WBM

  Chapter Thirteen

  Skull Island

  ~SV~

  Kolo’s Craftroom, Nearing 3 AM, 677, 29th, October

  As Kolo enters, Lola’s skeletal form seethes, “You filth, you have always been a selfish brother. You are just a snot sniveling, rat rummaging, frightened little stinky slug! You goaded me into fighting that guard! Then hid instead of helping me!” Kolo tries again, “I am sorry Lola, I did not know what the black sword would do! I gathered your ashes, and hurried here to revive you. I rushed to your gravesite, digging up your casket, terrified you were suffering.”

  Lola is unmoved, as she is certain his men did it, not him. Kolo whimpers, “I pried open your coffin, sure I would find you in it. When you were not there-.” He forces a sob, “I dreaded it, yet imposed that horror on myself, I went to Glad’s Well! I was willing to do it, rather than risk leaving you in that fearful place for even a moment.” This causes Lola real dread, it has her floating backward in terror, at where he went. Yet, Lola is hesitant to trust Kolo.

  She is now in his men’s faces as she demands, “Did he really go there?” Nodding, Tad whimpers, “They made me go down in it.” Luke explains, “I lowered him on a rope into Glad’s Well.” Tad says, “I had a lantern, to look for you, it was very scary!” Richard offers, “I carried Kolo to the Well, bringing him to lean over it, so he could look down in it, and call to you. We listened not hearing you. It was very eerie, and it was even worse than the creepy graveyard.”

  Luke says, “He had us leave your grave open, to terrify everyone. Making them think you had risen!” Kolo’s lips twitch into a wicked smirk, as he admits, “Oh yes, I forgot about that, how delicious.” Even Lola grins at the idea of the town’s horror.

  ~*~

  Half Moon Bay, Nearing 3 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Sidonia continues her dream-vision of the Lake Bled Ramblers, this event happened five hours earlier, when it was 10 pm, on the 28th, dark. Nicolas fails to anticipate Leticia’s fury, nor manages to block the dagger, nearly dying before removing it. He still passes out, and dies before coming back to life. He wakes to Leticia’s giggle. Smiling, as she finally feels something. It has been centuries since she allowed herself to feel anything of consequence.

  Nicolas stands, staggering back, he falls against the wall. Nicolas is shocked at Leticia’s accuracy and that she has a weapon, more than at her hate. Sternly, he asks, “Who did you kill?” She mocks, “Well, clearly, I murdered you, but only temporarily. So, it means no one, as you are still able to breathe out another, yet, still the same, annoying question! Really, do you never listen? No wonder I do not miss you or this, if you call what we have anything.”

  Leticia enjoys his stunned look, “I told you I did not want to hear from you ever again. I will do worse if you try, so remember the dagger. You need to go to the Ramblers you have neglected. I am sorry for them, yet I will no longer stay. I predict you will not deal with it- nor them in a way that they deserve. As you choose not to care, yet arrogantly think others should stay loyal and respect you. It is your guilt at knowing you do not deserve our kindness-.”

  She glares at him, “-that has you retreating from us. You did not dare face me, or them, only doing it when you felt justified. Yet you are wrong, and your attempt to humiliate me only fuels my decision that you do not deserve me and never did. You think fear is the same as respect. It is on you how you treat this clan that has sacrificed for you; they are now your responsibility. Doing a fly over will not be enough. If you dare, ask your faithful clan-.”

  Smirking, she slowly adds, “-for your answers.” Suddenly closer, Lady Leticia is beautiful; she states, “I want you to look into their eyes. See their devotion and realize they know you do not care for them. Watch their loyalty and dedication fade, as you further betray them! Failing and disrespect are all you are skilled at. I dare you to recognize their look of disbelief, as you ask the next stupid question, as if it will solve the world’s problems.”

  Nicolas is stunned, she laughs, “Rather than asking if they have food, are they happy, healthy, or in mourning! Sadly, you choose not to learn.” Suddenly, she is gone. He blurs through the Castle, not finding her this time. Nicolas flies over his land, the clan is not with his flocks or herds. He drops inside their camp, instantly feeling it is disrespectful to do so. He realizes Leticia would drop outside the camp, then walk in. He arrogantly snorts, “It is my land!”

  ~*~

  Witch-Shade, Fury vs Rot, Nearing 3 AM 677, 29th, October

  Slaughter’s powerful hit shoves the Necromancer team to the ground. The Necromancer Shade, Death is forced into a blob at Rot’s feet. Slaughter does a quick turn, it brings his teammate Fury with him, doing an inhumanly vicious kick into Rot’s chest; he was left vulnerable since Death is still a ball at his feet. All four feet of the Warlock team hit Rot, knocking the wind out of him. The Warlock team’s hit has sent the Necromancers flying backwards.

