Bound by Fire

by Ronald Craft

Chapter 17

  Myrielle watched the two men enter Tor with Gonuro from a perch deep in the shadows of the cave. She wanted to cry out to Gonuro, but the creature inside allowed her to do nothing but watch. Her body crawled through the darkness against her will. Thoughts and feelings Myrielle had never felt before came tumbling into her own mind, driven by the creature's insatiable craving.

  “That man...he has the body I desire. The body I need.”

  “I must get it. I must. I need it.”

  She struggled to keep her own thoughts from becoming entangled in the creature's. It was lost in a madness she couldn't even begin to fathom.

  Myrielle's bones cracked and popped as the creature twisted and contorted her body with each movement. Her mind told her she should be screaming in agony, yet she felt no pain.

  The creature stopped just out of ear shot, and watched its prey. He stood across from Gonuro next to a pale man who seemed tiny in comparison. The two seemed to be in some sort of argument.

  Her thoughts were assaulted by the creature's once more.

  “I need it. How much longer must I wait? I need it. I want it. I must have it.”

  It clawed at her face. “I'll take it. I'll make his body my own. It will be mine!”

  The creature slunk forward. Her dislocated arms drug across the ground.

  —

  Kane had never been one to wish physical harm on anybody in the past. With the way things were going of late, though, he had a change of opinion about some people.

  And one of them was standing right here in front of him.

  Chaerok's voice was barely a whisper. “Kane, you know we can't do what he asks. We should just leave.”

  “And do what? Go back to Pineview? You and I both know that's not an option.” Kane tightened his fist. It took all of his will power to restrain himself.

  Chaerok shook his head. “I don't know. I don't think we're in any position to bargain with this man. What can we do if we stay here?”

  Gonuro stood across from them with that same smirk on his face. They had asked for the opportunity to ponder his proposition, and he had been more than happy to grant them the chance to discuss it amongst themselves. He knew he had the advantage.

  Kane lowered his voice. “What if we both stayed and worked off the debt?”

  Chaerok stared at him. “Are you mad?” He said a bit louder than he should have.

  Gonuro's head cocked to the side. “Have you decided, yet?”

  He cracked his best smile. “Just a little longer. Chaerok and I never see eye to eye.” Kane wasn't sure how much longer they had. They had to settle this now.

  “Kane,” Chaerok turned away from Gonuro, “there's no way we can stay here. As soon as I need to feed again it'll be these people that suffer. We need to be away from here as quickly as possible.”

  “It's a risk we'll have to...” The hairs on the back of his neck tingled. Kane turned and scanned the shadows behind him.

  A girl, her body contorted into angles Kane had never thought possible shuffled towards them. Her head lolled from side to side, and she was covered in cuts and bruises from head to toe.

  The girl's mouth moved, but when the words spilled out the voice was that of a man. “Give me your body.”

  Her eyes were fixed on Kane.

  Gonuro walked towards them, his eyes wide with fright. “Dear gods, Myrielle, you've been taken.”

  The girl's gaze never left Kane as she shuffled towards them. Her eyes were dark, as if the light had been drained from them. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but no words came out.

  Kane turned to Gonuro. “Taken? What's happened to this girl?

  “A creature of the dark. I don't have time to explain.” Gonuro pushed past Kane and approached the girl. “Myrielle, I'll figure something out. We have a way to—”

  Myrielle jumped at Gonuro and smashed her arm into his face. There was a loud cracking noise and her arm bent in an even odder angle when it dropped back to her side. Blood sprayed from Gonuro's nose, and he fell backwards, landing with a loud thud.

  He didn't move. Blood trickled down the side of his face and from the back of his head.

  Kane took a step back. Chaerok stood there without moving.

  Myrielle's gaze fixed on Gonuro for a moment. “I don't need you.”

  The words came from within the girl, but it wasn't the voice of a girl that spoke.

  Kane eyed the swords against the wall.

  It's been a long time since I've wielded a sword. I promised myself that I'd never again take up arms, but...

  He sprinted to the weapon rack, and pulled a sword free.

  I'm sorry, brother. I know I made this promise in blood, but my options have been taken from me. I have no choice but to defend myself.

  Kane hefted the sword in his hand. It was well crafted, but he knew he could do better. The weight was a little off and the blade not as strong as he could make it.

  Chaerok had backed into a corner and cowered away from the creature. Its eyes were still fixed on Kane as it shuffled forward.

