ShadowZone85 - Thank you so much for the review on this brand new story. :) Sorry for delay in update trying to put in as much detail and twists as I can.
Chapter Two:
Reins began to slip from his hands. He tugged and he pulled. The cart he sat upon swayed back and forth, the frantic spinning wheels threatened to break in half, as they spun around a sharp blind corner. The mare tossed her head up bellowing out a cry of distress as the bit tore through the corners of her mouth. She snorted loudly threatening to buck. The ground prevented her from doing so. It was too slippery. The liquid which trickled down her sides wasn't only the rain but cold sweat. It caused the mud to stick to her belly, making the leather straps which bound her to rub against fine hairs cutting deep into her flesh.
As lightning stuck against the sky mixing with the thunder, it high lightened the face of the man.
Teeth gritted. Sweat trickled down his face. Across his beard, cheek bones and even upon his teeth was a darker liquid. Blood. Not his own.
As the cart bounced across a sunken log a small cloth covered lump rose up in the air, it fell upon the ground. Streaks of jet black hair spilled from the many folds and creases. A bloody stump thumped causing the water to trickle around it. It became washed by the heavy rain. The stump was once connected to a human hand.
Two hours earlier...
Thunder cracked across the sky like a whip against a horses flank. Silent lightning quickly followed illuminating the sky with jagged scars, the clouds parted almost as if in fear of the storm they carried on their backs. Creeping across the sky with blind eyes the large trembling cloud came closer towards a small shack.
If walls could talk this small shack would be trembling with classified information. The shack looked like it had been dropped from the sky, it was placed in the centre of dead paths, no fields, no streams not even carcass's of a fallen bird. A cloak flapped around in the air, at a closer inspection it was a door. Left abandoned at the side of the shack was a familiar looking cart. The bay mare grazed greedily on the grass ignoring the change in weather.
Within the small shack trails of blood lead from one room to another. Smears on the wall of hands trying to grab hold of something. A finger nail lodged in the crack of the wall, the nerve still hanging from it. Two children sat huddled in the corner of the room, their hands bound soaked rags shoved within their mouths causing them to create the shape of a capital 'O'. In the centre of the room bound by a thick heavy chain wrapped around a muscled neck, the father heaved. Blood trickled from his mouth, his back exposed covered in deep angry whip marks.
His body snapped to the side as a blow shattered the joint connecting his jaw, his elbow preventing him from falling. Having no time to gain consciousness his hair was pulled forcing him on his hands and knees like a worthless dog. His lips curled in a bid to keep his broken teeth in his mouth.
"Spit them out!"
Ignoring the order the man turned his head. Growling the abuser punched him in the back of the head, the impact made the wounded man open his mouth, blood poured from his mouth while some of his teeth hung on the corner of his lower lip. Cackling the shadowed man walked around his personal victim. He held in his hand the necklace of the woman he bedded before degrading Zeus' temple.
"Your wife is quit the catch. Very gentle but enough soul to wound without pity."
As he mocked he dropped the necklace of the mans head watching it slip, causing it to hang between his shoulder blades as the beads become caught in the open wounds.
Crouching down the shadowed man grabbed the wounded mans wrist stretching his arm forward, within his other hand risen above his head was a carpenters hammer. Fighting even though with each move it caused his body to burn, he cried out in agony as the hammer crashed down on his fingers, he could feel his bones breaking underneath the thin layer of flesh.
The children screamed around the gags. Tears trickled down their faces, they wanted to look away but much like their father a chain was wound around their throats, holding them in place like disobedient dogs. One of them, the young girl was bidding to get out. Her sore bound wrists twitched behind her back, already she was able to get one hand free. Turning towards her brother trying to gain his attention, but all he could do was watch their father becoming beaten to a pulp.
Sixteen hours later...
Time took a stand still. Everything seemed to repeat its self. One blow fell where another had already lain claim to the now purple risen flesh. The man took his time in beating the children's father, his grin almost split his face in half. Being in the middle of nowhere meant he could take his time, only the gods would be able to see what he was doing. And he was sure even they didn't care.
The young boy who sat beside the girl had fallen asleep. His head hung low. It sent an ache down his spinal cord, his feet become painful numb, if a feather was to be dragged across the bottom of his sole it would have felt like nails.
A deep roll of thunder made the girl flinch. She arose from her open eyed slumber. Looking around she saw the remains of her father: A middle finger and a large pool of blood. Seeing no sign of the shadowed figure she moved her hands from behind her back to her lap, the broken rope laid in a pile in the background. Clawing at the rope digging in her flesh she yanked the knot lose, her legs kicked franticly. Rolling on her knees she looked up towards where the chain connected in the wall.