  It throws Rot and Death’s blob into the barrier, which shocks them both. The barrier glows green as it stings them; Rot has no protection without the Shade Death around him, and it causes Rot to pass out. The Necromancer team shakes violently as they slide down the dome, collapsing into the dirt. The crowd screams, “Get up!” Others are cheering. The Ringmaster counts to seven and calls the match, since the Necromancer Team is unable to stand up in time.

  Many cheer loudly. The Fight Master yells, “Fury and Slaughter have won. The Warlock team defeats the Necromancers!” The crowd goes wild, the Ringmaster says, “The Warlocks win the second fight. Fury and Slaughter go onto the third match, against the Goth Team, of Crimson and his Shade, Malevolent!” Slaughter yells, “No! I won this on my own, not Fury and not as a team! I, Slaughter, took the Necromancers down and won! Not the puny human, Fury.”

  The Warlock Shade, Slaughter yells, “I demand my name is said first! Fury was no help.” The crowd laughs, as Fury hangs weakly within the controlling Shade. Slaughter yells, “Give me the recognition I earned and deserve!” Shaking his head at this, the Goth Crimson stands saying to Prince Rorik, “I need to talk to the Spirit Bottle Dame, and get ready.” Rorik says, “I might come ringside.” Now glad he lost; Rorik cannot face these fighters with their shades.

  ~*~

  River Road, Nearing 3 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Patch drives the horses down the dark road. Andre leans against Tik’s carriage, remembering Skull Island. Sidonia’s group comes out of the forest, the Clerk is certain it will not be so bad, he sighs with relief, “I do not see what is so-.” As Grekan turns, he sees death on display and screams, “Ahhh!” He is face to face with a mummified corpse, strapped to a large metal X. Grekan shouts, “Why would anyone do this-?” His next scream cuts in seeing more.

  A line of morbidly hung corpses, goes down the road as far as he can see. Grekan groans, “Who did this? Why?” He can hardly speak, “Such a horrid thing!” Sidonia warns, “Keep your voice down. I told you of their history. The slave owners had an army that slaughtered them and displayed them to show everyone, none can escape.” Andre says, “If it were day, you would have seen them all through the forest path we were on!” Grekan looks back at the forest.

  The Scribe now worries he might faint. Andre adds, “This murky green mist around us is very disturbing.” Grekan remarks, “You must have magic in your blood to see color; as I only see normal fog.” Patch says, “I do not see it either. It is dreadful that they staked these victims, so their slaves are too afraid to run away.” Sidonia offers, “Keep your eyes forward or at your feet, and you will be fine.” Grekan groans, “It has been hours, and all too mortifying.”

  The Clerk asks, “Why is every other body upside down?” Patch nods. The Dark Princess replies, “They had more contempt for the men, so only they are upside down.” The area is hilly, after a half hour of passing the line of corpses they come around a bend to see a valley. Grekan sees the stone structures, asking with hope, “Is that the Castle’s village?” Sidonia says, “It is two thousand years older than the Castle. The corpses are the city’s people.” Andre nods.

  She adds, “They created a glorious home where everyone was accepted. Declaring their community to be a sacred place. They named it the Hallowed City.” Grekan says, “At least it has a very pleasant name.” Sidonia sighs, “Not anymore. The killers renamed it The Harrowed City.” Andre says, “Tragic.” Grekan loudly objects, “I hope they died badly and paid for it in Nifl!” She cautions, “Whisper, please. Do not draw attention to us.” Patch frowns at this.

  Sidonia says, “The army killed their run-away slaves and everyone else, not approving of their interracial marriages.” An hour later they reach the cobblestone roads of The Harrowed City. As the dark girl leads them going left and right through the maze of streets, Grekan is certain they are going in a circle. Andre is glad that she knows the way. Patch grumbles, “Is there not a straight road through this town?” Grekan says, “I read straight roads are deadly,”

  He adds, “It allows invaders in too quickly.” She says, “I am unsure why they did it, but it did not save them.” Andre asks, “How do you know which street to take? They seem to all look the same.” She grins, “I learned their markers.” Grekan feels there must be someone living in this city, otherwise why did the Princess insist they stay quiet. He looks for an inn or a tavern to sit and have a drink after all that he has endured. Hearing something, he looks.

