Hey Kittens. Sorry this has taken so long to put up. But, because it's taken so long, my gf told me to just post the rest of it... so, here it is. Hope you enjoy
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Master
As the morning rays grew and slinked across the purple covers, a soft scratching noise jarred her awake. Pulling the covers tighter around herself, she glanced at the great wooden door with a pang of fear. Was it the monster returning for her? She trembled. The scratching continued. Slowly, quietly, she got out of the large bed, covers still wrapped around her thin shoulders, and walked to the door. If it
was the monster, he would probably break down the door as soon as knock so she decided she might as well put on the pretence of manners and open the door.
Cracking it open she peered out with one eye. Sitting at the door, mouth open and tongue hanging out, was the great white dog. Opening the door a little more to see if anyone was else in the hall, she watched as the dog sat up and wiggled its way into the warm room. The hallway was empty, so she closed the door behind the dog. She watched as it made its way to the bed and sat next to it, looking back to her as if to ask permission. She followed its lead, and sat on the edge of the bed. After a pause, and knowing full well that this dog, as big and frightening as it
could be, would not harm her, she patted the bed next to her. The dog quickly bounded up next to her and lay with its body touching her own. It seemed to pulsate calm, and it instantly effected her mind as such. For a moment, she forgot about her situation, and just stroked the large white head that now rested on her lap.
It was not until the third day of naught but warm meals, complete quiet, and the comforting company of the great white dog, did she decide to see what kind of place she had been taken to. Trying to be as quiet as possible, the girl inched open the great wooden door to look into the hallway. It was deserted, so she found the courage to step from what little safety she had found in this horrible place.
The hallway was long and scattered with identical wooden doors to her own. She had to be careful to remember which was the room she was meant to stay in. She did not wish to anger the monster if she were to accidentally stumble into its private chambers.
After several moments of walking down a dark and alien hall, the wall on the right of her stopped to reveal a balcony. She stopped and surveyed her surroundings. The balcony jutted away from the hall, making the opening three times as wide, before it curved and returned to the narrow passageway on the opposite side. Near that opposite side, she saw the beginning of stairs, which undoubtedly lead into the room below. She stepped carefully to the edge of the balcony and peered down.
The room was dark, but for a large fire which threw enough light and warmth to make the room quite comfortable. As she scanned the room’s walls with its multiple sword crossed shields and suits of armour, she became aware of voices from below. Her eyes fell instantly upon two high back chairs facing the fire. Their angle made it difficult for her to make out who sat within their folded depths, so it was not a surprise that she had not noticed them until their voices echoed against the decorated walls.
She remained quite still when she heard the voices, not wanting to draw attention to herself. As she stood, watching the room below, she tried to make sense of the scene. The chair which faced away from her,
must be that of the monster who held her captive. The voice stemming from it sounded strange to her, but it was the lowest voice of the two, and she thought, maybe the monster didn’t growl to those it considered friends. The chair which angled so that if she were on the other side of the balcony, she might see perfectly well the person on it, seemed to seat a younger man. His voice was soft and claming.
She ached to cry out to that man. Tell him she was there, and a prisoner in this castle. But she had no way of knowing who he was, or if he would even care. After all, he
was sitting across from the monster. At least she thought it was the monster.
She stood there, legs aching with the strain of her muscles forced to keep still. She was about to return to her room, and leave the men be, when it dawned on her. The man from the ship. Not the pirate of course, but the man who had been on the dock to receive her. That must be it. Her mind had been hazy then, and she could not at all recall the features of the man who had been on the shore when she had arrived, but this must have been him. That would explain his lack of fear while talking to the beast. Maybe the monster was his pet.
Her hate for her captor suddenly grew ten fold, and her face burned. Backing away from the scene, she made her way to her room, the white dog sitting on the bed, waiting for her.
She would explore the castle more in the future. But for now, she knew if she were to face the man she had seen in that chair, she would not be able to control her self. It was not the monster’s fault she was here. After all, it was obviously not human. Only another human would be so cruel as to demand the kidnapping of an innocent girl. To be his slave. Or worse.
Family
The room was quiet. The two high back chairs sat, both empty, facing a dying fire. She had not been able to explore this room very well before now, as the creature seemed quite fond of it and rarely left. But now, it was out on the grounds with the white dog, and she had some time to wonder.
Slowly making her way down the stairs, she glanced at the objects around her. The entire room was full of strange trophies. Old, but carefully shined suites of armour guarded the stairway and the other entrances which lead from the room. Their swords were sheathed, but all held a great halberd that glistened even in the dim light.
Along the wall, under the balcony from which she descended, were several stuffed animal heads. Few which she recognized, but all quite fierce and humbling within their presence.
In every corner of the room, stood a large glass case, which held various objects of great importance to the owner of this castle. All were made of gold and flawless gems. But were of little interest to her.
She made her way around the room, slowly admiring every object, every sword crossed shield, and every other oddity she came across. It wasn’t until she came to the large sword suspended over the fireplace that she stopped, dead in her tracks.
