The Savage Peak: A Morgalla prequel Page 5

  A shriek carried on the hot wind, and both women looked off into the distance where they thought it was coming from. Another screech called out, and soon many had joined in a horrifying chorus. They sounded far away, but they were also getting louder by the moment.

  “What is that?” Morgalla asked with a slight stammer in her voice.

  A single whispered word escaped Delilah’s lips. “Dracon.”

  Winged beasts, a swarm of them, flew overhead. Delilah ducked. Morgalla dropped to the ground. A deafening sound of shrieks and flapping wings made the young demon cover her ears. Delilah, too, found it annoying, but she held her position. Their wings made a vortex that nearly knocked the dragon hybrid off her feet.

  The swarm passed. Both women looked over the edge of the cliff and saw the dracon fly down around the castle, swarming about it like a tornado. Delilah and Morgalla saw far below from the castle courtyard and noticed a large group of demons and soldiers had gathered. From the castle, a figure emerged. At first, it looked as if the structure was bleeding. A vile black substance flowed around through the courtyard.

  Though they were at a great distance away, Morgalla sensed the creature’s soul. She had never been able to do that with someone so far away before. The demon…creature…seemed to be consuming the courtyard with its black cloak, or was it the creature’s body?

  Delilah could barely tell from where she was, but she could make out armor plating and a helm that was part of its body. She was unable to distinguish where the cloak ended and the armor began. A pair of large, black horns stretched from the top of its helmet.

  All demons before the beast knelt to one knee.

  Another word escaped Delilah’s lips in a whisper. “Zorach.”

  Morgalla looked shocked. “That…is Zorach?”

  “The Unholy, yes.”

  When done with their practice, they took the easy way down from the cliff with Delilah gliding to the town below. Both their stomachs rumbled. They walked through the town, down alleyways and past numerous buildings where demons were out and about doing their business.

  Then Delilah stopped.

  “What is it?” Morgalla asked.

  “I…have no memory of this place.”

  The castle could easily be seen, but the buildings before them blocked their path. They sought out a different path but could not find one.

  “That building is new,” Delilah noted, pointing to one of them.

  Morgalla spotted someone in a window and approached her, hoping she might speak her language.

  “Um…excuse me…I was wondering…”

  The woman ignored her but looked out the window and down the mist-covered alleyway. The female demon then stepped back and slammed it shut in Morgalla’s face.

  “Excuse me.”

  Delilah planted her hand on Morgalla’s shoulder. “Shh.”

  As she pointed, Morgalla saw one demon emerge from the mist, then another and another. The first three had horns but many after them didn’t. Their skins were all different shades of red, and they wore red leather.

  From the buildings at the opposite end, more demons appeared. Some of their skins were shades of grey, others were purple. They wore black, and their bodies were dripping in gold. Same with the other group, the first few out, had horns.

  One by one, demons on both sides drew weapons of all sorts.

  It seemed as if the Crimson Death Crew and the Guild of the Golden Spike had a beef with each other.

  Morgalla looked around and saw no exit. Delilah, with a very strong grip, took her by the shoulder and flew to the roof of a building. Two stories up, they looked down to the two tribes slowly approaching one another. Morgalla was about to leave, but Delilah stopped her. She looked at the situation with great interest.

  Children had gathered on both sides of the alleyway atop the buildings to witness the goings on. There was silence throughout the area, yet Morgalla was still uncomfortable. Through the souls all around, she could feel their desire for the kill, whether they were participating or spectating. The children exchanged glances, dirty looks, and rude gestures, with each other across the alleyway.

  The two sides took their places and stood with eyes intense and clawed hands flexed around their weapons. All the demons could easily feel the rage and lust for war in the hearts of either gang. After a few moments of nothing, Morgalla finally wondered something.

  “Is this it?”

  “Shh,” Delilah snapped back.

