Evangelina POV
I ran through the halls of the palace, seeking out Helga, to find refuge. The war drums pounded as loud as my heart within my chest. The blaring horn made the hair on my body stand up each time it echoed throughout the kingdom. My nerves were making my stomach ache and my head felt strange, I was scared, wondering if my husband would survive this battle. The hall seemed dreary and not lit up as usual, seems the war has taken its toll on my surroundings. "Helga?" I called out when I opened her door. To my surprise I found Lucia. "Lucia! I'm glad you're safe!" She made her way to me and embraced me, she let go and studied my face. "I will never get used to the sounds of war or how nerve wrecking it is. Merek always assures me 'all is well' but as you know now, a wife worries far too much. How are you holding up my dear sister?" I let out a sigh, "I'm as well as I can be. I'm feeling quite strange but I assume it's my nerves as well. Where is Helga? Is she all right?" "Oh yes she's fine, she asked me to wait here while she went to the kitchens to grab a large basket for her herbs and elixirs. She should be here any minute." I let out a sigh of relief. I wondered to myself if Lucia knew Caruso was a beast? Maybe Merek is one as well and perhaps she knows everything but I should not reveal anything. That's for her husband to do. It had been more than an hour since Caruso left me, my heart continued to pound and my stomach churned. "Oh good Evangelina you're here!" Helga said out of breath as she entered her quarters. "Come now girls help me get all these things into my basket please. We need to hurry and make our way into the caverns beneath the palace. Two palace guards are waiting to escort us there, Merek arranged it." We quickly assisted Helga, viles and small wooden canisters clanked together. In a few moments we were finished. Lucia grabbed my hand firmly, I looked at her and smiled. "Do you mind?" She asked. "No not at all." I reassured. "Come my dears let's follow our guards." Helga grabbed Lucia's hand as the guards guided us deep into the depths of the palace. The drums still thumped and the horn blew but the undertones to this war song were the clashing of swords and shouts of death from the fallen men. A chill ran up and down my spine and I was grateful that Caruso was a beast, he had an upper hand in surviving. After ten minutes of walking, the way to the caverns became darker, one of the guards grabbed a torch and lit it. There was a small wooden door and the guard opened it. We were about to enter when the guards stopped. There behind the door was Prince Alek, dressed in bronze armor and behind his helmet I saw his lust filled eyes staring at me. Even in this dim torch lit place I knew his intentions were not right. My stomach churned more and my head and heart pounded in uneasiness. Helga gasped out of surprise, as did I and Lucia. "Prince Alek I thought you'd be out in the battlefield?" Helga questioned as she grabbed my free hand with hers tightly. He smiled evilly and smoothly stated. "Yes my father sent me down here to make sure all of you have entered safely. Once I see the three of you have joined my wife and daughter I am to make my way back to the battle. So you three quickly enter." 'LIES!' I stated inwardly, my intuition warned me. He moved out of the way so that the guards could go in and we followed. I was a bit relieved and when we began to take a few steps away from Alek and he was walking out the opposite side of the door he grabbed my wrist tightly away from Lucia's grasp. "Alek what are you doing?" Lucia asked as Helga held my other hand firmly. "Alek let Evangelina free, what on earth has gotten into you?" Helga said clearly upset. "Caruso wanted me to give specific instructions to my sister by law. I cannot disobey his wishes now can I? After all, how will I answer him when he asks me if I relayed his message?" I yanked hard trying to free myself and gave Helga pleading eyes, I didn't want to say anything in front of Lucia but Helga knew my feelings. "If you must relay a message Alek do so here in front of us. You know as well as I that Caruso cares not if I'm present or do you have something to hide?" Alek smiled at Helga's cleverness but he was far too clever or pompous to ever care. "Helga you're right Caruso doesn't care if I speak in front of you or Lucia." Just then Alek's fist met Helga's face and knocked her out cold, her grip on my hand went limp. Lucia screamed, Alek then did the same to my sister by law. Lucia fell to the floor beside Helga, I felt faint. Fear gripped me and I began to cry. I heard Alek tell the guards he would handle this and to go and guard his wife and daughter. The guards seemed hesitant but he was the crown prince and in all honesty he could do whatever he wanted. Helga had no standing and Lucia was Merek's wife, they were both not dead so, they couldn't accuse him of anything besides wanting to speak to me. Besides he could lie to the King and if the guards contradicted him he could have them killed. It would always be his word against theirs, it was basically hopeless and I shivered out of fear. "What do you want Alek? Why can't you just leave me be? Please take me to my husband or let me go back with Helga and Lucia. Why did you hurt them they are innocent?" Tears poured out of my eyes profusely, his next words were poison. "I want you princess and after this day your husband will die along with everyone in that cavern. I have let Ambrose's soldiers through the flood gate they are going to surround our army and this castle. So you see I am saving you, I have joined forces with Ambrose by allowing him to conquer us in order for him to kill my father so I can be king. I will be his ally and accept defeat from him. He wants half my wealth and allies and I think that's fair as long as I get to still be king of Inferno. Ambrose has agreed to these terms and I am more than willing to accommodate. You will be my new wife and queen, so come now I am going to have you taken somewhere safe and where Caruso won't find you." My heart sank and I began to cry and scream. "You're a fool! You won't get away with this!" I screamed, "Caruso will come for me and kill you! How could you live with yourself and have your own daughter's blood on your hands? Caruso, Caruso!" I screamed then I saw Alek's fist hit my face. Pain erupted my senses, my vision was blurred when I hit the floor, then everything went black.
