Broken Promises - Chapter 1

Mist crawled across the land, pouring into crevices not even light could reach. Across the plains, a shrill cry echoed – war was in full rage. It was a battle that would decide the fate of an entire nation. A battle between Bail, the fallen angel, and all of those who would stand against him. And sure enough many did stand. The most heroic were the knights of Kondaria. Those men sought simply to protect their homes and families, not to receive rewards or fame.

Avyius felt blood trickling down his back – a bitter reminder of where his enemies' blades would strike should he be caught unawares. He took a mighty swing of his sword and delved deep beneath a foe's armor. An instant kill.

This was not how it was meant to be. Their early triumphs were turning into undeniable defeat. How had they so gravely misjudged the demons? How had they not foreseen this? How had they not known Bail would have such an easy victory? For every foe they hacked down, two more rose to battle on. How could they have not seen it...

A piercing cry rang out. It was certain that the man behind it would not live to see the end, but these warriors did not give up so easily. With their loved ones at stake, the wounded soldiers would fight to their last breath.

Avyius knew that cry. "Reki!" he called, scrambling to find his companion. "Reki, where are you?"

Around him, the earth quivered. It struggled to fend off an unnatural force flooding within. Flame shot up around him, surrounding him and swiveling in an ambient pattern. The fire raged on, melding into a tight-knit entrapment. As the flames intensified, the bloody red at which they had began broiled to a violet so dark it could only be defined as black. White-hot excruciation screamed within him, his flesh crawling furiously as the flames engulfed him. Unable to bear the sheer pain, Avyius succumbed to unconsciousness.

***

Avyius awoke to the chilling touch of crude iron and metallic scent of blood. Upon opening his eyes, he met only darkness. The fire. The fire must have... he thought, as he pulled at the binding chains. Manacles bound his wrists together. His mind trailed from that thought to dwell on another, the thought of a dream he had been having. A dream of a distant oath.

Footsteps echoed, drawing near. Avyius paid them little mind. He had been expecting capture – most likely torture. After all, this was Bail. And Bail wouldn't fight with honor. The steps grew louder. Door hinges creaked and those footsteps scuffled ever nearer. More echoes and then none. The demon stood. Though masked in shadows, there was no doubt some sadistic pleasure upon his face as he examined his captive.

"What was it?" Avyius mulled, more to himself than the newcomer, "What was that dream?"

"Talking to ourselves are we?"

"Who...?" Avyius began, staggering to his feet.

"Ha. It seems you've been blinded – or are you playing the fool? It would be a pitiful day indeed if a mere human survived that spell of Heaven."

"Spell of... Heaven?" he drawled. As soon as the sluggish haze of slumber and wound cleared, his eyes widened. "Bail?!"

"Yes, so you do know who–"

"Fiend," growled Avyius, "It's hard to forget your name after the things you've done."

Bail grinned, "I enjoy being famous."

Avyius spat, "How could someone like you be an angel? You've killed families! Destroyed villages! You've torn entire lands in two! You–"

"Yes, I know, I know. I've turned whole continents to ash. I've sent my army of undead to war with thousands, where the challengers have known only death. I've cast my infernos in this very battlefield. You would know, you survived its wrath." Bail sighed, "Yet, let us not forget why you are here."

"Why I'm here...?" Avyius echoed.

"You are a threat. You've done the impossible and survived my spell."

"Nearly impossible since I lived."

"Yes, and that's the problem."

"What? Are you afraid? You, the angel that claims to rule the whole of the land!" Avyius baited.

"No, not afraid. Intrigued. Never mind, you'll understand."

"I'll under–" Avyius was cut off. He would never finish his words. Bail stood closer now – too close. Bail's arm delved through Avyius like a blade, stopping only when it reached the wall beyond. Avyius gasped, agony pooled in his stomach. Blood trickled between them, staunched by the arm and welling into his trachea. The fiend yanked free, wrenching his captive to the ground.

"You'll understand soon enough..." Bail taunted, but in his peril Avyius did not hear.

Bail chuckled, mimicked by an eerie echo. He watched the human on the ground struggle – watched the other choke on his own lifeblood as it dribbled from his lips to the ground to join what he had already lost. He watched the fool waste his last breath. "I re–member..." Avyius choked, "The promise... it– It... I'm sorry..."