Just a note of warning that this chapter contains a bit more violence than usual, as well as implied abuse.
Chapter 11
Feryl returned to the apartment as soon as he could to not arise suspicions. Nekros knew exactly the time it would take to dump a body into the river and return back home. The young elf had to even assist from time to time to carry bodies, so he knew the timing as well. He tried not to think of that. Time was crucial. Nekros' death would have to do this night, before he learned that Lyra was still alive.
Thoughts were dark with plots as how to strike Nekros. A full attack was pointless. Nekros was fast, strong, and the boy knew he'd be incapable of killing him fast enough before being killed himself. Making his death seem as an accident also was unlikely.
But trained in the very arts of an assassin, Feryl considered poison might be the best method. That was the only means to which he could close enough to his master, perhaps weaken him enough to kill him and finish his reign of terror.
What he hadn't expected upon his return was to hear voices in the apartment above. Nekros never had visitors, and he certainly had no friends or allies. The voices did not seem ridden in fear. Halting on the landing of the building, Feryl looked up the stairway to listen intently, curious who would be talking to his master. He could hear Nekros, but there was someone else, someone…who was too familiar.
"Where is the girl?" A voice demanded. Feryl was shocked. Renis…? Had he followed me in hopes of saving her? His first thought was the man took it upon himself to make a rescue attempt. As he took the steps one by one, he listened with growing disgust. "You told me she would not be harmed."
Nekros' chuckle was ominous. "I said I wouldn't hurt her, not that she wouldn't come to harm."
The young elf bristled at the implication. Feryl approached the apartment to find the man still hearing a sling of a broken arm, still wounded by the supposed attack. The man had no weapon in his hand. Words and the fact he showed no fear, told Feryl knew Nekros, but not as the assassin.
"I did everything you told me to." The Imperial was saying. "I was bringing her to you! Why attack me, and what did you do to her?" The man spoke with growing fear in his voice, or perhaps panic.
"Feryl is taking good care of her." Came a flippant reply.
"You promised me to get rid of him!"
"And you are rid of him." Nekros informed him. "He won't haunt the school anymore. Your Master Kendari will see nothing more of him."
Renis' face twisted in frustrated rage. "Lyra was not part of the plan-"
"No, no she wasn't" Nekros agreed calmly, nodding slowly. "But plans change and we must change to suit them." The assassin was holding back the smug grin when he caught sight of Feryl at the door. "Don't hover in the shadows boy…. come in."
Feryl was livid. He glared openly at Renis, seeing the man who had started this. He must have told Nekros of the Manos Blade, perhaps been part of the whole thing from the start! To think he was willing to trade Lyra just to be rid of what he considered a worthless dark elf thief..! Guilt and hate seethed.
Renis glared back, but his eyes wandered to the open doorway, expecting to find Lyra with him. The damned fool still didn't understand did he? Who did he think he was dealing with?
"Where is she?" Renis asked him.
"Did you take care of the girl?" Nekros asked, sitting back in his chair.
Feryl felt rage smolder. Those bold words Renis had spoken to him the other day was from confidence spawned from this deal with Nekros! The bastard had been in league with him all this time-"Yes, master."
The man before him was beginning to understand. He looked back at Nekros , then returned the hardened gaze back to Feryl. "What have you done?"
"I did as my master bade." He replied coldly.
Now fear began nipping at the man's edged realization. His attention returned to Nekros. "And what was that?"
To this Nekros smiled wickedly, toying with the slender blade that had 'killed' Lyra. The steel was still marred in blood. Apparently, the man had taken no notice of this little fact. "Why Renis, he did what any apprentice does with his first blooding."
"Blooding?" The man paled considerably, looking ghastly in the dim light of the apartment. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"You don't know who he is, do you?" Feryl challenged, knowing he was speaking out of turn, but his 'master' seemed to delight in his moment of gloating. "Did all you see in me as a mere thief? Did you only see a petty street thug to bully?" He stepped forward, almost shaking in anger now. His arm flailed towards Nekros. "Do you see him as some common thug? My master is Nekros…" The words were almost a growl now; teeth bared in barely constrained temper. He let the words sink into the man's brain, enjoying the growing shock and caged terror the man expressed with widened eyes and mouth agape. "Nekros… assassin….Butcher and death bringer…."
Renis stepped back, glancing now to Nekros and back to him as if he expected a joke. Two pair of eyes staring into him without mirth, his uneasy stance soon changed to one ready to take flight. "Nekros?" His voice was a hoarse whisper, obviously thick with fear.
"Oh come now Renis…" The assassin chided. He looked as though he was about to burst into laughter. "Did you really think me some common thug? That hurts my feelings."
