"What was this place?" Talavera wondered as she slammed the door to her apartment, wondering if she even wanted to continue this investigation after seeing a man who had been alive, and in torture for centuries. After finding out what Bezikati had meant, could she have encountered the other sins as well? She had never believed that she could encounter them, or that they could take a physical form. But her biggest question was what they had to do with the Black Lotus?
Going to her desk, she sat down for a moment, composing her thoughts; trying to figure out what to do. Did she really want to capture this being anymore? Or did she just want to learn about it? She remembered the Shariff's words, the words about how people sent her often stayed, or ended up dead. Her informant seemed happy; was there really a chance she could be? But how was she supposed to let her guard down. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke her from thought, "In a moment."
Getting up she went over to the door and opened it, surprised to see a Leah here, "I figured you might like someone to talk to."
"How did you know?"
"Well, you and I worked together for a while, I can read you pretty well. The sweets are from Sital, he saw how much you enjoyed his muffins."
"Did you tell him I have a sweet tooth?"
"No, but trust me, there's a reason they stay thin. He feels badly for frightening you, and gave my hubby a verbal lashing afterward."
"I'm sorry I ran."
"No, it's understandable, I wasn't quite sure how to feel about what I saw when my husband showed me either, but came to realize that it is not something he could change."
"It frightens me, I'm not sure if I should try and capture this creature anymore, it seems too dangerous."
Lea put a hand on Talavera's, "Michelle, keeping an open mind, that is one of the most important parts of staying alive here. Remember that."
"Okay, I'll do my best."
The next morning, she headed back, and went to the small bakery. "Hello?"
"Hello there," he suddenly appeared, "I wasn't expecting to see you again."
"I know," Talavera looked at him, "I was a bit conflicted as to what I saw with the Sheriff."
"I can see that." He pulled up two chairs, "Please, take a seat, and have a drink."
"Thanks," she took the glass of water, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"If the Bezitaki are the most dangerous of demons, if I have encountered them, why haven't they hurt me?"
"Maybe they have not seen any reason to harm you, or they are waiting to see what happens once you meet them all."
"Maybe, but how do I know who I have met? Or heard the stories of, how is all this connected?"
"I cannot say…"
Sitting out in the small park that the baker had taken her to at the edge of the woods, where children from all three towns went to play. "I remember when I was young, jus a wee lass, playing in the green forests that surrounded my home." A woman with bright copper hair sat next to her, holding a bow and arrow, "Pardon me."
Talavera jumped as she released the arrow, popping a large balloon that had been held in the air by a few strings, confetti falling all over the children and bringing shrieks of laughter. "They aren't afraid when you do that?"
The woman looked at her, "I do me best not to frighten the children, I do not believe we have met."
"No."
The woman sat next to her and removed her hood, "You must be the officer who has been nosing around in Raventhorne, what brings you here to where the children play?"
"I don't know, a man named Satil took me here, he told me that it's a good place to think."
"Yes, my brothers often come here for solace, and I promised my nephew that I would give his little boy an exciting birthday."
"Your nephew?"
"Yes, see that little one there?"
Talavera craned her neck and spotted a little boy who was crashing a bat into a large pinata as his parents cheered on, "Wait is that?"
"Your prior informant Leah? Aye, such a kind lass she was when she came here, although fearful of us. She was sent to this port, you see, and was frightened by the people of this town's appearance."
"I don't understand."
The woman laughed, "I suggest you return to yer baker friend, he could tell you more, and perhaps even his story, for he is one of the Bezakati himself…."
She had been surprised at how quickly Sital had admitted it to her, "It was only a matter of time until you found out."
"How did you end up as one?"
"It's a long story." He grabbed another slice of the cake on the table, "I don't know if you have the time."
"I do."
"Alright then…"
Vecasity Prima Cycle 24:56….
He continued to cook for the new Grand Leader, as the previous had rescinded his role to live on the small world that he had gone to in order to retrieve his child. The new Grand Leader had proven to be a tyrant, refusing to follow the footsteps of the previous, and few had escaped his wrath. Those who had often were never seen again, but it was clear that they had gone to the alien world to find Lin'the. His stomach growled, but he couldn't afford to try the food as he would receive a strong beating for such an offense. It was difficult to understand how the Grand Leader could eat so much, and had become practically immobile but still forbid his servants to eat anything until he had his fill.
