Burial of hearts the black widow's malice

by Parnham, N

  “You there, stop what you are doing now”. Said one of the guards as he walked around the corner.

  He began to run towards us, so I quickly released the prisoner who quite happily jumped on the back of the guard, covering his eyes; the guard swayed about as he tried to beat him off, accidentally knocking over a torch in the process.

  The flames began to rise as they touched upon wooden supports that lined the walls around the cells.

  “Avis, we need to get out of here, the place is going to burn down”.

  “I will not go without Camerine. I need his help”.

  “Ok, I will find him, I promise, but please go now”.

  I turned around to see the guard running still with his eyes covered; I backed away as he ran past, not knowing where he was going, he smashed straight through a window.

  Running back down the stairs, the guards had come out in full force, but were easily overcome by the masses of prisoners that were slowly filtering down towards them. I routed my way back outside along with many of the prisoners. Hiding behind a wall, the main entrance doors opened, a group of around thirty guards had gathered outside, alerted by men in the watchtowers.

  “Remain where you are and you shall not be harmed”. Said the man furthest forward. Their words were merely ignored as the prisoners stormed towards them, their own well-being no longer had pride of place in their egos, as they sought to rid the city of those who constantly wielded their power through unmerciful command.

  The guards had pushed forward and the melee was now within the prison grounds; but by no means did they have any advantage; many of the guards were being attacked in groups; they stood no chance.

  Seizing the opportunity, I hid in the shadows, slowly pacing myself around the side of the prison’s wall, sneaking out while they were preoccupied.

  I ran part way down the road; a group of onlookers were stood there, so I merged myself among them, ensuring I did not seem suspicious to anyone.

  There was an enormous explosion in the prison, stonework flew in all directions, landing on a few unfortunate souls as they ran. Flames were now erupting from every window I could see; the guards were overpowered and the few remaining in that area were quickly slain. The watchtowers were pulled down by the prisoners to the dismay of those stood atop, yelling as they fell.

  It was time to go. The prisoners were streaming down into the streets past me. I made my way to Camerine’s house, I was not sure what his wife would make of me coming at this late hour, but at least she would know that, I had left with a promise that he would be released.

  I knocked on the door, louder than I should have really, but soon the city would be full of noise anyway, so I did not see any issue.

  “Avis, what in God’s name are you doing here at this time of the night, some of us have to sleep you know”.

  “I have the book and Camerine is going to be out of prison soon”. I said while I handed her over the book, her eyes now giving a less formidable look.

  She opened the door for me, the elder I had spoken to before was awake, examining an artefact that he had found recently.

  “So you managed to get the book I see and how did you go about that? I was somehow expecting an all but certain failure from you”.

  “I released the prisoners from… ”.

  “Ok, I am not going to let you finish that sentence, this is the last time I am going to talk to you because of your sheer foolishness. I will be keeping this and you can go”.

  “Excuse me? I think you will find we had an agreement; the book for the vessel? Now I have given you the book, I would expect you to hold up your end of the agreement”.

  “Well actually Avis, I think you will find that I did not agree to the proposition, I merely said I would consider it and now you have let chaos run throughout our streets; which will no doubt cause us more trouble”.

  I was led out of the house, back onto the street; the slamming of the door was clear to hear. Very well, I thought to myself, I will do this by myself, there must be another way to get to this blasted amulet.

  I walked back to the edge of the centre of the city; now in disarray, people were smashing the windows of both homes and shops, looting all that they could find. Wizards cast forth magick upon the city, causing immense flames to roll upon the streets, like tumbleweed does the fields, setting fire to all houses that they touched; whether rich or poor, everywhere it moved was set ablaze.

  Among the townsfolk running around, women often passed by, clutching onto their babies as they made their way out of the city.

  Guards began to trickle down into the centre of the city where most of the commotion was taking place. Even individuals who had not been in the prison were involving themselves; tying up the guards and beating them without any remorse.

