“So, he used you?” Allen questioned. James remained quiet, but looked concerned.
“Yes, he did,” Mara replied, “but it might be the key to stopping Kallisto and the Faith. They threaten Ardana by seeking to awaken the Dark One.”
“Why?” James asked.
“They stand over a source of the magic blight,” she said. “They’re corrupted and insane. The Faith is losing power, so they’d rather see this land destroyed.”
The Moen twins exchanged glances before looking back at her.
“I think we both agree,” Allen said. “After what they’ve done, Ardana’s grudge against Kallikratés is growing.”
“Lady Isabella once mentioned Kallisto being power-hungry and wanting no opposition,” Mara added. “Is awakening the Dark One her answer to the uprising?”
“Rather than destroy the nation herself, she’ll have another do it,” Aspen added. “Someone else will take the blame, and that is Amara, who is fused to the Dark One’s core.”
“And I, who broke most of the seals,” Mara said.
“What else did you find out?” Allen asked.
Mara glanced at him, recalling an important piece of her conversation with Harold.
“Kallisto and Kratés stole the soul of the Dark One, also known as Aazalith.”
The twin brothers watched her in shock.
“Aazalith?” James questioned.
“The Dragon Goddess, and one of the Seven Divines of Thoron,” Aspen explained. “She was known as the first born of Nymera: the Mother of Gods. Aazalith has been missing for thousands of years. The Thoron Sages still patiently await her return.”
The three watched Aspen. It was no surprise the Watcher knew, since she hailed from Thoron. Then the brothers turned to Mara.
“What are you saying?” Allen asked. “Kallisto and Kratés are not gods?”
“No, they never were,” Mara revealed. “They were once members of the Order of Aazalith, a covenant sworn to protect humanity from the magic blight. Both Aazalith’s body and soul is the source of the magic infecting this land. They betrayed the covenant and stole the soul.”
“The Order of Aazalith?” James asked. “Never heard of any of this before.”
Allen folded his arms. “I assume they destroyed the covenant and overwrote it with their own religion, given the Faith’s intolerance for other religions.”
Mara said, “Only four knew about it—Harold, Kallisto, Kratés, and Thalia. Harold might’ve shared the knowledge with the other possessors, but one now remains. Then there’s me, who shared it with you three.”
“What else did you find out?” James inquired.
“He confirmed the locations of two powerful undying. The Succubus and the Forlorn,” Mara said. “The Succubus is Morgan.”
“Morgan?” Allen asked, “Doesn’t she possess the last seal?”
“Who would have thought? I encountered her a few times,” Mara murmured.
“What about the other one? The Forlorn?” Allen continued to inquire.
She sighed. “Amara, and it’s not going to be easy. Harold told me there were more, but he didn’t know their locations.” Mara gestured to Aspen. “He also knew she’s an undying.”
Aspen stared at her. Mara gazed back, wondering if the Watcher read her mind. Was she already aware of the consequences of collecting those souls? Though it wasn’t like she believed it. The commander could’ve said those things to scare her from completing her quest. However, she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. Mara was unable to explain what happened when she defeated Harold.
Allen noticed the sword. “Where did you get this?”
Mara snapped out of her thoughts. Glancing at the sword strapped to her belt, she unsheathed it to show everyone.
James’ eyes went wide. “Is that what I think it is?”
The Watcher approached her. “Lord Slayer Godstruck. It appears you obtained the real one.”
The older twin gawked at Aspen before glancing back at the sword. “Wait, we have a weapon that can defeat them?”
“Tried it on Commander White,” Mara said. “It’s the real thing.”
Allen looked surprised. “Is he…?”
“He’s still alive, but far from pleased with the injury I caused.” Mara stared back at the blade.
“The Faith sought this blade’s destruction for it is the one thing capable of killing their gods,” Aspen said. “So, Harold had a spell casted to hide Godstruck. He bound the spell to the life force of one of the most experienced Silver Thorns he knew.”
