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| Whisper of a Demon's Shadow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Tear of Darkness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The water burns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A wind brings death | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The season turns... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ...The Prophecy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Five: where truth lies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A twinge of pain woke Thomas from his numbing darkness. He shielded his eyes from the bright lights that filled the room. Thomas slowly sat up and looked at the grandeur and splendor that surrounded him. Throughout the room - elegantly dressed lords and ladies danced. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Across the room - a lavish feats was laid out and many were partaking of it. The exotic looking delicacies beaconed to him. He tried to stand up - but his legs gave in and he fell back down to the sofa he was laying on. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You had a touch too much wine it seems," a friendly voice commented. He looked up at a young woman whose face was fashionably hidden by a fan. "Perhaps it would be best if you stayed seated for the moment," she suggested with a wink. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Perhaps you're right," he strained. He tried to clear his thoughts - but everything was so chaotic. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are Thomas - if I am not mistaken," she commented. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - think so - not sure. Everything," he began but stopped. She reached over and placed a finger on his lips. Gently she leaned him back so that he was propped up against the wall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you try to do or say too much - you might make yourself ill. Just relax," she reassured. He sighed and closed his eyes. It felt as though the room was spinning. "You - were with the convoy from the west. You have come a long way to see the count," she continued. He opened his eyes and looked over at the woman talking with him. "Your business must be urgent - either that - or you are just a sucker for a party," she teased. He quietly laughed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not - sure," he strained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Would you like to speak with the count? He seems to be free," she suggested. Weakly he nodded. With her aid he stood up. Then slowly the two waded through the collection of dancing nobles. Thomas's eyes drifted in and out of focus. "Highness - this is Thomas - he was with the Western Caravan that arrived the other day," she introduced. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My - it seems as though he has seen better days. Too much brandy perhaps?" the count teased. Everyone at the table laughed. "But seriously - what brings you this way?" he asked with a pleasant smile. He tried to think of an answer - but nothing made sense. All he could see or think of was one word. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Rubius," Thomas whispered. All laughter stopped. The count smiled as he slowly stood up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He - is nothing more than a fairy tale invented to scare the peasants. Don't tell me you believe those tales," the count remarked - once again the table burst out into laughter. Thomas looked away from the count and noticed one of the lords. He was about to look away - when something came over him. "Something the matter?" the count asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - know him," he strained to say. The count looked over at the lord and smirked. He reached over and playfully hit Thomas on the shoulder. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is the man that financed your trip here. If not for him - you would be a sober man," the count remarked with a grin. Thomas looked at the lord. The lord noticed he was being watched - smiled and waved. A jolt of pain stabbed Thomas in the head. "Problem?" the count asked hesitantly. Thomas looked over - the lord looked blurry - yet all else looked clear. He rubbed his eyes. The lord - was no lord! It was the ghoul that had tried to kill him. Lightning flashed - the others changed too. All around him were zombies and skeletons dressed in the tattered rags of aristocracy. Slowly - he turned and looked over at the count. The friendly smile - was gone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - problem," he strained. The count looked over at the young woman by him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your spell failed," the count muttered. Thomas looked over and saw the necromancer he had encountered before - the one he believed killed him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do the best with what I am given," she retorted. The count grabbed her by the hair - hit her across the face and sent her rolling across the dirty cavern floor. Thomas looked over at how still she was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will do better with less - unless you wish to end up like your conjured things," the count hissed. The necromancer stirred and slowly forced herself up to her hands and knees. She looked over at the count - then lowered her eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes - master," she muttered. It was then that the count gripped Thomas by the shoulder. He looked over at the count. He was smiling - it was then that he knew what he was dealing with. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A vampire," he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have been called worse over the past few centuries. How much do you know of this?" he began holding up the scroll that depicted the prophecy. "Do you really think - that some mealy mouthed farmer - would be the chosen one?" he taunted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must think so. You wouldn't have done all this - if you didn't," Thomas retorted weakly. The vampire count gripped Thomas by the throat and lifted him up. The grip of iron began to slowly tighten. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You pathetic fool. I could kill you with but a whim - but - you - amuse me," he muttered dropping him. Thomas nursed his throat as the count sat down on his throne-like chair. "You see - the master - he doesn't want you dead. Not yet," the count continued. He began to explain more things in detail - but Thomas's attention subtly shifted in other places. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By the scents he was picking up - he had to be near or around a bog. Plus the sounds of reptiles both near and distant confirmed that. A sharp kick derailed his train of thought. He looked over and saw the count glaring at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I loathe repetition," he hissed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why am I here?" he slurred weakly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A castle - an outpost of sorts used to be here centuries ago. Then a natural disaster of one sort or another ravaged the area leaving only what you see here," the count began as he sat down on his throne. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What does any of that have to do with my being here?" Thomas asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Speak to me with that tone again - and I will rip out your insolent tongue. When that - palace of sorts collapsed - it took with it - a certain treasure. One that both my master and I have been searching for - for far too long," the count stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And - I am supposed to be able to find it?" Thomas asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - you are the chosen one right? Stands to reason that you might have some luck finding it. Plus - Tia's minions - as diligent as they are - are very slow workers. And time - is no longer a luxury we have," the count stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So - if you and yours have been searching all this time and have found nothing - how am I supposed to?" Thomas rebutted. The count shrugged his shoulders. He was going to say more - when he noticed the undead minions resuming their efforts to sift through the swamp. "What - exactly is this treasure?" he asked - looking back at the count. