by Eric Vall
“Strengthened? How?” I wondered how weak the miasma was at first when the demons first brought it into Inati. Had it been nothing more than a terrible bout of flu?
“Well, besides the changes in behavior seen in the victims, a single priestess used to be able to purify an entire city and defend it from the miasma,” Alyona replied as she clutched her hairpin tightly. “Now, most priestesses can barely hold a barrier against it. We haven’t become weaker, but it grows in strength as we do.”
“So, it’s continually evolving? Shit,” I cursed softly and ran my hand through my hair.
If the miasma was consistently evolving over many thousands of years, it meant that eventually there would be no easy way to cure it. Back on Earth, vaccines would be constantly tweaked to stay one step ahead of all the diseases that plagued my old world. It seemed the miasma had already adapted to the purification powers of the priestesses and maybe even fed on their power.
This was a game of chess, and the miasma was winning.
“Okay,” I said as I furrowed my brow. “Walk me through this step by step. First, a villager gets infected, either from the original miasma cloud or from contact with a corrupted individual. Once they’re infected, what happens next?”
“The temple scholars noticed that the mind is affected first before the body starts to degrade. All reason and memory is destroyed by the miasma.” Alyona tugged at the fabric of her nightgown and hummed thoughtfully. “The scholars think that forgetting everything is what now drives the corrupted mad. It’s like their minds have been wiped clean.”
“Hmm … the miasma doesn’t behave like a true viral agent then,” I mused, mostly to myself, as my mind went back to all the pathology classes I’d taken. “Maybe because it isn’t one. The effects of the miasma almost sounds like it could be a neurotoxin.”
“A what?” Laika blinked at me, and her tail twitched.
“Neurotoxin?” Alyona tested out the word, and she tapped a finger against her chin in thought. “Is that a type of poison?”
“Well, kind of.” I quickly launched into an explanation as my mind went through possible toxins that could destroy nerve tissue. “Neurotoxins destroy the central nervous system, and that’s what leads to the mind being damaged. The damage from it is so widespread that it can be anything from epilepsy to dementia to impaired motor functions.”
Laika’s ears drooped, and the confusion remained in her eyes. Alyona’s brow was also furrowed in thought as she stared at her hands.
“My Lady,” Laika murmured in Alyona’s ear, “do you know what a central nervous system is?”
“No.” The priestess gently shook her head.
I opened my mouth to respond, but then movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned back to the trapped miasma on the table, but the black smoke just swirled mysteriously in its prison, like it didn’t want to reveal its secrets. I glared at it, and the words appeared in front of my eyes as if I’d summoned them.
Maybe I had. I still wasn’t sure how it all worked.
Classification: Miasma, a toxic smoke of demonic origin.
Effect: Destroys nerve tissues and causes widespread central nervous system damage that destroys the mind and causes the immune system to attack healthy cells, leading to a breakdown of the body. The infected can be controlled by the creator of the miasma.
Well, this power was certainly handy.
“I know what the miasma is,” I declared as I stood quickly, and the chair I had sat on fell to the floor with a clatter.
“Yes, I’m sure you do,” Laika dryly replied. “We’ve known that it’s miasma for a long time now.”
“No, I mean I know exactly what it does to the body.” I grabbed one of the blank parchments and the jade ink brush I’d played with earlier. “I’ll show you.”
I uncapped one of the inkwells and dipped the brush into the red pigment. On the blank parchment, I sketched the central nervous system. Then I switched the jade ink brush for a dry one and uncapped another inkwell. This time, it was full of black ink, and I drew out a basic body shape around the central nervous system.
Alyona got up from the bed and walked toward the table. Then she leaned over my shoulder, and I could feel the soft pressure of her generous chest against me. My mouth suddenly went dry, but I forced myself to focus on my drawing.
“That almost looks like an atlas of acupuncture points.” The priestess’s index finger hovered in the air as she traced the ink drawing I had made of the central nervous system. “I focus on those points to draw out the miasma when I purify the villagers.”
