War of the Change

Blood of Our Blood




Ceri frantically worked the lock of the hidden door as the Imperial soldiers of the Somilge Empire closed in behind them, it was a war between Empires and Yoruba was falling rapidly from the scattered raid. Many passing years and damp sea air had fused the latch into a lump of iron. It refused to give though the High Priestess was certain this time she had the correct key, using as much force as she dared but feared the key breaking in the lock, then all would be lost. Her wards and the future heirs of the lands stayed huddled against her shivering with fear and exhaustion. Drystan’s spear flashed as its foliate point caught the sunlight spilling in from the shattered door, he had started in the middle of the room in a good defensive position but the soldiers had forced him back against the stair railing, he fought to protect his wife and her wards.

The black healer breathed heavily as he moved through the Serpent Weaver’s parry, catching and twisting away the swords of the two Imperials, in a twist he came within an inch of two of the swords slicing open his back. The perfected skills he’d obtained over the years gave him a small edge over the rank and file soldiers, which just wanted blood. They were new recruits and inexperienced so they got in each other’s way as they tried to fight him independently. In their position, he would have flanked around towards the top of the stairs to make him move to cut off his access to the royal heirs. Rather than exploiting his weakness they tried to go through him, big mistake in any fight. “What keeps you?” Drystan could not remove his harden bright violet eyes from his foes to see the cause of the delay that held up the groups escape, pivoting he was like a dancer as he brought the tip of the spear across in a fast arc. The razor fine edge parted the flesh of the first soldier’s neck so cleanly Drystan barely felt the impact as a red fountain showered down hot on his cold skin from the cut that went cleanly through the Imperial’s jugular.

“It must have been rusted for some time now.” Ceri panted, almost weeping with frustration, she threw herself against the door and it screeched like a banshee but did not give, as she stifled a groan as her shoulder protested the ill treatment. Looking up, she saw her friend, lover and forever husband circling with a soldier and fending off his sword feints with the blunt end of his spear. Was there only one left? One became none as Drystan dropped to a knee and jabbed forward under the Imperial’s guard, Drystan watched as the fighter’s mouth opened as the spear point entered his abdomen. The Black healer twisted the haft to open the wound and he folded onto the ground with a gurgling moan. Pulling the spear free, Drystan kicked his sword out of his reach then approached just in case.

With his back to the children so they would not see, he opened his throat. “May the Merciful Father Yoruba watch over your journey and seek out his own punishment for your soul.” Drystan made an odd sign over all of the fallen soldiers before turning his attention to the hidden door. Ceri looked sick and the heirs close to panic, so thinking deeply at the mess the black healer leant on the railing as he caught his breath, court life had dulled his edge. There had been a time when two recruits would not cause him to break a sweat let alone winded. “Would lamp oil help?” Gesturing at the oil pot for a lamp that wasn’t lit that sat in the wall where a brick should have been, only then had he noticed his arms were red to the elbows. Drystan dropped his hand, bile rising to his throat at what he had just done but Ceri was too distracted to remark on his state of attire. The High Priestess hastily poured the scented oil over the latch and as best she could into the lock itself.

Her hands trembled when she tried the key, it moved more than it had on her previous attempts. “It is working!” Ceri cried joyously and careless of the silk, she wiped her hands on her skirts to get a better grip then turned the key sharply. There was a snapping noise and for a moment she feared the key had broken. Drawing in a shaky breath the Empire’s Watcher tried the latch. It did not move. She brought her fist down on it with all her might and earned a rasping click as it released. “Holy Praise of Yoruba!” Though now her fist was bleeding a bit and stung from the oil.

“I think not.” The hard voice made them all turn and go wide eyed among laying their eyes on an Imperial officer strode into the shop, drawing his sword as he approached. He had his back to the light and the deep shadows on his face made Ceri see him as creature of darkness sent to torment them. Drystan saw the multiple badges of rank on his shoulder and the sparkling blue glyphs on his blade, swallowing hard he stepped forward to bar his approach eyes hardening in challenge.

“Take the children and run, my love.” Drystan struck the end of his spear on the floor in a ritual challenge. Ceri made to say something then bit her lip. The High Priestess knew the reputation of the army of the Empires and that no officer would forgo a call to duel they just couldn’t so she threw her weight against the door and it opened just enough for her and the heirs to slip through. The officer launched himself forward faster than his bulk suggested. Drystan parried and dodged, catching him on the knee with the butt of his spear as he shied away. Ceri grabbed the almost empty lantern and shepherded the small children into the tunnel beyond the door and then she hesitated. The Imperial pressed her husband against the railing with a series of attacks that made the blue writing on his sword leave traceries in the air. “Sweet illusions go!” Drystan shouted, ducked and lashed out as she rolled to the right to keep himself between the officer and the stairs. The tip of his spear slashed through his tunic and the chain-mail beneath but did not draw blood from him.

