CLIFFORD & MAC
By the time Mac and I returned to the Chamber, the broodmother had left. I could feel her presence in the eastern woods— she must have gone to go hunt, I figured.
MAC
Where is it?
She asked, looking for the broodmother.
PAIN
Seems she left.
I turned to study Mac's expression as she carefully ambled past the sleeping elokos and the waiting white arachnids.
MAC
And you have complete control over them?
She asked with a quiver in her voice.
PAIN
I do, yes.
I kept my eyes on Mac as I formed a stump of earth near the entrance to my room to sit. She looked disgusted but pressed her lips into a smile after catching my gaze.
MAC
And what about me?
I shook my head.
PAIN
You know I do not. You can feel it.
I formed another stump and gestured, but she ignored me and continued to amble around the Chamber.
PAIN
Would it be rude—
MAC
Yes.
She interrupted as she squatted down to stare at a sleeping eloko.
MAC
But I get it. I was dead, but now I am alive. Who wouldn't have questions? Every scholar alive would love to pick apart my brain.
PAIN
Only if you want to.
I stated. Mac smiled as she caressed the sleeping eloko.
MAC
It feels like a dream. It feels like none of it actually happened, but it did. The pain. The voices. The visions. Feels like I woke up from a horrific nightmare. And all I want to do now is kill the fucking bastards who killed me!
She suddenly roared and cratered her fist into the ground.
The eloko sprang awake with a stuttering laughter and fled from her. I kept quiet and watched Mac pull her hand free. She eyed the blood on her knuckles for a moment before rubbing her hand through her black hair.
MAC
It was painful,
She continued to explain.
MAC
Nothing but pain running up and down my body. The pain pushed its way inside me. It made me angry... just filling me with rage! Then, there were these monsters or fiends.
Her voice rose as she explained with her hands.
MAC
They came after me, and when they bit into me...
She suddenly looked at me with moist eyes.
MAC
It hurt! Even more than just being in Limbo! Why!? I could run away, but they will chase after me! Each bite or clawed swipe into my body just brought more pain. More memories...
She calmed down and gazed off.
MAC
Awful visions I thought I'd forgotten. Painful regrets and decisions I did not take!
She stood and shuffled her bare feet toward me.
MAC
I couldn't believe I was alive. I thought it was just another illusion.
She sat next to me with a huff and a wry smile.
MAC
Those things that chased after me can take any form, so... sorry for punching you in the face.
PAIN
I think I deserved it.
MAC
Want another?
She joked as she lifted her fist.
PAIN
No thank you.
I grinned.
ABIMELECH
A pretty lady.
Abi suddenly interjected as Mac eyed her bruised fist solemnly.
ABIMELECH
Maybe you should take her on a day.
PAIN
Be quiet.
I hissed at him.
MAC
It's insane to find solace in seeing your own blood. I didn't bleed in Limbo.
PAIN
So that was how you knew?
Mac studied the white arachnids that were staring at us.
MAC
What are they waiting for?
PAIN
Clifford.
I stood.
MAC
Oh, you can leave him dead.
I turned on her with my jaw unhinged.
MAC
I'm kidding.
I shook my head as I positioned myself at the bottom of the ritual. Mac rested on her chin, seemingly feigning interest. More elokos came while the tired ones left to resume roaming the east woods. Hmph, they could go join the broodmother in her hunt.
As the elokos stood in position, I raised my hand sign. A sudden chill engulfed me, and that familiar voice whispered incoherently in my head. I winced slightly, attempting to shrug it off. My Recall Memory could not recall the voice, so it must be a voice I heard before my immortality.
MAC
You okay?
She asked, and I blinked at her.
PAIN
Yea...
I croaked and focused on the ritual. My Celestial: Wukong's Black Staff emitted earth energy while I pushed Clifford's soul onto the northern pedestal.
ABIMELECH
Are you sure? I suggest getting something to eat.
PAIN
I will be fine.
I began the ritual, and Mac flinched,
MAC
Oh hell!?
She blurted and fled into the doorway leading to my room.
A reasonable response to the thundering booms of the ritual. The magical energies atop the pedestals replayed their rage. I winced; the ritual was longer than usual. I could feel Abi's fear as he noticed the increased length.
I was not tired, and everything was the same as before. Yet, the ritual dragged on.
