Prelude: Piazza di San Pietro

(Page 18 of 20)

Leaping to his feet, he grabbed Cheval by the wrist and tossed him at the woman. She crumpled as the boy struck her, trying to avoid impaling him upon her sword. The pole-man stabbed toward him, and Demetrius allowed the weapon to strike. Then, he hurriedly pulled the pike through his body, sliding across its length as he heaved closer his attacker. Too late did the man release his weapon, for Demetrius’ teeth were already buried deep into his larynx.

Not pausing to drink, the creature pulled the throat from his victim. Blood sprayed across the room, staining the white, padded walls in carnage. He yanked the pole from his back. A dripping gash filled his chest, but was of no concern as he leaped toward the body of the crying man attempting to wipe the blood sickness from his eyes. Demetrius’ sharpened fingers easily gouged the sockets of the orbs. With little effort, he separated the top of the blinded warriors skull from the rest of his body. He laughed as roaches began falling from the quickly growing openings in his skin.

Samantha stepped away from the holding cell window. And his father gave him great gifts and precious things. She came to the realization just as Cheval did.

“Hãsîl.” Cheval spoke the realization to himself as the woman threw him to his feet.

She swung her sword with awesome precision, but the razor edge landed short of its mark. Instead, it was knocked out of the way by the skull piece the creature held. A spray of dead, gray intellect splashed across her face, and the beast’s claw punched through her chest. Her blood covered Cheval, stinging in one eye, but the boy remained unfazed.

Using the moment to his advantage, he circled the beast and plunged his knife deep into its heart via the already gaping wound, before the creature could remove his hand from the woman’s torso. For a moment both Demetrius and Cheval appeared frozen in space. Subsequently, the insects stopped falling from Demetrius’ flesh.

Cheval wasted no time. Grasping a prod left by one of the beast’s victims, he began beating the creature. Over, and over, and over again he stuck at its face and head, exoskeletons crunching under the blows. The scene was completed shortly thereafter, when the sword of a fallen comrade was used to remove Demetrius’ head.

Cheval exited the room covered in blood.

“Take his remains, and those of the others to the Stygian stoves. I will not be attending the debriefing.” He dropped the sword, and popped his shoulder back into place. “I’ll take my leave. Wish your friend good luck.”

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