The Agra worshippers continued their search, oblivious to the danger that lurked in the shadows, their eyes scanning the undergrowth, their hands never straying far from their weapons.
"This fucking forest," one of them spat, kicking at a patch of moss. "It's unnatural. Too green. Makes me want to puke."
"All these goddamn flowers," another grumbled, crushing a delicate blue blossom under his heel. "They're an insult to chaos. We should burn this whole place to the ground."
"Where the hell are those Ava-loving bastards hiding?" a third muttered, his gaze darting around nervously. "They can't have gotten far."
Michael and Gaya, perched high above, watched them with predatory grins.
"Two down, eighteen to go," Gaya purred, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and let out a series of bird calls. A perfect imitation of a cuckoo, followed by the screech of a hawk, and then, for good measure, the earsplitting shriek of a harpy. Then to give a more confusing touch, she dislodged a good size rock from the canopy as it fell down on the forest floor, hitting nothing but the ground, and distracting the others toward the sudden sound.
The cultists, startled by the sudden cacophony, turned towards the sound, their weapons raised, their gazes scanning the trees.
It was the distraction Michael had been waiting for.
He dropped from the branches, landing silently behind the two stragglers, his movements a blur of speed and shadow. With two swift, brutal movements, he snapped their necks. Then, scooping up their lifeless bodies, he leaped back into the trees, disappearing into the darkness of the canopy.
The remaining cultists, their attention still fixed on the... source of the bird calls... were oblivious to the fate that had befallen their comrades. They were spread out now, their formation broken, their focus... scattered.
"What the hell was that noise?" one of them asked in a low growl.
"Sounded like a fucking zoo," another muttered, scratching his head.
"Forget the birds," a third said, his gaze hardening. "We need to find those Ava worshippers. And that damn dog. Where the hell did he go?"
Back in the trees beside Gaya, Michael pointed towards a group of three cultists who were moving towards a nearby stream.
"Those three next?" he murmured. "They're isolated. But they're close together. We'll need to be... quick."
"There are two more, over there," Gaya said, her gaze fixed on a pair of cultists who were watching the group by the stream, their hands resting on the hilts of their daggers.
"They've got those three in their sights. It's too risky to approach them directly."
"Can't you just... poof them all away? Like you did with the others?" Gaya asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
"I could," Michael admitted, his gaze hardening. "But I don't want to... risk it. If they're all taken out at once... it'll raise alarms. Whoever's listening to those communication crystals... they'll alert Agra. And he might... postpone his visit. Change his plans."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with a cold fire.
"I want him to... come, Gaya. I want him to... receive our... gifts. In person."
"But... they'll know," Gaya pointed out. "They'll know that... another hunting party has... disappeared."
"They'll know something is wrong," Michael agreed. "But they won't guess it's a god who's hunting them. They'll assume it's... the Ava worshippers, fighting back. Or... some other predator lurking in the forest. They'll send more men. More toys for us to play with."
"You've been searching for hours, you incompetent imbeciles!" he roared. "What the hell do you think you're doing out there? Having a goddamn picnic?! Did you stop to braid each others' hair?! Did you build a fucking tree house? Find those idiots, and find them now!"
The cultist, his face pale, stammered a hasty affirmation.
There was a moment of silence, the only sound the crackling of the communication crystal. Then, Vorlag's voice, now laced with a chilling menace, echoed through the forest again.
"Because if you come back empty-handed. Agra's going to flay you alive. And I'll be right there beside him, enjoying the show."
"Agra? But Lady Qin Jiu said..." "He's... here," Vorlag confirmed, his voice taking on a strangely gleeful tone. "Arrived earlier than expected. Surprise! That's what happens when you're the fucking God of Chaos! Punctuality is for losers!"
Well, that wasn't exactly surprising. The God of Chaos arriving unannounced? It would have been more shocking if he'd actually stuck to the goddamn schedule.
Michael and Gaya exchanged glances with their eyebrows raised in resignation and tinge of frustration.
"Of course he's early," Gaya muttered, rolling her eyes. "What did we expect? The guy's a walking, talking shitstorm."
It threw a wrench in their plans, sure. They'd been expecting to have two days to prepare, to set their traps, to gather their gifts. But Michael simply shrugged as he was used to plans changing and quiet good "Time to improvise," he said, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "We'll just have to speed things up a bit," said Michael.
They'd have to prepare the forest, set their traps around the Pond of Tranquility, and deliver their message to Agra now with no time to waste.
************************************
Back in the Temple of Chaos, Qin Jiu was... uncomfortable.
She'd been pacing her chambers, her mind a whirlwind of worry and... premonition, when he'd arrived.
Agra.
He'd bounced into the room, his usual manic energy amplified, his eyes glittering with a chaotic light that made her skin crawl. He'd cupped her face in his hands, his touch a little too rough, a little too possessive, and grinned down at her, his painted face a grotesque mask of affection and lust but It was hard to tell with him.
"What troubles my beautiful Qin Jiu?" he asked, purring. "Tell me my love, what dark thoughts cloud your perfectly sculpted brow?"
Qin Jiu knew, from experience, that trying to hide things from Agra was pointless. He had a way of sensing her emotions, her fears, her secrets, especially when he is around her. And besides, she couldn't tell if he knew about the missing hunting party yet.
"It's the hunters, Agra," she said, her voice a hesitant whisper. "The ones we sent after Ava's worshippers. They haven't returned. I sent Vorlag to dispatch another group... but I have a bad feeling."
Agra's grin widened, transforming into a manic cackle that sounded more like a hyena choking on a bone than actual laughter.
"Isn't it obvious, my brilliant Qin Jiu?" he said, still chuckling. "Someone's killing them. Those pathetic Ava worshippers... they're not exactly known for their... ferocity, are they? That forest... it's full of... tranquility. Not exactly a breeding ground for warriors. No, someone or something is hunting my hunters. And that, my love... that smells like... chaos. "
He began to dance around the room, his movements erratic, unpredictable, his laughter echoing off the walls.
"I can taste it, Qin Jiu!" he shrieked. "The chaos! The fear! The... deliciousness! This... this calls for... a celebration! We'll open the temple! Invite all my followers! Let my statue... stand tall! A beacon of chaos! A symbol of... me!"
Qin Jiu waited for him to calm down before speaking again.
"But... what about the hunters, Agra?" she asked, her voice quiet, but firm. "Who... or what... is killing them?"
Agra's laughter ceased abruptly, his gaze hardening.
"I'll... find out," he said with a low growl. "Or... my minions will. I'm too busy basking in the glory of impending chaos to go sniffing around for clues. Besides, " he added, a cruel smile twisting his lips, "I have a feeling... the chaos itself... will reveal the... culprit. Sooner or later."
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login