First story

[caintheeternal]

Well, here's a taste of Dysfunction. It's an original work, all original characters, setting. Here's just a few pages. Fantasy setting, magic, strage creatures, swrodplay, all that jazz.

So, now, without further adieu...

 The raindrops fell like the tears on my face. Cold and fast. "So, it has come to this. Do you really hate me this much?" He asked. The anger danced in my eyes like the flames of Hell and I tightened my grip on his throat. With all he had done to me, he had no remorse and his tone was not that of one who cared.

"Yes" I growled. Thunder and lightning seemed to emphasize the anger in my voice.

"Tis a shame, then." His movements were too fast to follow and I suddenly found myself with the point of my blade at nose. "Why is it you hunt me with such fervor? After all I had done for you..."

"Done to me." I hissed. "Do you not see what you've done to me? How much misery you've caused me?"

"Oh, come now. We've had some fun." He said. "You can't say that all your memories of me are bad."

"You killed my parents! My woman!" The tears began to cloud my vision and I could barely speak. My voice was cracking into sobs. "My child! You took the only people who loved me! The only people I loved! You're a monster! I hate you!" I was straining all of my being to get out these words, my voice was nearly dead and my throat was killing me.

"I had to! They were holding you back! They were your weakness, Warrick!" He roared back. Cain was angry. I'd never heard him angry.

I clutched my chest as I fell to the floor, the overbearing pressure of his hand pinning to the wall was finally gone. "I hate you, Cain. I hate you." My voice was weak and the words came out just above a whisper.

"The part you were playing was not meant for you, Warrick... Son... Lover... Father..." He circled me as he began his lecture. "Good things to be, yes. But not for you. I've seen what lies ahead. I can not tell you yet but trust me, what was done was done because it had to be." He drove my sword into the ground and began to walk away. "For what it's worth, I'm ... sorry I've caused you so much pain." He added, with his back to me.

"Sorry won't bring back my daughter." I hissed.

"Well, right now, that's all I can offer, Warrick. .... I'm heading north, through the forests of Dam'rana, to the city of Sili. Don't dawdle too long." And with that last comment, he vanished from view. He was faster than I had imagined. It seems that all this chasing him over continents was just a game to him. A game that he controlled. But if I wanted my revenge, I'd have to play.

I'd walked miles through the forest before nightfall. The forest of Dam'rana is no place to set up camp, so it seemed I'd be stuck travelling all night. After a few more miles, when the moon was high above my head, I sat to take a short rest.

"What are you doing in my forests?" Asked a raspy voice, breaking through the eerie silence to which I had grown accustomed. I couldn't tell from where it came or from what kind of creature it originated, but I stood and drew my sword, leaving my cloak and satchel on the forest floor.

"Who's there?!" I shouted.

"What are you doing in my forest, human?" The creature climbed slowly from the canopy and rested in some branches. It looked like a wolf with some lizard features and it was much larger than 5 men put together. I felt it could easily swallow me whole but I did not let on to my fear. "What are you doing here? Don't you know it isn't safe here?" He gave a little chuckle and climbed down to a lower branch, still several feet above me.

"I'm passing through. Let me alone."

"Let you alone? Or what? You'll attack me with your superior strength?" He climbed down to another few branches. "With your superior speed?" Closer he came down the trees in which he loomed. "Ha!" He let out a low guttural growl. "You're no fair game to me..."

I scoffed and adjusted my glove. "I don't attack God's lesser creatures." I snidely remarked.

He dropped to the forest floor and laughed. "You think God favors you? You poor, deluded boy." He began to circle me and I heard movement in the trees around us. He was only a few feet away and I could see exactly how much larger than me he was. It was a wonder the trees could support his weight. "Look at us. I'm bigger, stronger, faster and smarter than you are."

"You are not smarter than I am." I cut in.

"Oh? Then why is it you were stupid enough to leave the few supplies you had on the ground where my children could get them?"

I quickly looked over to where I had left my stuff just in time to watch his last child fade into the shadow of the forest. In my shock, he managed to knock my sword from hand. "Damn you!"

"Now... who's smarter, human?" He snidely remarked. I felt incredibly stupid.

"Return my belongings." I commanded.

