Ignatius-Valdis [Heaven’s Curse, #0]: Chapter 5

———

Gothalia stood guard, surveying her new surroundings deep within the jungle’s dark interior. The beach, once a place of perceived safety, was now a memory of exposed vulnerability. As Maximus and Anton slept, she breathed in the heavy stillness of the forest, though sleep was the last thing on her mind; the fear of an unseen blade kept her eyes wide awake. It had been hours since they’d watched the timer hit zero only to begin its relentless restart—a cycle they now knew reset every three hours.

The thought of it frustrated her to no end. She knew with every passing hour and every time it reset, that the frustration she suppressed merely grew. Until, it’d become an agitating thorn at her side.

“That’s it!” Gothalia willingly hushed, climbing to her feet, careful to not wake them. She had to do something, she couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.

She scanned her surroundings, once more and considered their hiding spot, on higher ground. Away from any surprise attacks. Surrounded by large sharp rocks. She knew would keep Anton and Maximus safe until the morning. Unless the other recruits climbed over those boulders. Gothalia glanced at the largest boulder that towered over them. “This is would be so much easier if I even had an element.” Gothalia muttered beneath her breath, careful to not let anyone hear her.

Gothalia scanned the jagged rocks for any sign of movement, her eyes searching specifically for the slide of a snake. She couldn't afford a surprise. Only once she was satisfied the shadows were empty did she allow her shoulders to drop—but the relief was short-lived. From the base of the hill, just below their camp, she heard the unmistakable stir of something moving in the dark. Or rather someones.

Quietly, Gothalia crawled to Anton and Maximus and woke them without a sound. Catching their startled looks, she gestured sharply for silence. They nodded. Gothalia turned back to the forest where they continued to hear footfalls march throughout the once silent valley. “How many are there?” Anton asked, grabbing the steel blade at his side. He moved to the edge of the clearing with Gothalia, where a dense wall of leaves pulled a shroud of darkness around them, isolating their small camp from the silence of the forest. Their enemy unable to see them as they moved through the jungle below.

“Not sure, didn’t check.” Gothalia whispered.

“What are we going to do if they find us?” Maximus queried in a sly whisper, now wide awake. Gothalia recognised the same question flash across Anton’s features. They had the perfect hiding spot but if the enemy ambushed them—there would be no way out except down. Where the enemy currently moved through the jungle. None of them were fire utilisers Gothalia could tell, but that didn’t stop them from carrying fiery torches.

Warriors masked in mud progressed through the shadows of the thick jungle; their eyes gleamed beneath the crescent moon and the timer in the sky, continued to countdown.

Jaded crimson eyes locked onto the small clearing atop a hill surrounded by large, ragged rocks. At the top of the rocks, above Anton, Maximus and Gothalia, arose a figure. It peered at them, all of whom, were unaware of its presence. Silently, Gothalia, Maximus, and Anton watched the recruits moving through the undergrowth with calm apprehension, unaware of the presence above them, watching them from the shadows.

The figure leapt from the top of the largest rock.

Gothalia caught a flash of movement in her periphery and shoved Anton aside just as the figure crashed into the clearing. Climbing to its feet, it regarded the trio with bloodthirsty crimson eyes. “What the—?” Anton muttered, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. Climbing to his feet. Gothalia and Anton pointed their weapons at the man. Or monster?

“They’re there!” a man called, pointing at the hilltop clearing, concealed by thick vines and leaves. The recruits rushed up the hill. While the mud-covered warriors who trailed them, retreated further into the shadows as if they were never there.

The grey flaky feathery skinned monster with red-black eyes faced them, and Maximus watched silently as the would-be-recruits climbed the hill with their deterrents. Maximus, Anton and Gothalia ducked when they heard the recoil of pistols and rifles. “Can those idiots stop shooting!” Maximus screeched, equally annoyed and terrified pinned to the ground. Bullets battered the air above them, silencing his words and impaling the stone behind them, and with the chest of the monster the failed to fall.

“They’re trying to kill us. Of course! Why wouldn’t they!” Gothalia yelled back, her voice silenced by gunfire.

Anton and Gothalia shielded their heads. Horror and fear trembled their frames as they watched the rounds pierce the monster’s chest. Blood oozed from the wounds and the monster remained standing unbothered. Its crimson eyes locked on to the would-be-recruits climbing the incline of land to where Gothalia, Anton and Maximus laid. Gothalia, Anton and Maximus froze at the killing look in the monster’s eyes. Gothalia, Anton and Maximus laid on their stomachs unmoving.

