WBM
Chapter Twelve
Still Dying to Kill You
~SV~
Witch-Fight Fury vs Rot, After 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
The Warlock Fury, folds his arms, displeased with his Shade, as Slaughter demands all the credit. The Necromancer sees what has happened to Fury, so Rot snorts at him, “You forgot to mark your jar with your blood runes. That is why your Spirit is the Master; he has true possession and control of you!” Frowning, Fury looks at the jar and gasps, “But I am a Witch, how can he have mastery over me?” Rot says, “You willingly took him in and failed to give him rules.”
Rot bites into his own finger, then marks his Spirit Bottle with his Blood Magic Death Runes. The symbols spell it, making sure he is Master of the Shade inside. Rot takes the lid off, puts his mouth to the jar, whispering his spell of controlled possession,
Death, I welcome you in
Death, with you we will win
Death, come join me for this fight
Then Death, you can rest again tonight.
The blue mist in the bottle flows out, going into the Necromancer, through his mouth; then it comes out over Rot. The spectators step back, gasping at this spectacle with glee. Rorik sees the mist of the Necromancer’s Shade, Death as it comes out over Rot’s body, shielding and encasing the Necromancer. Rorik gasps in horror at the blackened teeth, filed into sharp points. As Rot growls, the Prince sees his teeth are the same black sharp points.
The Ghost, Death’s eyes are the blackest, Rorik has ever seen. The mist is not solid so Rot remains visible. Amazed, Rorik says, “I have never seen Shades that look like these! What happened to them?” Crimson laughs, “They were magical in life, and gained more in death; it is a form of a glamor, yet not just visual. These Shades have learned to manipulate their size and full image in frightening ways.” There are dark blue rings about the Shade’s form.
Rorik knows Death’s vile life has caused him to be this dark of a navy tint. Death is quite a bit larger than any ghost he has ever seen. The Warlock’s Spirit, Slaughter is covered in tattoos, as he encases Fury. Slaughter is also a bit bigger than the Necromancer’s Shade, Death is, yet Death is scarier. Slaughter’s eyes are not as black, and the mist’s color is lighter, more of a medium blue. Rorik sees that many in the audience are bringing out their own bottles.
They are taking a spirit inside of them, and their Shades are coming out over each user. Rorik is shocked to see how different each mist form appears to be, each having their own personality and look. Rather than the Spirits having anger at their host, for being controlled by the Witch, they are cheering with excitement and yelling Shades’ names who are fighting. Most of the mortals are chanting for the living fighters, yet some include the Shades.
The Ringmaster whistles, calling out, “We have Death, joining Rot!” The crowd cheers loudly chanting for their bets. He yells, “Versus Slaughter, with Fury!” The crowd whistles, and shouts their encouragement. The Ringmaster calls out, “Reminder no help and no magic. Let the fight begin!” The crowd goes wild, knocking into each other as they attempt to see the fighters in the ring.
~*~
River Road, After 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
Andre wishes he had risked abandoning his post, rather than being stuck with Captain Tik, again. He hates Tik’s obsession with the Princess. And he loathes even more that Kolo grabbed him once he returned. The Evil One compelled Andre into recalling the truth, so he could know if Sidonia really went to Skull Island. As they ride in silence, Andre thinks of what happen after Tik died.
None of the group were close enough to stop Tik’s death. Sidonia pulls the stunned Grekan into a run. Andre and Patch chase after the princess, as she is the priority, not their captain, and they were certain he could not live through that attack. Grekan stumbles along with her, he is still in shock; more from realizing his own deadly decision, and it would have got them killed too. Sidonia brings the group to the rear exit of the fort, opening the metal gate.
The dark princess leads them away from the birds, as she runs for the entrance of the Dread Forest. Turning to look back, Andre sees a few dozen birds, and warns, “The Dread Bandit birds are coming for us!” The birds chase them as they run for the trees; Sidonia yells to the others, “They will turn back, the forest is too dense for their wingspan.” The hail is no longer an issue under the protection of the many trees; the Red Bandit birds, turn going back.
The group stops at the crossroads to get their breath. Andre asks, “What do we do about Tik?” Sidonia states, “Father did not ask him to join us, his fate is on him, he repeatedly refused to listen to me, and nearly got us killed! I will ask a squad from the fortress to retrieve his body.” Patch says, “I guess we could get him, and carry Tik with us.” She disagrees, “The birds are still angry and will attack you; we will leave it to the Vampire Guards, they can mist in.”