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing you need worry too much about. A diamond of sorts - no bigger than your thumbnail," he replied coolly. Thomas was going to ask another question when he noticed the markings on the vampire's throne. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where - did that chair come from?" he hesitantly asked. The count looked at the chair in question and smirked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One of her minions found it while wading through a quicksand pit. Took some effort getting it back up - but it was worth it. If you think it might be hidden in this - think again - we searched every facet of it for the better part of a week," he replied. Thomas slowly got up and knelt down before the thrown. The count looked down and watched as Thomas traced his finger along one of the seams. He stopped at a subtle knothole - and pushed the finger in. everything stopped as a clicking noise sounded. A secret panel on the throne opened. All eyes watched as Thomas pulled out a small pouch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tear of Darkness," Thomas muttered as he stepped back - and slowly took out the black diamond. The count rose and stepped towards him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Give it to me now!" the count ordered. Thomas snapped out of his trance and looked at the eager looking vampire. Thomas looked around at the undead creatures that were now encircling him. "Give it to me - and you need never fear Rubius or anyone," he reassured. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't believe you," Thomas replied - gripping the diamond tight in his fist. The vampire growled and lunged at him - gripping his wrist! A dim red aura began to pulse around Thomas. A hissing sound emanated where the vampire touched him. The vampire growled as it hopped away. Thomas looked at the light that was pulsing around him. What is happening - to me?" he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your death if you do not part with that this instant!" the vampire hissed. With a wave of his hand the undead creatures began to close in. Thomas grabbed a broken shovel - wielding it like a weapon. The aura extended around his weapon. He lashed out at a zombie - it burst into flames! The blunt end of the shovel came crashing down on a skeleton - it shattered. Within moments - only three remained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - can't take this from me. If you were able - you would have done so," Thomas remarked. It was then that Tia stomped her foot down on his toe. His grip on the diamond opened - she caught it. A sadistic look crossed the face of the count. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Excellent! Well struck! Now kill the insolent fool - and give me the tear," he ordered triumphantly. Tia looked at the black diamond in her hand - at Thomas - then at the count. "What are you waiting for?" the count demanded. The necromancer closed her eyes and began to chant. A powerful aura began to pulse around her. Wisps of flame began to flow out. "That is enough," he warned - one wisp just barely missing him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think - it is far from so," she retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing?" the count demanded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For almost ten years - I have had to put up with your abuse - the beatings - the belittlement - today - we end all that," she hissed - her eyes flashed open! They were jet-black orbs. She waved a hand at him in an arching motion. Thomas stayed close to the ground as a black wind blew against the vampire. Thomas looked up and saw the wind burning the vampire like an acid. Just then the vampire burst into flames! He watched as he staggered and fell into the swampy waters. The water - ignited. He looked up at Tia who was glaring at the last place the vampire had been. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are - you - going to kill me?" he hesitantly asked. She closed her eyes. The aura faded. She let out a sigh and looked down at Thomas. Much to his surprise - she extended a hand to him. He accepted her help and slowly got up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This - belongs to you," she stated quietly - putting the diamond in his hand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I thought - when you," he began - confusion setting in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I watched you fight - you are the chosen one - but - you have much to learn. The power of the Tear - you needn't grip it so tight to tap into its ancient power. It need only be in your possession. You need only think about it," she explained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why are you telling me this?" he asked hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My parents - were murdered by that bastard. I would have been killed too - but - they learned that I had a gift. I wanted no part of it - but - they made me learn all I could. When I grew - older - he - did things to me - to ensure I remained loyal - under his thrall," she said forcing back her emotions. "When he dragged me here - to find that artifact - the urgency - it told me that - what he sought might be my key to freeing myself from him. And it was," she added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So - what will you do now?" he asked hesitantly. She smiled and looked over at the burning swamp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm going with you," she stated flatly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But why?" he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Someone has to make sure that you don't get yourself killed. Which is what you will do if I'm not watching your back. All you know is what you are told - which I am wagering is precious little. I know more. I know what the Count knew - which is what Rubius told him. If you want to get through this with your skin in tact - you need me," she remarked smugly. Thomas looked at the black diamond then over at the necromancer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So it would seem," he admitted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Try not to sound too grateful - I might develop a complex," she sarcastically remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sorry. So - where do we go from here?" he asked. She tossed him his belongings and picked up her pack. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I heard the Count - he was talking to Rubius about something called the Eye of Light. He wanted to be looking for it instead. Rubius laid into him saying he would do as he was told," she began as they made their way through the burning swamp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where - is this eye?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There is a mine north of here. Just to warn you - it won't be easy. He sent a troll there to find the Eye. And the mine is probably littered with goblins," she pointed out as they made it safely to the other side of the swamp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Better than ghouls or zombies - uh - no disrespect," he remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "None taken. Come - there is much you need to know before we get there," she replied as they made their way down the forest path. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||