"What did you do to Lyra?" His eyes pleaded with Feryl to tell him she was all right, that he had no hand in any harm come to her.
"My first blooding." The boy spat. Disgust mixed with an odd sensation of mastery. He liked the reaction the name of Nekros had on the man. Now Renis knew that the 'petty thief' was by far more dangerous than he could've anticipated.
"No…" His voice hardened. Renis' hand drifted to his sword at his hip. "You…you're just a boy-"
Feryl bristled, but stayed silent this time. Nekros had already started to move behind him, and the elfling knew that no one lived to tell what Nekros looked like, let alone where he lived. As arm wrapped in cloth closed in around his throat, preventing any hope of escape. The sharpened edge of a dagger slid across his throat in one fluid swipe.
"Ah but he is so much more than a mere boy!" Nekros murmured in his ear. The cloth caught most of the blood, but some of the warm crimson splattered forward onto Feryl. He barely blinked.
Renis' eyes bulged as blood sprayed from the gaping wound. No longer able to lift his sword, death came quickly but not instantaneously. White rimmed eyes stared at Feryl as his mouth opened to scream. Only a hideous gargle of red crimson emitted any sound at all.
It wasn't the first kill Feryl had witnessed. He could maintain a composed, unemotional façade as he watched in schooled indifference of the man's demise. When the body fell with a thump, Nekros wiped the knife against the dead man's tunic.
"Wash up." His master ordered, "I'll clean up this mess."
Moving without thought or feeling, he did as ordered. Nekros' rolled the body into the dead man's cloak, much as Feryl had done with Lyra. Like the others, the body would join the others in the river, another carcass for the city guards to question who the killer was.
The sound of heavy footsteps faded down the stairs, leaving Feryl alone in the apartment. Washing off the blood was painstakingly slow, and Feryl wondered if he ever remove the smell off his skin. He had only a washbasin, with the water a dulled red after he cleaned up.
Thoughts of Nekros' end also rode clear in his thoughts. Hands shook nervously as he dropped the wet cloth to find the stash of poisons Nekros kept in a cupboard. Eyes darted across the assorted bottles, finding the tiny vial for his purpose. Small, one might assume the clear viscous liquid within was nothing but harmless sap.
Latoli essence was deadly. Only a few drops were needed. Feryl had extensive knowledge of all manner of toxic substances, and this one was one of the few that had no taste, texture or color. There was also no side effect until it was too late for the victim. Death often started with cramps, uncontrollable muscle control, and blood at the mouth.
How to get him to take it….?
Feryl was breathing hard, from fear and tension. Time was running out. He stared at the small number of cups in the cupboards, wondering how in the world would he pick the right one? Blowing a low sigh to settled his determination, the boy began placing a drop within each and every cup. There would be no mistaking now. Briefly the thought flittered through his mind of the risk he was taking. Surely, he'd be also drinking from these same cups.
It no longer matters, he thought to himself, finishing the deadly task. He placed only a drop at the bottom of each cup, knowing that anything less of a close inspection, Nekros would never even notice.
When the heavy footsteps came up the stairs, Feryl hurried with replacing the poison vial and returning to washing off the blood. He was shirtless, hair still dripping water when Nekros entered the apartment.
"That's done." Nekros muttered as he began to strip off his clothes that had been marred by Renis' blood. "Kendari will be next, but not tonight."
Feryl nodded absently, not revealing intention or feeling. The evening would soon turn to day, and Nekros never killed during the day. The boy rinsed with the dirty water, used a towel that scratched against his skin to dry off. He tensed when his master approached, feeling arms encircle around him in a solid embrace. The contact of skin against skin took him off guard. Breath nearly stopped when he felt the man press his chin against his shoulder.
"I missed you." The assassin spoke softly, "I'm glad you made the right choice." The right choice being in returning to him, and in following order by killing Lyra.
"Where else was I to go?" Feryl replied slowly. Part of him felt the sting of truth to his words. If nothing else he'd learned from the past few weeks, is that he didn't belong in the school.
"I have something for you." Nekros had something in the palm of his hand, only now revealing a tiny vial of light blue liquid that glowed enticingly. "Something you need…?"
The boy tensed, hearing more than the words now. He knows…
Jerking instinctively, Feryl felt the man arms tense to hold him tight. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice your taking Shadowbane?" The voice was so calm considering Nekros confessed he knew the boy stole from him.
