RMW
Chapter Thirteen
Ramblers' Blood Curse
~SV~
Carpathian Rambler Camp, Midnight, 677, 27th, October
Prince Rorik Tricker is having a recurring nightmare of an earlier event in March. Their clan entered the Human Realm for a gathering. Finding work, they stayed. As Rorik leaves his wagon, he pulls his long brown hair over his one faded murky green power bar, and comes to sit. A tall boy, Pole, warms his hands at the fire as he asks Tino, “Tell us of the Blood Curse.” Not seeing Nera, Tino whispers, “It started one Dark Moon, when evil is harder to see.”
Tino adds, “A man enters camp, spending coin, they ignore his dark aura. Soon he is eyeing a married female. Most are in bed, when he attacks her; her husband throws him off, but the stranger kills him. As the clan comes at him, he spat out a hex, which curses any who spills his blood, to become a werewolf.” A dark boy, Nigh groans, “Evil Witch.” Pole says, “Wife stealer.” The short boy, Stump scoffs, “Coward.” Tino smirks, “It gives them an idea.”
He adds, “The four parents and the woman he attacked cast a powerful spell, under a Dark Moon like tonight, Hexing him to be a wolf, not just on a Full Moon but always, until he dies. Later that night, the wolf returns, killing the four parents, hoping to break the Hex, but cannot find the woman. The next evening, at Midnight, the elders of the four clans, drew the wolf to camp, and boosted the Hex, so he is unable to harm any of their bloodlines.” The teenagers nod.
Tino warns, “Increasing it to a Sevenfold Curse, he lives for seven hundred years. Unless, one in the bloodline of the woman, will lift the curse. It is the Wolf’s ma, a powerful Goth, that spat out our dark Blood Curse, onto our clansmen of the four bloodlines!” Older men at the fire, give Rorik dark looks, he stands demanding, “Why give me the Evil Eye?” They look away; Rorik walks off. Nera gets a dark foreboding, and runs to the fire, as Tino adds, “If they kill-.”
Nera cuts in, “I told you not to speak of that event!” She calls to the Prince, “Stop Rorik, beware danger!” Reluctantly he halts, as Nera adds, “I sense a shadow on your tomb and this evening is the Dark Moon. You must stay in camp tonight, where I can watch over and protect you.” He rolls his dull brown eyes, at her strange way of warning him, then sees the old men, and fumes, “Tell me why the Elders give me the evil eye, every time that stupid story is told.”
Nera groans, “Ignore the ignorant fools.” Turning he huffs, “You are not my mother.” Hearing the rudeness of his words, he turns to his great aunt, “I will stay, if you tell me why they glare, as if it were about me!” Nera has a dire tone, “Samala is why, and all I will say.” He groans, “Mother? Why her?” She says, “Your anger on a Dark Moon is deadly, let it go!” He huffs, “I am twenty-three not a child you need, to save; I need, the truth! Tell me now or I go!”
She is silent, so he walks off. Nera calls to him, “I had a bad feeling about you knowing. Let me do a full reading.” He slows, as she adds, “I fear it is a sign of you triggering your ‘Ramblers’ Blood Curse’.” Rorik replies, “I would love to take you seriously; however, you have told me that for the last nine years.” Nera urges, “I can help you avoid the threat. I need my tools and just an hour of your time.” He smirks over his shoulder, “I need, better company and a drink.”
He adds, “You can do a reading after breakfast.” Nera scoffs, “Tis the curse of your bad blood; four great grandparents, two grand-parents, and your ma and pa all dead, by an evil hand. Why be so careless with your life, does it mean so little to you?” While he likes Nera well enough, it feels like the fiftieth time she has hurt him by saying this. Darkly, Rorik says, “You do not know that my mum is dead. I am going to be at the Blue Moon Tavern, near Borgo Pass.”
Nera states, “I felt Samala’s death as much as I feel this warning for you. You are risking the same bad omen of death, never listening to me.” Her green mist comes as she spits in the dirt. Nera warns, “I see a Blood Moon-.” Prince Rorik cuts in, “If you refuse to tell me the truth, why should I believe any of your warnings? As you said, it is a Dark Moon now, so it can wait!” She sits getting a vision, “The Blood Moon… will come on this October’s Wolf Moon!”
