The Short Stories (and Poems) of Draven Cage.

[dc]

Now, I don't know if it would be preferred if I posted all my short stories and poems in one thread, or if the stories will warrant a thread to themselves. But I'll post on just now, and I'll leave that up to the mods of the forum.

The first story is very short, but it is a good one.

[dc]

As we sat around the fire, I couldn't help but think back to those we had lost in earlier battles. My mentor Shivron, slain at the hands of Vigo's minions, his blood running dry as it spilled across the fertile land. Jayne, taken from me in the night as punishment for taking a stand. All the others, Bert, Davidov, Sharill, killed for what we believe, for the choices we make. As I thought of these losses, I fell asleep, drained of all energy, drained of all hope, drained of all reason.

I awoke with a start, and standing there in front of me was Vigo, the cause of all pain and suffering in my world, in all his glory, golden armour adorning his nine foot tall body, armoured helmet glistening under the stars, his horns protruding from the top. He repeated the offer he had given all those months ago, to tempt me to fight by his side, to rule this planet as one.

"My name is Vigo, Lord of Carpathia, Ruler of the seven dimensions in the pits of hell, slayer of mortal men and keeper of their souls. And I give you a choice, a choice that no-one has been offered. I give you the choice, fight by my side, rule this world with me as my equal, or stand against me in your futile attempt at redemption. The choice is simple, you may choose to live......or you may choose to die," the Demon King growled menacingly.

"I chose to make our stand, as I did those many moons ago," I replied, before bringing up my sword and swinging it through his neck, severing his head, blood spurting in an elegant arc.


"Tsk, tsk, tsk," tutted Vigo, as he placed his head back on his broad shoulders, "That is no way to treat your master. You may be the Dark Light, but I will always be more powerful than you can ever hope to be."

And with that he disappeared, into the night, and I awoke from my slumber with a start. It was now morning, and the four of us who remained were up and ready to continue with our quest. Three men and one woman against a whole army of demons and monsters. Over to the left we have Dimitri, a proud farmer who lost everything in one of Vigo's purges, not the biggest, but with a heart and desire that exceeds his physicality. Behind him, we have Shalimov, a former bodyguard of the Queen, all muscle and desire. Lastly, we have Kiwi, a fiery damsel who is never in distress. Then you have me, the Dark Light, Draven Cage. Why do I wage this vendetta? I have my reasons.

As the morning was ending we decided what we must do in order to slay Vigo once and for all. It was decided that the time had come for one all out attack on his defenses, to slay the demon and bring peace to the ravaged land. We would attack after dark. Until then we sang songs, and recited stories of the ones that had found their salvation at long last.

As darkness descended upon us, we all looked to the heavens for some protection and inspiration, said a prayer for our fallen comrades and began our quest to rid the world of evil. I was in front, scouting the area for Gragoouns, horrible creatures, which Vigo uses like attack dogs, standing five feet tall with four sets of fangs flashing in their gaping maws. The moonlight shone on their leathery, black hide as I spotted them in the distance, grunting away, oblivious to their impending demise at our hands.


"Yeaaaaaaarrrrrrgh," boomed everyone as they advanced on the Gargoouns, Dimitri with two swords flashing, Shalimov's battle-axe slicing through the thick flesh with ease, Kiwi using her magic powers to take out any foe within her range. The blood flew and the screams of anguish were hauntingly comforting to me as I hacked away at the hordes with my sword, forged in the boiling blood of my father. It was over as quickly as it had begun, an uneasy silence falling over the land, a lone wimper escaping into the night, silenced by a thrust of my sword.

"What do we do now?" said Kiwi in a gentle tone, one that seemed lost in the preceeding savagery. No-one really knew, but we had come too far, so on we marched, to Vigo's lair, where untold evils run free.

"I don't expect all of us to return," I said, hoping to be wrong, "But I know that when it is over, we will be reunited in heaven, brothers and sisters forever."

Kiwi had tears on her face, thinking of the loved ones we had lost, and the fear of what lay ahead. I was about to offer her some comfort when a thud shook us out of our thoughts. Dimitri had fallen, landing hard on the forest floor, and now he was not moving. Shalimov ran over to check on our friend. He didn't have to say anything, his face told the entire story, Dimitri was gone. A single dart, poisoned for sure, had pierced his left eye, leaving a red trail dripping from his cheek. Looking around we could see nothing, but Kiwi had other ideas.

"Killer of darkness, killer of light, show yourself, come out and fight, killer of darkness, killer of light, show yourself, we have second sight."


The wind began to swirl and the lightning began to flash, Kiwi's eyes were now totally black, as she used the magic taught by her mother. Suddenly they appeared, the assassins sent by Lord Vigo. Two skulking ladies, dressed entirely in black, shown to us for the first time. Shalimov's rage took over and he launched himself into the fray, Kiwi attached the lightning to his axe, and he used this weapon well. The two assassins fell to the floor, both of them cleaved clean in two. Blood from them sprayed all over Shalimov, but he didn't care, he had avenged, in his own way, his friends untimely death.

