by Shawnna Lea
Dark Enlightening
Shawnna Lea
Published by:
Hydra Productions Online LLC
Dark Enlightening © 2019 Shawnna Lea
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Dedication
To all those who loved it before they knew it was mine.
Chapter 1
The old man watched as a stream of deep blue-almost black-ooze slowly flowed to the ground, spreading in an ever-enlargening pool.
Like someone rerouted a river in the Heavens, the sky came down. This was the fourth such place in the kingdom where this had happened, but this one hit home They had captured one of the men responsible for this destruction, held in the castle dungeons. He turned toward the castle with a bit more haste.
The prison door clanked and screeched as it. A torch brightened the interior of the small, damp cell, a man in light grey robes entering He was just one of many who had come to see if he would be the one capable of solving the puzzle, and so Avic closed his eyes. capable of solving the puzzle, and so Avic closed his eyes. The old man poked and prodded him, muttered and cursed, but Avic didn't think he'd gotten any further than anyone else when he finally left. He was sore and tired and wished for nothing more than to be left alone. He drifted to sleep again, wishing for the thousandth time he had not gone with his friends that day.
"Psst." Avic opened his eyes only a crack, wondering if he was about to be splashed with boiling water again. The jailer did that sometimes just to be cruel. "PSST! WAKE UP!" Avic glanced toward the door, seeing one of his nightmares come true.
"Go away, Whisper. I want nothing to do with you." He turned his face away from his onetime friend and tried to ignore him. His whispery voice couldn't be completely ignored in the silence, however.
“Oh, come on, don't be like that! I came to get you out! See?" Keys jangled at the door, and it creaked loudly again, grating on his ears. Whisper was then at his side, patting his shoulder.
Avic turned and glared at his smiling friend.
"It's your fault I'm here! You ditched me! I should shout for the guards right now." Whisper smiled his crooked, little smile in the dim candlelight.
"I don't think they'd answer. Now, come on. We've only got 12 minutes and 59 seconds before we'll have to fight our way out." He got up, trotting to the door. When Avic didn’t follow he turned with an exaggerated sigh. “Look, I’m sorry for running off, okay? But do you know what they’ll do to me if I’m caught? It’s the wheel. I don’t relish the thought, so come on, let's go!"
Avic looked at his friend, his short, muscular frame blending so well into the shadows you'd think he was one of them. His shaggy brown hair stuck up at all angles, testimony to wearing a hood most the time, and he bounced from foot to foot impatiently. Half of him wanted to make Whisper get caught, but the sensible side of himself won out. It wouldn't help him any. They'd probably just be stuck in the same cell. He hadn't missed Whisper's eyes, though, generally a greenish grey but now a dark blueish black just like his.
He stumbled after Whisper holding the candle out to help him see. He knew Whisper didn't need it and had only brought it for his comfort. He was probably trying to be extra nice so he WOULDN'T turn him in. It wouldn't surprise Avic in the least.
Whisper kept moving, passing guards collapsed on the ground which Avic didn't look too closely at, till they reached the stairs going up. Now would be the most dangerous part of this escape. Avic only had on his underwear and no stolen clothing was going to hide the smell he knew clung to him. But there was Whisper, throwing a uniform to him, so he put it on. Whisper had everything planned down to the line, he knew, and if he messed it up, he would no doubt be left behind again. The wheel WAS a terrible fate. The thought of drowning whilst impaled on innumerable spikes sickened him.
Whisper directed him quickly then, a hand at his back and one on his arm pushing him around corners and up stairs and down again until Avic was entirely lost. Numerous times he'd heard the tread of boots, and they'd turned a corner just in time. Once Whisper dragged him up behind a statue just as guards turned the corner, and another time he had dangled in Whisper's grasp out a VERY high window till another group had passed. He was exhausted by the time he heard the distant alarm sound, but Whisper didn't seem worried.
He followed him up another set of stairs and down a darkened hall, only a few torches at far intervals burning. He wished he still had the candle, but Whisper had blown it out long ago.
The hall wound around and around till Avic was about to call a stop to this meandering. He was wondering if Whisper had had to improvise and now they were lost in the Keep when suddenly, he stopped at a wall, slipping behind the tapestry. Avic followed, tiredly stumbling into Whisper's back who pushed him roughly away against the weaving. After a few seconds more in the dark, a soft swish of air flowed the tapestry around him, and Whisper dragged him forward into an even deeper dark. He shivered and sat in the cold, waiting as Whisper lit the candle again.
The first thing he saw made him gasp and fall backward. The whole hall was full of heaps of skeletons; some human, some not. He stared around in horror then jumped up, realizing he was sitting in more remains. Whisper's airy laughter made his face heat up. Of course, it wouldn’t bother him, he practically WAS death. But it still didn’t help.
“Quit laughing! It’s not funny! What is this place? PLEASE tell me we’re not in the Forbidden Tombs.” It would be just like Whisper to risk entering through there. No one who went in ever came out. They were enslaved by the Spirit Walkers to serve underground forever more.
