Ok, so here is chapter eight! This chapter is about Rorek, who was seen briefly in Execution and Exile, and what had happened to him while Silas was fighting for his life. I think both characters will become main characters in this story since they are both highly involved. I'm still not sure yet. Either way, enjoy! Warning: hinted rape!
"Oh, my love, please forgive me. I was not strong enough to save you." Rorek spoke softly, voice hoarse and cracked as he looked upon Regensburg. The town now seemed desolate and void of life, as if Judgment Day had come.
"Their souls be damned to Hell for this travesty! May they burn in Hell for murdering a mother and child! Blasphemers! Sinful bastards! And you claim that it is I who is the sinner, but my hands have never been tainted by blood!" Rorek cursed at the town in rage and sorrow, shaking his head as his eyes became wet and wild.
"Damnation! What God are you?! What God allows the murder of an unborn child still in its mother's womb?! What kind God promises eternal life to His servants yet rips life away in a stillbirth before it can even draw breath?!" Rorek cried, arms outstretched as he looked upon the Heaven's, as if awaiting an answer. The man could hear nothing but the raging of his breath and the soft wind. Listening, the whispers upon the wind that he had once heard were now gone. Even the spirits were silent.
"A savage, cruel, beastly God you are! I have ever been your servant and this is how you repay me? By destroying everything I held dear? By God, I swear that I shall not lay this to rest! I do not care if I must pass trials of fire and water, I shall bring back my beloved! I care not if I do not have your aid, Lord, I do not care! I do not need your aid after what you have done to me." The man spat, enraged and grief stricken. Finished on speaking with the Lord, Rorek shifted and looked upon the village once more.
"I wish you well my friend. I know not if you live, but I shall not let your sacrifice be in vain."
Pulling his familiar black hood up over his head, Rorek took a deep breath as the scent of death filled his nostrils. It was oddly calming. The smell was one of the few signs that marked something as his.
Making sure the red markings on his arms were not visible, Rorek sighed a deep, heavy sigh. The man paused, wiping his watery eyes with his gloved hands before walking onward. Traveling was no problem for the Necromancer. He rarely stayed in one area for more than two years, but Regensburg was one of the few exceptions. Regensburg was where his family had been born, and very recently had passed into time and memory.
Walking through the village, Rorek approached the familiar brothel that had become the closest thing to an actual home. Even the women were like a second family to him.
"No, I cannot leave. Not yet."
Rorek stood in front of the whore house, debating whether to go inside or not. Looking around, the streets were completely void of life. The occupants were no doubt watching the spectacle with his mistress' knight.
Rorek watched as a single chicken crossed the dirt road, pecking at the bugs on the ground. Aside from the chicken and bugs, Rorek was the only living thing in the streets.
Steeling himself, Rorek entered the whorehouse, immediately being assaulted by the thick stench of alcohol. Looking around, Rorek was slightly surprised to see the inn almost completely void of occupants. The only people that were there were the barmaids and roughly three drunken men.
"Rorek?"
Rorek looked to see a woman approach him, her brown hair short and slightly messy as it fell to her shoulders, blue eyes skeptical.
"Rorek, what are you doing here? I thought you were being executed." The woman asked, Rorek noting that the woman sported multiple bruises and bite marks. She even had a swollen eye.
"Vivica, are you well? You look...broken."
"Do not change the subject with me, Rorek. Were you or were you not sentenced to be executed today?"
"I was. They murdered the Duchess with child."
"With chi...it was yours?" Vivica asked, taken aback as her eyes widened in shock.
"Yes. The child was mine." Rorek nodded, the woman's eyes narrowing as her fists clenched in anger.
"Bastard!" Vivica spat, Rorek's head snapping to the side as spit flew out his loosely clenched jaw from a vicious slap.
"Lies are what you spew! You claim you came here for your daughter, that you want to be a better father, but there you go and make another bastard heir!" Vivica spat in rage, face alight and jaw clenched. Rorek slowly turned back toward her, scratches running down his cheek and jaw.
"Becoming a better father was my intention. It always was. I never planned this-for all this death! I came back to Regensburg for a reason. I came back for you, for our daughter. I wanted to change. To prove that I was a better man-to prove that I was willing to take responsibility for my actions. What I did to you-did to Anaya-that was not fair! Neither of you asked for a child! And I left. I left you with child because I did not care. But as I travelled, I began to realize my wrongs and guilt plagued my conscience. I could not just sit back and leave my consequences fully on one undeserving woman. So I came back. And with Anaya...I could not leave. I could not become that coward again."