  One demon roared, and he was joined by his cohorts. The demons on the opposite end roared back. Both groups held up their weapons. Children joined in, cheering on what side they were rooting for. The sound was deafening as Morgalla covered her ears.

  Like a bolt of lightning, both sides struck, their demon reflexes a blur as they moved. Metal clashed, and flesh was cleaved. Through the roars of battle, Morgalla could easily hear the wails of anguish and misery. She saw one arm severed, falling into dust, but the demon’s scream was cut a moment later with another wound across his neck.

  One demon’s battle cry was cut short due to a mace crushing his skull. His body dropped and exploded into black ooze.

  The young ones raised their fists and cheered, but it soon became apparent that the Guild of the Golden Spike was starting to lose the fight. The children on one side where Delilah and Morgalla all gave sounds of disappointment. Some even started crying. Morgalla looked at Delilah who wore a smile on her face.

  A thought struck Morgalla and made her heart seize.

  Will I have to do this someday…belong to a clan and fight for no good reason?

  Thankfully through all the carnage, no one could sense Morgalla’s terror as she backed away. Her hand clutched the center of her chest. Delilah smirked at the children’s melancholy and fought not to break out into laughter.

  As one clan retreated, the Crimson Death Crew all rose their fists and weapons into the air. They roared in victory.

  The children, who had been cheering for the losing side, all ran off in terror. Morgalla had to avoid being knocked over as they ran past.

  It was then that Delilah noticed the mood of her apprentice. Her smile was gone in an instant, but she didn’t have to ask what was wrong with her. Her hands went to her hips. She took in a deep breath and breathed out a long sigh.

  “Why, oh why did they make me take you off the world?”

  Morgalla’s breathing slowed, and her heart calmed. She couldn’t look Delilah in the eye. No words were spoken during the evening meal.

  5

  A Day of War

  Delilah had spent a great deal of time catching up with the allies who also flew under the banner of Zorach. Her student couldn’t help but notice that many conversations ended with her in a melancholy mood.

  “What is it?” Morgalla asked.

  “Nothing,” Delilah snapped. “I can’t believe this.”

  Morgalla had to run to keep up with Delilah’s angry stride, her long legs carrying her a great distance with each step.

  “Tell me. What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “There are things you need not concern yourself with, child.”

  “Well, if it involves me, shouldn’t I know?”

  Delilah stopped, as did Morgalla who had to catch her breath from the exertion of running.

  “Two worlds,” Delilah snapped. “It wasn’t just Usteron that Zorach’s armies lost, but a second too.”

  “Well, what does that mean for us?”

  “Losing one world is bad enough, but there was a rebellion on a second.”

  Morgalla was concerned. “Well, fine. But what does that mean for us?”

  Delilah looked left and right to make sure no one was near. “It means Zorach’s position among the lords is in jeopardy. And what bears ill for him, bears ill for us. That’s what it means.”

  Morgalla’s eyes widened, and she took a step back. It was then she noticed the presence of a group of demons. They saw an imposing figure at the top of a hill with a sma
ll group of demons behind him. He was dressed in garbs of dark red with black armor…a typical demon of high standing, with bright red skin and long, styled black hair. A light beard adorned his chiseled face as his lips were curled into a sneer. Black horns, small but sharp, were atop his head.

  Delilah looked with curiosity as if she recognized him.

  “Who is that?” Morgalla asked.

  “If I’m correct, that must be Makraka.”

  “I take it you don’t know him?”

  “I know of him. His reputation is for being ruthless and efficient.”

  Makraka came down from the hill, and his people followed behind. Delilah held her ground. Morgalla copied. Since Delilah wasn’t apprehensive at all, it filled her with confidence that they were not in danger.

  “Greetings.” The demon spoke with a deep voice.

  “General…Makraka, is it?” Delilah replied with a slight bow.

  “And you are Delilah, are you not?”

  Delilah’s heart swelled with pride. She couldn’t help but smile.

