《Sengoku Visions II》Chapter 2 - Cold Delivery
Advertisement
"NO!!" My shout continued as I found I was falling again.
It was dark, nighttime, and nothing but cold air was around me.
"HOLY FUCKING CRAP!"
I saw what looked like a lake? Pond? Begin to rush towards me and caught a flash of a moon soaked landscape. My dress fluttered around me and from the corner of my eye I thought I saw a solitary form standing near the water.
There was nothing to grab, nothing to slow my fall, despite me clawing at the air around me.
A thin layer of ice buckled under my impact as I hit the water with astonishing force. It knocked the wind out of me and I couldn't work out which way was up. The water was like liquid ice and bubbles – something slimy snagged my foot – my lungs were screaming for air. Some part of me in the panic was determined not to breathe in the water, but it was fighting a losing battle.
One hand found itself in air and I hurled myself towards it, breaking the surface and getting a gasp, before sinking again as my dress pulled me back. I thrashed again, desperate to get more air – I must have moved across the water, because a foot found solid ground, then the other, my trainers grabbed purchase and pushed me back up.
I tried to see, but mascara burnt my eyes, I splashed some of the freezing water into them, it didn't help at all. I sank back under the water for a second, rubbing my eyes, my hair billowing around me near the surface.
Two hands grabbed my arms and then I was pulled free of the water onto grass. I was frozen to the core. I looked through my hair at the hands holding me and followed to arms, a body, and then a face.
Advertisement
A beautiful vision of a man knelt near me, azure eyes both disbelieving and concerned.
I knew that face.
I was so cold I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. Time seemed to slow for a moment as we sat there in a snapshot, eyes locked. Then voices broke the silence and he swept my chattering form into his arms.
Something heavy wrapped around me as we entered some sort of building, there were still voices, but the man who carried me said nothing, sweeping into a warm room with a fire.
My mind was unable to process anything beyond the cold. I was offered a cup, but my blue hands wouldn't hold it. My rescuer wrapped his own around mine and guided me to drink. The liquid felt like fire going down me and I coughed, almost choking. I took some more and it burnt less, but the shaking of my body didn't stop.
He stood up and moved away.
'Why?' I thought to myself. 'Why here? Why him?
Why would the pendant bring me straight into the arms of ...
Lord Uesugi Kenshin ...??'
Huddled into a ball of cold, I fell on my side and watched the flickering flames slowly go out of focus.
Advertisement
Soulless (Apparently)
When a serial killer emerges on the robot-populated planet of Zynima, a few machines form a group of vigilantes to end what deceptively seems like a simple open-and-shut case. Join Aural Automaton and Shock System as they uncover the ugly truth behind this string of murders. Krahie's AUU-16 series: #1 – Soulless (Apparently) #2 – Diamond People #3 – The Departure #4 – Night Game
8 135Ashen Skies
Father. Allfather. He who was crowned twice. It has been ages since you have ascended. Since you were crowned with godhood for a second time. Since you have left an empire for us to dwell in, to defend. I yearn for an answer; why have you forsaken us! With you gone, your people have grown weak, complacent, and proud. Proud of who they are, proud of their blood. That pride blinds their eyes and clouds their minds. They are fools, for they have forgotten the ways of the past. They have forgotten the fears of old. The one you had to bind until the end of the time. They have forgotten the dark beast with red jewels for eyes. The Wargr gnaws the walls of his cage even now as I write. Itching for the taste of blood. I ask for forgiveness, for until a while ago I too was one of them. I thought I saved your children from the foretold doom. I now realize the hordes of foes we buried were just like us. No fearsome beasts, no harbingers of doom. Mortals of different flesh, different kind. But I am awakened from that dream now. I see it. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. The cold descends as the Dark walks the land, And the crimson stars shine beneath, as the ashen storm claims the realm. I hear the beast roar as the chains of Rukh crack, Only then I know. Only then I realize. That it’s the end. Descend to earth one more time. Save the puny souls that are us. If not, if you let my dreams come true; then will all die under an ashen sky. Leol, a son of Vaella
8 118The Sovereign (UNDERGOING REVAMP)
Rewrite: an ability to alter a physical phenomena as long as the person using it is in contact with the object…..She needs no saving.She needs no man.Betrayed, Lena Hugh died with nothing but revenge in mind. She was the ruler, the sovereign, yet she was killed by her own stupidity. How ironic.Waking up two thousand years after her death only meant one thing.She was given a second chance.But this world was no longer the world that she knew. The magic that she was used to was now forgotten, buried and replaced with technology designed to alter physical phenomena of an object while limiting individuals’ abilities.Now in a new body with a new name, ability and appearance, Lena will traverse the world of magic with nothing but her wits and innate talent.And nothing will stop Lena from reclaiming her title as The Sovereign. ..... Updates: Daily >>Newbie Writer
8 205The Courts Divided
The old guard is now threatened by older evils. Without their legendary king to guide them, an ancient way of life and honor is put to the test. What starts with a string of unexplained murders in the fairy lands, steadily develops into the greatest crisis Western Civilization has ever encountered. Not the dragons and their ilk, not The Trenchlings that gnash in their holes, not even the great empire of Ulteria that holds the power of gunpowder and electricity. This is the oldest, most consolidated structure of evil the omniverse has ever known. Hiding between silent nightmares and the deepest crevices of the human psyche, necromancers, vampires, demons, and all manners of undead hold covenent with this one, ultimate predator upon humanity's hope: The Night God. The West is strong, held up by the remaining bastion of their immaculately-powerful witch knights, but when their sworn nemisis and a beloved traitor are the ones that uncover the great masquerade, will they trust them, or will they doom the planet by holding fast to what they know? Magical power beyond all comprehension is what they're up against, that is of no doubt. The question of the hour is this: can old knights of a dead kingdom stand up once more to put the dark back in its place? The Courts Divided is a massive fantasy project containing humor, horror, and some of the strangest forms of magic known to man or arcanite alike. Daily updates until June. Cover by Shiroasa.
8 160The Beasts Under Your Bed
The Beasts From Beyond, an ever-present threat of elderich abominations appearing in the world through some unknown means, for unknown reasons. All that is known is that they will come, and they will kill. Living in fear of this, was not the way of the people of Alatara. To the North, they built mighty machines and bred mighty people. To the west, they developed an order of great warriors. To the east, they undertook surptitious and unseemly strides towards peace. To the South, flaming Demons and Devils crush the creatures that threaten them. And in the center, the largest mass of land and the largest concentration of both Beasts and man, they embraced unity. The Otherworld Defence Department oversaw all the needs of the different branches, the most famous of this being the Supernatural Incursion Response. A Mailed Fist, aimed at the creatures that would disturb the peace and threaten the people. Aided in this endevour, there were the Quasi-Humans. Beings of transformative properties, with powers and capabilities allowing them aid the Humans in pushing back the beasts. It is in this, that Kiko is born. Though nobody could foresee it, she will bring about the doom of the planet. The only question, is how?
8 97Redcrackle Oneshots
𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙...𝚁𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚜, 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗!!
8 75