"Why? So you'll have something to attack me with? You really are stupid, you know." He replied.

"I demand--" He cut me off and I suddenly felt the humid heat of his breath blow on my face, tainted with the scent of lost travelers who became meals.

"You are in no position to demand!" He roared. I clenched my fist. Though I was without my blade, I still had some magicks at my disposal, courtesy of Cain.

My body tensed, bracing for a hit and preparing for an attack, and I could see the animal was doing the same. Finally, his massive paw smacked into my side, knocking me across the small clearing, into a tree. My palms glowed red for a second before I released several sparks onto the monsters coat, burning some of his fur but not really accomplishing much. "You're a fool!" He growled as he pounced on me. I moved my limbs just in time, his huge paws missed them by very little and a claw scratched my thigh. Once again, I felt his breath on me and I felt my end was near. My vengeance on Cain was never to be exacted and I would die a failure.

And though it killed me inside, I knew what I had to do. Plead. "No, please, don't. I can't die like this. I just can't."

He snarled and a bit of saliva fell on my chest. "And what makes you better than my past meals? Hm? Why are you above being food, human?" He let out a gust of hot air onto my face as he finished his question and my mind scrambled to find an answer.

"Because I--" And before I could finished my 'salvation' had arrived. Cain stood above us both, the bodies of 2 of the monsters pups in his hands.

"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He asked with his arrogant voice. Immediately, the monster lunged at Cain who vanished into a puff of I-don't-know-what. It was black but misted like water. I got up, rubbing my chest and wondering why Cain had done what he done. But as I had already embraced, Cain's acts of violence are pointless.

I recovered my belongings from where they had fallen and called to the monster. "Beast. That was Cain. He killed my family. He is why I can't be your meal. I must kill him." I explained.

The monster's bosom heaved in and out as he took in angry breaths. "He killed my children!" He roared. "He killed my children!"

"And my daughter! And my wife! And my parents! Believe me, I know what it is to be hurt by Cain. And I shall be sure to give him a blow for you." I said. The monster charged me again, this stopping just before he hit me, though I still wobbled back from the wind that accompanied his movement

"He killed my children. I'm going with you." He declared. His words were full of anger and I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him otherwise.

We traveled for a while and I told the dog what had happened. He told me his name was Eido. "....So, Eido, he said he was going to the city of Sili. And that's where we're headed." I finished and before I knew it, I was on his back and we were shooting through the forest like a bat out of Hell. The remaining mile of forest seemed like only a blur to me.

As we came to the forest's edge, I gasped and struggled to catch my breath. My lungs weren't used to such a velocity. "You could've warned me!" I shouted.

"Too slow. Now shut up, the cities over the next hill." He responded, strutting past me.

As we neared the port city if Sili's outer wall, I could see the archers lining it, aiming at Eido. I went to say something but he just snorted and continued toward the door. "Knock." He ordered.

"We're being targeted, we--"

"Just knock. As long as I do nothing sudden, we'll be fine." He reassured me. And so I knocked. The door opened a little and the blade of a halberd was pointed at my face. Third time today that I've had something sharp dangerously close to my nose. The door opened more and a female guard stepped out, holding the halberd to me.

"What's your business here?" She asked. Her tone was lacking any friendliness, as was her expression.

"We're looking for someone. A man named Cain. He's taller than I and more muscular with long black hair tied back. He's wearing the clothes of a warrior and he has a broadsword on his back." I told her. She relaxed her stance but signaled for archers to keep their aim on us.

"I saw this man. He went to the docks." She told me.

"We won't be in the city long."

She nodded and the doors opened completely. After we took a few steps in, she called ot me. "Hey. Keep your 'pet' on a short leash." Eido snarled but kept walking.

We made our way to the center of the city, the town square. Eido was recieving a .... 'less than warm' welcome. He'd ignored most of the tomatoes that stained his white and gray coat but I could see that he'd lose control soon. Behind us, the female guard led a small group of soldiers, obviously following us. They made no attempt at discretion. I turned to look at them and accidentally made eye contact with the female guard. Her eyes were a pale gray and full of repressed anger. I could tell that she was just dying to find a reason to attack us. And Eido gave her one. "Get away from me, you filthy brat!" He growled at a small boy with a shirt full of tomatoes. He let out a fierce roar and the boy fell as Eido started to advance in him. I mouthed profanities to myself as the guards charged us.

