RMW
Act Four
Protection
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There is Life
~SV~
Satan’s Spit Clan, Noon, 677, 28th, October
The three women watch, as Jonathon staggers toward his wagon. Endora sighs, “Myrtle has got to get past her pride, accept our help, and tell us before leaving for work.” Hazel agrees, “She cannot keep thinkin’ that waster husband cares enough to be responsible for the wee boy, not even enough to say he is leaving!” Zara sighs, “Myrtle believes Jon’s promise to change this time.” Endora nods, “Few are willing to see their own faults.”
Hazel mocks, “Fewer will work to do better. He has proven to be unwilling.” As Jon steps into his wagon, fear chokes him when he sees his son is no longer napping. Charles is not playing with his toys either. Jon kicks them out of the way as he rushes out toward the camp’s fire, accusing the women, “Which one of you has Charles?” The three ladies look up from their chores, glaring at him with annoyance, as each shakes their head.
Endora scolds, “Who do you think you are? Do not be accusing any of us.” Hazel sneers, “Tis the third time he has wandered off, cause ya were not in camp to watch him!” Endora scoffs, “Where were you, let me guess, up to no good?” Hazel sneers, “Spendin’ yer wife’s coin ta buy ale, from the looks of ya.” Endora adds, “Worst is that you did not even warn us you were leaving Charles! It would take but a minute to knock on a door.”
Zara frowns, “I have not seen him, is he just playing by your wagon?” Jon shrugs, unwilling to spend his own energy to look any further for his son. Hazel mocks, “Tis what ya get for pullin’ the wagon over there. Claimin’ the smoke of the fire was botherin’ ya, when we all know it is so ya can sneak off without us seein’ ya go. Tis reckless to risk yer boy that way.” Hazel spits between her horned fingers; Jon gasps in horror as it lands at his feet.
Hazel curses him, “These consequences be on yer head! The boy does not deserve ta pay for yer dirty doin’s! Do not be tryin’ ta blame us either!” He backs up to a bench and sits, acting helpless. Zara agrees, “You really are a no-good father and husband. Poor Myrtle has warned you too many times!” Finishing the one she is working on, Zara jogs to the wagon, calling, “Charles?” She re-checks inside, then outside then goes into the woods, “Charles!”
Jon growls at the women, “Yell at me, all you want, after you tell me where Charles is! Your nagging is why I am off over there. I just want you all to keep your nose out of my business, unless I am asking for help.” Endora scolds, “We would tell you if we have Charles here!” He does not want to believe them as he pleads, “I admit I am a bit of a louse, for sneaking a drink! Just do not kill me with worry, trying to teach me a lesson, it will not work.”
Endora huffs, “As if you care or choose to do better. We would have stopped him from wandering off, if we saw Charles.” Coming nearer, Zara says, “I cannot find him by his wagon. I am checking our woods near camp!” Jon whines, “You are lucky, you do not have the terrors I suffer with. You cannot understand the horrors I endure every stinking day. I do not know why they come to me. Beatrix was bothering me again, as if I can help any of them.”
Jon whimpers. “Drinking is the only thing that makes the ghosts leave me be, I came right back. I hate being haunted all the time.” Zara runs swiftly through the nearest woods around the rest of the camp calling, “Charles?” Endora finishes a candle, and now sits in the dirt, saying, “While I have empathy, it does not excuse you, never telling us when you are leaving your son alone! I will try to see Charles.” Endora’s light green mist and runes come about her.
Closing her eyes, Endora grabs handfuls of earth and hums; trying to block out Zara’s calls, Hazel’s scolding, and Jon’s moans. He sobs, “Myrtle will leave me for sure this time. Will you promise not to tell her?” Hazel scoffs, “I am not lyin’ for ya.” Endora’s head is thrown back, taking her in a vision. She screams, “Charles is lying on the ground.” Zara runs to Endora, with a chill of foreboding for the young boy. Endora gasps, “I think Charles fell down a ravine!”