“Close, but no.” I placed my hand over hers and pulled it up to where I had sketched the brain. “This is the central nervous system, and where I’m from, we’ve learned that this controls all parts of the body and mind. It’s the center of our thoughts and our movement, where all the signals that control our bodies are sent out from. Without it, the body is just a doll.”
Laika leaned over my other shoulder. “And your point is?”
“This is what the miasma is attacking.” I let go of Alyona’s hand and tapped the brain. “It destroys the mind first, just like a neurotoxin, and then it does something so that the miasma controls the victim.”
“And what is that something?” Laika asked as she raised one eyebrow.
“I don’t know yet,” I replied with a frown. “I just know that the creator of the miasma can control whoever it infects, and then it’s all downhill from there unless there’s someone nearby who can heal or purify them.” I tapped the crystal orb and watched as the miasma curled into itself.
“Such a silly and overgrown lizard,” Laika muttered as she walked back to the bed with a yawn. “How can someone control people through the miasma?”
“It isn’t the miasma that controls the corrupted, it just sends the signal.” Alyona tapped a finger onto my sketch of the nervous system. “The miasma is created by the presence of a demon, and just like the demon’s presence, it’s unique. I didn’t realize it before, but the miasma that has been attacking Hatra has had the same presence.”
“That means someone is specifically targeting the city. Why?” My brow furrowed at that thought since the city was in ruins. “What could be here that they’re so desperate to find?”
“There’s nothing here but the villagers and the old ruins.” Laika shrugged helplessly as she raked her hand through her gray hair. “Unless there are bandits in the area, then I don’t think anyone would be targeting a village like this.”
Could that be true? Was there really nothing in the ruins of Hatra that drew the miasma here?
No, there had to be something because the miasma wasn’t attacking for no reason. It had been created by a demon over and over again, and that seemed like a lot of wasted energy unless there was a prize this demon was hoping to win.
“Are you sure there’s nothing?” I asked the two women. “Nothing of value, nothing of importance?”
Laika pursed her lips and looked to Alyona, who frowned.
“The city treasures were never removed,” the priestess mused as she walked over to the bed, sat down on it, and set her hairpin beside the pillow. “Supposedly, they were swallowed by the earth when the miasma and demons first attacked Hatra.”
“What treasures?” My heart began to race at the idea of a vast treasure trove underneath the city ruins that was just waiting to be discovered. The strange buzzing started in my chest again, and I realized it must be my dragon instincts as I imagined gold coins trickling from my fingers.
The priestess shook her head. “I don’t know, I never read the accounting of the city. All I know was that the city was wealthy in both jewels and knowledge.”
I stood and began to pace in order to get rid of my excited energy. I wanted to tear into the earth and start digging already in search of the treasure. Visions of mounds of gold and piles of jewels filled in mind again, and I was already planning the hoard I would build with it. Then, when I had towers and tow
ers of treasure, I’d set Alyona and Laika beside me in the hoard so they could shine brighter than the sun with all the gold that surrounded them. I’d dress them in skimpy outfits, of course, and then I’d delight myself every half hour by running my tongue up and down their smooth skin before I made love to each of them.
“Evan?” the priestess asked. “You seem preoccupied.”
“Do you know where they kept the treasure?” I asked after I cleared my throat. A hunger filled me, and while it was close to lust, it was also the thought of exploring the city that made me tremble with anticipation as I righted the chair and sat down.
“I remember reading that the treasury was along the western gate of the Lunar Palace.” Alyona moved to where I sat and leaned against the back of the chair.
Then the priestess rested her chin against my head, and I nearly sighed from how content her touch made me. Now that I was a dragon, I craved touch so much more than when I was a human. I felt at peace with the two women beside me, and my inner energy went from curious excitement to a peaceful thrum that came out as a low purr.
