Darkness hung thick in a cellar. Musty air and the smell of blood filled the space. Blood flowed down a man’s chest, dripping onto the stone table. He wriggled against his tight bonds and looked at the wooden ceiling. Gods, please. Please, help me. Gods? Anyone?

“Hold still. This is delicate work,” a woman whispered, placing a knife against his chest. It glowed, and she sliced.

He spasmed, thrashing against the tight bonds. Pain and stranger still, hunger rippled through his form. Please, gods, don’t let this happen.

With tears leaking from his eyes, he felt magic slam into him. Pain ripped through him, and a scream ripped from his throat. Gods, just let me die!

~~~

A chill rippled across Riley’s back. The quiet village remained uninteresting, and her armor remained warm. She bumped into the girl next to her. “Nicole? Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” Nicole asked, turning.

Riley frowned and searched, trying to figure out the source. She looked at the setting sun and felt an icy cold ripple through her again. Focusing on the feeling, she felt hunger. It surged through her mind in a ravenous fury. Is that a wraith? Or is someone making one? Horror rippled through her.

No. Gods, no. Running down the snowy street, she shot toward the south gate, darting through the soldiers while Nicole chased after her.

Ignoring everyone and everything, Riley shot to the wall and flickered through it, appearing outside. Like an arrow from a bow, she remained tethered to the distant location. Agony joined the hunger.

With the pain vibrating through her, she ran while a half dozen chased after her.

“Riley!” Nicole barked. “What is it?”

The primal hunger licked through Riley’s mind. “Someone’s making undead,” she said and ran, bounding through the woods like a dog locked on a scent.

“Where?” Ivan barked.

Riley leapt, soaring over a brook. “Ahead.”

“Let us handle it,” Roger shouted and ran next to her. “Take a deep breath, Riley.”

Riley shook her head and vaulted over roots, her heart drumming through her chest. She embraced it for what it was. A call to war that couldn’t be refused. She was jerked from her feet and looked up at Ivan. “Hey!”

“Riley! We can’t take on a horde of undead.”

“They’re making them,” Riley snarled. “Someone is sacrificing people.” She pointed. “I’m not letting that happen.”

Ivan grimaced. “Let me gather a few rangers with fire affinity.” He looked at her sternly.

Riley focused on the tether and nodded. “Hurry. I don’t know how long I’ll have the connection.”

Ivan set her down and bolted, sending snow flying as he shot out of view.

Riley blinked. Gods, he’s fast. Leaning against the tree, she leaned there and flushed as an angry man walked up.

“No running off and getting hurt,” Roger said sternly. He sighed. “I took care of the duchess and will add the king to the list. If we can fracture things, we can take it quickly.”

“I like that option.” Riley nodded. She blushed. “Sorry for running off.”

Nicole pulled her into a hug and leaned toward her ear. “Just talk next time.”

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Riley’s cheeks burned. “Sorry, but I can feel it. They’re reaching out. It’s like an ache in your stomach that they can’t sate. I don’t think they have long.”

“Condemnation,” Roger cursed. “Where?”

“Straight that way.” Riley pointed, and he shot away, blitzing through the trees. The remaining rangers followed, sprinting after him.

Sighing loudly, Riley looked at the only remaining person. “You can go too, Nicole.”

Nicole smiled and shook her head. She walked over and leaned against Riley. “Nope. You’re stuck with me.” She smirked.

Riley blushed and fidgeted. A wave of pain hit her mind, and she turned her attention back to the connection. Come on, Ivan. We can’t wait. She focused on the connection. Pain and hunger rippled through it. What are they doing to these people? The desire to run grew and grew. “Hold on. Please, just hold on.” She willed the thought to the distant voice, and two arms wrapped around her.

“It’ll be okay, Riley,” Nicole whispered. “Come back.”

Riley’s eyes snapped open. “They’re in so much pain. I don’t understand it.” Hearing snow crunch, she spun and saw Ivan. “Now?”

“Yes.”

Riley turned and sprinted, racing through the forest. Her hair fluttered behind her, and the sun hit the horizon. With the act came a surge of hunger and pain.

Growling, Riley ran, sprinting toward the source of pain.