They nod as she adds, “The squad can grab Tik, and blur to the pier, with little risk. They need to take Tik to Wolf Mountain’s Castle anyway; we no longer have a staffed healing room here. And, if we have any other problems on our way to the castle, neither of you can defend us, if you are carrying Tik.” Andre nods, “Yes, it is wisest.” She holds her lantern up to look at Grekan, concerned that they might need to carry him. Grekan groans, “How much further?”
Sidonia is vague, “At least an hour before we leave the dark of this forest. The hail and rain might be over by then.” Andre asks, “Princess, which path do we take?” The dark girl nods to the west, “This way.” Andre asks Sidonia, “Where does the other paths lead?” She points, “Straight north leads to the Crossroads Cemetery where the worst criminals are buried.” Patch groans, “Maybe the graveyard was safer.” She sighs, “I chose not to risk shades possessing you.”
Grekan shrieks. Andre asks, “What is down the right fork?” She replies, “East is the Sentencing Circle, witches are executed there. Patch mumbles, “Then, west goes to the Harrowing?” She nods, as Grekan groans, “So there are no good options?” Sidonia says, “It is why they call this the Devil’s Fork.” They are half way through when the sound of the rainstorm ceases, replaced by grim cries in the dark of the forest, fearing, what lurks in the shadows.
A louder wail nearby, has Grekan demanding, “What sort of devil is out there?” Sidonia says calmly, “That was a fox.” Patch smirks, “This forest is rumored to be the most haunted in this realm.” Grekan groans, “And it is just my luck to be here! Why, is this forest more haunted than any others?” She groans, “Guilty witches are sentence and imprisoned inside the trees of Judgment Grove.” Patch has a grim tone, “Many claim to see their faces in the trunks.”
He adds, “And hear their moans, when the wind blows their branches.” Andre says in a tense voice, “Even the Humans in this realm bury their sinful folk in Crossroads Cemetery, it is spelled to keep the spirits from leaving the island, to return and haunt them,” Grekan pleads with Sidonia, “Is that true?” The dark girl sighs, “Yes. It is why I did not take us through the graveyard in the dark.”
~*~
Half Moon Bay, After 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
Sidonia continues her Dream-Vision, it happened five hours earlier. 9:30 pm the 28th, dark. Suddenly, Leticia is gone. Wirf goes to Xiko, asking, “Did Lady Leticia give you, her ruling?” Xiko nods, “We can hunt at first light.” Wirf frowns, “You seem disturbed by her decision.” Xiko halts him, whispering, “She is leaving us. I do understand why, still I am sad that it has hurt Lady Leticia deeply.” Wirf asks, “Is it because of Krist?” Xiko says, “More than that.”
Xiko sighs, “Leticia believes that the clan has lost their respect for her, and her reputation is damaged beyond repair. She feels it has caused us to be unwilling to accept her rulings.” Wirf groans, “I caused that when I questioned her decision.” Xiko nods, “We all did. This is another terrible turn of events, mostly Krist’s fault, all we can do is learn from it. I wish Grigori went to her first, to let her know his reasons for needing to banish Krist. But-.”
Sighing Xiko adds, “-never bringing up their involvement. I wish I had not told her it was part of the reason.” Wirf scoffs, “It is the truth.” Xiko says, “Imagine if it was said to you. I was arrogant!” Wirf offers, “I will apologize to her!” Xiko sighs, “I told her how Krist acted with Mercia. I also apologized, saying I was sorry for handling it poorly, I asked her forgiveness. She forgave us, said I calmed her anger, yet Grigori laid his death and Trek’s at her feet.”
Xiko says, “I sense it will take time, maybe then she will return. I want to make as wise of decisions as Grigori, yet learn this lesson too. One bad decision caused grief and deaths. My gut tells me to be wary, as this is not over. I am trying to guess what it warns me of.” Wirf offers, “You want to kill the Warg, before someone else is bit. And do it yourself, so we do not suffer the Blood Curse.” Xiko sighs, “Yes. I suffer that misfortune. It is best, if I do it.”
~*~
Mystical Realm, After 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
Queen Vanna glares at the High Lord. Anthony raises one eyebrow, and sees her soften a bit. Finally, Vanna sternly implies, “You could have just compelled me to learn what I know.” High Lord Anthony grins, she gives a slight smile, as she is too worn by the events that are out of her control, to have joy. Anthony smirks, “You are right, I could have.” She gives a tired chuckle, seeing his boyish grin. Groaning, she says, “I wish things were as simple-.”
