Chapter Thirteen: Malice, Jamie Run 1, part 1

~Princess Suite, Palace of Venzwincourt, Floor 1~

When I woke, the world had changed. I was still in my plush bed, but the air was heavy, with ash and dust. I got up and looked for my attendants. Someone to help me dress in the ridiculous outfits expected of me. And that’s when I heard the screams.

“Are we under attack? What’s going on?” I searched the room for something light to wear in the sweltering heat, but all my clothes had disappeared. Fear flooded my mind, and I jumped back and forth, double-checking the dressers and closets. It was like I’d been robbed, so instead, I grabbed a linen sheet off my bed, the only material left in the room, and wove it around myself for modesty. Then, I moved furniture around my room and barricaded the door.

Sure, I could see if people needed help, but I was wearing a sheet for Rellum’s sake. I dropped down to the floor and plugged my ears with my fingers, trying to block out the nearly constant screaming.

The screams continued for what felt like hours, always different voices. I wondered if I would be next, so I got away from the door and searched for a weapon. There was nothing besides furniture. And then I saw my window. I had considered it a few times before. I would take a few linens from my bed, the curtains, and the posters and fashion a rope so I could climb down the castle wall and escape.

But as I looked out of the windows, I noticed something was very wrong.

The vibrant colors of the sky were replaced by a hell I never thought I would see. The grass and trees were all dead, and an inky purple haze permeated the sky as if night had come early. The sun’s rays produced little light, and a rhythmic thumping against the castle gates replaced the typical midday chirping of birds. I expected to see my beautiful city as I looked past the castle gates. Instead, I was greeted by more of the inky purple mist, as if it had consumed the city.

I stared in horror, and my mind went to Rod—his smile, the glint in his eyes as we talked. And then, another scream, this time closer, shook me from the thought.

I gulped as I finally took in all the signs and realized where I was. I was in Penance. I died. And now my soul was being judged for the crimes I did on earth. I wept, tears flowing unbidden down my cheeks. I knew I should have fought my father harder on his wasteful whims—so much opulence and greed. So much money could have gone to help people experiencing poverty. Is that why I’m here? Rod, I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.

I wanted to scream in frustration at how unfair it was that I was stuck here. I was stuck in a punishment that would never end for choices that I never even got to make.

I didn’t want to risk going out the window now, but I also couldn’t make it through without a weapon, and that's when I spotted it—the curtain rod I had taken down earlier. It was not the most powerful weapon in the world, but it had a little range. Whatever monsters were crawling around the Penance version of my palace, I needed something to keep them distant. I braced myself, hoping my toga-like dress would hold onto my body as I made my way through the palace halls. I moved the furniture aside and walked through the door.

Above my head, where it certainly hadn’t been before, was an inky black crystal. It radiated darkness, scuffing out what light the sconce next to my door held, casting the hallway into obscurity. In front of me, a parchment declared,

~Royal Hall, Palace of Venzwincourt, 3rd Level, 1st Floor.~

“What the?”

[Hello… Queen Jamie.] A dark, angry voice intoned.

I could feel the hatred linger in the air as the voice spoke.

[My name is Malice, your Death Crystal. And I will be your companion throughout your trial in Penance]

Death Crystal? Didn’t only the worst of the worst in Penance get that? Was my family’s greed really that bad?

“Alright, Malice. Your job is to guide me through this place, right? To at least help me make it to the end?”

The voice did not change tones. [Of course, I am here to assist you in whatever dark desires you request.]

He was testing me, feeling me out to see if I was as evil as my punishment required.

“All I desire is to leave this place,” I said, not expecting a response.

[This level ends at sub-basement 3. I assume you know the way?] He pulled up a map and drew a line showing the direct path down to the sub-basement. For a malevolent-sounding crystal, he sure was being helpful.

Don’t ask Jamie, don't ask Jamie, don't ask… “Why are you being so helpful? You don’t exactly sound…”

[Like I should be helping you?] The crystal laughed, and its aggressive tone hurt my ears.

[I am stuck here, the same as you. And the longer you struggle, the longer I am stuck attached to a 16-year-old. So you’d better be worthy of my time. I expect us to finish this level in less than ten runs.]

Simple enough answer, but I had been trained in Theology School by the head Rellenter about Penance. Every time Penance appeared in the Book of Blood, Life, and Death, Crystals were mentioned. Penance, while ultimately mysterious, had a few known facts from Elric's “Foundations of Penance,” which explored the nature of Penance. I knew better than just taking the word of my Crystal.

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We knew that Life and death Crystals were of opposite attunements. Life crystals were pulled from souls of another realm’s Penance. People who needed extra chances to become whole. At the same time, the death crystals were pulled from Another’s Realm of Torment. Evil and malicious people who were forever trapped in Crystals were given one last shot at redemption. None ever earned it.

I wept as I started to accept my fate. I was not going to leave this place as I had been. I would either need to turn to the light or allow myself to turn to the darkness.

But those thoughts could wait. I shook my head. I had an eternity to ponder things, but I needed to find armor, clothes, or something other than a too-baggy sheet draped over my shoulder. Instead, I looked right and then left before making a decision. The hall was wide open, and muted gray light streamed through curtained windows, showing an empty space, which was a lot better than the one to my left, which had three ambling people wandering down it. I quickly turned right and walked away from the others.

