{[Righteousness goes hand in hand with compassion… Those who strive for violence are fools pretending to be brave.]}
Twila emerged from the shadows of the trees.
Saki, along with the rest of their organization's members, kept their distance from the chaos that was unfolding.
Saki's eyes pulsed with rage at her comrade.
"Your stupidity almost broke our alliance with him," Saki glared at the half-elf. "You put one of Ashner's allies in danger."
The Masked were ready to kill everyone to ensure Ashner's safety.
"I know…" Twila admitted it. "I chose to believe in assumptions…"
"What's done is done…" Saki was livid, and her white war hammer was ready to break bones. "If the worst happens, we move in and kill the members of Sanctuary… Ashner must not die…"
The members were in agreement as they witnessed Ashner take a stand against his friends. Next to him stood Risa with her hand on her sword.
"If they make it out of this… I'll take responsibility and tell Ashner that I caused this… If he wants me dead… Then I'll take my own life…" Twila readied her handgun.
*******
Ashner studied the demi's in front of him. Their eyes were filled with the same rage he'd discerned over the years. The C-R on his hands sparked the rage out of everyone… But this time, it wasn't directed at him.
Twila was right…
Ashner glanced at Angel.
Abdomen wounds, lost fingers, a burned wing, and maybe some broken ribs… Sanctuary was dedicated to capturing and killing her… She's going to need emergency surgery…
Ashner glared at the group in front of him. Some of his friends were mixed in the crowd.
The last thing Sanctuary wanted was a fight against this man. Ashner casually turned his back on them, breaking away from their confusion, and tended to Angel.
"Does it hurt?" Ashner asked, cursing himself for the stupidity of his question.
"It hurts… But you're here… You came for me…" Angel lowered her head and smiled. Her fangs were visible, and her red hair was covered in dirt from the dust that had been lifted up during her capture. "I'm so happy you're here…"
"I promised that I would keep you safe." Ashner nuzzled Angel's face. Even through the pain, her cheeks instinctively caressed his hand.
How can they be so blind to their actions?
"I'm sorry you're in this state… I broke my promise…"Ashner cleaned some dust off of Angel's face. He glared at the members of Sanctuary. "BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU!"
Ashner stood. His roar made a handful of the demi's jerk back.
"Why are you trying to kill her!"
The demi's were silent for a few seconds until Ari stepped forward. "She's a vampire… A creature from before the Golden Age, from a time called the Blood Age… Vampires were warriors of the Dead God… They are deadly, cruel, and powerful… Whenever one awakens… It's the duty of all demi's and humans to hunt and kill them…"
Ashner shook his head. He was disappointed in her answer.
Killing without questioning why… I expected better…
"How can you not see it?" Ashner glared at everyone. "YOUR KIND ARE BEING HUNTED BY SLAVERS, BUT HERE YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING TO A GIRL WHO'S NEVER HARMED ANY OF YOU!"
The demi's glanced at each other, confused.
"You don't get it… Hate clouds your judgment, the same hate humans have towards you… You've given it to her!" Ashner calmed his tone. "You're a victim to humanity, that pain you understand… But she… She's a victim to all of you… Shake off that fear and look at her… Truly look at her… She's suffering, and she's crying… All of you caused that pain…"
Ari studied Angel and removed the stigma they had painted of her, removing the fear and recognized her for what she was… Every demi in front of her caused tears to run down her face… They had all taken part in damaging her body… Without the stigma, Ari immediately recognized the error of her ways.
"I…" Ari's kind nature made her struggle with her words. She glanced back at the demi-cows and demi-bulls that had followed her orders. "It's different…"
Ari lied to herself. As soon as she said it out loud, she compared herself to slavers and how they justified their actions… Her stomach knotted.
"Ashner." Rolo wasn't convinced. "That thing doesn't have a soul anymore… She sold it to the Dead God…"
"No soul?" Ashner reached into his bag and cleaned the dirt off Angel's face with a handkerchief. "Tell me, Rolo, what is her name?"
"I don't know…" Rolo admitted. He was still out for blood.
"Her name is Angel… She's a girl who loves to count the stars…" Ashner tilted his head towards Rolo. "Did you know our worlds have the same stars in the sky? Even the names of our constellations are the same… Somehow, little details from our worlds are the same…"
"What are you getting at?"
"A soul-less creature doesn't stop to admire beauty. Instead, it kills at every opportunity… It doesn't shed tears… It doesn't sing when she thinks nobody is around… And she doesn't cry in your arms…"
"Did she… Are you saying you… Did she drink your blood?"
"What if she did?"
"She's enchanted you. Her magic is manipulating your judgment!" Rolo and the warriors readied themselves to fight. "We'll kill her! Please move aside, my friend! We don't want to hurt you!"
Violet readied her hammer. She was conflicted, but if it meant Ashner's safety, she was willing to kill.
"That's impossible." Alex stepped forward from the crowd. He was in his pajamas, and two elves were following him. Women who had snuck into his room. "Ashner is resilient to all types of charm magic."