"Eido! We have trouble!" My sword was already in hand and I took a defensive stance, my blade held parallel to my body, blocking my heart. Eido leaped beside me and let out another fearsome roar. The guards surrounded us with the female right in front. "We have done nothing! He was just defending himself!" I yelled. The town square quickly cleared out and I found that it was only the guards and ourselves.

The woman pushed down the visor on her helm and I could now only see her mouth. "Your pet tried to attack one of my people." She explained. "Punishable by death." Her red lips curled up into a sadistic smile and she gripped her halberd tightly. Eido crouched down on his front legs, as if ready to pounce. The first few moments of the fight were a blur. I remember being hit by an arm after the female guard and I locked blade. "I am Bel Al Cana, Leader of the Silian Guard. You cannot win. Accept death."

"I cannot lose. I will accept nothing." I grunted as I kicked her in the belly. Her light armor clanged as she hit the floor. In one fluid moment, she got up and used her halberd to vault into me, kicking me square in the chest. Though she wore light armor, it still hurt a lot. I rolled onto my feet and deflected let another flying limb. Eido's method of fighting was effective but messy. I watched him tear into a guard and realized that it could have been me. That pause for thought allowed Bel to get in another hit. The shaft of her halberd struck my face and I spun parallel to the ground before slamming down. She tried to stab me while I was down but I blocked and tripped her while spinning to my feet. My blade struck the ground just as she rolled away. Her fist struck my bracer and mine struck her helm, she kicked me in the side but I countered with a slap from the heavy blade of my sword. A bright red bruise quickly formed on her cheek and I smiled. She didn't take that too kindly and she returned the favor as the butt of her halberd struck my forehead, leaving a red circle. My skin is brown, her's is white, her bruise was more noticeable, which I found comfort in. I was distracted again as I heard Eido howl. Several arrows had struck his backside which allowed a swordsman to slice at his front legs. I leapt onto Bel's head, sending her face-first into the ground and I ran to Eido's aid. I moved on instinct and couldn't quite see what I was doing but my blade was bloody and only a few more soldiers were left. Even the archers' heads were laying on the ground. Bel thrusted her blade me and tried to take my head off, I ducked and rolled toward her only to get kicked in the face twice as she flipped backwards, away from me. Eido grunted and charged the other guards. He chomped into one of them and threw them up into the air. The man seemed to hang in the air for a few moments before he dropped into Eido's waiting mouth and was eaten. Eido strained and the arrows popped out of his back. Astonished, I absent-mindedly allowed Bel to get yet another hit in. As I rolled across the ground, I mouthed more profanities. When I landed, I looked up to see Cain hovering in the air above us.

"Enough!" He yelled and all fighting ceased. "Warrick, you've no time for this. I'm heading across the sea. I'll be waiting in Mara. Don't take too long."

I leapt to my feet and screamed at him: "Cain! Stop running from me! Face me now!"

He floated toward the dock. "You'd lose." He replied. "Farewell." And with a bow, he was gone.

Ignoring everything and everyone else, Eido and I ran after him and jumped onto a ship, cutting its tether as we boarded. "Take us to Mara!" I demanded. listening to the jingle of Bel's armor as she followed.

"Why should I?" Asked the captain. He was younger than I but had an old voice. His eyes were black and dead to contrast with his shocking white hair. He wore only pants and boots and he had an epee hanging from the sash around his waist.
 "Please, I'll pay you anything, just hurry!" I pleaded.

"You don't look like you got nothin' to pay me wit'." He commented. And suddenly, Eido was on him.

"Get this ship out of harbor now and I'll spare your life." He snarled. The captain was all too eager to comply, then. Bel cursed us from the dock and I simply waved back. I approached the captain and bowed.

"Forgive my friend's ... disposition. But we were in a hurry." The captain said nothing so I continued talking. "Trust me, you will be paid." I said as I threw him a small sack of gold coins. He locked the wheel and checked the bag.

"This be enough for the voyage but it won't cover my emotional pain." He remarked.

