Hayden folded his arms watching the cloud of dirt disband. “Show off.” He walked over to where Dominic jumped and mimicked Dominic’s leaping action disappearing through the ceiling.
“You both could have offered a lift,” Kori shouted at the hole. She hopped onto the ladder flinching as the wooden rungs creaked underneath her weight. A scream escaped her when the ladder began to sway like a pendulum. “Please don’t fall apart on me.”
Strong hands gripped her by the wrist and pulled her upward. She squeaked as her butt landed on the solid ground.
“Keep your voice down.” Atticus hissed.
Kori blinked, allowing her eyes to adjust to the small and gloomy room. The wall-mounted torches illuminated clutters of books, antique furniture inches deep in dust, old paintings and cobweb walls. The beams above creaked as a wind screeched through a tight gap in an old wooden door that was barred shut. A musty aroma came and went. Kori fought through the stale odor and got to her feet.
Out the corner of her eyes, she spotted Dominic rummaging through a chest. He pulled free several miniature portraits of a strikingly handsome man. Hayden stood not far from him motionless. In his hand was a larger portrait, a look of distraught covered his face.
“He looks more angsty than usual,” Kori said dryly.
Atticus took off the backpack and unhooked his sword.
“They’ve been that way since discovering the paintings,” Atticus said taking a seat. “Do you want any breakfast?”
Kori waved him off, “maybe later.”
She turned on her heels causing the timeworn floorboards to squeak.
Hayden glanced up momentarily hearing Kori approaching his side.
“Why have you gone dark-” she paused when her eyes fell upon the portrait. A tall man stared back at her. His appearance alone was seductive. Having an angular jaw shape, sharp nose, thick lips, and intense silver eyes, his alluring face told tales of a lean body beneath the hulking form of his exoskeleton like armor. The expression on his face was serious but not unkind, and his medium length hair had a salt-n-pepper look against his still youthful skin.
“He’s amazingly beautiful,” Kori said finding it hard to look away from the painting. “Who is that?”
Hayden cleared his throat. “It’s my...was my dad,” he said emotionlessly.
Kori’s mind began to race for the right words that would come out as comforting.
“Do you want to-?”
“No,” his voice shushed over Kori’s.
Her eyes darted across his face searching for any kind of emotion as he continued to stare at the painting.
Kori huffed.
The sound of Dominic slamming the chest closed triggered Kori to look away from Hayden.
“He doesn’t have any pictures of his family here...But yet there is a painting of you two looking bubbly.” Dominic chucked the small portrait at Atticus.
It landed firmly in his lap. He picked it up and smiled fondly. The painting portrayed him and Raiziel standing side by side wearing elegant armor of gold and red.
“If it makes you feel better, I wasn’t as happy as the picture says,” Atticus said putting it aside. “That armor was heavy, hot, and I had a terrible itch I couldn’t reach.”
Dominic fixed Atticus with a confused stare. “Who are you really?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Hayden said sourly. “The old man never cared much about our family.”
Dominic raised his eyebrows staring at Hayden with his head tilted. “Don’t you dare start this again,” he nearly shouted pointing at his brother. “Our dad did whatever he could to keep us safe.”
Hayden chuckled mockingly, “if he was this all-powerful warrior, then how come he couldn’t protect his own family, or avoid getting himself killed.”
The brothers circled each-other.
“Hand over the carcerem orbis.” Hayden said crudely. “Once were all back together, we’re going home.”
Dominic let out an over-exaggerated laugh. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen, bruh. It’s destroyed.”
Hayden stared speechless at his sibling, mouth agape. “You let our only way home get destroyed? Are you really that stupid?”
The air became heavy and excruciating to inhale.
“Why do I feel so sick?” Kori mumbled on the verge of puking.
Atticus clutched his stomach gagging. “What is this unusual feeling.”
“It’s Hayden,” Dominic said calmly. “He’s losing control”
“I felt this feeling before when he fought that monster in the forest,” Kori squealed as the queasiness fluctuated from bad to worse.