“Malice…” I whispered, keeping my voice down for fear of alerting them. "What are those people doing? How are there people here?”

[Those aren’t people anymore. Feel free to kill them with impunity.]

I scoffed at his disregard for human life. “Alright, if they aren't people anymore, what are they?”

A parchment appeared in the air with an image of the zombie on it.

Enemy Entry 0001: Zombie Level 1 (Vezwincourt Horde)

It carries the Z-Virus, which, on contact, slowly converts humans into zombie form. Don’t get bitten!

Stat:

Level

Effect:

Health

5/5

Health is burned as fuel to keep you from dying.

Vitality

1

Adds 5 points of health per level.

Item drops

Amount

Chance to drop

Gold

1-10 coins

100%

“Zombies? Like people brought back to life by Necromancers?” I shuddered as my thoughts flashed back to my childhood tutor, Doctor Tot. His lectures on the Necromancer wars had given me nightmares for weeks.

[Most indubitably, my young queen. Exactly like that.]

I walked down the empty hallway. It was a brisk walk before the next suite, considering how my father had commandeered the biggest room on this wing, so big that the only way to enter it was from the grand hall.

I walked along wondering if I was making the wrong choice, avoiding the ‘zombies’, when I turned around. I needed to face them head-on. Everything I knew about Penance trained us to be proactive if we ever ended up there. And I had messed things up by wasting so much time in my bedroom cowering.

I ran forward, my curtain rod brandished as a weapon. I swung at the first zombie. As I did, numbers appeared above the heads of the zombies, though Malice also helpfully narrated the damage I dealt.

[You deal 3 damage. You deal 2 damage. Zombie 1 has died]

Well, that was disconcerting. The numbers got smaller as I whacked at the enemies. My second strike killed the first zombie, its head snapping back with a sickening crack as it crumpled to the ground. The other lunged at me with a guttural snarl, rotting fingers outstretched. I stumbled out of the way, my heart pounding, and struck back in desperation.

[You deal 5 damage]

I kept hacking away hard and fast, the wood splintering under the force of my blows. The third zombie reacted violently, its decayed visage twisted in rage as it launched at me. Its bony hands clamped onto my arm, and I felt the sharp pain of its teeth sinking into my flesh.

It snarled a sound that sent chills down my spine, and I had to consider the choices that had led up to this moment. How could I be here in Penance, being eaten by a zombie?

Blood trickled from the bite wound, warm and sticky, as panic surged through me. The stench of decay filled my nostrils, and the sound of my own ragged breathing drowned out everything else. I swung the curtain rod wildly, adrenaline giving me strength, and managed to knock the zombie off balance. It staggered, its grip loosening just enough for me to wrench my arm free. I retaliated quickly, swinging my weapon, over and over again. The force of the final blow must have been too much because the weapon disintegrated in my hands well before it should have.

[You deal three damage. Woohoo, you Thanos’d that one.]

I wasn’t sure if it was the pain or the virus working its way through my system, but I had no idea what he meant by that.

The zombie collapsed to dust as I recollected myself. “Hey, Malice. You said they inflict a virus? That was how you said it, right?”

[Yes, you have been infected with the Z-Virus. You have five minutes until your body succumbs. I suggest you use this time to search for a chest or crate and gather some items for your next run. They won't fade away if you leave them in your starting zone. You could also just pick up your corpse from where you die. Speaking of corpses, there are two perfectly good ones around you to loot.]

I looked at the zombies I had just killed and stared, unblinking. Above the heads of the two that hadn’t dusted were sparkling little stars radiating up into the air before dissipating. I pressed my hand against the pockets of the corpse, looking for… well, I don’t know. To be honest, I felt a bit silly.

[No. That’s not how you loot; what are you a pickpocket?]

“Fine then, how do I loot them then? Oh, fount of all knowledge.”

[Ohhh, I like the sound of that. I am a fountain of knowledge!] He cackled madly and then said, [Just kick the corpse with your foot; the items should automatically enter your inventory.]

I did so, and Malice spoke, [You have looted seven gold coins.]

“Oh wow, seven coins! I’m rich!”

[Yes, quite.] he paused for a second and then said, [Now, let's get some other treasure. I believe there is a room on our left if you would be kind.]

“What are you going to do with treasure? Why do you even care? It’s not like you have hands.”

[It's fun. I always fancied myself a pirate when I was younger.]

I just stared up. There were zombies, and I was about to die, and this crystal was fantasizing about being a pirate.

[And while I can’t precisely move arms and legs around, I imagined grand adventures on the high seas, going after the One Piece. Oh, wait. That's a manga, never mind.]

My mind raced as my heart beat furiously in my wound. Here I was dying, and this crystal-guy-whatever was rambling on about nonsense. Didn’t I just think those thoughts? What was going on? Everything felt so sluggish. And my wound ached something awful.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and recollected my thoughts. “Alright, I get it, you like treasure! Stop rambling, and we will find some.”

I walked down the hallway, stepping over the corpses of my downed foes, wondering why I even bothered to loot them. What need did I have for gold in hell?