“No, even I'm not THAT crazy. This place is called Hall of the Forgotten Soldiers. Catchy, yes?" He gestured around at the bones, calmly walking on, and Avic hurried to catch up. ” “They stormed the castle millennia ago and got trapped by a cave in. Your fine ancestors never felt the need to open the passage once the fighting was over to take them captive, and they died trying to dig out. Funniest part is they gave up only three feet from freedom." He chuckled somemore as Avic shook his head.
The things Whisper found humorous were sad most of the time. And he hated it when Whisper would denote to Avic's ancestors, not his.
Whisper liked the fact he was more Katrin than human. Katrin had once been numerous; humanoids with the ears and tail of cats, shorter fingers, and toes with retractable claws instead of fingernails. They were rumored to have been quick, their senses far better than man's but had been fairly lazy creatures. It was a dying bloodline, and Whisper had more than anyone in the city. Aside from not having a tail, Whisper was the perfect image of an ancient Katrin. Which was why he was an assassin. Others’ curiosity was his curse, and living in the shadows kept him safe.
"How did you know about this hall? Why isn't it... you probably just got rid of the guards, right?" Whisper smirked shaking his head, catlike ears twitching.
"Nah. The soldiers and royals don't even remember this place exists. It collapsed and was never rebuilt. By THEM anyw
ay. The guild opened it up a few hundred years back to get at a REALLY hot mark. No one ever figured out how they got into the Keep and hasn't been used since so thought I'd try it." He climbed up a pile of debris, lending Avic a hand. The hall opened up from there, water running through the cavern below. The candlelight sparkled off the water, giving him a deja vu feeling.
"Looks familiar, huh?" He raised his hands defensively as Avic scowled. "Don't get mad. It wasn't even my idea to go. If you remember right, I said we shouldn't." He turned away, hopping down a few crumbly steps and away from him. Avic shrugged, accepting that. It was he that had said they shouldn't let Traz go alone.
They didn't talk for a while then, each with their own thoughts. Finally, Avic was too tired and sat, calling for Whisper to wait. He stared at the slow-moving water a few feet below them, the candle flickering and not helping the chill.
"Where do you think Traz is now?"
Whisper's ear bent toward his voice, but other than that, he didn't twitch, maybe pretending to be asleep. That's what he did when he didn't want to answer something. This time, his barely audible voice cut through the silence.
"He ran from that cave faster than the devil's hellhounds could go. I'd say he's in AnchorRing by now. Or farther."
Avic sat quietly thinking about that fateful day. Whisper said Traz ran out and left them behind, but Avic wasn't so sure. When the rocks came down and he was knocked unconscious, Whisper may have simply chosen him and left Traz behind. Whisper was a man of the Lower City, probably raised among the dregs of society and wasn't the most kind, trustworthy, or predictable. He had spared Whisper's life once, and that earned him a SMALL bit of loyalty. He had thought back in his dark cell that Whisper had decided that debt had been paid.
"Did he really leave, or is he a forgotten soldier as well?" He watched Whisper laugh. Whisper got up still chuckling and held out a hand to him. Avic took it, and they started down the hall. Traz was probably dead by now. It had been weeks. He just wished Whisper would admit it. He scowled at Whisper's back.
"I'm going back."
Whisper stopped in his tracks turning around and putting his hands on his hips.
"After all the risk I went through to get you out?"
"You know what I mean." He pushed past him, waiting for a response. Any response. After a while, he glanced behind him. Whisper was following closely, glaring. Avic didn't like that but refused to be intimidated. "Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"I told you he left. You should just accept that and move on."
"I wasn't raised that way. Perhaps we should go find him and that will reassure me he's fine." Whisper just rolled his eyes and continued on, taking the lead. Soon, the cavern was left behind, the rush of water replaced by the tramp of traffic. They couldn't be too far beneath the surface. A ladder was soon bathed in their candle’s glow, and Whisper gestured up the ladder with a finger to his lips.
Avic nodded, starting to climb with a bit of dread as to where he might pop up. He didn't guess the assassin's guild would build their entrance anywhere respectable.
Chapter 2
The wood at the top of the ladder easily lifted, and he crawled into a small space, his face brushing cloth. Whisper climbed up beside him, placing the floorboards back down and then leaning an ear against the door. After a few seconds, he stood, opening it a crack. Light streamed in through windows flooding the small bedroom. There was someone in the bed, but they didn't stir. Avic almost gasped, beginning to reach forward as Whisper moved silently but quickly to the foot of the bed. He couldn't watch, didn't think it was necessary, but squeezed his eyes shut. He heard the muffled yelp as Whisper pounced and then--to his astonishment--laughter!
He opened his eyes, peering at the bed where Whisper nuzzled a young, curly haired woman as she giggled. Avic scowled, looking around a little uncomfortably as the woman wrapped her arms around the assassin. Before anything further got underway, he thought he had better step in. He cleared his throat a couple times, and finally they looked over at him. The woman smiled mischievously, and Avic's cheeks warmed.
