Disclaimer - I do not own Tortall or any other places, characters or events
associated with Tamora Pierce's novels. Any characters and plot lines not
from the novels belong to me.
Thanks for the nice reviews of the last chapter! I am going to continue this, though it will probably not be updated as regularly as my other two stories. You may guess the significance of Zachary here, but all will be explained fully later on anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Familiar Tale of Revenge
Chapter 2 - Hell Hath No Fury
One he realised what was happening; Zachary fought it with all his strength. As he felt the life fade from his body, he let out a scream of rage and refused to let the blackness take him. The one thought he kept with him was his sister, holding the doll now lying in the dirt and smiling, on her seventh Birthday.
"No! I can't die yet!"
The realisation that that was exactly what was happening was too much for his broken mind to bear. He forced himself into a corner of his mind, and denied everything - even his own death, until he thought no more. He did not see the hooded figure bent over him, who moved as if to lay a hand on his shoulder, and drew back as if burned. As his mind became his once more, the figure glided away.
After what seemed like only minutes, he realised that he was sitting on something solid. Opening his eyes in shock, he saw before him the city of Corus at dusk, tiny pinpricks of light appearing in the windows of the houses.
Leaping to his feet, he stared about him in panic. He had died, he was sure of it. The pain was still there - a hollow ache in his chest, as if something had been wrenched from his heart. The blue eyes were clear in his mind, their hatred the more puzzling. All those he ever knew had brown eyes.
He raised a hand to his chest, and started backwards when a pale shape moved towards him. It took him a good few seconds to realise that it was his hand, transparent and giving off a strange light. The truth dawned on him, and looking down at himself he realised he was unmarked, but no longer flesh and blood.
A moan of despair escaped him, and he crouched on a rooftop under the setting sun, crying without ever shedding a tear.
When his sobs finally faded, he stood with a grim expression and resolved to go home. His family would know what to do, and he could maybe watch over them, protect them from those evil, icy eyes.
After a few attempts at walking around, he realised that he could "touch" anything solid, like walls, doors and floors. His hands passed through all smaller objects and a gull on the roof he tried to stroke. Though he could touch the doors, he could not open them. Even beating the door did no good. It made no noise at all. Eventually he climbed down the side of the house, and set off at a fast walk to his home.
He walked all through the night. His new body needed no food or rest that he could discover, and he set quite a good pace. He was constantly looking around in fear for others like him. He could perhaps be harmed in this body too. His mind was constantly active, questioning and worrying. There had never been any mention of coming back to this land. The Black God took those who died, and they were not permitted to return. Terrible things happened to those stupid enough to try to cheat death. He remembered with a shudder a great sorcerer who tried to bring his wife back from the dead. They said his screams could be heard for months after his body was discovered.
Eventually such thoughts persuaded him to think of kinder things. He could not talk to his family, but at least he could see them again and maybe find a way to warn them of the blue eyed man.
"What had he said. *This is the one* What does that mean?"
He could find no answers, only more questions. A need for company consumed him, and he broke into a run. No traveller on the roads that night saw the glowing boy, panic stricken in his dash for home.
*****************
He reached his house just as the first light of day touched the fields. His family would be waking at any moment. The days work started and ended with the light.
"Mithros, guide me." He muttered. He had no idea how he was going to warn them, or even let them know what happened. He just knew he had to try.
Walking to the house, he realised that all doors and windows were barred. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he sat on the ground outside.
"Of course they lock all the doors. Have to, after all that trouble with bandits. Stupid! I have only lived here my whole life!"
Disgusted, he stood and kicked the front door of the house. His leg went straight through, and he went sprawling into the parlour.
It was spotless, that was the first thing he noticed: but it was not set in the usual way for a Kareh birthday celebration.
"Where is the cake, the presents." He asked to no one in particular. It was not as if he would get an answer. He shrugged, assuming they were hidden somewhere. Sally loved surprises. Then he saw the black. The black drapes on the chairs. Funeral dress.
"How did they know. So soon?"
Walking into the hallway, he stopped dead. A pool of blood led to the body of Mary. Her eyes blank and upturned to the sky, the flies already crowding on her pale face.
The pain in his chest exploded. Reeling he half-staggered and stumbled up the flight of stairs to the bedroom. His mother lay in the centre of the floor in a haze of red. Half-kneeling as if trying to stand, or run.
Zachary cried out in anguish, and flung himself beside his mother. His hands went right through her lifeless body. Though both were dead, touch was still denied him. He plunged, dived, and hurled himself at her, until his mind screamed at him to stop. Sobs shook his body, and he lay in a heap, his eyes burning though for all he knew they did not exist.
Then he realised, where was Sally. His heart filled with hope, and he rushed from room to room, often tripping, picking himself up uncaring - nothing could hurt him now.
He did not know how long he searched, but he found nothing. Eventually he returned to his mother. And tried in vain to swat the flies eating her flesh.
