Lament of a Sin

The Magician

Blood, it's scent and taste filled my nose and mouth. My brain felt as though it was pounding against the inside of my skull, my blood felt like fire in my veins, and my skin felt as if it was being torn from my bones. I tried to scream but only for my voice to fall short in my throat, my eyes began to sting as the endless shades of gray swirled and flowed in front of me. I screamed and screamed but nothing came out, I wanted to struggle to  find water and quench the fire inside. But I couldn't do anything as if I was only but an entity without it's body.

Finally

After what I could only think to be hours it all stopped as suddenly as it had began. I felt the pleasant sensation of cold winds, I let out a sigh of relief. Taking in my current situation I felt grass under me, I could hear the wind whistling around me. Slowly I opened my eyes, an open field of tall grass surrounded me. Pushing myself to sit up I looked around, the moon was slowly falling behind the mountain tipped horizon the sun slowly taking it's place in the sky. Looking around I saw my scythe stuck in the ground, my supply bag resting a few feet away. My eyes widen when I realized I had been sleeping face down, I pulled my coat open looking into the inner pockets. I gave a sigh, inside my pocket was 2 empty needles the 3rd was filled with a thin green liquid. Closing my coat I got to my feet and retrieved my weapons and gear, taking a breath I noticed how clean the air was. Everything felt clean and unpolluted, it also felt very cold. Pulling my coat tighter I began to walk east following the sun.

As the sun rose higher I felt the air grow slightly warmer. Growing agitated at wandering I pulled a telescope from my bag, extending the item I looked around for anything. The field seemed to go on for miles in all but one direction, it seemed to be a drop off. Finding no other options I headed towards it the cliff. As I got closer I saw just how high I real was, beyond the overlook I saw the most incredible mountain range I had ever seen. Cloud high mountains that dropped into a valley miles bellow, I couldn't help but gaze at the sight for a while my normal malice filled mind finding a subtle peace. As I sat on the cliff my feet hanging over the side I used my telescope to get a better lay of the land. In the distance I saw yet another sight that put my jaw on the ground, a grand looking city sat built against the side of the mountain. Having found my landmark I looked around again, I had spotted a path I could follow towards the city.

Looking into my supplies I took a quick inventory I found I had a few days worth of food and a bit more water. For the first time in a while I felt content that things may not end that badly.

---[Error Location Not Found]---

"Well if I'm honest I'm a bit disappointed he explode." The largest figure said watching as Silas walked along the edge of the mountain side.

"Well what can you expect from such a strong man." The slender figure said ogling the boy.

"Personal thoughts aside it seems we were correct,this boy will carry out his duties when the time comes, all we can do now is wait and see which path he follows." As the image of Silas began to fade as did the entities.

--- Equis Mountain Range 5 days after arrival.---

5 days, it had been that long and I was still a whole mountain side away from the city. While it was still pretty far away using my scope I could see just how breathtaking it was, the buildings where lined with gold and wall made from the finest cut marble. the city looked like a fortress of paradise. On my trek from my starting cliff I had seen many things that would drive the average person insane. I had seen strange birds with blue and black feathers tall as a small shack and with claws sharper than my scythe. I had seen a manticore, yes a manticore, and one of these bird fight over a dead deer. The bird simply swung a single claw and had cleaved the manticore's head from it's body the promptly devoured both the deer and the beast.

I had never felt like prey before but here I wasn't a hunter, I was a survivor now. Strange encounters aside I continued to make my way towards the city. I kept my scythe in it's holster on my back not wanting to come off as hostile to the denizens of the city. I was sure I wasn't on Earth anymore the wild life had assured me of that. As I continued on my way I couldn't help but look at the plants and animals, there were things like birds and squirrels but then I would see something I couldn't classify like the strong stone crocodiles I had seen a ways back sleeping in the sun. There were also new plants, some like apple trees and oak were present but there were again strange fruits and foliage I didn't too much feel like trying out.

As I was lost in my own thoughts I fail to notice a broken down wagon a way ahead until I was only a few feet from it. Looking on either side I saw no one, I also saw that one of the wheels had broken. Taking a closer look I saw the spokes on the wheel had snapped from the axle. As I went to adjust it I felt a blade press against my neck, I froze instantly.

"Make another move and Trixie shall show you what she does to bandits." A female voice said from behind me. "Now stand up and turn around."

Slowly I got to my feet and turned. Standing a few feet away was a tall olive skinned women, she wore a blue full body suit and a matching star speckled cape and magician hat. She also had two feet of iron pressed against my neck.

"Explain yourself!" She ordered pressing the blade enough to draw blood.

Taking a breath trying to calm down I spoke up. "I'm sorry I startled you, I was passing through and saw your wagon was broken though I might lend a hand." She looked skeptically at my mask then into my eyes.

