Dark clouds swirled above Catlos. The impending storm brought frenzied gusts and raging waves against the castle town's shoreline. With one sweeping breath, the lapping water would spill over the man-made stone wall, flooding the townscape below.

"It's coming again," Sinclair commented after the thunderclap shattered the afternoon sky. He stared towards the sea, his tied-back midnight hair joining the wind's thrash.

"Again, huh," Aza added as her grip tightened on her wooden recurve bow. She flinched at the first drop of rain smacking her face and looked upwards. "What's the plan then, Captain?"

Her unfocused gaze dropped to Sinclair, watching his stiffened jawline ease. The dull silver armor he adorned encased his sturdy frame. His dark gaze glanced her way, lowering to her eye-level.

"Trent," Sinclair hollered, and a young brown-haired squire ran forward. On salute, he continued, "Have the ballistae manned and men readied with oil-soaked arrows." Sinclair paused, craning his neck towards the stone castle tower, his gaze softening. "And tell the Lord and his daughter to head underground."

"Yes, Sir," Trent responded before dashing off.

"How cute. I'm sure the Princess will love the care," Aza joked.

Sinclair smirked. "Jealous?"

Aza narrowed her golden gaze and snorted. "As if." She turned away, her short blonde locks swaying and muttered, "We'll all die anyway. Who escapes a bloody island alive against a monstrous sea-beast. Better yet, tell your Princess to accept that Unholy Summoner's request so we can all be spared."

"Come on, Aza. I thought you had more loyalty than that."

Her blood boiled at his statement. One girl—a self-proclaimed noble Princess—and she infatuated a lustful Unholy Summoner. So noble, she would sacrifice the town and all inhabitants than willingly accept the marriage.

"I don't have loyalty to fools."

"Then what am I?" Sinclair chuckled.

Aza frowned. A fool in love, she muttered internally, one she would never abandon. Perhaps, she wasn't much different. Her mouth twitched, ready to unleash a divisive retort, but her counter dissolved.

"Captain!" Georgie barked from the adjacent parapet, "We got sights on Missie."

"Let's go. Time to survive," Sinclair stated as he walked towards the wall's rounded end.

The subtle rain dance kicked a tempo higher, the droplets pelting Aza's leather-wrapped body in quick succession. She followed Sinclair's lead, one step forward and the first roar reached her ears. The lengthy, nail splitting sound traveled low upon the wind—an orchestrated musical accompanied by nature's beat.

Aza eyed the darkened horizon and the shadowed husk blotting the soldier's view. Would this be their last? They survived three days earlier, but the visit left a ghastly reminder. Missie had destroyed one-fourth of the town's housing and killed a good fifty residents. The people still wept for loved ones without a chance for reprieve.

"Aza!" Sinclair shouted, "Get over here."

Her gaze shifted from the town below to Sinclair's beckoning form. Retreat, huh? She dreamed of fleeing, but her heart ached as she watched him. He expected her unconditional companionship. A warrior, a tactical advisor, a friend; he called her many names. But never something more heart imploring. No, that spot was taken. His sharp hawk eyes never veered too far from his beloved Princess.

Aza swallowed the lump stifling her throat. Such feelings mattered not. In the end, she would prioritize his safety and life over would-bes. Still, a tiny hope clung deep inside her, one she could never forget.

The pelting rain increased in rhythm. The droplets' impact felt like nose-diving birds charging her exposed flesh. An instant sting, but lost amongst the torrential downpour and constant presence.

Her mind shifted to battle once more. Missie approached, one nautical mile off-shore. The once solid form started to transform. Shadows and contrast gouged gaps upon the once blackened shape, outlining the many serpent heads of the horrible summon breathing down their necks. Cyan and silver tinted scales lined from crazed heads to peaking pelvis above the raging waves. Yet, somehow or another, slitted glowing crimson irises pierced through the hazy shroud.

"Ready the ballistae. Archers prime your strings," Sinclair commanded then added, "Torchers light the arrows!"

Aza hurried forward, joining the archer's line. Withdrawing the right arrow from her quiver, she drew her bowstring back, priming her attack.

A boyish soldier hurried down the line, lighting the oil-soaked wraps adorning the readied arrowheads. He neared Aza's position and her primed weapon tip burned softly beneath the rain.

"On three men," Sinclair declared as his gaze scoured the line. "Let's make this count."

Aza drew the string further, aiming her arrow opposite the southward wind and heavy rain.

"One. Two. Three. Fire!" Sinclair roared. On queue, over twenty flaming arrows shot towards Missie, both siege engine and hand-held projectiles.