"By feeling guilty and trying to become a better man you had left even more death in our wake. I don't frankly care how you escaped your death, so I won't ask. What I do want to know is how long are you staying here? Hiding in a brothel is only safe for so long."
"I will not tarry here, it is too dangerous. I am putting you all in danger."
"So you came here to say farewell? How sweet." Vivica spoke, Rorek noting the slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"If you want Sophia she's in the back. I think she would like to see her father one last time." Vivica spoke softly.
"What is wrong?" Rorek asked, noticing something off in her voice.
"My boy, Corin. He's been...He's just so...different. Ever since you came, his personality just changed. He became...angry and cold. And I noticed a lot of his hostility is directed toward Phee-Phee. I know raising children in these conditions aren't good for them, but I can't do anything, Rorek! I have no money, no property! I can't give these children the life they deserve and Corin is becoming worse! I think...I think he is jealous of Phee-Phee. Because his father...never came back for him like you came back for Phee-Phee."
"Would you like me to speak with him?"
"No...I...I believe he is fine. Just go speak to Sophia." Vivica answered, Rorek gently touching her arm as he passed.
Ignoring the few drunken men, Rorek made his way to the back of the brothel in a spare bedroom, seeing the child in a bed. Moving carefully across the creaking floorboards, Rorek stood above the sleeping child, the girl's blonde hair wrapped in pigtails. Sighing softly, Rorek kneeled down next the bed, watching his daughter as she slept.
"Sleep in the arms of the angels, dear." Rorek whispered softly, gently brushing the stray strands of hair from Sophia's face. Leaning over the girl, Rorek pressed his dry, cracked lips gently onto her cheek.
"Farewell, my darling angel." Rorek spoke gently, noticing Sophia's blue eyes flutter open.
"Daddy?"
"Hello, Phee-Phee."
"Daddy!" Sophia cried, jumping up and wrapping her arms around her father, Rorek doing the same. "I missed you, Daddy!"
"And I you. Did you sleep well?"
"Mmmm hmmm!" Sophia nodded, nuzzling her father's chest.
"Mother treating you well?"
"Yes, Daddy! Will you be staying? We can go down to the lake and look for fishies, or skip rocks, or-"
"Sophia." Rorek spoke, the firmness in Rorek's voice causing the young girl to look up at her father.
"Did I do something bad?" Sophia asked, tears welling in her eyes.
"No, darling. I just cannot stay. I am sorry."
"Oh..." Sophia muttered softly before adding, "But you will come back, won't you Daddy? You always come back for me and Mommy!" Sophia asked, eyes glowing with hope.
"I do not know, child." Rorek sighed, keen eyes spotting something underneath her worn clothes. Pulling up her sleeve, Rorek's heart dropped upon seeing a bruise on the child's thin arm.
"Are you getting along well with Corin?" The man asked, his fatherly instincts telling him something was wrong when the girl hesitated to answer.
"Sophia. Look at me." Rorek ordered firmly, the young girl looking at her father, eyes fearful and uncertain. "You can tell me."
"He..." Sophia faltered, hesitant. "Corin likes to play games with me when Mommy is gone. But I don't like to play them! They aren't fun! They hurt, Daddy!" Sophia cried, tears falling from her round face as her father paled. Rorek numbly stared at the girl, his hands shaking in growing anger as rage began to overtake him.
"Sophia, does Corin...does he..." Rorek faltered, struggling to speak the question he dreaded to ask, dreading the answer. "Does he...touch you where you pee?"
Sophia nodded.
Screaming in rage, Sophia cried as her father violently got to his feet and walked out the bedroom. The man frantically paced around the inn.
"Ohhh, no! No, no, no, no, no,! NO! NO!"
"Rorek? Rorek, what's wrong? Calm down!" Vivica rushed toward the man, Rorek's face alight with rage and tears that had not yet fallen.
"You knew! You knew! You knew yet you did nothing!" Rorek screamed shrilly at the woman, pointing in rage as he shook.
"I couldn't stop him! I couldn't! I did everything!"
"Not enough! You did not do enough! Miserable wench you are! Miserable!" Rorek spat, several barmaids fleeing in terror as several drunk occupants cheered the verbal fight on.
"Do you think I wanted this for my child! For my daughter-for my children! No! I tried everything within my power when you weren't there! We were fine without you! Ever since you came back my Corin changed! He's not the sweet little boy he once was!" Vivica cried, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth.
"Your bastard son tainted my daughter! His soul is as black as sin!"
"And you are no different with your honey laced venom! Lies!"