Set against the stone, diagonally across a diamond shaped shield, was an absolutely massive sword. It was unsheathed, and the polished silver of the blade glistened as though the firelight in the room came from the metal itself. The blade was long, and quite slim near the hilt, but as it lengthened, so did the thickness of the blade, until it formed a shape that resembled that of an elongated diamond. But it was not the strange appearance of the weapon, nor its grandeur that made her stare. It was the gem imbedded on the hilt that made her insides curl and her heart race.
Inlayed deep within the hilt, surrounded by three claws, was a large oval golden gem. A serpentine gold and silver dragon wrapped around a shield was suspended within its flawless surface. It was the crest on her father’s ring.
“That sword once belonged to a great man,” a deep voice from behind her, startled her and made her jump. The creature, with its dark and straggled mane emphasized by the dying fire’s light, now stood in one of the doors leading away from this room.
She looked at it, her eyes growing wide in fear. But the monster was not even looking at her. Its gaze was on the weapon above the fire.
“He was a kind and generous man, who was respected by all who knew him and loved by almost as many,” the monster continued, stepping closer to the frightened girl. The white dog at his side padded to the girl as well, sitting next to her and putting all its weight against her leg. In the presence of the terrible monster, she welcomed the safe warmth of the great white dog. “But he was betrayed. A position most good men, one day, find themselves in.” The monster moved closer, standing along side the shivering girl. But it did not turn to look at her, apparently lost in its story.
“This weapon is from a set of three. Not of three weapons, mind you. But of three items which share that crest. They were gifts from the gods, some people have claimed. Those same people claimed that those three gems are what made the man so great. And that it was the theft of two, which lead to his downfall.” Finally, the monster turned to look at the terrified girl.
The room was quiet. She could hear her heart beat in her chest as the monster stared at her. Its dark eyes burned into hers, not blinking. Finally she was forced to look away from its stare, her head dropping as her eyes found the rug before the fire. She heard a door close, and looked sideways. The monster had left. She was alone, once more, with only the great white dog at her side.
Her body continued to shake, as she stood by the fire, its flames becoming mere burning embers. She lifted her head to look at the sword once more. The sword with her father’s crest. Had this been one of the two stolen? She had not known her ring to be part of a set. Her mother had never really said anything about it, besides that it had belonged to her father. She frowned.
How has this monster come by this sword, then? He accused me of stealing the ring… does he mean to suggest that… Her heart pounded again. No. The monster could
not be…. No…
She looked at the blade for a second more, before turning and leading the white dog to her room.
Another World
Through the weeks, she and the great white dog became quite good friends. All day, the dog would follow her through out her wonderings. More often than not, it was the dog that would lead her to her new discoveries. And, as it seemed she would never have another friend, she would often talk to the animal as if it understood her completely.
Once, she had mentioned a longing to read, which had resulted in the animal standing at her open door, its head tilted to once side as it so often did when it wanted her to follow. It stood still and stared at her until she finally obliged and followed through the castle until they came to a great library. She marvelled at the sheer grandeur of it. It must have ranged several stories high, though she was not sure how high exactly due to the winding stair cases which lead to the levels above.
She felt terrible looking at the white dog, who sat in the entrance of the library wagging its long thin tail, obviously pleased with itself. She had looked sadly into it’s bright blue eyes and almost cried anew as she whispered; “I can not read…”.
At first she had felt strange roaming the castles interior with the pet of the horrible man who held her prisoner. But she never once saw the man who had taken her from the pier after that horrible day, nor did she often see the monster who roamed the castles’ dark corridors. And as the dog chose to spend it’s time with her, she choose too, to enjoy its company in return and explore her prison as much as she was allowed.
A month into her exploration, the castle never ceased to amaze her with it’s hidden secrets. But even so, she grew weary of the indoors. So, one brilliantly warm day, she and her friend the great white dog, ventured through the only unlocked door which lead outside.
The sun was blinding. After so long in the unnatural chill of the castle, the new warmth of the sun was pure bliss. She took a moment to bask in it before looking to the white dog who stood beside her, watching her intently.
“I have missed the sun,” she said simply, and looked around at her surroundings.
They stood in a large garden, once a sight of beauty, but now dead and empty. A dried up fountain sat in the middle, a statue of a stallion its centerpiece. Around the fountain were the remains of several old benches, bleached and sun worn. Overgrown hedges framed the boundaries of the area, with several exits to the unknown beyond.
“Which shall I choose, my friend?” she asked the white dog who looked as confused as she for once. “Well, if you have no suggestions, mightn’t we choose the straight and narrow?” she pointed straight ahead, beyond the fountain before doing thus and walking towards the opening in the shrubs.
Though it was unkempt and wild, the walk was still one of beauty. She was amazed that in all her troubles, she was still able to find beauty in this world. She was glad of it. Moving a hand to the dog’s back, which was level with her elbow, she stroked it gently. It wagged its tail and bumped her gently.
