by Erik Weir
Dawn’s brow formed a tight V as one of her hands dug in her belt pouch and pulled out a small vial. “She’s not dangerous if I give her medicine. I’d rather give it to her when I know I can lay her down.”
The elf with glasses looked up to the lantern lights half way up the mountain. “I see there is a town on the mountain. Let me bed down my sister and we can talk.”
Victor moved to Night’s other side. The elf reached out, hand sliding slowly across his arm and half holding it. The Blade gave a kind smile, but deep-down warning bells sounded off. The Blade could feel she was another acolyte but the way she carried herself was full of stark madness. A chill ran down his spine as a small smile formed, the Blade helping the elf along.
Lily shook her head, “I don’t…”
Victor shook his head, “Lily, they need help, and we need to help them. We can talk about it when reach the springs.”
The succubus’s eyes smoldered as she watched Victor and Dawn move the dark-haired elf toward the ancient staircase. With a low growl the demoness followed, red eyes on the elves.
The climb up the mountain was slow. Victor was gentle, holding Night by the arm but the elf eyed him with a maddening hunger. Dawn whispered to her sister, words with a soothing and kind tone. Night’s oval eyes would slowly blink as her sister’s words seemed to calm her for short moments. Lily stayed behind them, staff in hand and watching for any hint danger. Victor kept his focus razor sharp on the elf, heart pounding in his chest with every step.
When they reached the village, Cassandra was there holding a lantern and cool eyes on the newcomers.
“More guests I see,” the elderly women smiled with bright teeth.
Lily spoke before anyone could get a word in, “The dark-haired elf is suffering from some kind of madness. Do we have a place that will prevent her from being a danger to herself or others?”
Cassandra nodded. “I know such a place. Follow me.”
The small group followed the ancient Keeper as she led them down the thin street to one of the houses built into the mountain side. Taking out a set of keys from her robe, she opened the iron door and stepped inside. Dawn and Victor lead Night in as Lily followed behind and closed the door behind them.
Inside, the home was modest. A simple large room greeted them before a small hallway and several doors. Cassandra moved with a little extra energy in her step down the small hallway. When she reached the last door, Victor noticed it was made of iron as the other doors to the rooms were made of wood.
“Some of the homes here have special, reinforced rooms. I built them to help protect those who could not protect themselves if Vala’s realm is ever invaded again. You can keep her in there.”
Cassandra handed the key to Dawn. “The lock can be turned from either side with this key. It shall be your responsibility to keep her in line while you’re here. If she is dangerous and not cared for, I will have to send you and her back to Eddor. Do we understand one another?”
Dawn nodded while Night stared at Victor. The blonde elf opened the vial and brought it up to Night’s lips.
“Drink your medicine,” Dawn instructed.
Night shook her head slightly. “It makes me…so sleepy.”
“Drink,” the elf commanded.
Night pouted as she took the vial and drank down the contents. The rest watched as Dawn led her sister into the room. A small lantern glowed on a simple table by a normal bed. The room was mostly hollowed out rock. Dawn helped her sister to the bed and laid her down. The dark-haired elf slowly blinked as she gave Dawn a sad smile. Not long after, her eyes closed and she blissfully began to snore.
Dawn pulled up a thick blanket over her sister. Hand to the sleeping elf’s cheek, Dawn gazed down with sad eyes. Pulling away, she blew out the lantern, walked to the door and closed it shut. Inserting the key, she locked it and let out a long exhale.
Cassandra smiled. “Take a seat in the main room while I go and bring back some tea. I’m sure there is a lot to talk about.”
Heads nodded as the Keeper turned and walked to the front door. Victor, Lily and Dawn stepped into the main room. A simple couch took up one side while a fireplace stood cold and empty against a wall. A small table took up the middle as several chairs stood by it. The trio took seats, Dawn on the couch while Victor and Lily each took a chair. The air was heavy with a subdued gloom. Lily’s expression took on a mask of indifference while Dawn sat, head tilted forward and shadows covering her eyes.
