"A Fate Worse Than Death" by Joshua Price

It was a time in ages past, a time before the existence of many inhabitants of the universe today. A time when humans, Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and kular were not the Elder Races, but were the only races. And, alas, it was a time of great war, the war to begin all wars...

The white leopard stood watching, observing the children at play. She dusted off her green robes as they enjoyed thier time before her eyes. It was quite comforting to see children playing in the streets as if there was no such thing as demons and evil. Their laughter was like a sweet melody to her ears. If she had the face of other races, she would have smiled, despite how badly things had been going on lately.

Alas, though they had slain the incarnations of evil, they had found out how to keep the Legends dead for good. It was this that worried her so, for they had already slain Sylvenias Gladeleef, elven Legend of stealth and fighting at a distance. And it was only two weeks ago that they took Felias Hasthur, that charming human who was Legend of offensive magic. The attacks had left the other five, which included herself, Legend of Summoning, a little more than worried.

Syrea, her fellow kular Legend, who was blessed with speed far greater than anything that moved on two or four legs, was to have his unit meet up with her own here so that they wouldn't fall. Then, once together, they'd go and meet Garias Dragonfire, Angis Stormforge, and Lor'Batol, who controlled strength, defensive magic, and healing respectively, and unite together so that they would not fall to demon attacks. She wished they could leave soon to go to the ordained place, if only Syrea would hurry...

"My Lady! Urgent news!"

Allinav turned to see an elf running up to her. He was bloodied, his clothes were tattered, and he looked exhausted. This was going to be bad.

"My Lady!" he said once more, stopping in front of her, kneeling, "I bring you terrible..."

Allinav had noticed the children had stopped playing. Her sensitive ears told her that much. She could feel their stares driving into her back. They didn't need to hear what was about to be said. No, it would not do any good, only harm. She raised her hand to silence the man as she bent down to pick up her staff from the ground.

"We'll talk in private," she told him once she stood erect once more.

"But my Lady, this is..."

"For the sake of the children!" Allinav interrupted.

"But..." the messenger started to say, but then looked past her at the kids and quickly saw what she was getting at. He stood up once more and nodded as she led him to her quarters within the village.

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"So, now, tell me what has happened that is so important that you come in such a mess."

"My Lady," he began, "I am the bearer of news most terrible! I hardly have the heart to bear it in mind and if it wasn't duty I would never be able to utter it under my own free will!"

What was so terrible? Did we just loose a big battle? Or was it something worse?

"Go on," she said, dreading what she was about to hear.

"The demons," he said with great difficulty, choking at his own words, "they surrounded Lord Syrea and..."

He couldn't finish, nor did she need him to. She stood up, but yet could not help asking aloud, though she knew the answer.

"Is...he...?"

The messenger said nothing. She closed her eyes tightly and lowered her head as waves of anguish washed over her. She and Syrea had been very close friends. This was more than a loss of a hero, a savior, a Legend. No, this was...this was just far too cruel. How...how could they do that? The monsters!

Allinav looked up. Though she wished it otherwise, she could not weep, despite the tears that she felt running down her cheeks. She was probably the next target, since she was the closest. She and her unit needed to move out immediately. Staying here would not only doom themselves, but the village as well. The demons lately have been showing no interest in other targets except the Legends, as they completely passed up a village to go for Felias. But, aside from that, she had to flee, or there would soon only be three Legends left to save the mortal realm from the forces of evil.

"You are...dismissed..."

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It had only been four hours since Allinav's unit packed up and left the village in a hurry, yet it already felt like an eternity. With the news heavy on their hearts, everyone was constantly looking over their shoulders to see if the army of death was storming in from behind at any moment. Yet, there was no way they could keep this pace forever. Already men were getting exhausted, driven only by adrenaline and the understandable level of value they placed on survival. Finally, after seven hours of non-stop travel, the men could bear it no more. They had to stop and rest, despite being so far from their sanctuary.

Allinav had calmed down since the news, but now had dozens of questions. She had them for only one specific group, and she would get her answers, or at least try. She would attempt to contact the Vlasu, those immortals who had created the mortal realm and the Legends to protect it. It had never been tried, so she was unsure of her odds of success, but it was better than sitting and waiting.

She gathered the body guards who had pledged their lives to protect her on this journey to safety: an orc and dwarf warrior, an elf and kular archer, and a human wizard. She also had the beasts she could summon to guard her as well. Despite protests for her safety, she exited the camp to a secluded place, the only others with her were her guards. Once she had found her suitable spot, she fell to her knees and looked to the sky, reaching for it as if it was only inches away from her grasp.

"Vlasu!" she cried out, "Why do you not aid your champions? Please, give me an answer!"

She cried out repeatedly, but got no answer. Either they did not hear or she was failing to get her words to them. But still, she kept trying, each cry louder than the last. Four half an hour, she called out for answers, but was awarded only with silence from those powerful unseen beings.

Then she heard the worst sound of her life. Her guards beat her to spinning around to discover what was going on. Before them, the camp was in flames while men blew war-horns in vain attempts to rally each other to repel the surprise attack by those vile demons. Allinav stared, wide-eyed at the destruction taking place before her.

