From the stands, everyone glanced between themselves and chatted in excited voices. Mark coughed, staggering up onto his feet with a stony glare. Suddenly the Death Stalkers all around them stated aloud in almost perfect unison. "All praise he! Death has chosen his Adam!" The people in the stands slid from their seats to their knees and bowed with their hands extended out, exclaiming aloud in a thunderous roar of voices. "Praise he! Praise Adam!" Lilith locked her jaw, but unlike the others was anything but happy about this. Death removed his lips from Sean, licking his pale lips. Sean staggered away from him, wiping his lips with the back of his hand and shivering with disgust. Death didn't take his action as a sign of insult. Instead, he extended a hand out for Lilith to join him, announcing loud and clear. "My sweet Lilith. Come. My Priestess should meet my chosen Priest. Together you both with stand by my side." Lilith moved closer to Death, leaning in to kiss his cheek and discreetly hiss something into his ear.

Death ignored her, simply extending his free hand out to Sean as he told him seriously. "My dear Adam. Come embrace me." Sean spit across the ground, then glared back at Death to say sternly. "No! Stay away from me!" Death took a menacingly slow step toward Sean, his eyes locked on him as he told him in a voice as cold as ice. "Embrace me or I'll make your life a living hell." Mark stepped toward Death, snapping out darkly. "Touch him and I'll-" Mark froze as something whizzed past his face to hit the sand. Death slowly turned to look at Mark, just as Mark turned to look up at the thrones. Standing with his bow drawn was a man that could only be classified as the very definition of a white knight. The sunlight reflected off his shiny white steel and blue trimmed breastplate, gauntlets, and knee-high boots. He wore chainmail pants and over his face he worse a beautiful masquerade type mask. The mask was made of shiny steel that only covered his eyes and attached around the top was a silver steel crown. The crown was adorned with big sapphire blue gems. In his hand was a beautiful metal recurve long bow with a white string.

Even from this distance, Mark could see his long braided golden hair hanging off one shoulder and his bright blue eyes stood out like the gems of his crown. Mark didn't doubt who he was looking at. This had to be Conquest. He was beautiful. Death followed his eyes back to the thrones, before announcing happily. "Ah! Brother! Perfect timing as usual." Conquest lifted his chin, lowering his bow as he retorted icily. "I didn't do it for you." Death waved a dismissive hand at him, stating just as carelessly. "Wasn't saying you did. Just an observation." Mark glared at Conquest, watching him closely. Was he implying that he was saving his life? Why? Wouldn't that just go along with this whole twisted act? Death turned away from Sean, asking Conquest loud and clear. "What of the others?" Conquest eased down onto a white and blue throne, replying neutrally. "Last I heard, they were on their way. But that's not my concern... Another devotee, Brother? Wasn't your precious Lilith enough?"

Death chuckled hauntingly, announcing to the stands. "Oh, my poor brother. So, obsessed with spreading deceit and disease. He can't see the vision for the future. For he is only an instrument to erase this world of old." Mark glanced discreetly down at the white arrow with blue feathers. It wasn't a weapon of choice, but it was something. Slowly inching forward, he casually reached his hand out for it. His leg blocked his action from almost everyone's view. Curling his fingers around it, he slowly pulled it from the sand trying not to arouse suspicion. With it in hand, he started toward Death, until Conquest stated out in a bellowing voice. "I'd be careful with that, young man. One prick from that bronze tip and you'll suffer a fate worse than death." Mark froze as all eyes turned to look at him. Mark lifted the arrow pointing it at Death's back as he told them bluntly. "Let us go. Or I'll kill Death!" The stands gasped in shock, but Conquest merely chuckled beautifully. Mark grabbed Death's shoulder firmly, yelling out. "I MEAN IT!"

Conquest's smile faded and he leaned forward on his knees to tell him very tenderly. "You can't kill Death with that. He's immune to the plague, boy... and I don't negotiate with terrorists." Conquest then slowly rose from his throne, removing an arrow from his bronze quiver on his back. Notching the arrow, he carefully drew his bow and told him in a bitter tone. "Go ahead. Stab him. Then I'll kill you for your trouble." From behind him, Sean shakily told him. "Mark, put it down... Please..." Mark's grip on the arrow tightened, until he let out a frustrated groan and snapped it in his hand. Tossing the broken pieces into the sand, he stepped back away from Death. Death crossed his arms, turning around to face him with a neutral look. Mark clenched his jaw. Part of him was so angry that he hadn't killed Death, but his more rational side knew this was a losing fight. Above, Conquest lowered his bow very slowly, telling him with a smirk. "Good. You're at least smart enough to know when you've been beaten. I can respect that."