But before she could laugh at the playful spirit of the animal, she saw an instant change in its stance. Its tail dropped at once, and its head lowered. She glanced at the dog before returning her attention to the opening scene before her.
The ground was covered in grave markers.
Here she saw that the grounds were no longer wild, but well groomed and maintained. The stones of the graves were polished and shone brilliantly in the sun’s rays. They stood in neat rows, which formed a semi-circle around a much taller and grander marker which stood in their middle.
Walking up to the closest marker, she kneeled to look at its engraved words. The white dog came beside her, head still lowered, and whined. The man who lay in this grave was thirty-two when his time had come. She stood and moved on. The girl in the next grave had only been seven. As she made her way through the graves, she began to grow uneasy. More than fifty people had found their final resting place here. And of all those graves, every single one had the same date of death.
Forty-one years ago.
She turned to look at the white dog, questions welling up in her mind. But the animal was no longer at her side. She looked around the graveyard only a moment before her eyes found the shock white coat of the dog among the grey tombs. It was winding its way through the stones slowly, heading towards the monument in the middle of the graves. She followed.
She approached the dog, who was now laying in front of the stone monument, its ears drooped and its blue eyes shining with sadness.
The statue was that of an angel, wings arched around itself in a protective hug. Perched on a rough stone, it stood higher and larger than any man. She admired the detailed beauty of the statue, staring into the blank eyes of the angel. Its eyes, though empty and pupil-less, seemed to show everything of what the artist had felt while creating this masterpiece.
She was contemplating what those feelings had been, when a low voice shattered the silence.
“She is beautiful, is she not?”
The blond jumped and looked around to see the monster standing behind her, but a breath away. Too frightened to say anything, she remained quiet.
“She was loved more than any other in her all too shore life.” The monster’s voice, though deep and growling as it was, seemed genuinely moved by the statue.
It was that which made her feel suddenly safe to speak. “By your Master?”
The creature looked at her, a quizzical expression on its face. “My Master?”
She returned the look. “Yes. The man whom I saw the day I… arrived here.”
“Oh,” the monster seemed thoughtful. “Yes. My Master was deeply in love with her. And she with my Master. But it was meant to be a tragic love. One from which my Master never would recover. My Master built this in her memory. So that she would never be forgotten in all of the pain.” The creature seemed lost in it’s short tale for a while.
The white dog whimpered from its spot on the ground in front of the monument. This awoke the creature, who walked to the dog and kneeled before it.
She watched in silence, the interaction between the two showing something new in the monster. A touch of humanity, she thought. Not something she thought she would ever see in such an ugly, inhuman creature. But as the creature ran its clawed fingers through the white dog’s fur in a way that only displayed affection, she felt her heart fill in a way she had not felt since before her own life had been torn away from her.
Nightmares
She stepped into the dimly lit hallway and faltered. They lined the entirety of the passage. As far as it was long. She turned in horror, desperate to retreat to the safety of her room. Two of them now stood where she had come from, blocking her path. She knew the only way out, was to walk on.
Folding her arms around herself, she slowly began to walk forward. It was unnerving and unbelievably frightening. Even in her most horrific nightmares, she would not see the sight which lay before her.
They all stood straight and rigid. Their blank and lifeless eyes staring straight ahead. Their clothes were tattered and hung from starved shoulders, which were as rotted as the clothing covering them. Men. Women. Children. Bodies, all of them.
Dead bodies that they were, once she walked past them, their heads turned, and their empty gaze bore into her own eyes. Into her very soul.
She shuddered, but held back any cries of fear. Something horrible had happened to these poor people that they would end up like this. Yet the pity she felt, could not overtake the sheer fear of it.
As she grew near to the end of the passage, her eyes caught those of a small child. Or what had once been a child. Half it’s face was now rotted away, revealing a portion of its skull and most of its forehead and jaw. Its empty socket was black and haunting. Its remaining eye followed her movements. A small bear clutched in a handless arm.
Tearing her eyes away, she quickened her pace and exited the hallway, through a great wooden door at the end.
Return
When she awoke, it was not the warm rays of the sun filtering through her half drawn canopy, nor the body of the great white dog laying next to her feet that her groggy mind registered first. It was instead the chill of something small and hard in her palm that dragged the sleep from her mind.
Opening green eyes still glazed with sleep, she peered at her outstretched left hand. She gasped in astonishment.
The sound of the breath escaping her pale lips alerted the dog who quickly jumped from the bed to investigate a possible intruder. Seeing there was none, it turned its large head to find its friend, then gave a loud and happy “woof!”.
Held in her open palm, a brand new glittering white and gold chain pooled below her father’s ring.
Questions
Over the next weeks, the blond girl began to grow more accustom to the strange fortress in which she realised would be the place she would now call ‘home’. Though, still filled with the fiery hatred for the man who had ordered her capture, she began to relax and become more at ease with her surroundings. Not once did she see the evil man again, but for the rare occasion she came across the monster and the man sitting across from each other in the high back chairs that always hid the man from her view. She assumed this was done on with purpose as she never passed the man in her wonderings, though, from time to time, she would round the corner of a new passage, only to come face to face with the monster.
