A Warboss's Retirement Plan: Chapter 13

The Things We Do For Love

Magsnik stood over Angel's mangled form as the mighty forest of thorns burnt around them. Breathing in the ash and smoke, he watched as her charred flesh melted and sloughed off from her bones. His fire had burnt her down to the bone, yet she still breathed.

Her strangled gasp echoed in the clearing as muscle and sinew bubbled up, wrapping around her from. As vision returned to unseeing sockets, she reached up to him, whispering to him with her tongueless mouth. Whether it was mercy or something else, Magsnik cared little as he raised his maul up high.

Staring right into her eyes as they pleaded to him, he roared back as he brought his maul down hard. Bones cracked and blood splattered across the field her chest caved beneath the heavy weight of this maul. Pinned to ground, he watched as the daemon writhed, unable to pull away from his hammer. "Bitch," He spat out before his knees buckled beneath him.

Forcing himself back up to his feet, he staggered away as he clutched his head. Shaking the fog away, he plopped himself down a nearby rock and watched as the greater daemon writhe beneath his weapon. It would be a lie if he told himself that he didn't take pleasure seeing her in such pain.

As flawless skin once more wrapped around her flesh, she growled. With eyes, she screamed as she tried to push the weapon away, yet she wouldn't be able to move it an inch. "Don't bother," He taunted as his eyes burnt with the fires of his WAAAGH, "You're only wasting what little energy you have."

"T-this is not fair, this is so not fair!" She screamed as the flesh around his hammer sizzled, boiling at the immense heat of his hate for her made manifest. "T-things were going so well, everything was p-perfect!" She spat out as she clawed at the weapon, dragging bloody nails across its surface, "A-and yet you broke free!"

"How!" She howled as she cried bitter tears, "How?" As her hands fell down to her side, she laid there unmoving, eyes wide as tears kept falling. For a moment, they sat there in silence, until she spoke up once more. "Everything was perfect. The farm, our family, and your love…" She whispered wistfully before she turned to him and Beels gaze looked back at him, "Why did you leave me?"

Magsnik bared his teeth as the fires burned brighter, making her howl in pain once again, snapping her out of whatever play she had in mind. It hurts, it hurts seeing the look of pain in those he loved in her face, but he bottled it down deep inside his chest he clutched the amulet in his chest and felt their warmth.

Glaring down at her, he snapped back, "You made it a bit too perfect." It frustrated him that he fell for it, but he was glad it was finally over. He wasn't sure if he could take another minute of her temptation.

Angel's cries of pain soon turned to that of laughter as the man cackled, "Oh, I see." With her eyes devoid of warmth, a wide unnerving smile stretched across her lips as she asked, "You really love her, huh?"

Magsnik growled, fist clenched, but he held back. As tempting as it was to end her there and then, now that her form was bloodied and beaten, he wanted to know one last thing." Before I smash your pretty little face in, I just want to ask something," He asked her as he stood up, fist clenched and burning with a deep green blaze, before he marched over, "Why?"

Taking in a deep shuddering breath, she coughed, spilling blood all over her pale skin before she asked, "Isn't it obvious Magsnik?" Looking up at him with those crazed eyes, she reached up, cheeks rosy as she declared, "It's because I love you."

Clutching the haft of his hammer, she whispered, "Your heart, your soul, your everything, I want it all." With a feverish look on her face, she moaned out, "I want your love, I want your adoration, I want your worship!" Letting out a bloody grin, she arched her back as she touched the gaping wound down her chest, "This pain… you do care, don't?" She asked, giggling as she looked him in the eyes.

He stood over her, dumbfounded, as he questioned her, "All of this, all that shit that you put me through, just because you love me?" She lied, he knew she was lying, but there was something in her gaze that sent shivers of fear down his spine. That was not the look of a woman maddened by hate or malice, but that of adoration and worship. She loved him…

"Is it really that hard to believe?" She giggled as she laid down, her hands roaming her body, "That a deamon could truly love?" Tilting her head, she added, "Or do you think I'm lying. That there's no such thing as a monster that could love~?"

Scowling, spat back, "Watch your mouth." Grabbing his maul, he twisted it, shredding her tiny heart before pushing it up. As her organs were turned to mush and the weapon threatened to split her in two, he warned her, "One more word about her and it'll be the last thing you say." He had only so much patience and it was wearing thin, fast.