"Stay with us and I assure you, they'll be more."

He tied the pouch to his sash and thought for a moment. "Where are you going?" I told him the story up until now and he told me about himself. He was way older than he appeared to be and had owned that ship for years. His name was Falon and the ship was called the Immolator. He wouldn't tell me why the ship had such an odd name and he said if trouble came, I would find out. That night, I went below deck, look around the cabins, curious as to what the old man, who looks like a boy, had found over the years. I found many wardrobes filled with clothes and many weapons storages. Odd. After checking a dozen cabins, I went to my own and slept. I was never too eager to sleep. To return to the nightmarish memories of things past. Every night, I watched my daughter die. Every morning, I woke up screaming. I hoped this night would be different.

I woke up screaming in the wee hours of the morning. Unsure if I woke anyone up, I went above deck. Surprisingly, Falon was there, resting his feet on the railing of the ship and playing a harmonica. He played a low, sad song which forced me to remember what had happened. About a year ago, my daughter and I were out picking fruit. The memory plays in my mind like a silent movie. I carry her on my shoulders and she rests the basket on my head. I open the door and there he is, Cain, pulling his sword from my beloved's chest. He turned toward me and sheathed his blade. I remember exactly what he said. "You're almost free, Warrick." And then he lunged over my head. I turned and saw my daughter's body lying amongst the apples and pears. The other villagers came, answering a scream I hadn't known I let out. That night, I left for this quest. The song ended and I was pulled from my memories. "You okay?" Falon asked me as he tossed me a handkerchief. I didn't notice the tears rolling down my cheeks. I nodded and gave a small yawn. "You sleep like this often?"

"What do you mean?" I asked with a puzzle expression.

"Waking up with screams?" He pawed around below his chair for a bottle.

"I... Yes, it had become routine..." I admitted. The cold sea air blew against the tracks of my tears and I shivered. "Wh-what about you? You don't seem as if you were asleep."

He pointed up and said: "I can't sleep what with that 'anging out above me." I looked and saw that Eido had claimed the crow's nest as his own and settled into a deep sleep. His teeth were shown and he was snarling. I could only imagine what he was dreaming about. "Go to your room. Try to get some more sleep. If ya going to beat this Cain fella, you need to be rested, aye?" Falon said. I nodded and went back below deck. Surprisingly, sleep came quickly.

The next morning, I woke up to the same scream but calmed as the sun hit my face through the porthole in my room. Suddenly, something crashed into my door. I stared and it crashed again so I grabbed my sword from bedside. "Open up!" Shouted Eido. My door had a knob and he lacked the thumbs to turn it.

"What do you want?!" I asked, through the door.

"We've arrived ... the captain is gone." He growled.

"Did you eat him?" I asked, somewhat joking but also a bit serious.

"I'll eat you if you don't come out of there." He snapped at me and rammed the door again. If I didn't open it, he'd break it down.

I rushed to the door and slammed it open, asking: "Why the rush for me to open the door?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed."If you've forgotten, we have the Silian Guard after us."

I had forgotten. I grabbed my clothes, dressing as I ran up stairs and we leapt off the ship. We were in the city of Pirotia, another port city, like Sili, but no comparison in size to Sili. Mara was a few miles northwest. "We have a long walk to Mara." I told Eido.

"Get a horse." He kept looking back at the water. "I see a Silian ship. If you ride me, we'll be an easy target for archers..." As if they could hear us, several arrow fell by our feet and I mouthed more profanities. Before I could say 'Run', Eido had grabbed my cloak and was dragging me through the narrow streets. Here, no one dared to attack Eido. The Pirotian guard was not as adept as the Silian and they knew when to pick their battles. I heard cannon fire. Were the Silian guards that angry that they would fire randomly into to the city? A cannonball crashed near us, forming a small crater in the ground. Obviously, their shots weren't so random but right now, we had no time to figure out how they were tracking us through the narrow streets and alleyways of the Pirotia. As I was dragged, I spotted an inn.

"Eido, an Inn. We can hide in the stable." Eido grunted and made a sharp turn into the inn's stable. We hid behind some horses and held our breath for a few moments.