The monster, she soon came to realise, was not at all like she would have thought a creature who appeared as fierce as it did would behave. It was quiet and usually distant, though, she suspected the times they would run into one another by accident where not quite the chance exchanges the monster would wish her to believe. Whether it was by order of the man who kept her prisoner or for some other purpose, she did not know. However, over time, she no longer found herself dreading any encounters with the creature. There was something about it. A deep sadness she found when she would look into those great dark eyes before it would quickly look away and withdraw into the unnatural shadows of the castle’s halls.
A full month passed after her father’s ring was returned to her through means truly unknown. And in this month, after countless run-ins with the monster, and the idea that it was no more happy here than she, the blond girl decided to take it upon herself to approach the sad creature.
She found it wondering one of the countless passages of the garden quite alone. With no signs of any eavesdroppers - the master of the castle nor the white dog, she walked to the creature with cautious precision.
“I never thanked you.” Her voice was soft, wary.
The monster who had apparently not noticed her approach, turned suddenly, eyes wide. “What?” Its low voice was barley more than a growl as it tried to conceal its surprise.
“For the ring. It was you who returned it to me, was it not?”
The monster’s raised brows dropped in understanding. It lowered its head, not meeting her eyes. “Yes.”
“Was he mad?” She walked slowly towards the creature, withholding any fear and disgust she had once felt for it.
“Who?” The monster looked puzzled.
For a moment, she began to second guess herself, but pushed it aside as she knew her instinct to be true. “Your master.”
Again, understanding crossed the monsters face. It was quiet once more for several heart beats before saying “No. My… Master was not angry. It was decided that the ring did, indeed, belong to you now.”
At this, she decided to ask what burned in her mind above all other questions. “You are a prisoner of this place too, aren’t you?”
At this, the monster lifted its head to look directly into her brilliantly green eyes. “I am.”
She knew it spoke more truth in those two syllables than in any other words she had ever heard spoken. There was nothing else to be said now. They were both quiet and still in the garden. Its beauty, though over grown and wild, was lost to both as they peered into each other’s souls.
Last Look
The storm that raged beyond the enormous windows of the castle was now on the second day of it’s insatiable wrath. Though a ways from the ocean’s edge, the boom of it’s frothing surface against the rocks of the island echoed deep within the castle’s thick walls.
It was nights like these that reinforced the loneliness she felt here. She had become close with the monster. They would spend the days together, talking and sharing their thoughts in the gardens and over suppers. Though her heart ached for freedom, she had found a kind of contentedness with her newfound friend. Between the creature, and it’s great white dog companion, she rarely found herself suffocated by the absolute isolation she had once felt here.
However, when the winds and seas raged and the sky came alive with the fire of the gods, she had quickly found out that the creature expected it’s privacy. And as such, the great white dog rarely kept her company during these nights. Why these were such important times to leave the creature in peace, she did not know for sure, but decided it had something to do with the master of this castle.
These were the nights the two would meet in the room below the balcony. The master’s back, as always, to the stairs, hiding himself behind his high-backed chair, while the creature appeared to entertain and serve teas and other such things.
Usually the storms did not last long, and she would soon found herself in the company of her new friends again. But tonight she felt unsettled. She did not wish to stay in her room while the winds howled outside. She wished to seek the company of the creature.
And so she left her room and walked down the hallway to the balcony overlooking the great fire room.
Shadows danced over the trophies and tapestries of the great room, as the fire roared in it’s hearth. She glanced over them, seeking the familiar shape of the creature and a man, before letting her eyes drift to the two leather chairs. They were empty.
She frowned to herself and thought for a moment. It was strange for the room to be vacant. When the sun set, the two would almost always be within. She decided to venture down the stairs to search for her friend.
As she began her decent, she soon became aware of two voices coming from beyond one of the sets of doors. They were muted. But she knew something was wrong. She heard both anger and fear in those voices. She quickened her pace.
Below the balcony hung a pair of doors, their wood adorned with delicate carvings of various creatures, few of whom she recognized. Inching forward, she placed a hand upon one of the great doors, and slowly pushed it forward. It was completely silent as it pressed forward. She gasped at the sight before her.
The figure of a man stood almost out of view. But she could see enough to recognized a large sword grasped within one of his hands. Opposite of the sword stood the monster.
“You are no longer welcome here!” boomed the creature, the fur on it’s neck stood up and she could see the light reflecting off razor-like fangs.
“You’re in no position to argue, beast!” the man in the shadows spat, and lunged.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a streak of white, and the great dog sunk it’s teeth into the man’s sword arm. The man cried out as the dog twisted it’s enormous head in a way that was brought the man’s arm near breaking point. He fell to his knees, cursing every god he had ever had named to him.
