=Varith=

I find myself in the void. It feels like the kind of darkness that consumes all light and energy and leaves... Nothing. This time, though, there is a luminous mist all around. The contrast against the endless void is almost blinding. In places, the mist undulates with an irregular pattern like the beat of a broken heart. In others, it twists around itself forming into loose, elaborate knots. Even after studying them, I fail to find any rhyme or reason to their complex patterns.

“Another dream? I wonder if I can control it...”

I try to manipulate my dream, as I have in the past when realizing I was dreaming. My efforts are futile.

”Is this a nightmare? What is going to charge out of that endless nothing?”

I drift, without control, unable to manipulate the dream. I hang, waiting for the nightmare to truly begin. It never does. A creeping restlessness overcomes me. I impulsively seek solace from the being within…

”...COOORRRRRR!” My inner voice cries out in desperate loneliness.

The fabric of my dreamscape is disrupted as an indistinct blob forms out of fathomless oblivion. I recoil, then remembering the familiar, blobby, shape, I find comfort even in my recollection of memories I would rather forget.

“Cor please... that form anything but that.”

I feel his confusion at my discomfort. Even so he acquiesces my desires and opts for a more human shape. Feeling slightly more comfortable, I start to examine the area once more.

“What is this?”

”Spir....its”

“Spirits?”

Curious, I reach, touching the haze with my mind, like I’ve been doing with Cor. Like tiny waves I could feel them, thousands upon thousands of thoughts and emotions lapping up against me. Over and over they come, non-stop, overwhelming me.

Cor senses me grow distraught at the flood of information and presses toward me protectively. He gives off a growl that I feel vibrate in the innards of my bones. The consciousness’ and their touch pull back all at once. Faster by far than they had onset. They remain far at the periphery of my consciousness , a bear whisper of their previous roar.

Looking at the indistinct haze with a more cautious gaze I send Cor thoughts of gratitude. He twitches in response to my gratitude and feelings of glee leak from his side of the connection.

[Like a child...] The thought lacked the exasperation it held last time. Cor keeps the rampant energy at bay as I float. I let myself slip away, trusting Cor.

=Cor=

[Varith]

He was floats a few strides away from me buoyed by the spiritual energy around us. Even I felt myself relax, an impressive feat, with all that swirls within my mind.

[Memories]

I know that’s what they are, but that doesn’t get me very far. Blizzard like, they are flurry.roken images, distant sounds, flashes of touches and scents long past. But, just like snow, they never stop moving. Dancing through my mind in random patterns, and gathering into jumbles of nonsense.

[Overwhelmed]

It’s not just background noise either, all of it demands attention, slowing down any other attempt at thought. Something else has been growing since I’ve awakened, a desire strong enough to eclipse the icey whirlwinds that are my thoughts.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

[Hungry]

A deep ache, one that Varith had noticed, but didn’t understand. He thought it was a hunger that could reach satiation with food. It wasn’t. He didn’t know yet, but he would, eventually. Until then I would take care of it for him. It was a burden he didn’t need to bear. I work my way around his body, seizing control of his limbs.

As disconnected as he is right now he won’t notice. Carefully I raise myself off the bed and make my way to the door. Halfway across my room my body started to shiver.

[Cold]

Even in the house, it is freezing. I can’t bring his body outside like this. I’d forgotten how inconvenient having a body was. have I ever had one? I can’t remember. It took a bit of searching to find a cloak and don it. Warmer now, I make my way outside, lightening Varith’s body to reduce noise.

Softly, I shut the door behind me. Walking forward, I inhale deeply, then hold my breath. I expel it and with it, I expand my senses. Knowledge concerning this had been one of the few memories I’ve been able to pluck from my cluttered mind.

Varith had already started to utilize this same ability, but nowhere near the level he could. The knowledge stretches, expanding well past the clearing, past Garten even. Around me the world comes alive. The dark forest had become as bright as day. Each individual plant casting its own light. The very air glowed, drowning out the stars own light. Although beautiful it wasn’t sight that allowed me to ‘see’ so far.

Feeling the eddying currents of energy, and how they interacted with something, I was able to gain an accurate understanding of what it was on a spiritual level.

[Fast]

I’d thought it take at least an hour or two to find someone who could provide reasonable sustenance, but I’d been wrong.

Anguish

Like a wave it smashes into my senses, my hunger, rising up violently at its touch. Emotions were not needed in order for Varith to feed. But something inside of him calls out for them, yearning to taste such emotion. It seems especially attracted to those of the darker variety.

[Hatred]

My body twitched out of surprise at the sudden change. My hunger though is undaunted, and continues to pound at me, forcing me to go. At my speed, it isn’t long before I reach the origin. I creep closer as, with closeness, the smell changes to a stench. I wrap the cloak tighter against the night’s chill.

Finally close enough I part the brush in front of me. A scene of murder, no, slaughter meets my eyes. Corpses all around, flung around as if they had been played with by a child. Ripped apart like they might do to a sister's favorite doll.

One lies right in front of. Face caved in, the broken gristle of the nose poking holes through the ruined skin. Eyes popped like grapes inside their sockets, ears plucked off and thrown who knows where. Arms twisted until only their, now stretched, ligaments hold them together, knotted in on themselves.

My gaze travels to the torso that is now a hollowed out cavity, the insides scooped out and flung around. I feel a drop of water, expecting rain I look. Only to be met with the site of entrails strung up in a haphazard manner. The hunger pangs hit me again, reminding why I’m here.

[Girl?]