"Then why are you carrying a bag, baring a scythe, and wearing a mask?" She asked backing up a few feet.

"The bag is simply my supplies for traveling, the scythe is for protection, and the mask has it's own reasons." I opened my back to show it held only food and water, or what little was left.

Trixie, sheathed her sword and held out a hand. "Sorry, Trixie has had bad luck with the local bandits as of late, and as I have said my name is The Great and Powerful Trixie."

I wasn't sure whether she was just pretentious or really was powerful and in this world I wasn't about to question it, shaking her hand I gave a light nod. "My name is Silas Clayton, I've been traveling for a while now towards that city." I said pointing towards the castle.

"You mean Canterlot, ironic Trixie was heading their as well to preform her show. But after another attack from bandits the wagon only lasted long enough to escape." She walk past me and bent over to observe the broken wheel, I knelt next to her.

"Why not just used either metal or synthetic tubing as make ship spokes." I suggested, Trixie thought it over for a second.

"It would work but nothing in the wagon would fit." She said. "Trixie would just be better off walking to Canterlot, once there someone should be able to help."

"If you're headed that way do you mind if I tag along, it would be safer than traveling separately." I said nodding towards my scythe.

"Very well, just try not to slow Trixie down." She huffed. After gathering her things from the wagon the two of us made our way down the cobblestone road. For the most part the trip was uneventful and we simply talked about this and that, and while it was calm I could feel the other side of my mind aching for a fight. I couldn't use the sedative I had as it was my last one and I needed to safe it until we made it into town. As we walked I tried to meditate on my current surroundings trying desperately to not begin yelling and cutting down anyone who got in front of me. I was thankful Trixie didn't talk to me much it had made the trip a bit easier.

It had been a few hours now on the road and I had finally managed to calm down, as I did I thought of dad and about if he was safe and if he worried about me. I frowned at the thought of never seeing dad or our settlement again, but Trixie couldn't see my expression through my mask. As we pressed on I began to feel watched, this wasn't an uncommon thing for me but I knew when I was being paranoid and when there really was something in the shadows. I reached into my coat and took my scavenged magnum and put it into my front pocket.

I walked closer to Trixie before leaning close. "Keep walking as soon as I give the signal run as fast as you can." I whispered, Trixie didn't respond but I could see her eyes glaze over the road ahead.

Falling a few steps behind I focused on the noise around us, I could hear trees bowing in the wind, the sound of small animals moving off the path, and finally I heard the sound of something heavy moving just out of sight. I could hear their feet crunching twigs an leaves, I hear the sound of cloth rubbing against cloth. There where more than 4 but I couldn't get an exact number. As the sounds became more and more noticeable I was able to get a fix on one of them.

1.

2.

3!

I whipped the magnum towards the hidden figure. The crack of the gun signaled Trixie to run, the bullet had found it's target as the sound of a death cry rang out. I darted after Trixie, I watched with curiosity as her hands began to shimmer with a faded pink light. An arc of lightning shot from her hand striking another bandit a shower of blood covered a near by tree.

I brought my scythe out holstering the magnum, I ran behind Trixie as she fire arc after arc of energy. By now the bandits had come out from hiding, each bearing swords a few had wings and some seemed to have similar abilities to Trixie. As we ran elements of all kinds hurled past us. Drawing the .44 I started running backwards, I watched as one of the caster took a bullet to his forehead his body seemed to go into meltdown he exploded into a sickly red gel. As the gel covered his allies it acted like an acid and began to corrode their skin. The remaining casters and flyers moved farther apart, finding the casters weakness I turned back around and caught up with Trixie. She was panting and was slowing down, there were still more bandits and I didn't want to fight people who could throw fireballs. We wouldn't make it much farther, I felt my own lungs and legs burn.

It was only a moment later, Trixie simply collapsed to the ground. I stopped and crouched next to her gun aimed at the approaching gang, the casters glowed with energy as the flyers drew their swords.

"I call his scythe." I heard one say.

"I call his whore."

...

...

...

You crossed a line you stupid son of a bitch. I felt my blood boil, a red haze filled my mind.

Let me go. A small whisper sounded in the back of my head. The same voice that make's me inject that poison into my vein, he's the reason I had the mask, he... he was the reason dad was all I had left.

... You're free... but if you hurt her I'll kill us both, a bullet to the brain. I told him, I could hear him laughing. Soon I watched the world through his point of view and felt my control over my own body slip away.

---3rd POV---

As the bandits drew closer Trixie looked to Silas for intervention, but only saw a sinister grin on his face his hand gripping his scythe. As the lead caster walked up to Trixie he took her head in hand and looked into her eyes.

"Gotta say you little lady have been givin' me and my boys a fair bit of trouble these past few days." He said his dagger slowly making it's way down her shirt. "But it's alright cause, we'll get what we want from you now." The caster's followers chuckled and enclosed her.