*******
Caruso POV
"Attack!" I shouted and my men's war cries echoed along with the horn and drums, creating a horrific ballad for my enemies. I etched my stallion Plantamor closer and began slicing limbs and heads off of my opponent's. My horse stomped on soldiers and I kept my pace of dismembering bodies. We were kindred spirits, I'd bought him off my now father by law years ago. Hence how my father knew he had such excellent steeds. His name Plantamor, meant 'death dealer', that's what they called me in Persia when we fought along side an ally in a battle once. So I thought it would be clever to name my horse after the name I was given for my abilities. This all seemed to easy at times, others were good at music, dancing and singing. Some were even intelligent philosophers and others astrologers who studied the stars but not me. I was an expert at one thing, killing. I was ridiculously good at it and I enjoyed it. I felt the blood of my enemies splattering all over my armor, a few drops met my skin time and again. I spotted my brother Merek on his grey stallion he was doing well. I'd have to out do him for sure, I liked keeping count of how many men I'd kill in a battle. "Archers, fire at will!" I shouted as I grabbed my shield off my back. My archers peered out of the ditches they had dug and began loosing many arrows. I blocked a few arrows with my shield, an arrow would not end me. I was tired of taking it easy and sitting on this horse. "Plantamor," I whispered to my horse, "return to the stables my friend, stay safe I will walk from here." My horse turned around obeying and began to gallop faster I chuckled to myself and stood up on my saddle, shield and sword in hand. To my enemies who watched, they may have assumed I was crazy but my men knew I was fearless. Besides I was fully armored and half demon, hitting the ground would do nothing to me. I leaped of my horse landed on me feet with knees bent, three men charged at me and I blocked the first assault. Then I saw an opportunity, I plunged my sword into his bare neck. Blood gushed as I quickly retracted my blood stained blade. "Devil bastard!" The other opponent called out to me, he and another man lunged at me, unskillfully if I may add. I blocked one blade with my shield and then struck hard cutting through ones knee. Screaming and cursing on the floor I blocked the next attacker, the one who called me a devil, then threw him backwards with my shield to shut him up. He was on the ground trying to catch his breath, the wind had left his lungs. I walked up to him while he gasped for air and his helmet had been knocked off. Then I looked deep into his eyes with my crimson ones. I took my helmet off and knelt down so he could see my red eyes and fangs. I watched fear engulf him and I smirked pleased to instill fear. "Devil you say?" I laughed an evil laugh, "why yes I do believe that is a fitting description but I've never been called a bastard before, that's original I suppose." He gasped and finally drew breath, "I-I-I-I'm sorry, please don't kill me! Have mercy I will never tell anyone what you are I swear...(he wheezed ) just spare me please!" I grabbed his throat with my claws and squeezed, blood dripped down his throat, my grip was locked into his skin. "If I am the devil as you say, then there is no ounce of mercy within me. Do you not know that we Dracu show no mercy? I am most certain you know the stories. You wanted to see the devil so let me show him to you." I arose from my knelt position with my attacker still in my hands. He was light as a feather to me and looked like a rag doll in my hands. He was shaking uncontrollably and I let out a loud-evil growl. The ground trembled around me, I felt my power from within growing, I saw a red aura surround my body. Some of my men and soldiers halted their personal battles and watched the spectacle before them. I felt my body shake again and the heat rise within, my demon was in control. "Look into my eyes," I commanded in a deep baritone voice that sounded like many. "Look into the mouth of hell!" I could hear my brother calling my name, it echoed in my ears trying to pull me back but I ignored it and used my free claw to grip the man's head. I felt his skull cracking slowly under my grip and then it cracked like an egg. I laughed evilly and then let go of his throat and used both my claws to grasp his entire body and I tore him in half! Blood and guts splattered all around and I laughed. I discarded the carcas and turned to all the eyes watching me in horror. I glanced down and gazed at the man who's knee I stabbed, he began crawling away. "You can't escape death!" I stated and then I plunged my sword into his heart mercilessly. I walked towards the opposing enemies and a horde of them backed away and some ran. I watched as King Ambrose stared in the distance as well, he saw his men retreating and commanded them to turn around and fight! "Caruso!" Merek called out and I turned to face my brother he was still on his horse. "Caruso, that was insane! Where did that come from? Anyway, come we have a battle to win! Go and kill Ambrose, if he's dead the battle will be over and we can go home." I nodded