~~~

Hold on. The words passed through his mind like the first rays of the morning sun. Jason heard the sobs of people around him. The ringing words lingered. Please, just hold on. He felt blood leaking from his body. A cold energy filled him, sending a wave of hunger mingling with the pain.

The smell of nearby blood suddenly felt appealing. He growled.

“Good, good. This one is nearly ready,” a female voice said.

Jason struggled to process the words. He felt the cold sink further and further. His body seemed to become more far away. Am I dying? Horror rippled through him as the realization hit. “Please, please. Whoever you are, help me.”

~~~

Riley’s legs burned. Her lungs ached, and she hardly felt it. Sprinting across a meadow, she churned snow, sending it spewing behind her.

A smell and sound drifted through the air, and Riley caught sight of the rangers. Beyond them was a field of undead. They lumbered through the snow, and she jerked to a stop, horror spreading across her face.

“Beauty, how?”

With the words still echoing through her mind, Riley felt a rune form within her. She grabbed it and added a void rune. Flooding it with mana, she felt her magic ringing like a bell. Humming the discordant sound, she walked forward, letting the magic surge.

Undead turned, and Riley gestured. Purple magic lit the area, rolling through it like a wall of fog. Corpses dropped everywhere, and the rangers charged, shooting past her toward the village.

Chasing after them, Riley sprinted across the carnage and burned inspiration. Her two auras rolled across the village, and she burned mana, sending it slamming into the hurt villagers nearby.

~~~

Jason felt his life fading. Purple light surrounded him, and pain slammed into him like a hammer. He coughed, blood splashing from his lips.

“Void Mage,” a woman snarled.

“Finish it quickly,” another shouted.

A strange burst of healing energy filled Jason. He gasped and felt the pain lessen. Is it her? Am I alive? He coughed, spraying out more blood. “Please, they’re still here.”

A wave of black energy hit, sending a wave of pain through him. He screamed, and his vision went dark.

~~~

Riley sprinted down the village streets, ignoring villagers and guards. She heard a scream and felt the connection snap.

Dread filled her. I shouldn’t have stopped. She heard a door break and watched the knights disappear into a large home. Corpses littered the grounds. Ignoring them entirely, she raced through the gate and into the home.

Dashing down the hall, she looked into the nearby rooms and felt her legs buckle. Bodies were strapped to tables. Blood dripped everywhere, and an eerie silence filled the air.

Reaching out, she tried to feel for any who were still alive. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Gods, forgive me. Guide them.

Nicole picked her up and carried her to the door. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“They’re all dead.” Dead. The word slammed into her. Innocents cut down to act as fodder for some fool war. Her heart beat through her head.

Reaching up, she wiped away the tears and looked up. Resolve flooded through her. This is just like the streets. The nobles don’t help. They use and abuse. Her anger ignited, burning through her in a storm of emotion. “You can set me down.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nicole said, a frown spreading across her face. “You look scary. Really scary.”

“I know what we have to do now,” Riley said softly. “Set me down.”

“Oh gods,” Roger said, walking out. “Did she see it?”

“She did,” Nicole said. “How many rooms?”

Roger looked at Riley. He shook his head.

Riley rolled and stood, landing on her feet. Pausing to stretch, she turned toward her father. “Never again.”

“Riley? You have that look again. Don’t do something reckless. Think.” Roger frowned.

“For the first time in a long time, I think I am.” Riley turned to the south. “The king dies tonight. Let’s go.” Running down the muddy streets, she used a short cottage to leap the wall.

Landing lightly, she ran, leaving the blood and bodies of the sacrificed behind.

Two forms fell in step with her, and she raced to the south.