The Mad-King Cometh

Webb crept through this deserted corridor of a long abandoned school.  As he passed by a door, Charles silently opened it and whispered, “Psst…”

Webb spun around and saw Charles beckoning him into the classroom.

After Webb stepped inside, Charles took a seat at a desk and said, “This used to be my school, you know?  It’s been abandoned for a while but there are plans for its renovation on the table, funded by one of Geisler’s charities.  Brand new equipment and all.  So, what are you going to teach me today sir?”

“Zedd escaped from Edgeways.  Know anything about that?”

“I may have heard something regarding that, yes.  It happened faster than I thought.  Zedd sure is good.”

“We found most of the guards hiding in the prison after seeing what he did to their friends.  He ate a lot of people.”

“Yep, that sounds like Zedd,” Charles said with a playful smile.  “He does that.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know where he is, would you?”

“Of course I do.  He came to see me as soon as he was out.”

“So you know where he is?”

“Yep.  He’s staying at Geisler’s mansion.”

“I see.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but you can’t set foot inside that house just based on my word alone.”

“I realise that.”

“Want to hear something that’ll cheer you up?”

“Go for it.”

“I’ve called Zedd off.  He won’t be trying to kill you anymore.”

“Is it because he failed?”

“No, it’s just…you’re no longer a threat.”

***

Hesitance sat by herself in the back of her car as she was driven home by Samson.

“This all feels so futile,” she said, partly to herself, partly to Samson.  “I know the Mad-King is gonna hit back at me and with such a force that I won’t be able to repel.  If only we all united against Charles, we could’ve won.  What fools we were and it’s all too late now.  He’s got everyone else under his command.  All that’s left is to wait for him to come.  Have you heard the stories about him?  Like his tattoos?  He’s supposed to be completely tattooed below his neck, his body covered in arcane runes of old magic that is supposed to make him invulnerable.  Complete nonsense, but the sheer fact that he believes in it gives him an advantage.  Makes him fearless.  Thinks he’s invincible.  If there is a human mind capable of convincing themselves of that, I wonder…what else can it do?”

Her car pulled up in front of an old church, its walls covered in ivy and thorny vines.

Samson got out and opened her door, allowing her to head for the large church doors.  As he held one heavy door open for her, she quickly looked back, as if suspicious someone was watching, before she entered.

***

In his bedroom at Geisler Manor, Charles came in from his bathroom after a shower, wearing only a towel.  His body was completely tattooed in dark blue.  There were images of demons and magical symbols covering every square inch.

Charles took his time in dressing himself, buckling his sword to his waist before donning his dark coat.

Before leaving the house, Charles stopped off in the drawing room, where he spied Priscilla sitting at the organ.

“I’ll be back later Pris,” he said.  “I’ve just got some work to do.”

“Have fun Charles,” Priscilla said and then began to play a song.

***

As the rain poured down onto the streets of the city, a fierce battle occurred all around between the forces of Charles and Hesitance.

In the middle of the gunfight, Charles walked calmly, his sword drawn.  Bullets whizzed past; killing other but none hit him.  His serene gait didn’t break amidst the chaos around him as he continued onwards.

Further ahead, by the church that was Hesitance’s base, Zedd led a group of Charles’ men in a skirmish with their enemies.

Within the church itself, hundreds of candles were lit at the altar, around which were Hesitance and her personal guard.  Many stained glass windows bore images of various demons and angels, sinners and saints.

As she heard the sounds of battle outside, she picked up her modern bow and turned at the ready.

Outside, only three of Hesitance’s soldiers remained.  One was killed quickly by Zedd and another retreated back inside the church.  The remaining man attempted to flee.  As he was about to disappear inside a nearby alleyway, he was impaled by a sword.

Charles stepped out of the shadows and withdrew his blade from the man’s chest before he and his army advanced on the church.

Charles and his soldiers invaded the building, where Hesitance’s remaining men had taken cover behind the pews.

Hesitance, standing out in the open just in front of the candles, shot an arrow, which Charles deftly dodged, letting it kill an unfortunate man behind him.

“What’s the matter Charles?” Hesitance called out.  “Losing faith in your magic?”

“Kill them all!” Charles ordered his men.

A fight ensued between the two factions, with several dying instantly before everyone could make it to cover.  A few seconds of them exchanging shots and a frustrated Charles shouted, “Push forward you worms!”

He saw one of his scared men run forward to try and take some ground, only for him to be killed by Hesitance’s bow.

“Flank them!” Charles said.

Zedd skirted around the side of the pews and managed to kill two more, allowing Charles’ men to finish off their enemies and move forwards.

Samson, armed with a shotgun, appeared and instantly killed two, before Zedd shot him twice in the chest and he fell backwards, managing to get off one more shot before he died.

With no more bodyguards left standing, Zedd and Charles’ soldiers closed in on Hesitance.  Zedd pointed his pistol at her, causing her to drop her bow as Charles stepped forwards out of the shadows.

As he approached her, Charles’ face became illuminated by the soft candlelight and he smiled as he said, “The Mad-King cometh.”