RMW
Chapter Eighteen
Something in the Middle
~SV~
The Black Forest, Dark 3:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
Lola mocks, “The good news is, there will be less rotting flesh when they are done. So, the stench is unlikely to reach your porch.” Jillian stares at the shadows, not expecting to find anything. Yet, the old hag’s eyes gain focus, as she sees them move, realizing the deadly situation she is in. Lola sets Thomas’s legs down, as Jillian swallows her cry, and fear grips her. Slowly, they back away.
Jillian barely keeps her scream in, as they turn and run for the cottage. The old hag is about to stumble, as Jillian gasps, “Watch my feet! If we trip, I will fall, and we will die horribly!” They get to the porch, hearing the howls behind them. Running inside they slam the door and bolt it. It takes a moment before Jillian catches her breath.
They stumble for a chair, and sit down. Jillian hisses, “It was a bloody Wolf Pack!” Lola laughs, “You were right we should have left the two dead guards at the tree line. But it would bring those nasty beasts just that much nearer to your cottage.” Cringing, Jillian replies, “No thanks!” Lola laughs wickedly, at Jillian’s shudder.
~*~
Carpathians, Borgo Pass, Dark 3:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
Rorik enters another camp of Ramblers that are down in Borgo Pass, Romania, near the Blue Moon Tavern. His camp is further up the mountain; it took him a bit to get there even riding his horse. As he nears, Rorik politely dismounts, walking his horse in. Rorik then ties his horse to the nearest tree branch, by the fire, as their elder calls to him, “Who are you? It is too late for visitors.”
Slowly coming toward the fire, he replies, “I am a Rambler, Prince Rorik Tricker of the Witch Island Cauldron, in the Mystical Realm. We stayed after the gathering; our camp is up the mountain. I am looking for someone with a Dark Door near the Black Forest Village. Can anyone here help me?” The elder asks suspiciously, “Why not use one of your own peoples’ Dark Door?”
A woman comes from the shadows, “He told you he is not even from our realm, let alone this area. It will take time for them to get their Dark Doors in place.” One of the men at the fire says, “Maleva can do a Dark Door, and I believe she has one near the Black Forest. You will have to wait though, as she is helping with a baby in town. You might as well sit at the fire, until she gets here.” Rorik sighs, “Thank you.” Leaning against a log by the campfire, the Prince swaps tales, drinks some ale, and laughs with their men.
~*~
After mopping the floor and washing up, Lola brings some cheese, mutton, bread, and wine into the side table. Tossing another log into the fire, she sits before it. Finally, Lola gets numb enough to ease her fears of wolves, and Anthony or his men coming for them. As Lola dulls the woman’s aches again, she sighs with exhaustion. Lola wants a nap, instead she removes the Yarrow, Lavender, Holy Basil, Valerian, and Blue Nightshade down from the mantel.
Lola takes Jillian’s caldron into her brother; she scoops some of the blood and dirt into it, from inside Kolo’s coffin. She groans, “Oh dear brother, you are starting to smell.” Coming back to the parlor’s fire, Lola puts the caldron in the holder. Jillian’s fears of this Ghost killing her for asking too many questions, has her staying silent. She is also curious to learn what Lola is doing. Lola cuts the dried plants then grinds them with the mortar and pestle.
The Shade adds the ground items to the blood along with the Flax Seed, Elderberry, Tea Tree Oil, Echinacea, and Evening Primrose Oil; all of which she stole from Jillian’s pantry. Lola now holds the old woman’s crystal. The Sinister Shade tries to recall the chant so that she can finish the spell. Lola’s lack of memory causes her to pause between words, it also gives her voice an annoyed, as well as an impatient and somewhat bored tone.
Still, her green mist comes as she says the spell,
“Take of the living as I give up their deaths.
Gift their life and essence to the undead.
‘Something in the Middle’ I am forgetting-,
Oh, crap ah- maybe using a cursed knife?
Replenish this body of all drained tissue and fluid.
Heal this harmed one, let him live and make him whole.”
Lola sighs, “Or something near that.” Forgetting her fear, as she felt a surge of power go through her caused by Lola’s mist; Jillian mocks, ‘Only you forgot to make it rhyme.” Lola laughs, “Oh right, it must have escaped me. Besides I always thought the rhyme just helps you remember the important bits, and gives you a bit of fun.” Jillian asks, “What is a cursed knife?” Lola smirks, “Using someone’s own knife, after killing them with it.” Jillian gasps.
When cool, Lola takes it to Kolo; slowly she pours it into Kolo’s mouth. Holding the crystal, Lola says the chant again as her rune filled mist swirls down around Kolo in the coffin,
“Take of the living as I give up their deaths.
