning them with my toxic blood should be enough, right?
"Do not use your blood, do you hear me?" Zoticus shouted over the groans of the Undead. "Marik, trust me and use your sword. No magic for this."
"I don't understand, why?" I continue to pierce chests and skulls, always shocked to see the Undead rise after falling. These beings were beasts! "I trust you but I don't think fighting against the Undead will be easy."
"Their only source of life is Mesoa's king but he made a grave mistake." Zoticus leaned closer so his head is near my ear. He whispers as we hack and slash. "He has not come personally to keep the Undead alive. Instead, he placed his energy in the mortal soldiers."
I was awed by his knowledge. Then, I observed the human I have killed just moments before. About six Undead leapt to their feet after the soldier perished. I see another man rush to replace the dead human, in case the six Undead are killed again.
"You see it, don't you?" He stepped away from me, leaving a gap between our backs. His cackling was wicked. "You know what to do now, don't you?"
"I can't believe I'm going to admit this is the first time I will follow a plan. So, ignore the Undead and their living weapons to kill all human soldiers?" I kicked a rotten hand away from my legs. Then, I used all my strength to continue stomping.
I heard a skull crack beneath my feet but a cold hand wrapped around my ankles. Using my sword, I cleanly sliced the hand off its owner. "Wretched things, I will kill all of you!"
"You are quite the sadist," Zoticus whispers after grunting. He chuckled softly, looking around. "This room will be full soon. I wonder if this building really is a lovemaking inn."
I shrugged, clearly uninterested. I focused all my attention on a tangle of bodies approaching us from all directions. I aimed especially for the beings who have normal skin tones.
"Marik," Zoticus whispers as softly as a spring breeze. His warm fingers drift along my neck, sending electricity down my spine. Shocking me, he placed his forehead against the back of my head. "Close your eyes."
"Why?" I could not breathe because of the hand covering my mouth. "You are really something, do you know that?"
"Well," Zoticus chuckled as a wave of heat tore through the room. His energy was enough to incinerate average mortal bodies. His laugh continued to mingle with groans and shrieks. "I can be something more if you want."
"Shut up, you were just possessed by a spirit and you're healthy enough to tease me? Zoticus," I struggled to keep my eyes open as I slashed blindly. The heat dried my eyeballs, making it painful to blink. "I like you."
"Liking me is not enough!" Zoticus roared over the noise of dying soldiers. He breathed so loudly I didn't need my super-hearing to be aware of his exhaustion. "Damn, whatever possessed me is a rat. I can't hold up any longer."
I started to hold my sword with two hands, raising my eyebrows. I felt sweat drip from the tip of my nose. I pressed my back to him, glancing over my shoulder for a sharp moment.
"You're doing well, the humans on your side are dead. Unless more come in, the Undead will stay down. I'll focus on my side." I haven't noticed we had moved to the bed and I found a strategy.
I hoisted myself up onto the bed as if I'm standing on the top of a hill. I watched as my companion clutched his daughter while he started to fall towards the floor. Without thinking, I reached for him and caught his arm.
Still using one hand to wield my bloodthirsty blade, I slapped soldiers to force them off my fort. Having the high ground during a war is a nice thing. Grimacing from pain, I dragged Zoticus off the floor and onto the bed.
He looked like he was knocked out. Except the hand consciously protecting the baby girl and the lips muttering Cithenian spells. Sweat polished his tan skin, captivating to the eye. His bare shoulders were snares waiting for wolves to trap.
Even a few Mesoan soldiers froze in their spot, hesitant to attack the resting man. Like them, I have stopped fighting to stare at him. I felt threatened by the glowing man, starting to question whether I liked women or men. Do I like Zoticus?
"Ma! Ma?" Lorica turned her small head to look up at me with doe eyes. She cried so much water spilled from her nose. "Ma! Mama!"
"Mama?" An Undead paused at my side, taking a moment to stare into the distance, wondering what the baby could have meant. "Ma?"
I took the chance to slice the living corpse's head off his neck. I hear a new shriek joining the sound of a hundred people screaming. On the bed, I kicked the Undead's head off into the crowd of blood-stained bodies. I held my sword to my chest, shocked to see soldiers still poured into the room, abundant as water in the Acheron River.
In the room of decapitation, an angel lay at my filthy feet. Surrounded by gloom and death, his chest rose and fell like the Undead. I gripped my sword tightly and roared over the deafening cried of tortured souls. I must protect my light!