She glanced at Aspen. “Saskia…” Mara looked back at the blade. “If she had this, things would’ve turned out different.”
Allen gave a sad smile. “Now you have it. Can’t think of a better person to inherit it. Better not lose it.”
Mara looked back at Allen and thought about her next plan. One of the known undying was out of reach. This left the other one.
“You are going to look for Morgan,” the Watcher announced, her eyes were glowing.
Mara stared at her, realizing Aspen read her mind.
Allen’s eyes widened. “Are you going to—?”
“I don’t know,” Mara interrupted.
The Watcher approached her. “I wish to help, but I need to at least recharge.”
“She’s right,” Allen said. “If Morgan tries anything, she can get you out in an instant.”
“And you can stay with us,” James added. “We can offer you a room.”
“Okay,” Mara replied. She might as well take their offer since she had no where else to go.
***
The Moen brothers hosted a dinner for the four of them. Allen was a terrible cook, which explained why James still lived with him. It was an agreement between the brothers—Allen paid most of their taxes while James did all the cooking and cleaning. Then again, they only had each other.
Chicken and some boiled vegetables were on the menu tonight. Mara watched while a plate was placed before her. The dinner looked very delicious, much better than the rabbit. It had been a while since she had a decent meal. She pulled down her mask. Her eyes were transfixed onto the chicken until she heard Allen clear his throat. Looking up at everyone, Mara noticed their gazes on her. They appeared stunned by her appearance. Then she realized she transformed. Her eyes were glowing yellow. Her lips were parted, revealing elongated canines. The blotches around her eyes grew dark. Feeling embarrassed, Mara willed herself to change back.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “Tend to get a little carried away if I see a decent meal.”
The three just gawked at her. James was the first to smile.
“That’s okay,” he said. “It just means you like it.” James gestured to Allen. “He also tends to get like this whenever I cook.”
The older twin snapped his gaze on him and scowled. “Hey!”
Aspen removed her visor and pulled down her mask. Mara saw her face as the latter gazed back at her.
“You’re not alone,” the Watcher said.
Mara gawked at her, then smiled. It felt good to have a little bit of normalcy, even though she was no longer human.
After the dinner, the brothers took Mara to her room.
“It’s not much,” Allen said while opening the door, “but make yourself at home.”
Mara took a step inside and inspected her new living quarters. The plain-looking room had a bed, a side table, and a dresser. There was also a chair sitting in a corner. The room was small, but appeared to be a better improvement over her bed chambers at Greyward Hold. It actually reminded Mara of her old family home. She looked back at the Moen brothers.
“Thank you.”
The brothers left her alone and closed the door. Mara made herself comfortable. She approached the dresser, then placed her sword on top of it. The hood and cape came off. The huntress discarded them on the chair. She removed her Silver Thorn armour, leaving it on the floor. With only the white tunic and underwear on, Mara climbed into bed and went to
sleep.
Chapter Eight
The Consequence
On the morning of December 13, the two women reached the town of Désir, sitting at the foot of Ghost Mountain. They reached it with the help of the Gateway, which teleported them to the marker outside the town. Désir reminded Mara of Har’ Yhan, though much smaller and surrounded by a thick forest. The mountain was visible over the trees. The sunrise darkened its features, leaving only a silhouette. As soon as they entered the townsite, Mara noticed the lack of any facilities pertaining to the Faith of Kallikratés. Almost every town, village, and city had some form of cathedral or church for people to worship at. None of those were present here. More interesting were the lack of Holy Blades. It appeared the Faith had no presence in Désir. The townsfolk, however, didn’t seem to mind. If she knew this while on the run, Mara would’ve thought to come here.
The two women approached an old man on the streets. He owned white hair and several wrinkles on his face. His posture was very crooked. One of his blue eyes were glazed over.
“Excuse me,” Mara called. “We’re looking for Morgan. Do you know where she is?”