Endora says, He is not moving. I believe he is-, yet I am not certain he is-, oh I hope he is still alive.” Jonathon takes his anger for himself, out on her, as he grabs Endora up from the dirt. Jon shakes her roughly, he demands, “Tell me where he is! Which way do I go?” Endora’s eyes go wide in anger and fear as she shoves Jon away, stating, “Get your hands off me! How dare you? You can go to the Dark Realm! You just caused me to lose hold of the vision!”
Jon yells back, “How was I to know, I do not have visions!” Endora shakes her head, “It is never your place to touch me!” He scoffs, “You are fine. Just tell me which way to go?” She glares, “Thanks to you, I had not learned Charles’s direction, yet!” Hazel drops her unfinished candle. Running off, Jon sobs, “But, how do I find him? Oh, Myrtle will kill me!” Hazel, Zara, and Endora sit in a circle holding hands, working together, to see where the boy went.
Each fog is different as their mist and runes come; Zara’s is brightest as her head goes back, she gasps, “Odd, my vision is of a girl; she has pale white skin, green eyes, black hair, and is riding on a Ferry.” Hazel’s is a faint moss shade, as her head goes back, she is dizzy, and groans with effort. Endora’s head goes back, her mist is lightest; yet her vision is not of Charles, either. Swaying, Hazel sees the girl too, “She is frightened, runnin’ from a Vampire?”
Endora gasps, “She is a very powerful Oracle! Her gift is stronger than ours; she can walk, rather than having to sit to have it!” Zara sees herself on the Ferry, “I sense I help the Oracle.” Endora’s vision ends, “I saw her at our town’s pier. I did not see much of the place where Charles is.” Hazel says, “Still, you told us he needs help.” Zara nods, “I did not even see him, only the Oracle.” Hazel agrees, “There is a reason we saw her instead, clearly we need her.”
They hear that Jonathon’s screams are further away, as he runs off into the forest, “Charles! Charles, where are you? Where is the stupid ravine?” Olive is carrying wreaths and garland out of her wagon, “I finished our Samhain decorations. Did I hear that Charles is missing again?” They nod; she swears, “Bet it was worthless Jon’s fault, as usual!” They nod, and Olive states, “Get the men; we need everyone searching the woods, we must find Charles before dark!”
Endora says, “It is wiser to find the right direction first. The Oracle we saw will be at the wharf soon, it is a short stop for the ferry; we must get there before she can leave!” Hazel agrees, adding, “It twas freezin’ last night and colder today, we must find him fast.” Groaning Olive offers, “I will start gathering torches and food for those who search.” Zara states, “I am fastest. I will run for the men.” She grabs her cloak running into the forest to where most of the clan is out logging trees, rather than taking a horse around to the wagon trail. Zara wonders how she is to help this dark girl.
~*~
Old Oak Tavern’s Pier, Afternoon, 28th, October
Sidonia now receives a dream-vision of the Satan’s Spit Ramblers; Beatrix pleads with Jonathon, “I need you to get Clay to confess to my William’s murder, in front of witnesses.” Jon ignores her as he goes to the pot over the fire.” Following, Beatrix cries, “Or you can find some evidence of Clay’s guilt and tell the Sheriff. You can make him do what he should, by executing Clay!”
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Jon sits and eats as he hums loudly and talks to himself, all in an attempt to block her out. She screeches into his face, causing Jonathon to jump and spill his bowl. Beatrix smirks, “I knew you could hear me!” Jon swallows a sob of fear, “Why do you keep bothering me? Leave me alone! I cannot do anything for you.” She screams, “You have not even tried!” Blindly, Jon runs for town.
Beatrix turns hearing a child, “Pa?” The boy toddles to her, “Where is my pa?” The Shade grins, “You can see me?” The boy nods, Beatrix says, “Your pa is not as brave as you, he ran away.” The boy frowns and Beatrix leaves unaware he is following her. In the forest, Charles calls to her, “See, this is my horse.” As Beatrix turns to the boy, he is lifting his carved toy to show it to her.
Getting an idea, the Shade smiles darkly, saying to Charles, “I have a horse, small enough for you to ride.” Dropping his toy he rushes to her, asking, “Can I see?” Beatrix nods, “Follow me.” She goes slower now as she leads him away. Charles follows Beatrix deep into the woods, her mist darkens. The Ferry hits against the wharf, waking Sidonia; she sees the Ferryman is docking his Ferry.