The recruits scrambled up the grassy slope toward the creature. It watched them with glowing red eyes, a jagged, eerie smile stretching across its contorted face. As the first recruit pushed through the dense vines, the monster struck—a flash of long talons slit his throat in one fluid motion. Unlike the previous rounds, the fallen boy didn’t vanish. Instead, a hail of bullets tore through the air, and a new scream of pure terror echoed across the arena. Gothalia, Anton and Maximus forgotten.

The monster moved through each recruit quickly and effortlessly, working passed the leafy vines that hung from the large old trees. Anton turned to Gothalia who stared in the direction of the screams past the monster, “While it’s distracted we move.”

Gothalia eagerly agreed. When the screaming faded into the distance with the reiteration of gunshots. They recognised their chance. Quickly, both Gothalia and Anton ran to Maximus, who didn’t move the entire time, and pulled him to his feet before yanking him out of the clearing. In the darkness, they crept from behind the vines than ran towards the large palm leaves. With fear at their heels, they sprinted behind a large tree and paused, their ears alert.

Their hearts thundered in their chests.

Silence greeted them.

“Do you think it’s gone?” Maximus murmured, in a quivering voice. Anton peered around the bark of a tree while Gothalia worked to calm her racing heart. Anton’s eyes made out enough, from the crescent moon that barely filtered through the canopy. Then ran behind another tree. Gothalia and Maximus followed, their wide eyes searched the area behind them, before climbing over and ducking behind a large moss-covered log.

“Don’t know.” Anton eventually replied. “It’s best we avoid it as much as we can.”

“That’s what you said about those mud warriors and now we have a monster after us.” Maximus remarked, alarmed.

“What are you implying?” Gothalia challenged, in harsh whisper.

Swiftly, Anton shushed them, and they watched him startled. “Hear that?” he asked them.

Gothalia and Maximus listened. The same stillness ensued the jungle. “I hear nothing.” Gothalia replied, confused.

“Exactly. Where’s the constant hum? Or the buzz of mosquitoes and flies? You can’t even hear the frogs or the cicadas anymore.”

“Um, you do realise that the environment we’re in is fake. Right?” Maximus questioned in a rough harsh whisper, the monster forgotten.

“Did that monster look fake to you?” Anton retorted, annoyed. Terror trembled their frames and they calmed their racing hearts and evened their breathing, disregarding the monster.

“I said environment. Not monster. They’re two totally different things.” Maximus casually clarified once he caught his breath.

Anton ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “What does that have to do with—”

“—Enough!” Gothalia growled equally irritated. A little louder than she should. “Let’s just keep moving before that thing comes back!” She turned from them and shrieked in small fright when that same monster they had ran from towered over them right behind her. Anton and Maximus stared at the monster who they knew was anything but and slowly backed away. The monster stepped closer and Gothalia didn’t move. Her feet rooted in place. Quickly, Anton gripped Maximus’s arm and Gothalia by the back of her collar and vanished into a cloud of green and black smoke. The monster stared at where they had once been before turning his heel and vacating the area.

When Anton, Maximus and Gothalia reappeared. They plunged into the mouth of a river below. The water much colder than the air around them. Quickly, in the water they resurfaced, shivering. “Next time can you choose a drier place?” False sarcasm embedded Maximus’s tone through evident shivers and Anton shoved cold water in his face causing his teeth to rattle in protest. Gothalia swam to the bank as quickly as she could. Both Anton and Maximus followed. All of them distressed.

“You know, you could at least be a little bit grateful, Max.” Anton remarked crawling onto the bank, drenched in water. He climbed to his feet and glared at his brother before walking away. Holding back a rising shiver as the air rattled his frame.

“I am.” Maximus regarded Gothalia perplexed, “Why is he so mad?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you didn’t say ‘thank you’ like you’re supposed to when someone saves your life?” Gothalia queried as a matter of fact. She took in the surprise that swathed Maximus’s face and sighed before trying again. “Look, I know you didn’t mean any harm by your words, but we’re family. Right now, fighting among ourselves, isn’t smart.”

“Um, sure. I’ll go apologise.” Maximus declared and climbed to his feet. He strode along the bank failing to bite back a shiver or two as he moved towards where he last saw Anton disappear.

Gothalia rolled onto her back and laid on the ground, for what felt like hours. She stared at the starry sky above with her lower legs settled in the cool smooth water. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and listened to the silence. The subtle shimmering of leaves as the wind picked up from the ocean, the trickle of the river as it faded down the mountain into the ocean, the waves in the distance, the ribbit and croak of frogs. Gothalia relaxed, “It must be safe now. There are frogs.” After a moment, Gothalia sat up and crouched by the riverbed, cupping her hands she drank until she was certain she no longer craved water. Then, she climbed to her feet and muttered to herself, “Okay time to find them.”