"I came back! I came back for my child while your son remained a bastard! Do not say he and I are the same for we are not!" Rorek roared, the sound of a door opening barely catching the pair's attention as Corin walked inside.
"Mother, is something..." Corin's eyes widened as the hair rose on the back of his neck. "You...You are that man! What are you doing here? Begone!"
Rorek's green eyes narrowed darkly at the boy, and without thinking attacked. Vivica screamed as Corin was knocked to the ground, Rorek mercilessly punching and kicking the downed boy.
"Stop! Rorek, Stop! My baby!"
"Bastard! Heartless bastard you are! She is just a girl!"
In terror, Corin curled up into a small ball, crying from the blows. Vivica threw herself at the crazed man and wrapped her arms around him, struggling to restrain him.
"Rorek! Rorek, stop! You're killing him!" Vivica cried shrilly, Rorek breaking her grip. Screaming, Vivica was pushed against the wall, her head smacking into the wood as she slumped down in a daze.
"I will kill you!" Rorek screamed in rage, pulling out a small dagger, its poison long gone as he went to plunge the blade into the boy's chest.
Screaming in anger, Rorek dropped the small blade as it clanged and skidded across the floor, his arms locked in place as a drunk occupant subdued him.
"Let me go! Let me go, you ungodly bastard!" Rorek screamed, kicking violently as he wriggled around. Rorek slammed his head into the man's nose, the man letting Rorek go as he ran for the knife resting on the floor. Before Rorek could bend down to get the knife, he was body slammed by another burly man. The impact sent the lean Necromancer flying as he knocked multiple chairs over. Before Rorek regained his senses, he was already lifted up almost single handedly and subdued.
"Basta' broke meh nose!" The man with a now broken nose cried, the man that was still sitting at his seat laughed as he continued to drink. Some alcohol squirted out between his teeth and onto the table.
"You a'ight, lady?" The man holding Rorek asked, Rorek still struggling violently as Vivica struggled to her feet, blood running down her temple.
"Oh, Corin! Oh, my poor boy! Are you alright?" Vivica asked in worry, kneeling down as Corin lay in a pool of his own blood. The boy was shaking, and refused to answer his mother.
"What have you done to him?! Get out! Leave, and never come back!" Vivica screamed, Rorek being thrown out onto the street, his dagger following shortly after.
Rorek heard the door violently slam behind him as he struggled to get up. Grabbing and sheathing his dagger, Rorek looked back at the sign of the whorehouse. The Harlot's Inn. Fitting.
"Vivica?" Rorek asked, trying to open the door only to find it locked. "Vivica! I know you can hear me!" Rorek quieted, listening to the soft sobs on the other side of the door. She was just on the other side.
"Hate me, if you wish. I will not apologize for my actions, for they were just. However, I have one request, if you wish to hear it." Rorek spoke, pausing for several seconds. All he could hear was the woman's crying, but she wasn't leaving.
"What?" The woman from the other side of the door asked softly. Rorek barely even heard her speak.
"Protect Sophia from Corin, and give her my love."
"I...I will..." Vivica spoke softly, both falling silent for several minutes.
"Rorek?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry it had to be this way."
"As am I, dear. As am I."
"Rorek?"
"Hmmm?"
"...You're not coming back are you?"
"I fear not. If I am, I do not foresee it in the near future."
"...What do I tell her? She will be crushed."
"That I am dead. Tell her that I am dead." Rorek spoke, the pair falling silent once again.
"I apologize for making everything worse." Rorek spoke softly, leaning against the door.
"It's alright. You tried. You came back." Vivica spoke, her hand resting on the door as she smiled sullenly.
"I hope your future is brighter than mine, and that you find a man that deserves you." Rorek spoke, hearing the faintest laugh behind the door.
"Don't get all morbid on me. I hate it when you do that." Vivica stated, sniffing as Rorek chuckled.
"It is true." Rorek muttered softly. "There is no future for me here. Please, protect Sophia from me, from my legacy, from my horror. That is all I ask."
"I shall. Come back, when all this is over."
"I fear I will gaze upon this town for the last time. Farwell, Vivica."
With a heavy heart and broken soul, the man trekked among the familiar grounds surrounding the small town. Approaching the cemetery, Rorek make his way up the familiar hill toward the cursed tree overlooking the graves. The dead tree was large, its branches outstretched that had once served as the gallows. Occasionally, it still did.
"Death summons thee. Unburden thy sorrows and allow thy aid. Show me what I seek and receive thy wish." Rorek spoke, waiting as blood slowly began to seep from the bark of the tree.