Ceri closed her diamond colored eyes, grasped onto a round pendant that hung into her cleavage and whispered a prayer to the Merciful Father; Yoruba for help then shoved the door closed with all her might, the old hinges shrilled as the portal slammed shut leaving her loyal and very brave husband to face his fate. The fighters backed off and circled one another eyeing each other up violet eyes clashed with steaming orange green ones daring for the first move, one with a spear the other a sword. Drystan stabbed the ground with his spear pulling off his silk tunic allowing it to billow around his waist as it was tied to his pants, around his neck that was once hidden was a rather odd stone that began glowing with a violet pulse like his eyes within seconds bells began going off in the towers of the Yoruba Keep they were loud and slow gong like bells that echoed widely.

“Bells won’t help you now.” The officer took his chain-mail off and grabbed his sword with eagerness but under his chain-mail were dragon plates which explained why Drystan couldn’t hit him in the first place. Holding his stance of defense it didn’t surprise the seasoned black healer when a thundering of thumps started coming closer and closer. Yet as the two fought Drystan couldn’t help but let out a chuckle when the point of the officer’s sword hit into his left upper rib and sliced out as a black being roared slamming into the officer practically blowing him to pieces with a swipe of scaled tails.


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Blood was spilled across the lands from thousands of bodies, the battle that took place there was nearly five years old and the grass, flowers and trees still grew red. The plants had their own names now since anything they spawned no matter where planted were the color of blood, the trees were named Weeping bloods, while the grass and herbs were called crimson greens, then there were the flowers not all were named but there were a few favorite by idiots who didn’t care how they became that way, like the crimson rose or bloodbath lily.

The rulers of those surrounding areas named the place Blood Stain Valley, fitting to any one who saw or knew what took place there, not like it mattered any more. Within that valley was a palace where demons and creatures lived and protected, not many went in and out of that place, in all truths the royalty that lived out of reach and site of the blood bathed valley had no idea that any one was alive in that palace. The closer you got to the palace a crimson haze set in and then blood fog, not a lot just below the knees fog, if any one was watching the palace doors now then they would have had their answer on if any one was still alive in the place.



Face to face they stood, eye-to-eye they stared, fury against raging fury they glared at one another. “Why is all I fucking ask from you and you can’t even give me that much. What kind of man are you!? ANSWER ME!” Snarls rose from behind the one that had yelled, while the fog thickened in the area raising the fears of many to what was going on here. “This is over any way why the fuck should I tell YOU anything! I am ALONE! You drive me insane! You can never make up your mind on anything! You complain too much! List the things that drive me crazy you’ve done them all!” The other spun on his heels stalking into the night. Hisses of rage swirled at his feet, flames whispering sweet nothings of fairy tales and happily ever after from all around. Promises shattering as easy as falling glass the further he walked.

“Time to get a new life brat.” Were his last words before the shrouded forest swallowed him into their huge crimson mass, having been so close to them to begin with the little wildlife that could still live was dead silent in fear of the couple. Vibrant purple eyes watched as he left her once and for all…he couldn’t stand her and finally admitted it. “I knew it! I’ve been waiting for this to happen it always happens! I can’t control myself!” Hissing in rage she spun on her heels, hatred and betrayal wrapped around her chilling heart and dying soul. She looked around at her followers, eyeing each and every one of them that had slinked into the halls outside their rooms, looking for any flaws in their bowing stance for a reason to lash out and cause harm. “Milady!” A youngling pointed at the maiden’s feet, eyes wide in shock and horror.

Turning her eyes to the floor it was no surprise to see a sea of red eyes staring back at her and black shadow like figures clawing at the inch thick invisible force field, but something was different this time. They were breaking through, not everywhere just under her feet. Grinning like a mad hatter she turned her now sinister eyes onto her follows throwing her hands up in a roar of laughter. “Come my followers! It’s time to take what is rightfully ours! Brave protector and guardian of the gates, I command loyalty to be one with the shadow lands. I am fucking Lana; rightful, strong and truthful I’ve lead you through countless battles. There’s no hope for light here we tried to save the best we can. Everyone betrays and lies in this disgusting hellhole I claim we try and side with the darkness and show these assholes no one messes with the best! Now…WHO’S WITH ME ALREADY?” Smiling wide as everyone stayed on their knees in loyalty, Lana snapped her fingers allowing the barrier to dissolve in the ritual area and in turn the shadow people clawed their way up and over each person there and sunk into the skin, when it was complete their eyes were glowing a brilliant red before fading back into everyone’s original eye color except Lana’s, hers had a circle of deep red around the purple pupils., the only outside difference were pointed ears.