Then he saw her. The rivers of blood in her hair, the dress dyed, coloured with the last of her life, in his mother's arms. She had tried to shield Sally, but the girl did not move or breathe, again. "Where are you!"
His heart was gone. Nothing of his family remained. He had been too late. Looking in the corner, he saw Sally's birthday presents, all opened. It was after her birthday. Maybe just a day later, or maybe a week. However, the delay between him "returning" to Corus had been too great, and he had lost his family their lives.
"Was there anything I could have done?" he said to himself.
He realised there probably was not anything he could have done; though that thought did not make him feel any better. If the Black God had come for his family, then why had He not taken him? Why was he here?
"I believe I can answer that question." The voice shook him to the core. It was like the hunt, full of strength and power and elegance. He turned slowly, afraid of what he would see.
A woman, in a dress of the deepest green, the same as her eyes of emerald fire. Her black hair flowed behind her in a wave and her feet were bare, yet somehow though she never spoke a word there could be no doubt as to her identity.
"Great Mother, forgive me." He bowed deeply, and knelt, his face to the earth. It hurt to look at her eyes.
The Mother Goddess smiled, and spoke softly as if to protect him from her voice.
"Rise, my son. You have chosen a difficult path. We decided not to interfere, but the time has come for you to serve, and protect. Your path is set. Your old life gone."
Zachary was stunned. Him, serve the Gods? He was shaking with fear, but still he managed to get out:
"F-Forgive me, Mother, but I didn't choose anything. I mean - this man k- killed me, and I think he killed my family too. Please.why am I here?"
The goddess looked as if she knew all this already, but she gave a sad smile and spoke patiently.
"You are here because you chose to be here. You did not wish to die, so you fought it. The Black God himself touched your spirit and was afraid. This man who killed you knew who you were, what you will be but he could not stop what we had in mind. All will be as was intended. You will go to him, you will serve and protect: and in time - you will have your revenge."
Zachary got slowly to his feet, his mind racing. He felt a great surge of anger towards his murderer, but when he finally faced the Mother; his eyes were hard as stone and strangely calm.
"Mother, for a chance to revenge the deaths of my family I would do anything, even at the cost of my own soul." He meant it.
"I know." She said, and when she held out her hand, Zachary took it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More clues to old Zack's identity here. He is in the original "Song of the Lioness" series. If you haven't got it yet you will in the next chapter.
Please read and review! I need to know if this is a good story or not so far, any constructive criticism and suggestions very welcome. Update will come as soon as possible.
Thanks for the nice reviews of the last chapter! I am going to continue this, though it will probably not be updated as regularly as my other two stories. You may guess the significance of Zachary here, but all will be explained fully later on anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Familiar Tale of Revenge
Chapter 2 - Hell Hath No Fury
One he realised what was happening; Zachary fought it with all his strength. As he felt the life fade from his body, he let out a scream of rage and refused to let the blackness take him. The one thought he kept with him was his sister, holding the doll now lying in the dirt and smiling, on her seventh Birthday.
"No! I can't die yet!"
The realisation that that was exactly what was happening was too much for his broken mind to bear. He forced himself into a corner of his mind, and denied everything - even his own death, until he thought no more. He did not see the hooded figure bent over him, who moved as if to lay a hand on his shoulder, and drew back as if burned. As his mind became his once more, the figure glided away.
After what seemed like only minutes, he realised that he was sitting on something solid. Opening his eyes in shock, he saw before him the city of Corus at dusk, tiny pinpricks of light appearing in the windows of the houses.
Leaping to his feet, he stared about him in panic. He had died, he was sure of it. The pain was still there - a hollow ache in his chest, as if something had been wrenched from his heart. The blue eyes were clear in his mind, their hatred the more puzzling. All those he ever knew had brown eyes.
He raised a hand to his chest, and started backwards when a pale shape moved towards him. It took him a good few seconds to realise that it was his hand, transparent and giving off a strange light. The truth dawned on him, and looking down at himself he realised he was unmarked, but no longer flesh and blood.
A moan of despair escaped him, and he crouched on a rooftop under the setting sun, crying without ever shedding a tear.
When his sobs finally faded, he stood with a grim expression and resolved to go home. His family would know what to do, and he could maybe watch over them, protect them from those evil, icy eyes.
After a few attempts at walking around, he realised that he could "touch" anything solid, like walls, doors and floors. His hands passed through all smaller objects and a gull on the roof he tried to stroke. Though he could touch the doors, he could not open them. Even beating the door did no good. It made no noise at all. Eventually he climbed down the side of the house, and set off at a fast walk to his home.
He walked all through the night. His new body needed no food or rest that he could discover, and he set quite a good pace. He was constantly looking around in fear for others like him. He could perhaps be harmed in this body too. His mind was constantly active, questioning and worrying. There had never been any mention of coming back to this land. The Black God took those who died, and they were not permitted to return. Terrible things happened to those stupid enough to try to cheat death. He remembered with a shudder a great sorcerer who tried to bring his wife back from the dead. They said his screams could be heard for months after his body was discovered.