Rorik snorts, “Six months from now, so your reading can wait until morning.” He glares at the Elders as he goes; the young men are Rorik’s distant cousins; they snicker at his plight. He scoffs at them, “You would not think it as amusing, if it were about you.” They nod; Nigh calls out, “Wait, I will come with.” Pole asks, “Are you meeting your new girlfriend?” Nigh grins, until Nera states, “No one leaves camp before I learn more about this foreboding I sensed.”
Prince Rorik says, “I accept your warning. I will be careful in town.” Nigh tells Nera, “I am just going long enough to tell my girl, then I will come back.” Nera cannot get a vision, she states in a dark tone, “Do as you like, remember, I did warn you!” Stump taunts, “If you cross Nera she will cause hair to grow on your palms.” Pole adds, “You should listen to her. She gave me horns for a whole month; try explaining either hex to your girl.” They chuckle.
Nigh recalls both, and he returns to the fire, asking, “Rorik, tell her for me, will you?” Rorik nods, “Yes, if she is there.”
~*~
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Outside Blackstone Castle, Midnight, 677, 27th, October
Donatello catches Sidonia in mid-flight, he turns sharply, hitting against Kolo’s wing with his, as he goes toward the South Gate. Kolo yells, “Stop! Sidonia belongs to me!” The Evil One’s anger slows him, causing her guard to doubt he is as old as he claims. He hopes the power of his fire was just a trick he used to frighten her. Donatello feels the breeze caused by Kolo’s wings, and knows he is too close. He cannot let the Evil One enter the Castle grounds behind them. He focuses on getting through the open gate.
Her guard does not hesitate to kick it shut and hopes it latches before Kolo can enter. Donatello quickly spins in mid-flight to see if the magic of the barrier truly keeps Kolo and the Ghost from entering. Smiling coldly, Donatello watches his foe, as Kolo had made it part way into the entry, when the gate hits him. They see the power in the barrier, as it tosses Kolo over twenty yards, onto the ground. Sidonia and Donatello hear the bang of the metal clasp.
The sound tells them that his kicking the gate closed, has worked, and allowed the gate to successfully latch. It stuns their foe as Kolo slowly gets to his feet. Shocked, the Evil One stands glaring; unaware that the barrier expelled Lola’s dark blue mist from his body. It tossed Lola over twice as far, as it had Kolo. Dazed, Lola is helplessly thrown fifty yards away plunging her into the river.
Threatening them, Kolo yells, “I am not done yet.” His hatred keeps him from detecting the loss of her Spirit. Once the Shade hits the water, it triggers Lola’s Death Echoes. Trapping the Ghost in a killing loop, it causes Lola to repeatedly drown, in her childhood watery grave. As she drifts downstream, Lola suffers a mental agony, which reverts her into a defenseless drowning child. Unaware of Lola’s fate; Kolo is relishing the look of terror on Princess Sidonia’s face. Donatello pulls in his black feathered wings, skillfully dropping to the ground. Glowering at the fiend as he sets the Princess on her feet. Donatello tells her, “Run for the safety of the Castle.” Kolo watches her stay, as the angry Dark Princess dares to glare at him; her Vampire Guard prepares to fight.
Donatello’s hand goes to his hip, finding nothing, where his sword should have been. The foe’s red-hair looks fried, giving him a comical look. Seeing her guard has no weapon, causes Kolo to grin. The Evil One comes flying back in the dark, planning to come in over the top of the tall wall. Kolo hits something as hard as stone, and gets the shock of his life; sparks light up the night. Kolo is frozen against the invisible boundary, as it holds on to him this time.
The Evil One cannot release himself from its painful stinging death. As he slowly slides down, it burns him where his skin comes against the copper coat of arms on the tall garden gate. Kolo’s red hair smolders, as it melts. Sidonia covers her ears as Kolo’s screams pierce the air; then he is silent. The fiend shakes under the force and his form smokes. The barrier holds his hands and right side of his face in its clutches. The Princess watches in horror at this sight.