Turning to look at the path her once believed soul mate took, Lana grinned in thought before purring darkly, “I’ll show him who’s in the wrong” and sunk into the darkness below followed by her loyal members whispering sweet revenge for them all.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forbidden Empire Islands Called; the Misty Keep ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Sir Destine, Sir Kismet and Lady Faith tell me what I need to know.” Thirty fingers ran over a huge map of all the territories, boundaries and kingdoms, the fingers belonged to a pair of triplet’s two boys and a girl no older then six who stood on top of a table over that same map. “They’ll need to come together soon; mating season will peek for many of the royalty.” The girl turned to her brothers each one had black soulless the same as hers and hair as white as snow their skin was the same whiteness as their hair. In front of them stood two elderly men, one had dark chocolate hair with a lot of grey stripes through it, it was French braided all the way to the floor, beside him was a high pony tailed grey haired man both blue eyes and were the same height which was around 5’9. “Tell us prophets. Who rules it all; I want to know who rules every single one of these places.” The French braided man ran a hand over the map before Kismet, being the closet stomped his foot almost on his hand. “Don’t touch the map.” Kismet hissed before being tugged back by Destine who then nodded toward Faith to begin.

Faith smiled first her eyes glazed and in a trance like voice just started to ramble, “In the Empire of Cerbura she who watches it is High Priestess Giselle Celestine, The Kingdom Monarchs in Angluarini is Lady Juliette, Erurion is Lady Lucille, Terrevea is Lady Natalie, Bythuraia is Lady Pauline, Caspynus is Lady Racquel, Eurentand is Lady Avian, Siborcus is Lady Belle, Viretaea is Lady Caprice. In the Empire of Mari and under the eagle eyes of High Priestess Amelia Bennett the Kingdoms lay claimed starting with Austrinthia is Lady Nessa, Castontum is Lady Oria, Dalannya is Lady Persis, Libanteos is Lady Perdita, Panivica is Lady Sophia, Terrorca is Lady Karise, Tirerini is Lady Jovita, and Ugiana is Lady Vesta”

Kismet’s eyes glazed over next, a sinister smile on his face as his mouth moved almost as if it was on its own, “In the Empire of Skatha and it’s High Priestess Brighed Fedelma and Husband Torin Fedelma lay the Kingdoms and their Monarchs starting with Arcor is Lady Sheila, Asalia is Lady Torrin, Asis is Lady Eileena, Esterius is Lady Ashling, Genartana is Lady Deirdre, Itevias is Lady Meara, Japevia is Lady Phiala, and Libagana is Lady Lana.”

Destine shifted uneasily but he too succumbed to the orders of the elders and began his trance to see what the others couldn’t. “The Empire of Yoruba overseen by High Priestess Ceri Aderyn and her husband Drystan Aderyn. Their Kingdoms and the rulers are Amagas and Lady Talaith, Asoneen and Lady Siriol, Manureen and Lady Morgana, Minevica and Lady Rhian, Segasion and Lady Aerona, and Sumaras and Lady Catrin. The Empire of Somilge is overseen by High Priestess Kaori Michiko. The Kingdoms are Caspyra by Lady Mariko, Chinonene by Lady Yuki, Eriatea by Lady Toshi, Arcarya by Lady Sora, Brunduras by Lady Kumiko, Austrentaia by Lady Kagami, Brunduarova by Lady Hatsu, and lastly Ceylundon by Lady Amaya.”

“Anything else you wish to know of elders?” Faith tilted her head her long white bangs fell in front of her face making her seem more dangerous. Faith had hair that fell straight to her knees her oldest sibling Destine had hair to his shoulders as Kismet’s hair fell to his waist and with that knowledge was the only way to tell them apart as they all wore white priest robes and slippers. Even worse while looking the same they all carried a 12 by 12 inch circular mirror with intricate designs all along the silver border that held the mirror in place with them which at the moment was sitting along side the map. The elders themselves wore dingy brown robes and sandals, most of the people in this palace/mansion were men as women were seen as creatures who distracted and clouded the mind and that was unacceptable. “Yes, one more thing…” Grinning wickedly the silent grey haired man’s once hazel eyes began glowing red.


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“Kaori!” Cold chills ran through it’s owner as the name was carelessly called for any to pick up, the name floated off the winds she knew that time was giving her the chance to finish what she started before they found her, to those who watched from a distance her standing on the edge of this broken cliff dressed in a white laced in back corset and flowing white skirt with the snow swirling and piling up around her gave the impression of a mourning snow princess about to commit suicide. That wasn’t what was going to happen, shaking her head she gazed out off the cliff at the water in front of her and then the mountains not to far off from that.