  Fredrom came running out of the slaughterhouse his hands cupped between his legs, chasing after a very lively hog, whom must have been scared by all the shouting. It ran rather fast for such a small animal and Fredrom tried to keep up, but was met with a saucepan upon his face, as a protective mother thought she was to be attacked.

  The medicine man that had treated Camerine’s mother walked down the street away from his shop, which by now was most likely burning as well as the others. He looked to where a troop of ten guards were marching down; barging past him without an apology, he felt it was about time to give them an ample slice of reprisal. Opening up one of the jars that he stored within his shop, he took a handful of an emerald green dust and blew it over the guards; in an instant their bodies were transformed, shrinking to a size even a dwarf would merrily look down upon. They squealed. Their voices now more like that of a mouse, running as their swords and daggers fell down around them.

  “It was her, that woman freed them”. Bellowed the guard that had jumped out of the prison window, his face now bruised from the fall. He was stood there pointing over at me, while Hecate peered, yearning for my blood.

  “You thoughtless woman, look at what you have done”.

  Her body moved towards me as though time had lapsed, leaving trails as she came before me.

  Around me, poisonous plants caressed each other as they rose up from the gaps in the ground; flowers of beauty, tainted by nature's sting blossomed forth, reaching out to touch my skin.

  “I kindly took you into my home and provided you with a suitable job for your skills and this is how you return my kind gesture? By transforming the city into chaos. Well that my dear, will be the last misfortune you will achieve”.

  She reached out for me; I backed away, her face showing irritation, she grasped out for me again, but I again took a step back, leaping myself over the plants that surrounded me, brushing the soles of my shoes upon them; the touching of which scorched at the tough leather soles.

  “Do not be foolish Avis”. Hecate said as she slowly paced towards me.

  I stepped back, then looking behind me I ran. Her laugh rose up from the clamour of noise that surrounded us.

  “Do not think you can escape me; I am most powerful and all who seek refuge from suffering will do my bidding”.

  She instructed the guards to block the exit out of the city.

  “See Avis, you have but no hope left now”.

  A gliding swirl of lightning struck down upon the feet of Hecate, knocking her inelegantly across the ground.

  “I hear you say you are most powerful, if that is so, perhaps you could be as kind to show me?”.

  The sorcerer whom was destined to be encaged had now escaped, in part thanks to my actions. At his command, the trees that lay outside the walls of the city were given true life, the gift of consciousness. They smashed through the walls of the city, smiting every guard that sought to stop them. Hecate stooped as they swung for her, igniting the roots they used to walk, so they became raging fires that crashed and burned into the homes and shops of the city folk.

  Now enraged her teeth became as fires passion, as she sought out the power of the evening's moon. Her hands outreached, sh
e drew a sign upon the air; as she did the movements that she made cut an outline of a symbol deep upon the ground. All around us became surrounded, as if the sky had been forced to bow down before us. Small spheres of light rose up from the symbol into the air, joining as one in a medley of abominations, snatched from the womb of death. A creature arose, the body of which was lavished with the jewels of an ungodly hoard; holding onto a sword curved almost as a scythe, it swept towards the sorcerer who stood defiantly below, his gaze motionless at the sight of such horrendous wonders.

  “Hecate, is this all but your power allows?”.

  The focus now placed sternly upon him, her body seemed to motion the creature in every action it took, grasping upon the sorcerer, it thundered thirsts bitter in envy, that he was permitted to bypass the demise she sought for him.

  Around us men and women ran amongst each other; their possessions loosely held, falling without regret. The screams in the darkness held true to a distorted nightmare, where even the righteous hid, cowering.

  As they sought to prove the other wrong, I slid from amongst the vicious chaos and began to run; In seeing me Hecate cast out the most dreadful creature; one which had notable similarities with that of a dog, but the body of which was twisted, the flesh turned in ways, as if the skin had become unfurled.

