THE UNDERGROUND CREEP

                                                                   Chapter 6

Rage paced within the grim undergrounds of The Creep. Red heat seeped from the floor and hovered in the air, it was assiduously hot yet it did not affect him. If anything, it served to keep his temperature warm for he was always freezing.

He looked around the grand monstrosity he had created with his own hands and wished, not for the first time, she was with him. He stopped his pacing as his eyes glowed red, his mind wandering, as it usually did, to eons ago, when he had first met her - Princess Rina.

He was young and a coarse nobody, shy of twenty years, while she was a shy princess of just fifteen. She was a beauty to behold, tall and willowy with porcelain skin. She had curly red hair and red pouty lips. They had met at a time when thoughts were pure and untainted on a starry night in Brambold town. She came on a horse with one of her maid servants because she needed to see his master for a simple healing spell. You see, Rage was an understudy to a sorcerer, the most powerful one in the whole of Brambold town.

It was love at first sight for him as soon as he set eyes on her but she did not even gift him with a glance, so he had to do something to coerce her. With some incants he had learnt from the sorcerer's book of forbidden magic, Rina became aflame with love for him. There were stolen kisses and kindled passions. He laid with her and promises were made. Unfortunately for Rage, forbidden magic lasts only for a short while. When it eventually waned, the star dusts fell from Princess Rina's eyes and she could not even stand to look at him.

She informed her father, the king, and he was disgraced and banned from the town. Although  the feeling of love persisted, he understood one could not be with someone against their will so he decided to become a better person, a fine gentleman so he could woo her. He had just one year, seeing as contenders would vie for her hand the following year when she clocked sixtteen. He left the town and joined a local band of circus clowns. He scrounged and saved every single penny he was paid until he was able to get his freedom. Once he left the circus, he did odd jobs here and there but soon found out the money would never be enough for Princess Rina's family to respect him, talk more of giving him her hand in marriage.

He lost all hope, until one day he met Culclus.

One night he was going back home after tending to sheep, his latest job, when he passed through a bushy path and heard a rustling sound. Years later, he had paused that particular moment in his mind. What turn would his life have taken if he had not been curious enough to check?

As he moved close to the rustling leaves, he was dragged into the underbrush of the trees and a hand was clamped around his neck, except it wasn't hands. Something sharp pierced his neck and broke the delicate skin open. As his life force was being drained from him, he heard a raspy voice fill his head and entire being, promising him the world would be his oyster and he would be its master. From that day on, things changed for him forever.

That was exactly what happened- his life changed abruptly and totally changed, but not in the way he had expected or even wanted. He had paid a steep price for his curiosity, so steep he would learn to live with the consequences forever. He had never seen Princess Rina again, but years later he heard she got married to someone more of her status and he had never forgiven nor even forgotten about her.

Looking back on it now, it was probably for the best, because with what he had become. . .

He shook his head.

There was no need dwelling on the past. His mind swung to the matter at hand at the same time hunch came in carrying a tray. He stopped in front of Rage and bowed low. "Your drink, master."

Rage cocked his head to the side and a glint entered his eyes. "Closer!"

Hunch hesitated for only a split second before he moved closer. Within the jiffy of an eye, Rage swatted the tray aside with one hand and grabbed Hunch by the neck with the other. "I like my drink fresh," and he sank his teeth into the side of Hunch's neck and began to drink.

He felt his insides bloom and the cold leave his body, but he knew it would only be for a short while, for the cold would be back and in full force as well. Nothing ever seemed to get rid of it entirely. When he had taken his fill and Hunch was almost going limp, he stopped. Control - that was the name of the game - otherwise Hunch would die. He flung him away from him, upset he could not get a reading on him.

"My lord!"

They appeared in front of him as Hunch grunted and peeled himself off from the floor and hobbled out.  Four of his most- trusted henchmen stood like gargoyles, deceptively thin and ghost-like, but they were killing machines. They bared their teeth revealing long, sharp jagged teeth.

"What is the situation with the wolf clans?" Rage asked, going back to seat on his throne.

"They are being trampled upon, my lord, we tried-"

"Take back that word try. It does not exist in my dictionary." His eyes blazed.

His henchmen stood, tall and defiant, not bothering to respond. He knew there would come a day when they would try to renege, and he would teach them a lesson they would never forget. Today, however, he would show them what he did to those that showed disrespect to him. He smiled grimly and raised his right hand in the air, and watched as his nails grew long until they became like spikes. Then he turned them in the direction of his henchmen who had begun shifting restlessly.

Red flames shot out from his hands and surged in the air towards them. It hit them in the chest, causing them to clutch at them and groan in pain. "P. . . p. . . please, my lord." They echoed in unison. "We are s. . . sorry."

