Kirheen had been lost in the dark before. It was a familiar space, the abyss of her own mind a strange comfort, but it wasn’t safe. Never safe. There was no voice this time, nobody to help guide her out of the dark. She was alone.
She picked her footing carefully, taking one step after another, eyes straining to see anything in the impenetrable darkness. Her power called to her, a sleeping beast ready to awaken. She reached for it tentatively and found herself afraid of what she felt. Her power had changed, shifted. It had become an ocean, vast and terrifying, beautiful and violent, and she feared what might be unleashed if she called upon it.
Thoughts drifted, floating like lazy clouds in the outskirts of her mind. She tried to reach for them only to have them scatter, disappearing beyond her grasp. The silence was deafening, loneliness encroaching upon her soul. She’d grown so used to having a bond, to sharing her mind, her emotions, and her thoughts. Now she was empty, a dark void without light, without love. Alone. Nothing but thorns.
Alone just as Garild had been, trapped in an angry hollow within his mind. Lost. Empty. Her steps faltered, her body growing weak while her power continued to churn and grow and change. She sank to the ground, unable to drag herself any further. It seemed a perfect time to sleep, to drift to another time and place. No hurt, no worries. Only peace.
Her head bobbed against her chest, eyes closing. Sleep tugged her closer, a shadowy embrace enwrapping her in soothing darkness. Just as she began to melt into a peaceful slumber, something tugged at her mind, pulling her away. Aggravated, she opened her eyes to face the threat, to see what dared lure her away from the sanctuary of sleep.
A single tree had sprouted within her mind, tall and blue and glowing. Branches spread wide, a gentle glow lending sight. At the base of the tree sat Garild, his eyes searching for her in the dark. Kirheen recoiled, retreating further into the shadows. He was a cause of fear and grief and heartbreak, and she couldn’t bring herself to face him.
He stood and peered deeper into the shadows. When he spoke, his voice was strangely gentle. “Hello, old friend.”
Kirheen crept out of the dark, stopping at the edge of the light. When Garild spotted her, he smiled. He radiated warmth and safety but Kirheen knew the truth, knew what she’d left to rot in the darkness of his own hatred. “Why are you here?”
“You called. I answered. What happened to you? Why are you here?”
Thoughts were too far away, too scattered to form an explanation. Something glimmered on the ground next to her feet, a shard of memory waiting to be pieced back together. She bent down, picked it up. It melted in her hands, starlight and warmth. She drank of it, let it fill her, let it restore who she’d once been.
Garild watched with interest. “Let me help you,” he insisted, bending down and picking up another glimmering shard. Together, they collected the pieces and each one was consumed. With each memory, another tree grew, a beautiful forest sprouting to life, driving back the dark. Home.
There was a path through the trees, a door far in the distance that would lead her back to safety. Garild stared at the door for a time before he looked at her. He smiled sadly. “You should go back. You know what will happen if you stay.”
“What about you? Where will you go?”
He gestured to another path branching away from hers. “I’ve my own path to walk for now, but we’ll meet again very soon. Go.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. They walked together, hand in hand, before the path split, sending them traveling in opposite directions. She tried not to feel fear, to feel sadness, as she was left alone once more. She clung to his words, let them lead her out of the darkness.
Eyes fluttered and opened, greeted by the warmth of candlelight. She looked over a spacious room draped in black and silver, the blanket tucked around her shoulders glimmering in the shifting light. She pushed herself up and cried out as a sharp pain tore across her chest. Something warm slid between her breasts and down her belly. She raised a trembling hand to the hurt. Her chest felt seared, a patchwork of rough skin and seeping sores. There was something else, something jagged and uneven pushing its way through her skin.
In a panicked rush, she flung the blanket aside and grabbed for the candle. A mirror on the far side of the room reflected the light burning brightly in her hand and she raced towards it, ignoring the jolt of pain caused by every step. She stumbled to a halt, held the candle close to her chest.
