A Birth, a Death and a Treason

[Rikochet]

Ιστορία μου για ενα write-off μεταξύ εμού και του Mistseeker, μεταφρασμένη στα αγγλικά.

 

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A Birth, a Death and a Treason

 

The night wind whistled, caressing the high rocks of the wasteland and passing among them, lifting dry soil from the harsh, stony earth, and sending it into the eyes of the traveler, who was trying to protect his face in his cape’s hood.

It was a medium height figure, that no-one could distinguish its gender or age, looking at its clothing and the way it walked. It wore garments ragged from the journey, and boots ready to fall apart. Its pace was, in fact, a series of irregular staggering. Mayhaps the traveler was hiding some wound under his cape –although there was no sign of blood anywhere-, or his was simply exhausted from his long journey.

 

However, he was not alone in the wilderness stretching to the limits of the horizon.

A creature was following him, its shape indistinguishable under the pale moonlight. It could be four-legged or two-legged, for as it moved, it either ran on four or walked on two. But its claws, as well as its narrow eyes, were shining either way. What it might want from the traveler, the wind did not know; but it was evident that the creature was following his every step, with no obvious intention of attacking. Perhaps it was waiting for something…

 

There were a lot of reasons that could make a man stagger; exhaustion after too hard work, a poison just starting its effect, or a night’s indulgence in drinking. However, none of those applied to this particular man. No, the reason was something that he himself –a plain soldier- could not comprehend.

 

He had no idea what had happened when he had entered that remote cave. All he could recall was… colours. Many and strange colours. And after that, pain. Great pain.

 

One thing he knew: He had to make it to the First Wound, the ruins of a temple once devoted to the Spirits.

 

Before entering that thrice-damned cave, he knew nothing about that particular temple; neither of its existence, nor of its location. The latter became known to him as soon as he recovered from the recent events, as if someone had carved a map inside his head and marked specifically that spot.

 

He didn’t know why he had to go there, but it must have been something of great importance, for he could not make himself stop. He just walked, without pausing or resting.

 

Since the beginning of his journey he felt as if something had changed inside him… something was missing. Still, whatever it was that was missing, it had left no void behind it. Something else had taken its place; something that made his longing for… what was missing grow day by day.

 

He hoped that as soon as he reached the First Wound he would find it, whatever it was. But this fact disturbed him, made him feel all the more weakened.

 

Sometimes he felt as if he was being devoured from within. He hoped that this thing would leave him as soon as he arrived at the temple.

 

After a few more hours he managed to distinguish blocks of huge rocks in the horizon, and, as his gaze fell on them, he knew that the First Wound was closer than ever.

 

With renewed hope he went on, ignoring the fact that his boots were already destroyed, just staring at the large silver disk which bathed him in an almost unreal light.

 

*

 

The fool, he probably hasn’t understood a thing, that’s certain, thought the creature, which, always keeping a distance, followed the lone traveler.

 

Due to its innate abilities it could hide from the sight of the mortal; abilities that even the weakest of the Nightmares possessed. The hour has come, that I’m sure of, it thought.

 

Indeed, the hour had come. The time when the Nightmares could –finally!- use their powers to the limit, and spread across the world.

Children of Darkness, they lived –if what we undergo can be called “life”- in Darkness, and every place the Darkness affected.

 

Whether it was the subconscious of a criminal, whether the shadows of a basement, whether this vast, dark landscape, the Nightmares existed. Their own existence was rooted in Darkness, and, fully understanding their Nature, their power could reach dangerous levels for men.

 

But this had never occurred ‘till now – their powers were limited mainly to hiding and tricking mortals. They could become one with darkness, they could creep into one’s darkest and most sinful thoughts, settling there, or even enter the mortals’ shadows, creating caricatures and horrors, and terrorizing them.

 

The particular Nightmare considered all that nonsense. Yet now he had sensed the Calling; he had sensed it the moment this mortal had entered the cave. If he only knew what it was he had encountered in there! Surely his legs would have betrayed him. Such was the horror he faced.

 

It was no small thing to face the Daughter of Chaos herself, let alone her entering you! This was unconceivable, something the Nightmare could not understand.

 

How could his weak human flesh withstand such force? Not that it concerned him, though. What mattered was the result; the spreading of Nightmares. Oh, yes. We have agreed on that. She will help us travel through Her, and we will help Her expand into all Existence. With Her help our journey will be easier, and our powers limitless. Oh yes, that will be an eventful night…

 

*

 

The man could not endure more. The entity inside him –now he was sure that inside him was something alive- with each second passing it drained his strength all the more. He knew now that only one thing would deliver him from his torment; death. And having accepted it, he sought it with his every single breath, his every step, every beat of his heart.

 

His voyage has been transformed to an endless journey to the End; where everything would stop, and the burden would not be his to bear. He felt that something would occur on his arrival to the temple, and noted that even nature’s course had changed; it should have been dawn hours ago.

 

He reached the ruins, which gave the impression of being so old even Time had abandoned them. Boulders half buried in the ground, thin columns with runes carved on them, stone blades springing almost menacingly from the harsh soil. The breeze gave way to stillness as the man staggered to the center of the ruins.

 

The air was electrified, and the traveler felt the great power that was about to be released. Suddenly, the runes on the stones came to life, dancing and flickering and surrounded by strange light.

 

The man froze still for a moment. Then, feeling a wave of energy trying to get out, his whole body stretched. Spasms ran through every inch of him, and with each jolt, he felt a bone being smashed. He had never experienced such agony before.

 

He felt as if placed in an iron embrace, which slowly pulped him. He felt himself burning. He smelled his burned flesh. He screamed.

 

*

 

The Nightmare gave a satisfied smile. He saw the ruins flame up, the man stretching, burning, his body dissolving. And now the best part.

 

The earth started quaking, signaling the arrival of his kindred. The wasteland was flooded by hundreds of thousands of Nightmares. They all had taken the form of the Animal of Darkness: Half beast, half pure darkness, this was the most powerful form they could take for the time being.

 

The crowd gathered around the temple, which was now engulfed in alien flames. Growlings, the sound of claws scratching the ground, weird voices in incomprehensible languages, and the constant hollow clamor that accompanied the strong presence of Darkness, composed a nightmarish tune, which made even the air shiver, and stop caressing the place with soft blows of breeze.

 

Suddenly, the fire went out, leaving ashes and burned ruins in its place. The Nightmares knew the moment had come. First one at a time, and then all together, they rushed to the center of the ruins, and there, they where plunged into the air by a colourful jet, and disappeared.

 

Thousands of shadows filled the sky, then, and dissolved as suddenly as they had appeared. Something’s wrong, thought the Nightmare, noting discomfort among his fellow kindred. Enraged voices reached his ears: “We where betrayed! She betrayed us! Damned may she be!” one was screaming, before being absorbed by the hurricane of colours.

 

Then, the Nightmare realized: She permits us to travel inside Her, but She won’t let us out. What else could we expect from the Daughter of Chaos? No matter how strong we become, we will not be able to do anything except through Her. But how?

 

He turned his gaze to the ashes of the traveler. He didn’t know whether to laugh or weep. One thing he was certain of; he would not follow the others. No, he would not submit to Her.

 

Lost in his thought, he did not realize he was left alone. The Jet had disappeared. All that remained were… ashes, and some scattered pools full of water. So it has rained? We did not realize it…

 

As he stepped past a pool, he gazed at his reflection. He recoiled both in awe and terror, as he watched his image. The image of a mortal. The image of a man.