When Gothalia turned from the stream, pain struck her. She collided with the ground. Her unfocused gaze drifted over her attackers. Pain radiated from the side of her head and blood trickled from her wound as she gazed up at the dark shifting figures surrounding her. “That was surprisingly easy.” Laughter echoed and darkness consumed her.

* * *

“Now what do we do?” Asashin called, over the roar of the monsters.

“We do what we’ve been sent to do.” Danteus remarked and unsheathed his steel blade gripping the pummel of the sword carefully. “We take them out.” The battle against the Chenoo seemed endless. Just as Danteus and his companions thought they had reached the last of them, more monsters pulled themselves from the frozen crust of the earth, crawling from the snow like a recurring nightmare. Danteus, Asashin and Altair watched them, a cold realization settling in: this wasn’t just a fight; it was a deliberate attempt to bleed them of their strength.

“They just don’t quit,” Asashin remarked, through hefty pants.

The cycle repeated—the Chenoo numbers dwindled, only to surge back as more erupted from the snow. After what felt like an eternity of battle, only a single creature remained. Asashin, Danteus, and Altair circled it warily, their eyes darting to the drifts for any sign of a fresh wave. When the silence held and no more monsters emerged, they closed in for the kill.

Before Danteus delivered the final blow. The monster muttered, “Fragments . . . Midnight . . . Eclipse.” Danteus paused and regarded the Chenoo. Swiftly, Altair struck down the last monster in place of Danteus.

Altair glanced at Danteus who stared at the Chenoo as it faded from sight. “Why did you hesitate?” he queried, sheathing the sword at his hip.

“What did it say?” Danteus queried, observing the snow as it melted, even if he knew what it said.

“Um, I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention.” Altair remarked, with a shrug. Then, turned to Asashin, “Did you hear it say anything?”

Asashin shook his head. “No. Why?”

“Danteus thinks he heard it say something,” Altair mentioned. Danteus frowned at Altair’s off-the-cuff manner.

Asashin placed his hand on Danteus’s shoulder and regarded him with a steady gaze. “Are you sure you heard it speak?”

After a short pause, Danteus replied. “Maybe not.” Then the snow beneath their feet retreated into pools of puddled water. The land around them returned to its usual naturally green shrubbery and grass. Altair sheathed his blade and turned from the group and moved to the horses.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I want to call it a day.”

Asashin pulled his grip from Danteus’s shoulder and followed Altair. “I agree. I think I’m all battled-out.” Asashin glanced at his old friend. “Are you coming? You can’t stand there all day.” Danteus regarded Asashin then strode past him and sheathed his blade.

“I can you know. I just have better things to do.” Danteus remarked and returned to their horses, sheathing his sword and mounting the horse. Asashin smirked at that comment.

After a few hours, Asashin, Danteus and Altair rode the silent dirt paths that lead back to New Icarus on horseback. “So how much longer?” Altair queried, with tiredness curving his features.

“It shouldn’t be too far. Now. It’s been a couple of hours,” Asashin remarked equally bored, on his horse beside Altair. Then teased, “Why? Eager to return to your ‘lady-friend’?”

“What are you talking about?” Altair questioned earnestly, with a raised brow. “I don’t have any ‘lady-friends’.”

“Ah-huh,” Danteus remarked, not believing that statement. He sat in front of them on his horse, with a sly smile as he peered over his shoulder at Altair. “That’s what they all say until we discover their secret harems or reverse harems at their homemade brothels that even their wives or husbands don’t know about.”

“Hey, I resent that! If anyone has any lady-friends at homemade brothels, it’s the great Lord Danteus.” Altair teased. “Have you seen the line Asashin? I swear it goes from here all the way to the Water Reserve. He’s got a recruitment process and everything.”

“It’s not my fault I’m more popular than you.” Danteus replied, smugly.

“Oh please. Popular, yes. Better, no.” Altair retorted. “Unlike you, I have devoted and returning ladies.”

Asashin laughed. “Returning? Don’t you mean reimbursing? Last I heard there were plenty of unsatisfied ladies who wanted their money back.” Danteus cackled hard.

Altair crossed his arms and glanced away. “Whatever, Asashin. Just so you know, the next time we have a monster attack. I’m not helping you.”

“Right,” Asashin remarked, sarcastically. “We’ll see.”

Black smoke piled into the clear blue artificial sky. They paused. “That can’t be good.” Altair remarked.

Without another word, Altair, Asashin and Danteus urged their horses to the smoke. They paused at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ravine below, cradling a small village engulfed in flames. They rushed their horses down the winding path and towards it, through the forest and the open meadows.

