Nightmare Walkers

Violet stiffened, damm those all seeing eyes. He grabbed a emergency kit from a nearby end-table and dragged Violet easily into his lap. He placed her comfortably, her back to his chest her legs in between his. He softly grabbed her bicep pulling her hand out. He rolled up the sweaters sleeve, ignoring Violet's feeble attempts at retaliation. She had carved into her forearm, using his dagger. The gaping bloody hole in the palm of her hand had lines being drawn in every direction upward until they met at her elbow. Most of them had blood beginning to clot, but with careless moves blood trickled out. He did not understand, but he knew questioning the works was pointless.

"Can you heal these Violet?"

She grumbled for a response, he shook his head, "will you?" Violet gave in, "the forearm, eventually, yes, my palm no. There are some things that must heal of their own accord."

He accepted her response easily and began tending to the wounds, "If you are concerned that there will be retaliation for your actions earlier I can guarantee your safety." Violet hummed, voice becoming quieter, "does it bother you... all..." Kieren finished her sentence, "all the secrets you're keeping from me? Not as much as it should... blatantly, it doesn't bother me at all. I do not care Violet, just don't push me away."

Violet did not answer, he was ever so tender, yet firm as he disinfected her wounds. She relaxed into his arms breathing in the tantalizing forest smell that seemed to seep out of his skin. "You know it's not over right?" She was drained, he whispered something else into her ear, a reply, his lips brushing her neck, something she didn't quite catch. He was wrapping her arm, his chest rising and falling calmly against her body, pulling her in closer. Her head came to rest against the crook of his neck and she finally fell asleep.

It must have been an immense shock for Alex, she opened the door carrying pain relievers for Violet -the last time she had drained herself her body had ached for days- and found Violet fast asleep in Kieren's arms.

Kieren was leaning against the head-rest, eyes on the ceiling, lost in contemplation. Violet was in his arms, he had removed his sweater and was covering her with it. Kieren was holding Violet so tenderly. Alex saw bandages, spanning Violet's arm, from the tip of her palm to her elbow. "What happened to-" Kieren motioned for silence with his hand. After a few moments he cautiously got up, pulling Violet into his arms, he led Alex through a smaller hidden door into a cozy room. Placing Violet on the bed, he covered her and walked out closing the door. "Do not let her leave your sight Alex."

Alex stiffened, she knew that look, "You know who the culprit is."

"One of them," his eyes gleamed with animosity, "They killed thirty four humans today, most of them children, retaliation begins momentarily. You keep her safe, she foiled their plans. If there is more than one of them..."

Alex nodded, "they'll come after her."

"Alex, you will keep her safe, I will hold you responsible." Alex shivered, she bowed, he had used a command voice.

"Yes Master!"

Kieren left the room.

The twins re-entered the room, they looked to Alex who was sitting on the floor, runestone weapon in front of her. They tensed, "Kieren looked set on something, you have your real weapon out. Should we?"

"Yeah," Alex cut in, "shits about to hit the fan." Alex grabbed her gun, it was no ordinary gun, a Colt Python Revolver turned runestone weapon, it was a sight to behold. The .375 rounds were hand made by Alex herself, she had refitted the gun to emit rounds containing her specific choice of poison. The gun had runes carved on all sides and by her call could use highly condensed air bullets which exploded upon impact.

The twins nodded, matching swords appeared in their hands. One handle read 'curse' the other 'destroy' the swords were originally made as a duel-wielding pair, yet like many other objects in their world. They had split to be shared by the two, working in tandem to wreck havoc. They took a seat near Alex watching the door, Alex shivered again. "He's angry, he used a command, it's boiling in my blood." Ted and Tom looked up in surprise, "He used a command?" Alex nodded, jaw set.

Yet another extremely unusual attribute of Kieren's was his command ability. It was said that the first Zordyk and Ruenen King had been chosen for his astonishing ability to unite and lead. The man had been cunning, brave, and truly dangerous. Those within the Ruenen families understood the topic better, there were six major families that fell beneath the Zordyk's descendants. The first Ruenen King, Lord Zenón commanded with a soul pact. The families could not ignore direct commands, words which rolled off his tongue carried across a different frequency, his bidding was carried out immediately. The kings children however, had not inherited his command voice, and although the Zordyk's remained in control, it was a summed that the gift was lost. The command had returned with Kieren, and just like his descendant before, he could command the soul pact descendants with his words.

"It's been some years since he's used a command," Tom looked away as he spoke, "the last time, Zen almost died because he couldn't kill the attacker. He stopped using it then, do you remember how we used to like it. That feeling of power, oppression, the desire to fulfill. It's dangerously addicting, but then you feel the pressure of his command."

Ted gripped his chest, "yeah, reminding you that your life rests entirely on his will, it's constricting"

"It's different this time...." Alex looked them in the eyes, "he's using it to protect, even if we kill. We lost fourty-three.... there's something sinister at play here. He didn't let on, but I could see it in his eyes. Violet knew something as well, that's why she pulled that world rocking stunt."

The three went silent, eyes cold, locked on the door, poised to kill, to protect.

Kieren entered the chamber and sat in his chair, all voices diminished immediately. He looked each of them eye to eye, noting their appearance, apprehension, fear, rage, turmoil.

"Come out and play," He whispered.

Silence.

Both hands gripped their respective dagger in midair, he brought them swishing down straight into the table.

"I went for a walk, several pieces did not coincide, a shitily created board game. I am no fan of games."

More silence.

He reached into his pocket, "I brought something, I'd like an explanation for it."

"Sir?" It was commander Zet who had spoken.

In a flash Kieren had moved, one of the daggers in hand, he launched himself over the table straight at Svenn. The dagger connected with the wall behind Svenn's head at the same time Kieren's knee broke through two of Sevnn's ribs. Svenn collapsed chocking and shaking, "Lord Zordyk," he gasped out, "I don't understand." Kieren grabbed him by the hair dragging him up. The rest of them were frozen, eyes on their leader, unsure of what to do. Kieren showed them what was in his left hand, "Whose in charge of maintaining and inspecting the marking stones before events?" Just as Violet had warned him the reaction was instantaneous.

Weapons were drawn and seven of his compatriots approached, glaring at Svenn. Zet took the piece of the marking stone from Kieren. The rest of the members looked confused. "You murdered children!" Zet snarled at Svenn.

"That's not true," he pleaded, tears running down his face, "I would, koff" Kieren had slammed his fist into Svenn's face, blood and two teeth slid down his chin. "Lie to me again." Kieren slid his dagger into Svenn's knee. While the man howled in pain Kieren continued, holding out Svenn's identification band, "Are any more of your Nightmare Walker buddies here?"

Fear shone in Svenn's eyes, he stuttered broken, "You were never supposed to figure it out. Not that it matters now, stupid girl, she'll get what's coming to- AGH!" Kieren had broken his knee, "the only reason you're alive is to answer my questions."

Kieren turned to Zet, "freeze him, we need to split up, it's not over. Kill at will."