"We bury him now," Shalimov said, showing more emotion than we have ever seen from the gentle giant, "He needs to be honoured."

We buried Dimitri where he had fallen, then Kiwi blessed his grave, chanted a spell to guide him to heaven, cried a howl of anguish that shook God in it's painful ferocity. As we held each other close, we could say nothing to comfort her, so we never tried. All we had was each other, and the belief to end this for good.

"Time to go," I said, knowing it wasn't required, but feeling I had to take charge of the situation. We moved on, taking one last look at our fallen friend. The darkness would lift soon, and we knew that this may be the last night we would spend on this world. We approached the citadel that housed Vigo, not quite sure how we would go about entering the fortified palace. Shalimov wanted to go in the front gate, but was persauded that was not the best point of action. We decided to enter from the north face, as it was the least guarded part of the realm. The catch, however, was it was a six-hundred metre climb up a sheer cliff face.

"I can't do this," said Kiwi, unaware of her inner strength. "Yes you can, you are stronger than you think," I replied, hoping to convince her. Finally, she started on the hard ascent ahead.

"Only fifty metres to go," I said, almost triumphant, trying to will myself on, "We'll be at the top soon."

I wish I had never spoke, as no sooner had I said it, Shalimov slipped and fell backwards off the cliff, only managing to stop by grabbing a crumbling ledge. He wasn't safe, but he wasn't dead either. "I'll get him," Kiwi said. "It's ok, I'll go," I insisted, as I made my way over to him. I was so near, but disaster struck, as a vine wrapped itself round my leg, stopping my progress. "HURRY, THE LEDGE IS GOING," screamed Kiwi as I freed myself from the vine. It was too late, Shalimov fell from the ledge, taking with him another sliver of hope. Watching as he hit the ground, hiding Kiwi from the sights I said a prayer for the fallen warrior.

"We can't go on, only me and you," said Kiwi, haunted by her friends demise. "We can do this, don't let the last few months be in vain," I said back, "We will finish this tonight, we have no choice."

Draven Cage, the Dark Light and Kiwi, the Mage, all that is left of the threat to Vigo. We marched into his lair, knowing it could be our last decision in life. Strangely, we met no resistance as we approached the inner sanctum of Vigo's lair. And there he stood, proud and tall, waiting for our arrival.

"I thought you would never get here," he boomed across the room, "I have been waiting a long time for this day."

Vigo stalked around the chamber, looking at us with disdain. Without warning Kiwi launched an assault on the monster who took her friends, using all her powers, her hair now a crimson flame, the magic of the Mage wearing down Vigo, bringing him to his knees.

"How can this be," wailed Vigo, grasping for answers as his power faded before him.

"THIS IS FOR EVERY LOST SOUL YOU HAVE TAKEN FROM INNOCENCE," roared Kiwi.

Vigo was defeated, and it was time to end the battle that had raged for far too long. I walked over to where Vigo was now kneeling, Kiwi approaching just behind. I drew my sword, held it up high, the light causing the blade to sparkle. Vigo closed his eyes, knowing what was to come.

"It is time," I said as I turned and brought my blade down, the noise of flesh being torn echoing through the hallways, the chestplate snapping under the pressure.

Kiwi's eyes glazed over, a trickle of blood pouring from her mouth dropped onto my blade, mixing with the flow on there already. In her eyes only confusion and sorrow. I withdrew my blade from her chest and she slumped to the ground, dying on the floor of the chamber.

"Wh..h..h.hhh.why Draven, after a....a.all we've been through," she gasped in confusion as her breath began to run dry.

I simply turned my back on her as she died, thinking of how it was no accident the assasins found us, how I could have saved Shalimov on the cliff, how easy it was to dupe the woman who lay dead behind me and knelt in front of Vigo, in front of my master........."Arise, my son.".........and my father.

[Nimf]

Do you SEE that??? He killed me!!!

[Gothic Angel]

Nimf your poetry was golden and DC the stories were really good, you are both equally filled with greatness, determined by what you have put down, keep it up it, isnt a contest you are both too brilliant....... I will put a poem in and stake my place in this thread ... but mine are a bit more on the depressing ....

Body lies broken, curled, and cold
Eyes stirring softly with their secrets untold
A crimson flood drowns the grass around
This silence is screaming, yet making no sound

Fingers curled about the large roots of the tree
Expression interprets knowledge of what can and can't be
Deep, strategic scars cover small, fragile frame
As if violently ripping out was soul unable to tame

The scenery lacks colour, as if nature forsaken
Bent, hollow tree for a monster mistaken
No light will shine down on this place soon
For the killers of Sun are blaming Full Moon

[dc]

admin said:

but mine are a bit more on the depressing ....

I haven't even got to the dark stuff.

I'll post a darker one on Wednesday or Thursday.