“Lunar Palace?” There was still a vibrating hum of contentment in my voice as I spoke. “Is that the one with the great dome in the center of the city? What do you know about it?”
The priestess laughed lightly at the sound of my purring, Laika huffed in amusement, and I could almost imagine the swordswoman’s tail wagging languidly.
“Yes, that’s the one.” Alyona’s cool fingers gently wove themselves into my hair, and I leaned into her touch. “The Lunar Palace wasn’t just the residence of Hatra’s ruler, but it was also home to a majority of the governmental offices of the city, from the treasury to the archives to the guard’s headquarters. Supposedly, most of the Lunar Palace was open to all the citizens of Hatra.”
“There might be a clue somewhere in all that.” The thought of treasure and hidden archives tempted me, and I stood up. “I’m gonna go take a look.”
“You mean we should go look,” Laika said, and there was no room for disagreement in her tone. “The Blue Tree Guild was commissioned to help fight the miasma, and as their leader, it is my duty to be part of any and all expeditions.”
“I’ll go with you, too.” Alyona stood and moved to where her cloak hung from a peg on the wall.
“No,” I said firmly as I walked the priestess over to the bed. “You need to rest.”
I didn’t need to look at her health status to know I was right and that she was still fatigued from all the power she had used. A gut feeling that she would continue pushing herself past her limits settled itself in my stomach, and I couldn’t hold back my sigh.
Alyona’s amethyst eyes narrowed as she refused to lay down on the bed. “I am fine.”
“No, you are not.” Laika walked over and gently pushed Alyona down on the bed. “I agree with Evan. You may have healed, but your body still needs to rest.”
Alyona hesitated for a moment before she curled up on the bed. “Fine, but only because you’re both insisting.”
“We’ll be back before you wake up, promise.” I tapped the priestess’s forehead as I smiled and pulled the thick fur blanket over her.
“Rest, my Lady.” The swordswoman picked up her leather gorget from the end of the bed and placed it around her neck. “Whatever we find, we’ll bring you to see.”
“Be careful,” Alyona called after us, and I waved a hand in acknowledgment.
Laika and I walked out of the infirmary and out into the open street. It was still dark outside, but I could feel the gradual shift in the air and the turning of the skies.
If I had to guess, it was probably three or four in the morning. The stars still shone just as brightly as they had earlier, but there was a tinge of silver on the far horizon, like a precursor to the impending dawn.
The wolf-girl next to me stretched her arms above her head and opened her mouth in a wide yawn.
“Tired?” I asked with a smirk.
“You wish,” she scoffed and walked toward the center of the ruined city.
“Hey!” I jogged a bit to catch up with her. “Where are you going?”
Laika’s tail wagged behind her as she turned to look at me. “I thought we were going treasure hunting?”
Her dark gray eyes seemed even darker in the gloom as they reflected the starlight. She was dressed only in the pajamas she had worn earlier and the Blue Tree Guild gorget, but the coolness of the night didn’t seem to bother her.
It did bother her breasts, and her nipples turned into marbles beneath the cloth of her shirt.
I couldn’t help but to be drawn to the sight, and I suddenly realized that she wasn’t wearing a bra. I hadn’t noticed before because of her armor, but now it was quite clear to me that those deliciously pert breasts of hers hadn’t needed any support.
“I don’t know, I’ve got a pretty good view back here.” I smirked back at her as I crossed my arms behind my head.
My enhanced eyesight caught a blush as it started to crawl across the swordswoman’s cheeks, but she turned her head away quickly.
“How rude!” Her tail swished sharply from side to side as she huffed and continued walking in front of me.
I chuckled and followed after her.
There was something odd about the sight before me that I couldn’t pinpoint. I wasn’t sure if it was Laika walking around in her pajamas in a ruined city or if it was something else. I drew my gaze up her body and past the curve of her hips when I realized what was off.