Eventually such thoughts persuaded him to think of kinder things. He could not talk to his family, but at least he could see them again and maybe find a way to warn them of the blue eyed man.
"What had he said. *This is the one* What does that mean?"
He could find no answers, only more questions. A need for company consumed him, and he broke into a run. No traveller on the roads that night saw the glowing boy, panic stricken in his dash for home.
*****************
He reached his house just as the first light of day touched the fields. His family would be waking at any moment. The days work started and ended with the light.
"Mithros, guide me." He muttered. He had no idea how he was going to warn them, or even let them know what happened. He just knew he had to try.
Walking to the house, he realised that all doors and windows were barred. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he sat on the ground outside.
"Of course they lock all the doors. Have to, after all that trouble with bandits. Stupid! I have only lived here my whole life!"
Disgusted, he stood and kicked the front door of the house. His leg went straight through, and he went sprawling into the parlour.
It was spotless, that was the first thing he noticed: but it was not set in the usual way for a Kareh birthday celebration.
"Where is the cake, the presents." He asked to no one in particular. It was not as if he would get an answer. He shrugged, assuming they were hidden somewhere. Sally loved surprises. Then he saw the black. The black drapes on the chairs. Funeral dress.
"How did they know. So soon?"
Walking into the hallway, he stopped dead. A pool of blood led to the body of Mary. Her eyes blank and upturned to the sky, the flies already crowding on her pale face.
The pain in his chest exploded. Reeling he half-staggered and stumbled up the flight of stairs to the bedroom. His mother lay in the centre of the floor in a haze of red. Half-kneeling as if trying to stand, or run.
Zachary cried out in anguish, and flung himself beside his mother. His hands went right through her lifeless body. Though both were dead, touch was still denied him. He plunged, dived, and hurled himself at her, until his mind screamed at him to stop. Sobs shook his body, and he lay in a heap, his eyes burning though for all he knew they did not exist.
Then he realised, where was Sally. His heart filled with hope, and he rushed from room to room, often tripping, picking himself up uncaring - nothing could hurt him now.
He did not know how long he searched, but he found nothing. Eventually he returned to his mother. And tried in vain to swat the flies eating her flesh.
Then he saw her. The rivers of blood in her hair, the dress dyed, coloured with the last of her life, in his mother's arms. She had tried to shield Sally, but the girl did not move or breathe, again. "Where are you!"
His heart was gone. Nothing of his family remained. He had been too late. Looking in the corner, he saw Sally's birthday presents, all opened. It was after her birthday. Maybe just a day later, or maybe a week. However, the delay between him "returning" to Corus had been too great, and he had lost his family their lives.
"Was there anything I could have done?" he said to himself.
He realised there probably was not anything he could have done; though that thought did not make him feel any better. If the Black God had come for his family, then why had He not taken him? Why was he here?
"I believe I can answer that question." The voice shook him to the core. It was like the hunt, full of strength and power and elegance. He turned slowly, afraid of what he would see.
A woman, in a dress of the deepest green, the same as her eyes of emerald fire. Her black hair flowed behind her in a wave and her feet were bare, yet somehow though she never spoke a word there could be no doubt as to her identity.
"Great Mother, forgive me." He bowed deeply, and knelt, his face to the earth. It hurt to look at her eyes.
The Mother Goddess smiled, and spoke softly as if to protect him from her voice.
"Rise, my son. You have chosen a difficult path. We decided not to interfere, but the time has come for you to serve, and protect. Your path is set. Your old life gone."
Zachary was stunned. Him, serve the Gods? He was shaking with fear, but still he managed to get out:
"F-Forgive me, Mother, but I didn't choose anything. I mean - this man k- killed me, and I think he killed my family too. Please.why am I here?"
The goddess looked as if she knew all this already, but she gave a sad smile and spoke patiently.
"You are here because you chose to be here. You did not wish to die, so you fought it. The Black God himself touched your spirit and was afraid. This man who killed you knew who you were, what you will be but he could not stop what we had in mind. All will be as was intended. You will go to him, you will serve and protect: and in time - you will have your revenge."
Zachary got slowly to his feet, his mind racing. He felt a great surge of anger towards his murderer, but when he finally faced the Mother; his eyes were hard as stone and strangely calm.
"Mother, for a chance to revenge the deaths of my family I would do anything, even at the cost of my own soul." He meant it.
"I know." She said, and when she held out her hand, Zachary took it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More clues to old Zack's identity here. He is in the original "Song of the Lioness" series. If you haven't got it yet you will in the next chapter.
Please read and review! I need to know if this is a good story or not so far, any constructive criticism and suggestions very welcome. Update will come as soon as possible.