Victor simply sat, shoulders heavy and a distant need growing louder, wanting to comfort the elf. Pain and memories clawed to the surface of his mind and heart, the Blade firming up and pushing them back down again. The Blade wanted to be suspicious but that thought quickly fell to the background. It didn’t matter what the story was, he’d made a promise and he was going to keep it.
Cassandra came back with a tray filled with a tea kettle and tea cups. Kicking the door closed behind her, the Keeper settled the tray on the small table and began pouring into each cup. Tendrils of steam rose up as the scent of jasmine tea filled the room.
“I’ll bring some supplies for our guests…after we discuss matters,” Cassandra smiled as she took a full cup and sat by the elf with glasses.
The room took on a comforting warmth, even with minds curious and wondering what was taking place. Dawn picked up a full tea cup and sipped, her eyes on the steam. Lily picked up a tea cup but simply held it, red eyes on the elf. Victor awkwardly picked up a tea cup while looking to the small group. Not looking down, the tea touched his lips and burned his tongue. Face screwing up in pain, he coughed to distract everyone as he placed the teacup down. Eyes watering from the pain on his tongue, he blinked it away as he tried to focus.
Dawn let out a sigh before she began to speak, “Thank you for taking us in. We truly appreciate it.”
“This is only on the condition you tell us everything. This is Vala’s realm and you may be an acolyte but that doesn’t mean you earned your place here.”
“Lily…,” Victor said as he saw a flash of rage in Lily’s eyes.
The succubus looked to Victor with a hard stare, “Vala may have given her the gift but that doesn’t mean she is innocent. Faith is different from survival, trust, and pain. Vala’s power is returning and that means at any time, someone could betray us and bring about her downfall.”
Lily turned her hard gaze onto Dawn, “I won’t let our faith blind us from those who may serve another or come to destroy what we are achieving.”
Dawn nodded. “I can understand your mistrust. We wouldn’t be here if events didn’t unfold as they have. It may not feel like it, but we truly are grateful.”
“How about we start from the beginning,” Cassandra smiled.
Dawn nodded again. “My sister and I were always believers in Vala, even though her worship is outlawed. Our village was a small tight knit community so we only spoke of Vala between us. Growing up, we were inseparable. Our parents were wonderful until an orc raid killed them as they defended the village. A family member moved in to take care of us and it didn’t take long before they found our hidden shrine to Vala. We were forced to run the very night we were confronted about our worship. Our aunt threatened to tell the village leaders if we didn’t stop. We knew we wouldn’t stop so we fled.
“Wandering from town to village to city, we stayed close. I had to steal for us to eat and my sister took the arcane arts, hoping if she studied enough, we could actually move into a real home and build a better life. We spent years moving around, treated like outcasts, but as long as we had each other we would be fine.”
Dawn shifted in her seat as her eyes looked away. “While I was trying to put food on the table, Night was consumed with gaining more knowledge. She talked endlessly that she was close and soon our troubles would be over. I believed in her and knew no matter how long it took; she would succeed. I just had to take care of us until that wonderful day. At the time, I didn’t know how far she would take it until it was too
late.”
The elf lifted her gaze and stared at Lily, “Night wanted to learn complex magic and for that, she went searching. She scryed into the Night Sun realm, trying to gleam hidden knowledge before moving to the Dark Spire realm.”
Lily’s eyes widened while Cassandra’s gaze lowered. Victor raised an eyebrow as he saw the reactions but unsure what exactly was going on.
“She didn’t,” Lily said in a softer tone.
Dawn nodded. “She spent many nights peering into Dark Spire when her luck ran out. Despite the warnings, she glimpsed the knowledge in that realm and it consumed her. I came home to her mad laughter, gibbering on about things I couldn’t understand. It took months to get a normal word from her and longer to get her to her current state. She had become a danger to herself and others.”
“She looked into the Dark Spire realm and it drove her insane,” Victor said in astonishment.
Lily looked to Victor with sorrow in her eyes, “Like I told you, Dark Spire is a dangerous realm, far more dangerous than any of the other realms. If one is not careful, it can destroy you with a glance.”