Angel kept smiling even as a pain groan escaped her lips. "It was silly, I thought," She chuckled as blood dribbled down her mouth, "But then you showed me your love." Closing her eyes, she whispered, "In that dream, in that beautiful dream, I finally felt what I was looking for all this time; The reason why I strive to build the most beautiful stories!" With eyes wide, she declared, "I finally felt love and it's all I ever want now."

"I now understand why so many heroes and heroines alike go to such lengths and to such madness," She raved as she pulled, pushing her body through his weapon and shattering what little remains of her body. "I can't get enough of it," She whispered as she reached up to him. Too stunned to push her back, he felt her disgusting touch against his skin.

"I love you Magsnik, I love you with all my heart," She told him with a loving tone that had his skin crawl. The love, obsession and lust from her voice mixed in one maddened declaration of love as she cupped his cheeks, "Even after you've burnt it all, the pages that I worked tirelessly to write, our children who I adored, I still love you."

Eyes wide, he saw the insanity deep inside her soul; that deep yearning infatuation that threatened to swallow him whole. "Let me love you Magnsik, let me create another story with you, let me show the love that I feel for you!" She cried as he pushed away.

As he took a step back, baring his teeth in warning, Angel pushed all the way through, leaving a trail of crimson as she staggered forward. Hugging herself, she screamed, "I love you, I love you, I love you!" Her laughter echoed out as she tore away at her own flesh, as if unable to contain herself. "I love you Magnsik so much and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you!"

"I can be your slave, your toy, your tool. I could be anything you ever want," She offered, licking her lips as she gazed up at him with hooded eyes. "I would even tell you my real name just so long as I can be with you," She breathed out as she spread her arms wide, exposing herself to him.

"Isn't this what you wanted? The love of a Slaaneshi to form your tetrarchy?" She reminded him with a titter and for a moment, Magnsik was tempted. Even now, he could feel it in his chest. As his soul burnt brightly, so did the rot ached inside his soul. Despite what she did, she offered an easy way out, a way to shackle her to him…

"And all you have to do is say yes," She answered for him before she tilted her head. "So, what'll it be, my hero?" She asked, waiting in bated breath for his words.

He could strike her down there and then. Even as she appeared whole, she felt ethereal, her form but a shadow of its former self. All it took was one strike or one word and it would be all over. Schooling his features, he asked, "Anything?

"Yes," She answered as she placed her hands over her heart, "Anything and everything."

Narrowing his eyes, he spat back, "Then fuck off." If she had offered it back then when they first met, then maybe he would have accepted, but she crossed some lines. Even if he knew her name, he knew he could never trust her.

Slowly, the confident facade she had put up started to crack as her smile fell. With eyes filled with hurt and disbelief, she croaked out, "W-what?" Desperation and longing laced her tone as she shouted back at him, "B-but you need me! You need another daemon and I'm already here for you!"

"I need a Slaaneshi Daemon," He replied evenly before his face twisted to that of disgust, "I don't need you." He wanted nothing to do with her. Even if he knew her true name, he wanted no part of her madness. She was a loose canon at best and a double edge sword at worst. He couldn't trust her, not even if he tried.

As Angel screamed and clutched at her hair in despair, he grinned, "Don't worry though, I know a few that would want a piece of you." Turning to the forest, he heard the songs of the damned and the reason he held back. Death was a far too easy way out for Angel after what she did.

Seeing her freeze up, he chuckled as he welcomed them, the Seekers of Slaanesh, "Just in time." Riding atop their sleek and cruel steeds, the mounted warriors of the Prince of Pleasure burst in through the clearing, their form almost a blur as they surrounded them.

The warhost numbered in the dozens, each armed with a wicked blade that glinted with malice and power. Their gazes were cruel as all daemonette's were, yet their movement, elegant and refined, unlike the younger daemonette's he had dealt with. It seemed that they were done playing around as the one leading the host held up her hand, making the mounted warriors come to a stop.

Leaning down on her mount and giving him quite the view, the Masque gave him a playful smile as she greeted him, "Hello Darling~" Feeling her predatory gaze land on him, Magsnik felt a shiver run up his spine as she licked her lips, before her attention shifted to Angel, "I hope we're not late for the party~"

Freezing up, the Greater Daemon took a step back before bolting, but the riders would cut her off, laughing as their barbed whips wrapped around her limbs. Crying in pain, the once proud daemon was brought to heal as the whips pulled taught while the warriors surrounded them.