Sighing, Vanna finishes, “As they were when I first met you. Yes, Haldir has implied that I can keep Alrod alive.” High Lord Anthony softly says, “Giving you no choice of disagreeing.” Nodding, she boldly asks, “Can you stop this from happening?” He chuckles darkly, giving her a chill. Anthony then smirks, “Naturally, the simplest way is to kill him. Yet, I must consider the cost to us all; due to perceptions. No one else witnessed his threat against you.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
He softly adds, “So they will feel I had no legitimate reason. I might have risked it anyway; except, the Oracle Obsidian told me of this event over six centuries ago, and she hinted that sort of act will have dire consequences.” She tells him the rest. Vanna wonders what he knows of her son’s and her fate. Anthony states, “No matter what I do I will pay for it.” He thinks, ‘If I am forced to be here and have consequences, I might as well do what I believe is right.’
Anthony looks at his cuff it agrees. He sighs, “At least I will not regret that I did nothing, when I will still suffer the negative outcome anyway. This way I think I can accept my doom.”
~*~
Kolo’s Craftroom, After 2 AM, 677, 29th, October
Lola is nearly invisible as she rushes in looking at the two bound Witches. Lola now demands, “Which Witch caused this?” In Lola’s anger, her skeletal form flashes before them, as she hisses, “Shall I just torture you both?” Quickly, Samala replies, “Nepathi did the spell.” Darciana threatens her, “You hateful disloyal witch, if you cannot keep from ratting on us, I will keep your mouth shut.”
The Queen adds, “It was a spell from the Ramblers’ old grimoire.” Darciana bites her tongue and does a hex to take Samala’s voice. Lola’s scream is haunting, “Where is Nepathi?” Queen Samala is happy to answer, “Kolo took her to t-.” The Mad Queen struggles to speak, finding she cannot, and looks at Darciana with a wide-eyed rage. Darciana grins with satisfaction.
~*~
River Road, Nearing 3 AM, 677, 29th, October
Andre recalls Skull Island
Grekan asks, “Why travel here to this island’s graveyard?” Grimly, Sidonia says, “It would seem strange as the Crossroads Cemetery is not conveniently located. But it is where the realm buries their evil dead. It is spelled to trap their souls from being able to leave the island, other than to take their Death Door and be sentenced.” Grekan moans, “I am sorry I asked, fearing the answer, yet could not help myself. I see sometimes it is better not to know.”
They hear more twigs snapping and the branches moving, as they rush down the dimly lit path. An hour later, they finally, near the opening, Grekan gasps with glee, “Yes, we are nearly out of this horrifying, dark woods. No wonder they call it the Dread Forest.” He notices that the others are too quiet. Again, Grekan cannot help himself, as he asks, “Why are none of you glad to be nearly out of the woods?” Sidonia tells him, “We are heading towards the worst.”
Grekan whines, “After the deadly birds, hurtful hail, and dark trail of mournful noises in the forest? How can it be any worse?” Patch reminds him, “Best not to ask, when you do not want to know.” Nodding, Grekan then gasps, “Just tell me.” Nearly out, Sidonia warns, “We are at the Harrowing. While less dangerous, it is still a haunted place that few are willing to venture through.”
~*~
Lady Leticia blurs into her home, pours some blood, and drinks it more out of the need to feel anything but hollow. Leticia hears him enter behind her and senses who it is, not bothering to turn around. She refills her cup, drains it, refills it, drains it again, and refills it once more. Nicolas states, rather than asking, “How dare you kill someone!” Leticia gets a cold smile at him assuming the worst about her, and it figures he comes when she feels the lowest.
She stays silent letting this cruel accusation sink in. Leticia turns, facing the male she loathes, and loves to loathe. It is just her bad luck that he flew over now and caught the scent of blood. Still, she is not surprised, this is the only reason he bothered to find and speak to her. Leticia scoffs, “Why? Do you suddenly care how I get my blood? Where I get blood? And whose blood it is?” He scowls. Smirking, Leticia quips, “Let me guess, you assume I fly for hours?”
Tauntingly she adds, “To visit the nearest Blood Dens, each night, and satisfy my needs? No, I am certain you imagined I have withered away to nothing, without you, your blood, and pathetic affections.” He frowns wondering at this. Leticia mocks, “And, yet somehow the Castle and land are still well kept.” Nicolas realizes, ‘I failed to consider it. How is she standing the longings of the moon? It has been centuries since I was concerned or worried about her.’