"He is?" Rolo narrowed his eyebrows.
"Yes." Alex nodded. "My incubus magic is powerful, and he can break out of it."
"So… You're defending her… Out of your free will…" The red-bearded dwarf motioned his head around. "I don't understand… Are we really in the wrong here?"
"This world is young." Wong, Luna, and Gio emerged from another direction. The men had their weapons with them but not armor. Wong palmed Violet's hammer, forcing it down. "It doesn't matter where we go… Hate is contagious…"
Gio urged everyone to lower their weapons by holding his hand up and lowering it gently.
The men made their stance alongside Ashner.
Luna and Alex did the same.
"This is ridiculous…" Rolo glanced around. Their warrior's conviction to fight had started fading. "But… We won't fight our allies… Especially since we have so many enemies… But… We need to be certain that she doesn't kill us…"
"Yes…" Violet nodded. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the ink used to create a slave seal. Any ink worked. Some mages were able to use their magic to make it appear on the skin of a demi. "Ashner… This is an unpopular subject… But if you're willing to vouch for her, then we'll accept your demands… But, I can't speak for all of Sanctuary… Make that girl your slave… And in front of all of us… Give her the order to not harm any of us… If you do that, then we promise to stop our assault."
She tossed the ink, and Ashner caught it. He sidestepped towards Angel. Wong was already doing his part and grasping the severity of her wounds.
"These wounds are mortal…" Wong was shocked. "But she's not dead…"
"It's because I'm a vampire." Angel glanced at the men. "My resilience is unnatural… But if I'm burned to ash… I will die… At least… That's what the legends about vampires say…"
"Ashner…" Wong was shocked. "I don't know where to start with her…"
"I need blood… My wounds will heal…" Angel was still scared. Her body shivered.
"I'll get you a blood-pack."
Angel shook her head. "I only want Ashner's blood…"
Ashner moved his head to observe the mob.
If I give her my blood before I give her the seal, they'll freak out… But her chest is covered in her blood. I can't place the seal there… It has to be on a part of her body that she can't rip off without dying. So, her limbs are out of the question… Her neck isn't covered in blood or dirt.
Ashner readied the ink. Luna knelt down and readied a paintbrush while Risa and Alex kept their eyes on the crowd, both ready to fight.
"I'll put the seal on your neck… This will make you my slave… It's the only way that they'll accept you…"
"It's okay…" Angel said, still shivering. "If it's you… I'll be happy… But… I don't want to leave your side… My home was destroyed in this fight…"
"I won't leave you… From now on… Wherever I go, you will follow…"
"Okay…" Angel nodded. "Do it."
Luna painted a smaller slave crest on Angel's neck, to her right side. Once it was done, Ashner cut his index finger and grazed the seal.
Her body lit up, and her soul submitted to Ashner.
"The first vampire slave in history." Rolo was in awe. "Ashner petrifies me sometimes…"
"Angel… From now on… You will never harm or kill any demi… Unless your life, the lives of the innocent, or the lives of those you care for are in danger… Is that understood?"
Ashner's tone was neutral, but it echoed.
"Yes… I will obey my master…" Angel spoke loudly.
This put everyone at ease.
A handful of warriors left the scene. Ashner pulled the spears out of Angel's stomach and exposed his arm. Angel hesitantly drank, and her body healed in seconds.
"That's amazing." Wong studied the redhead. "Ashner, if it's alright with you… I want to give her a full physical."
Angel's eyebrows raised.
"It's okay," Ashner reassured the girl. As soon as he did, she shrunk into a smaller form. "Wong is my friend, he won't hurt you."
She got so tiny… Like a child… I've never seen her get that small…
"Can…" She hesitantly asked. "Can I still call you Daddy?"
Gio and Wong gave Ashner a half smirk and judged him.
Luna's face blushed, and Risa's ears jolted.
"Yes," Ashner spoke proudly.
Angel hugged him tightly. A weight had lifted off of her shoulders. Ashner petted her head.
Risa pouted, and Luna smiled with a caring gaze.
She's a gentle soul… This night could've been her last… I'll keep her close from now on…
Twila emerged from the shadows, interrupting their moment. As soon as she did, she kneeled in front of Ashner.
"It's you." Angel peered at her. "You're the one who warned me."
"I am… But there is something I need to confess." Twila dared to peek at Ashner. "I used my power to get behind Angel, and I held my gun to her head… But I realized she cares for you… So instead of killing her, I warned her instead… But it was already too late. I had already rallied the warriors of Sanctuary… Had the worst happened, her death would've been my fault."
Alex's eyes widened.
Ashner marched towards her.
"I understand if you're angry… I did something unforgivable."
"Of course I'm pissed." Ashner knelt down and gripped Twila's throat, but he didn't squeeze. "You tried to kill someone I value…"
Twila's eyes closed a bit, and she accepted her fate.
Death for her incompetence.