With eyes wide in fear, she looked to him, begging for help, but he would ignore her as he nodded at the other daemon, "On the contrary, you're just in time," He told her before nodding towards the defeated Greater Daemon,"I believe I have someone you wanted."

"Oho? Now Isn't this a surprise," Smiling widely, the Masque purred as she approached the captive and leaned down, grabbing her by the roots of her hair. "Is the Playwright finally losing her touch?" She taunted as she pulled her up with one hand, letting the girl kick her feet uselessly in the air as her bindings were loosened.

Clawing at her captor's grip, Angel cried in pain, "No, please!" As the Masque grinned, digging her claws into her scalp and drawing blood, Magsnik saw fear in the girl's eyes. With blood soaked tears dripping down her cheeks, she begged him, reaching out to him all while trying to pull herself up the Masque's grip, "Please, Magnsik, you can't do this to me!"

As entertaining as it was, he couldn't help but grimace in disgust. Was this really the daemon that played with his mind? Stripped of her superiority, all there was left was a desperate whore fearing for her life. Cackling, the Masque threw her back on the ground, before her mount's claw feed stomped down on her back, "My, what a pathetic sight you are right now. You're heartbroken by a mere mortal~"

"Do what you want with her for all I care," He shrugged as walked over to his maul while the Daemonette's leered at him, but kept their distance. Pulling the maul, he told her, "She's not really my type."

The Masque and the rest of the daemonette's laughed as Angel despaired. "Don't worry dear," She replied, licking her lips as she gazed at the broken Keeper of Secrets in hunger, "I already have some plans for our dear little friend."

"N-no!" Angel cried as she looked up at him once more before looking up at the other Daemon. Letting out a shaky smile, she pleaded, "Please, it was just a little harmless joke!"

Her words however would fall in deaf ears as the Masque scowled. "You killed my guards and ladies in waiting just so you could have your little introduction," The woman hissed, making Angel wince and shrink back. She was a dead woman walking.

"I assume that you're still mad about it?" She whispered as she looked sheepishly up to the other daemon.

"Mad? By the six rings, no. In fact, I'm quite happy about it," The Masque replied as she hid her lips and laughed. Pulling her mount away, Angel would look up in confusion as she was helped back to her feet by the other daemonette. Her relief would soon turn to horror as she gazed down on her hand and found shackles upon them.

"You see, I was having trouble figuring out what to bring to the banquet…," The Masque trailed off before smirking cruelly at the wide eyed Angel as she quivered in fear, "Until you decided to volunteer~"

"Congratulations Angel," The Masque chuckled darkly as Angel's chains were attached to the mounts of the warhost, "You'll be the main course for our Lady's Banquet for her Niece!" With a snap of her fingers, the chains holding her down grew taut as one of the chariots started to pull away from the group.

"No!" Angel screamed as she clawed for the ground, leaving a blood trail behind the chariot's wake. "Magnsik! Please, I'll give you everything!" She shouted but her words would be drowned out by the laughter and the thundering hooves of the other seekers as they followed suit, "Noooo!" Thus ends Angel and her twisted love.

"Finally," He shook his head, watching their forms disappear into the fire before silence once more returned to the clearing. They were gone, but he wasn't alone as the Masque's slender form slipped by his sides as she unmounted, before dancing away, her form alluring as it was deadly with her blade trailing just behind her.

"So, how's the legs?" He asked as he let his maul rest by his side, ready to strike at a moment's notice. They might have had a parley earlier, but Angel was gone and they still had some bad blood between them.

The Masque chuckled light heartedly as she gave him an amused and teasing look. "Don't push your luck," She warned as she pulled her close and pressed her body against his armored form. "I'm still pissed at what you did, but I can't say I'm not impressed," She purred, tracing her blade against the contours of her armor; "It's not everyday that I find a dance partner worthy of my stage…"

As she gave him a smoldering gaze, Magsnik swallowed thickly, but refused to bite back. He already dealt with one Greater Daemon, he was not about to tangle with another one so fast. Pouting, she pulled away as she lamented, "It's just a shame though that he left me hanging."