A jagged line ran from collarbone to breast, a path of crystals emerging from beneath her skin, faintly glowing. She ran her fingers across them, trying to convince herself of the truth. Somewhere in the castle, a skeletal man had looked at her, had beckoned. He’d awakened something within her, some power that had been lurking beneath the surface all along.
What have you done? What did you do to me?
The soft glow of the crystals faded, and she watched something dark pool on the damaged skin between them. She brushed her fingers across it, held it up to the light. Corruption squirmed across her fingertips, dripped to the floor between her feet. The candle slipped from her hand, the solitary flame extinguishing on impact.
Only darkness remained.
To my mom,
for never letting me give up on my dreams.
Thank you.
CHAPTER 1
Keha’ro crawled across the ground on his belly, a human snake hiding from the eyes of watchful predators. He clung to the deeper shadows of weathered statues, their surfaces pockmarked from years exposed to the elements. His breath came in ragged gasps as he heaved himself forward, scooping armfuls of glittering black sand as he struggled to reach safety.
The ground was still warm from the intense heat of the sun, now hidden below the skyline, but it was nothing compared to the warmth of his own skin. Fire raged through him, an inferno that threatened to burst forth and consume the world. Every movement caused pain, but he could not stop. To stop was to lose everything. To stop was to become their weapon, a tool, and he would not see such a thing come to pass. He’d rather die and, if the pain he felt was any indication, he’d soon have his wish.
Voices carried from a distant rise and Keha’ro stilled, becoming another shadow amongst many. It was by the blessing of the night sky that he’d made it so far. The moon was but a sliver overhead and his trail remained lost to the dark, but it would not remain so. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see torches glowing on the horizon, orange light flickering against a backdrop of stars. They’d found him.
Driven by fear, Keha’ro pulled himself into a crouch, slinking towards a pale structure half buried in the earth, like a broken tooth jutting out of decayed gums. Power hummed and vibrated, singing to him from beneath his feet. It promised protection and he hurried towards the ruin as fast as he could, limbs burning.
Around the back of the sagging building, he patted the walls, seeking the notch of a loose stone. Fingers slipped into familiar holds and he tugged, relief flooding through him as the stone gave way. A small hole was left, just barely big enough for him to squeeze through. Going feet first, he squirmed his way through the hole, landing on a pile of debris he’d stacked to create makeshift stairs. Safe inside his sanctuary, he reached back outside, gripping the loose stone and tugging it back into place.
The room was pitch black and it was only by memory of his repeated visits that he made it down the pile of debris safely. He staggered into a familiar room, each step in the dark picked carefully. He couldn’t risk a fall, couldn’t risk the noise it might create. The path narrowed and sloped downwards, each step sending a cascade of loose sand into the shadows beyond.
Keha’ro held out a hand and waved it back and forth, awaiting the cold surface of a wall to press against his palm. It was impossible to see anything in the impenetrable dark. His nerves were on edge and when his hand finally collided with something solid, he gave a start, his breath catching in his throat.
He turned to his left and proceeded down another corridor, hand trailing against the
stone surface so he wouldn’t lose his way. He envisioned the structure in his mind; delicate archways, glittering black sand, and walls covered in ancient runes and symbols. He could feel them beneath his fingertips, dips and swirls etched into every surface.
Instinct guided him, an innate sense of the halls lending him confidence despite the darkness impeding his vision. He was almost there. Just a few more turns and he’d be safe. Momentum carried him into a solid sheet of rock and he rebounded with a grunt, ignoring the sharp talons of pain digging painfully into his chest.
There came a grating sound that set the temple to shaking. Bits of sand and rock, loosened by the movement, rained down from above, pelting him with debris. Though he could not see it, he could feel the absence of the wall he’d run in to. He’d made it. He was safe.