"NO! Unhand me you cretins!" Trixie protested only earning a blow to the back of her head.

"Ain't no one gonna help you now girly." One of the bigger men said.

"No no no! Silas!" Trixie called out, the bandits laughed cutting her clothes to ribbons.

As they tried to bound the struggling magician they fail to notice the sound of boots crunching the dry grass. As the boy drew closer one of the men turned to face him.

"Heh, you really should have run boy." The man said fire spreading over his arms, the others notice their companions interruption still holding Trixie. They laughed at the lone boy as his head hung low scythe dragged behind him.

"Hey boy you even listening to me! I said- *gah*" He never finished his sentence. The scythe had meet no resistance as his head was cleaved in two. Trixie forgotten the bandits raised their weapons, as their friends corpse collapsed no meltdown as before. As Trixie looked at her savior she took in his new look.

Silas' hair was midnight black, his coat seemed to be even more damaged than before, his skin had turned a sickly pale, and his mask now was a grinning devil's mask with two black eyes. The bandit's moved back unsure of the new being before them

"I was beginning to forget what it was like to do that." Silas spoke his voice carrying a mischievous tone that contradicted his previous monotone. He turned to the remaining bandits each bore looks of anger, they saw only another man with magic, but this was not the case.

The sound of a breaking twig ended the silence, the caster pour all they had towards him. Silas made no motion towards moving, he only hefted his scythe and walked into the flurry of magic. As he drew closer the casters doubled their efforts but held no results. Only a few feet away Silas swung, the blade carving the casters chest open blood streamed from the wound. The caster shakily raised his arm, Silas calmly took the man's arm and with a single tug pulled it from his torso. As the man fell to his knees Silas' grin was now a full wicked toothed smile, taking the man's head he snapped it back.

As Silas finished the last caster only two flyers remained of the initial group. Where flying above the ground raining arrows from above. Hanging the scythe on his back Silas once more drew his magnum, loading two rounds into the chamber he took aim, and with two cracks of igniting gunpowder the two flyers fell. One had died on impact with the ground the other barely clung to life, his breath was ragged as he watched the demon walk closer the devil's mask seemed to grin wider.

"Like the times before creation, another angel falls." The bandit watched as the magnum was leveled with his forehead. "And is sent to damnation." With one last crack of gunpowder it was over, the trail once again silent with the exception of Trixie's heavy breathing. As the last sparks of life flickered from the bandit's eyes, Silas turned his mask covered face towards Trixie. Never in her life had Trixie seen someone kill as mercilessly as the man in front of her. As Silas walked towards her scythe in hand she tried to crawl away but didn't get far before he crouched in front of her.

"If it wasn't for my other scratching at the back of my mind I would love to have a new toy as nice as you," Silas said tracing a finger under her chin. "but I don't want to die especially not by my own hand." Silas stood and turned away. "You can have your friend back now." Trixie's mind was a hive of confusion, she watched as Silas' body shook and twitched for a moment before he turned back to her the mask once again blank. The two stared at each other for a while, Silas put his scythe on his back once more and walked away towards the city. He didn't say a word, nothing could be said from either side.

Trixie sat on the dirt road as she watched the man walk still covered in blood and his weapons still coated in gore, she watched until he was out of sight. She couldn't find even the simplest of thoughts, she looked back to the mangled mess that had once been a group of bandits. Finally gaining her senses she stood her legs shaking, not from pain or cold, but fear of the man she had seen and the monster she had so foolishly followed. Grabbing her sword and what little she could to cover herself she to followed Silas' footsteps to Canterlot but made sure she wouldn't catch up to him.

---Silas POV four miles from Canterlot---

The sun was begging to touch the western horizon, I slightly quickened my pace not wanting to spend another night outside. As I walked I tried to wipe the memories of what He had done and if Trixie was okay, I didn't want Trixie anywhere near me I was barely holding control of my own mind He had not been satisfied by the bandits and still hungered for slaughter whether he spilled innocent of sinful blood he hungered for it. I had to keep my hands in my pocket to keep them from taking the scythe, I had used my last sedative after I left Trixie but it had done little to calm me down. I saw the gates of the city only three more miles in front of me, I couldn't take it I fell to my knees my hands gripping my head.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" I slammed my fist into the side of my head again an again. "GET OUT! GET OUT!" Punch after punch I writhed on the ground only able to listen to Him laugh and force his way out. Pulling out the magnum I jammed the barrel against my head. I heard him scoff as he tried to take control.

Do it. He taunted slowly gripping on the edges of my mind. You never have and never will, admit it you fear death just like your mother. I felt my conscious slip away, I couldn't take it any more.

"Fuck you." I spat and pulled the trigger.