That was when he dropped his hand. The smell of charred skin was pungent in the air, and there were gaping holes where flesh should have been on their chests. They all doubled in pain on the ground, but almost immediately, their flesh began to grow back until it had once more covered the hole. They got up and dusted themselves off. Their stances had changed to one of wariness and uncertainty.

Satisfied he had passed on a clear message, Rage positioned himself properly on his chair and faced them. "Now, what is the exact situation report on the wolf clans?"

Cowed, they bowed low and explained that they had successfully killed the four heirs of the four chiefs, thereby instilling fear into them and making it difficult for them to function. The children of the chiefs were also heads of the warriors in each clan, with the exception of Tekenna, who was  a mate to Keratin.

"I suppose you have gotten rid of this Keratin?" Rage perched on the edge of his chair, expecting to get an affirmative reply.

"No, your lordship, there were. . . problems."

Rage's eyes flashed dangerously.  He held on tightly to the edge of his chair which had the hides of different animals decorating it. "I warned you about using such words."

His voice was quiet, too quiet for words. The cavernous room became suddenly stifling, as red heat seeped out at an alarming rate from beneath the floors causing a mist to hang in the air. It made it difficult for the four henchmen to see before them.

Rage's knuckles bulged and enlarged as he tried to control his anger. Things were taking so long in conquering the wolf clans. His henchmen had been at it for a while now and he was getting restless. "You wretches are all useless, hopeless creatures who can never do anything right. Get out of my sight you detestable things, I do not want to ever set eyes on you again until you have some good news for me."

Still, they stood, unsure of whether to leave and risk his wrath. Yes, he had said they should go but one never knew with Rage. As he made to stand from his seat, probably to vent his anger on them, they disappeared. Rage sat back, pondering on it all. He knew for a fact his henchmen were getting bold, and this made them begin to act out. That meant there was going to be an uprising against him soon. Now more than ever, he needed the talisman, he could not allow his hold on his empire fall apart.

The massive metal double doors were opened inwards and a host of men entered. They were huge and frightening to look at. They had a crown of jagged bones on their heads and around their bare necks. The only thing they had on were the hides of animals which they wore as skirts. In each of their hands, they held instruments of torture which were riddled with bones. Whether it was the bones of animals or their conquests, it was yet to be seen. Their bare chests had scars all over, some deep, others shallow, and in some other places, the skin was pitted.

They walked in chanting a song that perked Rage's ears.

We come from the undergrounds of the Creep, we belong to the dark, everyone knows the dark is not to be trifled with. We have fought long and we fought hard, trying to make a name for ourselves.

We come from the undergrounds of the Creep, and we are not to be trifled with.

We are made of steel and we can never die, we grind the bones of our conquests beneath our feet and wrap ourselves with their bones, We are impenetrable, and we can never die. Dare to come against us and it will be your funeral.

We come from the undergrounds of the Creep, and we are not to be trifled with.

We are covered with battle scars, because we have chosen to be vanquishers. We are always battle ready and we will always conquer. We are vanquishers of the underground creep, we will always conquer.

After a few seconds Rage got the hang of it and sang along with them. After singing the song, a frightful-looking man who had more muscle than was feasibly possible, stepped forward and raised his hand in the air. He bowed low, as low as he could go. "Your lordship, my men are ready and willing to shed blood. We are at your service whenever you give us the go ahead."

Rage stood and smiled grimly. "Granga, my brother, you have done well with your men." He looked at each of them, noting their bulging muscles and he nodded. His experiment had gone well, indeed. "I take it the necromancer made good on his promise?" He lifted an eyebrow in question.

"Very well, your lordship, care for a demonstration?" Granga did not wait to hear Rage's reply, he turned to the mass of men waiting, and swept his arm in an arc."  Balu, show the master your skills."

A man stepped forward and bowed low. He crouched with one arm on the ground while the other was lifted in the air. His head was bent towards the ground, as if in prayer, then he struck the stone floor with his hand and a splitting noise ricocheted throughout the hall. Tiny fissures appeared where his hand touched and after a while, they began to widen, causing everyone to jump out of the way.  Before it could do any real damage, Granga lifted his hand and tapped the ground with his foot and it closed up once again.

Rage's eyes gleamed and his mouth twitched. Granga invited another man and he stepped forward. This one was able to jump to any height and zigzag left and right, lightning fast. One by one, Granga called upon each man, and it seemed their capabilities far outweighed the next man. Rage could not keep his delight to himself anymore, he smiled, which was rare for him.

When the last one showcased his skill, he got down from his throne and walked to where Granga stood, chest pumped out with pride, and whispered. "I hope there won't be any side effects?"

Granga shook his head and Rage, satisfied, nodded. He moved back and for the benefit of the other men, shouted. "Burn the lot of them to the ground!"

The hall lit up with a feverish roar as the men banged their torture devices on the stone floor and chanted war, war, war, war!