"So, you got your friend after all. Somehow, I knew you would." Whisper said nothing but lifted her hand to his lips. She let him kiss it a few times, moving up her arm before sliding away from him out of bed. Avic looked quickly away, and she laughed. "A shy one! You didn't tell me that! I could have had so much more fun. Okay, soldier, you can look now." He wasn't sure if he should trust her but took the chance and was relieved to see her wrapped in a more covering nightgown. Whisper lay on the bed propped on his elbows, smiling like a cat with a bird in its claws.
"Well, first thing to do is to get you cleaned up. You weren't kidding when you said he'd smell." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, walking gracefully to an alcove and pulling back the curtain. A large tub was revealed, big enough three could fit in it easily. It was already full with a bit of steam still coming off the water.
"Looks heavenly, I won't lie." She smiled.
"Thank you. I am flattered Again, he felt his cheeks warm and stuttered, trying to explain that he meant the bath. His words jumbled off his tongue, and in the end he wasn't sure what had come out. She began to laugh so he smiled hoping all was forgiven. "Go ahead and undress, and I'll make sure it's not too hot." He froze, watching her test the water and ladle in some ice from a bucket. She paused, looking over at him mischievously again. "Shall I help?" He didn't know how to respond. Never in his life had he been... that's when it hit him. He looked over at Whisper sprawled on the large bed, smiling like a king on his throne.
"What? You don't like the service? Would you prefer a blonde?"
"I'm going to strangle you one of these days."
"Why? Angel is the nicest, sweetest, lady in this whole establishment. Most talented too."
At this point, Angel moved out of the alcove, laughing. "Don't overdo it, Whisp. If the manager hears, he'll up my price, and you'll disappear like a cat in the night." She turned to Avic, shaking her head, obviously amused with him. "Okay, soldier, you go ahead. I'll just watch." He felt his cheeks immediately burning again, and she laughed, turning her back to try to smoother some of it. He stepped into the alcove, throwing Whisper one last glare before pulling the curtain.
He scrubbed quickly but thoroughly, expecting either of them to come in at any moment. He could hear her musical voice but couldn't quite make out what she was saying, and of course whatever Whisper was responding was a mystery. After three times scrubbing, he finally felt clean enough and climbed out, drying with a towel. He found clothes as well, unfolding them with surprise. They were his. Whisper must have snuck into his house. Sometimes the man was unnerving.
He took a deep breath, peeking out cautiously to make sure it was safe, but they were both sitting at a table, nibbling cheese. Avic's stomach growled, and he realized just how hungry he was. Whisper motioned him over when he noticed him, gesturing to the third chair behind the little table. He tried not to make eye contact with Angel, knowing he'd start blushing all over again. He sat and picked up a piece of cheese as Whisper poured him some wine.
"Whisp says you're a virgin."
He almost choked on the cheese and glared at Whisper. Angel twirled her wine glass in her hand, leaning forward over the table. Her big, brown eyes were flecked with gold and shimmered with hidden laughter.
"You've never been in a pleasure house. Too respectable." She smiled sweetly. "I respect you for that decision." Whisper choked a little on his wine, setting it down with a grin. Avic nodded, smiling back at her.
"Women deserve respect, not to be played with for some fool’s enjoyment." He flashed a glare again at Whisper who grinned again.
"I never claimed to be respectable."
Angel laughed again, shaking her head. "Well, you're a lot more respectable than most that come in here." She turned conspiratorially toward Avic, and he leaned in a little. "Usually, he just drinks all my wine and snores the night away!"
They both shared a laugh as Whisper g
lared for only a moment before his grin was back. "I am a good judge of wine and beds. Speaking of which, we'd best be going or I'll have to pay the late fee." He stood, crossing to the door, and Avic noticed he had changed from his black to a dark blue jacket and white shirt. He swept on a hat with a fine brim and feather, looking very classy, and gave Angel a bow, kissing her hand again. “Till we meet again, m'lady." Avic gave Angel a little bow as well, which made her laugh again before hurrying after Whisper. He was paying a man some coins, and after a quick glance around the foyer, Avic decided keeping his eyes down was the best course of action.
Whisper grabbed his arm, leading him out into the light, but not before plopping another large brimmed hat on his head. He never had liked this particular fashion but pulled the hat low anyway.
"See? Lots of fun. You've been missing out."
"I have better wine at home, and my bed is plenty comfortable all alone. Plenty of elbow room. If you've sabotaged my reputation, Whisper, I'll--" Whisper cut him off by tugging him onto a side street. Avic didn't question him but followed as he weaved in and out of buildings and onto another crowded street. Avic paused to catch his breath. They'd made it to MidMarket Street. He knew he couldn't go home, though he wasn't sure if they knew who he was or not. He hadn't told them, but he would have been recognized by someone. His father might have even come forward.
They weren't on the best of terms, Avic always a disappointment in one way or another. He never approved of Traz or Whisper-- though he knew Whisper as Kantro, son of a well-off merchant which, of course was nowhere near the truth. His father always knew there was something wrong about him, though.
"Where are we going?"
Whisper leaned against the wall casually, looking every bit the wealthy noble who had nothing better to do than waste time with friends. Finally, he shrugged.