  As fast as my legs could run, is the pace I chose. Up past all classes of homes, often becoming a victim of a snarling bite upon my legs, then striking the creature with whatever formidable object(s) that lay in waiting.

  I leapt up the wall of Hecate’s home and tried to pull myself over; the creature, mastered by Hecate, reached for me, ripping out flesh from upon my leg. Howling in agony, I reached for the dagger that I had bought; slicing at the fangs that threatened me, I managed to fight it off, enough so that it gave me a chance to pull myself over, dropping down, falling upon the leg that had been carved by ruthlessness.

  Catching my breath, I looked up to the creature, now trying to rip away at the metal gates that held it back from me.

  Through all the roaring, I began to hear a new noise, that of rustling robed by hissing. Turning, my eyes were met by the sight of a snake coming from out of the darkness. Extended up, it grimly revealed fangs, enormous in size, dripping spitefully with venom.

  We were frozen in time, waiting for the other to take movement as their choice, our eyes passing unfelt blows, locked in a battle of supremacy. With a proud hiss, swept in fevers, it slithered to me, striking in an untoward manner; I clutched atop of the creature, my eyes showing no mercy, I cut at the tough outer skin, watching with spearheaded anger as I it took the creature’s life.

  “That was easy”. I said to myself.

  Without any sense of a warning, as if a storm approaching without a cloud to carry it, Hecate cast forth magick so powerful, that I could see in my final moment, the front of her home collapsing affront of me; and then there was all but darkness around me.

  I lay silent, in the midst of nowhere, just as I had when I began; looking for somewhere I could not see and anywhere I did not know. The sounds that haunted me before, were no longer playing their sinful tune, nothing but emptiness.

  Where am I? Am I alive? I did not know what to think. Then I heard the murmuring of my name.

  “Avis”. Someone or something said, repeatedly.

  I gazed around, but in a featureless place, was I looking up or down, forward or back; the stars, cold as they may be in the night sky, they did not even reveal themselves unto me.

  “Avis, Avis, Avis, Avis”.

  “Who is there?”. I cried out.

  I felt a warm touch upon my shoulder. It was somehow familiar; a man’s hand, strong but caring.

  I turned, my face in disbelief, a finger touched my lips gently; in a whispered voice he spoke.

  “My darling, do not speak, for they may hear you”.

  He held his arms around me from aback. I relished his touch.

  “I love you Alexander”. Were the words that I wished to say to him; somehow I knew that he felt them, as he wiped away my tears.

  Through him, I could see around me, the light glorious upon his tender face. Those lips as a compass, guiding me into his soul and his eyes, torn from heaven asunder. I felt the burst of joy within me; his arms so muscular, they protected me and now they are comforting me.

  “I will guide you”. He said as he placed his hand within mine, gently stroking my palm with one finger, as he always used to.

  I felt his power grow within me, embracing my being; the world around me rose from the darkness, now absent from the darkened veil, revealing what was before.

  It was as if I was within myself, but also gazing down upon myself.

  I stood from wherein I fell. My body plagued with pain, unspeakable by the tongue of man. I shouted over to Hecate as she was walking away:

  “You will not silence me”.

  Hecate turning, her face changed from shock to anger. My eyes frosted, I felt the bitter stench of hatred curled up in the fist of Hecate. We ran towards each other, our paths not faltering; I leapt upon her, my hands burning slowly upon her flesh, causing them to weep blood, rich in terror.

  “Avis, you know, you will not defeat me”.

  “I may not be able to”. I said with a slight pause and the turn of the head.

  “But we will”. I shouted as I turned back towards her.

  Arising, I drew my arms apart and a sea of darkness, swept from behind her home; creatures risen from their restless sleep, flew amongst each other, their reach without end. I drew down my arms and they poured down upon her like wine, ripping at her flesh, as rebels against her cause.

