Out of Hell. 33

The sound of footsteps could be heard echoing through the dungeon as Balthazar made his way down to see his captive. Things were going his way so far. Angela had been recaptured in a short period of time. The guard that had left her door ajar had been punished severely. Balthazar had taken him and used him in his magical experiments. He had him moved to his study where he tortured him then altered his body. His mind he dulled and made compliant to his orders but still, he knew who and what he use to be. His body altered until he was totally alien to anything else. He was made twice his size and weight with massive muscles. His body was made more insect-like with claws and pincers though he still stood on two feet. A tail was added with a wicked stinger that split in two. The pain of remembrance was plain on his face as he stood ready to take up his new job as Balthazar's new bodyguard. Walking around him, Balthazar inspected his work. It looked strong he thought. And it defiantly would cast fear in any that saw it. Balthazar was pleased, he would have to make more like him. An army of these creatures would make him invincible. He might even be able to challenge a ... Oh, but he stopped there. It was dangerous to think like that.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was a door into the dungeon area. A guard stood there and snapped to attention as his king approached. Balthazar waved at him as he unlocked the door for him. Torches lit the corridor and rats ran as he made his way down the dank row of cells. The dungeon area was noisy with screams and moans of pain from the prisoners he kept there. These would be the recruits for his new creature army he thought as he made his way to Angela's cell. He stopped at her door and the guard that followed opened it for him. He stepped in and there she sat on the ledge by the recently uncovered shaft to the surface. The moonlight shining off her silver hair she was beautiful he thought. To bad he could never trust her to leave this cell again.
" Lovely as always my dear." Balthazar smiled at her. Angela looked up at him and frowned.
" Go away." She said. " Just leave me alone to die."
" Oh no!" He said to her. " You can't die. I have a lot more to heap on you. I told you I'd make your life a living horror. Did you think I was kidding?"
Angela's anger was growing. She had to hide it. Suppress it before she made something happen. She couldn't let her power show itself or all was lost and she'd never get out. She calmed herself. It wasn't easy with Balthazar near her, but she did and he didn't notice. After all these years, she was getting adept at hiding her power from him.
" Oh I knew you were serious." She said. " You raped me and took my son when he was born. I know you didn't sacrifice him to your bitch goddess."
" Don't worry about Tanis." He told her. " He's out hunting our daughter. You'll be happy to know he's found her and is bringing her back for a reunion. Soon you'll see them both. Maybe then I'll give you what you so deserve. Your death, right after she's sacrificed. You'll attend won't you?"
Angela stared at Balthazar. The hate poured off her.
"You seem upset." He smiled as he turned and walked out of her cell." Good. I like that."
She watched as he waved someone forward. From beyond her door, she saw a shadow move. Suddenly a horror of an insect clawed thing came into view. She recoiled in horror. What the hell was this?
" Meet your new guard." He said. "Or should I say your old guard. He's here to see to your needs in case you get out again. Enjoy his company,"
Balthazar slammed the door and walked away laughing going back up to the palace above leaving her and her new companion alone. Angela stood and walked to the door to peer out at the monstrosity that guarded her. This was the man that by accident let her out. He didn't deserve this. It was her fault. If she had stayed in her cell he would still be human. Will this ever end?
" I'm so sorry." She cried. " You should have killed me."
[Not your fault.]
She heard. She was shocked. Could there still be a mind in that horror?
[ Yes. I still here.] It sent to her. [ I not hate you. I am not hurt you. I hate him. I kill if I could for what he did to me.]
"What's your name?" She asked.
[ Was Adam,] He sent. [But for me, not Adam now. Different. Like a Sting]
He raised his stingers to show her. The sharp barb at the end showed a drop of poison. This needs to end. She couldn't stand to see anyone else suffer for her. If what Balthazar said was true, then Tanis was on his way with his sister so Balthazar could finally sacrifice her. She had to get out now to stop him.
" We have to get out of here Sting." She said. " Will you help me?"
[Can we kill him?] Sting asked her.
" Yes." She said. " We will kill him. But we have to get away first. Can you open the door?"