Mark let out a heavy exhale through his nose, his eyes going back to glaring at Death. Death moved up to him, locking eyes with him as he sneered out. "I think War will like you... but until he arrives..." Death backhanded Mark, sending him to the sand. Mark grabbed his throbbing jaw, spitting blood across the sand. Sean called out his name and rushed forward, only to be grabbed by two Death Stalkers. Glancing up, he noticed Death slipping black brass knuckles into his robe pocket. Death then reached out to grab his jaw, causing Mark to wince in pain. Staring each other down though, Death whispered to him in a sickly-sweet voice. "You have the eyes of a killer... You protect them. Without you... They'll look to me." Mark spit a mouthful of blood over Death's pale white face, growling out through the pain of Death squeezing his jaw. "You'll have to go through me first." Death pulled Mark closer, sneering out in a frightening psychotic tone. "Now that's an idea."

Death shoved Mark to the sand, quickly climbing to his feet as he announced to everyone. "Threaten Death and you tangle with it! Clear the arena! He just volunteered to fight for his life." Fowl curses burst from Sean as the Death Stalkers began dragging him away toward the stands. He thrashed and kicked out but was still herded just outside the gate with the other initiates to stand before the stands. Death took Lilith's hand, leading her out, before letting out a loud whistle. The hatches opened again, and the hyenas crawled out, walking right past the initiates and Death Stalkers toward the arena. Their sinister laughter, causing the hair on Mark's arms to stand up as he slowly rolled to his knees. Just as the hyenas slipped through the bars, Death let out another whistle and they all froze in place but started at Mark with disturbing grins. Death moved to sit in his throne chair, letting Lilith sit on his lap as he waved to his brother. Conquest rose, removing a plain bow set from behind his chair and tossed it into the arena. Then Conquest moved to behind another throne to toss a short sword and shield into the arena.

Mark looked at the weapons, staggering to his feet as Conquest told him seriously. "Pick your weapon. The bow or the sword and shield. Your life is in your own hands." Mark huffed, walking toward the sword and shield. He felt more confidant that he could use these over a bow. Turning around, he quickly counted the Hyena's and what types they might be. His big fear was the Hunters and the Juggernaut. The Lickers and Spitters usually liked keeping their distance... but there were a few here that he just couldn't tell what they were. For a brief second, Mark locked eyes with Sean, when from above, Death uttered aloud. "KILL HIM!" Mark jerked his gaze forward, watching the hyenas move in. The closest ones to him were Hunters. They approached the quickest to test his skills. Mark pointed his sword to the one on his right as it snarled. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the one on his left jump and he ducked with the shield up. The hyena hit the shield and without hesitation, Mark impaled his sword into its exposed belly.

The hyena didn't feel it. Knowing the other would now make a move, Mark quickly shifted forward to shove the hyena on his shield between him and the other one. The second Hunter leapt for him just as he had thought and clamped its jaws down on the other hyena Hunter as it tumbled off his shield. The first Hunter tore into the second Hunter's neck viciously, refusing to let its prey go. Forcing the second to start whining simply because it couldn't get up... not because its flesh was ripped from bone. Taking a sharp breath, Mark braced himself for the next one. The Spitter let out a loud chuckling call, then spit at him. Mark brought up his shield to block it and unintentionally blocked a Licker's tongue. He had to move! They rushed him and Mark jumped over the frenzied Hunters. For a split second, the pursuing hyenas slammed into the Hunters and broke out into a crazed snapping spree. Mark ran along the fence, trying to put some distance between him and them. It was hard to run in sand, but he was determined.

A tongue lashed around his ankle, yanking him completely off his feet. Mark hit the sand chest first, feeling himself being dragged backward. Quickly rolling to his back, he sat up to strike the tongue with his sword... only to have another tongue lash around his wrist. Mark let out a yell as the tongue almost dislocated his shoulder in an attempt to steal him from the other Licker. Gritting his teeth, Mark fought hard to pull his leg up enough to strike the tongue with the edge of the shield. The shield cut straight through the tongue like a hot knife through butter. Mark could only marvel that for a second before he was yanked quickly across the sand. A few hyena's landed where he had been, getting mouthfuls of sand to their dismay. Mark twisted his sword to lay across the tongue of the Licker as it quickly drew him in. Only as it got close enough, Mark got to his knees to resist the pull... then let him have his arm. Lunging straight toward the Licker, he impaled it right through its mouth and severed its spine.

Yanking his sword out, he waited for the hyena to slump into a bow as it tried to understand why its head was loose. The second it went down with a soft whine, Mark beheaded it with his sword. Hefting his shield up as the others made their way toward him, he noticed that the edges of the shield were shaved down to sharp blades. The Hunters were back up and rushing past the circling others to get to him first. Mark exhaled, running up to one to jam the edge of the shield into its face. The blow cut into its flesh, staggering it into a bow as its eye began to gush blood. Slashing the sword at the other one to force it into leaping back, Mark stomped his foot on the wounded Hunter's front leg. The leg made a sickening crack as it snapped, giving the Hunter no choice but to retreat as quickly as it could manage with a major limp. Mark faced down the other Hunter as it circled him with blood stained teeth. He needed it to make a move, but it was keeping its distance and sizing him up. It was thinking.

