Published Short Stories (When you write for a newspaper, you only get 800 words for each piece. That's not a lot of space at all, so one must be as creative as they can within those restraints, eliminating many words and details that we love so much. Therefore each section is short and to the point. DO NOT be surprised or upset with the length and lack of detail of each portion, as I've done the best I can with the space I have!)
The Adventures of the Magnificent, Mystical, Magical Sas, the Mischievous Muckletail
"The Anointing of Orko"
By Marque Terrynamahr Strickland
"Rushing are you?. . .today must be the big date. . ." Orchis said, staring at her beautiful daughter with awe, watching her cheeks become a dark purple as she blushed.
Sas had pretty black skin; the body of a maturing young woman; curiousness and mischief of a child; wings of a faerie on her back and ears; and a long pretty tail with a tuft of straight, black hair at it's tip. She also, like her mother, had the gift for magic.
". . .Methinks you should tell a little more about him." Orchis said excitedly.
"Ooooh mummy he's beautiful! His name is Nasturium, and he's an elf with creamy white skin, dark eyes, long golden hair, and lips that women would kill to taste!"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about, missy!!!!!!!? You're too young to know anything about a man's lips, you snotty nosed ragamuffin!" She said laughing."
"No, you misunderstand, mummy! . . .I just meant that he has a pretty mouth, that's all." Sas teased, as she kissed her mother's cheek and went to wash.
Orchis, humored by her daughter's innocent but debauched frame of mind, turned to do her chores. Her hands glowed, emitting multicolored clouds as she stepped into the garden, making trees spring from the earth as if they were wells of water. Magical creatures scurried about as Orchis's hair tentacles ripped nasty weeds, vines, and dead trees from the earth causing them to vanish at once as if they had never existed. New born shrubs, bushes, vegetation, and beautiful flowers erupted in all directions, spreading as far as the eye could see.
Soon Orchis was done with her gardening, and her daughter was on her way. Sas yelled over her shoulder as her flapping wings carried her away into the distance.
"Luv u, mummy. . .if it gets too late, I'll conjure the wind to bring you a message."
"Be careful, and don't go using your magic for silly pranks, you little snot! You'll get me worried, and then I'll have to swat you like a spoiled toddler!" She smiled worriedly, hoping that this young man would mind his manners.
*
While soaring over Buru mountain, Sas day dreamt about the devilishly handsome Nasturium, and whether or not her sweet elf would greet her with flowers this day. As more blissful remembrances of his enchanting presence crept into her mind, Sas's thoughts were interrupted by a most disturbing sight.
Beneath her, in a large crevice of the mountain was a girl cornered by loathsome creatures, who appeared to be bent on relieving the young woman of her virtue. Sas recognized the beasts as Piglin, Asfart, Smulp, Huss, and an elementary goblin wizard, named Orko.
Piglin was a fat glob of sweaty flesh, with pale, pimply skin and a boar's face. He stood on two legs and went about naked most of the time. Smulp was equally repugnant, only skinny, fully clothed and with a better complexion. Huss was a large green ogre with a hairy back and chest. Asfart, however, was probably the most vile of all, as he came from a group of Trolls called the Stynks. These creatures smelled of bodily waste constantly, as they lived on a diet of their very own feces!!!!
Sas noted that Orko stood alone in a corner, enjoying the deeds that were about to take place. Swelling with fury, she swooped down, completely forgetting that she had to meet Nasturium.
"DON'T TAKE ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS HER!!!" Sas roared as she landed, blocking the path to the frightened girl. Her tail whipped viciously about, and long sharp claws erupted from her finger tips. The others were immediately taken with fear, as Sas had dealt with them before.
"Jus' tryin' ta show da lady a gud time. . .as ya' can see she wants to be here!!!" Huss, the Ogre, said with a lying gulp.
Sas snapped at them, as she looked over her shoulder, observing the shivering girl.