The old man stared at them. “Oh, you are searching for Lady Morgan? Have you come to slay her?”
Mara was taken aback. “No, we’re just looking for her.”
He studied their appearance. “Hmm, you’re not from the Faith.”
“No, we are not,” Aspen said. “The Holy Blades do not allow women to join.”
“Oh, that’s right,” the old man said, “and the Holy Blades don’t come here.”
“Why?” Mara asked. “Is it because of the Succubus?”
The old man gave a weird look. “The Succubus? How rude! Lady Morgan is an upstanding member of our community. She is kind and generous, offering protection for our town. In exchange, she asks for a few lads.”
Mara looked at him with a questioning glance. “For what?”
The man shrugged. “To help around the manor. It’s not easy to run the place alone. Sometimes you need a little help. We offer whatever we can, and she pays well. I’ve helped a few times in my youth. I’d do it again if I weren’t so old.”
“Okay,” Mara responded. “So, where is she?”
The old man gave a blank stare. “Who?”
Mara’s jaw dropped. Did he just ask her such a question? She picked up her jaw and shook her head. “Morgan… We’re looking for Morgan,” she said, feeling a little flustered.
“Oh, Morgan,” he said. “Why are you looking for her?”
It was possible the old man had dementia. Mara began to regret asking him. She glanced at Aspen, wondering if she could read his mind. The Watcher just shrugged. Even Aspen’s mind reading power was no match for his mind. The Watcher turned her gaze elsewhere, leaving Mara to get her answer from the old dithering man.
“Look, we need to talk to her,” Mara said. “Please, can you tell us where—”
“She’s in the forest, east to the town,” Aspen interrupted.
Mara looked back at her, noticing the Watcher’s gaze on an unassuming male on the other side of the street. Her glowing eyes indicated she obtained information from the younger man’s mind. As soon as she finished, the glow in her eyes faded.
Aspen walked away. “I know where her manor is.”
Mara frowned at her while following. “He might have given us her location.”
“He was too old,” Aspen argued. “With his dementia, we would have waited another hour for simple directions.”
“So, you decided to read the mind of another who knew? Without his consent?”
“Last I looked, you never told Allen and James of your predicament.”
Mara stopped and looked at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I know what Commander White told you.” Then Aspen switched her gaze onto Mara. “If you collect all the souls of the undying, Thalia will take over. You will cease to exist.”
Mara froze as she gaped at the Watcher.
Aspen asked, “Do you really believe it?”
She kept her eyes on Aspen before passing her.
“I don’t know,” she muttered.
The Watcher gazed at her. She remained still for a brief moment before following Mara. The two women walked through the town, reaching the edge of the woods.
***
After a while, the two women approached a manor. The lights were on; someone was living here. Mara walked up to the door and knocked three times. She was unsure about seeing Morgan. The last time she saw her was in Har’ Yhan. Much had happened since then, but it still felt awkward to come before her. The door opened to reveal a young man dressed in a black suit. He possessed pale blue eyes and short black hair. His skin was pale. The most notable feature was the goatee on his chin.
“Mara Ashwood, I presume,” he greeted.
Mara was baffled. “You know my name?”
“Yes, Lady Morgan knew you would arrive.” He bowed to them. “My name is Kai. Please, come inside.”
She looked at Aspen in confusion, yet the latter didn’t seem too concerned. They were led to the living room. Mara glanced around, taking note of the fancy interior. The walls were white and pristine. The furniture and paintings looked expensive. The owner lived a very ritzy lifestyle. They were brought before a woman in a dark purple bustle dress clinging tight to her voluptuous figure. A black hood casted a dark shadow over her face while a veil obscured the rest. Morgan appeared as if she were dressed for a funeral. All Mara could see were her full lips.
“Welcome to my home,” Morgan began. She watched Mara while rising from her seat. “I haven’t seen you since Har’ Yhan.”
Mara was unsure if Morgan said those words as a matter of fact or to rub it in. She decided to ignore the comment and said, “I guess you know Harold is dead.”
