Sebastian
Grinding my teeth, I stood up, heading over to the closet that held my clothing. I grabbed a thin shirt, a gambeson and leather pants and headed back to the armor room. I grabbed Victor to help me strap on my armor, as I kept Troy guarding the cell.
Victor gasped as he saw the armor sitting before him. I pulled the gambeson on, then my shirt over my head, my muscles rippling as I rolled my shoulders. Victor's eyes flicked at the scar on my chest before it was covered. I ignored him, as I finished pulling on the garments, then proceeded with the chain mail. Victor helped me strap the back as I started assembling the arm pieces. We strapped on the leg pieces, then the final piece, the chest piece. I snatched up the sword that was displayed next to my armor, strapping the sheath to my back and sliding it in.
"I'm going to be bringing Cranston with us. You will set up a perimeter around the auction, as Troy, Cranston and I will take care of what's inside." I turned, placing my hand on his shoulder. "No matter what you hear, you do not come inside." I glared into his eyes as the color drained from his face. He quickly nodded as he turned to let me pass.
The sun was setting as I made my way towards the holding area. Troy did a double take when he saw me, then immediately bowed. This was uncomfortable, but it undoubtedly struck fear into people. I wasn't called Demon Aster for nothing.
I quickly made my way down the steps, my footsteps sounding haunting as my metal boot scrapped on the floor. I could hear Duke Spry praying as I stood in front of the door.
"Dear god! Please Lord protect us from this demon!" He cried as his words slurred out while he drew a cross across his chest. I scoffed as I picked Cranston up by his shoulders. His face was void of emotion as he looked us up and down. He broke out of my grasp and took a knee.
"I'm here to serve you, my lord." He bowed as I stood above him.
"Good because if you weren't, I doubt you'd get far with that new brand on you." I chuckled as I turned. "Come". I demanded as I headed out. He followed closely. Troy went down to lock Spry in his cell.
"You can't leave me down here! Come back! Release me at once!" He whimpered and slurred through his dislocated jaw at us as we made our exit. The cool evening air hit my face; the slight wind shifted my hair as my guards trotted up on their horses.
Victor brought me and Cranston a horse. Cranston mounted his first. I took the reins in my hand, stroking its forehead as I turned to my soldiers.
"I'm not going to sugar coat this. We don't know what we're riding into, you might have to fight beasts you're not used to. But the main goal is to save innocent lives that were taken by force, and stripped of their freedom." I walked around my horse, sticking my foot in the stirrup and effortlessly flinging myself over, planting myself on its back. "You are the royal guard, you are my soldiers, so fight like you're me. Fight like you all have a demon inside of you." I grinned as I pulled the reins and started for the front. Troy saluted, while the rest placed their arms across their chests, letting out a "Yes sir!"
Cranston was next to me, his head hung low. He was chanting, not a spell to harm me, a spell to help guide us where we needed to go. I looked up at the sky as clouds started to roll in, thunder clapping in the distance. I inhaled deeply, trying to get Lilith's scent.
A little ball of light shone in Cranston's hand, it zipped out of it and went down the south end of the gates.
"It's not completely accurate, but it'll get us in the general direction. I can sense the cloaking magic once we get closer, I can then help dispel it." He glanced at me, then back to the floor.
"Good little puppet, stay in alliance with us, and you'll get almost anything you desire," I said in a low growl, that made him flinch.
The sky started to drizzle down upon us as we made our way down towards the Inn I busted through. I gripped my reigns tightly as I remembered her smell being engulfed by other men. Azazel grumbled as I gritted my teeth. Soon, we'll have our little lamb back.
The little ball zipped quickly to the left of the inn. As we rode by, there were people outside battling the rain, cleaning up the mess I made. I saw someone drag the barkeeper's body out, leaving it out on the side of the road. Guess he bled out, oops.
We continued down the road for another good twenty minutes before the little ball took a sharp right, right into the thick of the Astion forest. We halted as Cranston put up two fingers, having the ball halt.
"I'm sensing magic. I'd suggest only taking who you need now so you can stay out of sight. I'll be able to get us in, but they're most likely just setting up now. The merchandise probably hasn't arrived yet." He flinched from me when he said "merchandise", knowing that would piss me off.
I turned my horse to face the rest of the group.
"I need you to create a perimeter here, stay out of sight and only move if necessary. Hide the horses within the tree line." I turned my horse back around, hopping off of it. Cranston followed my lead, taking the reins in his hand as he gestured for me to follow him. The guards quickly did as they were told. Troy ran up to me.
"You'll come with me, but once we get to the entrance you'll have to stay outside and guard it. Got it?" I raised a brow at him as he nodded. I ran my free hand through my soaking wet hair, as the sound of rain echoed through my ears. The water pinging off my armor. Cranston threw his hood up as we took our first step into the dense forest.