Rubble, debris and ash remained after the uproar of the ever dangerous and consuming flames. Asashin, Altair and Danteus dismounted their horses. At the sight of them, a woman screamed in horror and pointed at the closest building. “They’re still inside! Help them!” she cried, frightfully. A distressed scream pierced the air around them, from the same building the woman pointed at. Danteus, Asashin and Altair ran into the building.

The upper level started to collapse and swiftly Danteus, pulled the earth from the ground and stabilised it. Quickly, Altair pulled the oxygen from the surrounding fire extinguishing the blaze. When it was safe, they sprinted up the partly charred broken stairs and towards where they heard the scream.

The ruined ceiling above the hall began to cave. Asashin threw sharp anchors into the far wall. Then, threw more to the wall behind them, immediately small light blue electric wires appeared, holding the ceiling in place. “Go. I’ll make sure it holds until you guys get back.” Asashin declared.

The fire climbed along the walls and the ceiling of the hall. Altair extinguished the blaze in the hall and the remainder of the house, then followed Danteus, as he tore the weakened door from its hinges.

Within, sat a woman curled over a baby. She glanced at them with surprise. “Centurions?” she questioned, confused.

Danteus kneeled before her. “Are you alright?”

The woman stared at him a little longer shocked. Then glanced at her forearm, blistered and burned before checking the swaddled baby. “She’s fine.”

“Okay, come with us.” Danteus helped the woman to her feet, then guided her out of the room. Asashin glanced at them and stepped aside allowing them to pass.

“What’s that?” the woman asked, peering at the wire that held the ceiling.

No one said a word and watched as she exited the hall. When they were clear, Asashin followed them after deactivating the power the flowed through the anchors causing the ceiling to collapse. When they’d finally made it outside, the other woman who had met them, ran towards the woman who cradled the baby.

“Thank you!” she gasped and plucked the child from her arms. “Thank you, Eva for saving my daughter.”

Eva said, “You’re very welcome, Lila. I couldn’t possibly leave her behind. She’s too precious.” Eva stroked child’s head with her thumb before pulling away.

“That she is.” Lila declared, hugging her child.

Danteus, Altair and Asashin regarded Lila and the child before turning their gaze to Eva. None of them could make out her features but that didn’t stop their curiosity as they regarded the hooded cloak, she wore that concealed her features. She turned to the Centurions and bowed with a hand over her heart. “Thank you, for saving my life.”

Danteus stared curiously but didn’t reply. Altair said, “You’re welcome. Do you live around here?”

“No, I’m just passing through,” she declared.

“Where are you headed?” Asashin asked, with a kind smile. Even if he recognised why Danteus remained wary of the woman. He didn’t pay his attitude much mind.

“New Icarus. I need to speak to the King.”

“Oh?” Asashin replied, doubtful.

“Yes, it’s important.” Eva replied and regarded all the men evenly from beneath her hood. “Since you’re Centurions. You don’t mind escorting me back to the castle?”

“Um, well—,” Altair began, glancing at Danteus uncertain.

“—We don’t mind.” Asashin declared, ignoring the expressions crossing his friends’ faces at his words, “Do you have a horse?”

“I don’t,” she answered.

Asashin turned from her. “Then, I hope you don’t mind riding with me.” Beneath her hood, Eva smiled and followed Asashin. Altair and Danteus shared a concerned look, mirrored with confusion. Without argument, they followed their friend to their horses. As they left, Cavaliers and Legionnaires arrived, tending to the mostly destroyed village and its traumatised citizens.

* * *

“Hey!” Maximus called. “Will you wait up?”

Anton stormed through the jungle and over a small stream of water. “Why? You’re not going to be grateful if I do.”

“I’m sorry okay.” Maximus retorted. “I’ve noticed I have a tendency to be a little bit of a jerk under stressful and in uncomfortable situations.”

Anton watched Maximus. “I’ve noticed that too.”

They ducked at the crunch of hard soil, twigs and branches snapping under the weight of another. Their ears peaking at the sound of shifting leaves and distant voices that accompanied them. When they were close enough, Anton and Maximus heard, “What happens if we run into the other two?”

“Well, I guess we take them out as we did her.” the other voice replied. Alarmed, Maximus and Anton glanced at each other.

“They wouldn’t?” Anton questioned and peaked over the shrub of plants.

Maximus peered out of the bushes. “They would.” His anxious eyes on Gothalia’s unconscious body as the group of men carried her through the jungle. “We’re going after them, aren’t we?” Maximus asked Anton.

Anton regarded the retreating group, “Yeah. We are.”