Chapter 53: Truth Before Dying
Gils ducked inside Crowhaven and crept along, feeling his way down the dark passageways. Maxical's spell would be handy right now, it would help to know if he was alone in here. The door to the vault creaked loudly as he pushed it open. Gils froze, listening. The air was still and heavy, eerily silent…where was Lord Lovidicus?
Sliding in quietly, he hadn't gone far before he got his answer. Pieces of Lord Lovidicus's body were everywhere. Gils grabbed several candles from the sconces and bunched them together in one hand for more light, but the vastness of the room dwarfed even that.
Just ahead, dimly lit by intermittent sconces appeared to be bookcases. Gils moved toward them, but then realized they were up on a balcony. He felt around till he found stairs leading up. At the top of the stairs was a corridor, both walls lined with bookshelves.
Grabbing several books, Gils ripped the pages out and crumpled them into a pile. He tipped the candles in his hand, dripping a waxy trail over the heap as he lit the top page. It ignited rapidly. The flames following the trails of wax made a hissing sound that sent a chill down Gils' back. He gave an involuntary shiver. It was the same sound the vampires had made before dying. He glanced around, beginning to feel nervous about being here.
The tinder dry paper caught up all at once with a loud 'poof'. Gils jumped back in surprise and slid on something. Vomit, probably Maxical's…and another piece of Lord Lovidicus.
A thin trail of blood wound across the balcony and disappeared in a darkened alcove. Gils followed it, not even sure why he did. He hesitated at the yawning mouth of blackness before extending his handful of candles into it.
With a shouted curse Gils jumped back, falling backwards over a wooden chest on the floor. He scrambled up and shot across the balcony toward the fire, stumbling several times in his headlong charge. Gils pushed his back against the corner of the wall behind the roaring fire and doubled over, retching and heaving as if to vomit but none came.
The horror of that sight felt etched into him, he may never be free of that memory…the demented face of Lord Lovidicus…fangs like boar tusks curving out of that twisted mouth…his severed head piked on Aggie's sword. Aggie had killed his own father. Not just killed him, tore him to pieces.
Dear gods, Maxical and Owyn were right. Aggie was insane! Gils fell back against the wall, feeling as if the floor rocked under him. He let Maxical spend time alone with Aggie…told her Aggie needed his protection…and he was capable of this? Oh dear gods what had he done?
Flames began shooting up the side of one set of shelves across from him, catching it on fire. It illuminated that section of the vault, even the ceiling. As if drawn, Gils looked up. As far up as the eye could see on the walls…even on the ceiling in places…were sprays of blood.
With a shudder Gils realized what had been so strange about the pieces of Lord Lovidicus's body…there was no blood around them, no blood except that one thin trail that led him to that horrible sight in the alcove…as if it were a path meant to be followed by someone. But who? Himself?
As soon as the thought hit, Gils knew beyond a doubt it was for himself that trail was left. But why? His sword.
Sparks from the fire were popping and crackling. Gils had to move to keep from being burned. Before he could take a step, a roaring sound came from the wall beside him. That whole row of bookcases was blazing now, the tinder dry books exploding and shooting sparks as they caught up. Flames roared across the corridor from both sides, completely blocking the exit. Gils hurried toward the other end of the balcony, looking for any exit that would help him escape the fire that was rapidly spreading toward him as furniture and wall hangings began catching fire.
The candles were gone, he must have dropped them. Gils was glancing around for a way off the balcony when the alcove caught his eye. Of their own volition his feet brought him to the edge of its once dark chasm, his arm stretched forward…reaching in for Aggie's sword.
The blazing vault now lit the alcove, his hand was almost touching the blood crusted hilt…just inches from the leering face frozen in its death mask. Firelight flickered across the gleaming fangs and glittering eyes, giving the impression the severed head still lived.
What are you waiting for? Get the sword, it's Aggies, he'll want it back. Hurry before the fire spreads here…
Gils forced his hand down. What was he doing? The vault burning to the ground around him, he may be trapped in here…reaching to touch something that made his stomach churn…for Aggie! Why?
Aggie kept adding more secrets that had to be covered so people would think he was normal…Gils had given up his life without even knowing why, everything he cared about…gone. His music, family, love…there was nothing left. What now? Would Aggie kill him like he did his own parents? Gils' father…
Unbidden memories of his own father's death came, the green tint…the mortician had given him an odd look, Gils never knew why…till now. Had he been protecting his father's killer all these years?
Just get the sword, you know you're going to…just do it.
Gils hand drew closer to the hilt. Why was he doing this? He didn't want to! Was it Aggie making him do it? It couldn't be, he was in jail.
Maxical said the vampire disease was spread through the blood. The sword hilt was covered in it. Gils looked down at his hands, they were raw with scratches and cuts from feeling his way in the dark. He drew his hands back quickly.
Scenes flashed before his eyes…Aggie as a sickly baby who always seemed to be barely clinging to life…Gils had to come in off the road touring with his band to care for him. The parents said he was only healthy and happy when Gils was there…then they were both suddenly taken ill. Aggie couldn't have been two years old then, an infant. Too young for manipulation, that couldn't have been an act. But if he inherited superhuman strength, wouldn't he have had it then?