Gift their life and essence to the undead.
Earth and blood, fire and spirit, breath air and life-.
Oh, I really cannot remember- ugh- I used a cursed knife.
Replenish this body of all drained tissue and fluid.
Heal this harmed one, let him live and make him whole.”
Lola sighs, “I am exhausted. At least that is done and it is not half bad.” Jillian taunts, “Just a third bad, you still lost a bit in the middle.” Yet, she saw more of the Shade’s green runes and blue mist because of Lola being in her, it also strengthened the bit of magic in her blood. As Lola stares at Kolo; Jillian shuts her eyes, refusing to see. Lola opens them, “I am looking for signs of improvement.”
Jillian huffs, “Trust me, death is an improvement, to his looks. I thought this was your brother, who is in the coffin? Do you have more than one brother?” Lola warns, “You could say that, and might just find out. The scorching to the right side of his face is still bad.” Jillian cringes, “What happened to him?” Lola fumes, “He got stuck to the copper fence at the Castle.” Jillian asks, “What is that brand on his cheek?” Lola huffs, “An infinity mark, Mum did it.”
Lola seethes, “Pathetic barking mad Human, thought she could force his turn, so he could make her a vampire, and he was not old enough. Imagine if she had succeeded in turning him, and he was trapped in a child’s body for eternity!” Jillian asks, “Still, he is one, right?” Lola sneers, “Yes, or we would be wasting our time. You must wait for a Bloodchild to be in their mid-twenties to do their first death, or they end up dead. We are only a quarter Bloodchild!”
The Sinister Shade says, “Mum was a stupid fool, who thought she could be a witchy poo, just like you. So, she failed and nearly killed him. You are only powerful, if born to it. She did not even have a crystal, or a spell!” Frowning, Jillian says, “He does not seem to be responding to the spell, maybe the missing words do matter?” Lola shrugs, reaching in the coffin she picks up Kolo’s hand. Jillian and Lola both gasp, “Ewww.”
Jillian grimaces and says, “It is red with black scorches, and he feels very soggy.” They drop Kolo’s arm and Jillian complains, “He left my fingers gooey.” Lola says to Kolo, “Gross! So typical that you would be this ungrateful, you slimed me!” Jillian corrects her, “He slimed us!” Groaning at the muck that got on the old lady Lola washes Jillian’s hands. Coming back to the only bed, Lola and Jillian reluctantly climb in, needing some rest.
~*~
Prince Rorik fell asleep at the fire and one of the men now nudges him awake, “Maleva has returned.” The elderly woman comes forward, “I am Maleva I can open a door into the Black Forest.” Rorik nods, pulling out a coin bag, “How much?” She smiles, “Normally I try not to charge, however if you can spare it, I really will be better off this winter, with some coin.”
Rorik gives her a handful out of the bag, saying, “Half now, half when I am there.” Chuckling at his caution, she nods, “Thank you. I will get my wand.” Rorik gasps in surprise, ‘Wand?’
~*~
Lying in bed Lola curses Kolo some more, “You bloody better come back to life… so I can have the pleasure of killing you myself! All my agony, just so you can misbehave. As usual, only I get the dark consequences. You owe me for this, you swine!” Lola feels the pain of the old woman and rolls over, trying for a more comfortable position. Moving the blanket causes it to bring up odors.
Sniffing, the Sinister Shade groans, “Ohhh! What is that horrid smell? Ugh, it is bloody awful, and I bathed her! See Kolo, this is what I am talking about! Because you refuse to listen to me, I had to don this mouthy old biddy. She is not only uglier than your left cheek; she is weak and stinks worse than your rotting corpse!”
Jillian fumes, “It is called sweat, from hauling two dead bodies into the forest and running for my life from the vicious wolves; you darkly vile, unappreciative, rotting turd! Clearly, you are not used to honest work; deserving to live here with broken trinkets on the floor, cobweb covered walls, and lazy filth. I hope your death was very painful.” Lola giggles, “I forgot you were here.”
Yawning, the wicked Shade lies again with a chuckle, “Luckily for you, I am too tired to want to expel you. We will see if your luck holds when I wake up.” Huffing, Jillian retorts, “If I am lucky, I will die in my sleep, and the death reaper will take you with me.” The Sinister Shade laughs, enjoying their wicked banter.
Lola states, “It has been a while since I have spoken to anyone other than Kolo. I did not realize I missed it. I guess I have fun with Boohoo Beatrix, a sad spirit in Satan’s Spit Forest. Oh, I do love giving snide remarks to the captives when they are alive. But it is not often and does not really count. Still, I really do look forward to taunting and harassing them.” This gives Jillian a jolt of fear.