“WHERE ARE YOU KAORI? I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!” Hearing her name being screamed through the thick sleeping woods brought an ample amount of heated hatred that begun to course through her veins. “Maybe I don’t want to be found did anyone think of that?” Whispering softly she collapsed to her knees burying her face into her hands she started to sob, and as if to try and give her comfort the snow began to fall harder covering her tracks and herself in a blanket of white. Sleep was starting its process of subduing her in ways that people just couldn’t or rather wouldn’t understand, but how can one live when who they believed was their soul mate was ripped forcefully and unwillingly out of each other’s life with no say. So many questions with no one to answer them, but it’s was what dragged the young girl to this very spot in a way to save herself.

Heavy footsteps came thundering down upon her frail body nearly crushing her, “She’s here!” Half gloved hands wrapped around Kaori’s snow covered arms, lifting her frozen limp body out the snow and then was promptly thrown over his shoulder a little too roughly. “Kaori?” One of the girls snapped her fingers in the limp girl’s pale as death like face only to be answered by a pair of fiery ruby eyes opening slightly and her head tilting up just enough to point her glaring eyes in the girl’s face. “I’m not a dog you damnable bitch and stop talking so loud.” A loud snarl came from Kaori’s raw throat which brought a collective gasp from the small group. “You can put me down now Bruno.” Kaori mocked as the man practically dropped her back into the snow.

“I give you my dearest and most sincere apologies Lady Kaori.” He mumbled shyly while backing away from her. Sucking up the groan that almost passed her chapped frozen lips Kaori hoisted her self up refusing the impulse to rub her arms for warmth. “Why did you come find me, I was fine alone.” Kaori returned her focus to the ocean and Mountain View taking slight notice in the snow that was stopping. “Kaori, what’s wrong you’ve….changed.” The girl got close to Kaori’s face examining her new colored eyes. “They used to be blue.” Mumbling she jumped back as Kaori swiped her but then had to be grabbed by the front and yanked back because she almost fell off the cliff.

“Stupid girl pay attention or is your life that careless, I never believed I wasted all that time training someone to just die by their own hand.” Wide brown eyes stared at Kaori as realization hit. “You’ve locked away you’re heart, you’re really darkness now aren’t you…Kaori…talk to me please.” Sighing Kaori looked over the little blonde haired girl. “You’re still very naïve and innocent Caira, thought you’d like to know that. Oh by the way I’m not darkness.” Caira’s blue eyes darkened in sadness having been one of the closest to Kaori and the dark attitude meant something was about to happen or has happened.

Kaori’s eyes refocused back to the sea before being beckoned away and to the side of an elderly woman clothed in a deep orange cloak and spoke only in whispers with tones no human would pick up easily. This is where she froze, as standing on the ice just as the fog over the ice started in the distance was a figure of a small child, just older then a toddler. Guessing from the long dark as night hair blowing in the wind she pinned the figure as female and she was walking toward the beach even from here Kaori could see silver glowing eyes and odd things about her.

It started with outstretched sort of misshapen rectangular things and then there were weird triangular shapes on top of the head and also multiple fluffy things that if she didn’t know any better were tails was trailing behind her. The figure looked up and bowed slightly recognition of being spotted before vanishing like she was built from the fog itself., it was then she realized, she had spotted an angel, and for that…Kaori found closure for her loss. “Kaori come on.” Caira tugged trying to see what Kaori saw but in vain could not locate the object. Nodding absent mindedly Kaori walked thinking about the figure and what it meant or rather what it could mean.


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“We’re wasting time! We have to find her before it happens! THERE!” It was cold, windy and raining hard, hard enough to wash away the prints that were scattered along the ground, hard enough to cover screams and blood…shuddering in a corner that she buried herself into as soon as they took interest off her was a high school aged girl. The three males that strung her along and trapped her here were conversing with themselves in the middle of the room close enough that if she tried to run they’d catch her, but she wasn’t going to run, she couldn’t, not this time. Her clothes had been torn to shreds by the brutes but she clung to them like the water droplets did to her once beautiful long brown and blonde hair, now a rat’s nest of tangles and knots. Blood dripped freely to the dirty concrete from between her thighs that was heavily mixed with semen and spit while cuts and developing bruises littered along her body as her skin grew paler with the loss of its life and warmth. They were in an abandon factory in park a few miles from homes and people, no doors or windows the place was gutted and all that were left besides the walls and roof were stairs that led to the roof and a concrete floor, which every so often would be illuminated by the lightening bolts outside.

