Valerian Empire

Leroy was as shocked as Katie, his disbelieving eyes looking at the person who stood behind the woman.

“You were supposed to be dead.”

“I keep telling I have been dead for a while but no one ever believes me. You see you cannot kill a person who is already dead,” Malphus replied with a smirk, forcing Leroy’s sword away with his sword.

Katie moved back to stand next to Malphus, glancing towards him with awe and happiness that he was alive. Malphus was alive! She saw the guardsman advance towards him, swinging his sword relentlessly at Malphus. Leroy’s sword slashed Malphus’ right arm.

“Not bad,” Leroy commented, “But you’re rusty.”

“I was only warming up,” Malphus retorted, spitting to his side.

This time Malphus moved quick, his movements fluid like water and their swords clanked against each other, sparks flying due to the friction.

Katie who was watching them fight, felt someone’s eyes on her back and she turned around to see Judith, the maid standing there, her head tilted as she looked at her. She looked a little out of character which went without saying after all she wasn’t a human but a witch. She had been attended by a witch all this time and thinking about it made her shiver uncomfortably.

“Judith…”

“Humans are so gullible and pathetic, believing everything and anything,” the little witch smiled at her, “I heard one of my sisters got your relatives real good, burning them and the entire village. The screams are always enchanting…Now that the dark witch has appeared we have no further use of you. Wastes should be disposed but don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you,” she said as her human skin began to melt down to show her original true form.

Being a young witch, she was impatient and without thinking she went to attack Katie. Seeing a loose brick on the wall, Katie pulled and moved it with her hand diagonally to hit the witch’s face making the the person yelp with pain. Both of them wrestled each other, the witch trying to get hold of Katie’s neck while the other tried freeing herself.

Katie felt herself suffocate as the young witch squeezed her neck while laughing at her. Raising her hands she scratched the witch’s face, digging her nails into her. When the witch moved back, she noticed an open space behind them and taking the opportunity she pushed her off the empty space. She peeked out to see her fall down to a void space below them as she couldn’t see the ground. Where were they? Katie wondered. Getting away from the scene, she got back to where Malphus was fighting the guardsman.

When Leroy came charging at Malphus, he bent down to dodge the attack and turned around to hit his back with the hilt of the sword, making the man stagger back. But tricks like those didn’t work for long as the guard had too much of experience and strength, no wonder the Lady kept him close to her. There were more wounds on Malphus than the guardsman.

“What were you saying? Warming up?” Leory mocked him seeing he had cornered the man, “You have no quality to be a Lord. Lord Norman hadn’t done the deed right but I’ll make sure to put you to rest this time.”

“Do you know why you are still serving as a guard dog here?” Malphus taunted the man as he dragged air through his mouth.

Just when the man raised his sword, a thud sound was heard and for that moment the man stood still. Not losing a second, Malphus ran his sword right through Leroy’s stomach. The man coughed blood out as Malphus pushed his sword several times into Leroy’s stomach until he fell down on the ground. The guardsman had died.

“I’m glad that you didn’t throw the brick at me,” said Malphus to lighten up the atmosphere, seeing Katie’s eyes were glued to the lifeless body on the floor.

Katie’s eyes snapped up like she had been woken up from a spell to see Malphus now standing there alive.

“Malphus!” she went to where he was and hugged him, “I-I thought you died.”

“I kinda did too but I have learnt to place my trust with Lord Alexander.”

“What do you mean?” she asked him confused.

“I will tell you on the way. First let’s get out of here,” he said pulling her along with him as they began walking through the corridors and doors, “What happened to that witch?” he asked her.

“She fell down.”

They heard footsteps coming ahead of them and therefore both Malphus and Katie took a detour behind the walls. It was similar to the one Silas had taken her in his room, thought Katie as they walked. Malphus helped her get out of the tunnel as it was too high, giving his hand to her so that he could pull her out.

She noticed that all this while they had been kept right behind the mansion, in the underground. She could finally breath the night air as they were in an open space.

Looking up she saw the red moon in the sky which was bigger in size now. Katie followed Malphus towards the large fort like walls that was build around the mansion. Alexander had asked her to go the town to where Elliot and Sylvia were but seeing the guardsmen guarding the main gates like hound dogs they took shelter behind a bush.

“What now?” Katie whispered.

“There’s another route but a long one which routes out of the town. Will you be able to walk?” he asked her to see her nod. Malphus jerked his head, indicating her to follow him and she did so, crawling on the ground quietly.