Shattered From Stars

Chapter 1

"Ah, finally," I pushed myself up off the chill stone floor, feeling the lime blood creeping down my nose. I crouched down and studied my surroundings... Perfect. I leapt from my position and charged toward them.

As I ran, I felt the cool night air rush through my blue-gray pelt. The feeling brought a smile upon my muzzle. My sharp teeth gleamed in the crescent moonlight filtering through one of the broken windows.

The five devotees in front of me advanced. They weren't feline. No... They were monsters. Their individual ugly silhouettes grew bigger in the small warehouse as they got closer. My paw steps landed quicker on the smooth stone and brought up dust.

I bunched up my muscles and leapt off the ground. I opened my mouth to bite one of them in the neck, smashing a fatal blow. The garbled scream coming from it sounded like clashing chains.

My body broke apart in a brick-like manner only to reform again on the opposite side of them. I slashed at one of the monster's backs, earning a screech from the miserable creature. The remaining few turned around with murder shining in their purple eyes.

"It was nice meeting you and all..." My teeth shimmered with flecks of the monsters' reeking blood as I smiled, "...but it seems I must take my leave." True to my word, I turned tail and dove out of the opened door.

"GET HIM, YOU IMBECILES!!! GET HIM!" I heard the pitchy command behind me. I chuckled as I ran.

I didn't look back, but I could hear large masses pounding against the cobbled road. For their size, they were surprisingly swift. My smile grew, everything is going to plan.

I ran out of the small deserted village and into a grassy valley. The tall plants swished past my nose and pulled at my whiskers. The distant smell of the sea washed a strange sense of calm over me. I halted, sliding on the grass and into a clearing. I shut my eyes and felt my power vibrate under my paws. Not yet... I needed to save it...

The sickly presence of the trio broke my peace.

"Did your leader not tell you why I'm here?" I wasn't expecting a response. And no response did I receive.

"Well," the creatures stopped as I felt myself rise off the ground, "if you were wondering—"

I summoned a green fireball in my paw. It snaked up my arm, burning away my pelt. As it flaked away, my true form stood; pure black, my face lit up with the streaks of yellow around my eyes. My body broke apart at the wrists and my waist.

The fire's hue became golden, encircled in a deep black.

"—I'm here for retribution."

I slaughtered them, to put it simply. I watched as their bodies were lit aflame. The smell was putrid but I swallowed my displeasure. I noticed their begin blood flake off my claws and wisp away into the cool night air. "But you weren't my target," I locked my eyes on the warehouse I had run from.

Returning my pelt to it's mortal form, I reappeared in the shadows. Nonchalantly, I lounged in the air, a spark of fire dancing on the tip of my claw. "Your lackeys are faithful, I'll give you that."

The Sage whipped around, the fear that radiated off of her sent a chill down my spine and energized my soul. Delicious.

"How did you escape? They were five of the most dangerous—"

"Dangerous? Oh no, you've got that one all wrong. They fried too quickly, in fact." I tapped my chin in faux thought, "Oddly enough, though, I can't place it..."

"Place what...?" The quiver in her voice was masked well. But not well enough. She knew she was going to die.

"Why you didn't run when you had the chance." I threw myself at her, teeth shimmering and claws aflame.

Without hesitation she had pulled out a charm of some kind, muttered a few words, and it began to glow. I snarled. Too far. I was too far away.

Suddenly I was blasted against the stone wall. I grunted and tried to set up a force field of sorts. My attempts were unsuccessful, however. I knew why; the Circle began glowing.

A voice echoed through the large space, "I thought you would be too weak to fight off five foes at once. A miscalculation on my part, to be sure."

Fur spiked up on my neck. Who...? No. I know who it is. I sighed. Looks like I'm gonna have to improvise.

A large golden and white stag had manifested. He laid his white pupils on me. I glared and slid off the wall. I regained my footing and began making my way around him, trying to gain the upper hand.

"Oh, it's you! Long time no see. What name do you go by nowadays? The Sage of Namiotai, 'King' of the Sages?"

"Your malice is far too obvious. You've lost your subtlety."

"Cut the chat, you know why I'm here," I hissed. The fox Sage cowered behind Namiotai, her immense fear almost revived my power.

"And I'm here to keep that from happening."

I gestured to the now golden pattern that sapped my powers bit by bit, "If you hadn't infused that Circle with your magic, you'd be dead where you stand."

"Ah yes, you and your empty threats. You really thought you could keep running, did you? You hide and you cower, and for what? We both know you'll tire eventually. Someday I'll find your hideout. The world you hide in will crumble, along with every single gutless member in your band of misfits."

"And someday I'll be free and regain my raw power," I sneered, "I'm so close to destroying every last one of those cursed Circles. I've murdered dozens of your so-called 'kin'. After this one's neck is snapped you'll be alone again."

His response stunned me: "That's what you think. Sages don't die. You can't kill gods."

"I beg to differ." I snapped and the Sage behind Namiotai paled and shook. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body spasmed until she fell still. Dead.

"I'm undoing all your progress! You can't hold me anymore! You're a fool to think you and your fellow Sages could contain me forever. This universe is mine to control, not yours. When are you going to drop the king god act and show your true self?"

"Why deny that it's not an act? I have claimed godhood in this world and many others."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips. "And even with all that power you're not even gonna try to kill me now? How generous. Then again, you've always been egregiously selfish. So why not?"

"Plans are already in motion, Alkaid. You need to suffer, feel the pain you caused me. Killing you now would be a waste of time and resources."

"Oh, but heaven forbid you slip up once, your majesty," I spat, "the perfect little Sage make another mistake and fail just like back in—"

He lunged forward, and before I knew it a few ribs had shattered and my air supply was cut off. He held me to the ground, hooves cutting into my throat.

"Ooh, touchy," I managed, and bared my teeth in a victorious smile.

He sighed, golden eyes gleaming, "Alkaid Lavell, you and I have reached a crossroads. Your recklessness will serve as your end. I'll be uninterrupted in my conquest of godhood."

"What role are you playing now? A prophet?" He scowled. A crack split the air, like thunder in a storm, and in a flash he was gone. I scoffed, "Show off."

The Circle had returned to its shade of maroon. I felt demon magic flowing back into me like a flood. It was refreshing. I reknit my ribs with ease, grunting at the pain it brought. And yet a soft smile warmed my muzzle.

Pain is good. Pain meant you were still alive.

I slunk to the Circle's edge. Unsheathing my claws, I coolly tore through the center of the triangular pattern within the circumference. Pouring magic into my touch, the figure burst into a brilliant teal hue. Wind whipped up, rustling my fur.

Before long the Circle had shattered, becoming nothing but mist. I breathed it all in, taking back some of the magic I'd used to destroy it. Despite that, I still was exhausted.

I took one last look at the lifeless body on the floor and felt nothing before drifting off to my own dimension.

Home.