With the great white dog continually twisting it’s head, and grinding it’s teeth, the creature leaned down to pick up the man’s fallen weapon.
A glint of gold in the sword’s hilt made her realise that the weapon was that which should be hanging above the fireplace in the room behind her. She turned her head to glance a the hearth behind her. The sword was indeed missing from it’s ‘honoured’ place.
A scream.
She turned her gaze back to the fight in the room beyond. The great white dog was no longer holding onto the man’s arm, but was now several paces away, it’s head low and it’s teeth bared. The monster now stood over the cowering man, a deep growl escaping it’s throat.
“No longer will you be a curse upon this land.” The monster lifted the weapon in it’s hand and looked down at it. “This would be too good for you,” the creature seethed. “You will be judged.” The creature lowered the weapon and turned it’s back to the man. “But not by myself.”
She watched with a mixture of terror and curiosity. Would this be it? Would the master of this castle finally fall? Would she and her friend creature finally be free? But she had not seen the creature this fierce. This angry and frightening since her arrival. She was afraid that it’s anger might not be containable. Yet she held fast. Her shaking body resisting to flee, but watch the possible horror before her unfold.
And it soon did.
The shadows which flickered and floated across the room’s walls and ceilings began to move in unison. The soft edges became solid and sharp. They grew and joined. Only the shadows of the creature and the great white dog remained in their spot. Watching as their brethren fell upon the screaming man.
And when the blood drained away, it’s life giving over, she fell back and kneeled upon the floor.
It is done.
Unveiled
“You have freed us,” her voice was quiet. Thoughtful.
The creature whirled around, obviously startled by her sudden appearance. It stared at her with dark eyes. She stepped towards it. She should feel frightened, she knew. After what she witnessed, she should be running for her life. But rather than run in terror, she stepped forward and took the creature’s clawed hand in her own.
And in that instant, all the pain and hatred she had felt for the man who had held her prisoner for so long subsided and lifted from her heart.
“We are free…” she said again, this time her voice was low and held a note of… something else.
As she looked into the dark, sad eyes of the creature before her, she smiled a new smile.
Then screamed.
The creature opened it’s eyes, surprised by the sudden movement of the girl and looked down at her questioningly. “Wh-” but before it finished the word, the creature stopped itself and clutched at it’s own throat. But as it’s hands flew to it’s throat, it stopped, and peered at it’s hands. Two, pale and hairless hands. And before it could utter another word, an agonizing scream echoed from red lips and echoed throughout the castle.
The blond watched as the creature - the thing - before her screamed. An agonizing soul retching scream. As she watched in absolute horror as the creature she had thought to be a trusted friend, began to shimmer and shift before her eyes. She watched as the creature’s fur melted away to reveal pale, porcelain skin. It’s very face shifted it’s features, as even it’s height and size flickered. Within a the pace of a heart beat, no longer did her friend, the creature of this castle stand before her, but a raven haired, pale faced woman instead.
“What are you?!” Her green eyes grew wide with shock. “Who are you…” she whispered as an afterthought. Her eyes began to glisten in the fire’s flickering light.
She watched as the woman before her dropped to her knees, tears brimming from clenched eyes. The blond shook her head and began to back away.
“No,” she mumbled to herself, “this is too much… I thought….” Her words were interrupted as the dark haired woman screamed again, a terrible scream as though a blade had sliced through her and pierced her heart.
Too afraid to rationalize what she was witnessing, the blond girl ran. She tore from the castle and into the gardens beyond as the wind raged and the rain pounded.
Within the castle, a monster sat bent over in pain, its arms clutched around its middle, as sweat dripped from its fur and face. “She’s escaped,” it panted, its voice cracking with the strain. “Find her.”
The great white dog whimpered and pawed at the stone.
“Now!” the monster gasped, and reached for the ruby hilted sword.
The End
She ran.
The path had been slick with mud in the beginning, but that was nothing compared to the task of climbing through rocks which were like ice with the water than over them.
She knew not where she fled to. She didn’t even know if there was anywhere to flee. All that she was aware of was that nothing but evil existed on this island and she needed to escape.
The thunder echoed above her, off of the sheer cliff edges which surrounded her and would undoubtedly block any escape. She cried to the sky above. Anger. Betrayal. She cursed the gods and cried for the safety of her home. Her mother.
She was still sobbing, soaking wet and chilled to her bones as she dragged herself into the small cave entrance. Exhausted and shivering, she crawled on all fours into unknown shadows in a desperation to rest else she slip on the rain slicked stone and fall down the mountains and find her death in this forsaken place.
Within the semi-dry shelter, she collapsed and curled herself into a ball, hugging herself for warmth and for even a minute sense of security.
“What is wrong, child?” a voice startled the girl from her thoughts of mind numbing horror. She sat up, and looked around the cave. A flash of lightening, and she saw the outline of a figure standing further inside the shelter. “Child?” the voice asked again. The girl blinked away the tears which stung at her eyes and blurred her vision.