  All is deserted and eerily silent. Grekan guesses it is just their footsteps echoing off the walls. He whispers, “It all looks livable. I do not understand why no one buried the dead. How did the corpses get mummified? The birds and animals should have picked their bones clean.” Sidonia whispers, “It is Dark Magic.” Andre gasps, “Oh, that is why that mist was green!” It starts to rain, and then it hails again. Opening a door to the nearest home, they rush in.

  They are shocked at the horror of more dead bodies on the floor. Sidonia turns away, feeling it is disrespectful to gawk, she has tears in her eyes. Grekan says, “Oh this is where the children are.” Andre asks, “They needed an army,” Patch agrees, “Instead of a maze of roads, train people to fight and protect yourselves.” Sidonia replies, “It is not easy for good to be willing to think like evil and anticipate what they will do. They were living far away in peace.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Grekan says, “Princess, I must apologize for not trusting you back at the fort. Worse, I knew better than to side with Tik on anything, let alone against you. I am sorry. I did not see how deadly it was going to become.” She scoffs, “Yes. If I were a Prince, all would not dare to disobey me.” The whispers start; Andre asks Sidonia, “Do you hear that?” She nods, “Our presence has woken the Ghosts of the Harrowing.” Two Shades wail, “Sidonia!”

  “Princess, play with us.” Just then the hail stops, so they run out closing the door; they prefer the rain to ghosts. Grekan asks, “What did you see?” She says, “Just sad spirits. I met them before; I doubt they will try to harm us. I was trying to avoid them frightening you any further.” Once certain the ghosts are not following, their pace slows. Grekan groans, “That was too creepy.”

  ~*~

  Kolo grimly tells Lola, “I called down into that frightful place that caused us so much pain, our suffering, and your death. Honestly after Glad’s Well, I had no idea where else to look!” Lola believes it. Yet, her anger brings her skeletal form, as she hisses, “How is it that I ended up buried with the January rejects taunting and clawing me?” Kolo pleads, “The spell called for Graveyard Dirt. I grabbed the nearest grave dirt, to bring you home sooner.”

  Her brother says, “If I had understood the significance of where the dirt came from, was where you would be sent, I would have opened that area immediately.” Lola calms down recalling him trying to tell her, when she was hitting him, she is slightly appeased. He steps closer, “Understand? Why else would I ever rush to both of our childhood horrors? Getting you back is the only reason I suffered it willingly! I was desperately trying to find you!” Lola trusts this.

  Kolo humbly asks, “Can you forgive me and be happy? I did bring you back… you were scattered.” Lola pouts, “I will try to forgive you.” Her skeletal form changes to her human looking appearance, but she is still just a thin mist. Kolo smiles, “Oh, I cannot wait to tell you.” He proudly adds, “I did as you threatened; I hung Donatello on the gate and burned him to death, taunting him to scream for Lola!” She hisses, “Good!” Yet, she is still glaring.

  His smile fades, as Kolo recalls how he suffered the death he gave Donatello, somehow the guard cursed him. Lola nears Kolo, seething in his face, “Better if I had witnessed it. Happy, if I was the one to do the rotten filth in!” She floats away angrily; he follows pleading, “You are right. I should have captured Donatello and waited for you to execute him. At the time, I was furious and sad. I was mourning you, certain that you were gone from me forever.”

  Kolo tells her, “It was only as I was leaving, that I knew I could not come here, without you. I was then inspired to gather your ashes and essence. Lola softens, as he adds, “I held you in a cloak, I knew I had to try to bring you back. Now you are safe.” Coldly, she says, “Relieved to be here, yes.” Darkly, she nears, “Happy? Not even bloody close!” The Sinister Shade demands, “Where is Nepathi?” The Evil One gives her a slow smile, it makes her furious.

  Lola then becomes curious, “What have you done, brother?” Grinning like a cat with a mouse, Kolo replies, “I have a special treat for you.” Coming nearer, Lola is suspicious, “Really?” Kolo nods, “Nepathi is wrapped up like a gift, just waiting for you.” The Evil One smirks, “I built it, purely for this sort of betrayal.” Lola shouts, “Again? You Demon of the Dark, you started without me!” Grinning as he shakes his head, Kolo replies, “No dear sister.”

  Kolo smirks with pride, “I did not start the torture, I only locked her in. I am giving her lots of mental anguish, as she wonders what comes next. I waited for you.” Lola swirls around with excitement. Yet, she decides his waiting was simply an accident, rather than foresight. She feels he never intended for her to be part of it. He says, “Since Nepathi failed to inform me of the importance of that dirt. I knew you needed the taste of revenge yourself!”

