Arriving at the town of Parle, the three go into the atmosphere of an eerie feeling, a sudden cold of silence and alertness comes over them as they pass through step by step into the town square and to the mortuary, where the bodies of the murderer’s wrath now laid. Elanee gives the order to pull the sheet covering the first one back and in doing so Alisianna gives off an unsettling gasp and buries her face in Artanis’s chest. Artanis has no facial reaction from growing up in a dismal past about such events but is shocked to see that Elanee also carries the same iron skin. She starts to examine the body to determine the cause of death.
“It is certainly a knife wound; it entered through the back of the neck” she starts “And then repeated down along the front, so whoever did this after the first stab, they must have held her to continue from the front side” and moving to the second corpse she looks upon it intently and gives her analysis
“This one was strangled; see here, the jaw bone was held tightly and turned to the left side hard and fast snapping it and killing them instantly” she finished still having no big emotional disturbance showing
“How does this not bother you Elanee?” Artanis asked
And flipping the sheets back over the victims she answered,
“About seven years ago I ran into the lord at the time to this town, and I was still new to my abilities and wasn’t able to control when I had a vision. I saw a flash of him brutally killing a young woman from town earlier that month I heard that she had died from a mugger, I knew that my view was real but saying anything would have lead him to hang me so I kept quiet. The next day I went about my day at the tavern where I worked, trying to block the images out but it was no use; then he came in and walking up to me he asked for a drink, bringing it to him he touch me while paying and another vision from his mind flew into my head but this one was different, I saw what he was about to do or in this case kill and seeing the two girls in the bar. I warned them to leave and go straight home quickly; they looked at me funny and worse didn’t listen. After they did leave I saw shortly then the lord went as well and taking a quick absence from my work I snuck out the back and followed him, catching up to them in an alley barely light by town torches I saw him chocking the first victim and the second was already dead, not knowing what to do I did the first thing that came to my mind, I hit him to free the girl and with them taking off and screaming also came to us the town guard patrol. The lord accused me of assaulting him but fighting through the guards restraining grip to take me away I got a hold of his arms, and flushed the screaming pain of the women he did murder to the surface of his mind. He at first fell to his knees in the agony of seeing her face and begged me to stop it. I told him to confess or it would haunt him until death, and finally he did and with the use of a truth stone to show my innocence he was rightfully convicted of the crime. Of course the punishment for his action being in his position as lord was death anyway, but I didn’t feel bad, not for him, and after that I was offered the job of investigation marshal from the king himself and humbly took it and have been at it ever since; she concluded with a shot of pain to her face after the explanation.
“Wow Elanee I’m sorry I asked I didn’t know how painful that must have been for you” Artanis apologized
“That’s ok Artanis, but it was that moment on that I learned that having title and wealth doesn’t give you right to take judgment into your own hands, only truth can do that. And that some of the past lords shouldn’t be given the honor and respect that they demand and think they deserve” Elanee adds
“But I can only imagine that convicting them is harder to do than merely walking up to them and with a touch, seeing them pay” Alisianna replied
“Your right about that but keeping the streets as clean as I can makes them have to do the dirty work themselves and easier to be caught in the act” Elanee said just when the Commander and the three were interrupted by another guard telling them of yet another recent murder. Following the guard to the location, Elanee sees the guard point to two more victims outside the home of the deceased, the guard says they were not found together. One was by the stables and the wife was at home, Elanee brings her hand over each of the victims and gets a flash seeing their last images and possibly the killer. She gasps at the end of the images when each of them dies and after the second one, she gets to her feet with a bewildered look to her face.
“Something wrong Elanee” asked Alisianna
“What I saw can’t be possible” she replies to her and redoing the vision search she comes to the same conclusion
“What’s not possible Elanee” Artanis re asks
“How they died, they killed each other” she went on “The husband snapped her neck and the wife ran him through with a pitch fork”
“Well the husband could have snapped her neck, she was at home” reassured the guard to her
“And him dying to a pitch fork she was holding after she died, doesn’t that sound a little farfetched to you?” she barked back with frustration,
“Did they have a child?” Alisianna asked
“Yes a single boy, he was adopted by the orphanage, but as of now he is missing” finished the guard commander and having a moment of silence to process a reasonable explanation for this.