"You once asked me for strength, for power… And against everyone's wishes… I gave it to you…" Ashner was livid, a tone Risa and Luna had never tuned into before. "Answer me truthfully… With your dark magic and your skills with a firearm… Did you achieve your goal? Do you feel powerful?"
"Yes…" Twila's words were just a whisper. "The power you gave me… It changed everything…"
"Power without compassion creates monsters… It's easy to allow your power to blind you towards a senseless path… Now that you have gained strength, you must learn to tame it… Just as I'm holding your throat, knowing that I can crush it and end your life, you need to accept that the knives and bullets you have are no different... Erasing a life comes easy for us… But so is losing ourselves in our own convictions… Had you chosen to speak to Angel or me before you blindly sent the ignorant to kill an innocent girl, then I wouldn't be this pissed off."
"I understand…" Twila's eyes watered. "I failed you…"
"Failed you did… But I control my strength… Rage doesn't guide my choices… That's why I understand your point of view and why I won't harm you." Ashner moved his hand away from the slim half-elf's neck. "I expect better from you."
Ashner stood up. Twila was shaking, but to her, this was too soft of a punishment.
"Master… I almost got her killed… And you're just giving me a slap on the wrist?" Twila glanced up at him. "I need to be an example… I deserve it, death, humiliation, anything…"
"There is a big difference between 'almost' and 'did,' your punishment is voided because when the moment came to kill her, you took a step back and showed compassion… It's thanks to that strength of character that she's alive… So take this moment to reflect on your decisions that guided you to kill before you questioned why… Then, ask yourself why society finds it acceptable to kill any and every vampire they run across… It's a fear that has to be spoon-fed to the young…" Ashner ruffled up Angel's hair, and she smiled at him. "In time, your heart will grow with compassion, and you'll gain a strength that violence fears…"
"But… I failed you…"
"A sword doesn't become strong or sharp until it first passes through the flame… A body without scars is a body with no understanding of struggles… And a soul without regrets is a soul without compassion… I firmly believe that you are a woman who will achieve great things, but there is no such thing as a self-made man or a self-made woman… We all need guidance… And you swallowed your pride, knelt before us, and confessed your mistakes… Twila, you regretted your choices and even worked hard to fix what you almost broke… You don't see it yet, but I do… I'm proud that I gave you power…"
"Proud?" In Twila's head, she was still that girl who was held down in the grass while men forced themselves on her. A fear that returned in her coldest nights. "I don't deserve your praise…"
"Good souls rarely grasp their value…" Ashner and his group stepped away and made their way towards the castle. Twila stayed on her knees as they moved on. After they were long gone. The Masked emerged from the shadows.
"He showed compassion to a creature all our kind confused as monsters." Saki held her hand out for Twila. "It's hard believing how easily our customs crumble with his kindness…"
Twila took Saki's hand.
"He should've killed me…"
"He didn't, so we won't either." Saki studied The Masked. Their numbers had grown. "Let it be known that Ashner, the warrior of the Luminous, showed compassion and kindness to a vampire… And in turn, that vampire chose to serve him… He's a warrior who'll show us the right path to take. He'll guide us through the flames and the stench of death… And reshape Eden into the image of the Luminous…"
The Masked nodded and dispersed into the shadows.
Saki lifted up Twila. Her legs were like wet noodles.
"I can't imagine Ashner screaming at me like he did to you…" Saki lifted her friend up a bit more. "You're still shaking."
"I was prepared to die, but he praised me… I don't understand him… His decisions and convictions are too foreign… I want to serve and protect him… But he finds allies in what we consider enemies…" Twila started walking with Saki's help. "I want to devote myself more to him... until I understand him... until he acknowledges me again and again…"
"He might…" Saki walked towards a hideout the Masked had created in the ruins of the kingdom. "I'm a bit jealous…"
"Because he acknowledged me?"
"That… And because… He put his hand around your throat…" Saki's mouth drooled. "It's not fair… I want him to lecture and punish me too…" Saki pouted at her friend. "I have to add that to my novel…"
"The one about his deeds or the smut story that is somehow getting more popular?"
"You heard about it?" Saki's ears and tail wiggled.
"Everyone who's a Masked has… And I've read it…"
"What did you think?"
"It was… Unrealistic…" Twila's comment struck Saki's heart like an arrow. It stung. "Our Master wouldn't settle for just one woman… So add other demi's… Maybe a beautiful but graceful half-elf with long hair and a birthmark on her left breast."
Saki smirked at her friend, who slowly started getting red.
"Okay… But it's only fair that I add more characters." Saki sighed.
"That's fair."
*******
Ashner and his group were in the White Room. A few sick demi's were in there, and they all gave odd glares at Angel, but the slave crest left them conflicted.
Gio reassured everyone that it was okay. Oddly, if it was him, the demi's were at ease.
After a handful of tests, Wong was satisfied with the results, so he gathered everyone.
The group circled around the doctor in the medical ward.