Rolling his eyes, he shrugged, "I was in a bit of a hurry." He probably could have avoided her all together, but he got frustrated and his orkish blood got the better of him especially with what was on the line. "I really couldn't miss the party," He excused himself.

Staring up at him curiously, she paused before she smiled as her eyes found the amulet on his chest. "Now isn't this interesting," She laughed as she looked up at him with interest. Slipping back closer, she grabbed her hands before she offered, "Say, why don't I take you there?" Taken by surprise, he barely had time to process her words as she wrapped his arms around his form, "I wouldn't mind having a young strapping lad such as you as my escort~"

Feeling the phantom thrill of pleasure ran up his spine, he grimaced. "Thanks, but no thanks. I already have a date," He lightly rebuffed her as he let go before pulling away despite how warm she felt and how amazing she smelt. Small mercies from his current predicament down below, he supposed.

"A shame," She sighed dramatically before her gaze shifted back down to her amulet, "But I can see why." Biting her lips, she offered once more, tempting him as she sauntered away before gazing back, smirking at his trailing eyes, "Are you sure there isn't a place for one more?"

It was a tempting offer, but once more, he shocked his head. "I want someone who's a bit more free spirited," He told her. Despite her master's ever elusive favor having fallen to someone else, he could hear it in her voice, the longing for a love lost. She wasn't someone whose loyalty would be swayed so easily. Shrugging, he added, "Who knows, maybe I could find someone in the party."

"You can try, but that'll be a bit harder than you think,"She laughed as she covered her smile, "While a bit of rebellion is welcomed, you can't have too much of that. The Prince likes to run a tight ship," She warned him.

Nodding back and feeling already uneasy about her presence, he asked, "Can I just say that I'm surprised you're actually invited to the party?" While he was thankful that they didn't come to blows once more, he was confused, "After, well, what happened earlier."

Quirking a delicate brow at him, the Masque asked, "If an Ork decided to kick in your door and came in screaming, wouldn't you try to kill them?" Magsnik raised a finger before frowning and shaking his head. Technically, he was supposed to just pass through, but the Ork inside his head made that compelling argument of just breaking everything and dealing with the consequences afterwards.

"Fair enough," He nodded back, admitting his mistake, "I got carried away in the heat of the moment." Now that he had calmed down, he was now talking amicably with a Daemon of Slaanesh of all things.

"I'll forgive you, for now," The Masque answered before smiling, "But let me just fix one little misconception you have, my dear." Tilting her head, she asked, "Don't you think that it's a bit counter productive if we kill any intruder. My master wants more guests, not trophies unlike another god."

As she slipped back atop her month, she reached down the valley of breast and pulled out a card. "Speaking off, here's a little something for your trouble," She told him before tossing the card at him.

Catching it mid flight, Magnsik brought it close and tilted his head. It was a glossy black card with the stylized marking of Slaanesh in pink engraved upon its surface. Oddly, It smelled of roses and almonds. Turning it, he found that it was no mere calling card, but something more. "A gate pass, huh…" He whispered in surprise before looking back at her, "Thanks I guess?"

Should he be concerned that she of all people was inviting him to the Palace of Slaanesh? He wasn't one to deny an invitation like this, especially since he didn't have to sneak in anymore, but at the same time, he was worried. Shrugging, he slipped inside his armor. He'll deal with the consequences afterwards.

"Please don't kill any more daemonettes," The Masque warned him with a wry smile as she pulled her mount away, "It's already hard consoling them after your fires disfigured some and it'd be a pain to deal with more."

Snorting, he replied, "I won't make any promises, but I'll try." If someone was going to mess with him, it was simply fair play that he could mess with them as well.

"Good enough," The woman laughed as she turned around and rode away on her mount. "Now while I'd love to stay for a chat, I'm running a bit late," She excused herself as she gave him one last look, "I still have a party to catch. I hope you don't mind?"

"By all means," He replied as he watched her retreating figure, hands still clinging to his maul.

"I wish you the best of luck with your little endeavor," She waved before whipping her mount. With a bray, she stormed away, her form quickly disappearing in the inferno, "See you at the party~"

He stood there, eyes locked in where he last saw her in the fire before he let out a sigh of relief. Feeling his legs gave out under him, he finally rested his weary form. If he fought her there, he might have lost, but then again, her master did want people in. "She's alright," He whispered before he looked up at the overcast sky of the fifth ring of hell.