The Oracle recalls the dream-vision of Lola with Beatrix, so she guesses Satan’s Spit Camp is east, near the Black Forest, yet she does not know where. She feels guilt about not watching Krist with Leticia, to learn their problem too. The dark girl has met Leticia before; she is married to the Vampire leader Nicolas, of Lake Bled. It is in the opposite direction, likely weeks east of Blackstone Castle.
Still, the Oracle believes she is shown things for a reason.
Sidonia wonders if Fate had tried to show her that she needed to go to Lake Bled. Charles’s situation is tragic; causing her to worry for Viktor. The Dark Princess feels guilt for leaving her brother, but recalling the danger of Kolo’s two men on horses, she feels Fate would have shown her if it was safe to bring him. Yet, if she did, it would hurt her Father, for both of them to be gone for a year.
She trusts that her gift would show if it was not safe to leave Viktor behind. Sighing, the Oracle looks to the wharf; seeing no one suspicious, she tries to relax. The Ferryman informs all, “This is Old Oak Tavern’s Wharf. Next stop will be in about an hour, at the Hangman’s Haunt Pier. Those of you getting off, please hurry back, you do not want me leaving without you!” Sidonia walks with the Ferryman, asking, “Do you know where the Satan’s Spit Forest is?”
The Ferryman laughs, “No, never heard of it.” The Oracle’s mind hurts; once inside it helps to splash cool water against her face. She asks the barman, “Have you heard of the Satan’s Spit Forest?” He mocks, “No, do not want to hear of it either!” As she leaves the Old Oak Tavern, a male harshly yanks Sidonia back against the outer wall. The bald man holds her right arm tight enough to leave bruises.
As Sidonia faces him, she sees it is Kolo’s skinny man from the previous pier. He pulls her hood off, seeing her pale white face, green eyes, and black hair, he says, “Yip, ya look like the one. Ya are a pretty thing. I saw ya talking ta the barman, and said to meself, ‘bet that is her’!” She groans, “I try to help, and this is my thanks?” He grins, “Oh, ya just helped me, with a big reward for finding ya!”
He adds, “We will be paid well enough not to have to work for a year.” The Princess demands, “Let go of me!” He chuckles, viciously whispering, “I am Weasel. Behave and I will not need to hurt you!” Sidonia thinks his whisper means she can scream and get help. Then she glances in the window seeing Kolo’s big man at the bar and fears calling out will only bring him. The Princess knows she must try to save herself and focuses on her left bracelet.
The dark girl causes the claws to extend out of her Panther Bracelet. Sidonia slashes the arm that holds her with the panther’s claws on her left hand. Letting go, Weasel cries out falling back against the wall, looking ready to pass out. Putting the claws of her Panther Bracelet to his throat, the Dark Princess glares into his eyes, hissing, “You do not remember seeing me!” His mouth falls open and he appears to be dazed. Her eyes glow a brilliant mystical blue.
Sidonia sees, as her bright blue mist and runes come around her, she tries harder, “You only recall hurting yourself when you fell. The thought of touching me will make you retch!” Sidonia now runs for the wharf. The dark girl feels the claws retract into her Panther Bracelet. She is thrilled that the claws worked, protecting her from him, and hopes he is not following her. Sidonia is glad that her Dhampirica side came, she feels it helped her get away.
Yet, she did not know that her eyes glowed blue as well; rather than the usual green mist of her Oracle side, which others often say her eyes glow with. Her terror intensifies as she feels near fainting, and runs faster for safety. Getting quickly onto the Ferry, Sidonia turns to see if Weasel is following her, no one is coming. She is glad for the bracelet’s power and that her father had told her how to work it. The dark girl fears falling as she rushes to her seat.
Pulling her hood further forward, and cloak around her, she lays down as the dizzy weakness takes over, she understands why. Her father warned her that using her Dhampirica ability the first few times could cause her to faint. She looks to the Dragon, it nods; she hopes it means it can save her. All goes black as the Oracle passes out, taking her into a dream-vision when she learned of the Panther Bracelet’s abilities. Showing it to her, Anthony gives her a sad smile.