  “There is a dragon on the planet Gallestire Three, a pyro mare named Delilah…”

  She continued to smirk. “I am named for her.”

  “The great romance between the dragon and the demon lord Huxar? You are the result?”

  “I am their grandchild, actually.”

  “Remarkable.” Amazingly, the tiniest of smiles came to Makraka’s lips.

  “This is my apprentice, Morgalla.”

  The young student raised her tiny hand in a little wave. “Hi.”

  Makraka’s smile was gone as he studied the child, but it returned when his gaze went back to Delilah.

  “I am headed off-world to crush some insurrection. Would you care to come?”

  “Hmmm…” Delilah ran her clawed fingers over her chin then turned to her apprentice. “Care to go?”

  “Crushing a rebellion?”

  “Come.”

  Delilah took her by the arm and pulled her hard in the direction of the portal chamber. Makraka couldn’t help but show his aggravation that the child was tagging along.

  They arrived in the portal chamber. An entourage was waiting for the general; some were clearly warriors, but a few had some other function. Makraka pushed them aside as he stepped through the portal which burned like fire. The rest of them followed, with Delilah and Morgalla last. The apprentice paused a moment but felt a hard shove behind her.

  Morgalla cried out as she fell through the wormhole, plummeting towards their destination. Wherever this world was, it must have been many light years away because her journey was longer than from Usta. She arrived at the journey's end, landing on a stone floor. Delilah was close behind.

  An unfamiliar smell filled Morgalla’s nose as she looked up to an alien sky. She was pulled to her feet by Delilah, and the two of them followed Makraka and his troupe. A foul smell carried on the air, one of death and decay. The area they walked through was a demolished city. Rubble and the bodies of the dead surrounded them.

  Morgalla gave pause, seeing the dead. Their green blood stank. Delilah pushed her along.

  “Don’t embarrass me,” she whispered.

  Strange sounds carried in the air and Morgalla seemed shocked as the strangest of things came flying by. They glowed blue and gave off a strange buzz as they flew. They were not living creatures that she had ever seen, but she knew they had the souls present within them. Morgalla looked to Delilah who also looked on curiously but wasn’t shocked.

  “They need devices to fly,” Delilah said.

  “Is that…”

  “Tek-nology? Yes.”

  Winged dracon came from the sky as well, swarming around the flying devices. Beams of light shot about, slaying dracon with ease. Due to their sheer numbers, the dracon were able to bring down the crafts, making them crash into the buildings above them.

  Delilah grabbed Morgalla and dove under an archway to avoid the falling debris. One from the entourage wasn’t so lucky as a massive piece of rubble crushed him. Makraka didn’t stop for one moment as they continued on.

  Delilah looked up to the sky to make sure it was safe. She pulled a shaking Morgalla from the archway.

  “Come on.”

  They finally arrived at their destination: a cliff face that overlooked a massive battlefield. The two women came on the scene just in time to see Makraka berating some sort of subordinate. When he saw that Delilah was there, he gave the subordinate the back of his hand, making him fall to the ground.

  “You disgust me,” the general roared. “Allowing the rabble of this world to get the better of you.”

  “They caught us by surprise. It’s not my fault.”

  The subordinate fought to his feet but was cut down by the general’s blade.

  “You’re demoted.”

  The lifeless form froze into a petrified corpse as a severed head dropped to the ground with a loud thump and rolled, finally stopping at the feet of the two demonic women. Delilah didn’t flinch, but Morgalla took a step back, seeing the look of fear forever frozen on the statue’s face.

  Delilah looked at Morgalla with clenched lips.

  Makraka was shown maps and briefed on the situation. He shouted orders to the rest of the officers in charge of the armies. They did precisely what he commanded. He stood at the edge of the cliff, his clawed hands on his hips and chest out. The wind blew through his long, black hair and his cloak. He checked over his shoulder, seeing Delilah who stood with arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

  Morgalla sat on a rock with an expression of disinterest.

