Humanity's End
an excerpt

Bavaria, Germany - 1883

Yaelin was breathing hard as he neared the top level of Neuschwanstein Castle. Once he cleared the final step, he allowed himself a glance back down the stairs, ears attuned for indruding sounds. The echoing steps of his pursuer, reverberating off the castle's wall and ascending to his current position, found him straightaway. He allowed himself a few staggered steps, trying to calm his rapid breathing. He reached out a hand to a brass framed balustrade for support, using the back of his free hand to wipe away beads of sweat that trickled down his brow and burned his eyes. He took in a few deep breaths before he released his hold on the railing and started down an adjoining hall.
Tapestries, depicting exotic lands, hung along the white walls in short intervals, their frizzled edges hovering just above the gray and blue checkered-pattern marble floor. The ceiling was domed and a large mural of a great battle between angels and demons covered its entirety. Thick streaks of lightning flashed across the sky. It reminded Yaelin of Milton's Paradise Lose. "He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms clash'd on their sounding Shields the din of war, hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n."
Yaelin took another glance behind him to check on the progress of his pursuer. He had just made it to the top of the stairs, completely black against a white background. His robes reached to the ground, makinging it appear as if he glided across the floor rather than walked. Yaelin was sure he was one of the many bounty hunters out for his head. God only knew how many people were out for him for what he had done.
Yaelin refocused his gaze to the front. His booted feet made loud, echoing sounds as he raced down the hall. The passageway ended in a balcony that overlooked much of Bavaria. His legs were weak from all the running, and he now felt as if he was trying to wade through mud as he covered the final distance to the banister. He nearly collapsed against it, his arms supporting much of his weight. He had spent too many years surviving hardships no man should ever have had to endure, fighting ungodly creatures no one should ever have had to face. He let out a long, pitiful breath, wishing that there was someway he could be in the valley below. The sun was already sinking behind the distant mountain, its thin yellow corona diffusing with the gray sky. The descending darkness cast shadows across the valley below. It was a rugged terrain with thick clumps of trees and bushes intermingled with rock outcroppings and streams of water.
Yaelin could hear his adversary approach. His hand unconsciously gravitated towards the hilt of his blade. He kept his hand in check as he turned around to face his foe, carefully watching the shadowy figure approach. He was dressed all in black, his face partially cloaked in shadows cast by the robe's cowl. An angry scowl was all that he saw beneath it. He could almost feel his assailant's presence in the air before him. Whatever he was, he definitely wasn not human. "Perhaps a vampire," Yaelin thought, but he could not be sure. His assailant came to a stop less than a yard from him.
"So you are the traitor."