Sting stepped back. He turned and slammed his tail into the door and shattered it to pieces.
[ What door?] he asked.
Angela smiled and waved him in. Sting came into her cell as she pointed at the shaft that led up to the surface.
" I can't get up to the grate." She told him. " Can you climb up and open it?"
Sting easily climbed in and scrambled up the shaft. Down the hall Angels heard guards coming to see what the noise was. She raised her hands and sent a spell to cover the door. A shimmering light covered the entrance as the guards came. They reached the door and tried to run through and was blasted back against the wall. Up the shaft, Sting gripped the iron grate and pulled with all his might. Debris began to fall as it came to lose and he threw it out of the shaft. Sting backed down a little and stuck his tails down.
[ Grab. I pull you out!]
Quickly Angela grabbed on to his tail and Sting scrambled up and out of the shaft to the surface. They looked around and saw vampires guards coming at them. Sting flexed his muscles and let out a howl. Out he swung his tail and bowled over two vampires as they came it him with raised swords. Three more men ran at Angela. She sent out a blast that dropped two as Sting stung a man through his back. Angela turned and saw two guards running away from them screaming dropping their weapons.
"We have to go now!!" She said. She looked up to the moon and spread her arms.

By the powers of the stars and sky.
We need to getaway.
With moonlit wings, we shall fly.
To face another day.

Silver moonlight swirled around them as Men came running after them. Behind them, Balthazar ran out screaming to catch them. They disappeared in a flash just before the vampires could grab Angela.
" NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Through the clouds, a moonbeam shined down on an unmarked mausoleum miles away from the castle. In a flash of light, Angela and Sting appeared. She looks around to be sure they were safely away from the castle. She recognizes this place. They were in a cemetery in a small town north of castle Zlenka. It would take Balthazar hours to reach them there. She had gotten them away. But they still weren't safe. There could be people loyal to Balthazar in this town. As a matter, if fact there had to be since he was on the throne instead of Valkar. They had to be careful who saw them. She knew she could mix in and hide. But Sting couldn't. She needed help and a place to stay while they planned. There was only one person to turn to. Arcturus. He was there only hope. But where was he and could they reach him? It has been years since she had any contact with him. The castle's enchantment had prevented her from reaching anyone outside. He probably thought she was dead. it was time she called out to him. He could tell her where her baby was. She would be a grown woman now. Angela smiled at that thought.
[ARTURUS!!]
[ Angela?]
[ Yes brother.] She answered. [ I live. I need help.]
[ Where are you?] He asked anxiously. [ I will come to you.]
[ North of Zlenka. There is a small town called Prafa.]
[ I know it.] He told her. [Where have you been? How is it you got away.]
[ I have been a prisoner of Balthazar all these years. Kept weak and powerless to escape. It wasn't until last night that I could gather enough strength to make the attempt. I have an ally with me. We need somewhere to hide for now. He is large and hard to hide. Can you help us?]
[ There is a man in Prafa.] Arturus told her. [ He is a smith with a large house with a cave in the back he uses for storage. He can be trusted. Go to him, he will hide you until I can get there.]
[Thank you Arturus.] Angela sent. [How is she Arcturus? My daughter.]
[ She has grown up to be a lovely brave woman. Her name is Athene.]
A warm feeling spread out to her from Arcturus. He showed her Athenes face for the first time since Angela had sent her to him. Joy filled Angela's heart, she noticed Athene looked a lot like her. But she did have her father's eyes.
[How is she?] Angela asked.[We'll talk about that when I get there.] He said. [ Hurry, His name is Luther Kress. Find him and be safe. I'm on my way. I have a lot to tell you.]
[ We will see you soon.] And Angela dropped there communication.
" We have to go." She led Sting out from behind the mausoleum watching all around as they moved. Vampires were still mostly nocturnal, a hard habit to break. So they would have to duck when they saw anyone. Arcturus had said Luther Kress lived at the far end of the town against the cliff. That was good cause the cemetery they appeared in was also against the cliff. She thought maybe it would be better if she made contact first and left Sting here hiding. Then she could come and get him.