Rorek winced as he began to hear the swinging of the rope, the struggled gasps and breaths from those long dead. He could hear their pleas being whispered through the branches, like the claws of death.
Rorek closed his eyes, seeing visions that were not his, seeing through the eyes of those who had fallen, feeling the snapping of the noose breaking the neck, feeling the fight to breath.
"Who are you?" Rorek asked, feeling the tightening around his throat as he struggled to ignore it. Calm. Be calm and show no fear.
Slowly, names began to show within the blood, names the man did not recognize.
"This is not what I seek. Tell me, did the Duchess pass over?" Rorek asked, the spirits refusing to cooperate upon showing the man what they knew.
"You shall not get your wish until you show me what I seek." The man stated, voice firm. Slowly, the names disappeared and faces within the blood began to take shape. They all seemed to be screaming in agony.
"No! Show me what I seek!" Rorek hissed, eyes becoming wide as he saw a dragon like head form within the blood, its eyes pure black.
"No..." Rorek paled, showing the slightest hint of terror as the spirit roared and lunged, knocking the man off his feet as a scream tore through his throat.
Writhing in pain, Rorek hissed as his eyes rolled back into his skull, hands clawing at the ground in agony.
"Get...out of me! OUT!" Rorek screamed, back arching in pain as his body twitched violently.
"I...command you...BEGONE!" The man hissed shrilly, shooting up as his body ceased to shake, Rorek breathing in labored breaths.
"Oh, no..." Rorek groaned, struggling to get up as vomit suddenly made its way passed his lips.
"Damn it...I am such a fool..."
Shakely, Rorek got to his feet, feeling violated as he knew the demon was inside him somewhere. He could feel it snake around his very soul.
"Damn you accursed demon!" Rorek spat in rage, his body burning as he felt the beast try and take control. It couldn't. It was too weak from the possession to try so soon.
"I must find a priest before this demon takes control." Rorek muttered, feeling the beast tug at its restraints.
"Foolish mortal...you know not what you have awakened."
Rorek heard the unnaturally deep voice of the demon, and focused on blocking the beast completely from his thoughts.
"Your soul is heavy with sorrow and rage. You watched...helplessly...as your mate was murdered before your very eyes. And your rage overtook you then you found out the terrible truth with that boy. You wanted to kill him!"
"You speak lies, damned spirit!"
"Lies? Hahahahaaa! How can I speak lies if it is the truth? Before you knew it you had that blade poised over the boy's chest! Ready to pierce his beating heart!"
"No! I am not a murderer! Stop searching through my mind!" Rorek cried in dismay, his head pained as the demon shifted through his memories, through his thoughts.
"You are a creature that lives on death! Using death, you create terror, and when you create terror, you control others. You hunger for that, don't you? Power...desire...vengeance? You hunger for more!"
"No! I have changed! I am not that man anymore! Begone, demon! Leave me be!" Rorek commanded, hearing the deep voice laugh.
"Leave? Hehehehe! I can never leave! Just as I can never die! My spirit shall return to the earth, and the cycle shall begin anew! I must say, not many have the will to resist my corruption. You are strong for a human."
"You are too strong to be a mortal spirit...you seem more like a demon, but I can sense that you are not. What are you?"
"Hmmmm? You need not know anything save for my name. I belong to an ancient race that inherited this world long before any humans existed on it. A world that I sought to destroy." The demon spoke, Rorek's eyes widening at the realization.
"A...A dragon?"
"Heheh, you are a smart one! As for my name...it is one that you shall learn to fear along with the whole world! You shall learn to fear the name Malefor!"
Well, Malefor was kind of randomly put in there, but I needed another antagonist other than good ole' Eamon. If any of you are confused for the history of Vivica and Rorek let me just say this: Rorek was not cheating between the women. Phee-Phee(who is seven years old) was made as a result of prostitution(as was Corbin, her older half brother) and Rorek left Vivica to fed for herself and her kids. Later, Rorek felt guilty and decided to be a man. So he returned to Regensburg to track down his kid, and started building up a friendly relationship with Vivica. Corbin(who is roughly twelve) became jealous of Phee-Phee because her father returned, while his never did. As a result of growing up in a whorehouse, Corbin witnessed things that would be inappropriate for most children to see at that age, and mimicked what he saw the adults do with Sophia(who had no idea what it was, obviously). While in Regensburg, Rorek had developed a romantic relationship with Anaya, later producing another bastard child. Vivica was enraged at Rorek because while he told her he wanted to step up to the plate and be a father he's off having another illegitimate child, kind of defeating his purpose with Phee-Phee.