  He brandished the sword in front of him. “I don't want to hurt you. Please, stop this.”

  Its only answer was gurgled laughter.

  Kane circled around the girl. What is this—this thing?

  Myrielle at him, and he barely parried her arm with the back of his sword. She fell backwards and rolled back onto her feet. More and more of her bones snapped and protruded through her flesh. Blood seeped from the wounds and pooled on the ground beneath her. Her body wobbled, unsteady, but she continued despite the injuries.

  His stomach heaved, and he felt bile rising in his throat.

  She threw herself at him again, broken limbs flailing wildly.

  Kane brought his sword down and sliced through her arm.

  The severed limb dropped to the ground. Yet, she continued to charge at him, unfazed by the wound.

  He jumped back, barely dodging her attack.

  Myrielle crashed into the wall and fell backwards. Blood sprayed from the severed arm and coated the stones around her.

  His whole body shook with fear. Why does this creature want me?

  Kane walked over to the girl's body and stared at her. What remained of her skin hung loose from her bones and a putrid stench filled his nose.

  No child should suffer so. The least I can do is bring her peace.

  Myrielle's neck popped, and her head twisted. “You're mine.” Those dark eyes fixed on him once again.

  Kane tried to dodge, but he was too late. She latched onto his leg and wrapped herself around his body. He slammed her against the wall, but her grip was unrelenting.

  Something black and serpentine began to crawl out of the girls mouth. The girl moaned and gurgled, then let out a shrill scream.

  The pain in her voice brought tears to his eyes, even as he continued to slam her into the wall. A shiver ran down his spine as the creature continued to ooze from her body and onto his own. It felt slimy and cold against his skin, and the smell was even stronger now.

  Myrielle's cries were cut off as black flames engulfed her.

  Kane turned his head to see Chaerok standing next to him, black flames flickering across his arms.

  “Foolish skiima. You dare show yourself in my presence?”

  Chaerok grabbed the remnants of the dark creature from Kane's chest. It squirmed helplessly in his hand, unable to free itself from his grasp. A wicked smile crept onto Chaerok's face, and then was gone. The black fire swirled around the creature and reduced it to ash. He opened his palm and let the ashes fall to the ground.

  The smell of charred flesh and something much more foul filled Kane's nostrils.

  Chaerok seemed taller. He stood straighter, more confident. His eyes, which had changed to coal black, were fixed on Kane now. “You're still of use to me. I can't have you becoming a skiima's puppet.”

  The sword cla
ttered to the ground. Kane dropped to his knees, and held his head between his hands.

  Another innocent life gone because of me. All of this, all of it, is my fault.

  Tears stung his eyes. “What was that? What did I just witness?”

  “The souls of the dead. They sometimes become separated from their bodies after death. What is a soul without a body? It longs to live again. Over time, they become so obsessed with obtaining a body that it warps and twists them into the skiima you just saw.” Chaerok's voice echoed around the chamber.

  Chaerok's voice was no longer whisper quiet. It was much more prominent, as if from one used to leading others.

  He wiped the tears away. “What happened to you, Chaerok? How do you know this?”

  “This probably won't be the last one you encounter. They're attracted to you, Kane.” Chaerok reached down and picked up the sword Kane had been using. The flames coiled around the sword until the blade was as dark as Chaerok's eyes.

  “This should do. Use this the next time you encounter one.” He tossed the sword next to Kane. The flames flickered across it for a few moments more, then faded.

  Kane rose up and grabbed Chaerok by the collar. “What are you?” He shook Chaerok, but he didn't answer. “Tell me.”

  Chaerok blinked and stared at him. “K—Kane, what are you doing? Stop, you're hurting me.”

  The confidence in his voice and dark eyes from before were gone. Kane dropped him and sat down on the ground.

  “What do we do now?” Kane rested his head against his arm. Sweat rolled down his back and soaked his tunic.

  I'm tired. Tired of this journey, tired of Chaerok, tired of seeing people die around me. I'm tired of it all.

  Chaerok looked around in awe. “Kane, w—what happened? Where did the girl go? What about Gonuro?” He scrambled over to Gonuro's body. “Kane, he's still alive. We have to help him.”

  He didn't think he could save anyone anymore. What could I possibly do? I carry death with me wherever I go.

  “Kane!”

  Kane didn't budge. “Forget it. There's nothing we can do.”