and huffed making my way towards the retreating men and their king. I sliced them and licked their splattered blood from my lips, it tasted good. I was merciless, I stomped my way towards Ambrose, cutting men down effortlessly all around me. I watched him spot me pursuing him and glimpsed a hint of fear come over him. "King Ambrose!" I shouted out in my deep voice, "come and fight me man to man. I swear I won't use my powers against you." Ambrose turned on top of his horse and met my evil gaze. "I'd be a fool to challenge you Prince Caruso, the demon of Inferno. It is known to me that you are the best swordsman in all the lands. So no, I shall decline, I have a plan that will destroy you. It is unfolding as we speak." He had a sly look in his dark brown eyes. My red aura became more dense and I felt my heart fill with rage at whatever plan he thought was working. 'What is he speaking of?' I notice him observe me pondering at his words. He smiled under his golden helmet as he saw me doubt myself then smiled, please with his cleverness. "I know your weakness demon, if my plan has worked then I have in my possession, the only thing you love." I felt all my blood drop and my skin felt cold at his words. 'Evangelina.' Came to my mind, he was going to capture my wife. Suddenly the world had stopped and everything around me has paused. My senses heightened, I felt the cool of the air hit my sweaty brow. My blood red eyes became more accurate and focused on my enemy. The blood that was blotching my vision suddenly evaporated off my eyelids, the sizzle felt good. My claws felt uneasy, they were itching to rip my opponent apart. My fangs were pushing me forward, hungry for vengeance and suddenly amidst my fury I began to levitate off the ground. My heart pumped fiercely with adrenaline and when I opened my mouth a horrific sound came forth. That sound was the growling cry of a demonic monster. My levitating body then swiftly glided towards king Ambrose. I watched his eyes in horror, he commanded for his horse to gallop away but it was no use. I was too fast, I gripped his cape and flung him to the ground. His helmet tumbled onto the battle field and I heard his leg snap. He landed in a twisted position when I tossed him mercilessly from the air to the ground. Men from both armies watched in horror as their king and prince had come head to head. Mostly they were all fearful of me because of the scene I had just caused. King Ambrose pleaded like a coward as death peered into his tainted soul. "Please I-I-I will make you king, for get my pact with your brother. You can kill him, just have mercy and I'll allow you to reign in peace and I shall never march my armies on Inferno again." I let a sardonic laugh escape my throat. "You state these promises as though you have the power to do so. You have no power here, Inferno is my domain and you are the trespasser. Do you not remember my ancestors words oh clever king? 'Dracu men show no mercy, mercy is for the gods to give.' So you see King, you will be shown no mercy and I will personally flay your body and torture you, you will beg for death. But I will not grant you that wish until you tell me where you have taken my wife." I seethed through clenched fangs. Fear engulfed the foreign King, "I-I shall reveal all to you now Prince, only if you swear to spare me!" He truly was a craven and a stupid one at that, I had already told him of his future. I half expected him to be more valiant than what was presented. I rolled my red eyes in annoyance and grabbed him by his armor and brought him to meet my eyes. "If one hair on my wife's head is gone, I shall find your wife and children then torture and kill every single one before you eyes." King Ambrose's eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn't dare!" He protested. "Clearly you are mistaken with whom I am. I am ruthless, I am merciless, I am death!" I willed myself to levitate with my enemy in my grasp while he shook out of fear. I punched him hard and broke his nose, blood splurged from his face. I wanted him alive for now. I let him fall from ten feet off the ground, and watched as his other leg broke once he met the blood stained floor. I scanned the battle field, all eyes were on the spectacle I had made. Seems the battle was at a stand still, so I commanded my army. "Soldiers of Inferno! You know our custom and my commands! No mercy and no prisoners! Only take the king and his five officers. They will be made an example of in our courtyard, to show what happens to those who threat the Kingdom of Inferno!"
I willed myself back on solid ground and rubbed the blood and sweat from my brow. I need to find my wife. So I turned towards our palace in attempt to intercede for my Evangelina. Then I, a demon, secretly prayed to the gods for her to be safely guarded with my mother. It was such a foreign concept that it sent an unfamiliar chill up my spine. It was more than likely useless, King Ambrose sounded sure his plan was already carried out. I felt the hairs on my neck rise, a hint of fear crept into my heart and it ached. If she was gone I swore I'd go on a rampage until she was safely in my arms again.
********