Feeling rain against his face, he laid down as it started pouring, putting out the fires that had threatened to burn down the thorny garden. He could taste sweet wine from the rain, but he had little appetite for such pleasures right now. For a moment, he just rested before sitting back up.

"You can come out now," He called out to the Aeldari that had been trailing all this time and protecting him, "I know you're there." He thought she was trying to kill him, but after seeing what Angel truly was, he finally understood what they were doing.

Dropping down on the ground, the masked Harlequin bowed before she replied, "And so your trial ends. Congratulations" Now that she wasn't slinking in the shadows, he finally had a good look at her. Her slender, athletic form was easy on the eyes and so was her rich, low voice to his ears.

Nodding back at him, he thanked her, "Hey, thanks for pointing the way out." Using his maul as a crutch, he hauled himself up before holding out his hands for her, "I owe you one." For what she did, he was willing to let go of that little incident earlier.

Looking down at his hands for a moment, she slowly walked over before grasping his hands. He rolled his eyes at the hesitation, but kept his mouth shut as she shook her hands. "You are one strange ork." The woman commented as he let go, "But there's no need to thank me for it is merely my part of the play." Turning around, she excused herself, "Now I must take my leave. There are yet many more roles I have to take."

Just as she was about to leave, he called out, "Before you go, I want to tell you something." She stopped, pausing before she turned just in time for his heels to slam into her stomach, pushing her down to the ground. "Fuck you, you stupid knife eared shit!" He shouted.

Wiping the mud off their helm, she stood back up as she shouted, "What the hell did you do that for you brute!" Fuming, the woman looked at her ruined clothes before she screamed at him, "I saved you!

Magsnik rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. "Helped me, sure, but saved me?" He fired back before he reminded her, "You fucking attacked me and kept shouting "Remember!" and some other bullshit." Spreading his arms wide, he shouted at her, "Do you know how fucking unhelpful that was? You might as well have spoken riddles, you asshole!"

"Did you really have to be a dick about it you shit?" He growled as he shook his head. "Ok, now we're even." Was it a dick move that he pushed her down on the ground after helping him, yes. Was it also a dick move for her to stick with her cryptic shtick? In his opinion, also yes.

"Even? Riddles!" She shouted as her voice started to crack. Grabbing a handful of mud, she slung gunk at him as she screamed, "I was speaking as plainly as I can, thick headed, glue huffing troglodyte! Are you stupid?!"

Ducking low, he dodge her shot much to her frustration."Sometimes I wish I was. At least I wouldn't have to lose more brain cells from talking to you," He fired back before sticking his tongue out. As the girl shook her fist at him, he asked, "Have you ever considered just simply saying, 'you're in a fucking dream'?"

Why the hell did she have to go the roundabout way? Seeing how she paused and looked away only made him feel even more vindicated. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "You were trying to look weren't you?"

The girl sputtered, trying to come up with a reply and failing, before she stomped down in frustration. "You know what, I'm not taking any more of this shit!" She shouted as she threw up her hands before flipping him off, "Fuck you!

"No thanks," He replied, smirking at the already frustrated Harlequin before he laughed, "I don't want to catch your stupid!" Maybe he was being mean at this point, but seeing the girl having a meltdown was far too entertaining.

"One day! One day I swear my father will stop having interest in you and you will finally pay!" She screamed back before composing himself. Wiping the mud the best she could, she straightened up, before glaring at him, "Pray that day never comes."

"Good, at least I don't have to face stupid like you ever again," He fired back, making her fire a shot at him. As he hid behind cover and laughed, he watched them retreat into the forest, cursing all the way. It was only after he was sure he was gone that he came out.

Shaking his head, he picked up whatever stuff he had scattered in his scuffle with Angel before making his way deeper in the forest. "Stupid cunt," He muttered, "Making things far more complicated than they should be."

A/N:

Finally done with this. Really sorry about that. Now, moving on to this month's winner. Hmmm... maybe a Seoul Kitchen chapter to jog up my mind? Probably not, but it is quite early in the day, so I could give it a shot.

Next time we do this, we'll be heading deep into Slaanesh Castle. Heh... I wonder how long it would take before this gets voted again.