"Behoth, do you forsake even me?" she said in a low, quiet voice, filled with resignation.

"My Lady! We must flee!"

The words smashed the bubble of her despair. She looked up to find five concerned body guards around her.

"My Lady!"

Allinav slowly nodded and stood.

"You're right, we cannot let them find us. If we're lucky, they'll think I'm among the dead and won't pursue."

In truth, she wanted to stand and fight. She wanted to avenge the brutal deaths of her men, of those who had stood by her all this time. Today had already been cruel, but this was almost too much. Yet, for the sake of all life, she had to flee.

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At best, it was a frantic flight. They did not run, for they did not want to be exhausted if they were over taken, but they still traveled as quickly as possible. They each only had two things on their mind: survival and the consequences if they got caught. They tore through underbrush with no regard to the splinters and thorns each vine brought. Getting scratched was of no concern, but was rather, in fact, preferable. It wasn't long before they broke through the bramble filled forest and into the plains that laid a mile wide between them and their golden destination.

Alas, indeed fate was cruel that day, for that was not the only thing waiting for them. With the plains came a hundred or so good friends they just absolutely adored.

The demons.

Allinav and her men stopped. There was other options. But, they weren't viable. Either they stood and fought now, or ran, get tired, likely ambushed, and then fight. It was time to quit running and accept fate. Allinav began to channel her magical energies without word, for none was needed to let the guards know that it was either do or die. The warriors charged, the archers let loose arrows, and the wizard launched his own series of spells. Allinav finished her casting, creating a pack of wolves, each one taller than a horse and far more deadly than their tiny cousins.

Yet, this valiant fight was ended the moment it began. The warriors had rushed into a wall of demons and were quickly overwhelmed. The other three guards were struck by dark energies that left them more than pale, empty shells of their living selves. As for Allinav's wolves, they were quickly met by a field of green energy and dissipated.

Could it have been? Anti-magic?

There was no doubt in Allinav's mind. This was the group that had slain Felias. Despite how much in vain it would be, she started to try to cast more spells, to bring creatures to her aid. The demons, meanwhile, surrounded her, laughed at her, and taunted her. Before they killed her, they were going to humiliate her.

She gave up. What was the use? She was defeated and doomed to die. All she could do was lower her head and accept defeat.

"Garias...Angis...Lor...please...please be safe..." she said softly with no hint of despair, but cold acceptance of her fate. The demons started to get closer, to hack her apart, to incinerate her corpse so she could never return. She closed her eyes and waited for the killing blows to be landed upon her.

Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrap around her and the channeling of magic along with the grunts and groans of demons being plowed aside as her rescuer fought his way out of the anti-magic field. She opened her eyes, but was being held facing opposite of her savior. Was it Garias? She turned to see, but was greeted by a bright flash of white light.

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When her vision returned, she felt herself being thrown to the blue stone that made up the ground. That was unlike Garias! She rolled over onto her back and sat up, only to find out in a gasp that it wasn't Garias who had saved her.

It was a demon.

"Who...who are you?"

The black scaled, winged laughed as he stared at Allinav, amused.

"We're going to be together for a long time, so sooner or later you'd find out anyways," he said with a deep chuckle, "I am Tor'Run."

"Wh...why did you save me?" Allinav asked, still stunned with surprise.

"Why, to save you from the big scary demons!" Tor'Run said in a deep, mocking voice. Allinav just stared for a moment, waiting for the real reason, which came soon after, "Actually, I captured you. I have far better plans for you than killing you. The fools don't know the potential!"

Allinav stood up and tried to channel her energies to summon aid. She didn't even feel it flow through her. As this realization struck, time seemed to slow, allowing her to notice the details. She was in an open area with walls all around and a central platform in the center. The ground and walls were stone all all blue, a perfect match with the blue sky and the falling rain. Strange though, why would she be noticing details at a time like this when she should be fearing for her life? When her magic was failing her? The sensation passed when the demon spoke.

"Don't even bother, I drained all your energies for spell use, and soon I'll drain you of your powers for myself!"

With that, he charged at Allinav, using his wings for extra speed. Allinav was completely unprepared and soon found herself struggling to escape from the vice-like grip of the demonic hand that held her. Moments later, she found herself on the central platform, being stood up.

"Those fools don't know this place exists. I'll be able to drain your powers for...ETERNITY!"

With that, the demon left out a blood chilling laugh of dark delight, leaving Allinav frozen in terrible realization of her fate. However, she didn't get much more through her mind as the demon quickly wove his hands through some arcane pattern. Immediately a pink crystal began to form around Allinav, She tried to struggle against it, hitting it, but quickly found herself paralyzed as it sealed. She could feel her body shutting down, everything except for her consciousness. The demon walked a few steps, dropped from the platform, and walked away laughing. She was unable to hear it, but could watch it clearly.

She was to be trapped in here...forever? She would have rather died! Even worse, that demonic monster would be getting her powers! At first, she was filled with rage, and then sorrow. There was no more acceptance, for she could not accept this as her fate. Yet, it was real, as real as the crystal she felt that held her in place. She stared out at the blueness and watched the rain fall. It would be all she would see forever.

If she could, she would have cried.