Ramblings of the Mad Woman
by S Vallace
~*~
Act One
Damned to Darkness
~*~
Chapter One
Harbingers of Evil
~RMW~
Blackstone Castle, Sunset, 677, 25th, October
Sidonia takes Wrath’s arm with a delighted smile. He is tall, blond, and heavily muscled, as he looks over and down at her. Blood Wrath’s grin is a bit wicked as he escorts her on the quiet darkening streets. She looks at him with the mysterious feelings of first love. The Oracle points, “Wrath, this is the cottage I saw in my vision.” They cautiously turn, going toward the small darkened home.
Blood Wrath asks, “My Queen, is it safe for you to enter?” Sidonia gives him a light laugh and a smile. Becoming serious, she replies, “I think so. I fear we shall only find the victim who he killed during the day. My luck at getting a vision to see where he is will be better once we are inside.” Quietly, he enters the dark home, and Sidonia silently comes in behind him, then moves to his left.
Getting a vision, she warns him, “Dagger on your right!” The killer throws his dagger at Wrath. Blood Wrath dodges it, and swings his sword, removing the man’s head. Wrath moves faster than Sidonia can anticipate; the knife flies past Blood Wrath. Seeing she’s in its path, she gasps, “No.” It impales Sidonia in her abdomen. Wrath turns and watches the killer’s head as it rolls toward Sidonia.
Just then her delayed and involuntary scream from the sharp pain hits. Sidonia stares down, in shocked horror, at the hilt of the killer’s dagger. She knows she is dying as her legs give out and the Oracle slumps to the floor. Sidonia’s dream-vision of her death premonition is interrupted, as she hears Kolo’s sinister voice, he commands, “Bring me the book you promised to give me, now!”
Fifteen-year-old Princess Sidonia Vlasac gasps with fear and foreboding, trying to wake herself. Grekan’s knock on the Oracle’s door, brings Sidonia out of her ominous dream-vision, and the demanding request. The Oracle fears the last was a command; yet, prefers to believe it is just a nightmare. The Princess hurries to put on her cloak, grabs her school book bag, and rushes to her door.
Her father’s clerk, Grekan smirks, “Since you did not come to get me, I thought you came to your senses, and decided not to go to him.” The dark girl ignores his remark. Descending the stairs Sidonia is relieved that her father does not stop her as she passes his office. In the main hall, her younger brother rushes by. She asks, “Is something wrong?” Viktor yells, “I cannot stop, Nusia is mad.”
Sidonia sighs, “What is it now?” Yet, after his nanny rushes by, the Princess grins, as the lower part of Nusia’s face has an ash beard. Leaving the Castle, she tells her friend, “I fear Viktor’s pranks will cause him some real trouble if he is not-.” Grekan cuts in, “Tis harmless jokes. I enjoy it when the Prince plays them on me.” They approach the iron Front Gate, it has a decorative copper coat of arms.
The Vampire Night Guards’ uniforms are dark gray with black trim. The Human Day Guards’ uniforms are medium gray with navy trim; all have Anthony’s Strigois coat of arms on them. The coat of arms is a light gray shield with three black bats, which are creating Anthony Vlasac’s initials. A full moon is in the upper right and blue Wolfsbane is in the lower left corner.
Seeing Sidonia, Night Captain Tik’s mist comes into his eyes, it hides the brown color, making them a dark blue. Instead of a slight light blue skin tone about his eyes and hollows of his cheeks, Tik’s is navy. Tik longs for Sidonia’s intoxicating gaze, it hurts that it seems she fails to see him the way he desires her to. The Captain hopes she felt his absence, and wants her to say she missed him.
Tik thinks, ‘She will smile at me tonight.’ Tik’s feelings cause a partial phase, as the veins about his eyes darken revealing them through his skin, and his canine fangs slightly descend. The vampires have a bluish skin tone, usually it is only a slight difference from the humans, and not noticeable to most. A fifth of the night guards are preparing to go with the King into the Mystical Realm.
