Part 4 of Chapter 22

Everyone stopped their fighting at the sound of that scream. A scream so horrifying it made Aprophis himself cringe. The sound was worse than anything he had ever heard in the underworld. 

               He didn’t know happened to the female. All he knew was that whatever she was going through wasn’t good for him. 

               Another scream rang out from the female, causing Aprophis to take several steps backwards towards the hole in the wall. One more scream more intense then the last and her body went limp, falling on the floor. 

               Looking around the room all eyes seemed to be focused to on the lifeless female. Iraon looked down at the female with a satisfied smirk, Rasai stared wide eyed, Thana seemed to go completely pale which was a great feat since she was already snow white.

               But it was the knowledge that shown in Bion and Radien’s eyes that warned Aprophis that the female was not dead…

               “Looks like your little mate is dead” Iraon laughed. “Let us finish.” He went to charge at Radien when a blinding light erupted from the female’s body, making all around shield their eyes. 

               Thisss is not good. Aprophis thought as he felt the shift of power in the air…yup it was time for him to leave. 

               More light erupted from her body, engulfing her. 

               Blinding Aprophis so that he couldn’t see the hound charging at him, the huge beast plowed into his body knocking him through the wall and into the next chamber.

               “Get your useless a*s up.” He heard Iraon command before he blocked Radien’s attack and hit him with one of his own.

               “Pathetic.” He heard Thana spit a moment before she turned around and was struck into the adjacent wall by Rasai and his staff. She quickly recovered and flipped to her feet kicking Bion in the stomach in the process.

               He had wanted to laugh at Thana but as of right now he had a pissed off hound female to deal with and she was advancing fast. 

               Even though Aprophis had never been the dog lover, which included his so called mate, he had to admit that the female was a beautiful hound. With her pure white fur and glowing eyes she looked like a creature of legend.

               He rose to his feet. Elongating his claws caused his poison to start coursing through his body and drip from their tips. He hissed, three rows of jagged teeth showing as the female charged at him again, this time he was prepared and sidestepped her. Using his claws he ripped into her side, ripping her flesh open and his poison infecting her. 

               She howled in pain as her blood slowly dripped to the floor. He had expected her to fall to the floor and whiter in pain, die, or something…that’s what normally happened when he attacked a being with his claws. Instead she faced off with him again, her teeth bare.

               Maybe he hadn’t used enough poison. 

               Hissing at her again he charged at her, raising his claws to strike her again when a burning sensation spread through his chest…He felt it again and hissed in agony as he was sent flying back to the ground. His whole body screamed in pain, he felt as if he had been stabbed with lightening. So much so that he shifted into his human form. 

               He tried to push himself up and away from her but he couldn’t bring his throbbing body to move.

               “Devil.” She spoke to him and it had to the most perfect sound he had ever heard…it made him want to vomit. “You will pay for what you have done.” She placed a giant paw on his human body; slowly crushing every bone in his body. The pain he felt was indescribable. He was going to black out and the last thing he would remember was a giant white hair ball blasting him into a million pieces. 

               “What’s the matter? The two of you are moving slow. Is old age catching up with you?” Thana huffed as she ducked another attack from Rasai and Bion.              

               Rasai swung his staff and she moved out of the way, only to have Bion’s fist fully connect with her jaw and stomach knocking her off balance. It gave Rasai the chance to hit her across the back with his staff.  She stumbled forward and went to go down but she caught herself and turned to face the two men.

               “I see you have gotten better with a staff Rasai.” She mocked as she whipped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. Just as she went to attack again she noticed that Bion wasn’t in front of her.

               That’s when she felt him wrap his arms around her, quickly knowing what he meant to do she vanished from his hold. 

               Bion and Rasai stared at each other. “Where did she go?”

               “She’s still here. I can feel her.” 

               “Catch me if you can boys.” Her mocking laughter echoed in the room around them.

               “She’s on top of the temple.” Rasai said.”Let's go.” With that Rasai vanished.