Still without emotion, Leticia says, “I loathe you and never want to see you again. Decide which home-, no which realm you want, and I will stay in the other.” He is silent, unable to think of a proper reply. Nicolas watches her toss another item in her trunk, as she tells him, “Never enter my realm, never say my name, and never approach me; you are dead to me. I told the Ramblers that I am leaving, and to seek you if there is something they cannot handle.”
Stunned it hurts, Nicolas asks, “What happened?” Leticia says coldly, “You mucked about, and now you are finding out, this, is what happens!” Her laugh cuts him deeply. Leticia muses, “I was done, a long time ago. The first century of watching you prowl around I should have killed you, still I assumed you would come to your senses, but you took too long. The next century, I dreamed, of a husband catching you in his bed, killing you, so I could be free.”
His face reddens, as she adds, “For the last century, I only stayed, as I had invested so much time and energy here, that I did not want it to go to ruin. Now, I no longer want this place; it ties me to you. So, I am breaking the final hold you have on me.” Nicolas attempts to keep her with the wrong question, “Whose blood is that?” He knows he should be asking, ‘Can I change your mind.’ She scoffs, “No. Pick your realm.” He huffs, “You cannot leave here!”
Lady Leticia smirks, “Watch me. How dare you think you have the right to tell me what to do, or even ask me anything! After all this time, away, not bothering to care? You have lost all of your rights to me. Now, either pick a realm, or I will pick for you.”
~*~
The Hex has caused Samala to lose her voice. Lola fumes, “Where?” Darciana coldly smiles at Samala’s fury, as the Mad Queen gasps trying to answer, only able to silently mouth the words. Hostile, Lola comes closer. Out of desperation, Lola screams into Samala’s face. The Queen looks accusingly at the Rambler with hatred. Darciana just laughs as she asks, “Having trouble? What is the matter dark cousin? Oh, dear are you unable to find your voice?”
She smirks, “I cannot hear you whine, in that so superior tone of yours. Shame, you cannot rat on us further.” However, it is Sidonia, who Darciana is really worried for and fears what Samala will tell the twins of her location. Lola moans in annoyance, yet is envious of her skill. Lola understands that the Rambler silenced her cousin. The Shade admires Darciana’s wit and knowledge of magic. She wants to learn how to do it, and have her powers back.
Grinning, Lola thinks of how she would hex others too. After nearly being pulled from this realm, she is even more determined to find a way to have the magical body she needs in order to be a powerful Witch. She will start with Kolo, imagining sealing his lips.
Lola intends to get her desires, before someone else has the opportunity to send her to Nifl. Hissing at Samala, Lola demands, “Point, since you cannot speak!” Samala’s wrists are bound.
The Mad Queen uses her pointer finger aiming it at the Throne Room; trying to imply what was past it, the playroom. Darciana laughs at her cousin’s difficulties. Lola scolds herself realizing where else Nepathi is likely to be. As she goes in the Throne Room, she sees the three partially open tombs and goes to peer into Nepathi’s finding her stone coffin is empty. Lola comes back to the Craftroom, yet stops before she threatens the Witches.
Lola hears Kolo’s vile tone coming from the Catacombs. The Shade turns to face its entry, yet refuses to go back in. As Kolo expresses his displeasure, it has her full attention; she can always yell at the witches later. Lola smolders, as Kolo says, “Richard, I want you to bring that ungrateful Shade’s bones to my study. I am going to lock them away in a lead chest. Or I will just destroy them and the Spiteful Spirit too.” Richard replies, “Yes, Master.”
~*~
Leticia grows tired of waiting, “Fine. I will pick. There is nothing more I want to hear from you.” Nicolas realizes she means it. Suddenly he cannot stand the idea that she will no longer be his. He sternly says, “We cannot be killing Humans.” Leticia starts laughing. Yet, it is bitter, as she states, “We? I am not part of your ‘we’! And so, the Lord of this territory does care about something… the spilling of Human Blood. Do I come creeping around you?”
She mocks, “So I can accuse you, at the mere scent of blood? And demand names of your kills?” He growls, “A volcano erupted causing the Blood Moon, while a distance from here, it did throw hot rocks and sparks, spreading fires this way. I am checking to see if any, are a threat to my land; not creeping around you! I caught the scent of blood at your crypt; you are not allowed to kill Humans.” She smirks, “Oh, setting a fire is all it takes to bring you here?”
