Distorted Awakening

[Clive Dauthi]

(Warning – This material might contain content that is not safe for work, minors or those of easy sensibility)

---Three weeks ago---

The narrow corridor rocked from vibrations deep below them; within the sporadic strobe illumination of a dying red crystal the fall of dust gave the nightmarish illusion of blood drifting down unto them.

“Keep calm..” her words where whispered, but she knew the men heard her, though the looks in their eyes where a clear indication of their null comfort.

They clattered and clanged in their metal inlaid armor, their pikes lowered to form a wall to block the passageway, she could see the polearms clearly shaking in result of their fear but had not the heart to reprimand them.

“They should be afraid,” She thought in forefront of her mind, “By Noir, if they only knew how quick death could be upon us then they would throw down arms and flee.”

The stench was getting worse, a miasma of piss, blood and unadulterated horrors drifted from the darkness before them, it seemed even to pass upwards though the polished stone floors form the slaughter in the lower levels; to her nose it was of no harm but she could see it was a weight upon the guards who grew more tense with each passing moment.

She dared a glance down at a small crystal in her delicate hands, all the faces where now dark, showing to her that the units of guards stationed below where either unable to respond, or had already fallen into deaths embrace.

The steel enforced door at the halls end, which now stood as the sole barrier between them and violence, was begging to visibly buckle in the erratic moments of illumination. Its protective circle within circles of wards, once a vibrant purple, now slowly dimmed with each passing assault against it.

Deidre of House Dauthi narrowed her crimson eyes as she took a final calm breath summoning her deepest reserves of arcane energy from within her alien blood.

“It has all fallen apart, nothing is going as we had projected,” she thought, her eyes seeing though the darkness to a now visible opening where one of the hinges had given way.

“Noir help your Priestess, help your Blade, do not let this be the day I must kill my brother…”

Though the narrow gap she could see his eyes glowing in unworldly yellow light mixed with the sickening green of a demon she thought long put to rest.

The door finally gave way, and he was upon them but a mere moment later. . .

T.B.C

“Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there's little fun to be had in explanations; they're antithetical to the poetry of fear.”
― Stephen King

 

[Clive Dauthi]

Part 2 - Infiltrate

---Twenty minutes prior---

Though buried deep within the confines of earth and stone the halls of the hidden facility never the less bustled with life and energy as men and women from the worlds over walked to and fro within the labyrinth of corridors and quarters; their white robes rustling as they passed their fellow researchers.

Some joked idly about the commonplace occurrences of the facility, the gossip and jokes which come with so many working in such a secluded environment, others still talked of more official topics as they exchanged notes and data crystals dutifully collected and analyzed; a few even escaped the narrow halls to find the embrace of lovers or the enjoyment of quite meditation and reading.

Many such researchers would come and go from this facility as their duties and new prospects drew them to other hidden locations the Soldats held throughout the lands; as such none took notice to the silent newcomer dressed in the symbolic white robes of their order.

He moved with unnatural grace, his face and appearance showing him a native to Tokuno and the scant few gems dangling from his wrist appearing to be official clearances; without even a moment of hesitation he strode past a group of guardsmen and towards the steel door that led to the lower levels.

None saw the droplets of sweat form upon his brow as he lifted his arm to the door, circles within circles of wards glowing to life within the presence of his gem laden bracelet. A moment later a hiss released as the door slid open, accepting the newcomer to into the underbelly of the facility despite his credentials being, altered.

The lower halls where dimly illuminated by power crystals and the air quickly drew stifling, doors lined the hallways some leading to apparent dead ends while others not opening at all. His heart rate started to race, the dread of becoming lost in the depths of this alien structure pumping his blood faster with each turn.

His map he had been given had been well crafted, the intelligence provided was even better collected; it did not take him long to descend deeper to find the black door heavily embroidered with circled wards; the crest of the Dauthi House prominent within their center.

His daughter cried out in his mind, her small body twisting and convulsing in agony as blackness spread in her blood. They had promised to cure her, to take her in and see her well schooled and married prominently if he would but only do this one task.

The Travesty, that fallen Fae queen of old, would keep good on her word, if only he would land this blow against her enemy within the Soldats.

The door opened before him; within the innards of the chamber he saw the walls and floors lined with brightly glowing ward circles within circles, more then he could ever hope to count. Within its center though lay his target, a monstrous insect like cocoon resting on its side.

With a deep breath he sprinted forward, knowing that fear would stall him if he did not act with speed and valor in his first sighting of the alien thing he sought; a crystal dagger stained deep red appeared from under his sleeve. He plunged it forward without hesitation and sunk it deep within the silk like embrace of the cocoon.

For a long moment there was nothing but silence and he feared he had failed to activate whatever spell was inlayed within the blade; soon though the cocoon shuddered violently as its coloration changed in hue to match that of the dagger which had struck it.

He turned to run as alarms rang out above and behind him, he had been told that death would await him with this venture but he held onto hope, held onto seeing his little girl again. He almost made it to the doorway before his life was cut short, he never saw the elongated arm rip though the now crimson cocoon, never saw it thrash though the air to burrow a clawed hand into the back of his skull digging into his brain matter.

The body was dragged back with unnatural speed as the wards in the room died leaving only utter darkness with the lowest chamber. Footsteps and shouts echoed out as the first of the guards arrived; they could still hear the crunching of bones and slurping of rendered flesh as they reached the dark portal, by time they saw the glowing yellow eyes of Soldat Master, it was already too late for them to run.

T.B.C
"Hell is full of good meanings, but Heaven is full of good works"