"I called everyone here to explain a few of the things I discovered." Wong was proud and even wore a doctor's coat. "For one, demi's and humans are almost similar when it comes to our physiology. But when it comes to elves."
Luna tilted her head towards the Asian doctor.
"Your cells can regenerate, even after they die in your body. This is why your kind tends to live for so long… Demi-Bunnies also have the same type of cells, but I'm just assuming that at one point, they stop rejuvenating, start to grow old, and eventually die."
Luna tilted her head and agreed.
"As for you, Risa," her cat ears moved towards him. "Your cells are similar to humans, and they don't have a regeneration factor. So, I'm making the assumption that your lifespans are as long as humans."
Risa nodded.
"Lastly, I studied Angel."
The vampire girl was still in her tiny form. Ashner had given her clothes. She wore an oversized black shirt, and the girls gave her underwear.
"Your organs are there, and they only work if you want them to… You don't need your heart to beat, but when you're afraid it beats, you also sweat, but only if you feel like you need to… And when it comes to your stomach, you don't need to eat human food, but you have taste buds regardless… It's odd since you can stop your body's functions and still survive… But you can also warm yourself up if you focus on your heart beating… This is beyond medical science… This is magic…"
"What if she stops using her body entirely? Will she die?" Gio asked curiously as he sipped on juice.
"Her brain needs blood, but if she stops it... And this is just an assumption, but she might go into a slumber, putting herself in a coma-like state… If she does nothing, then her body will decay, and then she will die."
"Depression plays a role in her health." Luna studied the girl. "It's the same as elves… Depression will also kill us…"
"That's not all." Wong continued. "The blood she drinks goes into her body, but it disappears…"
"What do you mean?"
"Her fangs have little holes in them, helpful for draining blood, but those fangs don't go to her brain. I guess this is where magic plays a role… So my guess, if Angel desires it, she can drink gallons and gallons of blood, and her body won't change…"
"Vampires used to drink the blood of thousands of victims. Each time they drank, they became stronger… They also drink mana…"
"I can't find medical proof of mana, but from what I did gather from her body, she requires little blood to survive, but when she uses her magic, the blood seems to evaporate from her body… But comparing her to other demi's and the cells in her body, vampirism isn't a curse… It's more like a genetic disease... One that can occur naturally in anyone from this world… It's the same as Alex."
"Me?" Alex pointed at himself.
"Yes." Wong turned his attention to the demi-dog. "Your body also has a genetic disease. It's why you two have an excess of mana… It also explains why, regardless of race, anyone can awaken as a succubus or a vampire…"
"If it's the same, why are succubus and incubuses not hunted?" Ashner asked, but he was grateful Alex wasn't hated by other demi's.
"Succubuses and Incubuses are not seen as a threat…" Alex admitted. "Our powers don't directly kill, and if we're manipulated, we can become useful… Plus, just about everyone loves sex…"
"This changes history," Luna added. "I was born during the Golden Age. It's possible that vampires and werewolves were never part of the Dead God's army… Our ancestors might've killed them out of fear… It's sad to think about…"
"We should think about it." Alex retaliated. "We shouldn't repeat the mistakes of our ancestors… That also means we shouldn't enslave humanity if somehow we get the upper hand in the war."
"It's never going to happen." Risa crossed her arms. "The slave seal only traps demi's… And only humans can use it… If anything, we're just delaying our end."
"Either way, Angel is still a target." Ashner glanced at her. She was sitting still on a hospital bed with her black dress next to her. Sadly, it was destroyed. "So from now on, she'll stay by my side."
The group agreed, and some of them nodded.
"Why didn't you tell us about her?" Luna asked.
"I wasn't sure how you would react," Ashner admitted, then he tapped his mask. "I'm sorry…"
"I was aware." Risa pivoted her body towards Ashner with her arms still crossed.
"How? I told you that I wanted to be alone."
"You were alone… And I was out of sight…" Risa pouted. "I saw everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes." Risa's cheeks became puffy. "Everything."
Luna was now curious.
"Unfortunately." Wong returned to his previous topic. "Modern medicine and equipment do nothing to show me magic and how it influences the body."
"I might have a way." Ashner glanced at his friends. "I can buy an enchantment room or a magic training room… It's in the White Room's menu."
"Those won't help," Luna shook her head. Enchantments are for weapons and armor, and magic training speaks for itself… You'd need a magical medical room."
"That's not an option in the menu…" Ashner sighed. "It might become an option if we destroy more dungeons."
No one in the group liked that idea.
XP:575 > XP:1,125
Spin?
"Sure spin," Ashner spoke, and the group eyed him.
The menu spun like a windmill and stopped.
(Epic) Earth Manipulation
Level 1 – (Bought) – You can manipulate the earth, this only extends to anything that can fit in your palm.
Level 2 – 10 XP – You can manipulate multiple types of dirt and earth at once. Easily crumbling stones and rocks, power won't exceed anything larger than a square foot.