VOICE
You demon!
I blinked as the voice echoed clearly in my head. A bolt of black lightning split and struck the northeast totem. I grimaced and attempted to focus my mind, but my vision became blurred.
I blinked several times and noticed reality was shifting! The ground began to warp, and the familiar black spikes of Limbo began to emerge. The screaming voices of the dead began to ring in my ear.
I could see a ghastly figure. It looked familiar... he looked familiar. Yellowish armor... two-handed sword... he was fighting invisible creatures down the path of a wall-less throne. The wall-less throne... I remember...
ABIMELECH
Focus!
He shouted, and the imagery of Limbo vanished. Three bolts of lighting had already parted and struck the totems. The ritual was near its end, and I concentrated as fiercely as possible. The imagery of Limbo attempted to return, but I forced it away with Recall Memory. More mana than before was drained from out my elokos and me, causing the planes to spin slightly, but I held on.
The Chamber became silent. Clifford's body began to form, and he fell to his knees. He was motionless in his nakedness. His eyes were closed, and the Chamber became still alongside him. Mac peeked out from the safety of the doorway, and I held my breath as Clifford lifted his head and opened his eyes.
There were tears in his eyes as he opened his mouth,
CLIFFORD
It doesn't hurt anymore.
He whispered, his eyes of sorrow locked on me.
CLIFFORD
This is new.
He glanced around and caught sight of Mac.
CLIFFORD
Mac?
MAC
Clifford?
Clifford's eyes widened, and he glanced around in shock once more.
CLIFFORD
Pain?
He stood.
PAIN
Clifford.
He looked down and spun around, taking in the ritual setting.
CLIFFORD
Am I alive!?
He blurted, his face contorted into a mixture of shock and happiness.
CLIFFORD
Did you bring me back to life!? How? Why?
MAC
Because he felt sorry for us.
She answered for me with a smirk.
PAIN
Why are you still hiding behind the door?
I poked at her. Mac gave me a side-eye glance as she strolled back into the Chamber.
Clifford was still in shock, pushing his forefinger claw out and slicing it across his left arm. He bounced like a child at the sight of blood.
CLIFFORD
This is mad!?
MAC
Oh calm down.
Mac muttered, crossing her arms at the edge of the ritual.
CLIFFORD
What else—Who else did you bring back? Bone? Layondo—
MAC
Will you calm it!?
She shouted with irritation, and Clifford glanced at her with bottled excitement.
CLIFFORD
Mac...
I watched silently as regret and sorrow slowly took over his excitement.
MAC
Don't look at me like that.
CLIFFORD
I'm sorry.
He apologized sincerely.
CLIFFORD
You were right. I shouldn't have tried to stop you. We should've left when we had the chance... rather than waiting around.
Mac shrugged and looked off uncomfortably— was she blushing?
CLIFFORD
I'm serious! It was my fault—
MAC
Now you're saying the same thing Pain said. It's fine! We're alive now. We have a second chance.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Clifford nodded solemnly with a wry smile. Mac fidgeted, shaking her leg as Clifford continued to smile at her. An awkward silence drifted between the three of us until Mac finally looked back at Clifford.
CLIFFORD
I mean it, though.
MAC
Oh, shut it.
Mac huffed, turning to return to her seat.
CLIFFORD
I really do.
Clifford sang as he hobbled toward Mac, his arms extended.
MAC
Get away from me!
Mac shouted, avoiding Clifford's grasp.
CLIFFORD
Accept my apology!
I watched as Clifford chased after her before Mac picked up her pace into a Quickstep.
MAC
You're still naked! Go find some clothes!
Clifford followed suit and was much faster. He tackled her into his iron grip embrace. Mac squealed a high pitch, and I ended up letting out a laugh.
MAC
Pain! Do something!
She shouted at me, squirming in disgust.
CLIFFORD
I'm really sowwy.
Clifford echoed repeatedly.
MAC
Get off me, or I'll punch you!
She bellowed, and Clifford hopped to his feet.
CLIFFORD
I'd rather not. She hits pretty hard.
He directed at me.
PAIN
You can say that again.
CLIFFORD
What? Did she punch you?
He gawked.
PAIN
The moment she came back.