The Captains replace the missing guards by paying the Human Day Guards extra to work an additional half-shift for them. They schedule the Humans for part of the first or last half of the night shift, some already look tired. Quietly, Grekan smirks, “Hmm, Tik’s back from Wolf Mountain. He appears even more dead than usual.” The Princess stiffens, not wishing to recall Tik’s behavior.
Grekan whispers, “Tik, still has a severe look and offensive manner.” Sidonia is wording her intended break up, so she only nods, and does not bother to look at Captain Tik. For Sidonia, even eye contact with anyone can cause her to hear, see, and feel others’ thoughts. The Princess looks at the gate, Tik feels ignored; he warns, “Return from the bookshop before the Witching Hour.”
The Human Guards, Grunt and Whitey chuckle at his taunt. Tik harshly adds, “Beware, all sorts of evil hunts after Midnight!” Sidonia’s ethereal green eyes hold a wicked glint, as she scoffs, “Midnight is perfect for a Witch to be flying.” The guards cringe. Even though she glares at him, Tik grins, ‘It worked!’ Her eyes dart to the white-haired guard, who is laughing; Tik feels cheated.
Tik wants a smile or a kind word, from the Princess, yet is denied. The Captain muses, ‘Still, she sees me, and cannot deny I exist.’ Then he grins thinking, ‘Nor escape me.’ Tik watches her go. The encounter feels too brief. He tries to assure himself he is in control of his desire for her, by hissing, “Then why are you walking, Half Blood?” His offense fails; she does not bother to turn around.
While the Princess chooses to ignore his insults, her friend does not. Grekan’s short light brown hair flutters as he huffs up at Tik, “Do you expect me to lie to the King?” Looking for him, Tik’s fangs retract, veins recede, and mist dispels; quietly, Captain Tik replies, “I said nothing of High Lord Anthony!” Grekan takes a taller and wider stance, glaring up at Tik, ignoring his fears he states, “I work long hours with King Anthony Vlasac.” The guards nod.
The frail Clerk adds, “Often the King asks how others are treating his daughter. I will not lie to your High Lord, not for anyone. Also, you never know when he might ask me about any of you. Besides, it is only sunset, as the Princess said, she rides at midnight.” Sidonia muffles her snicker. Uneasy, Todd and Thomas stare at her. The dark girl senses it, her eyes dart over to theirs. It causes the guards to freeze and they feel petrified under her gaze.
Sidonia’s head slowly turns to face the guards, causing their horrified gasps. Her ethereal green eyes thrill and frighten them, as if they issue a dare. She looks away, releasing them, so they can open the gate. Fear makes them glance back, as she nears. Sidonia’s eyes dart to theirs again, glaring darkly; it makes them jump. Grekan sees, softly chuckling, “You are wicked.” She shrugs, yet has a slight grin. They walk down the tree-lined path, toward the quaint village.
Tik watches the two leave, his veins darken again as he sneers, to hide his lust for her, “She is becoming worse than her deranged mother.” Grunt gives a snorting laugh. Nodding, Whitey replies, “That is saying a lot.” Afraid of her, as they quickly close the gate; Thomas says, “I hate the idea of anyone hearing my thoughts.” Todd agrees, “Tis hard to believe, and very creepy if true.”
Whitey mocks them, “No worry there. Even helping each other, you two are not capable of a real thought.” Thomas huffs, “Really? Cause, we just thought you are a rotten snake.” Whitey just snickers. Tik sees Donatello heading into the Castle, and tells Whitey, “Ever since Anthony brought him here, Donatello is instantly very friendly with Princess Sidonia.” Whitey nods.
Tik is glad the Princess is young enough that she does not know the power she has over men, he adds, “She cannot spare a kind word for me, yet smiles at Donatello.” Whitey says, “Something about him, I do not care for-, he acts ah, arrogant.” Tik agrees, “Yes. Watch the gate for me, so I can find out what is happening behind my back.” Whitey accepts, “Be sure to tell me what you learn.”
