‡ Promise 23: Unyielding Vengeance‡

-As told by Maria-

tanding among the ruins of my kingdom, broken and battered, I had vowed revenge on the Rolmir bloodline and it's people. A week before, it was calm and much celebration here, as my father had returned home with victory. King Ulfrell Galur III, ruler of this kingdom and father to myself and three brothers, had returned winning death over the Rolmir king. The Rolmirs have been our rivals beyond time itself. As our people danced and made merry, we were not prepared for what was to come.
Flawless in their tactics, the Rolmirs quickly appointed a new king to lead them, Keith; the son of the slain Rolmir King. And with precision, Keith lead an army of five thousand into our dark world and began to destroy everything. My oldest brother had awoken me on that day, as I slept in the soft folds of my bed, unaware of the attack outside the fortress. "The Rolmirs are attacking!" he breathed, pulling me to my feet, "Sister, you must go to safety."
"Where's father!?" I shout, my heart racing, "Where are the others!?" "Luke and Inan are fighting along father's side!" he explains, pulling me out into the hall, the sounds of mayhem surrounding the walls, "I've come back to make sure that you're safe! Hurry, I have to go back to help them!" A wall exploded, nearly crushing us both. "This can't be happening!" I shriek, holding onto my brother's hand tightly, as he pulls me through the halls. "Don't worry." he smiles, slightly, "This is Galur's territory. This new Rolmir is a fool to bring his battle here!"
Hundreds of Rolmir's undead spill into the halls, racing towards us in a frenzy, hungry to spill our blood. "Run!" gasps my brother, as I held tightly to his hand still. We rushed up the grand spiraling stairway, myself in front on my brother, but still holding onto his hand. The creatures were moving in fast, in speeds that I never thought the undead could ever move in. They were far more adversely trained than even the strongest of my father's guards, I realized, and this bought worry about my father and brothers crashing down on me. I began to cry, as I ran, hoping with all my heart that my family was alright.
We headed for the tower and I heard a mighty snap behind me. I didn't dare turn around to look, knowing that the creatures were just inches away, running faster and pulling my brother along. "The tower... we have to reach the tower... we'll be safe in the tower...", my mind chants, as the steps were a blur under our feet. And then, a wooden door appears, we tumble in. I quickly slam the door with my foot, letting go of my brother's hand, and leaning against the door. "Hurry!" I cry, towards my brother, as the door heaved from the force outside, "Frelly, help me hold the door shut!"
But there was no answer. "Ulfrell?" I say in a small voice, afraid that he was hurt and couldn't move. Even though he's named after my father, I've never used his full name before that moment, and I've playfully call him Frelly. I turn to see only my brother's bloody arm, laying on the floor, severed from the rest of him. I had traveled all the way to the tower, not knowing that my brother was no longer with me, that I was just carrying his arm. I scream, shaking and sobbing, and losing my grip on the door. The door burst open and the undead pour in, my brother's blood smeared across their greedy faces, leering for my blood as well. "Ulfrell!!!" I shriek in indescribable grief.
I back away from the mob, collapsing into a corner, and just sobbed uncontrollably. My brother was dead. My other brothers were probably dead also. And I knew my father didn't have chance against so many of these powerful creatures. I didn't care that Rolmir's undead were closing in around me, I wanted to die. The wall explodes around me and the fortress collapses, sending me and a few undead into deep darkness. I am sure that I am destroyed, slain by the hands of a avenging Rolmir.
I don't know how long I was under the rubble. I lost all track of time. But slowly I climbed my way through it, to find that all is slain and all buildings are in ruins. The Rolmirs are long gone and I stand alone, broken and numb. The Galur kingdom is no more. And I'm the only surviving one. A tear falls from my eye, but sorrow is quickly replaced by unyielding rage. I open my wings and swing my claws into nearby rubble, screaming in demon curses and roaring in deep ground-shaking cries. "You'll pay for this, Rolmir!" I hissed, falling to my knees, "I'm going to take everything you hold dear away from you!"