Plating the dish, he carried it to the Grand Leader's room, and tried to contain his anger. However, he could not do it anymore, he had seen too many starve. "You are a monster, and should be removed from your Leadership!" he shouted, "You have allowed millions to die by taking their supplies and forcing them to starve!"
"You dare speak against me?" The Grand Leader glared at him, "I, the Great Van'the will punish you, insect. But I have long prepared for your outburst, and have made a deal with an entity that will give me back my ability to move…"
"In return for what?"
"Your soul." He grabbed a blade, and directed his servants to tie up the cook, "But first, I'll torture you in the old ways."
Struggling, he tried to escape the bonds, but was held in place by the guards, "You will never get away with this."
"I already have, "Sital've'sha, and now you shall feel true pain." Van'the slashed the blade across the cook's palms, then slashed it across the man's neck before removing his jaw, "You shall never oppose me again, nor shall anyone in this world."
As the world turned dark, something grabbed him, and he found himself laying in a bed. There next to him, was an old woman with a mark on her chest, using a wet cloth to clean his wound. Whatever it was soaked with stung the injury, but he did his best to remain still, as he didn't want to contract an infection, "Poor boy, you are lucky you were saved."
"By who?" he was surprised he could speak, "What is this place?"
"Your new home." A dark voice said, "Welcome…"
Vantal've'sha looked out the window, no one except the previous Grand Leader had known that the lowly cook was his brother, especially as they looked nothing alike. His father had only taken responsibility for the parasite as the mother had died; it had angered him that a new child, about five years younger than him split apart his parents as his mother had learned of the affair. Having multiple partners was not uncommon among his people, as it was to ensure that the gene pool had a strong variety. However, any governmental official was forbidden to have more than one partner, especially one that originated from another land. The mother of his half-brother, he couldn't be sure what she had been, but knew that she had been considered a goddess of her world. But when that world had died, she had ceased to exist, and sent Sital here. Having a half brother with such a strange origin scared him, for he feared that there could be some unseen power that Sital had yet to unlock, hence the reason he needed to die.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling of fear that he was now experiencing, as he had taken a large risk that could become a colossal disaster. He had summoned the darkness that even the greatest of evil would fear, one that could grant any desire, but always had strings attached. Unlike the deities of his world, the great darkness that had given him the dagger was spoken of on many worlds, and feared by the few who knew of it. Looking down at the weapon, he wondered how to keep the bloodstained dagger hidden, everything would fall apart around him should it be found. For at this moment, he had obtained immortality, did not forget the terms of the contract that he had signed in his own decayed flesh….
Every time the memory crossed his mind, it sent shivers down his spine, and made his blood run cold. The dark plant was still clinging to the wall, the flowers in full bloom despite the cool temperatures that would usually kill such a plant. Any attempt to destroy it had failed, the tools used instantly turning to ash the moment they attempted to harm the plant. It almost seemed as if it had remained to be a reminder, a reminder of the warnings and things that could happen if his deed was discovered. Wrapping the blade in a dark cloth, he put it into a box, then another box and another. By the time he was done, he was sure no one would be able to access the contents, all the locks too many to figure out. Quickly he ordered his servants to bury the box beneath the floors of the basements, so that it would never be found.
17 cycles later…
Zintal've'sha slowly approached the forested woods, but could not shake the feeling as if something was watching him, so he stopped for a moment. Scanning the area, he heard the shouts of youth, and saw a figure seemingly looking for herbs among the brush. Hesitantly, he approached the figure, "Hello?"
The man turned, and Zintal was shocked at how familiar he seemed. His appearance was very close of his father, aside from the long scar that ran down from his jaw to the center of his chest, "What do you want?"
"I just-"
"You sound just like your father…" the man scowled, frightening Zital, "He is ignorant of my survival it seems, if you could call it that."
"I don't know what you mean."
The man scoffed, then grinned, the scar suddenly seeping a black liquid. It began to split as his jaw opened, revealing sharp teeth as a giant maw opened, several sharp tendrils waving from the man's throat as he taunted the boy. As a shriek was released and the man got down on all fours, Zital ran, fearing for his own life. "GET BACK HERE BOY!" it bellowed, "FOR WE HAVE NOT FINISHED SPEAKING OF THIS MATTER!"
Flying through the trees, his clothes were ripped and torn apart as the sharp branches scraped against him, to the point he bled. He could hear the thing crashing behind him, running quickly, and ducked into the shadows only to crash into something."