"Any idea how they're tracking us?" Asked Eido. I shrugged and dusted off my clothing.

"None..." My heart raced and I drew my sword. "We may have to fight again." I warned my companion.

"Good." He growled. He paced back and forth, restless and eager to battle. Though, I'm sure we would survive, I didn't want to waste any time getting to Cain. Eido and I turned toward the inn door as it began to open. We were both ready to kill whatever came out. Fortunately, it was only an old man.

"W-what are you doing in my stable? Get away from my horses!" His voice was panicked but I sheathed my sword and took a step toward him. He grabbed the nearby pitchfork and aimed it at me, in an attempt to keep me at bay. "St-stay back!"

"We mean you no harm, we just need a place to think." I told him as I held my hands in the air, to show I had no ill intent. "We're being chased by the Silian Guard."

"You're criminals. Stay where you are!" He shouted in his raspy voice. He thrusted the pitchfork toward me, not to hit me just to intimidate. Undoubtedly, the Silian ship had landed and Bel and her men were closing in on us.

Eido stepped forward and growled. "We've no time for this.." He began to walk around me.

"No, Eido. You will not kill him." I commanded.

"I must, Warrick, he stands in our way..." He hissed.

"Warrick?" Asked the old man, dropping the pitchfork. "You're name is Warrick? Who were you named for?"

Puzzled, I answered. "I am named for my father and his father before him and the ten men before them. I am thirteenth in the bloodline. Coming from the island of Pri. You know my name?"

His mouth formed a large smile, though teeth were missing, it was a friendly one. "I knew your family. Your grandfather and your father. Quickly, come inside."

Eido was too large to get through the door so I followed the old man alone. Inside, I saw pictures. One of my father and mother hold a baby, me. Another of my father as a boy with my grandparents. And another with my grandfather and this old man. These must've been painted long ago but the images were clear. There were a few people scattered around, obviously those staying at the inn. "These paintings...."

"Yes, your uncle did them." He said.

"Uncle? I have an Uncle?" The man looked at me in confusion.

"You don't know your uncle?"

"No, I never met him or heard of him..."

The old man looked down in thought for a few seconds before asking: "Where is your father now?"

"Dead." I answered without tact, not even think of how the man would react. He fell into the chair behind him and stared into the floor. Obviously, he must've been close to my father.

"And your mother?" His eyes filled with hope that I would say she was alive. Sadly, I had to break it to him.

"She was killed with father."

"Killed? Your father was killed?" He looked shocked. "And mother?" He added.

"Yes, by the man I'm hunting now."

"I'm so sorry."

"I was little, I can barely remember them. The pain of their loss has long since dulled." I responded. Outside, we could hear the clutter of Silian armor. The old man grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the counter, into the back room. In there, was armor and various weapons. He grabbed a sword and placed it in my hand.

"Here, give me your sword and use this." He said. "My name is Verin. Find my shop in Draia and tell my apprentice who you are. He has something that belongs to you."

"Why are you taking my sword?" I asked as I removed the sheath from my belt.

"I will temper the sword. I've no time to explain. Just go." He said as he pushed me out the back way. I clung to the sword and climbed into a stable window. Eido was no where to be found. Only hay and horses.

"Where did he go?" Suddenly, a haystack exploded and Eido was shaking the loose bits of hay from his fur.

"I thought it best to hide while you were in there." He explained in a growl. "Steal a horse."

I didn't bother to reply. I jumped on the nearest saddled horse and we took off into the streets, which were teaming with Silian guard.

"After them!" I recognized that voice. The woman. Bel. I turned back and saw her thin, red lips sneering as me. "Stop and I'll kill you quickly!" She shouted.

We turned into a thin alley way and Eido jumped on the wall. He ran along side me though I was on the ground and he was still running on the wall. "We have to find a place to lay low!" I yelled to Eido, my voice being muffled by the high winds of our pace.

"No! We run!" He snapped back. A volley of arrows pierce the earth at our feet. This was not the time to discuss our plans for action so ran. We came to a junction, when the alley split into 3. With no time, Eido ran in the left path, into the darkness, so I followed. The clanking of Silian armor faded from earshot.

"I think we've lost them."

"For now." Eido growled.

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