Brushing grit from his eyes, he clambered back to his feet, swaying towards the last refuge left in his crumbling world. Sad to think it was a stone that remained his friend when all the others had turned on him. A pale blue light sprang to life in greeting, pulsating in gentle waves. Against the far wall, a great face had been carved into the rock. It was that of a man, all sharp lines and angular features. Elongated ears and a long, lean face showed him to be one of the Orgol, the ancient race of beings that remained little more than slaves to his own kind. Stripped of their power over the years, only remnants remained of their culture. His heart lurched. He could only hope the Orgol back in Korinth would be okay, that they wouldn’t be foolish enough to come chasing after him. If anyone found out what they knew, what they’d learned from Keha’ro, they’d be slaughtered.
The face in the wall glowed bright at his approach and the gentle voice of Rilnir filled his mind. “What has happened? You’re distressed. Are you well, Keha’ro?”
He collapsed in the sand beneath Rilnir, weary muscles unable to carry him any further. “N-no. Something is happening to me. I feel like I’m burning. I can’t…what is happening to me, Ril?” A sharp pain tore across his chest, a thousand needles forcing their way up from beneath his smoldering skin. Warmth slid down his chest and he gasped. Raising a trembling hand, he brushed his fingers across his chest, feeling the sticky warmth of blood, and jagged edges beyond explanation. “Ril, please.”
“Oh my,” Ril whispered. “Stay calm, child. This will pass.”
A scream slipped between gritted teeth, the pain so overwhelming it drowned out all other thoughts. He could feel Rilnir on the outskirts of his mind, his gentle presence a cooling balm for the fire raging within. “Followed,” he managed to gasp between agonized breaths.
“I know. I can sense them. Just get through this, Keha’ro. Stay close to me and I’ll keep you safe until you’ve made it through.” Keha’ro dragged himself closer to his friend and put his back against the wall. “Good, that’s good. Stay calm and stay focused. Close your eyes and don’t open them again until I tell you to.”
“Ril, I don’t…”
“Please trust me. I’ll protect you.”
He was in too much pain to argue. Closing his eyes, he let the fire burn through him, let it consume and feed on what he’d once been. Fingers of flame tore at his very being, stretched it to its very limits. His powers churned and roared, a beast prodded into an awakened rage. There would be no coming back from this. Whatever was happening to him would change him forever.
There were voices shouting beyond the door, his name leaping from angry lips. They had come for him, had found his hiding place beneath the ruins. Fists pounded on unyielding stone and Rilnir swelled with power. There was nothing left to do but trust in his friend and hope that when he opened his eyes next, he’d still be alive.
CHAPTER 2
Tomias formed a mental map of the castle as he rushed down darkened halls and through vacant rooms. He’d been so consumed by his need to find Kirheen that he’d forgotten how to get back to the others, a number of wrong turns leading him in circles. Damn it, Tomias. Focus.
The castle all looked the same; dark gloomy stone, and dust, and rot. Corridor after corridor, endless and vast. He thought his search might never end when the low murmur of voices echoed down the hall. He rushed towards the sound, hoping that it would be familiar faces he’d find and not remnants of the royal guard still loyal to their dead queen. Whoever he found, he just needed to convince them to help before he ran out of time, before Kirheen was lost to him forever.
Somewhere in the castle, part of his soul stood frozen, looking into a spacious room dripping with corruption. Black vines wound up pillars like invasive ivy, stretching towards the sky and blotting out the light. Every inch of it had been alive, squirming and slithering and daring him to set foot in that chaos. And in the middle of it all had been Kirheen, her steps determined, eyes and ears shut to the world.
‘Possessed’ was the only word that came to mind. Something had been inside her, some power beyond his ability to understand. It had lured her to that room, had used her powers to tear open the door, and she’d disappeared into a realm where he could not follow.
He couldn’t fathom how what he’d seen was even possible. It looked just like he’d imagined, just like he’d been told. The Darkness was real and he’d just stared right into the eyes of madness. By the Allseer, who is going to believe this?