  Lola follows Kolo to the Playroom; the Shade gasps in delight and wisps around the strange metal figure. She asks, “What is it? An iron coffin? I will not be able to touch it!” Kolo says, “I made sure we can both touch it; only the locks and inside are iron, to keep the Witch from using magic. I designed it, and had it made. I call it The Maiden’s Torture.” They hear Nepathi’s struggles and cries from within it. Knowing she is trapped inside, Lola grins.

  She asks, “How does it work? Can I see inside?” Kolo opens the door, Lola has a sinister laugh, seeing Nepathi’s eyes are wide with horror and distress, wondering how painful this new torture will be. The Witch tries to escape, rushing forward as she screams. Her captor shoves the Egyptian back in, latches her waist, neck, wrists, and ankles. Lola looks at the strange holes in the thick walls. Nepathi begs her, “I only did as Kolo asked; he picked the spell!”

  Lola frowns at her twin, as Nepathi adds, “I thought he read the whole thing and understood it! If he even asked, I would have told him.” Lola’s transparent form looks accusingly at her brother, then at Nepathi. As Lola knows both are lying to her. Kolo interjects, “You only did as I asked? You are forgetting to mention the part where you poisoned me, causing me to die, again! I am certain it impeded my clarity and understanding.” Lola’s head whips to him.

  She has sympathy for her brother, as Kolo hisses at Nepathi, “The time it took to come back to life significantly delayed me in finding Lola. If you just said whatever ‘Grave Dirt’ I pick is where she would be, I could have chosen a better way for her to arrive. I never would have needed to tour my childhood horrors, still failing to find her! And it gave Lola torments!” Nodding, Lola agrees.

  ~*~

  Vanna gasps, as Anthony grabs her into his arms. Flipping out his wings, he flies off, hoping no one sees. Vanna notices, “Why are your feathers missing? I thought all vampires had feathers. Did you never have them?” Smiling darkly, he proudly says, “I am a bit of a Fallen Angel.” Vanna laughs, “Really? Will you tell me of it?” Anthony briefly explains, “If one is sentenced, the fall to the lower realms burns their feathers. It happened to me on my illegal drop.”

  He slowly grins, “Into the Shade Realm.” She guesses he will not say more and feels his vague telling of it, has not even scratched the surface of why he did it, and what it caused. She asks, “I assume it happened before I knew you?” Anthony nods. He lands at his Castle on Wolf Mountain. Setting her on her feet, his staff stares as Anthony informs her, “I will tell them you fainted, and I feared for your wellbeing so I took you to be cared for.”

  Anthony nods to his people, “My staff shall show you to a guest room and tend to your needs.” She sighs, “Thank you, for still caring enough to help me. Will you help my son?” She sees his reluctance to commit, Vanna offers, “I accept he is guilty of coercing Alnesa. Still, it was not rape. He does not deserve death. I cannot trust Haldir’s ruling of ten years in his prison either; I fear it will be worse than a quick death if Alrod dies slowly from their abuse.”

  King Anthony only nods, and takes off. The High Lord no longer has romantic feelings for her. He grimly considers it, realizing, ‘After Samala’s betrayals, I might not be capable of having such thoughts or feelings, ever again. Especially when I can never be certain if they will change, I prefer not to risk it.’ Flying back, Anthony hopes his absence was not noticed; yet finds that he really does not care if they saw him leave nor if Haldir is angered by it.

  ~*~

  Nicolas sees he has startled the Rambler clan, he thinks, ‘I can do as I like.’ The somber music abruptly stops, and he sees it in their eyes. They all gasp at Nicolas as if he is a stranger they do not trust. He wonders how this happened, how they lost respect for him and treat him as an outsider, not their lord. He sees a younger man moving toward him. Xiko senses who he is, calming the others as he greets him, “Lord Nicolas.” Nicolas looks for someone familiar.

  Seeing no one he knows, Nicolas cannot recall their names. Realizing he has not spoken to any of them in centuries, and any he had known were dead. Their Lord demands, “What is going on here?” Xiko flinches; Nicolas is annoyed with his own lack of manners. Keeping control of his expression, Xiko only asks, “Lord Nicolas, how may I help you?” Seeing the Vampire’s confused look the Rambler offers, “I am Xiko, the new leader of this clan.”

  Nicolas nods, “What is this noise?” Xiko’s eyes narrow. It is just as Leticia predicted, Nicolas sees he is saying and asking the wrong things. Xiko nods toward the chair, replying, “We are mourning the death of our previous leader, Grigori, and our eldest clansman Trek. This is their funeral, not just noise.” Nicolas is stunned, why did he fail to listen? He feels like an idiot; Leticia had hinted at them mourning. He does not want to feel for them.