“Stay away…” her voice was shaking as fear gripped her.
“I will not harm you, child,” the voice was kind. A woman’s voice. It reminded the girl of her mother’s own sweet voice from the days of her childhood when she was still innocent and happy.
“Who are you?” the girl asked, her throat ached from crying so hard.
“Someone in hiding. Like you, I think.” The old woman came closer. To the edge of her sight. Now, in the flashes of lightening, she could make out a hunched over figure. The old woman was dressed in a traveling cloak, which she held tight against her, and the hood over her face. She must have been in the storm, the girl surmised.
“I am hiding from a monster,” the girl told the old woman. She knew not why she felt this way, but when the woman had stepped closer to her, she had felt a wave of peace wash over her and felt as though she could trust her.
“I know,” the old woman said. This startled the girl, who sat up and pressed her back against the cave’s cold wall. “I am hiding from the same monster.” The old woman swayed slightly.
“Are… are you a prisoner too?”
“Not any longer,” the old woman said. “I was once like you. But I escaped. And have now found refuge in these cliffs. I know of a safe place, should you wish to join me.” The old woman turned her back to the girl.
The blond sat a moment, tears still shining in green eyes. Then she stood.
“That’s it, girl. Follow me. We’ll get some food. And-”
“Get back, serpent.” A growl and a snarl echoed through the entrance of the small cave.
The blond girl gave out a small whimper. The monster had come for her.
“Quickly, girl. Follow me,” the old woman said, her voice was suddenly cold. The girl began to edge towards the old woman. The woman had escaped before, she must know how to get away. But as she took her second step, the great white dog bounded in front of her, blocking her way.
“Please,” the girl pleaded. “Move. If you are truly my friend…” The great dog ignored her and lowered it’s head to the old woman and let out a menacing growl.
“Let her go, monster. She has chosen. She is mine.” The girl was startled by the sudden anger in the old woman’s voice, who moments before had sounded like that of an angel come to take her away.
“She is not yours,” the monster growled. It’s outstretched claws flashed dangerously.
The old woman cackled from beneath her cowl. “She has been mine from the moment she landed upon our shores, my child.”
The monster stepped into the cave, its silhouette magnified by the flashing lightening outside. The blond girl looked from the old woman, to the monster who now blocked her only means of escape. As she watched, the monster looked directly into her frightened green eyes.
“Come back with me. Now.” It held out one of it’s clawed hands for her to take. “You are not safe here.”
The girl looked back into those sad dark eyes and saw nothing but concern in them.
“Enough!” the old woman screamed and stretched out a crooked, clawed hand.
A flash of red blinded the girl as magick filled the small cave. Over the roar of the thunder from beyond, she heard a yelp and a thud as the white dog fell to the ground and was still.
“No!” the monster screamed in rage. As the beast moved to her, the girl felt an icy grip on her forearm. She looked down and trembled. The hand clutching her with a painful grip was red and scaled, ending in two knotted and clawed fingers. She gasped and looked into the face of the old woman, and was met with a horrible yellow eyed face which stretched beyond that of a human’s and curved into a snout-like mouth. Sharp teeth jutted out from the woman’s jowls and her wrinkled face was flecked with uneven and sickening red scales.
“You’re mine,” the woman’s voice rasped and she pulled on the girl, dragging her towards the back of the cave.
Suddenly afraid, and realising her mistake, the girl looked back at where the creature had stood moments before. She saw it kneeling over the prone white dog. As she watched, the creature reached behind it’s hunched shoulders and pulled forth the blade which had once hung above the great fireplace.
It’s golden gem shone brightly, even though no source of light within the cave existed. And as she watched, frightened and unable to utter a sound, she watched as the monster stood, stepped over it’s fallen companion, took three enormous strides and brought it’s sword down upon the old crone’s scaly arm.
The woman’s scream echoed through the tiny cave, ear shattering in it’s intensity. But the girl found the woman’s grip instantly released and her numb hand went limp as she was freed. She dropped to the ground, her fear paralyzing her. So she watched as the creature and the monstrous woman faced each other.
“You’ve taken your last soul, woman,” the monster growled, sword raised in it’s right hand. In a great arch, the monster brought down the weapon in a motion that would surley kill the deformed woman.
A stream of red light hit the blade, it’s force sending the creature stepping back. Like smoke, the red light curled and twisted itself around the weapon. The sound of sizzling and hissing filled the cave as the magick licked at the metal.
“Idiot woman. You know magick can not penetrate nor harm this blade.”
A sly smile crept over the woman’s muzzle of a mouth. “Then I shall not aim for the blade this time.” The woman’s red scales began to glow, their light radiating off of the cave’s damp walls. The entire shelter looked as though it was on fire. A second stream of red light shot from the old woman’s fingertips, but missed the beast by mere millimetres. The air around the magick evaporated instantly, letting tendrils of waving air behind.
