Masquerade of Madness: Decisions of the Wrong Kind: Part Two

Sue started to cry, and Creed gently rubbed her back. "You do not have to say anymore. My mom was also killed by a mob. They were killing me, too, but my older brother and my stepdad protected me. They arrested my stepdad, saying that they were unjustly attacked. My brother appealed to the courts to let him talk with the king, but they refused. My stepdad – the only dad I ever knew – was executed for murdering four Casalyians."

"That's horrible!"

Sue and Creed sat in silence, each feeling the sorrow of the other. Soon, they both were asleep.

Daylight hit the abandoned building too soon for the Nards. They all felt tired and were still hungry from last night. The militants stretched as the pregnant female sat because of her swelling feet. Her father observed her. The other Nards might call it a weakness, but One-Eye did not care. If any Nard dared call him weak, he had enough experience and strength to kill him.

The one-armed Nard stretched, ready for his morning meal. He realized his comrade's weakness, but then again, he enjoyed spending time with him. Their fights lasted hours and helped them keep their minds and reflexes sharp.

The two other Nards grumpily stalked up to the second floor to regroup, to continue their mission from their king. The pregnant one stood up and held her stomach. She rubbed it as though caressing her baby inside, thinking she would be due any day now. The Nards waited for her to join them, and then they all took off down the stairs, out of the old house and into the town in desperate search of food.

Creed and Sue climbed their way through the rubble, trying to contain their anger. Crystal woke them up this morning. She had followed Gin into the house; he was getting home from his night out when she arrived. Crystal insisted that they all take this rough excursion by loudly proclaiming she wanted to work the "bad" out of Brandon and besides, it would be a fun morning exercise.

Creed lagged behind with a bitter pout evident to everyone. "I do not see what is so fun," he muttered.

Brandon laughed, watching Creed and Sue, and enjoying their struggle to catch up.

"Again, Crystal, tell me why are we doing this?" Sue spoke out hostilely.

Crystal whimsically replied, "To work all the bad out of Brandon!"

"Okay then, why does this have to include us?" Sue's sarcasm came out loud and clear.

They all stood on top of the giant rubble pile. Crystal quickly pulled out a magazine article and began to read it. "It says group activities are better for reinforcement."

Agitated, Creed stared ahead trying to ignore them. In the distance he noticed some Humanoids running toward them. As the people drew closer, he could make out Damon and his gang. Annoyed, Creed protested loudly, "I am not fighting you guys every other day, or again for that matter!"

But the gang ran past the massive pile of rubble, not even noticing Creed's group. Nards galloped close behind them, and they were catching up to their prey.

Sue's eyes widened in disbelief. Crystal and Brandon took off.

Creed yelled, "Whatever you do, do not run! They will chase you."

Sue tried to stop Crystal and Brandon, who managed to lock arms together.

"Creed!" Sue called out. "What are you going to do?"

"I guess I have to save them."

"Right, and I'm going to help you!"

Crystal held tightly to Brandon. "What was that thing?" she asked Creed, still shaking.

"A Nard.”

Sue stood in shocked amazement. "No way!" she screamed out. "Creed!" she called after him, but he had already started running toward the Nards.

The group reached the homeless district, just as a Nard pulled his first victim toward his open stomach, enjoying the struggle and smelling the fear. His meal just wet himself. Oh, well, food is food, and it moves. The Nard reeled him in while the audience of homeless watched in fear.

Creed summoned a blade and sliced the tentacles of the Nard. He fell over, bleeding, his victim barely escaping. The Nard gasped, taking a final breath before dying.

[Some Casalyians can summon specified weapons that they have an immense attachment to.]

Creed did not have time to think. He saw another Nard near a woman trying to shush a baby, unaware of the danger lurking behind her. The Nard, One-Eye, slowly inched his tentacles toward her. He wanted to devour the sweet voice singing to that loud crying thing. It was weak and weakness needed to be killed.

But One-Eye hesitated too long. Creed slammed his body full force into the Nard, knocking it back. Off balance only a moment, the Nard took charge, and then stopped abruptly in its tracks . . . this smell. One-Eye howled loudly. It was a hunting call – he found the Casalyian. But why did this scent smell like Nard, too? No, it is impossible, a Casalyian with Nard blood. He stopped to study Creed.

The mother turned around in time to see the hideous Nard, and Creed slamming his full body into him. She ran, holding her baby tightly to her chest.

Sue found herself surrounded. Three Nards had appeared, hearing the hunting call. Two of them began to walk around Sue, Crystal, and Brandon in a full circle, deciding who their first prey would be. Sue gulped as fear overwhelmed her. Her legs trembled, but she knew she had to fight.

Sue took a defensive stance, as one of the Nards let out a war cry and lunged for her. She yelped and fell on her butt. Her gauntlet activated, urging, "Use me!" The glove changed, growing heavy, as a sword of red light came out, and then turned white.

The Nards regrouped, looking for a fight. The pregnant one continued to walk around, watching for a safe time to grab her prey.

Sue stood up, as the Nard let out another war cry and lunged for her again. This time she used her gauntlet, blocking the attack. The Nard’s strength made her fall back. His stomach opened, revealing its moving tentacles.