  Makraka had one more order to give. “Have the leaders of the insurrection brought to me so I might kill them myself.”

  Delilah smiled. When Morgalla rolled her eyes, she looked over her shoulder. “I saw that.”

  After a long day of violence and the crushing of a revolution, Morgalla returned to Hell with Delilah. Her head was filled with memories she was trying to process. She leaned against a stone wall.

  “What is it?” Delilah asked.

  Morgalla didn’t answer with words but with a look.

  “Your first time in the world ruled by tek-nology,” Delilah noted. “They are capable of incredible things, make no mistake. But it turns them weak.”

  “Weak?”

  “They rely upon it. Strip our weapons away, and we are still strong. Strip their toys away and what are they?”

  Morgalla shrugged.

  “Dead.”

  Morgalla decided to change the subject. “You know Makraka was annoyed that I was there, right?”

  “Yes, of course. If he wishes to court me, I’m not going to make it obvious that I’m attracted.”

  “You’re interested in him?”

  “Who wouldn’t be? Strong, powerful, tall.” Delilah had a twinkle in her golden eye, but she couldn’t help but see the expression on Morgalla’s face. “There will be time for a mate, child. I’ll teach you that too. But for now, there are more important things.”

  A look of disgust befell the young demon girl at the thought of mating with one of the demon males she had met so far.

  Evening meal couldn’t come soon enough. Morgalla usually ate quickly, but tonight she chewed and swallowed slow. Delilah noticed.

  “Something else on your mind?”

  “You’re proud a rebellion was crushed today?”

  Delilah pondered a moment. “Proud? It’s unfortunate. I wouldn’t necessarily use that word.”

  “And what would you do if you were in their place?” Morgalla asked.

  “I would fight back. But I’m not them.”

  “But…”

  Delilah interrupted. “Child, silence. The words you speak are dangerous, and there are ears everywhere.”

  Morgalla frowned, her soul burned with anger she had never felt. “Just because I…”

  “It is the way of things. The Dark One gave us purpose, to bring order to the cosmos. It is a burden we accept gladly.”

  “A
little too gladly, if you ask me.”

  They went silent as a servant approached and offered to take their empty plates. They handed them over and waited until he was gone.

  “There is a word used by the lesser species,” Delilah said. “God.”

  “Okay.”

  “It is a higher being they all look to for guidance, or blessings, or whatever.”

  “So, are you saying the Dark One is God?”

  “Shh, that’s blasphemy,” Delilah snapped. “I’m saying the lesser species are off worshiping their false, absent God or perhaps their science, while what we have is real. The Usta, the Calamay, the humans, all of them weak and pathetic.”

  Morgalla said nothing, but clearly Delilah felt the doubt in her heart.

  Delilah got up. “Be a loyal soldier, and someday you will hear the Dark One’s call.”

  Delilah continued to feast, but her student was silent and still with much to contemplate. The rumbling of her stomach could not be ignored for long. Though she did wonder just what she had been thrown into.

  It was soon after that when Delilah introduced her student to the doxer races. The bronze-scaled doxer was a quadruped just barely large enough for Morgalla to ride. Its claws were large for digging through the dirt and its tail long like a whip. The bronze-colored scales made it look like the beasts were wearing some sort of armor from its snout to its rump. Small horns adorned the backs of their heads, and they had four bright red eyes.

  As they walked through the archway leading to the track, they saw demons of all kinds congregating and overall having a good time. It was actually a pleasant experience. Delilah smiled as she saw her student finally enjoying herself.

  Morgalla noticed a sign in a language she did not recognize. “What does that say?”

  “No death,” Delilah replied, to which Morgalla looked confused. “Yes, there are actual places where no killing is allowed…within the castle, for example, but that just applies to those under Zorach’s banner. Anyone who comes in looking for trouble is out of luck.”

  “Oh.”

  Like a switch, Morgalla’s soul was set at ease. She had the feeling she might be spending more time here.