The night air bites her skin, as a strange dark delight fills her. She hopes for relief from fear; willing it to cause the Evil One’s death. Watching Kolo die, gives her a wicked grin on her blood red lips. Her guard’s phase reverts as he lifts Sidonia up; she whispers, “He is dead!” Donatello carries her through the garden as he says, “Yes, for now. He is not that burnt, hopefully he continues to burn, if not he will live again, too soon.” They pass the ponds and fountains.
Donatello adds, “He can heal enough in a few hours to live, if I do not get my sword and remove his head.” He drags his eyes from Sidonia’s, to stare through the night back at the gate. Her guard assures himself, “Kolo is dead, he cannot enter.” She says, “He was possessed! I only heard Lola speak to him, I did not realize she is a Ghost; it is why she has blue mist!” Worried Donatello carries her into the shrub maze. Sidonia senses it, “No need to fear her.”
The Princess adds, “Not even a ghost can enter this mystical barrier, unless the guards let them in at the Front Gate.” Donatello huffs, “I hope Tik’s fears, keep him from allowing them to enter. I have no idea how to fight a shade. She made him unbelievably fast.” Donatello looks into her eyes and says, “I am sorry. I felt saying his name was the only way to bring you out of your trance. I think I put you in more danger!” The Oracle nods, “Yes, still it was worth it.”
Sidonia groans, “Regrettably, as long as he lives, it is deadly for you to be here. The Evil One saw you defend me and heard you say his name. I am certain he will seek revenge on us.” Walking into the Castle, he fumes, “Not just one evil. We are up against the Evil Two. I might leave after your father arrives.” She replies, “It is wise. I broke it off once. The Evil One was at the territorial meetings; he confronted me in my garden. I advise going to the Mystical Realm.”
Sidonia adds, “It is safer at our other kingdoms. I feel certain that Father will want you to work for him at either place.” Donatello is surprised, “You have more than one fortress?” She blinks, answering, “He has three. Only one in this realm.” Her eyelids are heavy as she adds, “The Mystical Forest Castle at Werewolf Mountain, the Evil One really dislikes wolves in any form, and the Hallowed Castle on the Forbidden Skull Island. It is best.”
Her voice fades to a whisper, “The Evil One fears water, refusing to fly over it. That is the only weakness I know of.” He unlocks her door with the key from his pocket, he smirks, “Skull Island it is then. I have worn out my welcome here.” She closes her eyes sighing, “I am sorry I caused it.” He chuckles, “I honestly believe I brought most of it on myself.” He lays her on the bed, as her eyes droop shut, again. Donatello asks, “Are you alright now?”
Sleepily, she says, “I am not certain; I am so tired. Fighting his Blood Magic has weakened me; I cannot keep my eyes open.” He puts out his hand saying, “Give me Grekan’s key. I will lock you in and go for my sword. I will return, quickly with his head.” The Princess peeks through her closed lids. Closing them she weakly urges, “He is dead, do not seek the key. Just go now, and behead him!” Hissing, Donatello insists, “I cannot leave if you can get out.”
Sidonia admits, “I doubt Grekan left his key.” He sees the windows are latched; he demands, “How did you get out of a locked room then?” Her hand comes to her throat, “I had a key on a chain.” He pulls it from his pocket, “I took it before I left on a blood break.” Fearing the answer, she groans, “Oh, grimmest nightmare.” His eyes darken, his veins are visible through his skin, as he worries that Kolo is not dead, for he still controls her, “I need to break his hold. You can drink my blood and I will drink yours, then I will compel you.”
He adds, “Or give me the key.” She says, “I told you; I have no idea how I left. Trust me. He is dead, just go.” Donatello shakes his head. She gives in, “I will do a blood exchange and let you compel me, only… if Grekan is here to witness it, and if you promise not to ask me anything.” He huffs, “I cannot leave you, to get Grekan.” He sees a slight tell or it is just nerves, as she bites her lower lip. Sidonia repeats, “I do not even recall leaving. Just go behead him, as long as he is dead, I am safe and will not leave!”
~RMW~