Dawn sipped her tea before she continued. “I have prayed to Vala to heal my sister, but I didn’t sit around waiting. I would have someone watch Night as I travelled around Eddor, searching for spells, potions, or knowledge that could reverse her condition. So far, nothing has helped except for potions that can calm her down for periods at a time.
“Now that you have appeared and Vala is returning, I might have a chance to save Night from herself.”
Lily looked down, “I…I don’t know if Vala can help heal Night’s madness.”
“We don’t know that for sure,” Victor quickly added.
The succubus was silent for a moment before parting lips, “You don’t understand the nature of Dark Spire. I’m not even sure I can explain it right. That realm is a place of untold horrors. Night glimpsed something and it took her very sanity. The things that haunt that realm can be stronger than Gods and Goddesses, cosmic evil that can even cause powerful beings to become insane.”
Lily looked to Dawn, “I’m not sure Vala will ever be strong enough to heal the damage.”
Dawn’s expression glowed hot, “I don’t believe that. Vala allowed us to come here. She answered our prayers. She must have some knowledge to help us. I think you don’t have enough faith if you’re giving up so easily!”
Lily’s brow furled, but before anything grew out of control, Cassandra held up her hands. All eyes turned to the elderly woman in silence.
“I think everyone is tired from their recent journeys,” the Keeper turned her attention to Lily, “Vala may indeed have a plan, but it is not for us to know until she is ready to reveal it. I think it is our duty to help two acolytes in their time of need.”
Cassandra turned to Dawn, “You and your sister are welcomed to stay for as long as you need to, under the condition you both become productive and harm no one here in Vala’s realm. If Night cannot control herself, I will see you to the mist cave myself.”
Victor looked to Dawn, “We will do everything we can to help your sister, I promise.”
Lily gave Victor a sideways glance but remained quiet.
Cassandra stood up, “I think there has been a lot of excitement recently. I believe you all should rest before we continue with Vala’s will. Victor, I prepared one of the homes for you to stay in. As for everyone else, get some sleep.”
All heads nodded in agreement, Lily’s head barely nodding.
Dawn looked to Victor with wide eyes, “Thank you Victor.” The elf turned her attention to Cassandra and Lily, “Thank you all.”
Cassandra moved around the table, hands shooing the Blade and Shield, “Off to bed, the both of you. I don’t care where you sleep, but you can’t sleep here.”
Victor and Lily moved to the doorway; Cassandra close behind. The Blade’s back stiffened as the Keeper grabbed his ass on the way out. When all three were outside, Cassandra closed the door behind them.
The Keeper pointed to a home a few doors over. “Victor, your place is right there, next to Lily’s home,” Cassandra winked.
Before either the Blade or Shield could get in another word, the Keeper turned and walked toward her lodge home at the end of the street. A small breeze caressed frayed nerves. Victor closed his eyes, enjoying the cool touch. When he opened them and turned his head, Lily was already gone. The Blade turned his body to see the succubus walking down the street to a doorway, opening it and stepping in.
She’s mad.
The Blade shrugged before walking down the street. Stepping to his doorway, Victor entered the small home and closed the door behind him. Gentle light greeted the Blade as he looked around. The home was almost exactly like Dawn and Night’s place except it only had one bedroom as far as he could see. Not remembering the last time he had a quiet moment, the Blade began to undress as he walked to the bedroom. Clothes puddled on the floor before he reached the bed and flopped down onto his stomach. The recent days took more out of him then he thought. Weakness bled into tired muscles. Thoughts spiraled down the drain of his mind, seeing Dawn and Night before their images blended together into another. Victor pushed it away but almost in spite, an image of Lily’s disapproving gaze filled his mind.
She doesn’t understand.
“I doubt anyone would really understand,” Victor whispered to himself in the dark before sleep whisked him away to slumber’s warm embrace.
Eyes opening, Victor stood in his childhood yard, the sun filling the trees and grass with brilliant light. The Blade smiled as he knew instantly where he was. Looking up into a tree, he could see his tree house amid the vibrant green leaves. Turning, the smile grew broader as a two-story home stood. For a brief moment, the backyard took on happy memories of building forts, water balloon fights and pointing at the stars from a warm sleeping bag. It was a place of magic and the Blade’s heart pumped with joy.