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Feeling it, Lola gives her an evil laugh, causing another one, “Oh dear, did I disturb you with that naughty bit of a confession.” Yawning, Lola admits, “I stressed over the items for the spell. Still, it is fun acting like a true witch again. I had only begun learning to use my powers when those nasty children murdered me. Gathering items, making a potion, chanting-, too bad I could not recall the correct words, it was still nice.” Jillian really enjoyed it, also.
Lola sighs, “Due to my mist coming and the tingle of power, I feel the spell worked.” Jillian agrees, yet will not admit it to her. She is stunned at the power she sensed coursing through her, as Lola performed the spell, never feeling it before. It makes Jillian envy her power. It was spectacular to feel the force of her energy, compared to her own lame pretend hexes. Even when not doing the spell the old woman cannot recall feeling this alive. After their stressful night they both fell asleep quickly, leaving their cares and worries behind.
~*~
Maleva comes back with her wand, waving for him to follow her. As he does, Maleva says, “I use a big boulder down by the creek.” Rorik looks at the white-haired woman as she pleads, “Slow down, I am old and very tired.” Rorik states, “Oh, I forgot my horse. Keep going.” He runs back and gets his horse, bringing it with him. He easily catches up with her. Seeing the wand again, Rorik grins.
The Prince smirks, “I have not seen one of us, well anyone, use a wand; this will be an event for me. Where did you get it?” Maleva sighs, “I was pretty once, and in love with a Light Elf. His trade was making wands for wizards and sorcerers. He gifted it to me, showing me how to use it, before he left me.” He can hear the sadness in her voice, telling her, “It is a very exquisite wand.”
Smiling, Maleva adds, “I might as well tell you that his family put a stop to us, marrying him to a wealthy Light Elf, whose father owns a business; it set him up to take it over.” Rorik comments, “He should have run off with you instead.” Laughing lightly, Maleva replies, “Thank you; that is romantic and sweet.” He grabs her arm as she nearly falls, she thanks him and he slows down.
She adds, “For a long time I wished he had. Later I felt glad he did not stay.” Rorik frowns, “Why?” Maleva says, “Being from different kinds brings hatred out in others, they were not kind to him, and it hurt me to see his pain. I also saw he was not satisfied and was becoming unhappy with our simple life around the campfire.”
Maleva sighs, “I would be forced to watch him regret his decision, and that would have ruined what we had. I would rather smile when thinking of those good times, and cherish my wand. Instead of having it sour me, as I see him fall out of love, and still leave me. No, I do not blame him.” Curious, Rorik questions, “May I ask how you are able not to be bitter with him?”
Rorik smolders, “I have never been able to do that.” She answers, “I choose to look at it as him being honorable to his parents. His parents were ailing, and he did not have the funds at his position in the shop. They heard of this opportunity and begged him to take it. I like to believe his reasons and only think on the happy times.” The Prince sighs, “You are nicer than I could be.”
Maleva replies, “I am sure I could have told myself it is only an excuse and even that he never loved me. Perhaps that is easier than believing our love was nearly perfect and sweet. Yet, do you think I would be this happy now if I had?” Rorik shakes his head, “No.” She nods, “I think I would be bitter.” He says, “But, I have never forgiven hurtful things that others do and I never will.”
She looks at him tilting her head, and frowns, his aura has a dark layer. Rorik asks, “What if you are just fooling yourself and get taken by someone else’s lies again?” She smiles, “Then I hope I am even happier with my memories of them, and never think that way.”
~*~
Jillian wakes in a panic to fingers tightened around her neck. She tries to pry the hands from her throat. The old woman feels the goo of flesh on her fingers and neck, as she gasps, “No!” A male swears at her, “What in the cold dark Nifl are you doing in my bed!” Her eyes dart around the dark room. It is unfamiliar, until his slimy skin against her throat has Jillian remembering it on her fingers.
Quickly, Jillian gasps, “Lola made me come here!” Kolo releases her and demands, “Why?” The old woman quickly explains, “Lola possessed me. She threatened to kick my soul out, if I did not let her use me!” Kolo chuckles, “And?” Jillian grumbles, “She bathed me, ate my food, and drank my liquor. Lola even stole items from my pantry. We used my things to make a potion.”
Jillian tries to think how to escape, “We even did a spell with my crystal, pouring the potion in and on you, while chanting.” Kolo mocks, “I would like to have seen that.” Jillian finishes, “Lola also made me help her as she dragged two guards’ bodies into the woods. I was nearly attacked by hungry wolves!” The Evil One looks down at the blood residue on his ripped clothing. Kolo replies, “Oh. Well, I see she needed to do it.” He dips a cloth in water cleaning himself.