Gils was called in from a road trip again, told bullies were picking on Aggie for his blue coloring. Gils had to teach him to fight, protect himself. Yet…Gils remembered seeing Aggie barehanded at seven years old dismantling the shed because something he wanted was in it. He had the super strength even then…so why did Gils have to give up his music to train him? It was another one of those decisions he never would have made…but did.
Gils started to reach for the sword again. He wouldn't do that. It had to be Aggie. Gils forced his hand back down.
The flames behind him suddenly roared and reflected in the glassy stare of Lord Lovidicus's eyes. A loud crash sounded behind him and something smashed against his leg. Gils spun around. He was sealed into the alcove by a wall of flames.
The smell of the oil used in lamps filled the air and he heard a footfall. Behind the flames was the shape of a large man…Aggie.
"You're right Gils, it's me. Where's that [censored] Maxical. She should be here with you."
"We split up. Why should she be here?"
"Toss me that sword Gils, I need it."
"It's diseased, Aggie. It'll make you sick."
"That's my sword, Gils. Everyone looks for it when I fight in the Arena. You're right there, won't you get it for me big brother?" Aggie's voice was wheedling, needling something in Gils.
And then Gils felt it, the pressure to do Aggie's will…his arm reached toward the sword as if of its own volition.
Dear gods, it had been Aggie all along…some kind of mind control. Gils drew on every bit of willpower he had and fought against it.
"Our hands are cut, Aggie. We can't touch that sword. I'll buy you a new one when we get out of here."
"No, I want that one. Your father gave that to me."
"My father! You never told me that before…"
Gils felt like the floor rock under his feet. He had come home…from the yard he heard Aggie yelling, cursing Gils' father. Gils ran to his fathers room…Aggie wanted the sword. His father was clutching it feebly in shaking hands, refusing to give it. He died later that night. Aggie produced that sword his first fight at the Arena and told Gils he bought it from Haki. Dear gods, Aggie really had killed Gils' father…dear gods.
"I told you. He gave you the bow and me the sword. He told my mother too."
"I can't ask her now, can I?" Gils was gauging Aggie's voice position to either aim a hit or plan an escape.
"No. Hurry Gils, I don't want the sword to burn up in the fire."
"Aggie, when you fight vampires you catch their disease…it's spread by blood. You need to hurry to Anvil, go straight to the healer so they can cure you before you become like him."
"Like…who…Gils?"
"Like Lord Lovidicus. You can't help what he was Aggie. It's not your fault."
"I don't trust you with my secrets anymore, Gils. You told that [censored] everything, now all Cyrodiil knows. She was supposed to be with you."
"Why, you killing me?"
"Both of you. She'll get hers."
"Then come get your sword yourself. I'm not touching it. It'll burn with me."
While Agronak roared curses, Gils looked around quickly. Everything was covered in blood, he dared not touch anything. The small dresser nestled in the alcove was beginning to burn. Gils slid the lowest drawer out using his toe…loincloths, but they'd have to do. He grabbed two, covering his hands with them and jerked the sword out of the severed head. He tucked his father's sword behind the back of the drawer, then eased the drawer closed. Steeling himself, Gils picked up the severed head.
"I'm sorry Aggie. That was mean. Forgive me?"
Agronak's curses gave away his location.
"Here, here's the sword." Gils threw the severed head of Lord Lovidicus at the last place he heard Aggie's voice and then dove through the flames in the opposite direction.
Agronak's roars echoed behind him as Gils shot to the end of the balcony. It dead-ended. Aggie was coming after him like a raging minotaur. Gils leaped over the railing and hung on by one hand…it was a long drop.
Agronak's fist smashed down on Gils hand. With a strangled bellow of pain Gils' crushed hand slipped off the railing and he felt himself falling. He landed with an involuntary scream as both ankles shattered. Maxical's ring could not be pumped, his finger was nearly severed.
He had to get out of here. Biting back any cries of pain Gils crawled on his knees and elbows, his feet dragging limply behind him.
He pulled himself through the door to the vault and pushed it shut behind him. Aggie had the key. With his one good hand Gils jerked his pack open and grabbed the first thing his hand fell on, a pair of steel greaves. With all his strength he wedged them tightly under the door. Gils cried out as his crushed hand bumped against the pack when he pulled it back on.
The first breath of night air in his lungs as he crawled out the door was the first hope Gils had that he may survive this. Aggie would go straight to Anvil looking for him. Gils had seen some white structures to the south, but there was a sheer cliff there. He tried to see in the dark which area of the hillside was cliffs and which was sloped. The west seemed the only way that wasn't a sheer drop. Gils threw himself into a roll down the slope.
Suddenly he was freefalling through the air. He landed with a huge splash and water covered over him before he could get his breath.
His pack was still full of armor to sell, sinking him like a stone to the bottom. Gils struggled to swim but the weight of the pack held him at the bottom. His air was gone.
He pulled his dagger from its sheath and cut the straps of the pack, feeling relief as it fell from him. He still couldn't push off the bottom to reach the surface, not with the shattered ankles. One foot hurt less, he had to take the chance. Gritting his teeth, Gils tried to push off the bottom. Pain shot through him causing his mouth to open in a yell involuntarily. He began choking as water flooded into his lungs. The dagger slipped from his hands and sank to the bottom as he fought with flailing arms to reach the surface. Each choke brought another flood of water into his lungs.
What looked like stars from the night sky swirled in front of him, creating a tunnel of light in the dark void that had taken over Gils' vision.