"Hmmm. . .as if the five of you have an aura that's so obviously alluring!. . .Orko, the goblin wizard with the most rudimentary spells the magic world has ever seen. Surely you could charm the garments off a woman! Smulp and Huss, pathetic as can be-you're only here on order from a novice wizard! Piglin-a sweaty fat ass with a prize winning, one inch killer betwixt his thighs! . . .and the mighty Asfart, who has a body and breath that smell like shit pot pie!!!!!!!!! Yes, I'm positive that the young lady is here, because you all are the very essence of what women find attractive!!!!!" Sas retorted with violent sarcasm, ready to attack.
On order from Orko, the murderous fight began.
*Part 2*
Smulp found himself beheaded before he was able to bat an eyelash. As Sas's blood drenched tail, wrapped itself around Huss's throat, ensnaring a new victim, she flew foward and split Piglin's stomach open with the nail of her index finger. His entrails spilled from the wound, and he was dead as could be.
Though Huss weighed a few tons, his size was no match for the magical strength and dexterity of her tail. Acting as a noose, it crushed every bone in his throat, then threw him off the mountain. As she turned to deliver death to Asfart and Orko, she only saw the remains of smoke. They had escaped by means of magic. Sas stood taken aback for a moment, surprised that Orko had gained enough power to conjure the disappearence spell-let alone make two people vanish at once!
Dismissing the mystery for a moment, Sas quickly grabbed the young woman and flew her to safety. Upon landing, she quickly scolded the young girl as if she were her mother.
"Do try to use a bit more common sense next time! A young lady should never travel in the mountains alone, especially if she doesn't know magic!"
"I didn't mean to, Lady Sas. I just wanted to get some Chuku berries as medicine for me pappy. I took a short cut through the mountains on the way to the berry fields, but those monsters grabbed me." The young woman sobbed in despair.
Sas wasn't surprised that the girl knew her name. Many young maidens did, as she had unintentionally earned a reputation as a guardian. . . .this was not the first time she had killed to protect the innocent.
As she watched the young girl's tears splash on the rocks below, Sas cursed her sympathy within. She had to meet Nasturium in less than half and hour, and she could not be late! Yet, her innate compassion for all those untainted by evil, quelled her to ask.
"What's wrong with your father?"
"Papa's dying! He crawled through the door awhile ago, bleeding to death! It looked as if something mauled him. That's why I need Chuku-the berry juice will cauterize the wounds. Will you not help me, mistress? I'll be in your debt forever!" She pleaded.
"Take me to him, now!"
"But, the berries?"
"Never mind that. Give me your hand, and close your eyes. Think of your home and all that within! Concentrate, as we haven't much time."
The two of them locked hands, and a nauseating feeling came over the girl as she and Sas disappeared in a cloud of rainbow coloured smoke.
*
"BITCH!!!!!!! I'LL MURDER HER IF THE LAST THING I DO!!!!!" Orko, the goblin screamed, in contempt of Sas. At this, several fires erupted in different parts of the cave. Though he was able to conjure mildly powerful spells, such as vanishing, he still had no control over them, and he was dangerous to himself and those around.
"AAAHHHHHHHH!" Asfart screamed, while rolling around on the floor, attempting to extinguish his flaming buttocks. "Be careful, master! You'll kill us both!" He warned, knowing that unpredictable spells was the price one paid the gods for attaining magical skill through treachery.
The ever odorous scent of roasted feces rose from his stench ridden body. Orko rebuked him.
"Listen, ASS-FART. . . .that is how one pronounces your name, is it not? . . .Don't tell ever tell me how I should use my magic, or else I will turn you into a pretty flower, or something else that smells good! I doubt you would like that!"
The poop scented beast immediately fell to his knees, begging for mercy, as the Stynk's odor was their greatest attribute! Being terribly proud of his hereditary stench, Asfart would have rather been dead than give up such a fine trait! "Please don't, master!"
"Very well then, silence you fool!" He frowned with disgust as Asfart pulled out a nibble from his sack. Orko gagged when the bafoon bit down into a large piece of petrified shit as if it were a chocolate bar!
"Lunch time, is it?" He whispered with nausea.
*
When the cloud of vapor disappeared, Sas found herself in front of a large, muscular man, laying on the floor. His entire body was covered in jagged lacerations and bite wounds. Sas found that she and the girl were standing in a puddle of blood. Though no longer conscious, she felt his vibrating life force, meaning that he wasn't dead.