  Nicolas huffs, “Oh yes, it is expected Grigori and-.” He already forgot the man’s name, “-well they both look old, for your kind.” Not intending to say it aloud, he sees their disappointment. Making him look like a fool as he realizes there were many Rambler funerals over the centuries. He should have known their custom. Nicolas grumbles, “I am just unfamiliar.” Xiko corrects him, “No. Sadly they did not die of old age and it is our custom to openly cry.”

  Nicolas gives a bored sniff, as their new leader adds, “Then we offer a moment alone for any who feel the need to speak to them one last time. Afterwards, some offer gifts to ease their passing, and many will tell stories of Grigori, and or Trek, how they taught them, and other kindnesses.” Nicolas tries to cover his blunders, stating, “What I am asking is about the blood.” Nicolas notices that this leader is unsurprised, “It is outside one of our crypts.”

  Their Lord sees Xiko knows, but does not wish to tell him. It is as Leticia warned, his questions are poorly put, not well thought out, and ill timed. Nicolas guesses, clearly, the blood is the reason for this funeral. As he states rather than asks, “They seem a bit elderly to be in a fight with each other. Why did they do it by our Crypt or even in the Graveyard?” Xiko shakes his head and Nicolas seethes, “Just tell me what happened to them.”

  Xiko eases a bit as he tells him, “They were murdered.” Nicolas is afraid to ask, yet does, “Do you know who did it?” Xiko replies, “Kristopher.” Nicolas relaxes a bit, but he regrets accusing Leticia of it. He feels like he is pulling teeth and asks, “Why?” He senses the Rambler’s hesitation, wondering at it. Xiko replies, “Grigori was seeking Krist, for he had failed to be at his post last night. Grigori found Kristopher in the graveyard; he likes to hide.”

  Slowly, Xiko adds, “He was supposed to be watching for wolves; Grigori warned him on it previously, and on how he treats the clan. He also felt Krist had an unhealthy obsession, which would get him and us in trouble. When Krist refused to promise to do better, Grigori felt he had to banish him from the clan-.” Nicolas foolishly cuts in, “Obsession with whom?” Seeing Xiko flinch, Nicolas wishes he had not asked, yet it is too late to take it back.

  It is what Xiko feared, he reminds himself he had intended to avoid mentioning it. Xiko debates not telling him, then feels it will be worse if their Lord discovers he had not told him when asked.

  ~*~

  Witch-Shade, Fury vs Slaughter nearing 3 AM, 677, 29th, October

  The Shade, Slaughter, yells to the crowd, “You are here for me, not the wee Human!” As the foolish Shade wanders over by Fury’s bag, his angry teammate, Fury, manages to grab his jar. Fury dabs his finger into his chest wounds. He now writes the rune marks on the jar, as Slaughter shouts to the crowd, “You all came to see me as I am the one who fights and wins!” Fury’s anger at looking like a fool, has him hissing his command against the unruly Shade,

  “Slaughter I revoke your right to enter me!

  You are no longer welcome in my body.

  I force you out back into this Spirit Jar.

  Slaughter you must obey and leave me now!”

  The Blood Magic Spell pulls the Shade out, and into the jar as Slaughter screams, “How dare you revoke me? I won! You refuse to give-.” Fury puts the lid on, silencing Slaughter’s tiresome rant. Tossing the jar on his bag, it smears the blood. Fury does not notice and goes to his medicine man to get his wounds healed.

  ~*~

  Nicolas feels like a fool, as Xiko says, “With Lady Leticia.” Nicolas glares as it hurts to hear it. Nicolas seethes, “Where is he?” Xiko replies, “We tracked Krist into the woods. We will hunt him again at first light.” Nicolas feels the humiliation and fear. Believing he has lost their respect; without thinking it through, he says, “You shall pack up and leave. I want you and all evidence of your clan off my property before dawn.” He does not wait for Xiko’s answer.

  Not wanting to respond to any questions, see or hear their reactions, Nicolas quickly flies off. Lord Nicolas flies into the Castle and searches it again for Leticia, or any signs of Kristopher being there. He finds no evidence of him anywhere in his Castle. No man’s things, no man’s clothes, not even Nicolas’s own items. Finally, he finds one room that is filled to the brim with his old belongings. Nicolas sits on the floor across from the open door of his things.

  He realizes just how poorly he handled his own affairs.

  ~WBM~