Snapping out of her mental descend, one of the bigger guys had grabbed her shoulder digging his fingers into the soft flesh and pulled her up into a standing position before laughing in her face before punching her hard in the eye forcing her head slam into the 2 foot thick concrete wall with a hard thud splattering blood all over it as she dropped back to the ground in a black haze. “Oh shit man hey!” The shorter of the three males shouted and pointed at the door way as multiple forks of lightening lit the area showing a shadowed figure slumped as if something was on its back while standing there, from the way the soaked clothes clung to the young body it wasn’t that easy to tell that it was a young girl standing there. “Hey girl, you want to play too?” She started forward, her arms at her side loosely and her long hair covered most of her face but oddly enough it looks like a thick line was coming out of each side of her head just above where her ears would be.

“Aw what’s wrong little princess? Don’t mind her she just deserved it.” They started forward at the new comer as the beaten girl was forgotten in the back, she still didn’t run it was if all strength left her and she just watched as the males grabbed what she seemed to think was a mere child’s shoulders and pulled her roughly to him. He ran a knife along the side of her throat while his pointed nose was sniffing up the other side, but a knife didn’t seem to scare her, her eyes were unblinking and unresponsive. The girl moved away from the males almost sluggishly while swiping her hand at the one holding her and cutting the guys face open without making a sound. What seemed like the leader shook it off first laughing and turned to back hand her face making petty threats before flicking the things on the side of her head before laughing aloud. “Look boys, it’s like we have our own little cosplay girl! So what should we do with her hum?” Her head stayed turn from the hit, it didn’t seem like it fazed her much.


He began to reach down and in between her legs as lightening struck again this time she was staring at the girl in the corner who looked back terrified into glowing silver eyes under that mass of hair that the males seemed to miss, but what they didn’t miss was a furry thing that looked attached to the back of her pants move. “Is that a tail? Wow I’ve never fucked a real bitch before this should be fun.” They all took turns laughing at her though froze as she spook in the most blood freezing voice they’ve ever heard.

“The only bitch is you. I’m more then you could possibly comprehend, you retarded masses of shit, and if you knew what was good for you, you’d run as fast as you fucking can away from this area. You WONT be alive much longer if you don’t.” In a crack of thunder she moved only a step but in that step she took down the male in one fatal blow of ripping out his stomach with one hand, one child sized hand. The other two started screaming and turned tail to run but this girl was on them faster then the lightening bolt striking the ground. The rain if possible got harder and louder as if it was trying to communicate with the cosplay girl, pushing her to send out the natural justice of life, kill or be killed. The first girl watched in awe and sheer cold fear the said girl thing flung her body into the air and with a back flip sent the smaller male into a long iron rod that stuck out the floor piercing him through his neck almost killing him instantly.


The last guy was running out the door as the first girl stuck her foot out and made him trip while the other girl walked past her and grabbed him around the throat holding him up in the air with one hand, she herself was walking on air! Through swollen lids she could see the cosplay girl clearly as the lightening struck once more close by illuminating the area almost as if turning on a huge light on and off. Her hair was a dark color like black or maybe red she had two big fluffed out tails that seemed to move almost discretely and the things on her head were the shape of like animal ears, yet as she said she was beyond comprehension so maybe it’s a good idea to not too close into this.

In shock to say the least the girl was shaking the man demanding him to say something and as she leaned forward fighting against the rain to hear she gasped, she was forcing him to apologize to her, and she made him alright, she forced him to scream I’m sorry loud enough to wake the dead as blood shot out his mouth and across the girl’s face while she crushed his throat and dropped him like a doll to the ground before her. Having come to the conclusion she was going to die at the beginning of all this, the girl just looked up at the demon emotionless, at least she was a girl anyway and wouldn’t die under the body of those filthy men.

The black haze got stronger as the demon picked her up and began walking in the storm toward the exit of the park itself. Allowing herself to be comforted by the demon girl that carried her, even if she looked about 10, she looked up and gave a forceful smile, “Sophia…Sophia”, her eyes drifted shut as she swore the lined things on the girl’s head perked straight up as she said her name to her. “Then sleep Sophia, You’re safe for now.” Her voice wasn’t hard or cold as it was when talking to the males, now it was soft and made you sleepy like the sound of a purring cat. Nodding off to sleep forcefully against a purring that shuddered from the demon girl’s chest the battered girl blacked out the last thing she remembered was when she flexed out of the black haze and there was the sound of people yelling for medical supplies and white lights blaring down from above her and all around, along with the demon’s last words.


“We’ll meet again.”