“How come you’re not affected by this?”
Dominic glared into Hayden’s eyes but spoke to Kori, “because I’m not a poon.”
Atticus massaged his temples and sluggishly said, “hell some of us have bodies that are a beacon for pain...” He felt himself on the verge of vomiting. “Hey, kid can you turn it off?”
With an enraged scoff Hayden threw the portrait across the room. The frame shattered against the wall burying the painting underneath wooden fragments. As if smashing the portrait was the cure, the nausea ended.
Atticus let out a breath of relief.
Hayden broke eye contact with Dominic, alternating stares between the others. Then in silence, he stormed over to a wall near the exit. There he sat on the floor sulking.
“Why do you antagonize him?” Kori asked heatedly.
Dominic countered with, “piss him off and see for yourself.”
“I’m not too keen on that idea,” Atticus chimed.
“How do you know my dad?” Dominic snapped.
Atticus laughed while running his hands through his hair. “The day my friends and I arrived in purgatory, we were found by Raiziel and he took a liking to us.”
The intense emotions on Dominic’s face softened.
“After years of his training I eventually became head of security for this estate along with Kade. My brother was his chief researcher in bioengineering, Tira was part of his advisory council as for Lucia...well she was Lucia.”
Atticus grabbed the rucksack and began to hunt through it. “We have plenty of time. So, eat and get some Z’s...We make our move at nightfall.”
Chapter-Thirty-six
The bleak cell stood silently at the end of the long desolate corridor. It was a hollow cube of concrete with one way in and windowless. The air became chilled as shadowy figures appeared in front of them like poorly taken photographs. It wasn’t until the lights from the torches flickered that the figures congealed into the form of dead bodies. Swollen, blackened, mummified and generally hideous to look at, they carried the unmistakable stench of decay. The ghastly creatures whispered their demented secrets or screamed in horrible pain before fading and then reappeared randomly.
Brianna closed her eyes tightly while covering her ears. Next to her, she heard Ethan hysterically shouting, “go away!”
The sound of footfalls approaching the gated door was all it took for the apparitions to vanish. Though still dreary, the cell became brighter. Brianna looked about the unfurnished room wide-eyed. For a moment she pondered if she should move, but when Brianna heard Lucia’s voice nearing, she sprung to her feet. Her fingers clutched the cell bars as if she was able to pry them apart.
“Go away you creeps.” Brianna screeched.
Several malnourished maids with brilliant white eyes, silver skin and a smile of a predator scattered into the dark corners like scared cats. For a moment all was silent, then came the whispering from the darkness.
Little girl, I bet she tastes like candy.
No rancid meats.
I would eat her fingers firsts.
The boy?
Not the boy.
Much too boney.
Fatten...yes, we must.
The footfalls became louder and the whispering ceased. Pressing her face against the bars, Brianna strained her neck to get a better view into the hallway. Outfitted i
n a steampunk style dress, Lucia along with two armed guards rounded the corner.
“I do know my way around the manor,” she said snappily.
“We’re following orders Lady Lucia,” one of the soldiers retorted in an apologetic tone.
Lucia scoffed, stopping in front of Brianna and Ethan’s cell.
“You look nice,” Brianna said sarcastically.
Lucia laughed and did a twirl showing off her new dress.
Ethan rushed over to Brianna’s side. His hair was in disarray and eyes bulging. “Get us out of here!” he screamed gripping the bars.
Lucia gave him an offended look. “Boys let those poor kiddies out,” she said distancing herself from the cubicle.
“As you wish my lady,” one of the soldiers said taking a step forward.
The guard pulled a ring of keys from his belt. Despite all of them looking the same, the first key he selected opened the cell door.
Ethan rushed out of the confined space nearly knocking over Brianna. He threw his arms around Lucia, hugging her tightly. “Thank you!” he shouted repeatedly.
Lucia shoved him away. “You were only locked away for a few hours. This place couldn’t have already driven you mad.”