“You didn’t bring your broadsword?” I asked as I caught up to her again. In the short time that I’d known the swordswoman, I’d gotten used to her carrying the weapon everywhere.
She laughed lightly in the darkness. “I doubt I’ll need a broadsword with a dragon around.”
“Getting lazy?” I snorted and hid my hands in my sleeves.
The swordswoman peered her head over her shoulder at me and raised an eyebrow. “I should leave the heavy lifting to you. After all, you’re the dragon here.”
I rolled my eyes at her words but then paused. There was something strange in the air, not like the miasma from before, but something sweeter. It smelled almost like fresh spring water and crisp winter air.
“Do you smell that?” I asked Laika as she came to a stop before me. “It smells like Alyona’s barrier.”
The Demi-Human lifted her nose high in the air as she sniffed in search of the scent. “You’re right, how odd.”
The odor was strangely tantalizing, and my feet turned in its direction of their own accord.
We followed the scent through the twisting and turning roads of Hatra that were no longer in use. I looked upward, and the dome I had seen from a distance when I first came to Hatra now loomed over us threateningly. The aroma started to grow stronger, but when I glanced up, I saw the path we had approached was a dead end.
“Damn.” I kicked a stone pebble against a wall.
Then my heartbeat picked up again, and I felt the rush of blood drum in my ears as the hair rose on my arms.
There was suddenly a rise of power in the air that didn’t come from me.
“What is that?” Laika’s eyes darted all around us in search of the origin of the power. “Was it you?”
“It’s not.” I let my body settle into a loose stance in preparation for anything. “That power isn’t coming from me, it’s coming from somewhere in Hatra.”
Laika also shifted into a battle stance at my side. The fur on her tail had started to bristle again, and her gray ears were erect as they swiveled and searched for any sound.
We stood like that for several long minutes, but nothing happened. The scent remained strong and nearly overwhelming, and the power that had risen around us stayed at the same level as it thrummed in our ears with a steady beat.
I glanced around us with wide eyes, and my heartbeat kicked up a notch as the silence stretched on. I could feel the rise of power in the air, but I couldn’t pinpoint where it came from. Instead, the very atmosp
here felt saturated with it, like a dense and heavy fog.
Then it moved and shifted further ahead of us, and Laika and I broke out into a mad run after it. To chase after it was instinctual, and we both knew we had to reach the source of that sensation.
The feeling was like catnip to me as we were pulled along its path. It lingered just beyond our senses and taunted us to follow. I glanced at Laika as we ran after it, and I knew that she relished the chase just as much as I did. A wild spark had grown inside of her gray eyes, and it shone like thunder.
I lifted my head and laughed into the night sky.
I didn’t know what was happening exactly, but this felt amazing.
We rounded a corner, and the ground suddenly gave way beneath us. Instead of tumbling head over heels, however, we floated downward into the dark abyss. Laika grabbed onto me, and her claws scraped against my skin.
I glanced over to where she was and saw that her ears now lay flat against her head.
“We’ll be fine.” I squeezed her hand back and smiled. A part of me knew I should be panicked, after all we were floating into some mysterious dark hole, but something in my gut told me we weren’t in any danger.
I’d learned to roll with stranger things. Suddenly turning into a dragon really put things into perspective.
“That’s fine for you to say, but what is happening?” she asked between gritted teeth.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, “but somehow, I don’t think it’s something bad.” I peered out around us as we floated downward, but it was a darkness that even my dragon eyes couldn’t pierce.
How strange.
“This darkness is unnatural,” Laika muttered as if she could read my thoughts. Then she tightened her grasp on my hand, and her ears twitched even as they stayed flat on her head.
I had no way of reassuring her since the darkness that surrounded us did seem unnatural, and I didn’t think the swordswoman was inclined to trust my gut feeling.
Still, in the cave I had been able to see perfectly in near pitch black darkness, but here I couldn’t. Whatever kept us in darkness had to be some sort of enchantment like the one that Alyona had placed on her face veil.