Ascension Of The Blood Throne by Mikel Wilson (red scrolls of magic .TXT) 📗

Lillith had freed her mother before the hissing spider raised on its hind legs, and Alisha speed blitzed the spider, stabbing the egg sack.

"Why did you stab the sack? That didn't hurt her at all." Lillith screamed at her mother.

The baby spiders exited the sack in droves, crawling all over their mother, who began wiping at them with her legs. That didn’t even slow them down; the small spiders began attacking their mother, and the sheer number of them was overwhelming.

While the mother arachnid was distracted, Alisha jumped on her back and beheaded her. Green goop was still spewing from the neck as Alisha jumped down and wiped her sword. The small spiders were now attacking the mother’s corpse, so Captain Robert and his men quickly took care of every one they could find.

“Now that is finished, can we go now?” Alisha asked, sarcasm clear in her voice.

"This human is impressive, I see why the king loved her," Robert conceded.

"You aren't bad for a bloodsucker," Alisha responded, and a small awkward silence swept over the group. Alisha remembered that she was the only human in the group and her words had offended them all. "I apologize. You are a very strong warrior, and that, I can respect."

"Look at all of us getting along,” Ayden teased, boyish grin plain on his face as his sister, Emily, shushed him.

"Yes, like a giant family. Now, let's move," Christian directed.

They walked until they came to a creek. It looked innocent enough, but when Mackinzie was about to cross, Christian grabbed her arm.

"My darling, everything in this place is not as it seems." He grabbed a branch and placed it into the seemingly normal water, only smoke poured from the stick as it disintegrated into nothing.

Alisha gasped, and Lillith stated the obvious, "So, this place is more dangerous than we thought." The only way across was to jump, so Lillith went first, holding her mother’s hand.

Robert laughed as he jumped and goaded Alisha, "I thought slayers were supposed to have all our powers, but I’m seeing a lot of weaknesses."

As the others jumped, Alisha walked up to the much bigger Robert, getting right in his face. "You hate me, don't you?"

Robert snickered, then turned to face Ayden, who had grabbed his arm to lead him away from the confrontation.

“Don't bait her, Captain,” Ayden whispered. "You know what we must do."

"Oh, are you afraid to speak? Or is it just because I am a woman? All this in front of your men, what are they going to think about you? Unable to keep their respect..." she provoked.

“That's it!” Robert roared, stalking toward her.

“Captain, stand down!” Christian ordered, then turned to Alisha. “Mother, that's enough! We have a job to complete. This is not the time to bicker. If you guys want to fight, once we’re safely home, then you’re welcome to have at it!”

“I think they want to kiss,” Ayden mocked, causing Emily to shake her head and swat at him.

"Yep, he's adopted, I'm sure of it," she said dramatically, causing all of them to laugh.

Alisha and Robert stood glaring at each other, finding the whole thing unamusing.

Fights calmed for the time being, they continued their walk through the fog covered forest until Christian stopped abruptly and pointed into the dense fog, "She lives there."

As they all drew their swords and advanced slowly, a strong wind blew the fog away, revealing an old woman sitting by an open fire.

"Prince and Princess have come seeking the ancient sword,” she declared in a voice that sounded raspy from disuse. “But why would I help them? What do they have to offer me?” She threw her head back with an unsettling cackle. “An offering perhaps, a soul that I may devour…” She paused and seemed to sniff the air. “But wait! I sense an innocent. No, I sense two, a pair of innocents, untainted hearts that still believe in good. Stand before me, Ayden and Emily.” The siblings stepped forward, and she pulled out a long knife. “Your blood, I want some blood of innocence, and I will tell you what you want to know.”

“Innocence?” Christian asked. “Ayden and Emily are giant slayers; they have both taken lives.”

“Yes, they have taken lives, but have they done so for evil? Have they lost their humanity or their way, like you have, my Prince? Are you certain you fight for the right side?”

Emily and Ayden stretched a hand over her goblet, and she cut open their wrists, allowing their blood flow. As she smelled the aroma of their blood, her grotesque figure revealed itself. Her old skin, jagged teeth, and larger than normal hands showed themselves, only hinting at what might lie under her cloak.

“What are you?” Lillith asked.

“An abomination, I have been called for centuries,” she hissed and walked around the fire, revealing her face and weirdly deformed body. She blew out like she might whistle, her breath revealing that she could manipulate fire like all giants. “I am the treaty between the giants and the vampires, daughter of both clans and exiled by both. Hated and ridiculed, I have lived here since the merger.... Now, the prince and princess come to me to ask about the sword, the one that was forged so many years ago.”

“How do you know so much about us? We have never met,” Lillith asked, walking toward her.

“Giants have telepathy and are telekinetic, and we can manipulate fire, but I can also see the future. I saw your birth, your separation, and your meeting before any of it happened. I also saw who will rule and the peace that you will bring to the realm now that the light side has now come into power.”

“Which one of us shall rule?” Christian asked.

“I shall not reveal the future to either of you, but I am proud to serve under you. Just be mindful of your surroundings and who you trust,” she instructed, looking around at all of them.

“What do we call you, Miss,” Lillith