Brianna sluggishly stepped out of the cell. “You didn’t have to witness it,” she glared into Lucia’s eyes showing complete dislike for her.
“Well, Maxi has requested that we join him for breakfast in the dining hall,” Lucia said breaking eye contact. “He also wants to give you guys a tour around the manor.”
“Why?” Ethan asked, his eyes frantically darting around the hall.
“Because this will be your new home once Giovanni returns,” Lucia answered with a smile. “Now let’s get going, it’s rude to keep our host waiting.”
Without delay, she turned on her heels and walked off.
“Get moving!” the guards shouted as they shoved the teens.
In silence Brianna and Ethan followed Lucia with the guards following close behind them. The way Lucia walked was like that of someone who’d been in some armed service. Her footfalls were perpetually speedy, but the lengths of her steps were short. They stopped at a flight of stairs, it warped in a perfect coil like a slinky pulled from each end. As they climbed, Ethan noticed there was no creaking or any sign of the stairs caving from underneath his feet. He wondered if each step was a deep silver, but with the thick layer of undisturbed dust, it was hard to tell. He let his hands fall onto the rail, wiping away dust as he guided his hands across it to reveal its rustic charm. Once at the top, Ethan saw that Lucia was waiting for them by a set of massive iron doors. The two guards bulldozed their way passed him and Brianna, nearly knocking them over the railing. They pushed open the heavy doors, then allowed Lucia and the teens to pass through first. The sentries released the door, triggering it to slam shut with a thunderous boom and then pursued after the others.
Neither Brianna nor Ethan had much time to sight-see, due to Lucia’s hasty walkthrough. But, what from he did see, Ethan was most impressed. He was in awe at the floors of marble; overelaborated mahogany stairs, and ornate Victorian style furniture so polished, that his own reflection could be seen. Although he thought the paintings were a bit morbid, he found the gold frames they were placed in beautiful. Nothing looked as if it had ever seen dirt. The air compared to the festering sewage stench of the dungeon, smelled like fresh flowers.
Lucia paused at an archway and stepped aside ushering for Brianna and Ethan to go through. She trailed in after them, leaving the soldiers to take post on either side of the entryway.
The dining hall was exquisite, showing off walls with shimmering golden paper and in the middle of the ceiling above the huge mahogany table were two tall silver candelabras holding smooth grey candles whose wax never dripped. The polished silver cutlery shone brightly in the early morning light and at each place, stood a tall empty wine glass and there were beautifully folded napkins to match the table runner. At the end of the table were floor to ceiling windows left slightly ajar to let in the scented morning air.
“Welcome,” Christos’s voice boomed from the head of the table, “breakfast shall be arriving shortly.” He wasn’t wearing his armor but was dressed in a red cleric robe and lab coat hybrid with golden trim.
“What is this?” Brianna demanded.
Christos clasped his hands together, “it’s my way of apologizing...Please have a seat.”
Lucia showed them to their respective places as if they didn’t have a choice but to sit.
“I may have let my anger get the best of me. I should have never thrown you into the dungeon,” he paused as Lucia took a seat at the other end of the table. “I sorta lost my temper, but my dear Lucia showed me I was being a bit of a-”
“An asshole?” Brianna snapped.
Christos chuckled. “I was going to say jerk, but that works too,” he smiled graciously at her. “So, I hope this breakfast can ease up some of the tension between us.”
Brianna and Ethan remained silent.
Christos fidgeted with his fingers as his eyes darted from Ethan to Brianna.
Lucia laughed fondly, “Maxi is socially awkward.”
Christos gave her a warning look.
“I’m sorry, Christos is kinda socially awkward.” Lucia corrected herself. “But if Atticus was the high priest-”
Christos pounded the bottom of his fist against the table, generating several of the cutleries to rattle from the vibration. He jumped from his chair with a crazed look in his eyes.
“You would have loved my brother as high priest.”
Lucia remained calm, smiling tauntingly. She passed a look of ‘this is going to be good’ to Ethan.