" I have a place we can go." She told Sting. " Your dark colors make it easy to hide. Stay here while I get something to cover you with. Keep down and quiet, I will be right back."
[ I obey.] He sent.
She looked left and right to check and see if anyone was on the streets. There were people going about there business all along the street. She saw no solders and hoped the other people would ignore her. Suddenly a strange aura of mystic energy began to cover her. She had no idea how this could be happening. Maybe someone was intervening on her behalf and covering her. God knows she could use the help. With her newfound cover, she walked out of the graveyard. She walked down along the street until she saw a large house with a sign that said, Kree Smith. She quietly passes everyone being care full not to come in contact with any of them at the door and knocked. And the elderly man answered the door. He looks at her and asked.
"Are you Lady Gaelich?"
" Yes." She answered." Come in. Where is your companion?"
" Still in the Cemetery hiding." She told him. " We need a very large tarp to cover him and a wagon."
" Wait at the gate. I will get everything and we can go get him." Angela found herself covered again and walked to the sign out front. Soon Luther drove out of the back sitting in a covered wagon. She jumped in the back and showed him where Sting was hiding. When she led Sting out the horses whined in fear. Luther's eyes grew bright in fear.
" Don't worry." She said. " I promise he won't hurt you."
[ I am not hurt anyone.] Sting sent to him. Luther got down and helped her put Sting in the wagon.
[Thank you.] Sting sent to him.
 Luther smiled then helped Angela into her seat. Then draped in shadow they drove back to Luther's smithy and to safety.

Almost forgotten a ghostly figure wandered around Castle Zlenka. With nowhere else to go, and forgotten, for the time being, Baron Valkar stayed close to his old home trying to find a way to break his curse. He had tried his crypt and found no peace there. He had to find a way to free himself from Muerte's influence. Every now and then he went out to check on Eheren's progress. He still hadn't found the spell to release him. So his search went on. He watched as Angela and Sting made there escape and wondered how he could help her. But there was nothing he could do. He had no physical body to intervene. Baron Valkar had no way of fighting soldiers. But maybe there was another way. He could use what magic he had to help. Quickly he moved down to where they fought to cast his ghostly energy at two guards about to strike at her from behind, filling them with fear making them run away screaming. When there was a break in the fighting Angela cast her spell and the Baron was swept away with them.
After being fed a real meal for the first time in over twenty-five years Angela relaxes and thought about the events of the day. She knew Balthazar would have solders and spies all over Yadessa searching for them. He would not rest until he found them and brought them back. She would die before she let that happen. She thought about her options. One, she had to get herself and Sting to a safe haven where Balthazar could never reach them. Two, she had to find her daughter and son. There was nothing more important they reuniting with Tanis and Athene. Three, Balthazar had to be stopped for good. He would never let them alone, not while he lived. From high above in the rafters a glowing mist began to form. Sting saw it first. He grunted and pointed up to show Angela.
[What is?] Angela pushed her white hair back and looked up. It was a softly glowing orb descending down towards them. She thought Balthazar had found them somehow and jumped to her feet.
[ Have no fear.] It sent to her. [I am here seeking redemption for the wrongs I have committed. I am here to aid you in any way I can.]
" Who are you?" She asked.
[ I am or was Baron Valkar Zlenka.] His form shimmered into view. Angela had seen a painting of the Baron from long ago. But this face was a bit different. The hate was gone she thought. He looked so much more like the king he could have been back in the days he lived.
" Why are you here Baron?" She asked.
[ It's a long story Lady.] He said. [ I have been snatched from my grave and made to do horrid things. But redemption is what I seek. I want to help Yadessa become the peaceful place, my descendant, King Valkar wishes for. I want to help bring Balthazar Gaelich down. He means to make Yadessa hell again. And that can never happen again. Our people have suffered far too much.]
" I have been imprisoned for the last twenty-five years," Angela told him. "But I know Valkar is just, and I will give him all the help I can. But for right now, I need to find him. Can you lead him to me safely?"
[ That I can do.] Baron Valkar said. Then he became the light orb and began to drift back up to the ceiling to leave.
" Sting." She said. " I think we'll be alright."