Leticia rolls her eyes, “If I knew the scent of blood is what it takes to have a conversation, I would have slaughtered a village centuries ago; well, it would only be accusations not the words I use to want to hear, right? However, I never kill the innocent or helpless. If I cared enough to hurt you, I would kill your dirty tarts. Oh, that would have sparked a great many battles for you, as they are all someone else’s wife, daughter, or lover.” She names each one.
Nicolas gasps, as he thought she never knew, and is stunned as well as embarrassed, as she continues to say them all and in order of occurrence. He feels like a fool, having forgotten many of them. Finally, he has remorse, knowing he hurt her when they meant very little to him. Leticia gives a bored sigh, “I stopped caring who or what you do, centuries ago. I take your fake concern over their blood, to mean you want to be Lord Nicolas, of the Human Realm.”
Leticia smiles, “Perfect. I accept that all of this, is now your responsibility. I hope you do not run out of women, so you are never foolish enough to leave this realm… entering mine.” Coldly, she says, “I go to the Mystical Realm tonight. Final warning, there will be deadly consequences for you; so, do not ever enter my realm, or speak to me again!” Leticia and her trunk are gone.
~*~
Lola comes closer to the open doorway, listening and plotting against her twin. She wants to hear every word Kolo utters, listening intently for her conniving brother’s voice. He dabs his bloody face with his handkerchief as they walk. The Evil One fumes, “It will be satisfying to kill the ungrateful Shade. She even broke my face and hands open, after all I did to revive and find her! I will be able to sleep well, once I am certain that she can never hurt me again!”
Recklessly, Kolo forgets how he missed her, “She will learn she went too far this time.” His twin has listened to enough. Lola yells, “I heard you!” Her dark tone rings out, echoing down the Catacombs, like Hell’s Bells warning him, of his grim fate. His eyes widen in horror at his own stupidity, Kolo gasps, “Oh dark demons! Wait Lola, I did not mean it. I am in pain-.” Lola cuts in, seething an ominous hiss, “You better find a helmet, dear brother.”
The Sinister Shade gives a dark chuckle, then howls, “And sleep with your right eye open! Because I am going to find a very large, and extremely heavy mallet, so that I can bash your filthy rotten, betraying, pathetically tiny skull in!”
~*~
Witch-Shade, Fury vs Rot, Nearing 3 AM 677, 29th, October
Crimson and Prince Rorik are up stream on the ledge of the hill, it gives a great view of the fight below. Rorik is startled when the Necromancer fighter leaps at the Warlock, jumping ten feet up, and twenty feet forward, knocking the Warlock backwards. He now sees why the fight ring was nearly four times the size of the ones the Ramblers fight in. The Warlock’s shade, Slaughter swirls, pulling away, Slaughter drags Fury with him, as his host still has no control.
Connected only at their heads, Slaughter goes to the side of Fury’s body, and kicks the coming opponent. It sends Rot flying, but his Spirit, Death, keeps coming forward, and Death’s claws tear into Fury’s chest, giving him bleeding gouges, because the Shade, Slaughter was not shielding him. Fury screams in pain, then Death is pulled away, caused by Rots fall. Slaughter comes back over his host, as Fury yells at him, “You failed to protect me! I am bleeding!”
The crowd of Witches with Shades scream in delight, as Rot and Death start to stand. The Warlock’s Shade does not wait, doing a twenty-five-foot jump. Fury has no choice, he comes with Slaughter, as they land hard onto Rot with Death, as they were standing up; it knocks the Necromancers to their knees. Slaughter with Fury, bring their four fists punching Death with Rot’s vulnerable body, they go down. The crowd explodes with shouts of anger, as others have joy.
~*~
Leticia dresses for travel and gathers a few more things from her room; it is not much. As she looks at it all; it will only remind her of bad things and Nicolas. She selects a few more items, which she can sell, so she does not want for anything, putting them into her trunk. Again, she feels him behind her. Rage at his arrogance has built. And now she is ready to burst. With her back to him, she picks up a weapon, and sneers, “Did you come to insult me further?” Spinning around Leticia throws the dagger. She grins as she sees it impales his chest. She laughs at his stunned expression, as she mocks, “What a delicious surprise. Even I did not expect nor realize that I am ‘Still Dying to Kill You,’ how fun is that!”
~WBM~