As Tik’s jealousy fuels his suspicious intentions, he follows Donatello toward the large Castle. Tik becomes a slight mist so he can hide in the dark shadows, unseen by Donatello and others.
~*~
Princess Sidonia and Grekan head toward the Black Forest Village’s market area; the town is a walled-in settlement of stone structures. The buildings in the market circle the town’s stone square. These structures are a couple levels high as most of the shopkeepers live above their stores. The rest of the village has rows of cottages with cobblestone roads.
Grekan and Sidonia go over the bridge to cross Wolf Creek, a smaller stream, and reach the town’s entrance. A small river, called Black Forest Kill, is to the east and north of the village, going west into the forest. The Black Forest borders all but the south side of the settlement. The large Rhein River is to the south. A cool breeze goes by as the two walk in silence, not caring to have the vampires at the Castle’s Front Gate, overhear their conversation.
~*~
Cottage near the Woods, After Sunset, 677, 25th, October
The mysterious female enters the parlor and sees he is collapsed on the couch. The scent of opium is thick, and empty bottles of wine litter the room. She kicks his one leg that rests against the floor. He slowly opens his right eyelid, hardly focusing before closing it. She threatens, “I will not stay with you when you indulge this way.” He groans, “Go then, I do not need you.”
Mumbling he adds, “I am suffering with childhood nightmares, and it is the only thing that eases the terrors so I can sleep.” She taunts, “Oh, boohoo. I wish you never went to Asia.” He snores; she grabs a bottle off the floor tossing it, she hits the male’s gut. He re-awakens, as she asks, “Have you forgotten? She is coming here soon?” He slurs, “Oh, Sam-.” Passing out, she kicks his foot.
Coming to, he yells at her, “Leave me be.” She shouts back, “Her note sounds as if she found the bloody book you asked her to hunt for this last year! Remember the book? I braved each Old Ones home searching nearly a decade, not finding any of their books. You risk it all, so you can forget the past? Wake up, so you can care about now, and our future.” He scoffs at her warning.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Closing his eye, he hopes she leaves. Sneering, she adds, “Start by cleaning up this pigsty.” Bringing his leg up, he rolls away from her. Furious, she says, “To the grave with you. I am going, instead of staying to babysit you, or watch your back. You deserve the consequences you bring on yourself.” As she turns, assuming he did not even hear her, he gives a menacing huff, “Good riddance.”
She asks, “You dare me?” He snarls, “I do not need you, nor anyone else.” She scoffs, “One of these times, you will regret it.” He starts choking to death, she rushes to him in fear, as he dies. She cries out, then recalls he will live again in mere minutes. She hits his back, for causing her to feel abandoned and holds back a sob, as she seethes, “You selfish fool! Why do you keep doing this to me?”
Vowing over his corpse, she hisses, “I should go release your collection, and leave you to have my own life!” She glares at the disturbing sight. Seething, she adds, “That might teach you a lesson for always tempting death at my expense. I will not return to help you find them either.” Leaving the cottage, she enters the woods.
~*~
Six hundred feet from the Castle, they near the village entrance. Grekan decides they are out of the vampire guards’ earshot, so he teases, “Now you refer to yourself as a witch?” Sidonia lightly laughs, “Since I am only an Oracle, I do not feel I deserve their title. If I had their skills of flying and hexing, I might do more than just taunt Tik.” Grekan chuckles and then gasps.
The Scribe points at a few mocking crows, “Are they ‘Harbingers of Evil’, warning you of a dire event?” Sidonia quotes, “One is a spy, two a plan, three a warning; soon to be out of hand.” Grekan cringes, and then comments, “If I recall correctly, you said, an oracle is the highest level of achievement for witches.” Sidonia admits, “Yes, one of the highest. The school usually only accepts students who excel at the lower levels, which I barely passed.”