               “Damn it.” Bion cursed. He didn’t want to leave Radien behind but he couldn’t let Thana escape or worse…kill Rasai. “S**t.” Bion cursed as he looked over to where his son was throwing blow for blow with Iraon.

               Looking like he was handling his own Bion decided to follow Rasai to the top of the temple. 

               “Come on hound is that all you got.” Iraon mocked as his fist shattered Radien’s jaw. 

               His jaw went slack for a few seconds before he could feel it setting back into place. As he glared at Iraon he could see Melody behind him readying to release a light orb into Iraon’s back.

               On my mark. He told her. She nodded as she put more pressure on the devil’s human body.

               “Come on Radien. Your b***h has more fight than you.” Iraon went to attack Radien with his daggers. 

               Growling Radien sidestepped the attack and elbowed Iraon in the back. The beast stumbled but didn’t go down.

               NOW. He mentally shouted. Without a moment’s hesitation she sent a light orb across the space between them. 

               “Masssster behind you.” The devil managed to hiss.

               Quickly Iraon regained his balance and dodged the blast. Just as quick Radien jumped at Iraon only to have him dodge him and send a blast of his own at Melody.

               The blast was enough to knock her and the devil back to the ground but not enough to seriously injure her….that much Radien was thankful for.

               Iraon quickly turned his attention to Radien, scowling at him as he instantly tossed one of his daggers into Radien’s leg. The weapon embeded it’s self into his flesh. Immeditly he felt his blood raining out of him.

               “Not just your blood hound, but your powers as well.” Iraon laughed, than threw two more daggers into Radien’s torso. The first made contact with his stomach while the second wedged it’s self into his chest, narrowly missing his heart. He snak down to his knees, the pain he felt was like nothing he had ever known. His world began to spin as he noticed Iraon advancing towards his mate as she staggered back to to her feet. 

               With victory within his grasp Iraon stalked towards the female. As he approached her, he studied her. She was definitely something to look at…she might even be some fun to play with… He would enjoy playing with her. 

               He licked his lips at the prospect. He liked her snarling, snapping at him and the devil as they backed her into a corner. 

               Yes. She had spirit, and he was going to enjoy breaking it.

               “Put the collar on her.” He ordered the devil. 

               Ignoring the raging pain he was in Radien yanked the daggers out of his body and tossed them to the floor. Weakly, with his blood continuing to flow out of the wounds he made his way back to his feet. As quick as his drained body could move he started towards Iraon.

               Got to save her…The need to protect his mate was what pushed his legs faster when he felt he would collapse at any moment. He couldn’t let Iraon harm her. 

               “Masssster behind you.”

               He heard the devil shout, still he advanced forward never slowing his already slow speed.

               Through his darkening vision he could see her snarling and snapping at them. 

               Get to her…just a little more…so close…

               But it was too late. Iraon had known, had felt Radien’s rage. The more distance he closed the closer Iraon knew he was. Iraon hadn’t turned around when the devil had shouted. 

               Radien felt panic and fear the likes of which he never known as his aching body slowed. His was bleeding out quickly. He had such a short distance and he would be at Iraon’s back…but his body couldn’t move another step forward.

               He dropped to his knees as he watched horrified, his eyes bulging out of his head as he heard the devil laugh as something appeared in its hand.

               His heart stopped as he watched as the devil flashed to its devil form and wrapped its claws around her neck. She snarled and tired to attack him, but it was useless. The creature was crushing her throat. Hissing the devil slammed her back into the wall holding her so her underbelly was exposed.

               Radien’s anger and rage filled him even more. Using the little breath he had he shot a light orb at the devil’s arm. Making the creature hiss in pain and losing its grip on her throat. From the short distance he could see a collar attached around her neck…A collar he had never seen before.

               With Iraon now focused on him Radien tried to summon another orb but Iraon had already sent a dagger flying at him. Noticing it too late, he couldn’t dodge the weapon and it was embedded into the center of his chest.

               Iraon’s dark laugh filled his head as he howled in pain.