“Purgatory is mine to rule. Her countries will succumb to my commandment. Her very foundation will bend the knee before me. Her people shall follow my will...”
At this point, the others realized Christos was no longer speaking to them, but rather veered off into a monologuing rant.
“Or I will see fit that every last one of them will be sacrificed in the name of Giovanni.”
Brianna watched as Christos settled into his chair once more as if the speech he gave soothed his rage. “Clearly you don’t rule all of purgatory.”
“No, not directly, but this world is a Theocracy. Each of the seven continents has a system of government in which priests rule in the name of Giovanni,” Christos answered with a jaded tone. “We call ourselves the Divinity Order, and as High Priest, everyone reports to me. So, in a way, I rule over purgatory while Giovanni is away in the real world.”
Brianna’s face twisted into a look of confusion, “purgatory isn’t like any other prison world I’ve been to,” she glanced around the dining hall. “It’s not barren or apocalyptic...It actually has a government.”
Lucia smiled brightly. “That’s all thanks to Raiziel.”
Christos sat up in his chair as if to chaperon the conversation.
“He created purgatory for the purpose of having her inhabitants pray to him. And from each prayer came a significant power boost.” Lucia paused while making eye contact with Christos. He remained silent so she proceeded with a question. “Have you ever heard of the Immortal Priest?”
Brianna nodded. “Atticus asked us the same question when we first met,” she glanced from Lucia to Christos. “Does he really exist?”
Lucia was taken aback by Brianna’s inquiry, but she swiftly recomposed herself. “Of course, he does. He’s the reason why purgatory is filled to the brim with unfortunate souls...in fact my friends and I were his last victims before he vanished.”
Christos eyed Lucia like a curious cat.
“But purgatory’s first inhabitants were an entire city and not just any city, but the one he was born and raised in.” Lucia sprung from her chair, theatrically dancing around the table.
“I read all of this in a lore book,” Brianna said with a frown.
Lucia stopped at Christos’s chair and plopped onto his lap. He released
an oaf but didn’t complain. He breathed in deeply as if to take in Lucia’s scent and then let out a lengthy exhale. “We were the last of the immortal priest’s victims before he vanished. And we promised each other no matter what, we would survive purgatory together.”
“Then why did you betray us,” Lucia said sweetly.
Christos’s smitten façade liquefied and was molded into one filled with solemnity. “I did it in hopes to save us all from being executed, but you four went and rebelled, ruining everything I hoped to accomplish.”
Lucia hopped from Christos’s lap as if his sudden mood change ruined her fun. For a moment he looked heartbroken, but her lingering near his chair revived his melancholy. Christos leaned forward, interlocking his fingers on top of the dining table. He stared off into space. “I did what I thought was best.”
He paused staring at his hands. “When I became High Priest there was a massive celebratory ceremony in my honor and it felt as if I was marrying this world. The power I felt surging through me was insane. I felt more alive than ever...even when I was living in the real world.”
Lucia’s eyes stalked Christos.
“But soon after the festivities, Giovanni instructed me to express that the era of Raiziel was over and he was the one true God,” Christos said. “This enraged Atticus. While playing the innocent one, he soiled my name with rumors and assembled a large rebel army.”
Lucia laughed hysterically. “And despite all of that power, Atticus managed to find ways to defeat you in every battle.”
Christos snarled at Lucia and she instantly ceased her tittering.
“That was because he had our powerful witch friend, Tira on his side,” he said looking away from Lucia. “But once Giovanni intervened, my brother’s rebellion was no more.”
Lucia caressed Christos’ face and said in a contemptuous tone, “you’re such a brave leader.”
Again, Christos scowled at her. She huffed and stormed off to her chair.
“If all of you would have stayed with me, we all could have been together,” he smirked. “But now; Atticus is cursed, Tira can never leave the island and Kade is my personal pet.” Christos searched Lucia’s face daring her to make fun of him now. “Then there’s you with no place to call home.”
LAMENT OF PURGATORY (ASHWOOD CHRONICLES #1) Page 23