Level 3 – 100 XP – You can manipulate and crumble the earth. You are now only limited to your mana capability. At this level, you can also manipulate small items in your hands. This doesn't include metals.
Level 4 – 1,000 XP – You can manipulate and form creations using the earth around you. Your limitations fall on your mana. At this level, you can create earth spears.
Level 5 – 10,000 XP – You can create and manipulate all types of earth. Your imagination and mana are your limits. This doesn't include metals.
Another epic… This one isn't too bad… It's a shame I can't manipulate metals… If I could, I could smelt the gold coins without using machinery.
"It'll do," Ashner smirked.
The group was out of the loop.
"As for you." Ashner glanced at Angel. She was out of place. He was the only thing that helped ease her anxiety. She had been alone for months, and now she was surrounded by strangers.
"Menu, buy what she needs to go to Earth."
The menu popped up.
Her wings will be visible on Earth.
Oh, that's right. Menu buy the next level of Conceal Traits.
XP:1,025 > XP:25
Level 4 – (Bought) — You gain the ability to hide the wings of any of your allies. This ability costs 0XP per ally and is a one-time use. It remains in effect forever unless the ally desires to remove the spell.
That will hide her wings, but it won't stop the radiation… I'll have to wait before I take her to Earth.
"Ashner," Alex spoke out. "I had Twila scout out the ruined city, and we discovered something interesting."
"What did you discover?"
"It's easier to show all of you."
*******
Angel held Ashner's hand as they walked through Sanctuary. Some of the locals pitied her. The Masked had shared her story, but some still feared and hated her. Angel used Ashner to protect herself from them, but she also loved holding his hand.
"You need not fear them, little one." Luna gave Angel a motherly smile. "Their eyes may paint a story, but they are forbidden from trying to harm you."
Angel hid behind Ashner.
The group had given her an oversized sweater and some pants. Risa used her claws and tore the backside of it for her wings.
"Why are you scared of me?" Luna was a little hurt. "I'm not going to bite you."
Angel flapped her wings, and she landed on Ashner's shoulders, letting her legs hang. She hung onto his head so she wouldn't fall. Angel kept a cautious gaze on Luna.
"Now I'm a little sad," Luna admitted.
"We're here!" Alex yelled at the group from up ahead. He pointed at the ground. Next to him stood Rolo and Ari.
"Hello, Ashner… And Angel." Rolo rubbed the back of his head.
Angel clung to Ashner.
"Little lass… I owe you an apology." He bowed. "I realize that our actions must have scared you… I'm willing to repent in any way you want… I'll even…"
Rolo grabbed a dagger and put it to his beard. "I'll shave my beard off as atonement."
"Huh?" Angel glanced at Ashner's mask, confused.
"As for me." Ari handed Ashner some milk. "This is for her… It's blessed with my magic… It's the least I can do."
"What do you say, little lass?"
"I… I don't know…" Angel's tone was sweet and innocent. "Ask Ashner…"
"They mean well," Ashner reassured her. "But it is up to you if you want to accept their apologies…"
"I want… I want us to live in peace… Even if I have to live alone again…"
"No." Ari and Rolo both shook their heads. "We're all demi's, and Sanctuary is a place for all who are hunted… That includes you…"
"In that case…" Angel jumped off Ashner's shoulders and took Ari's milk, and then she glanced at Rolo, who was ready to accept the greatest shame a dwarf can have. "Don't cut your beard… It's beautiful, and it would be a shame…"
Rolo's heart was moved. "I have to atone somehow… I know…" Rolo studied the pretty redhead. He reached into his bag and pulled out a black necklace with red rubies of different sizes. The largest was shaped like a flame.
"What is this?" Angel liked its design and drank her milk.
"This is an enchanted necklace. It gives its wearer resistance against fire damage. Each one of these gems will shatter when it absorbs enough fire, but it will keep it from harming you."
Great gift, Rolo… Fire damage can destroy vampires… But with this, she'll be safer… I gotta get him a gift as a way to thank him.
"Thank you." Angel handed the necklace to Ashner, and then she moved her hair away from her neck. Ashner put it on her. As he did, Risa turned around, and Luna giggled at her reaction.
"Does it look good?" Angel asked as she spun.
"It looks great on you." Ashner's mask made a smile.
"Thank you!" Angel hugged Ashner's chest, and Risa pouted in the distance.
"I accept your apologies." Angel held her head up a little higher.
Both Ari and Rolo were relieved. This wasn't just to atone for their mistakes. It was also to ensure Ashner and his group continued helping them.
"What is this?" Gio asked as he palmed the stone Alex had pointed at.
"This is a plumbing system." Wong inspected it. "Parts of it have worn away, but the humans that lived here had running water. It explains the random water fountains scattered across the kingdom… These go into every home."
"So where did the water go?" Gio asked.
"More than likely, the river diverged its path." Wong made his assessment.
"Can it be repaired and reused?" Alex asked eagerly.