Centuries later, I stand within abandoned woods, watching the habits outside the gate of the Rolmir kingdom. I watch carefully, making sure to not let my scent be known, just yet. Over a few nights of spying, I realize that the gate is guarded by a masked demon, who is often visited by a undead and her dolls. Later in the night, the Rolmir shows up, smugly chatting with his friends and without a care in the world. I want to snap his neck, at the sight of him and the sound of his voice, but it isn't time yet.
After a few more nights of spying and planning, I make my move. "Time to pay." I grin, standing in the woods, wearing a human's form. I quickly unleash my huge dark wings, ripping the false flesh and human garb, and give them a few flaps. This spreads my scent for Rolmir to pick up and then I head for the gate. I know he will follow me shortly, so I must hurry ahead to began my assault. The reason why Rolmir blood is most rivaled among other demons is because it's often mixed with humans.
This makes for a very weak demon, attached and bonded to other creatures whom are not demons, and gives us pure-demons an advantage. In other words, of the Rolmir blood, they care for much more than those of the fortress. And their love for lower-beings, such as the undead or humans, can be easily manipulated in my favor. But unlike his father, he doesn't seem to have a human attachment, so his lackeys will have to do. I unleash both claws, breaking through the shadows, and grab the undead girl. I quickly slash into her and toss her to the ground. The masked demon moves to the undead's defense, but I break his arm, sending his silly dagger sliding across the soft dying grass.
"Who are you?" he whispers. "An old friend." I nod, grabbing a hold of his masked face with one claw and cracking it. I pick him up by his throat and toss him into a nearby tree. He falls crumpled in a unmoving heap. I move closer to finish both off, but a teddy-bear and rag-doll rush out from nowhere, biting my ankles. "Annoying," I sigh, "No time for toys!" I slash both creatures into ribbons. I turn to finish off the girl first, but I decide on a better idea instead. I'll wait.
After a while, the Rolmir thunders through the darkness, then stops horrified, at the scene of his friends laying crumpled on the ground. "They're not dead yet." I smile, licking their blood from my claws, "But they will be, after I'm done. I just wanted you to be here to witness it." "You were dead." he breaths. "Well," I shrug, circling him, "Technically, we're all dead here. Do you mean 'destroyed'? Yeah, well, that's your mistake for not making sure. I had survived. And I've been dreaming of your death, every night since."
"Yeah," Rolmir says smugly, folding his arms, "The thing about dreams are, they're not real." He was trying to goad me, but it's not working, I'm the one who's in control tonight. "Well," I shrug again, "Let's find out if your death is dream or reality tonight." There was an angry shout and something flies into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. I dig my heels into the dirt and slide into a tree, instead. It is another Rolmir, his rage obvious, as he dives in for another attack. "Faldan, stop!" calls Keith, but it's too late.
As he flies in, I flip over him, in mid-air grabbing one of his wings and nearly ripping it off his back. He screams and crashes into the dirt, as I turn back to the first Rolmir. "You'll pay for that." growls Keith, unleashing his claws. "No," I said, coldly, "It's you who's going to pay, for the death of the Galur kingdom... for my family." Keith rushes in quick, but I move quickly out of his way, bringing a kick to his back. He stumbles a bit, but gains his balance as I rush forward, and lands a cut across my face.
I quickly grab his arm and shatter it, causing him to yell in pain and fall on his knees. Satisfied, I knee him in the face, knocking him fully to the ground. "Hmm," I said, amused, "I was planning to kill your friends first and then kill you. But, I can't seem to help myself. I think I'll finish you off first and then destroy your kingdom." "You don't have an army." he gasps, in pain, laying on his back, "My people will kill you, as soon as you step foot inside. And they outnumber your abilities by far."
"I know." I said, blankly, "Most likely I would die before I reached the fortress. But, I'll die knowing I took out as many as I could. As well as the Rolmir king who killed my reason to exist." I punch my claw through Keith's chest...