Gravespawn Dominion

Veins of Crimson Doubt

Vaeloric stood over Elara his bone blade pressed against her throat. The war room was a mess it smelled like smoke and blood and sweat. Elara was on her knees her eyes were red from crying. She looked determined.

Vaeloric said "Talk" in a voice. "You let Lira out of her cell you gave her back her sword. Why did you do that?"

Elara swallowed the blade moved a little when she did. "I saw what was happening to you Vaeloric. I saw the veins under your skin like worms. The Sovereigns told me to save the people who can still be saved."

Vaeloric laughed it was a bitter sound. "Save them by giving my place to cultists and traitors? Look around see what is happening."

The room was a mess there were broken windows, blood on the carpet and broken furniture. Outside Vaelorics people were working they were quiet they were piling up bodies. The people who were still alive looked empty like they had given up.

Elaras voice was shaking. "You used Lira like an animal you made her do what you wanted. Is that what you want to do to all of us?"

Before Vaeloric could answer he felt a pain in his arm. The black veins were getting hotter they were moving up his arm. He took a step back the blade fell from his hand. He heard the Matriarchs voice in his head she was laughing. "She is right to be afraid of you feel how strong we are getting."

Vaeloric said "Shut up" in a growl he was not sure who he was talking to.

Elara saw her chance she moved forward she grabbed Vaelorics wrist. A cool light came from her hands it was like a balm to his skin. For a moment the veins slowed down. "I can help you let me help you fight this. Please do not let it take over the man you used to be."

Vaelorics skin felt good it felt too good. He remembered his life he remembered pulling people from broken buildings he remembered thinking he could make a difference. Then he remembered the knife in his back the betrayal that killed him.

He pulled his arm away. "Help is a chain I have worn enough chains."

Then they heard a scream it came from the side of the stadium. There were guns firing.

Vaeloric ran he pulled Elara with him. They went to the wall his people were waving at him they were shouting. "They are coming it is not Crowes people it is something "

There were many vehicles coming they were buses and trucks with spikes. A woman was standing on the lead truck she had a megaphone.

"Gravespawn Dominion this is Captain Mira Kane of the Iron Veil Coalition. We know the Sovereigns are coming let us in or we will all die alone."

Vaeloric looked at her he was suspicious. "Open the gate halfway be ready to fight if they do anything kill them all."

The vehicles came in Mira Kane jumped down she was tall she had hair she had a scar on her face. She had a gun. She did not look like she wanted to fight.

"We have been watching you " Mira said, she looked at Vaeloric without flinching. "You took the stadium you broke the Crimson Flame you survived Crowes monsters. We have technology we have bunkers with old guns that can stop the gate energy."

Vaeloric looked at her he was thinking. "What do you want from me?"

"We want to work " Mira said. "We want to use your army and our guns to hit the gate before the Sovereign comes."

Elara was still chained she whispered to Vaeloric. "This feels like a trap."

Mira saw the chains she raised an eyebrow. "Is she a prisoner?"

Vaeloric said "She is a traitor she let my enemy go."

Mira shrugged she said "Trust is expensive now we brought proof." She gestured her people brought a man he was bound he was bruised.

"We found your spy " Mira said. "He was working with Crowe."

The man looked up he was scared. He was defiant. "They are using you, Vaeloric, Miras people are not clean they have their mark-bearers."

Then one of Miras people started to convulse black veins came out on his face he. Attacked Mira. Vaeloric reacted fast he killed the man.

There was chaos, some of Miras people were fighting each other some were fighting Vaelorics people.

Mira shouted "Stop it we have a way to stop the mark."

Vaeloric used his power he stopped the fight. It made him weak. The mark was burning it was getting stronger.

In the confusion the bound man ran away he took a gun.

Vaeloric chased him he had three of his people with him. They ran to the underground gate chamber.

The man turned he had a gun he said "You still do not understand, Crowe did not send me the Sovereigns did your bloodline called to them when you died you were always meant to be their bridge."

He fired Vaeloric moved he slammed the man against the gate. The gate was pulsing it was like it was alive.

Vaelorics grip was tight he said " lies."

The man smiled he said "Check your memories you were not who you thought you were your name was Valerian Thorne you were an experiment they put essence in your bloodline seventy years ago."