Tugging she felt the thick nail wobble with ease. Smiling around the gag she used both hands to yank the nail out of the wall. At the tender age of six she was smart. It wasn't down to genes. Due to growing up in the aftermath of the rain of Kronos she had to grow up fast, learn how to live in a new world where gods ruled and titans who hadn't been captured hid knowing, mercy was the last thing they would find.
Once she was free she attempted to pull the cold contraption around her neck free, however it was looked tight. Swallowing down a bid to sob she wound the chain as best as she could around her arm, so she wouldn't accidently step on it.
"Brother.?"
Whispering she lightly nudged the smaller bundle resting against the wall. No movements. Terror crept up her throat.
"Brother.?"
Leaning in closer her eyes circled the thick metal around his neck, the flesh underneath was a pulsing purple. His neck had broken.
Covering her mouth in a bid to muffle her scream she scrambled backwards from the limp body. She stood upon wobbly legs her toes curling in pain, shakily she made a run for it. She needed o get out of the shack before the man came back.
A shadow casted across the wall. A hunched figure dragging something heavy across the ground. He panted like a dog in heat. His spine arching, pushing through his flesh at the sound of thunder creeping towards him just above the shack, he inwardly cursed. He had to work quicker.
Reaching outside he felt the first signs of rain splashing against his blood speckled cheek. Hoisting the grey sack over his shoulder he dumped it in the crate. It rocked against the added weight. The mare snorted flicking her tail sharply. She had already become agitated due to the change in weather.
"Your lucky I don't strap it across your back."
He snarled at the mare like she was a human. Wiping his hands down his front getting rid of the collected sweat he headed back inside the shack.
Walking back in the familiar room almost slipping in the blood, he starred down at the boy noticing that his chest wasn't moving, he smirked realising the stupid brat had managed to break his own neck. Cracking his knuckles the male crouched down, his cheeks puffed as he felt his heart race when he hoisted up the fresh corpse, however the sound of something falling stopped him. Maybe it was a cosidence or an accident it didn't seem to matter.
Forgetting the body his feet scrapped across the ground seeking a hiding place. The corner of the room. Not the best but with no candles, and only a few strikes of thunder he wouldn't be seen until it was to late.
A tiny foot stepped from behind the cracked blood stained wall. She thought she had gotten away. Hope began to swell within her chest, tears poured down her face as she ran towards the door.
"Oh, little girl."
Nimble fingers gripped tightly upon the cloak, she froze her senses screaming to run before the voice managed to get closer. However small feet already began to turn counter clockwise. She starred at the bloody man who leant against the wall, weapon in his right hand a thick piece of rope in his right. The child didn't need to look down towards it to know that the rope, was wound around the ankles of her twin brother.
She didn't hang around.
As the thunder cracked loudly she turned herself around, fleeing from the shack.
Laughing the bloody man dropped the rope charging after the female. Arms snapped out to his side when shoes came in contact with the ground. With so much rain it was like walking on a river bed. Cursing he looked around. Face screwed, creased due to the violent weather.
There was no where she could hide. Expect the cart.
The bay mare who's coat turned deep ebony striked the air with muddy hooves. Pale white eyes turned deep crimson. She landed on the ground hard causing her muscles to quiver. The leather which bound her to the cart slipped, one more rear would have her tangled on the ground.
Spitting on the ground he started to count under his breath.
"One. Two. Thr-"
Being cut off didn't disappoint him. The lightning came before the thunder. It gave him four seconds to look around the empty area. That was all he needed.
He saw her trembling underneath the cart, her back to him as she pressed herself against the thick wheel. The weapon lightly banged against his leg with each step that he took, his feet squelched against the damp ground causing the hairs on the back of his neck to curl.
The child panted. At the sound of foot steps she grabbed hold of her lips, pursing them together. Though fear trickled through his body her blood felt lava hot, eyes darted to the side as far as they could go before she saw stars. The whip of a weapon cutting through the air before it cut deep in the wooden wheel, caused the young girl to scream in terror. Yanking herself backwards she fell on her side, her ear became full of damp mud. She scrambled backwards when the weapon began to twitch before it was yanked away. Splinters cut her bruised cheeks.
Rolling upon her stomach as a demonic hand made a grab for quivering ankles she crawled forward. Straight towards the hind hooves of the mare.
Grabbing only mud clay the mare snarled. He scrambled back on his feet almost banging his head on the cart. He ran forward his upper body flung forward, toes curling in a bid to find some grip. Backing himself away from the cart he circled it taking one large stride rather than two small ones.