Morgan smiled. “I’m aware, and have you to thank.” She walked away. “I know why you are here.”
Before entering another room, Morgan gazed at them as if to beckon them. Mara and Aspen followed her. They entered a large dining hall. Inside was a long dining room table filled with all sorts of fruit, bread, and cheese. The butler Mara saw earlier was present, placing food on the table. He turned his head to gaze at her.
Morgan looked amused. “He’s very attractive, yes? Kai has been very good to me.” She sat down at one end of the table. “Come, sit and eat. You must be very hungry.”
Mara gave Morgan a questioning glance. Not even the fine food could distract her. “What are you doing?”
The hostess frowned. “I am showing my hospitality. Is that a crime?” Morgan asked. The two stared at her.
“You realize what’s going on?” Mara questioned. “Kallikratés is trying to break all the seals. Are you not worried they’re coming after you?”
Morgan sighed. “They won’t come because the Faith has no power here,” she replied. “Besides, didn’t you come here to kill me?”
The huntress froze. “Well, I… I…”
“I know Harold sent you,” Morgan said. “You intend to honour his wish, but he never told you what will happen if you complete this quest.” Then, “And I can still sense your resentment towards me over what happened in Har’ Yhan.” She frowned at her. “It must’ve been heartbreaking to see the commander and I together. While you watched, you asked yourself why it couldn’t be you.”
Mara’s hand tightened into a fist, doing her best to keep her cool. Was it so obvious?
“No, I did not,” Mara lied.
Aspen gazed at Mara. She seemed to be aware of her lie, but said nothing.
Morgan smiled underneath her veil. “If it makes you feel better, Commander White thought I was someone else.”
Mara gave a questioning glance. “What?”
“We were terribly drunk,” Morgan admitted. “He thought I was his late wife. I mistook him for a long lost lover. One thing led to another.”
Aspen gazed at Morgan with glowing eyes. “She is telling the truth.”
&nb
sp; Mara gawked at Aspen. It was true—the commander polished off one of the absinthe bottles in five drinks. Then he ruined her dinner. She recalled retiring earlier to her room while the rest stayed behind and continued to drink. It explained the commander’s drunken tirade, and Lady Lorelei and Morgan pressuring her to join them as they watched him bathe. Considering all the details, Morgan’s claims became more believable. Mara looked at Morgan and sat down.
“So, that’s what happened?” Mara felt very guilty for getting upset. It was stupid to hold this grudge against Morgan when she really did nothing wrong. “I’m sorry.”
The older woman smiled. “There’s no need to apologize. Yet the question still remains—are you going to kill me?”
The huntress shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“If you wish to defeat Kallisto, you must collect all the souls of the undying. I am no exception.”
“What will happen when I obtain all of them?” Mara asked. “Commander White claimed I’ll cease to exist. He said I’m nothing but an incomplete copy, just a fragment.”
“You believe him?” Morgan asked. “A man who serves a vainglorious liar. He is under Kallisto’s thrall, believing anything she’ll tell him. He only thinks what she wants him to think.” The older woman said, “I know Kallisto has been trying to prevent the return of the one who can stop her.” Morgan paused. “If you plan to kill me, then please hear my tale.”
Morgan reached for her veil and loosened one end, letting it fall to one side. She reached for her hood and pulled it off. Mara got to see her face for the first time, but was unprepared by what she would see. Morgan’s skin was tanned like Mara’s. Long dark hair flowed down to her back and past her breasts. The hairstyle was similar except for the lack of a braid and being more smooth. Her eyes were golden-blue. Overall, her face was identical, but her lips were a little more fuller on a slightly thinner face. Morgan appeared more matured in comparison. Her body was more curvier with larger breasts and bottom.
Mara stared at her face. It was the first time seeing another undying appear so human. Morgan watched her in silence before beginning her tale.
The Cursed Herald Page 8