She released her bowstring alongside the barrage. Her arrow arched upon the wind, striking the gleaming gaze of one monstrous head. The head yanked backward accompanied by a raging scream as the barrage pierced Missie's hide. Flames spurred from the successful arrow strike locations, though brief, the effects would assist their cause.

"Reload," Sinclair shouted as Missie continued her approach. "Fire!"

Another wave of arrows arched through the air, showering their target. The defenders earned another pained scream from the summoned beast. Yet, the sea dragon charged onwards without stopping.

The heads barreled forward from the main body as Missie's speed increased again. "We need to move," Aza cried before pivoting and dashing towards the adjacent wall.

"Abandon the wall!" Sinclair returned as he sprinted towards the opposite side from Aza.

Soldiers chased after him, but the slower few flew from the wall as multiple serpent heads crashed through the stone layered structure. Chunks of stone hurled from the destroyed epicenter and a miniature cloud puffed before dying from the downpour.

The snakeheads widened their massive jaws showcasing their sharp protruding teeth. One second later, and the heads descended upon the fleeing men. Each snakehead targeted a single prey, their actions distinct. The gaping mouths swooped in, their tongues capturing the men and their bodies disappearing with a gulp.

Aza raced along the wall, widening her distance from the oceanfront. She drew a metal headed arrow from her quiver, aiming her sights on another slitted gaze. Her fingers released the projectile, the feathers slicing through air. The arrow pierced another crimson eye and the head slapped the ground, the mouth growling.

Collectively, the heads hissed, their sights trained on Aza.

"Aza, run," Sinclair bellowed.

His cry pushed Aza into a full-blown sprint. Her body lurched forward as her footing gave way. She face-planted the walkway, her bow skidding before her. Scrambling upwards, Aza checked the damage behind her. Missie had destroyed the entire wall between Aza and the sea.

She looked towards the castle center. The remaining soldiers rained arrows upon the land crawling body of Missie and the courageous few flurried attacks with swords.

"Archers aim for the heads," Sinclair voiced as he charged Missie's blindspot.

Missie turned her long scale-covered body, the heads turning alongside.

"Captain, she's going for a sweep!" Georgie yelled.

"Get out of range," Sinclair followed.

Aza swooped up her recurve bow and rushed towards the wall's opposite end. As she neared the corner stronghold, she turned. Missie roared, all heads screaming, alongside a solid tail sweep. Her tail cleaved through the castle's foundation, toppling half the fort.

Soldiers flew backward, their bodies hitting the wall and their bones breaking. A handful earned an unlucky defeat by being crushed beneath the massive sea demon's body.

"Stand!" Sinclair roared, "this battle is not over. Not till we breathe our last breath."

The half-beaten men stood on command, their destroyed spirits revived.

"Bowmen cover the frontline. We charge the lower body."

Aza readied an arrow, following the shifting head with her sights. She released the feathered metal projectile and pierced another slithering serpent head. Her slight victory joined Sinclairs as he severed a chasing head clean.

The double strike enraged the sea-beast further, the remaining three heads screeched and descended together upon Sinclair. He defended against their combined strike, the force pushing him back into the still-standing fort wall.

"Cover the Captain!" Georgie cried as him and all the men rushed towards Missie, the archers unsheathing their small blades.

Aza skidded down the nearby stairway, jumping over the edge. Her vision blurred as tears sprung forth. She darted towards the still collapsing wall but Missie reared back for another charge. Aza threw her bow and unsheathed her short sword. The metal hissed from the scabbard as her legs carried her before the approaching serpent head.

Her body slowed and her reflexes halted as Missie's sharp teeth sank into Aza's side. An extreme pain ransacked Aza as Missie tilted her head back. Her body lifted alongside the sea monster and she struggled within the clutched mouth. Her sword wrung free, her arm driving her blade down upon the reptile's skull.

Once, twice, three times; she hacked quickly.

Finally, the teeth released her, and she collapsed onto the ground, rain pelting her face. Her muscles refused to respond, but her sight remained pinpointed upon Sinclair's injured back.

He had moved ahead, defending against one of two remaining heads. The still standing soldiers pinned down the last.

Missie dived down, ready to devour Sinclair whole, but his battle-hardened body reacted, swiping upwards through the exposed flesh.

"Finish her," Sinclair declared before turning and kneeling beside Aza. He waved a finger before her eyes, sighing. But his crumpled brow spoke his true intentions.

"It's fine," Aza choked as blood pooled into her mouth and dribbled down her face.

"Don't push yourself," Sinclair murmured, cradling her head upon his knees and wiping the leaking blood clean.

She knew the venom would claim her. With the rain and blood loss, the chill seeped inside her.

"Sinclair," she whispered, her fingers brushing his chin. "You were right, I was jealous." Aza smiled upon his blurring face. Shutting her eyes, she retreated and embraced death alone.