Bella Hayward
I raised my shield as Tabitha and Deidre darted to the right.
A ball of fire and a stream of pressurized water flew from the pair, hurtling at the horseman. He charged back at me, ducking low.
The fireball flew over his head. The water passed between the legs of his horse.
Sister Martha Ruth, dashing to the left, sent out a large sweep of wind. It rippled across the air as it howled in fury. It struck the rider, deflecting him. He snarled and formed a javelin of shadows in his left hand. He hurtled it at her.
The black darted flew straight for her heart. Wind surged around Sister Martha Ruth. The Nun-Maid deflected the attack as the rider corrected his charge and flew at me. I raised my shield and set myself for the blow.
I was the Maid-Wife to Master Lance Hayward. I was the Lady of Hayward Manor, my engagement ring sparkling on my finger. I drew on that strength as he thundered closer. His spear struck my shield.
"Mom!" Chastity cried behind me at the terrible screeching impact of metal on stone.
I leaned into the attack, my garter pulsing with the strength of the earth. Of the very bedrock that supported the foundations of Hayward Manor. The blow pushed me back a foot, my heels sliding on the waxed floor.
I stood strong.
"You're his wife!" the horseman said, such cruelty in his voice. His eyes sparkled with hate. "I'll save you for last! After I beat his whelp out of your womb, I'll replace it with my son!"
"You will not touch my child!" I roared.
Fire and water slammed into him. Steam exploded around him. The horse screamed in pain. He laughed, his eyes almost glowing in the veil of mist swirling around him. From it, two daggers of black flew, hurtling at Deidre and Tabitha.
Deidre threw herself to the floor, the dagger burying into the wall above her head.
Tabitha didn't move in time.
I gasped in horror as the dagger took Tabitha in the throat. Kylie's best friend staggered back, blood spurting from the wound. Both daggers vanished in a burst of smoke. With it gone, the gush of crimson sprayed from Tabitha. She dropped to the ground, twitching.
"No!" screamed Chastity.
The rider laughed as he charged out of the steam, his lance aimed at Deidre as she pressed up from her dive. She turned and gasped, fire blazing before her. I burst into a run to protect her, but the horse left me behind.
Flames exploded. A wall of fire rushed at the Huntsman. He charged into the fire. It engulfed him, but the fire whirled and danced, dispersing from the force of his charge into dancing reds and oranges. His lance slammed into Deidre's chest and pinned her to the wall behind her.
"No, no, no!" I screamed as the Huntsman ripped his lance free of her chest. She dropped to the floor, a massive hole punched through her body. Red and gore spilled out.
The huntsman's cruel laughter echoed through the ballroom as Chastity sobbed behind me. My blood ran cold as he flicked his gaze toward Sister Martha Ruth. The Nun-Maid stood resolute while terror flogged my heart.
Tears burned my eyes. Tabitha? Deidre? Their bodies lay still, blood soaking their uniforms.
***
Lance Hayward
I knelt on the bed between my newest Daughter-Maid's thighs. I was about to deflower her, but Asuka had burst in claiming there was a problem. Signs that something bad was about to happen. Now the manor shook. A horn resounded.
Cali appeared behind Asuka and shoved the Japanese maid to the side. Such anger blazed in Cali's purple eyes. She shook with fury, her fingers twisted almost into claws as she glared at me. My blood ran cold.
"The Huntsman has breached the Hay and entered our world where you went through to the Otherworld!" she snarled. "He used the weakness you left in the Hay, and now he's in the manor house, Master!"
"Shit!" I gasped and sprang off the bed. I had no idea who the Huntsman was, but my heart pounded. "The Ballroom!"
"Oh, no," Mom gasped as she and Chantelle were both scrambling off the bed with me.
Cali stepped aside as I rushed out of the hallway, a golden lance forming in my hands.
"AWAKE!" I roared. "The manor is under attack! AWAKE!"
Doors opened. Sleeping maids spilled out naked, wearing only their garters as I burst into a run. Mom, Chantelle, and Asuka were on my heels. Ms. Docea appeared before me, her breasts heaving. The wind swirled around her as she fell in behind me.
Fear washed through me. Bella was on patrol tonight, and... the Seductress was gone. She wasn't in the corner of the living room being watched over by anyone.
Another wave of cold washed through me as I ran to the exit. I burst out into the hallways, more doors open here, and more maids spilling out looking confused.
At the far end of the hallway, I spotted my aunt with Rashimi and the Seductress heading down the stairs.
I chased them, racing as fast as I could. Awful laughter echoed through the air as I reached the stairs.
"What is it?" Kylie asked, my sister rushing up to my side. "Why is he laughing."
"In triumph," Cali said, keeping pace with us, her voice as cold as the Arctic Circle. "Tabitha is dead." She held out her hand and a white garter appeared in it. A moment later, an orange one joined it, dangling from her fingers. "As is Deidre."
"No!" Kylie screamed. She grabbed the banister and clutched at it, swaying. Tabitha, her best friend. I wanted to grab my sister, to hug her, but terror clawed at me.
Bella was patrolling with Tabitha and Deidre. My Maid-Wife was in danger.
I flew down the stairs, my long legs stretching out before me. I hit the first floor and ran down the hallway to the west wing. The laughter grew louder. My long stride closed the gap with Aunt Nancy, Rashimi, and the Seductress.
"Master," purred the Demon-Maid, her eyes black pools gleaming with eagerness.
I passed them, my golden lance before me. The Imprisoned in the paintings I charged past chortled. Their canvas writhed. They felt the weakness. The enemy had breached my home and killed my servants.
A challenge that had to be answered.
Hoofs drummed ahead. A horn blew loud and shrill. A horrible crash, metal slamming into stone, echoed. I exploded into the ballroom to find an antlered man riding on a white horse. He wheeled away from my Maid-Wife. She had my Daughter-Maid and Sister Martha Ruth behind her, shielding them. Sweat spilled down Bella's face.
And tears.
Tabitha and Deidre lay dead in pools of blood. My maids. My lovers. I slowed to a stop as I surveyed the enemy. He wheeled around and spotted me. Such joy gleamed in his inhuman face. It was so close to that of a man's, but the angles were wrong in subtle ways. Almost real, like bad CGI. He smiled, teeth filed to points. He pointed his spear at me.
I realized what was wrong with his face. It looked to be carved from a pale wood.
"There you are!" roared the Huntsman. "I will avenge my honor and my Queen's!"
The Seductress laughed behind me, cold and wild. "The Cuckolded Huntsman. How droll to find you here!"
"Quiet, serpent!" roared the Huntsman. He charged me. I raised my golden lance, fury beating in my heart.
He killed Tabitha and Deidre. He murdered my maids.
*********_***********
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