Of Gods and Demons: Runaways

By Britley Brashear

Saige was a summoner. Her Anarygu, a specie of mythical demon hybrids, was her only way to escape. Saiges father, Samuel, attempts to use her as a human sacrifice to gain favor with the demon gods and bring down Divina, the goddess of the entire world, with a dangerous weapon. The God Destroyer is an ancient weapon from before the times of the Neo Gods reign that literally has the power to destroy even gods, threatening the worlds end. Her fate carries her through the lands of Anlyn and Sen to find comrades and her destiny as a summoner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543478884

Britley Brashear

Britley Brashear was born on October 1, 1991. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she grew up loving books and wanting to write books. After growing up she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. This led her to become suicidal and led her staying in the hospital. While she was in there she began writing short stories. This led to her writing a short story about SellPoint City. After her case worker read it and complemented it she wrote chapter by chapter just for her to enjoy. Finally she decided to publish Of Gods and Demons.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Britley Brashear.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2018900131

ISBN:                   Hardcover                        978-1-5434-7688-0

                             Softcover                           978-1-5434-7687-3

                             eBook                                978-1-5434-7888-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 01/25/2018

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Meeting on Less Than Pleasant Circumstances

Chapter 2     Thirteen Corrupted Souls

Chapter 3     Distraught Goddesses

Chapter 4     A Ruined Day

Chapter 5     Escape

Chapter 6     Surprisingly Adept

Chapter 7     Landing in Sen

Chapter 8     One of Many Mournful Towns

Chapter 9     Despair of the Doomed

Chapter 10   Destiny Hidden

Chapter 11   Cold-Hearted Killer

Chapter 12   No Goodbyes Are Hard

Chapter 13   The Beginning of a Legend

Chapter 14   Danger Strikes and Approaches

Chapter 15   Lost and Forgotten

Chapter 16   Madhouse’s Depravity

Chapter 17   Roar of Wars

Epilogue

CHAPTER ONE

Meeting on Less Than Pleasant Circumstances

I T WAS A peaceful day in Sellpoint City. Many a people were going about their own business. In this city, that was all you could expect. It was the largest city in Anlyn. Being the largest city in the country meant all things began and ended here. It proudly boasted of many summoners in this fine city. The churches you found here were loaded with successful summoners that were the guard of this sickly city. A towering city, its skyscrapers lined the streets in perfect rows that just seethed of a prison you couldn’t see, just to be strangled by those in power. Many who spoke out went missing or were forced to leave. People learned quickly to shout approval for the government even if they disliked something. It was simple—approve or face the monsters outside of the gates. Summoners would be lacking at just the right time. Freedom in a cage, one man said. He was never seen again.

Many citizens littered the walkway all pale, compared to the heavily armored man that stepped out of the vehicle he had been traveling in only moments before. All for his perfectly useless daughter was his reason to be out today. Or at least that was how he saw her. But that was a far cry from what she really was. She had volumes of talent as a summoner much like her father before her. Speaking of the girl, her father was out to purchase her a stunning Anarygu. This was a bound demon that would serve her. Anarygu were special and came in all shapes and sizes. Some were rare, and others were more common. These highly magical creatures could kill hundreds of humans easily. Summoners used these Anarygu to go on an adventure and to enforce peace in the world. But that’s not what Saige was getting one for. She was getting an Anarygu as a show of class. More importantly, a beautiful one to be exact that others would be impressed by.

To obtain such a thing would be easy for this man who was named Samuel Stonesmith. Where did his name come from, you ask? Stones were often used to imprison Anarygu into servitude. Depending on the stone or gem type such as a rock versus a diamond, the power of the Anarygu could be captured and imprisoned with varying degrees of success. He wore a shining silver armor that covered him almost completely. What seemed like royal garb was beneath all the shining metal. Only his face was visible. What he was looking for today was something of a companion sort his daughter could boss around that was easy on the eyes. He passed local vendors that had typically common Anarygu such as cats and dogs for sale. He walked for several blocks and took two rights and a left before he came to his destination. He went in an alley that led downstairs to a barred door.

Knocking on the door, he waited until it opened, revealing a gruff man with a gun who nodded him in. He walked down the steps into a brightly lit room with vendors spread as far as the eye could see. He walked up to one who was selling foxes thinking of a fox fur coat his daughter must have had or simply would if she didn’t. He might not love his daughter, but she must look the part simply for pride’s sake. Smiling confidently, he strolled over to the salesmen who grinned nastily when he came over.

Welcome, what can I interest you in today? said a man behind a kiosk who was petting a gorgeous lynx with one hand. Another man was preoccupied by a simple rock with etchings around it, who also specialized in exotic trades for the black market. Samuel recognized the man as Catcher, whose name implied what he was all about. Many of Samuel’s own Anarygu came from this man’s hunting prowess.

Yes, I’m looking for something for my daughter. She likes foxes and felines. Something elegant, he said with a pleasant smile on his face as he looked at some of the prettier stones.

Ah yes … for the little beauty. This … this one may do, he said while gesturing toward a piece of amethyst. Catcher knew a lot about the different family situations around the city.

Picking it up, Samuel summoned the Anarygu within, calling forth a lovely black-haired kitsune boy. He had short hair and deep black eyes from having consumed a true demon, making him seethe with a new sense of hatred that was nearly self-destructive. Kitsune are shape-shifting foxes that can take on human form. They can take on anyone’s appearance perfectly so that one’s own mother can’t recognize the difference. This one had nine luxurious black tails splayed like a fan behind him. A kitsune’s tails and fur could be different colors depending on its disposition toward humans. After a hundred years they may gain more tails, and after this, their fur changes accordingly. Black meant that the kitsune meant ill. Golden-colored tails meant a neutral disposition while white meant a benevolent one toward mankind kitsune. The more tails a kitsune had, the more wise it was as well, nine being the max number a kitsune could have. Samuel frowned immediately upon the look of fire in the boy’s eyes. An Anarygu’s submission was vital if his daughter was to have one of her own. This one would never do, he thought.

No, not this one. Do you have anything more attractive? asked Samuel after a moment of staring at the creature, who received a glare and a hiss from the Anarygu in front of him.

Catcher sighed happily as he put the Anarygu back and pulled out a topaz stone from under the counter. Maybe this one then.

Samuel summoned this one from its confines. Up rose a golden-haired lynx. This one was in beast form and was female upon inspection. Looking into her eyes, he saw fear. No not this one either. I don’t like the look in her eyes. Cowardly Anarygu simply will not do.

A few hours later, he had browsed all of Catcher’s wares and found his eyes on a young black kitsune with nine tails that would suit his daughter perfectly. He seemed meek in appearance and was currently in fox form where he would stay for his daughter. The boy caught his eye with his blue eyes. Most kitsune didn’t have blue eyes. This one wasn’t as proud of its nine tails as others. He wondered why. He’d have to find out. It could cost his daughter her life if he made a mistake in enslaving this Anarygu. Besides, he was easy on the eyes in his true form. Or at least he was to Samuel.

Saige turned over in bed. Sighing, she grudgingly got up. It was ten in the morning, her clock said. She lay back down. Certainly no one would notice if she slept a little longer. She could hear the servants outside of her room cleaning up and giggling as they did so. She