"Step aside." Sas ordered.
The entire room emitted a blinding glow for a moment, and when it settled the girl's father lay sleeping, as if the incident never was. Then he leapt up suddenly, as one waking from a terrible nightmare, screaming.
"ORKO!!!!!!!!!!"
*Part 3*
Sas cast a calming spell, as to quell the father's hysterics. Meanwhile, she paced about, uneasy that she had been surprised twice in the last ten minutes-first by Orko vanishing with magic that he was far too unskilled to even know, then this man waking and screaming the goblin's name! Clearly, it was Orko who had attacked him. . . .or something under his command.
While the father got his bearings, Sas observed their home. The cottage was small with many windows. Everything was made of the finest crafted wood, glazed over, giving it a very nice sheen. There were many paintings hanging from the walls, and in between them, Sas could see carvings in the wood. This was an artistic family, she noted. Despite the beauty and coziness of the home, Sas still thought that the place could do with just a hint of magic. . . . .but of course she was biased.
The girl's father had now gotten off the floor, and was sitting in an oak chair with his daughter kissing his cheek. The man recognized his savior. "Thank you." He nodded at Sas.
"What happened?" Sas questioned.
*
A large, muscular man ripped tiny pieces of flesh from his arms and face as he burst threw thorn bushes and shrubs. Knowing that it would mean his death if he slowed to look back, he focused all his efforts on making it to the river. The Vahzgul's, a race of enormous, hairy and wolf-like creatures, created by evil magic centuries before, could not cross water. This particular one had a gigantic mouth hanging open with a long, thick tongue, saliva swinging from it in every direction. It's teeth were deadly sharp, gleaming, ivory pillars, protruding from black leathery gums. The legs, arms, and torso of the beast were covered in black fur, which became a silvery white at the beast's neck, as it was throughout the rest of it's head, except for two black circles of fur surrounding the eyes. It howled with exhilaration, able to smell it's prey from afar.
Marion, the man who was soon to be bled within an inch of his life, secreted a blanket of sweat that would have viciously stung his wounds, if not for the fact that he was far too frightened to feel anything. . . .even the urine running down his legs! As do most canine-like animals, the Vahzgul drooled with anticipation, as the sweet fragrance of fear reached it's nostrils. The beast looked back and growled at it's master, assuring him that he would have his precious blood sacrifice at any moment. Orko, and his four counterparts, Piglin, Asfart, Smulp, and Huss, reveled with what they knew would be victory.
"Don't let him get away you stupid beast!" Orko chastised, while observing from a hill at the bottom of the mountain. His magic was fading and if he didn't have some blood soon, he would, again, be powerless.
Orko, being evil to the core of his soul, very much desired a slew of mistresses, power, and world dominion. However, being a natural born muck up, who was ever so clumsy with magic despite the fact that he came from a family who had practiced it for centuries, he was unable to attain that which he lusted for. Orko was pathetic in all aspects of life except his ability at devising plans having anything to do with death, violence, or wanton macabre. It was one such plan that helped him to greatly multiply his magical skill fourteen days previous.
Disguised, Orko had gone to visit a humble, unassuming wizard, named Vahn. He claimed that he was sick from poison, asking for a magical remedy. Being a good natured man, Vahn agreed to help Orko. While Orko lay on a bed of straw being examined, he pulled a knife from his purse and cut the wizard's throat, ear to ear. As Vahn lay gagging on his own blood, Orko climbed on top of him, sank the knife deep in his chest, and cut out his heart. Orko swallowed it whole, and thereby, gained the wizard's power.
However, being oblivious to his family's teachings, Orko had forgotten that when one attained magical skill through treachery, they were cursed by the gods. Only drinking a certain amount of human blood once a day could maintain their power. The fourteen people Orko had killed so far, were bound in the earth with sorcery, thereby deceiving Sas, his arch enemy, as she could not feel their lifeless presence.
Now being accustomed to the consumption of blood once a day, Orko found that he liked to murder more than ever. He laughed with wickedness as the Vahzgul closed in on his latest victim.
