A Song of Chaos

ZUCO

The conversation between them grew heated. Voices weren’t raised, but the expressions told the story. Someone brought a horse out, and she mounted it. The tree line remained still.

Was she going to ride off like a coward? It was the best choice. She couldn’t take on his whole army alone; it would be reckless to the highest caliber.

“Keep an eye out. I don’t trust her,” Zuco said.

Oda was just as curious. From where they were standing, her fear was written on her frown. He was sure if her eyes were visible, they would be wide and darting around for an exit.

If she ran, he would chase her down. Her shoulders rose and fell as she tilted her head back.

A melody danced across the open field. She hummed a somber song. Her hand tightened on the reins. Her other lifted the sword from her waist. With a swift kick, her beast charged toward them.

Zuco’s heart raced. She glimmered in the night as beautiful and deadly as an Erinyes. He would give her the send-off of a warrior.

“Allow me,” Oda said.

“No, she’s all mine,” he said.

Blades rose once she was close enough. Her strike was solid and accurate, but she wasn’t quick enough. Zuco dodged the attack and brought his ax down, taking the horse’s head in one cut.

It crumpled to the ground, landing its massive frame on her leg. The bone cracked loud enough to echo across the field. She cried out but never dropped her sword.

“You should’ve been born an Altahan,” Zuco said.

“Are we throwing insults now?” She chuckled.

“Not to a warrior,” he said, lifting his ax.

As it came down, he noticed her sword was at an angle. Her wrist wiggled in an unsettling way. She had the same smirk from that night. He felt it before he heard it. A hot, piercing sensation to the back.

He stumbled back, and she swung her sword, aiming for his ankles. Zuco managed to sidestep the sword and disarm her. Another loud shot echoed through the forest.

“The trees. A sniper in the trees,” Zuco said.

It didn’t take long for his men to find the shooter. They dragged her body to the center. She put up a fight from the looks of Oda’s scratched face.

“Are you the only foolish two?” Zuco asked.

The woman’s smirk melted away.

“Just finish it already,” she said.

“It’s already done.”

Zuco approached the bearded, wrinkled man and held out his hand. He returned the sigil. Zuco glanced at Oda and nodded. It wasn’t the battle they hoped for, but it was still enjoyable.

“An overseer will come in two days’ time to give you your tasks. Welcome to the Altahan nation,” Zuco said.

The man bowed his head, and one of his men went over to the pinned female. He began to free her, and Oda placed a heavy boot on the beast’s body.

“Her life belongs to me. As of today, she’s dead to you,” Zuco said.

“I want the life of the other one,” Oda said.

“Both of them,” Zuco said.

“She’s my daughter,” the bearded man said.

“Was. She was your daughter. Don’t worry, she will be in good hands,” he said.

KAHLI

She clenched her teeth. The Altahan’s foot made the horse heavier. Kahli couldn’t hear much over the burning pain in her leg.

It wasn’t until the brute moved his foot and the headless horse that she could breathe again. He brought Kahli to her feet, and she expected the ax as they did to all who opposed them.

Ironic she would die as her mother did—the world’s last cruel joke.

“Can we not come to an agreement?” her father asked.

“Just did. All of you will live, and I will take these two. Or would you prefer I kill you all and still take these two?” Zuco said.

“It’s very fair of you,” her father said.

He looked at Kahli. How could she forget the color of his eyes? Green like the grass or a shiny jewel. Just as quick as she saw them, they disappeared.

Once again, she stared at his back without a goodbye or even a word. Shadows moved in the trees, then slowly dispersed. She caught a glimpse of Alexi.

As bad as her heart hurt, she was glad he wasn’t dead. When faced with a choice, it was simple when you had loved ones. She was hoisted over a shoulder, and her leg smacked the slab of flesh.

The blinding pain was enough to make her vision go dark.

***

The pain was gone when she woke up, but she was freezing. As Kahli sat up, her head smacked into something. It was pitch black, smooth, and cold.

Was she dead? Did they think she was dead and buried her? She banged on every surface she could.

“Hello! Is anyone out there? Let me out,” she yelled.

She wiggled around in what felt like a box blowing chilly air. Faint footsteps echoed outside the box, and she smacked the sides harder. The lid slid open, and she all but fell out.

The bright room and hard floor were a welcomed sight. Before she could get her bearings, a soldier dragged her by the hair.

Kahli got a grip on his wrist to lessen the pain. Once her eyes adjusted, she took in her surroundings—blinking lights, metal halls, and a vibration that transformed into a loud hum.

The soldier stopped by a door and tapped some buttons. She took this chance to get to her feet. His grip didn’t let up, but at least she could have some dignity left.

He led her into the elevator and down another long hallway. Their journey ended in a room that was a thing of nightmares—cages dangling from the ceiling and lining the walls.

The floor was covered in dried blood, and the tables were covered in contraptions she’d never seen before. He went around the room, looking for a vacant cage. To her relief, there wasn’t one available.

Frustrated, he went to the wall and yelled into a speaker. What was said went over her head. All she knew was he released her and sat on the counter.

Kahli weighed her options, either fight and piss him off or wait and see. She could still fight and piss him off if it wasn’t favorable.

After some time, the doors slid open, and he walked in. The bastard she should’ve killed that night. His smug face was enough for her to consider choking him with her bare hands.

“I never did tell you, nice haircut,” she said.