The Black Emperor

Dead, bloated, and waterlogged bodies lay in the pool, polluting what had been clear emerald water. Maggots and flies feasted on the corpses, making the pool even more disgusting to behold. These bodies must have been here for weeks, and some of them showed signs of brightening, their bones turning into light. This particular pool was useless, the water was foul and fetid, impossible to drink without getting some disease. He would have to find another one. “Lets go, this one won’t do.” Zhaydeen hissed. “We have bigger problems to worry about my prince.” Yaramik started to back down. Two Nightstalkers descended, and the two that were already there awoke due to their brethrens loud flapping. Zhaydeen bolted, Yaramik close behind, fleeing into the nearest alley before they could be interrogated. Zhaydeen swerved going from alley to alley, dropping some of the younakki in the process. He didn’t care, if they were caught he would be in the same state as the younakki containers, broken. The beasts were catching up, they were much faster in the air than he and Yaramik on the ground. Already he grew tired, slowing down due to the stress of running. Flames, orange and yellow rained down, and he ducked and swerved their wrath. Yaramik was falling behind, and he would not abandon his companion so easily. “Yar, breathe air! Now!” The spy complied, letting loose a gust of hot air. Zhaydeen stopped, turned around, and joined in a stream of white fire to the wind. The Nightstalkers were not expecting this, and got a face full of fire and hot air. While they were disoriented Zhaydeen and Yaramik kept running.The exit was a few minutes away and that blaze would only keep them distracted for seconds at most. He had to take the risk. Zhaydeen took to the air and flew as fast as possible to the hiding spot in Azzendris. Once again the Nightstalkers were hot on him, recovering from his earlier present, and Yaramik trailed closer to them than him. Zhaydeen folded his wings and dived, his spy friend followed his lead, descending to Bhakan Street where their salvation lay. Yaramik would not survive against four Nightstalkers, even if they were the lackeys. Zhaydeen on the other claw. “Yaramik, get to the entrance. I will handle these creatures.” “But.” Yaramik started. Zhaydeen stared at him, black-grey eyes drinking up his soul. Yaramik got the message. They hit the ground and Yaramik ran to the entrance and started digging. Their pursuers landed, savage smiles on their faces. They prowled leisurely, taking their time to savor what they thought to be a kill. “ Nowhere left to run.” A voice purred in his head. “ For you, “ Zhaydeen clapped back. They laughed, shrill horrible sounds, like claws on rock. Zhaydeen looked around to make sure no one else was coming to their aid, that it was him vs them. These ones were arrogant, thinking they could handle him with no help, and under normal circumstances they might. This was not normal. Zhaydeen flexed his tailblade. “Come meet your doom. I will send you to that darkness you love so much.” They roared fire, four streams of orange all in his direction. Quick as a kaalidrash he struck, sinking his tailblade into one's neck before it could respond. It dropped dead, shock still on its face. The other three knew he was serious now. He had to kill them before they could call for help. All of them rose to the air, his enemies swooped around him, trying to overwhelm him but he was far too fast. Zhaydeen danced around their flames, skirting their claws, and dodging their fangs. It was beautiful, it was the best feeling in the world. Zhaydeen struck with criminal precision, slashing off a wing, and watched the beast collapse. A Nighstalker crashed into him, trying to claw off his face, and it’s friend tried to tear at his wings. Zhaydeen curled his back claws, masterfully flipping the dragon off his back into the one in front. They fell to the ground together. Zhaydeen would’ve loosed his flames but that would make too much noise, and he already had made far too much of that. He swooped down on his fallen enemies,and let claws and tailblades finish the job. There was one last thing. The one who had lost its wing was trying to run away, and that could not be permitted or the whole city would know about him. He rushed to the fleeing night demon and pounced, putting it on its back. Zhaydeen put his tailblade in the beast's head ending its misery. That one he had done a favor, life for cripples was far worse than any type of death. Zhaydeen took one last look around to make sure none had seen or were coming to the scene. During the battle he had tried to be quiet but it was hard to be with wings and fire and screaming. Surprisingly the coast was clear, that or what remained of the citizenry had seen what he did to the Nightstalkers and wisely stayed out of his sight and smells. Of those Nightstalkers only dismembered body parts and broken bodies were left to remind the world of what had been. Zhaydeen loosed his bowels and used his tail to spread the stench of scat and piss all over the battle scene. When their friends and generals came to the scene all they would see is the bodies, no idea of who or what had caused them. He went to his secret hole, and started digging, covering it back up as he went deeper. Hopefully his other forces had performed better than him. Zhaydeen would use the savea crystals to speak to Vladikir. If everything went even halfway according to plan the recapturing of Thuban could happen in a week.