Feryl swallowed against the sudden panic rising up his throat. "I…don't-"
"Shhhh." Nekros whispered now, turning the boy to face him. He stood tall enough to where Feryl felt small and helpless. The top of his head barely met the man's chin. When Nekros cupped his jaw, forcing his head up, Feryl nearly trembled with the pitiless eyes staring down at him. "Its alright…"
With one hand, the assassin used a dexterous thumb to flip the tiny cork off the vial. It opened with a slight popping noise. "I can hardly blame you." The man continued, waving the bottle just under Feryl's nose. A sweet scent wafted, causing him to flush in memory of taking it times before. "Who wouldn't delight in what Shadowbane promises, eh?"
The boy practically shivered with the promise of a dose.
"I'm proud of you Feryl." Nekros continued in a lulling tone, using his free hand to stroke the side of Feryl's face. The boy closed his eyes, hoping to hide his disgust. "You killed the girl in such an unusual way. Quite remarkable. So tender…those lips…" The boy had to remember to breathe as fingers caressed along his mouth. "I enjoyed how you used the affection to calm her."
The bottle touched his mouth once again. "Go ahead…you deserve it." Nekros told him. "Then tell me how long you've been taking my Shadowbane."
The sweetness filled his mouth, and he accepted the potion. Doses were normally only a light touch of the tongue. Only a drop was the usual measure. Nekros, however, tilted the small bottle. Trying very hard to not draw back, Feryl took the larger amount, feeling the wave of pleasure begin to overcome him.
"Six…months." Feryl moaned, eyes rolled back when the potion began to take hold. He could barely get the words out. "Only… six… months."
He saw no reason to lie. The amount Nekros gave him would be almost dangerous except his body had already grown resistances. His master knew how long he'd been sneaking a taste. It was either that, or he hoped to kill his apprentice and Feryl doubted he'd do that.
Waves of intense bliss engulfed senses, and he thought he could hear the hum of blood in his veins. No longer caring, Feryl wilted into arms. Nekros held him up, letting the boy lean on him for support. The assassin gave a low laugh, while stroking the silken hair. "Delightful…? Isn't it?"
Unable to fend him off, Feryl felt the man shift his body like a large rag doll. A hand cupped his chin and lips touched his own. Vaguely he grew aware the man trying to taste the Shadowbane he'd taken, and with a pitiful moan, tried to move away from his intentions. Limbs refused to work, and thoughts drifted as though through thick mud. The effects of Shadowbane had taken hold, leaving him helpless.
"Fight all you want, Feryl my boy." Nekros whispered in his ear. "Tonight, you become a man…"
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A dull ache of hunger and the remnants of nightmares left the boy broken in the dark. Feryl did not move, half curled on the pallet of old blankets and clothes. His body ached, and his mind felt sluggish and thoughts heavy. Just as well, he did not want to remember what Nekros had done. He could smell him on his skin, and flashes of memory continued to haunt him.
The after effects of the Shadowbane left him listless and numb. Ever calculating, the man had known what affect that much Shadowbane would have on a boy his size. Lost in waves of pleasure, he did nothing to fend off his master from doing whatever he wanted. In fact, Feryl felt he might have participated. The thought made him sick and pushed memory aside before losing himself into madness.
Once again shut into the confines of his closet, the boy felt comforted by the dark enclosed in space. As long as the door remained shut, he was safe. He never realized before what form of comfort that had been to him. Small as the area was, the crowded walls shut him into a ball of quiet misery.
Nekros had most likely gone to sleep. There was no sound beyond the lock. Maybe he left to kill Kendari. Feryl paused, curious that he felt nothing when he thought that. Then again, right now he felt nothing but wretchedness. Deep down he knew the assassin wouldn't take on that job until nightfall. The shadow of darkness is when the man worked.
Master Kendari might not be even at the school. Surely, by now, he must know Lyra was hurt, and tended by a healer? Lyra would tell him what she knew. The thought of the swordsman's reaction to the truth made Feryl shrink. He'll hate me, and why shouldn't he after what I've done? He'd think he put his misplaced trust into a useless guttersnipe, a lowlife killer-in-training.
He kept reminding himself that he did not, in fact, kill Lyra, but he surely killed whatever friendship he had offered to her. Neither Lyra, nor Merthisan would know he hadn't been blooded, nor had he killed anyone. All they would know is he was apprentice to Nekros.
She hates me. She knows what I am now. He saw that in her eyes when Nekros told her the truth. Lyra was stricken with horror…disgust…or at least something similar. Merthisan would do the same. Feryl curled up tighter, ignoring the pain as he always did.
I don't belong.
When Nekros had finished with him, the man had spoke words that left him feeling empty. "This is just the beginning…"
Feryl closed his eyes tightly, unable to shut out the world. The beginning of things worse to come. He has to die….Nekros has to die…
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