"I don't see why not." Rolo glanced at his friends. "We're almost done rebuilding the castle, but my kin can focus on this… If the river comes this way, then we will have plenty of fresh water. I've already inspected the plumbing system. It goes through the town, but a portion of it goes alongside the east side of Sanctuary… From what I'm assuming, the locals used that section to separate the fish from the freshwater… If we can recreate it, we'll have more food."
"Let's make it happen." Ashner was convinced. "We can take some robots from my world and re-diverge the river towards the city… While your people fix the plumbing system…"
"Teamwork makes the dream work," Rolo smiled brightly. I'll speak to Serenity. She'll be eager to get this project done, and my boys will be happy to get paid for their labor."
"Then how about it?" Ashner glanced at his group. "Who's up for a hike up the mountains? We'll scan the path and use that data for our digging robots."
"If we go up the Feather mountain…" Angel was sheepish with her tone. "You'll find my village."
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Luna reassured her.
Angel shook her head. "I want to see it… It was my home…"
"Alright then. Who's up for a little adventure?" Ashner smiled.
Everyone in the group was happy and nodded.
This is what life is all about…
*******
Hot lead ripped through several bodies.
"Clear!" A Clear Water mercenary lifted his assault rifle. His platoon had wasted a neighborhood of civilians. Most of them had bullet holes exiting their chests.
"Clear over here, too!" Another soldier declared.
A lone woman hiding under her car ran into the forest.
"We got a runner." One of them casually commented.
His friend readied his grenade launcher and shot it off. It landed a few feet from her. Lifting her into the sky along with dirt and rocks. She landed limp and never stood up again.
"She didn't get far."
In the distance, more gunfire roared, and people begging for their lives were laid to rest.
Their General walked by them. He was a large man, and he addressed his warriors.
"This is what life is all about!" Ensley announced with a massive smile on his face. His soldiers were raiding homes. Some were stealing money, others were taking electronics, and occasionally, one pulled a woman or a child out of their home by their hand or hair.
The aroma of iron reeked in the air, gunpowder mixed in with it. Ensley and his men stepped over corpses. People that weren't worth a cent to them.
They were all filled with bullet holes.
Clear Water had done its job. Now, they were enjoying the spoils.
"We're here til nightfall!" Ensley's voice boomed, and he hyped his men up. "Have fun, boys, and clean up after yourselves!"
"YES, SIR!" The soldiers acknowledged him.
Ensley needed to speak with his top officers.
Ensley walked through a large home that once belonged to a wealthy American. He glanced at one of his friends who was in a room with a handful of women. They were stripped naked and chained by the neck to a robot.
"I'll make it simple." The handsome man, like every mercenary, wore a Clear Water uniform. In his hand, he held a vial of liquid, and in the other, he had his hard cock. "Either drink this, or you suck my cock."
He pointed at two of the women.
The spoils of war.
One of the women started sucking him off. The other hesitated, but she grabbed the drink and lifted it to her lips. "Drink it." The handsome man had a nametape that read Jean. The girl wavered until he put the barrel of his handgun to her head.
She gulped it down and started coughing.
Dozens of women were around him, all tied up and scared.
"This is a fun game." Jean smiled at the women. They were conflicted because he was handsome, like a movie star… Had he put in effort the right way, the women would've given him the time and day.
The girl sucking his cock stopped, and she scratched her neck.
"Sorry, hot stuff." Jean grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. "I'm testing out a new type of poison. It's on my cock…"
Her eyes widened.
"The drink your friend drank was just water… This poison makes my dick tingle, and it makes getting head feel so much better… Now listen to me, little cunts… Everyone here is going to suck my dick…"
She started coughing and scratching her neck, tearing her skin as she did.
"She's going to die… But maybe, just maybe… You lot will get lucky, and this girl sucked all the poison off my cock… The better you suck, the better the other girl's chances of survival…"
The women hesitated and cried. But the one who had started accepted her fate. If she died, maybe her friends might live.
She sucked harder and faster, taking every inch of Jean.
"You're having a blast." Ensley stood at the door and smiled at his friend.
"This is the best part… This little town never stood a chance…" Jean's cock twitched in the girl's mouth until she gagged and gasped for air. She scratched her neck, and her eyes became bloodshot. Then she tumbled to her side like a rag doll. "She kicked the bucket before I busted my load… What a greedy little bitch."
Ensley and Jean laughed as the girls cuddled each other.
"I'll catch you later." Ensley stood up, and the girls whimpered.
"Please." One of the girls grabbed Ensley's pant leg. "We're all Americans… You don't have to kill us… Let us go, and we'll never tell anyone…"
Ensley took a second to reply. She wasn't lying. At one time in his life, Ensley and his men fought against the enemies of the United States of America. Times have changed.
"I don't have to kill any of you," Ensley admitted, and the girl's eyes lit up. He was a lighthouse in the middle of the storm. "But, I want to."
The girl's hearts dropped.