As he came skidding around the corner, he nearly slammed into the answer. Mirin was a flash of motion and fury. She lashed out, grabbing him and pinning him to the wall before he could even comprehend what was happening. The other Seekers standing nearby looked startled, their hands raised and ready to attack.
“What is wrong with you?” Mirin hissed. “If you’re trying to get yourself killed, startling people while we’re securing the castle is a great way to do it.”
Her touch flooded his veins with ice. He was terrified of her, terrified of what she could do. She’d nearly broken him when he’d been her prisoner, had rifled through his mind and took what she’d wanted. He’d almost lost everything because of her, lost his memories and his future. And now she was his only hope of saving Kirheen. Perhaps beneath that frozen visage, there was some feeling for the child that she’d borne into the world.
He squirmed out of her grasp, his body relaxing only after he’d put space between them. “We need to talk,” he said, glancing nervously at the other Seekers. “About Kirheen.”
Mirin crossed her arms over her chest, her expression hidden behind the mask she wore to disguise her identity. She sighed heavily, then looked to her fellow Seekers and waved them off. “You look like you just stared death in the face. What happened? Where did you two disappear to? Your friends have been-”
“-Mirin, just listen, please! Something happened to her. I don’t even know how to describe it. She seemed fine this morning and then she changed when we got to the castle. She wandered off and I found her in front of a door and nothing I say or do will get through to her. She went in and the room is covered in…damn it, I don’t know, but I think the Darkness is real.”
“Have you lost your mind? Slow down and start making sense.”
Tomias took a deep breath and forced the words out in what he hoped was a more coherent structure. He needed her to understand. “Kirheen is in danger. There is something in her mind, something controlling her, and it forced her to enter a room in the castle. It’s covered in some sort of corruption and - I think this would all make entirely more sense if I just showed you!”
“A red door?”
“What?”
“The door that she went through, was it red?”
“Yes, big and carved and-”
Mirin was poised for movement the second the words left his mouth. “Let’s go. You can tell me more along the way. My Seekers will follow. I have a feeling we’ll need the help.”
They fled the corridor and he was thankful that Mirin knew the way. He’d been in too much of a panic and the map he’d tried to keep in his head had faded, becoming endless twists and turns that would have had them wandering the castle for days.
Her reaction to the information unsettled him, as if she’d somehow been expecting trouble. He couldn’t help but wonder what she was holding back, what she knew about that nightmarish place. “What’s in that room?”
“I wish I could say for sure. Years ago, Prince Elfrind died under rather mysterious circumstances. That room is his final resting place.”
“Why would she break in there?”
“I know even less than you, so save the questions for later. We’ve got work to do.” They slowed as they neared the room and Tomias could hear the rest of the Seekers following close behind. The hall was littered with splinters of red wood that crunched beneath their boots as they approached. When Mirin caught sight of the room beyond, she froze like a startled deer. “What in the name of the gods is this?”
Tomias had hoped he had been imagining it, that his mind had conjured the image as some sort of strange coping mechanism. Instead, it was just as he’d left it, oozing black, a blemish on every surface in sight. “It’s just like we’d been told.”
“The Darkness? A story. A lie. But this… she’s in there?”
“Yes. I tried to follow but whatever that stuff is, it’s alive. It tried to attack, to keep me from entering the room. I think with all of us together, we’ll be able to go inside, get Kirheen and get the hell out.”
“Let’s hope it’s that easy.”
The rest of the Seekers came to a halt, a gasp sounding from each of them as they looked in to the room. “What is it?” one of them asked. Questions lingered on stilled tongues, eyes dancing with curiosity and fear.
Mirin turned towards her Seekers. “Listen up. Securing the castle is still our top priority and as of now, this has become part of it. That substance beyond the door is a mystery to all of us, but there is someone trapped inside and we’re going to have to get them out. We’ll form a defensive barrier and work together to guard our minds. We’re going to push our way in, get the girl, and get out. Any questions?”
The Allseer Trilogy Page 63