Breakdown of Reality

               Cale felt the sweat drip from his face. He swung his broadsword, piercing the armor of his foe and dropping him to the ground. He gave the sword a good yank and prepared himself for the next enemy. Around him his men were doing their best but the enemy moved with a single focus. Their men stared with blank eyes, moving and ducking as a single unit, slowly whittling away at Cale’s forces.

               “She’s here!” he heard one of his men scream in desperation, and Cale felt his heart constrict. He’d hoped they’d be able to take this position before she arrived. The Black Lady, Death’s Mistress, Stormwalker, and Evil Bitch; they were all names that Cale’s forces had given the tall woman in black armor that strode into battle cutting down all around her, but none knew her name.

               He managed to fend off an attack and cut down a second man. As he faced off against the original attacker he saw her. A large formation of his men had grouped up to attempt to take her down. She carried twin long swords that moved in a blur as she swept left and right, blocking attacks and killing men. She moved as a whirlwind of death and destruction and it wasn’t long before the entire formation of fifteen men was cut down.

               “Retreat!” Cale yelled, knowing the battle was lost. His men began to attempt to disengage from their opponents and backing away from the fight. The enemy let them, dropping their guard as Cale’s men turned and ran. They stared with blank looks and began to go about the work of cleaning up the damage.

               Cocky bastards, Cale thought, We haven’t even left the battlefield yet.

               He was running though, fleeing himself, when he caught a glimpse that chilled his soul. Death’s Mistress had caught his eyes. Where her men’s faces were cold, distant, and empty, hers was anything but. Her eyes seemed to burn red with fury and intelligence. She knelt and leapt in an amazing show of strength, flying forty feet easily. She rolled as she hit the ground, coming up running, sprinting really. Right in Cale’s direction.

               Oh shit… Cale thought as he attempted to run faster. It wasn’t fast enough, she caught him. She hit him across the knees with the flat of her sword and Cale tumbled and fell. He got back on his feet, turning to face her. She studied him with a curious look.

               “You are strong,” she said, nodding as if in approval.

               “I like to think I am,” he responded, wondering why he wasn’t dead yet.

               “You’re not stupid either,” she said, “I despise stupidity.”

               Cale nodded, continuing to back away from her. She met his pace easily, keeping the distance between them the same.

               “You would make a sufficient mate,” she said, “I think.”

               Cale laughed.

               “You think I would ever lay with you?” he asked, “You really are insane.”

               A small, sly smile crossed her mouth as she dashed forward, closing the distance between them.

               “I do not think you will have a choice in the matter,” she answered, striking him in the head with the hilt of her sword. Not enough to kill him, but enough to cause everything to go blurry. Cale started to fade as he noticed a few of her men approaching them. She was staring down at him as darkness finally took him.