  She stood, casting off the creatures with her luckless intensity. I smiled as I stood before her, withholding her with magick. Her face now turned to fear, a sight I had never perceived.

  She inhaled deeply, her eyes lost within grim temptations, her desire tore free from the bonds which held it; her body now reaping the colours of death.

  Lifting her head up towards the sky, the ground around us tumbled; I slipped, holding onto the edge as she lurched over me.

  “I pity you Avis, for you must now truly suffer a second death”. Her voice had changed, now rough as a lion’s call.

  I clambered away from her, her eyes now blackened, she let out a sickening cry and turned her attention to where her throne was situated.

  “Avis, end it”. He shouted.

  I turned to see Camerine before Hecate’s throne; kneeled down, the vessel was now united with the rightful gemstone. He raised up his arms, dagger in hand and impaled it upon his innocent skin.

  “No, I screamed, climbing back up as I did”.

  Falling, his blood trickled down upon and around the vessel; his last resort to help his people.

  “A willing sacrifice”. I said to myself; looking upon the key that she held; it was shining vividly upon her, as was the door which lay behind her throne.

  I ran, every motion shown to me clearly, all details beloved in each moment. I passed Hecate, grasping the key that she clutched to.

  “No”. She roared.

  “That is mine”.

  She reached for me, but in turning I became infuriated by her repulsive touch. I lashed out at her.

  “He was my friend, it was because of you he died. And it will be because of me, that you shall”.

  My wrath declared upon her, I expelled all my hatred for her acts in one; a fire so ferocious it could no longer be contained; it shot forth swollen by vicious intent, knocking Hecate to the gates of her once exquisite home.

  Running, I stood before the door aback of her throne, the moonstones were now shining brightly. I took a deep breath and placed the key within the door, turning it clockwise.

  The door opened; before me lay all that I had searched for. There was stillness in the air, the chirping of birds was long forgotten in this late hour; my eyes locked upon the glistening of the amulet, the beauty it held was unlike any jewel I had witnessed before.

>   Stepping forwards, I felt a small degree of relief within myself, but this relief soon shrank as Hecate rose back up again.

  Her body stained by uncountable burns; without a murmur she heaved her body towards me, ash breaking away from where once skin was found. Her hands gutted, she was but a shell of her being, where formidable evil revealed itself, in chalices filled of her victims’ lavished blood.

  Her pride marching with her, we erupted with all, withholding none. Bound to demise, she fought without elegance, foregoing structure, in a lust for the crown of victors.

  Temples of magick wrought with chaos, were cast forth, like blades ruthlessly targeting their victim, some faltering in their paths, some effective until retaliation shooed them away from glory.

  Winds lashed their blows and rain fell, devoid of a kiss of serenity. I felt a rush of hunger build within me, lost in the bliss of victory, called at the heart of an upcoming massacre.

  She summoned magick darker than the moons unlit gaze. The horrors of putrid remains, deceived into being, rose from a place free of compassion; dictated upon by her word, they sought to destroy me.

  The gnarling of teeth was met with a defiant blow, turning to dust, all that dared not to fear me. It was my hand that brought all the suffering to an end; Hecate fell from the edge of this miserable place, to her death; but only after our eyes met for one final time, as stones, now crumbled.

  I walked up to the door, looking down at Camerine in sorrow for what he had done to help me; I lifted my head up. Reaching out, I placed the amulet within my hands, sighing deeply for all the pain it had taken for this one moment. Encircling the amulet around my neck, I turned, looking down at Camerine, I could not fail to notice the resemblance he had with Alexander, as the world around me faded away.

  Chapter 11

  It was a brightly lit day, even if before I was in darkness. I walked from the trees, hence where my journey had begun; peering upon the forest floor, occasionally looking up at the sun as it streamed across the sky.

  It was not long before I was back at Yilesul. There were no lavish events taking place today; Just a group of people starting a fire ready for Normona to cook up the usual feast.