Mark panted heavily, yelling out at it. "Come on!" The Hunter snarled back at him, then suddenly jerked its head to the left. Mark barely turned before something tackled him into the sand. The tongue less Licker had gotten the drop on him! Mark released his sword to grab the Licker by the throat. Its jaws snapped at his face and neck, trying to tear him apart. With him down, the Hunter and the others bolted in for the attack. Mark kicked the face of an approaching hyena, then tried to punch the Hunter with the shield but it jumped back. Taking the shield, he lifted the Licker's head and jammed the edge against its throat to try decapitating it. The shield cut to bone but couldn't take the head. It was then that Mark screamed as one bit his boot and yanked him out from under the Licker. The swift jerk, caused him to lose his shield, leaving him defenseless. The hyena at his boot, released him to leap over him with a deep growl. From its mouth a thin smoke was leaking out and its eyes were a cloudy grey color.

In a panic, Mark grabbed the mouth of the Hyena to hold it shut. It thrashed to get loose, when a loud 'BANG' rang throughout the barn. Blinding sunlight burst into the barn, causing the hyenas to scatter. However, the one over Mark simply let out a sharp distressed yelp and it exploded into a mass of grey fog that burned Mark's skin and eyes. Mark yanked his shirt up over his mouth and nose, starting to cough violently. Rolling over, he tried to run from the largest cluster of it. His vison was going blurry and without being able to breath properly he stumbled into the sand, gasping desperately for air between coughs. His eyes, nose, and mouth were all starting to water as whatever it was settled on his exposed skin. People in the stands all became frantic to leave the barn to escape the cloud of gas. While people fled the building, Mark writhed on the ground... until a blurry image of a red horse with a gas mask moved up to him. The rider hopped down casually from the horse, opening the gate at their leisure.

The rider was too hard to clearly see, but the person moved in to grab his wrist and hefted him over his shoulder. Carrying him out of the barn, he heard the man chuckle out to the crowd through some kind of thick mask. "Relax, you babies. It's only tear gas. Must have startled the little bastard!" From somewhere in the distance, Death coughed and yelled out. "WAR! You son of bitch! Why did you do that?!" War walked for some distance before dropping Mark roughly across the ground, huffing out in an aggressive voice. "Fuck you! You locked me out! How else was I going to get in?!" From somewhere close, Conquest retorted bluntly. "Did you even try to open the damn doors?" War scoffed loudly, grunting out. "No. And you're not blaming this shit on ME! I warned Death about keeping a Smoker! Little bastards always explode when they get scared! You know that!" Conquest sounded neutrally upset as he snapped back. "I know that! But YOU'RE the one who scared it!" War groaned out with dismission. "Oh, whatever. The stupid thing was a ticking time bomb and you all knew that!"

Mark couldn't bring himself to move. So, he just tried to resist the urge to rub his skin or eyes. If this was just the effects of tear gas... that was at least a relief compared to the thoughts he had about being infected. As the adrenaline left his body, he passed out across the floor from exhaustion. At least, until someone kneeled in front of him to pour something over his face. Mark grabbed the persons hand, groaning with discomfort as he stiffly sat up. The hand had what felt like a metal gauntlet and for a second, he thought it was Conquest. However, as the water cleared his vision enough to reveal the man, he knew that this must be War. He was fully clothed in blood red armor that had battle dents and scuffs on it. Some of the blood on it even looked quite fresh. Across his back was a massive looking greatsword with a red leather hilt and a skull at the pummel. That's not what stole Mark's already jagged breaths though. War wasn't wearing a mask. He only had black war paint banded across his eyes.

Eyes that were a stunning bright red. As red as his short straight hair. In War's ears were silver studded piercings and along the sides of his neck, he had beautiful thick black tribal tattoos. War removed a cigarette from between his pale lips, eyeing him closely as he asked him coolly. "How are you feeling?" Mark tried to swallow and only ended up coughing from how dry and irritated his throat felt. War blew his cigarette smoke out almost seductively as he uttered out softly. "Good." Mark spit across the floor, slowing taking in that he wasn't outside. He was just sitting on a dirt floor in a room with wooden walls and no windows. Glancing around, he strained out. "Where am I? Where is Sean?!" War licked his lips, pointing his cigarette hand up toward the ceiling. Mark still didn't understand, until War told him bluntly. "You're in a cell under the barn. And until further notice... Your ass is mine." While War chuckled, Mark looked out of his closed cell door to see Zero shackled to the wall across the way. His back had been whipped raw, but he was still alive.

War's hand reached out to gently turn Mark's gaze back to him. As their eyes met, War told him with a warm grin. "Conquest told me what you did. You threatened Death and killed some of his favorite pets. I honestly don't know if you're brave... Or just very stupid." Mark stayed still, feeling shaky after everything, but answered gruffly. "Probably a bit of both." War took a puff of his cigarette, blowing it out over Mark's shoulder, before stating out as smooth as dark chocolate. "Is that right? Then I guess we'll get along swimmingly." To Be Continued...