As she watched the duel, the blond felt a tingle in her breast. A nervous and frightened heart? No. She peered down at herself, and saw the ring that her mother had given her glowing with the same golden light as the sword’s gem. She would have watched it, touched it’s sleek glowing sides, but she was startled when she heard the creature howl in pain.
It’s shoulder appeared to be on fire. Smoke rose from it as it took several steps back from the old woman. The creature was distracted and it lowered it’s weapon to grimace at the pain.
The girl gasped as the woman’s scales began to glow again. And before she had time to process her thoughts, she stood and placed herself between the woman and the creature as threads of red magick flew towards her.
She felt a sensation like that of warm water being poured over her chest. It flowed around her, over her shoulders and down her back. But there was no pain. She glared at the old woman and smiled suddenly. From the edge of her vision, she saw the creature stand up, next to her and hold it’s sword at the ready. Then, in a throaty growl, it snarled at the old woman.
“I release you from your curse and send you to your god. Let your soul be judged, as you have judged so many before you.”
The old woman’s yellow eyes grew wide as she watched the diamond blade cut into her shoulder as if through parchment. And then, all was still.
A Lie Untold
She looked up at the creature standing before her. It’s shoulders drooped and the sword, dripping with crimson hung limp in it’s hand.
“What
are you?
Who are you?” her cries echoed against black stones, sounding thunderous in the otherwise empty cavern.
“It is,” the creature before her bowed its head, obviously torn by what it was about to say. “Because I refused to love…” Its voice trailed off. It had taken all of the creature’s energy to force those words from its lips and now its body sagged even lower, visibly exhausted from it all.
The girl knotted her brow, a frown creeping across her features. “Please,” she asked, wanting to understand it all. “Please tell me….” She followed the gaze of the creature, who’s eyes rested on the prone body of the white dog.
Once Upon a Time
The crone was in a rage. Hundreds of years of family heirlooms finally found their demise in the hands of the tempering mad woman. Her screeches vibrated throughout the house’s corridors.
“You were to marry him! It had been decided! The wedding was only a word a way from becoming a reality and we would be away from this hell!” Another priceless sculpture hit the worn carpet and shattered. “I curse the day I birthed you! It would have been better that I was killed by those fiends rather than your father, only so that I would not know the shame you have caused me!” This time a tapestry was ripped from where it hung and hurled to the ground. The woman stopped, panting over the crumpled fabric.
“Mother, I-”
“Don’t you dare call me that!” Her voice dropped dangerously low, a rasping whisper emanating from her chapped lips. “You are no longer my daughter. I denounce you.”
And then, before she had time to realise what was happening, the old woman raised a crippled hand and pointed it to her daughter’s heart, a wisp of smoke stemmed from her yellowing nail.
“You are evil and must be punished for your sin. The hate you have shown, and the pain you have caused will now emanate from you forever more. That which all see and despise the most will now be your fate. Those who call you friend will lie in death’s embrace this night as the ‘love’ you claim to have for them will rip their souls from their bodies and bind them to your own wretched sin-stained heart for all time. When you look into any mirror, you will see naught but your inner filth and self loath. This I swear on my life and the powers I serve.”
As soon as the last word dripped from her mouth, an immense pain swept through the girl’s body. She doubled forward and collapsed onto her knees. “No..,” she whispered through gritted teeth. “You will not hurt her…”
“The spell is done. Tonight her body will fall, and her soul be forever bound to you. As, I presume, you have always wished it,” snarled the old woman as she watched her own daughter shake from the magically inflicted pain.
“No, her soul… is her own…. And she shall always have it…. This I swear… to her….” A light ripped from her chest, making her back arch, and her head tilt back as she screamed in agony. The light shot forth and entered her mother, creating an unbroken beam of blinding white between them.
The old woman cried out, surprised by the attack. In the back of her head she heard a voice, May your fate be that of those you have cursed. It was the last thing the crone would ever hear before she felt her very soul ripped from within her body and dragged into the light before her.
With an shudder, the light heaved and then all was still.
Thoughts
“When I… changed tonight…. I lost control. I felt her soul rip from mine. And then she was gone. To wait for you.” The creature closed it’s eyes, unable to maintain contact with the blond girls green stare.
A time passed. Then, slowly, the girl stood up, and approached the monster. She reached a hand to the monster’s thick mane. Her eyelids grew heavy as she watched her own hand stroke the fur of the creature.
The cave echoed with silence, and the creature opened it’s eyes to peer down at the girl. No words were needed. It understood that it was forgiven for what it had done to her. Too weary to hold the heavy blade any longer, the creature allowed the weapon to clatter to the stone ground, the blood upon it staining the ground forever.
Running fingers over the soft fur of the creature, she leaned up, and placed a kiss upon the creature’s cheek. A small gasp escaped the creature’s throat as, before the girls eyes, the creature once again transformed into the raven haired Katerine.
Katerine’s eyes fluttered behind closed lids. The blond girl took the opportunity to run her fingers through the silky black hair, and moved closer to kiss her again. This time it was on lips as soft as the moon’s glow. And she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her close.
