Prompt#20: Moon Rune

Word Count: 749 of 750 MAX
DAY 20 Prompt: Moon Rune

         Marduke tossed Hemmel to the floor in a bloody heap. “Fool!” he spat, “You nearly cost me everything.” The hulking warrior turned to the guard. “Go fetch the wizard and girl. Bring them to the Stones now.”

         “Don’t do this Marduke. You don’t know what will happen.” Hemmel reached up and grasped the man’s pant leg. “Stop this madness before its too late.”

         Marduke lifted his leg, easily shaking the broken man’s grip. “It is you who are the fool Hemmel. All this time you had the power within reach and you chose not to use it. But not I, wretch. Your mistake shall be my ultimate victory.”

         Marduke pushed Hemmel away with a swift kick. “I am letting you live, Hemmel. Just long enough to witness my victory. Afterwards you will die along with your wizard.”

         Hemmel tried to speak but blood in his throat caused him to choke and cough. Crimson splattered the floor before him with each ragged breath.

         “Marduke…I beg you. Don’t kill Faschia. She’s innocent.”

         “Do not worry about the girl Hemmel. I’ve plans for her afterwards as well. It shall be a long night of festivities.” He watched the horror of realization dawn on Hemmel’s face. He found great amusement from it, his deep laughter fading from the room as he disappeared down the hallway.

         The world was slowly greying around his vision and his body was gripped by tremors as he went into shock. “I’ve failed you Faschia…”

         Faschia returned Marduke’s stare without flinching. “Leave Tristan be, you vile filth.” Marduke reached out pinched her lower jaw in his large hand.

         “The wizard is mine to do with as I please.” His eyes traced dow her body and back up to lock with hers. “As are you.” He grabbed the necklace around her neck and yanked hard.

         Faschia cried out as the thin silver chain sliced her neck before snapping in several pieces. She struggled against the guards but their iron grip held her fast. “Tristan, I’m sorry I’ve failed.”

         The wizard looked up, squinting through eyes nearly swollen shut. “No, my lady, it is I who failed our people. I should have destroyed the Moon Rune years ago. Now we are all doomed.”

         They watched helplessly as Marduke entered the Circle of Stones and approached the center slab. He examined the surface carvings, looking for a specific one. He kept looking at the talisman in his hand. It was about two inches in diameter, and made of obsidian. Silver flecks had been adhered to the surface to simulate the night sky. An overlay of gold in the shape of interlocking crescent moons completed the medallion; each moon embracing a small orb.

         A cry of discovery let his captives know he’d found the pattern. “Marduke,” yelled Tristan, “Don’t do this!”

         Marduke didn’t bother to respond. He placed the amulet onto the stone slab, the small orbs lining up to matching holes in the rock. It fit perfectly, the medallion settling into the stone. Marduke pressed down and twisted. It turned like a key in a lock. There was an audible click and everything went silent.

         A low hum began emanating from the circle. A faint glow pulsed from each outer stone growing brighter as the hum became louder. Suddenly a beam of light erupted from one stone to the next until it completely surrounded the small group. The center slab began vibrating and a sudden ball of blue light flared atop it, blinding everyone watching.

         As Marduke’s eyes adjusted to the burst of light, he realized two figures stood atop the slab. They were tall and thin, their skin grey. They had misshapen heads, abnormally large with oversized eyes like black glass. They stared down at him, silent.

         “My Lords!” he cried spreading his hands. “I, Marduke the Conqueror, have summoned you, the Gods of my ancestors, to grant me power!”

         The closest god pulled a thin metal rod from its belt and held it up. Suddenly a blade of pure light grew out of it. The god swung and Marduke’s head was removed from the rest of him. The guards released Faschia and fell to their knees in fear.

         “We are returned.” the god hissed. “The portal is opened to us once more.” The two greys stepped off the stone as the circle once again began to hum. The murdering god approached Faschia and Tristan.

         “This time our conquest shall not be stopped.” Blue light flared as reinforcements began arriving.