  Chaerok walked over and backhanded him. “Are you going to just give up? What about your son? What about getting revenge against Karena? Are you going to let Ilian suffer while you sit here and mope?”

  Kane rubbed his face in disbelief. Was this really the same man that had been cowering all this time? “Chaerok, you don't understand.”

  “You're right. Hell, I still can't even remember anything about myself. This is the second time I've blacked out, and woken up to the stench of death around me. But, I won't stop here. I have to find out my purpose for existing. You can't give up either.”

  Ilian...

  The look on Ilian's face before the branding ceremony had burned itself into his mind, hot as any fire he had ever stoked in his smithy. Proud, nervous, confident. Ilian wasn't of his blood, but he was all that Kane had left in this world.

  Even if odds were against him, even if there was nothing left for him to go back to, he had to press on. Not for himself. He was already dead.

  It's time I make things right with you, Ilian. I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back home, where you belong. There's much I need to tell you about my own past.

  Kane glanced at the sword next to him. He wrapped his fingers around it and placed it in his lap. It absorbed the light around them. He wasn't sure what curse Chaerok's alter ego had put on the blade, but it gave him the shivers.

  Kane stood up and slid the sword into his belt. “I hate to admit it, but you're right. I can't stop here.”

  The sounds of footsteps reverberated around the chamber. “What happened here?”

  Kane recognized the voice. “Neus, we need your help. Gonuro has been badly injured.”

  Neus and several guards from earlier approached them. Two of them tended to Gonuro's injuries, while the rest of them surrounded Kane and Chaerok, spears at the ready.

  “You had better have an explanation for this. What did you two do to him?”

  Kane took a deep breath. “We were attacked by something called a skiima. A girl was possessed by it. It attacked him, and I was forced to defend myself.”

  Neus's eyes widened. “A skiima? Where is it?”

  “Dead,” He barely choked out.

  Neus cocked his head. “That's not possible. No man can defeat a skiima. If this story were true, you'd both be dead or worse right now. Tell me the truth, or I'll find a way to make you tell me.”

  “You can ask Gonuro once he recovers. He said her name was Myrielle.”

  Neus's eyes widened. “That's my daughter. There's no way she'd—”

  Kane gestured towards the floor and pushed the ashes around with his foot. “That's all that remains.”

  Neus walked over, kneeled down, touched his fingers to the ashes and smelled them. He recoiled from the smell and rose back to his feet. Neus stared at the ashes, his expression unreadable.

  Kane remained silent. He had no words that could console this man.

  Then, Neus looked up, his eyes narrowed and his lips curled into a snarl. He charged Kane and slammed him against the wall. “What happened? What did you do? Speak, damn you.” Neus's hands shook, and his eyes bore into Kane's own.

  His vision swam and the back of Kane's head throbbed. “Burnt up. There was nothing... nothing I could do to save her.”

  Tears glistened in Neus's eyes. “I find your story hard to believe. However, I know that Gonuro would not speak of my daughter to strangers unless...” He released Kane and turned away from him. The men around them shifted uncomfortably.

  Across from them, Gonuro let out a low groan.

  Neus faced Kane. “You had better hope, for your sake, that Gonuro survives. If he dies, you die.” He motioned to the men around him. “Take them to the prison.”

  They were stripped of their possessions and escorted to a deep cave below the city. There was no moss here to light the way, and it smelled of death. The Oreios guards tossed them into a hole and whispered some sort of incantation. A giant boulder slid across the entrance and sealed it shut.

  They were alone.

  Kane pushed his shoulder against the boulder, but it didn't budge. There was a small hole in the ceiling of the chamber just large enough to let air in, but far too small for any human to fit through.

  Chaerok's voice was thin. “What happens now?”

  Kane leaned up against the wall. “Our fate lies in the hands of our enemy.”

  “Surely, Gonuro will—”

  “Will he?” Kane was still dizzy. “He was unconscious for most of it. Do you really think Gonuro will vouch for us? That is, if he even survives.”

  Chaerok sighed.

  Kane picked up a bone next to him and ran his fingers across it. “Besides,” his eyes were beginning to adjust to the dark, “I think we have more pressing matters at hand.”

  “What's that?”

  Kane tossed the bone over to Chaerok. “There's a pile of bones in here with us.”

  Chaerok scooted away from the bone. “I guess they didn't fair so well.”

  “That's not the problem.”

  Chaerok hesitated. “What's wrong?”

  “These bones have teeth marks in them.”