Vaelorics memories came back he saw labs under cities he saw his mother crying he saw a voice, a voice, promising power. The Cataclysm was not random it was a plan. Vaelorics blood was the key.

He let the man go he said "No."

The man slid down he was laughing he said "Now you know kill me raise me it does not matter the Sovereign is already speaking through you."

The Matriarchs voice came back it was not playful it was serious. "He is dangerous end him."

Vaeloric raised his blade then he lowered it. "No you will live you will tell me everything about Crowes plans."

He took the man upstairs the fight was over Miras people and his people were standing together but they were not trusting each other.

Mira came to him she was breathing hard she said "We lost people but we have a way to slow the mark." She showed him a metal cuff. "Do you want to try it?"

Vaeloric was suspicious. The pain in his arm was too much. He took the cuff he put it on it felt cool it felt good.

Mira said "We can make more we can work together we can hit the gate in three days."

Elara was watching she shook her head she said "Do not trust her she is too prepared."

Vaeloric was suspicious he asked Mira "How did you know about the five-day window?"

Mira said "We have survivors we have intercepts, same, as everyone."

It sounded too smooth

Vaeloric did not know who to trust. The mark on his body surged with power with the suppressor cuff on because Crowes crystal tech was so close. The pain was so bad that it made him double over.

The attack was very strong. Big drones fell from the sky. Started shooting energy beams that destroyed the bone armor. Crowes new and improved machines were bigger and faster. They easily broke through the defenses.

Vaeloric fought through the pain. He used something called Eclipse Step to move across the battlefield. As he walked he took the skills and knowledge of the soldiers, which helped him fight better. He even learned a bit about Crowes machines.

Lira, who was working with Vaeloric used her powers to create fires that lit up the night.. She was not as creative as she used to be when she was alive. This was a weakness.

Mira fought alongside Vaeloric. She showed that she had really changed her mind by fighting very well. "The central gate is a trap " she said. "Crowe wants to use your blood to make the Sovereign come out early."

This was another surprise.

At the height of the battle Elara broke free from her chains using a hidden power that healed her. Of running away she ran to Vaeloric and put her hands on his chest. "Fight the mark " she said. "I am not with them."

Her power fought against the mark on Vaelorics body. For a moment he could think clearly again. He saw the battlefield and Crowe, who was coming straight for him with his crystals glowing.

Vaeloric faced Crowe directly. Their fight was so strong that it shook the ground. Crowes machine-enhanced fist broke Vaelorics bone armor. Vaeloric fought back with a whip made of fire and spikes made of bone.

"You were always the one I wanted " Crowe said through his mouth. "Your blood can open up everything. The Sovereigns promised me that I would become like a god if I delivered you to them."

Vaeloric hit Crowe on the head breaking the crystals in his face. "Then take this instead " he said.

He used all his power combining something called Sovereign Dominion Pulse with a harvest. This was very dangerous. Crowe screamed as parts of his soul were taken away.

This also hurt Vaeloric very badly. The suppressor cuff. The mark on his body grew stronger reaching 68%. He saw visions of destroyed cities and himself sitting on a throne made of stars.

He fell to one knee. Crowe, who was badly hurt retreated behind his lines. " Time I will take what is mine " he said.

The enemy forces withdrew, leaving the stadium damaged but still standing.

Many people had died. Mira had lost half of her team. Vaelorics surviving soldiers looked at him with fear because the black veins on his body had reached his neck.

Later in the damaged war room Mira knelt down. Offered Vaeloric her weapon. "I promise I have broken away from Crowe " she said. "Use me however you need."

Elara stood nearby watching. "The mark is taking over " she said. "We need to remove it or find a cure before the attack."

Kael, who was still chained laughed weakly. "There is no cure " he said. "We only have a choice: to accept the mark or die."

Vaeloric sat down exhausted. He was filled with doubt. He remembered the child in the lab memories and the mother who tried to run away with him. All of this was erased by the system.

The Matriarch whispered to him "Power is the truth now. Use it."

Another voice, his own voice told him "Do not lose yourself."

He stood up slowly. "We will prepare for the gate " he said. "We have three days. Mira share your technology with us. Elara, work, on suppressing the mark. Kael and Lira will stay under watch. If anyone else betrays me..." He looked around the room. "They will join the enemys army."