Not knowing where danger lurked the mare danced around, the leather managed by chance to remain attached just underneath the bone of her tail. Snorting fearfully eyes swirled around trying to see what the darkness hid, while the lightning remained in the clouds. The girl felt the heat of the mares legs. Even with them coated in mud she saw the power. Unaware on where the man had located himself, she started to back herself up silently praying to any god that she would make it out of this alive.
A damp stone hurtled through the air. It spun like a professional acrobat. The jagged piece of earth slammed against the rib cage of the mare cutting her deeply. Crying out shock rather than pain the mare swung her back legs in a quick buck, she hit something warm. Not wood. Her body snapped forward causing the leather to spill winding tightly around skinny legs. Becoming trapped made the large beating heart bash against the thick bone connecting her ribs. She shrieked and spun before landing down hard on her side.
Laying dazed on the chilling ground, a deep cut causing the bone to dent unblinking eyes starred up towards the cart which trembled in time with the mares movements. The blinding pain couldn't be described. Though her body ached she couldn't stop her mind from thinking. With great effort she rolled over. A small hand stretched grasping on the damp wheel. Using it a lever she dragged herself forward, her lower jaw becoming heavy with mud as she gasped with each movement.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
She had managed to get just her head and shoulders out from under the cart. The cry of the distressed mare turned to white noise.
"A blind mouse."
Crouching down the man placed the weapon against her chin forcing her head up, eyes meet. One holding great pleasure the other utter terror. She smelt the bitter taste of uncleaned gums and teeth, her eyelids already fluttering. The desire to sleep enough to calm her raging heart beat.
"I'm sure you know what we do with mice."
A damp hand rose into the air. It trembled under the sudden great weight of the weapon. A cry of mercy never left the young child's lips, she wouldn't give the murderer of her family the satisfaction. Her father may have made her mothers life a living Tarturas but he always taught her to accept the chilling kiss of Hades.
The muffled crunch was followed swiftly by a squelch as the weapon punctured pulsing air waves and bone. The blood spat from the headless shoulders like the spitting serpents upon Medusas' head. He licked around his lips tasting her. It made him shudder in pleasure.
"Like sweet picked berries."
Rising the weapon above his head he swung it through the damp air cutting through the rain droplets, before he sliced the young girls hand off. Bringing the hand towards his mouth he inhaled the freshly decaying scent of flesh, purring like a pleasure cat he tossed it over his shoulder. Grasping hold of the girls wrist he dragged her back inside of the shack, ignoring the pained cries from his tangled mare.
Two days later...
No one understood what possessed the actual findings of the bloody remains of the well liked family. If it wasn't for the body almost run over by the hustle and bustle of Greek life, no one would have known what happened. What was found in the house was something no one would ever forget:
Cracks covered the west side wall. Blood oozed out like thick chunks of gravy trailing down a cows hide.
Plastered against the wall a sacrifice made out of three family members. Or at least some of their body parts. The missing hand from the little girl hammered on the wall, the fingers stretched as if holding her own head which gawped at the people who discovered it. Three hearts burned on a crackling fire. Written across the wall in blood was a disgust to all gods:
A sacrifice to the one true ruler. Kronos.
Even though only body parts remained a funeral was planned.
Friends wept at their funeral. A fire grew, sacrifices consisted of black lambs. Those who cut the throats covered their eyes with cloth, to fearful to watch the thin fur curling up exposing the bubbling flesh underneath. The fire hissed as the blood from the gaping wound dripped. The smell was enough to make anyone's mouth water but this wasn't a time to feast. As the cooked lamb was taken away from the fire, it was hung by its small hoofs. The blood poured down onto the ground disappearing through the cracks on the ground.
No plants coated the mourning scenery. The plant 'mint' was yet to be created.
Rumours spread like wild fire through out the vast city. Names plucked out of thin air. No one luckily was brought in. No new vengence murders took place. The killer assumed he had gotten away with it.
It was a male. No one thought a female could do the murders, let alone to a young child. But in Greece, nothing is as simple as people want it to be.
Standing in the background a burning stick hanging from hairy lips, a man held onto a goblet of wine tugging the stick from his mouth. Sighing causing the grey smoke to swirl around his face high lightening the familiar dark unblinking eyes. Turning himself around slowly dropping the stick on the ground without stepping on it, he left just as the last droplet of blood fell from the lambs open neck wound.
"All to easy..."
The words fell on death ears. Along with the disturbing gum wrenching cackle.
Anyone notice the small twister in the myth this story is based around? Please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost
