Dead Time Series by Jason Wilcox Read Free Book Online Page A

being broken in several
of places. He could feel the throbbing of his muscles and bones trying to
rapidly heal themselves, but after so much damage, his normal speedy healing
process would take much longer.
    “Tha’
should hold ya,” the older demon spat with a raspy voice. Tagen wanted to prove
him wrong and transform into shadow form, which would allow him to move through
the metal, but he knew the second he did, they would kill him. In his state, he
wouldn’t be able to escape fast enough.
    Four
demons stood around him, all large and as broad as an old tree, waiting for
anything that would warrant a reason to kill him. Only ten feet away stood the
large tent with heavily armored demons who gave Tagen
a shiver. The old demon that stuck him to the tree entered the tent only to
come back out followed by their king, Azgiel.
    “I’m told
you’re ready to talk. And that you’re sent by Triaad,” Azgiel spoke with
perfect calmness.
    “Yesss,”
Tagen sputtered.
    “Get on
with it. I don’t have much time.” Azgiel rubbed his hands up and down his arms from
a cool breeze, his broad muscles tightening then relaxing.
    “Triaad…”
Tagen took a breath to ward off the sharp pain in his shoulder. “He sent me
to…spy.” Another breath . “Triaad…expects you to
fall…soon. He decimated your reinforcements. They’re not coming…I’m…just
here…to see your fall and report back to him of when it happens…so he can…be
the new ruler.”
    Azgiel
analyzed Tagen with his cold dark eyes. “Triaad has betrayed me, has he? My most trusted advisor? And my reinforcements are
dead?" A smile grew on Azgiel’s face. “Triaad might’ve betrayed me, but
there’s no way he could’ve depleted my reinforcements. You’re lying. I don’t
believe you or the other black creatures that serve Triaad. He’s not clever
enough to gather followers.” Stepping closer to one of the guards, Azgiel
gripped the handle of the demon’s sword closest to Tagen and began to draw it.
Tagen knew he was dead.
    A large,
burly creature covered in thick brown hair charged into the camp as Azgiel drew
the sword. Blood dripped from his arm. “We’re under attack!” the creature
yelled. Azgiel gave the sword back to the demon to see what the commotion was.
Tagen exhaled.
    Moving
back towards his tent, Azgiel spoke to the silver demon who had stabbed Tagen with the sword, “My armor!” Azgiel then turned his attention
to the new creature. “How close are they?” Azgiel demanded while strapping on
his chest plate. The armor was dark plated metal with three diagonal red lines
on the chest piece.
    “They’re
right behind me, only minutes away,” the creature blurted. “Mauldrin’s army
annihilated our front lines during the night.”
    “Mauldrin’s
army?” Azgiel furled his brow with befuddlement as he peered through the
forest. “His whole army?” The creature nodded. “And Mauldrin himself is leading
them?”
    Azgiel didn’t
wait to hear any more. “My sword.” Azgiel ordered and then turned to his small
army. “To arms. Now is the time to give everything you have, it’s the moment
we’ve been waiting for. Mauldrin is here.” Azgiel peered over at Tagen with
anger. “So fight hard. Your lives depend on it,” he yelled to his small army
while the silver demon got Azgiel’s sword from the tent.
    Trampling
hoof beats were heard in the distance as Azgiel took hold of his sword. The ground
shook, inflicting more pain in Tagen’s shoulder and leg.
    An army
could be seen through the trees. A man, large in stature, with light gray
armor, led the army. As the man approached the camp with an enormous army, a
light glowed from him that hurt Tagen’s eyes. Tagen knew it had to be Mauldrin.
He had never seen him before, only heard stories.  
    Demons
and strange creatures came out of the woodwork, charging Mauldrin from all
sides. He lifted a hand, producing a bright light followed by a strange vibrating
sound, and then the