Her father then warns her, ‘Using the Panther’s Claws too much, an example is in a battle with over ten men, or wearing the bracelet too often will allow the panther to take over. I did not learn what that means exactly, so it is best to only wear it for rare occasions and short periods of time.’ Sidonia hugs him, “I am sorry Father.” He disappears, as she is becoming a panther.
She tries to fight it, attempting to take the bracelet off. Unable to get it off her wrist, the black fur grows, claws and fangs come. Sidonia dreams she is a panther, as she hunts for the Evil One.
~*~
The Evil One’s Catacombs, Afternoon, 677, 28th, October
Kolo imagines his victims hear him and are suffering; giving him an evil grin. The Evil One sits in his throne, facing the three. Seeing the broken coffin against the back wall, Kolo drinks as he reminisces of capturing his third victim. At first, he kept the three in wood coffins only nailing them closed. Kolo had captured the third one and brought her from Egypt, in a wood sarcophagus within a stone tomb. He found it cumbersome to remove her from both.
It was quicker for the others, as they were just in wood coffins. The sarcophagus is carved in her shape and painted in her image, so he preferred gazing at hers. Kolo no longer used her stone tomb, even though beautifully painted in her funeral scene, rise, and passage through the underworld. One evening the Egyptian had healed and woke early; strong enough she pried the nailed lid up, carelessly letting it fall to the stone floor; she tried to escape.
She had broken a bit of her painted face on the lid of her sarcophagus. Luckily, she did not know how to open the hidden door, and Kolo arrived before Nepathi figured out how to get out of the catacombs. The Evil One quickly broke Nepathi’s neck and then he placed her in her stone tomb. He kept Nepathi’s original coffin with one eye broken. Even damaged, it was too beautiful to discard. He then switched the other two into stone tombs, as well.
The Egyptian’s stone tomb was so entertaining, Kolo decided to paint images on the two tombs, and did it for the two later victims also. A trio of cries snaps Kolo Skotadi out of reminiscing about his darkly sweet memories. He has a sinister grin at the waking pains of his three victims that now echo around his catacombs, giving him a ghoulish laugh. He glories in their rise and toasts himself for being successful, yet again. Kolo then giggles, “And ‘There is Life’!”
~*~
Sidonia has a dream-vision of Lola when thrown from Kolo, as he attempts to go through the garden gate. The Oracle sees what the Shade experiences, as Lola hits the water. Instantly submerged, she reverts to a nine-year-old girl. It is a frightening feeling, to watch a child near Viktor’s age, fighting to reach the surface, as she chokes and is drowning. Lola’s Death Echoes come in flashes.
The Princess is horrified to watch, as children push and taunt Lola. A girl hits Lola in the back of the head, and the rest lift her, throwing her into the dark hole with water at the bottom. Dazed and fearful, Lola hears them chasing her brother. Lola fights to stay conscious and above the water. She is drowning, and nearly ready to give up. Just then, Kolo lifts her face out of the water, he is taller, keeping her afloat. Sidonia’s dream-vision is now interrupted.
The Dragon’s head taps her hand, as he speaks to her within her mind, he warns the dark girl, “Rise now Princess Sidonia, there are two who are approaching you.” The young Oracle quickly wakes to the Dragon’s warning. Sitting up, Sidonia still feels breathless as if she had been drowning and senses that is how Lola died. She feels some sympathy for Lola. The Princess tries to shake off the horrid feeling of fighting for air, and her dream of becoming a panther.
The dark girl wonders if Fate is telling her to use the bracelet, becoming a panther, to kill Kolo. Yet, her father warned against it for she would not be able to come back from being a panther; she rejects this idea. Sidonia sees that she is alone on the Ferry, and realizes the Ferryman must have taken the other passengers to the inn. The dark girl now senses the two who are nearing the wharf.
Turning to the pier, Princess Sidonia feels that these two hooded adults are indeed seeking her, and she gets a rush of fear. Standing to defend herself, the Dragon Bracelet becomes a sword in Sidonia’s hand. Glad for a weapon, the Dark Princess brings the Dragon’s Blade up, as the two step onto the Ferry.
~RMW~