Victor could barely keep his excitement when a shadow touched his body. Turning his attention, the Blade grinned at Lily as she approached, eyes and smile wide. The succubus moved in close, draping her arms on his shoulders. The two kept their loving gaze before Victor leaned in and kissed her, the succubus’s tail wrapped around his thigh as her hips grinded against his growing bulge. The mood turned infectious as the couple began to giggle and laugh like little kids. Lily grabbed Victor’s ass while he cupped hers. Bodies touching, clothes grew restrictive. Victor was about to undress when Lily unwrapped her arms and tail. Light purple hands undid his belt as his manhood stood at full attention. The succubus licked her lips, ready to devour his soul. The Blade was about to let her when a chill seeped into his spine.
Victor put a hand on Lily’s shoulder. The succubus looked up, confused. The Blade fixed his pants and redid his belt, turning and walking toward the house.
Don’t go inside.
“Don’t go inside,” Lily echoed.
The Blade stopped and looked back at the succubus. “Why? It’s just a dream.”
Lily’s expression changed as confusion crawled into her eyes. “Victor…are you really here?”
Confusion touched Victor’s spirit, “Lily? You’re not here…are you?”
“Victor…I….please…don’t go inside. I can feel…something…dark,” the succubus said as she looked around confused.
Victor looked back to the house, the shadows in the windows growing longer. “I have to…I have to check on her.”
Lily slowly followed as Victor walked to the backdoor and opened it. Stepping inside, familiar scents touched his senses. Energy danced along nerves as tightness filled Victor’s shoulders. Eyes growing wider with each step, he passed through the kitchen and into the dark living room. The dreamscape didn’t ripple or writhe, the place crystal clear even in the dark.
Light spilled in from a window, a woman sitting in a wheelchair. The woman didn’t turn her head as Victor stepped in further. Lily appeared at the kitchen doorway, watching as Victor moved t
o the woman in the wheelchair and knelt down to her side. The Blade reached out and took her hand into his. Darkness and shadow were divided by the incoming sunlight.
Victor bowed his head, fighting back the growing sadness and torment. Standing up, he took several steps backwards, a younger version of himself kneeling by the woman in the wheelchair. Lily remained frozen, seeing a younger version of Victor and his normal version stepping back to the middle of the living room.
“Is there anything I can get you,” young Victor asked.
The woman said nothing, eyes staring out the window in silence.
Young Victor gritted his teeth, “Do you need anything, Mom?”
Victor’s mother remained a sitting statue.
“How about some water, I’ll get you some water,” Young Victor said as he stood up and turned.
The front door opened and a man stepped in. Victor looked to his mother as young Victor froze. Lily looked to the man with salt and pepper hair, strong jaw and a kind smile. Closing the door behind him, the man looked to young Victor.
“Lily, leave,” Victor told the succubus.
The demoness didn’t move as the older man stepped in, eyes on young Victor.
“How is she today? Better I hope,” the older man smiled before his lip wrinkled in dismay.
Victor’s mother began to sob, rocking back and forth in her wheelchair. Young Victor stuck out his chest as his lip quivered.
“I’m getting her some water,” Young Victor said with a shaky voice.
Lily stared, seeing a skinnier version of the Blade as fear danced in his eyes. The darkness in the living room grew.
“I can do that. You shouldn’t….shouldn’t…,” the older man trailed off as his eyes darted in his head.
“Dad,” young Victor said, hands shaking.
Eyes took a manic edge as they glared at young Victor. “Why is she crying? What did you do?”
Victor moved to Lily, eyes heavy with sorrow. “Please…leave.”
The succubus didn’t budge. Peering over Victor’s shoulder, she watched as young Victor stood up to his father, fingers curling into fists. Victor’s father rushed through the living room, eyes on Victor’s mother. Young Victor stood in his way, blocking the older man. In a blink, a fist crashed into young Victor’s face, sending him to the floor.