Anubis who was still at Elanee’s side picks up a scent leading from the home into the woods, he moves toward the tree line homing his vision to look at anything moving, a rustle in the tress catches his ears and everyone’s else’s and in a flash Anubis bolt into the brush. Bulldozing down thistles and berry bushes Anubis follow the fresh trail left at the murder seen with lightning speed around the trees and through the overgrowth until suddenly with a sharp paced halt he stops, sniffing around at the base of a large tree he looks to the limbs to only notice a squirrel gathering nuts and a bird perched to the edge of one limb. Anubis loiters around for some time until the group huffing hard catches up with him
“What is it Anubis did you find anything” asked Elanee to him and patting his head gently she watches his eyes which gives off a lost scented look
“Looks like just wildlife to me” adds Artanis and checking around a bit more to find nothing out of place there they all head back, except Alisianna who stops to look at the bird,
“What’s up Alise?” Says Elanee
“Nothing I guess, just that bird isn’t singing, they always sing; it’s probably nothing” she says shaking her head from a dumb notion and walks away, the bird eyes up the group closely till they are out of sight and glowing it’s eyes, Teremicus flies away.
Coming back from the forest chase with Anubis, Elanee leads the way with Artanis, Alisianna and the commander in toe. Elanee hears a cry from a familiar face and runs to the scene; she sees Kate the newly appointed priestess buried in the arms of a nearby guardsmen by the murder sight of the family couple as she cries from the horrified sight.
“Kate” said Elanee to her ears and turning her beat red face, Kate draws her attention to an old friend.
“Elanee” she replied changing her embrace from the guard to her own “I knew the Cornwall’s Elanee, they were a kind and good Family, they have never done a thing wrong, nothing to deserve this”
“I know Kate I knew them too; I still remember walking home from school and the apples given to me from Mr. Cornwall’s cart every day on my way home, he was a sweet man” Elanee agreed with her.
“You find them Elanee; you find who is responsible and make that son of a bitch pay for this atrocity” barked out Kate still teary eyed looking at their motionless movement.
“I will Kate you have my word on it” Elanee reassured her
“Where…where is the child they had?” Kate asked
“She’s missing too” added the commander
“Oh…that poor little elven girl she must be scared to death” Kate said covering her mouth with fear and thought of the condition of the child
“Elven girl?” repeated Elanee in confusion
“Yes, they adopted one a few years ago from the orphanage due to not being able to conceive one of their own, and have done a great job of raising her to be their own, that is until now” Kate explained
“Just like the first couple that was killed they had a adopted child as well” the commander added again
“This can’t be a coincidence” said Elanee thinking out loud “Was there anything special about the children that would make them targets?”
“Umm no besides their natural abilities as being elven children they carried not heightened powers of any kind” replied Kate thinking. The commander moved the bodies to the morgue with the others and the group moved their discussion to the town hall building where records of history were kept and for Elanee’s sake, hopefully hold the key to this mystery.
To relive tension of scouring pages in books and records Kate assisted and began to ask Elanee about resent happenings in her own life,
“So Elanee…seeing anyone recently”
“Well there was Namor”
“Oh I remember him, he was cute and what do you mean was Namor, didn’t it work out?” Kate asked
“No, I found out he was married to two other women”
“Oh!” Kate answered with a shocked looked
“After he proposed to me as well” Elanee added
“What a horny, collective pig!” Kate said slamming his name to the floor “Well I think I have found you someone if you’re interested, he is really cute and right up your line of men, he is a holy knight and elven, a Drow actually; he came through here about a year ago and I still remember his perfect carved facial features, rigid rough face with calm eyes and a gentle smile, Cloud was his name…you’d like him”
“I think his soul searching days are over my dear sorry to disappoint you” interrupted Alisianna
“Oh really, and how would you know that Alisianna is it” Kate asked and nodding her head with getting her name right she replied “Because he is my husband”
“Oh I’m sorry Alisianna I had no idea “Kate asked her and nodding with agreement Kate chuckled a little, and whispered to Elanee’s ear “I thought that a guy like Cloud would go for someone a little more slim figured” she added and shutting the book hard growing a darker color to her face she turned away and went to talk to Artanis fully aware of what comment was said.
“What she is still very pretty” Kate said looking to Elanee
“Umm Kate, she’s pregnant”
“Oh my god, are you serious” Kate says embarrassed and shocked and she goes over to apologize, coming back to Elanee she looks to her again, “Well is there anyone in your life now!”