"You see…" Ensley grabbed the woman's throat, and he casually lifted her up with one arm. Terrifying the other women. "The government is running out of food, and you poor saps that don't live in the floating cities are the ones bitching about it… So our government, in all its wisdom, decided that instead of trying to feed the mouths of the worthless rabble on the surface… We'll just make you disappear… And like magic… Our food shortage problem is no more…"
"Please… At least let the young girls live… They're just teenagers…" She pleaded and fought for air.
"Oh, I'll make sure they have a blast... Before they leave this Earth, their mouths will taste like cock, and their pussies will be nice and stretched out…" Ensley smiled confidently. He, too, was attractive, not as much as Jean, but he was a catch. This shook the woman.
"Fuck you." She snapped. "None of us wanted a war for gold and gas… None of us want to fuck you or your crazy friends. GO FUCK YOURSELF!"
"The mouth on this bitch…" Ensley gave Jean a fake shocked expression. "Can you believe what she just told me?"
"I wouldn't let that slide." Jean smiled and grabbed another girl. She hesitated with the body of her dead friend next to her. Still, The robot injected her neck with a syringe, which prevented her from biting down on anything. Satisfied, Jean forced his cock into her mouth by squeezing her nose shut. "I'd say fuck her… But she's kind of old."
"Yeah, she's also kind of chubby… How did you gain so much weight when the world needs food?" She was struggling to breathe and didn't answer. "I don't think she's worthy of my perfect cock."
"I agree." Jean shoved his dick down his victim's throat, and she started scratching her neck. Her friend hadn't washed away all the poison.
Ensley put her down and pulled out his Colt Python .357 from his hip. "This will do." He knelt down and pulled her pants down, exposing her most intimate parts.
The girl blowing Jean gasped for air, and she too stumbled to her side, dying on top of her friend.
"Killjoy," Jean complained and pointed at another girl. "You're next."
"Tell me if this feels good." Ensley smiled and shoved the barrel of his weapon into the woman. She screamed, and blood ran down her legs. "TELL ME IF IT FEELS GOOD YOU FUCKING BITCH!"
Her eyes watered, and she gasped.
Ensley shoved it in deeper, and she roared.
"IT FEELS GOOD!" She lied. "IT FEELS REALLY GOOD!"
A round went off, and her scalp exploded.
The remaining women screamed. They were chained, so running wasn't an option.
"Oops." Ensley brought two fingers to his lips, and only Jean laughed at his joke.
The women cuddled together.
"Laughter cures the soul." Ensley stood up and walked away, leaving Jean behind with his prey. He grabbed another girl, and she started sucking him off.
Ensley stepped away with a bright expression on his face.
"Those dumb bitches… The poison is on the chains…" Ensley recalled that Jean's cock had an oil that made the poison react… "I wonder how Amore is doing."
Ensley walked into another room where the bodies of multiple women were. They were all dead, choked to death. Amore was massive, and he had fucked his victims to death, but while he forced himself into them, he gripped their throats. His newest victim's eyes were just about popped out.
"Have you gotten off yet?" Ensley crossed his arms and smirked at his friend. "Oh, that one left this world already."
"I'm trying… But they all keep dying…" Amore tossed her and grabbed another woman. He shoved his cock inside her and choked her.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" One of the girls yelled. She was a teenager with blonde hair. Ensley's type. "WHEN THE WORLD FINDS OUT WHAT YOU DID TO US THEY WILL HUNT YOU DOWN!"
"Who will hunt us down?" Ensley walked up towards the girl and past his friend, who was fucking another teenager wildly. She was already half dead, but he didn't care. "The army is gone, the government is a bunch of wealthy individuals struggling to maintain order… And none of you are worth remembering… You're just worthless mouths that demand food… Nobody asks what Ensley wants… What about my needs? What about what I want?"
The girl glared at him. "You're a monster."
"We all are… The difference is... I let my dark desires fly free… And every time I do, it comes with sex, money, and power… On the other hand, you don't serve any purpose…" Ensley licked his lips and checked her out. She was young, rebellious, and developing.
"FUCK YOU!"
Ensley pulled his weapon out and aimed it at her head.
"Do it." She dared him. "I won't beg for my life."
Ensley raised his eyebrow, turned the gun back, and blew the dying girl's head off while Amore was thrusting inside her.
"SERIOUSLY!" Amore glared at his friend. "AGAIN!"
Ensley shrugged
Amore giggled and continued. This time, he was able to go deeper and faster. The remaining women's shocked gasps got him harder.
"As for you." Ensley smiled brightly, and he whispered in her ear. "Your little attitude got me hard… Your mouth might not agree with me… But your pussy will submit…"
"No…"
"Yes…"
Ensley's eyes lit up, and he took her by the hand and dragged her away from her friends and family. She experienced a final nightmare before Ensley ended her life.
*******
Iris sat behind her mahogany table. It was something that survived the war. Her blonde hair and alluring body captivated just about everyone.
"Was the town destroyed?" She asked as she put her tablet down.