I smirked at Mac, but she eyed me as she stood and ambled back to her earthly seat in a fidget of disgust. I knew what she was thinking, but I was not going to poke fun at how she fled and wept. Clifford did not need to know, and there was no humor in that.
Clifford let out a heavy sigh and plopped onto the hard ground. His eyes were glued to the ground for a minute. He smiled and chuckled before glancing up at me.
CLIFFORD
It's... insane. I'm alive again. You can bring the dead back to life.
I nodded and then tilted my head in curiosity.
PAIN
If I may ask—
Clifford perked up openly.
MAC
He wants to know what you saw in Limbo.
She beat me to punch. I eyed her, and she stuck her tongue out at me.
CLIFFORD
Oh? That? Well...
He took a moment to think.
CLIFFORD
The ground... the ground was like a foggy, warping substance. The skies were ghosts... they were screaming in pain. And these demonic creatures surrounded me. They were able to change form, and whenever they did, it was as if I was transported somewhere... transported to a place in my life where I regretted something.
He blinked several times.
CLIFFORD
Like my death. If I tried to move, it caused pain. So much more pain than I already felt.
I nodded, studying Clifford's shift in expression as his brow furled in thought.
CLIFFORD
Yet... I have to be honest. I'm pissed.
He glared up at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
CLIFFORD
Vampires are always treated like monsters. As if we don't belong. We can feel pain, we can love... we're no different than any other intelligent creature. You know I wanted to be a vampire despite the stigma, but...
He rubbed a hand across his chest.
CLIFFORD
Something about... dying that way... doesn't feel right.
MAC
And now you want to fix it.
Mac stated.
PAIN
I will do anything to help.
I mumbled, my mind looking for what to say as they studied me.
PAIN
I have armor and food—take whatever you need.
MAC
Take? I'm not leaving.
She snorted, glancing at Clifford, who agreed.
MAC
You have a nice lair here. What else do you have?
She stood with a fat grin.
MAC
Hey, you brought us back, and now you're stuck with us.
She laughed.
ABIMELECH
Or rather, they are stuck here with you.
PAIN
Shush.
I quickly retorted.
PAIN
Are you sure?
CLIFFORD
You don't want us to stay?
He asked, and I quickly shook my head.
PAIN
No, you can stay. I just... you know, being a necromancer and bringing the dead back to life...
CLIFFORD
Oh... it will be like we're servants.
PAIN
Yea...
A tinge of embarrassing warmth fluttered along my skin at the awkward silence.
CLIFFORD
But we're not servants—we're just indebted to you.
PAIN
But you—
CLIFFORD
It's fine. Besides, why should we leave so quickly? Just to get killed and hunted again?
He pointed out. Hmph, I remember preaching that to myself after slaying the arachnid queen.
MAC
There is no other place right now than here to plan our revenge.
She looked about the lair quickly.
MAC
Wherever this is. Where are we?
I smiled and proceeded to show them around the lair. I told them my story but left out my immortality and included elongated truths. Clifford took his time within the Oval room, eyeing each piece of clothing, armor, and weapon with scrutiny.
MAC
Just pick one, you idiot.
CLIFFORD
Hmm...
He hummed loudly in retort.
MAC
Well, since he wants to take forever.
Mac stomped over the crates of ruby and sapphire puries and joined Clifford in a search for better clothing. She quickly spotted old, ruined armor and tore off the metal bracers. From another set of clothing, she slid out the sash and then spotted brown leather pants to slide on.
Clifford finally went for Lia's old padded plated armor: a thick black and brown leather outfit with iron square plates sown along the ruined sleeves and a single dense one protecting the torso. Lia's studded pants had plates along the sides and iron caps around the knees.
I watched as Clifford ignored the red blood stains along the ripped sleeves and reached down to grab Lia's cracked short sword and scabbard.
PAIN
There is a stream out back we could wash—
CLIFFORD
Perfect fit.
Clifford stated and then eyed the stains.
CLIFFORD
Looks better this way.
We watched as Mac tied the sash around her white tunic and the armor bracers around the backsides of her wrists.
MAC
Not much, but this will do.
PAIN
No weapons?
I asked, and she scoffed as she walked past me.
MAC
I fight better this way.
Clifford nodded at my furled expression. I have to admit, she did hold her own barehanded against the North Star soldiers.