               Then it happened in an instant, right before his eyes he saw Iraon draw a heavy long and curved sword from behind his back and ram it into Melody’s stomach before her feet could touch the ground. 

               She howled in agonizing pain as Iraon yanked the sword out of her stomach and proceeded to ram it into to her body several more times. Her life’s blood stained the glass beneath her as the light faded from her eyes. Her body fell to the floor. 

               The sound of her body hitting the floor echoed inside of Radien’s head as disbelief filled him. He stared heartbroken at his dying mate…He had failed her…

               Quickly that disbelief was replaced with seething rage as he saw Iraon approaching him a blood smeared face and a satisfied smirk on his face.

               “Such a shame…Look at what you did to her…if you had left her in her world she would have been safe...” Iraon darkly mused “or maybe not.” He laughed as he held the sword in front of him and watched the deadly weapon absorb the blood that coated its blade. “Magnificent.”

               Falling on all fours Radien bellowed with the weight of his grief. The entire temple rattled with the sound of his pain as he instantly changed into his hound form. 

               Melody didn’t now getting stabbed would hurt so badly but it did. She had felt her insides being ripped apart with every stab of the sword. No longer could she feel her legs under her. She fell to the floor. Her vision darkened as a dead chill covered her body. As she felt her life drain out of her she watched the utter pain and lose that washed over Radien before he shifted forms. In her mind she admitted that even as a three headed dog he was the sexiest thing she had ever seen. The tip of his tail made of pure light, white light shining brightly in her darkness. She found herself trying to reach for that light. she recognized those glowing eyes, all of those glowing eyes.

               Then she was gone…

               Iraon ran his tongue across his teeth as he took in the rage and anger that poured from the hound in front of him. It was sweet nectar to him, feeding his powers, making him stronger than before.

                “Now Radien you know better than to attack with anger in your heart…”Iraon laughed. If he had a heart he might have felt some type of sympathy for the hound. As it was he was going to truly enjoy tearing the flesh from his already wounded body. 

               Radien snarled and bared his teeth.

               “Come hound lets have our rematch.” Iraon growled as he changed into his beast form. 

               They charged at each other snarling and baring teeth. Clashing with each other as one massive body struggled for dominance over the other. Teeth tared away at flesh, claws embedded themselves in bodies, tearing away chunks of fur and flesh. But it was Iraon who had the upper hand as his tail wrapped around Radien’s body, the sharp tip cutting deep into his sensitive underbelly. 

               Radien growled as he struggled to break free of Iraon’s hold, but his strength was lacking even in his breed form. Iraon whipped his tail, sending Radien into the air. His body crashed through the four remaining columns and the wall behind him. 

               Iraon howled with triumph as he watched Radien still struggle to get to his feet, the fool refused to die. There was no way the hound could beat him, not when he was beaten and worn out, his chest expanding in and out rapidly trying to drag more air into his chest. Blood covered the glass floor under his paws, blood dripping from the corners of his mouths. The light in both his tail and eyes were dimmed.

               This fight is over. Iraon thought as he felt his power coursing through his body. He was energized and ready to put an end to this once and for all. 

               “Don’t worry mutt your female will live. I didn’t deliver the last blow…I will take excellent care of her.” Iraon’s dark voice boomed in the wrecked room. To add the icing on the cake he made sure to send a detailed mental image of what he planned to do with the female to Radien.

               Which gave him the reaction he was hoping for, the hound’s eyes suddenly glowed bright and the tip of his black tail sparked with light. There was still some fight in the old dog.

               “I knew there was still some fight in you.” Iraon barked as he charged full force at Radien. His eyes black with the promise of death.

               Radien managed to dodge Iraon’s attack, hitting the beast with his tail across his snouts. Iraon howled in pain. Radien could smell, hear the sizzle of burning flesh. 

               Iraon spun around but the move was too late. Radien had already moved a good distance away and had fired a giant light orb at Iraon. 

               The beast had no time to block the attack. The orb hit him square in the chest sending him through the wall. 