Ensley, Amore, and Jean were in the position of attention. Iris was a civilian but held power over their organization since she provided it with money and food.
"Yes, ma'am," Ensley spoke up. He was the highest ranked among all his soldiers. "The town is no more."
"Good." Iris tapped her head with her long red nails. "Drastic measures are needed to ensure humanity's survival. If a few little towns disappear, it will benefit humanity in the long run… All I ask is that…"
"Our names are nowhere in that village," Ensley reassured. "This won't bounce back on us."
"Good." Iris tapped on her screen. "You're dismissed… Except for you, General."
Jean and Amore broke formation and left the office.
Ensley was still at attention. He wore a white and gray uniform, which revealed his muscular arms.
Iris stood up and walked in front of him. She sat on her table and crossed her legs. "The contributions of Clear Water won't be forgotten… I was surprised you were able to adapt your company as the new army in our trying times… Even after your father passed, you've more than earned my respect."
"It's Clear Water's duty to serve the people," Ensley smiled, recalling the blonde girl from the night before. "We don't ask for much in return…"
"You will be paid for your efforts," Iris reassured him. "But, as dreadful as it is… We might have to continue quelling our population… It's better to end the lives of some if it means the rest of us can live… And no one will volunteer for it… These decisions are hard to stomach, but it has to be done… And it can't just stop here… Some towns on the outskirts of Arizona are starting to complain… That'll be your next target… Silence them… Save humanity…"
"As you command."
"And as always… End their lives quickly… Don't make them suffer…"
"Clear Water soldiers are professionals," Ensley reassured her. "We eliminate our enemies before they realize what's happening… So rest peacefully… We end them while they're sleeping… They will feel no fear… And they will experience no pain…"
"Thank you." Iris sighed and moved a stubborn strand of hair behind her ear. The weight of killing innocent people had kept waking her up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. She had tried to convince herself that it was the right choice. But people were dying on her orders. Some nights, her body vomited the guilt away.
Ensley checked her body out. She was busty in all the right places. Behind her was a picture of Iris and her little sister. A soul that was hit by a box truck. Ensley's lust spiked.
"The government is in shambles, but the population thinks otherwise… So we, the top one percent, must take it upon ourselves to fix things…" Iris stretched her back, and her chest bounced, clearly an invitation. A way to ease her guilt. "As for you… How about I reward you personally…"
Iris blushed and spread her legs, revealing she wasn't wearing underwear under her dress.
Ensley smiled and savored his treat.
He whipped his dick out and slid it inside her slowly. Instead of his brutish nature, he opted to be a gentle lover to this woman.
Iris moaned, and her nails dug into his back.
Her legs wrapped around him, and Ensley fucked her. A woman who was worth billions… Her pussy was just as delectable… Her moans were enchanting, and her chest melted into Ensley's hands.
His thrusts were slow and deep and filled her up slowly.
"General!" Iris moaned loudly as her legs shook and her juices mixed with his. "Don't stop…"
Her downstairs tightened with Ensley's junk. Both of them grasped that she was close. He just needed to keep going a little longer. But when Iris was this close, her body naturally fought back. He needed to fuck her a bit harder to finish the job.
Ensley glanced back at the picture… He recalled that night… How he had stolen a young girl's virginity, and somehow she was tight in all the right places… His eyes focused on Melissa… The young pizza girl… The sister of the woman he was fucking… And she was none the wiser that he had raped her and caused her death… Ensley got harder, and his thrusts reflected it…
"You're going too deep!" She moaned. "Don't slow down, I'm going to cum!"
To Iris, Ensley was the hero that had stopped her little sister's rapist and even deformed his face, poetic justice… Someone she was grateful to share her body with… A man who wasn't just righteous. He was handsome, a leader, and always willing to fuck her when she demanded it.
Ensley smirked, and his dick twitched.
To Ensley, Iris was a fuckable tool… Clueless to the truth, and he enjoyed it… He lavished whenever she mocked and belittled Ashner, and when she sucked him off, he imagined her little sister doing it… The irony of it all humored him… He had always been lucky… Even now, he sensed something stir inside him. He was reaching his climax. Iris moaned louder.
They came together.
Iris clung to Ensley. Her body was recovering from the intensity of the orgasm. She glanced into his eyes and kissed him deeply. He was still inside her, but their juices were dripping out of them. "I love you…"
"I love you too." Ensley half lied. He loved her body and her ignorant nature. Plus fucking her benefited him, not just cause he got off but because his soldiers were aware, and they envied and respected him for conquering a beauty of that scale. But she also had other uses, some that went beyond fucking.
Iris pulled away from Ensley… He was ecstatic. Ensley had a dirty little secret, and every time he fucked Iris, that secret got him off.
Iris clung to him. Ensley sometimes got his hands dirty, but it was always for the good of humanity. A part of her wished that he asked her out, but she was happy with their current relationship as well.
The table held their juices, and both of them kissed.
A file was in one of the folders next to Iris' desk. It was titled Key Corp.