Slowly, he realizes what Lola did to save him. Jillian is glad she did not undress, as she gets off the bed, and looks for her wooden clogs. He pulls clean clothes off a shelf and dresses. Nervously, Jillian says, “I was not aware that Lola has more than one brother.” Snorting, Kolo just demands, “Where is Lola now?” Jillian slides her feet into her shoes, saying, “I have no idea. She was here… now it seems she is not.” Kolo feels irritable.
The longer Kolo stands there the more his whole-body aches. Jillian asks, “Does she fall asleep, and go somewhere else?” The Evil One growls, “How the Nifl would I know?” Jillian flees for the door, as Kolo screams, “Lola! Where in the Demon Realm are you? I demand that you get your misty blue butt back here, right now!”
~*~
Maleva leads him to her Dark Door, as she points at the large boulder, “That is it.” She pulls her black shawl closer, as the air is cooler by the creek. Rorik notices her shawl has beautifully stitched flowers across the shoulders. She stops at the large boulder, and Rorik pulls his horse to a halt as well. Maleva closes her eyes waving the wand; the Prince sees the tip glow with pink mist.
He grins, ‘Pink mist, definitely Light Elf magic.’ The mist settles on the boulder, making an outline of a rectangle door. As the mist covers the area inside, it slowly reveals the area at the other side of the doorway. He sees the thick tall trees and nods. His horse backs up not liking it. She smiles, “Be my guest.” He takes a cloth out of his saddlebag and puts it over his horse’s eyes, bringing it over.
Rorik asks her, “Do you mind leading me in?” She grins, “You are not very trusting of an old lady. I like the idea of frightening you into thinking I can still be wicked at this advanced age.” She enters and he follows, bringing his horse. They come out of the wall that surrounds the Black Forest Village. Prince Rorik sighs with relief, “Here, let me give you some more coin.”
Maleva holds out her palm as he gets a small handful; she says, “Your mother must be proud.” He recalls his moms request, as his fingers brush her hand, causing her eyes to glow green. Maleva grasps his wrist with her left hand, puts the coins in her pocket, and brings her right hand to trace his lines on his palm. Looking for the meaning of what she felt, Maleva mumbles to herself. Rorik feels nervous, as the elderly Witch looks at his palm with deep concern.
The Prince wants to scoff. However, he believes her, as it appears her distress is real, so he tries to be patient. After what happened from not listening to Nera, he feels he should wait. Maleva now says, “You are at a crossroads; beware the choice you make.”
~*~
Kolo’s angry yell wakes Lola up, it causes Jillian to halt, and drops the old lady to her knees. Once the Shade takes control, Lola stands her back up; Jillian groans, “Now my knees hurt you rotten oaf!” Lola turns the old hag around and chuckles darkly at her brother’s bloody form. Exhaling with relief, she walks briskly to him. Lola slaps his face angrily saying, “That is for dying on me!”
Lola smugly wipes the goo back onto his clean tunic. Crossing the old hag’s arms, she takes several steps back; looking him over thoroughly, the Shade sneers, “You still look like death warmed over.” He stalks toward her; she slaps him again, they glare at each other, she wipes her hand off on him. Furious, the Sinister Shade has Jillian hiss, into his face, “You were dead; you ungrateful turd! Get moody with me and I will leave you to rot, next time!”
The Shade scolds, “You do realize I had to possess a stinky, Human, Day Guard just so I could get your body away from Sidonia’s murderous Vampire Guard?” Recalling Donatello; his fear, has Kolo gasping, “I am in pain, sorry, I overreacted.” Lola fumes, “That is it? Not a, ‘you were right, as always?’ Maybe even a ‘please forgive me’, and ‘thank you dear sister, I am humbled by all you had to do!’ I should have left you at the Castle; you nasty ingrate!”
He groans, “It is hard to apologize to that face, sister. If she were even close to your image I might be humbled by your scolding and efforts to bring me back.” The Sinister Shade huffs, “Bringing you back is not even close to the worst of what I have endured; that barrier tossed me out of you into the river!” Kolo’s eyes go wide, as Lola adds, “Where I reverted to a child and suffered Death Echoes! I helplessly drowned repeatedly while floating downstream!”
Kolo moans, as the Sinister Shade hisses, “Think about the horrors I got to recall! All because you forgot about the dangerous barrier!” His twin smirks, at the pile of red and black clothing on the floor; realizing with glee that she sliced it with Todd’s knife and it was Kolo’s favorite outfit. She makes Jillian hiss into his face, “Did I run off, leaving you to your fate, because I need a Holiday to get over my Death Echoes? I could not even animate you!”