               A thick cloud of dust and debris filled the air. Radien felt his legs shaking, his body was so weak and he lost too much blood…

               His ear twitched. He could hear the sound of faint breathing.

               Quickly he changed back to his human form.

               Melody. His tired mind screamed. All injuries and weakness forgotten he limped his way over to her bloodied body. Melody…she was alive, relief flowed through him.

               He went to nuzzle her when a sharp pain ran up and down his spine. He howled in pain as he felt the rest of his powers fade. He fell to his knees holding his stomach. When he looked at his hands they were covered in blood…his blood.

               Then Iraon appeared in front of him, a wicked smile spread across his face. Then he saw the simmer of the hammer being raised. 

               “I…will…kill…you.” Radien coughed up blood. The last thing he remembered was the smug look on Iraon’s face as he raised the hammer. Then there was the unbelievable pain he felt as the hammer made contact with the side of his face. 

               Instantly darkness came for him as he hit the blood stained floor…

               Iraon could hear every bone that cracked in Radien’s face and the satisfaction that filled him made chills cover his body. 

               “Masssster.”

               He cringed inwardly at the sound of the creature’s voice. He had forgotten the spineless devil had been hiding in a corner licking his wounds like the pathetic thing he was.

               “Masssster.’

                “What?” He sneered at the creature.

               “Where are we going to put the girl?”

               Such a useless creature. Iraon thought as he turned to face the devil and immediately wished he hadn’t. He almost vomited looking at the wounded thing. That disgusting skin of his had been burned completely off and hung loosely off his arm and side. The smell of rotten eggs and feces filled the air making Iraon feel light headed. It was oozing black blood and slime all over the place, its hideous face had the claw marks of the female’s paws going across it which distorted the devil’s features even more. Even one of its horns was broken and dripping a combination of blood and poison.

               “Put her in the dungeon.” Iraon ordered. The devil nodded and went to touch the female. “You stupid creature if you touch her in that form you will infect her with more of your poison and you will kill her.” Iraon growled.

               Quickly the devil retracted its claws and changed into its human form.

               Grateful he didn’t have to look at the creature’s natural form he turned his back to creature and the female as they disappeared. 

               Once again a wicked grin spread across his face as he looked down at Radien and his broken face. 

               “I think I could get used to these weapons.” He mused as he summoned the hammer in his hands again. 

               Thanks to the powers of these weapons any being or creature that was injured by one of the weapons lost their healing abilities. 

               Which is the reason why Radien’s body hadn’t healed itself…Iraon loved it, especially as he raised the hammer above his head and brought it down on Radien’s legs, shattering every bone and Radien groaned in agony. 

               Satisfaction hissed in his mind as he repeated the action on his arms.

               “Victory,” Iraon whispered, using his foot he kicked Radien on to his back. “Now you die.” Iraon laughed as he twirled the hammer in his hands; holding it high above his head ready to bring the blow of death. Iraon brought the hammer down cutting through the air with such force that if it had hit Radien it would have crushed his chest and broke him in half.

               But before Iraon could deliver his final blow there was the blade from a sword he hadn’t seen in thousands of years, a weapon that stoped his final attack.

               “That’s enough.” 

               “What are you doing here? Come to kill me.” Iraon growled in frustration at his intruder. 

               “Not yet…but I can’t let you do this.”

               “Since when have you cared about them?” Iraon spat as he pulled back his weapon and stared eye to eye with his uninvited guest. 

               “I don’t but I have unfinished business…so what will you do beast?” 

               Growling Iraon stepped away, weighing his options. Deciding that he had more important matters to attend to Iraon reluctantly backed off. “This is not over.” He growled then he was gone.

               “No it’s not.”

Reviews

[SM Garcia]

Umm. cripes.

[Shep]

He didn't happen to the female.....he didn't know what happened to the female..
Focused to on the female..focused onto the female.
Been the dog lover... been a dog lover....


Oh hell no. Don't tell me I am out of chapters all ready. Things are just heating up. I hope there i more. Because you have yet to fill me. I need it, I beg for it.