A shudder, and the great white dog lifted it’s massive head from the cold stone of the earth. It raised sparkling blue eyes to see the two women within the depths of the cave. With a great effort, it lifted it’s damp body from the stone, and looked at the entrance of the cave. Fifty-three souls had been freed that night. No longer were they bound to the raven-haired woman.
Lowering it’s head, the great white dog padded noiselessly into the storming night.
Beginning
Katerine awoke in a cold sweat. Fear and pain clutched at her as she rolled onto her side. With a groan, she lifted her head and searched the hallway for her mother. The old woman lay in a heap across the hall, her body limp and lifeless was propped up by the wicked statue of the Red dragon.
The magically glowing eyes of the god-statue were the only lights in the narrow room, giving the illusion that the corpse leaning against it was also glowing faintly. Adding to the eerie glow was the fact that no natural light from the windows filled the room. The sun had set. Night was upon them!
It all flooded her at once. The curse. Atrianas!
Katerine gathered her strength and heaved her body upright. Quickly, she made her way to the door which would lead into the dark world outside. She had to find Atrianas before it was too late. If it wasn’t already. Bursting from the stifling fortress and into the cold night’s air, Katerine made a dash to the city streets below. As she did, she called out for her Tryvah, needing the support of her faithful companion to keep her mind sane. The dog did not respond. Worry for the animal creased her already pained face as she called, then whistled for the animal again. Nothing.
She wanted to stop. To look for the dog, but Atrianas needed her right now. She had to find her friend first.
Cutting through fields, then between houses, and then allies behind the shops that littered the town, Katerine desperately sought out the home of her friend.
The door of the small shack was closed, but not locked, and Katerine banged it open with a thud and a scream. “Atrianas!!”
Here eyes fell to the limp form lying next to a smouldering stove, it’s fire all but gone. There, the body of a small blond girl who had obviously been in the middle of preparing a meal for her family, now lay, limp and cold.
Katerine dropped to the floor beside the girl, her own body crumpling over Atrianas’s. She touched her forehead to the still breast of her friend and cried. Her friend… her lover.
The sound of soft pattering feet, followed by the familiar click of nails on wooden floorboards echoed in her head as she sobbed uncontrollably. Katerine did not have to turn to recognize the cold wet nose that now pressed against her exposed neck. She knew it was Tryvah. The dog must have heard it’s name when Katerine had called and had followed.
The nose pressed hard into the back of her neck, but Katerine did not look up. Nor did the sharp pull on her jacket as the dog pawed her, make her look up. It wasn’t until the dog thrust it’s head under her arm and nodded upwards, throwing her arm into the air, that Katerine finally looked at her faithful friend.
She gasped.
Somehow, she knew. The animal that stood before her was the same one that Atrianas had given her as a gift that same year. Yet it was not the small brown fluff ball that she had come to know. Now, sitting next to her with it’s head tilted to one side, it’s sad watery eyes staring deep into her own tear-filled ones, was a great white dog.
She did not have to even question within her own thoughts. She knew. She threw her arms around the dogs neck and pulled it into a crushing hug.
“Oh, Atrianas,” she sobbed. “I am so sorry….”
A man’s voice thundered in the small room. “Atrianas! My daughter!”
Katerine jumped to her feet, not knowing what to do. She stared in horror as the man turned an accusing finger at her. “Murdering bastard…” he growled deep in his throat. “You horrible… murdering…!” The man lunged at Katerine and would have knocked her down if the great white dog had not bitten onto her jacket tails and pulled her away. The man, surprised at her movement, staggered and then turned.
Katerine looked into his eyes, bulging and as tear-filled as her own. He knew her! He knew that she and his daughter had been friends and that she would never…
“Sir, please, I did not -” The great man did not show any signs that he would listen to her pleas. He swung a fist at her head, connecting with her skull, hard. She cried out and dropped to the floor. Momentarily stunned, she lay there on the same floor on which her love’s body now lay.
The man stepped over her, and swore. “You disgusting bastard. What kind of man are you that you would come into my home and murder my only daughter?!”
‘Man?’ Katerine thought. She did not understand. “Please… I didn’t…” The man made to swing a fist at her again, but stopped. The white dog bounded forward and stood over Katerine’s chest. It lowered it’s body and raised the fur on it’s neck. A growl, dangerous and frightening erupted from it’s throat. It was enough to make the man consider before making another movement. And that was enough for Katerine to realise that there would be no reasoning with her friends’ father. She gingerly crawled from under the white dog and got to her feet. She glanced at the man who she had once thought of as a good and kind man. Then, in one swift motion, she and the white dog disappeared through the open door.
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Thanks for reading.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and i'll pass them along.
~Jen
) after taking a couple years away from the artistic side of life, has written something original she'd like to share with y'all on here. It's complete, so no need to worry about going months without updates 
Installments will be posted pretty quickly, i'll just be the one posting them. She tells me i can claim editorial rights though 