Her long hair does a strange hypnotic sway making it hard to look away, as he offers, “Still, they trained you.” With regret she says, “Yes, because I have the gift. Yet, instead of learning… I felt I was teaching that class. I really hoped the instructor was a skilled Oracle, who could show me how to use my gift as a-. Oh, well, it no longer matters, Father came for me, and it is more important that I am here for Viktor.” He says joyfully, “It has benefitted me too.
Grinning, Grekan adds, “As I now have a good friend.” He asks with worry, “Are you planning to go back to school now?” She shakes her head looking sad. He tries to cheer her up, “It worked, the Prince speaks, you brought Viktor out of his dark silence! You are also assisting your father with his meetings. It must be nice to have power.” She says to herself, “I hoped Father would be gone, maybe he will be before I get back, so I do not dread facing him.”
He asks, “Why dread him-.” Blackbirds stop the two by flying in front of them; Grekan gasps, “What is four?” She sounds unworried, “Four is a menace.” It reminds her of the dream, “I received a premonition of my death, just before we left.” Cringing, Grekan asks, “Then why would you leave the Fortress let alone go to him?” The Oracle states, “It is not happening tonight.” Their footsteps echo on the cobblestones, as the streets are empty.
Turning north, dark shadows grow around them and most shops are closing for the night. Grekan’s thoughts stun him into stopping, as he chokes, “Are you certain?” Sidonia does not reply and keeps walking. Hurrying to catch up, the Clerk asks, “How are you so calm?” Sidonia states, “I choose to believe it is a warning, not fate.” The dark girl gets a look in her eyes that he does not care for.
Grekan scoffs, “You risk too much. What if the vision and crows are ‘Harbingers of Evil’?” Sidonia teases, “Until I am at the new place, with the blond man, there is nothing that I can do. So, there is no reason to hide under my bed.” The Librarian insists, “You are the one who taught me the signs, and I believe going to Kolo is potentially deadly-!” They abruptly stop speaking as an older woman comes out of the store, taking her time to wrap up in her shawl.
The two wait for her to move from the entrance of the Black Forest Bookshop, as the elderly female expresses to herself in dismay, “Oh, worst nightmare, tis already sundown! A cursed Dark Moon too, making it harder to see my way, and the wolves will be prowling tonight.” Hearing a distant howl, Grekan sees the elderly woman is trembling with fear. He offers, “I can walk you home.”
This startles the older lady; she looks at him with distrust. Grekan adds, “We are nearing a Full Moon; the Dark Moon was over a week ago. Once the moon rises above the mountain’s peak, we will have light.” Humiliated by him pointing out her error, the Hag scoffs, “My cane will keep me safer than you can, scrawny!” She leaves in a hurry; Sidonia scolds, “No need to be rude, Jillian.”
While Grekan does not see the glow, Jillian turns to face them, and has enough magic in her blood to see the green mist in the Princess’s eyes. It frightens the elderly woman, to hear that the ominous dark girl knows her name. Jillian lifts the amulet that dangles on a long chain, thrusting it at them as she warns, “The Evil Eye protects me, and returns all evil sendings, cursing the senders threefold!” It frightens the small clerk into backing up.
Annoyed with himself, Grekan huffs, “Superstition is for the weak minded.” This further angers Jillian into making a fist with her left hand; she creates horns by lifting her pointer and pinky fingers up. She intends to spit between the horns at them but it hits her own fist. Humiliated she wipes it off, cursing, “Stay back! Vile Strigois!”
~*~
King Anthony glances out over the courtyard at the Front Gate, worrying, ‘I should have dealt with Nusia or tried to correct her attitude, before leaving. And there is a strange discomfort about the guards. I fear the captains are failing to do their jobs.’ Seeing the unanswered missives on his desk he sighs, ‘It will have to wait.’ He now notices a guard whose strong aura is brighter than the rest.
