Riding as fast as their horses could take them, Angelo and Donalt raced through the Red Forest.
Angelo called back to his assistant, "Hurry Donalt! We must inform Duke Delrik immediately! Truly, this urgent news cannot wait."
He glanced behind him, only to see that Donalt was not there. Angelo pulled back on the reins, halting as his horse reared up.
"Donalt! Donalt you useless coward, where are you!"
From the woods emerged soldiers with the crest of Grysle. They were smiling and snickering with weapons in their hands.
Angelo yelled, "What's the meaning of this! You must let me through. I am to inform the Duke of the very location of the great demon gate."
Lord Grysle, accompanied by Yrse, sauntered up on his own horse.
Grysle gave Angelo a polite bow of the head and said, "Forgive me, Count Angelo, but it is that very thing that we cannot allow to have happen. Capture him."
The men attacked, shooting Angelo with a dart filled with a dark liquid. Flinching back in fear, Angelo passed out.
༻✧༺
Cosaria's hands were glowing as she held them above a pot of water with Marley standing nearby.
Sweating and breathing heavily, Cosaria panted, "Just… one… more…"
Marley said, "Please Milady, it's too much."
The glowing stopped.
Cosaria said, "I have to…"
She swayed on her feet.
"Cosaria!" Marley cried as Cosaria fainted.
Tilda, who had just entered the room, rushed to the catch the young Dutchess.
Holding the young woman in her arms, Tilda said, "She's become so strong."
A pounding on the door interrupted the moment.
Tilda said, "Come in."
Morc burst through the door. He looked disheveled, eyes wide with anxiety."
Tilda said, "Morc, what's-"
"Lord Grysle is here," He interrupted.
"What!?!"
"He's brought an army. We were caught completely unaware. Most of our troops are on monster raids or helping those cursed in local townships. We're completely defenseless here."
Tilda immediately switched into emergency mode. She said, "Cosaria is our priority. We have to get her away to safety."
Marley piped in, "Uh, Tilda, I think, uh, I have a plan."
༻✧༺
Grysle's men fought with the castle guards and cut them down. It wouldn't take long before the defenses would crumble and Grysle would take over the castle.
Grysle yelled at his men, "Find Lady Cosaria!"
Just then, a carriage burst through the crowd. Arquix knights galloped on horses beside it.
Grysle pointed to the carriage and said, "She's in there!"
Grysle's men attacked the carriage. After a few soldiers were trampled, the horses reared back, halting in their spot. The men ripped open the doors. Inside, a hooded woman sat.
Grinning, Grysle cantered up. He said, "Well, my dear, I'm glad I caught you. We have much to discuss."
Grysle waited for the woman to speak. No response. He leaned in and threw the hood off, revealing the figure to be Marley, not Cosaria.
Grysle spat, "You're not the Lady."
Marley stuck her tongue out.
Grysle turned to Yrse, saying, "Detain her and force demon water down her throat."
Yrse shook, saying, "Sir! She's just a girl."
Grysle smiled. He said, "She won't be for much longer."
Yrse grabbed Marley as she screamed. With a tinge of regret, Yrse poured a vile of demon water down Marley's throat.
Slowly, the redheaded teenager began transforming into a large demonic beast with a sharp beak, black-green-redish feathers and a huge, chicken-like face. The creature had a taste for violence.
Grysle yelled, "Bring me Ferris!"
Vexi and Ioul brought the demon-beast Ferris, led by chains, over to Grysle.
Grysle commanded, "Search the carriage for evidence of the divine maiden."
Ioul said, "Aye sir!"
Ioul entered the carriage, while Yrse brought a thrashing demon Marley over to Grysle.
Trying to control the beast, Yrse asked, "What do you want done with her?"
"Release her into the town."
Yrse exclaimed, "The villagers and soldiers will kill her!"
"It sends a nice warning, doesn't it?"
"But sir."
"I told you what should be done, didn't I?"
"Yes sir."
Yrse walked away with the monster Marley as Ioul came out of the carriage holding one of Cosaria's hairs.
Ioul said, "How's this?"
Grysle patted Ioul's head, saying, "This will do nicely, my boy."
Grysle put the hair in front of Ferris's lizard like face. He said, "Find Cosaria and bring her here."
The forked tongue shot out and licked the hair. Catching the scent, Ferris's monster eyes dilated.
It wouldn't be long before Cosaria fell into the hands of Lord Grysle. Everything was going according to plan.
༻✧༺
Morc, Tilda, and Cosaria were running through the woods, praying the decoy worked. Praying that Marley would be able to make it out okay.
Suddenly, Morc stopped and pulled out his sword. He called, "Someone's coming!"
The group stopped, beathing heavily. They waited. The atmosphere was thick and tense.
Like a lightning strike, Ferris burst through the forest. Morc charged. Cosaria tripped and fell down as Tilda stood over her, covering her.
Ferris spun around and whipped his scaley tail as Morc ducked, then Morc struck at Ferris's large monstrous taloned feet.
Ferris screeched as blood splattered from a missing finger.
Recovering, Ferris spun around again, whipping his tail. This time, Morc reacted a moment too late and was slammed, as he flew into a tree, unconscious.
Cosaria screamed, "Morc!!!"
Ferris crept closer to Cosaria as Tilda blocked his way. Ferris's tongue lapped Tilda, smearing a black ooze on her.
"Tilda!" Cosaria held her hand out, as if it would somehow push Tilda out of the way.
Tilda wiped the ooze off with her sleeve, but held her ground.
The lizard beast seemed to smile. Then it spun around and wrapped its tail around both Tilda and Cosaria. The girls screamed as they were carried off.
༻✧༺
Grysle stood in front of two giant double doors. He commanded, "Open them."
Yrse pushed the doors open as Grysle strode down the stairs and into the basement.
Laughing, Grysle said, "It's here."
Grysle took out a pouch of black chalky powder. He threw it in the room, creating a dust cloud. Slowly, small sparks crackled. The sparks grow bigger, creating purple and green whisps that burst throughout the entire room. The wisps begin dancing around the room until they congregate at a spot in the middle of the room. The wisps crackled and exploded, revealing a giant swirling glowing black gate.
Grysle gasped, and said, "The demon gate!"
Vexi and Ioul danced in the background as Yrse trembled in fear.