“Actually there is” Elanee responded blushing a bit
“Really, you haven’t acted like this since you went on that stint with the blacksmiths son”
“Kate!” Elanee scolded with embarrassment
“Oh I remember him he was cute to and you two would go off behind the windmill and”
“Ok that’s enough down memory lane” Elanee interrupts her
“Oh come on now, you shouldn’t disrupt such a good story Elanee” commented Artanis eavesdropping
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“Oh I think if I want to keep what dignity I have left I do” she smiles to him
And shaking her head Kate leans in to Elanee’s book “So who is it?” she continues to barrage
“You haven’t acted like this since we went to school together you know that and if you must know its Cloud’s younger brother, Rain”
“The mage” Kate blurts out
“Sorcerer to correct you and yes him”
“Really” Kate replies with question to her tone
“Something wrong with that?” asked Elanee
“Oh no just you never struck me for the weak and intellect type” Kate said
“A mind is not weak!” says Artanis defending Rain
“I meant no disrespect to him, Artanis just a shocking turn for her image that’s all”
And working throughout the night’s flickering candle flames, the three and Kate went through every book and record ever written and recorded in the hall about anything remotely similar to this problem, but after hours they still came up with nothing until a knock from the old oak wooden door was heard, Artanis opened it slowly and peering around the open slit he saw an elderly lady holding an infant in her arms.
“Excuse me sir is Kate with you” she asked him and nodding his head he opened the door for Kate to see her too.
“I’m sorry Kate but I tried putting her down for the night and she just won’t stop fussing”
“Awe that’s ok she probably wondering about what’s going on, babies have a keen sense about these things” Kate responded taking the little enfant into her own arms, and giving her up the elder nanny dismissed herself for the evening. Kate swooshed the enfant very slowly and gently back and forth rocking with her side to side, the candle light flickered in the baby’s eyes which made them glow an intense but calm fiery red color, and above each eye sat a light but distinctive tattoo marking of red outlined drawn flames starting at her eyelid and running to the middle of her forehead, Kate said nothing about such markings not finding them wrong or questionable in any way, and was only concerned about putting the youngling to sleep.
“I didn’t know you had a baby Kate” Said Elanee getting up to see her up close,
“I don’t” she replied “She came with a woman to the church about a week ago and asked if the temple could watch over her until her return” Kate continued and still trying to calm the baby down with no luck better than that of the nanny.
Alisianna moves to see the baby and makes a comment to her,
“I think she’s hungry Kate, watch her mouth when you move her head close to your chest” she smiles to the child.
“I have been giving her water and soft bread, but that’s not enough is it, I think we have a problem; I’m not in the nursing state” and smiling and making funny faces to the little girl Alisianna speaks up,
“No, but I am” and gesturing the notion for her to feed the baby Kate hands the girl to her, taking her firmly in to her cradling arms Alisianna moves to a corner of the room away from sight and moving to a chair to sit towards the wall she exposes her breast for the enfant to feed, and almost instantly the baby takes it and stops her fussing.
“She’ll make a great mother” added Elanee smiling while watching Alisianna rock the baby back and forth while nursing her, and joining in the prideful moment Kate agrees with a wonder in her mind.
“I thought that you need to conceive a child before being able to nurse” she asked
“Being part nymph has given me the ability to hold the nursing milk since birth for my kind nurses infant animals in the wild when the mother’s cannot” Explained Alisianna, Artanis held a grin as he on looked to the breast feeding.
“Now there rests the most fortunate soul in the realm…lucky baby” Artanis said softly and getting a rolling eyed look from the other girls he shrugs his shoulders” I hope that little tyke realizes the golden position she is grasped to, men of all types and skills have spent countless dreams to be in such a state that little one is at just by being a baby” adds Artanis snickering
“All this talk about children has got me thinking of a certain crime dating back before I was even born, of a wizard who needed children for something” Elanee explained vaguely
“You mean that some flesh and blood mage might be responsible for this unearthly act?” questioned Kate and thinking for a second Artanis who was leaning up against a wall smacks his head to the cold bricks and gaining the attention of all in the room,
“Maybe he’s not flesh and blood at all; damn it why didn’t I see this, I’m so mentally blind it hurts” Artanis bolts out
“Well any hurt would be aimed at your head right now are you ok and what are you talking about” Adds Alisianna still nursing the little one
“Nothing that my broken pride and sword won’t mend that is if he is behind this and we catch him before he reaches his goal” Artanis riddles out
“Who are you talking about Artanis, who could be behind this?” Elanee demands
“Malice the power lich!” he answers
“Malice, The lich you freed to save Dawn’s life” Elanee inquired
“The same, after I let him free, I did extensive background checking on him to learn about what he was about and what he might still want, he is trying to gain himself to demi-lich power or god hood in a sense and needs to sacrifice seven children with natural or magical powers in a ritual to accomplish it” Artanis goes on
“Wait I heard about him too, but Artanis doesn’t he have a curse about him something like a deadly sickness that follows him around like a call sign” added Elanee
“Yeah” Artanis says
“So it can’t be him because no one is sick or have even shown any signs in weeks of anything of the sort” Finishes Kate and thinking a second Artanis shakes his head with a smirk like smile to it,
“He’s using Colossus’ M.O; why do the work yourself when you could be protected and unsuspected in the shadows, he has a lackey doing the grunt work for him but who or what I don’t know”
“Well whatever or whoever it is must be keeping the children somewhere, and maybe close by in the forest” suggested Elanee and letting the baby fall asleep Alisianna gives the enfant to Kate who will stay behind, while Elanee uses the support of the commander and available guards to search the tree line and forest for caves and caverns to locate the children and hopefully the culprit to the murders. Splitting off into two groups the one having Elanee Anubis and the commander along with some guards tailing up the rear, and the other consisting of Alisianna, Artanis and the rest of the guards; each group skewers and scathes the trees and rock for signs of anything remotely accessible to the target, but the both come up empty after hours of searching.