Getting an idea, he checks his Psychic Eye Cuff and then calls to him, “Donatello.” The Vampire enters the office with a respectful nod and hits his fist to his chest, standing at attention, “Yes Sire?” Anthony nods for him to close the door; then vaguely says, in a hushed tone, “While I am gone, I want you to watch over my daughter and son; I have not told them.”
The King adds, “Nor anyone else and I prefer you do not either.” Donatello frowns, “Sire?” Cryptically, Anthony sighs, “An Oracle warned that while I am away, a threat will come. If I intervene, it will be deadly for my children. I trust the Oracle and I am now trusting you. If Sidonia flees the Castle, as long as she is not taken-.” Anthony cringes, not wanting to accept it as a possibility.
The Strigoi Lord goes on, “I want you to help her, even go with her. If something happens-.” Anthony hates to even think it as he finishes, “-I trust you to get my two children to safety.” In the shadows by the King’s door, assuming his worst fears, Tik seethes, ‘As I thought. Donatello is my replacement, and Sidonia’s suitor.’
~*~
Jillian now successfully spits between her horned fingers and thrusts her gesture at them with a growling hiss. Sidonia sees Grekan is trembling with fear and tells her friend, “It is only a dark ward to protect her, against all sinister sendings.” Jillian sees her whisper, fearing it to be a hex; she curses, “Devil take any who wish me ill.”
Recklessly, the Old Crone adds, “I am aware of the bloody creatures lurking around your Castle, come any closer and I will hex you both, making you wish you were never born!” Jillian rushes off for the safety of home. Stepping back in fear, the Librarian feels shaken by the hag’s darkly odd ways; he is ready to flee.
The Clerk tries to hide his tremors, scoffing, “Credulous old crone.” Sidonia’s eyes stop glowing, as she sighs feeling some empathy, “It is fear more than anger. I frightened her by using her name. And she does have a right to be afraid of us.” However, the tips of the Dark Princess’s hair form dagger shapes, revealing that she also has defensive feelings.
Entering the bookshop, the owner greets her as she puts a coin on his counter; he takes it and nods to Sidonia. They walk through the store, out the backdoor, and quickly exit into the alleyway. Grekan asks, “Why pay him?” Princess Sidonia admits, “Once, I felt someone was watching, maybe even following me; so, I pay him to only say, ‘She just left’, if anyone asks where I went.”
They glance around at each turn and shadow, taking the side streets going toward the forest. Grekan assures himself more than her, “No one is behind us.” Prior to this, Grekan stayed in the bookshop until she returned, so these shadowy streets are unfamiliar to him. His dread of the dark surroundings makes Grekan jump at every odd shape along their unusual route.
As they turn northwest, he feels the thick forest to the north and the west are too near for his comfort. Curious, Grekan asks the dark girl, “Do you know why it is called the ‘Black’ Forest?” She cringes as it brings a grim memory, “The numerous branches block the sun’s light.” Seeking a distraction from thoughts of wolves, he asks, “If you are ending it, why bring Kolo that book?”
Sidonia responds, “I do not trust that he will agree to it being over, unless he gets what he wants, since he has not in the past.” Grekan scoffs, “Soften the blow with another book, preferably one that we have duplicates of. Wiser yet you can send him a letter, then no gift is necessary.” He looks over, and slightly down at the younger five-foot-two Princess, as they briskly walk along.
Grekan states, “I would be less interested in books, if I were with anyone like you.” Grinning, Sidonia looks over at him, her intense green eyes penetrate his, and she replies, “You will find someone when you leave here.” Discounting it as only encouragement, he asks, “If you cannot read his mind, which is suspicious, how are you certain any gift is enough?”
Sidonia bites the red lip that stands out against her pale skin saying, “It is just a feeling.” Grekan believes she means between lovers and states, “Since I have no experience with that, do tell me.” The Princess sighs, “When I had the desire for him to say something meaningful, and even when I thought he would, instead he just-.” Grekan cuts in as he shouts, “Look, tis another dark warning!”