"MUHAH HAH HAH AHHHH!!!!!!!"
*Part 4*
Smearing blood upon his face from thorn slashed forearms, he wiped the sweat from his brow. Marion's hair stood on end, hearing a wicked laugh soar through the wind. It was Orko's wail of victory, a sound many often heard echoing throughout the mountains, resulting from one of his hideous acts of wanton violence. As the laughter died in a faint whisper, Marion was seized with a glimmer of hope, seeing the splashing tide of river water ahead. The stream led to his cottage, which rested next to the water, two miles down the miniature rapid.
Putting on a burst of speed, Marion wounded himself further as he leapt over branches and burst through shrubs, fleeing the Vahzgul, who was drawing ever closer. Seeing that his prey was escaping, the creature reciprocated the speed, and demolished all within it's path, acquiring, small, but unnoticeable, cuts and bruises beneath it's fur. As they came to the river bank, drool swung from the Vahzgul's mouth, as it snarled in anger, seeing the man leap off the edge.
Beneath the water, Marion relaxed his muscles, knowing the river would give him a rough but safe trip. However, the escape Marion thought he achieved proved to be all too presumptuous, as he was seized with horror upon reaching the surface. . .the Vahzgul had dove in after him! Arms and legs flailing with the treacherous current, Marion attempted to swim out of harms way. It was a pointless gesture, as the beast's claws pierced his stomach, dragging him close, as to rip him limb from limb.
Seeing thick puddles of his precious blood spray onto the Vahzgul's fur, Marion's eyes rolled backwards, as he instinctively tried to block out the pain. Eyes shut, screaming in agony, he hadn't noticed smoke rising from the creature's blackening fur. Being too enthralled with the completion of it's task, the Vahzgul had not been wary of it's curse. No being of it's race could be touched by water, as it's purity clashed with their inherent evil. It tore as many pieces of Marion's flesh away as possible until it's body was set ablaze, making the pain unendurable. The beast crawled ashore, howling, and Marion's limp body floated downstream, dressed in a deep crimson blanket of water.
Orko, infuriated with the beast's incompetence, was fuming as he approached with his four counterparts. His anger was quelled, however, as he saw several strips of bloody flesh resting on the dirt ground of the forest. Disregarding the beast's pleads for the flames to be extinguished, Orko took up the flesh and pulled a golden cup from his purse. He squeezed every single drop of blood he could into the cup, threw his head back, and swallowed it all.
Feeling a burst of strength enter his body, Orko shivered with satisfaction, and became erect from his ecstatic lust for human blood. As the front of his unicorn hide, leather knickers bulged outward, his fantasy was interrupted by another howl from the Vahzgul. Angered that he was not allowed to enjoy the moment longer, Orko sighed and snapped his fingers, using restored powers that he had been far too weak to conjure only moments before. The flames disappeared, and the wolf like creature crawled forward, licking the bunion covered skin of Orko's gnarled, claw like toes. It was ever so grateful for his master's mercy, as the Vahzgul's were not only terrified of magic, but reluctant to befriend anyone who knew it. Orko only succeeded, because he lied, promising the beast power and control over his own colony of Vahzgul's. He knelt and petted his foolish servant.
"Hungry then?" Orko said, feeding the beast one piece of flesh at a time. The Vahzgul accepted, swallowing each piece whole, without chewing, then licking the remaining fragments and sticky blood from his master's fingers. Orko was proud of his success the second time around, as the man had escaped him several days previous, being under the protection of magical charm he wore at the neck. In his foolishness, Orko had not anticipated such a thing, and resolved to solicit the aid of a non-magical, but evil creature, who was now licking his palms.
Orko stood suddenly, a chill running down his spine. Assuming Marion dead, Orko knew that if he didn't scour the stream, he would lose the body! . . .alerting the magical senses of a certain person that he had no wish to deal with.
"Come lads!"
*
Marion left a trail of blood on the rocks and dirt over which he had clawed his way to his cottage door. Using all his strength left, he undid the latch and pushed the door open, immediately collapsing in the entrance.
"Father!!!"
. . . .to be continued.