But coming back and forming one group again Anubis picks up the scent of something faint, drawing his claws out right and tunneling swiftly into the bush he disappears to follow it, Artanis draws his blades and follows him in with Alisianna in close pursuit. Anubis is followed to a close clearing cut off from the main path and Artanis emerges behind him to see a large human figure standing there crouched and checking the ground, the figure turns around quickly drawing his own sword and stares at Artanis not making any aggressive moves, Alisianna files into the sight of a bladed standoff between the two and moves quickly toward them crying out to Artanis.
“Artanis wait, he’s a friend”
“Alisianna” says Stark holding his blade tight
“Yes, Stark it’s me” she replies and looking closely to her he rambles off something in a tongue unknown to Artanis, Alisianna looks puzzled at the notion and replies back in the same tongue with an added speech of her own, he then in turn answers her and smiling from the outcome lowers his blade and bows to her, and returning the gesture she does the same. Not knowing what happened just now Artanis doesn’t remove his blade so soon; he keeps it fixed to Stark’s direction and then asks Alisianna.
“Ok girl, what memorable event just occurred?” he says to her
“It’s a druid code for identification reasons but Stark why…?”
“I’m hunting a most troubling enemy through these woods, a doppelganger to be precise and in truth due to its shape changing abilities I needed to make sure you were you” Stark went on and hearing the footsteps of more company he turns to see the rest of the scouting party and Elanee in the lead.
“It’s ok guys, everything’s alright, he’s a friend a druid elder named Stark, what is a dopple..” asked Alisianna
“Doppelganger” corrected Stark “It’s a shape shifter and a master at unarmed combat, they have unlimited amount of forms which they only need to see the target to take its very shape, and an undistinguishable one to the original at that” he went on “I am out here searching because of my daughter who has gone missing, and I know he is the cause for some hunters in our clan said they saw me leave the mere with her not more than an hour ago”
“There’s our lackey” added Artanis “He must be working for Malice, collecting the children” he finished finally sheathing his blades with trust.
“If only I was watching her better this wouldn’t have happened” Stark said lowering his head in shame
“Hey, Don’t blame yourself Stark, we’ll find her I promise” Alisianna said with a worded comfort to him
“What do you mean a lackey” Stark asked Artanis
“We think Malice is behind the child kidnappings and that this creature is only helping him get them” Elanee explained “This town your by has had twin cases itself with the same happenings to it as well and that is why we are out here now”
“That is unfortunate to hear” says Stark “Malice was dangerous in his day and now that if what you say is true and he is free, he will be hard to put down, his magical undeathness is immune to most physical attacks and his spell casting powers can overpower even mine, I must right away inform the elders of what has come to pass and…” stopping in mid-sentence Starks focuses on Alisianna’s stomach “Alisianna, are you pregnant?”
“Yes” she blushed “I am” and getting a hug from him in congratulations he quickly throws a worried look to his eyes for her and looking around the group he aims his voice to Artanis
“Artanis is it, I have a special request from me to you, I know that you are the guards of these two beauties and for that I’m thankful; but stay with Alisianna at all times for the child in her womb although not yet born can still be targeted for use in his sacrificial ritual”
“You know about his past” Elanee inquires
“Yes I do, and he might quiet possibly be closer then I fear for others from the forest have lost children as well, three that I know of thus far, and now little Lilly” he sighs “Now I must go and if I don’t return to you in time good luck I wish upon you all” he concludes and with that he molds a portal through a thick three base and disappears through it.