At first, he thought it was a tree, until it raised a hand and he was grabbed by an unseen force. "You truly are a coward, for why do you run from the truth?" He heard another shriek as the creature burst through the trees, then his vision went dark.
He awoke, and realized he was tied to a pole, "Help!"
"Why should I?" The man appeared, blood covering him, "You are lucky I only devoured your crew. I only spared you because I am hesitant to believe that you know of your father's misdeed. I assume you were sent here in order to complete your trial to take your father's place?"
"How could you know that?" Zital was shocked, "Who are you?"
"Your uncle, the man your father killed out of fear, fearful that I would overthrow him. Do you not realize your father is a tyrant?"
"Cease your rant." A woman in dark dress suddenly emerged from the shadows, "Let me handle this, for it seems the boy does not remember."
Zital was spooked as she approached, her face a terror to behold, "What are you doing."
She placed a hand on his head, dark veins digging into his skin, "You shall remember."
He screamed out as the tendrils dug further into his head, through his skull and into his mind. His shrieks of pain echoed through eh woods, but ceased when he suddenly found himself in his childhood room, as a ghost with the shadow woman beside him. "What is this?"
She said nothing and stared on as he saw his younger self play with toys that he had been given for his birthday. Walking over to the window, he picked up a small sword, "Do you want to play?" He jumped, and turned to his younger version holding another sword, "I'm good at fighting!"
"You can see me?" he looked back to where the shadowy figure had been, but she was gone. "Wha-"
"I have lots of imaginary friends! But they're all on vacation, so I'll play with you!"
Obliging, he remembered that he'd always been a solitary child, at least until one day when he was six cycles old, that was when his father had forced him to go to school and interact with other offspring of high-ranking officials. He was unsure of how he was in this memory, or even interacting with his past self, why didn't he remember any of this? "Remember…" Voices seemed to be speaking on the wind that blew through the curtains, "Remember…"
"What am I supposed to remember?" he thought to himself, but then a crash broke him of his thought. There was screaming and shouting, and he had to run in order to keep up with his younger self. He skidded to a halt as he saw tow men arguing, one his father, who was rather fat, and the other a familiar face. The two were shouting at one another, and he could see the fear in the smaller boy's eyes. But just as he reached out there was a scream, and blood spattered through him, but onto the child he'd been many cycles ago.
He could only stare in horror as his father began to shrink down as the blood of the other man dripped onto his skin, and the other man's jaw lay on the ground, a large slash leading from where his jaw had been to the center of his chest. The gurgling sounds coming from the man's throat made his stomach turn, as did the blood pooling on the ground as life drained from the corpse. Watching as his father ordered the corpse to be buried, he followed the guards and saw that they buried the box beneath the grand hall, then sealed he door that hid the secret staircase. How could he have forgotten this? But then he realized, how traumatizing it must have been, but did not understand as to how it could be forgotten. Returning to his childhood room, he saw himself curled up in a corner, then looked at the thin gold chain he always wore around his wrist. He had bought it on a whim, and was told that it could grant one ease, but only as the gifter wished for. Taking it off, he placed it around the wrist of his past self, and hoped that he could find peace somehow.
"Simple actions can lead to as it is in the future." The shadow reappeared, and the world spun, Zital suddenly waking up as she removed her hand, the dark veins retreating back into her palm, "I will leave you two to speak…"
As the figure faded, he turned to see the man there, "Uncle?"
The man looked at him, "I suppose you are not as like your father as I feared."
"Did you see all that?"
"Yes." he paused, "When a memory is relived, it is seen upon the walls of this room, as if you are within the memory itself while the one whom it belongs to remains unconscious, trapped in their mind."
"I know why he killed you, I saw it all."
"As do I, it was evident."
"Is it why you are alive now?"
"No."
"Then what are you?"
His eyes glowed, a deep orange, "A devourer, a cook, an individual. The place you have come to is one that remains hidden, and is only known by few…."
"What happened then?" Talavera looked at him, dying to know.
"He never went back, you already met him. My nephew is the manager of the sports activities here on the island, the children absolutely adore him, and they bring him great joy. It seems that he has found his place here."
"What does it mean to find a place?"
"Somewhere that you are comfortable, you feel safe, and fulfilled." He smiled at her, and as she saw his eyes, along with a faded scar, she realized, "You'll know when you find yours."
Please Read and Review, any suggestions of how to flesh out the story are welcome!