They see it is just a black cat, as it jumps out, running before them; she chuckles with relief and at his overreaction.
~*~
Donatello agrees, “I will, Sire.” Leaving, he nods to the Trulov brothers who enter. Ormando asks, “Who wants us now?” His younger brother, Edmund blurs to get a drink, sits, and mocks, “As if it matters.” Anthony tosses him the note, Edmund reads it in a blink, the king tells Ormando, “Dark Elf, King Haldir. I am not acquainted with him, nor his kingdom.” Ormando frowns.
Edmund tosses the missive to his older brother as he smirks, “We babysit a dispute?” Anthony nods, “He was vague about their disagreement, it is with an unfamiliar Light Elf, King Bailey.” Edmund refills his cup saying, “I wish to be invited to a battle, allowing me to kill any who deserve it. It is like an itch that needs scratching every hundred years and I am quite good at it.”
Ormando rolls his eyes, and puts the missive on Anthony’s desk, as Edmund adds, “Even if it was justified, killing demons to save everyone… I did end up dreading the war.” Anthony nods at the door. Edmund raises his glass, blurs closing it, coming back to sit down in time to catch the falling cup. Ormando scoffs to Anthony, “He is unbearable since figuring that out.” Edmund toasts himself,
“To old friends who are now dust,
Pretty ladies who will cause me lust,
And the dead fools who chose to fight us.”
Edmund takes a deep drink, his brother scoffs. The Trulov brothers are very similar in features and size, with golden brown hair and eyes. They are six inches shorter than Anthony, yet five inches taller than the average male. Similar to their friend Anthony, they are muscular, but not equal to his bulk. Edmund mocks Ormando, “You are just jealous, because I still know how to laugh.”
Edmund wears his hair long; to the middle of his back and often tied. He has nasty scars, three long claw marks coming down one side of his jaw onto his throat, and down his left arm to his hand. Ormando’s scars are similar, claw marks on his temple going into his hair, across the left side of his head. Ormando lets his hair hang at his shoulders, hiding his scars, by parting his hair on the right side.
He prefers not showing his souvenirs from the war; while Edmund treats his scars as a badge of honor and survival. They and Anthony have more scars on their chests and backs. In a stern tone, Anthony says, “Sidonia told me that we are dealing with a young couple, while attracted, it is not love. Being from two different Elf kingdoms it is not ideal.” Anthony groans, “Her father is claiming rape to get coin, even though it appears to have been consensual.”
Anthony sighs, “Even if the kings are acting like spoiled children, we must take this seriously. Haldir can demand the Prince’s execution. I do not care to be involved, yet cannot refuse them. I was cautioned about this event, and the potentially deadly outcome if I fail to assist them. I prefer working with the other Dark Elves; the Dragon Lords or Unicorn Masters have both earn my respect.”
~*~
Grekan hides his embarrassment and fright at the cat, by asking, “You were saying?” Sidonia tosses her long raven black hair back from her oval face, “Instead of Kolo saying something nice, he just asks, ‘have you found the book yet’ and ‘where else can it be?’ Trust me; he wants the book… more than me. I broke it off six months ago. Days later he threatened to kill himself, if I stop seeing him-.” The Clerk cuts in, “Good, let him! Good Riddance I say.”
Sidonia has a slight laugh, “You are sinful. However, I do wish I were braver. Each time since, when I try to leave, Kolo manages to cause me enough guilt that I do not end it with him. I need to look in his eyes, and say what I think. Nevertheless, I suspect he will accept the book and let me go this time.” Grekan hisses, “That kind of control it sounds-.” She looks at him with a cringe.
Seeing her expression, he softens his tone, “-it sounds too similar to if he were compelling you.” She shudders, “Only Blood Magic can overpower my Oracle and Dhampirica bloodlines.”
~SV~