“Ok, Artanis how many children is needed for the ritual?” Elanee questioned
“Does it really matter Elanee, let’s just find them and those kids” protested Alisianna
“I’m sorry Alis, but if we are to do something I need to know if time is on our side for now” Elanee said back to her
“Seven Elanee, he needs Seven” Artanis answered
“And with Lilly taken that so far makes six he has, great only one more does he need” they meet back at the town hall again to reassess their spot, the facts and create a new course of action.
Holding her hand tight to support the thought of total security, a stark looking figure takes Lilly to a portal gate, and upon entering it is taken into a cave dwelling area which was followed by a room with five of the children in attendance. He lets go of her hand and looks into her eyes
“Now remember what we talked about, as long as your here your safe, right” and saying the words to her she nods with a smile.
“Yes, I understand father” she replies and leaving again he tells her to stay behind and that he loves her and will be back when the monster is slain and all is well.
Changing his form to that of his true nature Teremicus leaves the room occupied by the children and heads passed the portal gate he and Lilly came through and down a long corridor. He comes to a room guarded by two skeleton warriors dressed in heavy armor and body shields reaching from the top of their six and a half foot height to the floor, gazing upon the blades they carry he goes by them full knowing their life stealing power making them deadly adversaries in deed. Moving to the solid metal door they guarded they make no attempt to stop him as he touches the door to open it, he slides the door open and stops to see the reaction from the guards, having nothing happen still Teremicus proceeds inward.
He enters to find Malice concocting a brew using two vials of liquid and pouring them carefully into one, Teremicus comes up on his back side and seeing him pour the potions he waits till Malice is finished, upon completion Malice puts down the vials and not turning around at all speaks aloud.
“I told you not to bother me Teremicus, you would think that a creature with a head of your size would carry in it some amount of common sense, but I guess not”
“You knew I was here” Teremicus asked shocked
“Of course; now what do you want” Malice demanded
“We have a problem, in the town” Teremicus added
“Were evil; of course we have problems it’s how we deal with them that make us worthy of books and stories, now what’s the matter have you been found out or do you just have an itch you need me the reach?” Malice said impatiently
“There was a group that came at the request of the town guard to investigate the murders I made, and this woman with them; she can see things, she saw how exactly they were killed” Teremicus went on to explain, Malice hearing this got thinking and scratching his chin with his bone fingers he pondered on it.
“Well then I suggest that you get rid of them as quickly as possible for if they find you and read your mind to locate me Teremicus, you will have my word that the next sight you see will be scrolls and rats after I turn your head into a paper weight for my desk. You said there were others as well, describe them to me” he commands of Teremicus and in doing so Malice over hears the faint resemblance of the one called Artanis and stops him in mid speech, Malice ask him to repeat the description and then smiling a little he gets a look of wonder from Teremicus
“What’s wrong Malice?” he asked
“Nothing, just irony is bittersweet, this one was my aid to freedom, and as I told him before I don’t share the same notion of mercy as he does, kill him with the rest” he ordered from the doppelganger and obeying his command Teremicus leaves the lich’s sight.
Going once again past the dread knight guards conjured up by Malice himself as his last line of defense, and moving slowly down the long corridor Teremicus thinks to himself about how to dispose of the menacing group that showed up.
“I’ll get rid of that cat first of all and then maybe the commander and that Artanis fellow…hey who are you” says Teremicus looking to a figure that was at the archway of the portal, draped in a black Drow looking cloak he turned his head and threw back his hood to reveal his identity; “Captain Stryker, a thousand apologies I did not expect”
“Me to come here” Stryker finished
“Yes, sir I mean Milord” Teremicus stuttered out of his lips
“You had best take heed to who you address in such manners Teremicus; your tone could very well spark your death, now on your feet. I have new orders from the matriarch for you” he commands and in absolute obedience Teremicus gets to his feet from the hastened bow he gave and listens intently
“You have six of the seven required children yes?”
“Oh yes, and the last is going to be a most prized catch, a young enfant just recently sparked with life and for the size and time alive she carries with her tiny frame a buildup of great power”
“Wonderful I’m so pleased”
“Really” Teremicus sparked
“No! Now shut up and listen; you are to take the child to another location and…” stopping in mid-sentence the captain leans over to see if Malice is holding a watchful ear to the conversation
“Milord its ok he can’t hear from in the room and the guards are not able to understand” says Teremicus and ignoring the servant the Captain speaks again
“You will take the child to another location where it will stay hidden until Malice has finished his end of the bargain and delivered the stones, understand”
“As clear as crystal Captain Stryker” Teremicus answers and nodding his own head the captain replies
“Good the sooner we get out of this partnership the better” he finishes and takes his leave of Teremicus through the portal again.