MAC
I'll keep an eye out for better armor, though!
She spouted from out of the tunnel.
Continuing on, I showed them the old classrooms leading to the Collapsed Tower and admitted how I was the one to kill those nightwalkers that they drove out.
MAC
I knew it!
Mac blurted at Clifford as we headed back to the Chamber.
MAC
Clifford didn't believe me.
She chirped righteously.
CLIFFORD
You didn't even believe yourself when you mentioned it.
Within the Arachnid's lair, I showed them the resting and feeding place of my familiars. Undead arachnids, skeletons, elokos, pantheras, and blindinus lounged about the lair.
PAIN
These are my familiars,
I explained.
MAC
They sit and eat all day?
She questioned, and I shrugged.
PAIN
Well, no... for now, yes. Typically, at night, I would go out with them.
Mac glanced at each of them with disgust, while Clifford glowed with a mixture of disgust and interest.
CLIFFORD
It's like your own miniature army.
He glanced up and flinched at the white arachnid sols staring down at him from the ceiling.
MAC
These pillars don't seem very safe.
Mac commented, poking at one of the pillars I had formed out of Earth and Stone. They are more sturdy now compared to when I first created these pillars out of dirt alone.
I sighed,
PAIN
I have to redo them every once in a while.
I led them up the stone staircase and through the exit of my lair. The nightly chill tingled my skin, and the moon was bright in the clear sky. I continued to lead them through the snow to my favorite hilltop just north of the entrance. I stopped at the slope and eyed the dense spire I used to destroy the miner's camp.
Mac and Clifford joined me on the hilltop with their eyes glowing from Night Vision.
MAC
So, where are we?
PAIN
You have Lesser Eagle Eye now, give it a try.
I responded, and she raised her brow. I nodded forward and watched her pupils contract.
CLIFFORD
See anything?
He asked, but Mac only clenched her jaws.
MAC
What am I—Oh! I see a town! Looks far...
PAIN
Dagon City.
MAC & CLIFFORD
Dagon City!
They exclaimed in unison.
CLIFFORD
Those fucking bastards.
Clifford growled with rage, his claws gripping at his chest.
MAC
This is perfect. We're right below them.
I pressed my lips, not wanting to hinder their lust for revenge, but Abi forced his way out and appeared in front of me, brightening the area with his blueish glow. Mac bolted a yard away in reflex while Clifford drew his sword to Abi's neck.
CLIFFORD
I'm not going to have someone getting the jump on me—
Abi phased through and approached.
ABIMELECH
Do you want to inform them, or shall I?
He asked, but before I could open my mouth, Abi spun on Clifford—
ABIMELECH
I am Abimelech Goodgent, a conscious soul residing in the young master here.
Clifford, his sword pointed into Abi's chest, eyed me, and I nodded.
ABIMELECH
The City, Dagon, is no more,
He explained to Clifford, who sheathed his sword.
ABIMELECH
He destroyed it.
He spouted bluntly.
CLIFFORD
What?
He asked as Mac returned.
MAC
Destroyed it?
She asked me, and I nodded.
CLIFFORD
How?
I smiled weakly,
PAIN
That miniature army back there.
ABIMELECH
He did so out of anger—
PAIN
And revenge!
I added. I took a quick breath and formed an earthly seat.
PAIN
I have already admitted it was my fault you two died.
I slumped onto the seat as I continued.
PAIN
The way they came after you lot... it bothered me. Layondo was honest and pure, but the people he was dealing with had more fangs than he did. I began to plan my attack... then decided not to attack.
MAC
But?
She anticipated.
PAIN
They refused to leave me alone. They came after my land. What gave them the right? Sure, maybe I could have approached them, but I tried that when I first came to these lands...
I bared my fangs, and they both understood.
PAIN
So, I came back and did what I must. I did not take comfort in what I did, but they sought what I claimed as my own.
MAC
Well, so much for our revenge.
She mumbled.
ABIMELECH
I would not say so.
He approached the edge of the hilltop as he continued.
ABIMELECH
North Star was the instigator, correct? After what the young master did to the City, the news will travel quickly, which is why we do not have time to procrastinate.
He turned and faced us, eyeing me sternly.
ABIMELECH
A North Star airship is approaching, and I am sure none of us would cherish being caught off guard again.