The Sinister Shade taunts, “That is how dead you were! Lucky for you, I climbed into the first sweaty man who came by. In addition, he fought me for control of his body. I had to kick out his soul, just so I could save you! I even hit his pal, to get him to comply. I had to bring you here by boat! I dug up plants in the forest and stole the rest from Jillian’s pantry.” Kolo is humbled now.
Lola adds, “I hardly remembered the chant.” Kolo lightly jests, “It seems your memory is good enough.” The Sinister Shade is not finished, “You should drag dead bodies into the woods, when wolves are howling and chasing you! One trip and I would have felt them tearing her to pieces! Not to mention this old woman is none too strong. I did all of that without you reminding me of your peril!” Kolo admits, “I did not realize how much danger we were in.”
Nodding Jillian’s head, Lola hisses, “If I lingered or hesitated even a bit, the way you always do-.” He groans cutting in, “I am sorry.” She finishes, “-that Vampire Guard would have your bloody head as a trophy by now! He was at that gate wanting to come out and take you from me. I was weak from that lousy barrier, yet I was so vicious that I kept him hiding behind the gate. I even had to use the river to escape on! You were bloody near permanently dead!”
He gasps, “You escaped over water?” Lola nods, “I did say ‘in a boat.’ What did you think I meant?” The Evil One seethes, “Sorry I died, inconveniencing you. I sincerely apologize about the river! It was thoughtless of me not to heed your warnings, for I endangered you as well. I will do better. Thank you for having more balls than any male and being the biggest scariest Witch that can keep even a vampire guard from taking my bloody head off!”
Kolo reaches for his bedroom door latch and swears as his scorched hands are still paining him from foolishly strangling Jillian. He opens the door, enduring the pain, and waves a hand through it as he asks, “Are you coming with me?” The Sinister Shade huffs, “Are we going home?” Jillian desperately hopes he will go, so she can be free of them both. Kolo shakes his head, yet his eyes hold his fury. Curious, Lola asks, “Do I need this nasty old biddy’s body?”
He looks the old woman up and down, in her plain gray tunic dress, he almost says no. But then he gets a sly grin and says, “Perhaps.” Lola frowns, and cannot stop herself from asking, “Why?” The Evil One only smirks, “Maybe you should get her cloak, so you look a bit more respectable, rather than appearing to be an old homeless beggar.” This infuriates the old hag.
Angry, Jillian quips, “I am not the one, living in this broken-down house; and I helped save your life!” Kolo rolls his eyes, “I do hope that is not you talking, dear sister.” Mocking him, Lola hisses, “Well, I can even tidy her hair too, if I tried to care.” The Sinister Shade fumes, “First, you will have to explain, why to me. I am more in the mood to go back to bed, for a prolonged sleep. And you have just returned from death, and need a few more nights, to get home.”
Jillian worries she might not ever get away from them. Weary, Lola says, “Even if I were up for doing some bad things, to get you blood, I might say no. It is wiser to find somewhere else nearby, and hide until you heal.” Kolo still stares. Venting all her anger, has just left Lola tired, “Understandably, I am reluctant to get involved with anymore of your ideas. So, tell me your plan.” He is silent. She asks, “Seriously, can it wait until tomorrow night?”
Lola groans, “You do realize after what I told you, that I am exhausted?” The Evil One gets so angry that he loses control of his spit, “No! I think it is you, who have forgotten. They took Sidonia from you. Their barrier tossed you into the water, where you had Death Echoes. You had to possess a guard. You rowed me away on the river. You possessed an old hag. You were chased by wolves!” Lola is furious that he is recalling her pain, making her re-live it.
The Evil One, now twists the blade, “Tell me, what did you do, when you were murdered? Did you want to hide or go to bed?” This fuels and turns Lola’s anger back to where he intends it, as she gets a sinister smile, “I killed every one of the little demons.” Now Kolo seethes, “I plan to get bloody vengeance!” She grins, as her brother says, “I might not write my own song about it, but I will still relish their deaths!” The Shade tries to talk herself out of it, and fails.
Lola admits with fury, “I wept over your body! My scream of pain was louder than any banshee’s cry!” Jillian shivers with horror and tries to leave, the Sinister Shade keeps her in place. Lola has boosted his rage, as the Evil One seethes, “I want to kill them all and take Sidonia! I want my bloody revenge!” Lola now purrs, “Gooood! Because I promised to kill that guard, Donatello; I told him he will burn and I will hang his body up for all to see!” Kolo sneers, “Well, I cannot have you giving him an empty promise now, can I? Sister!”
~RMW~