Hello again, peeps! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Trigger Warning: A new tag has been added to the story. There is a line in this chapter that implies self harm/a possible suicide attempt.
HAUNTING EVIL
Chapter Seven
The splendour of the cavern made Fiona feel almost tranquil. The glistening glow of blue and green from every mineral shard, the sparkling fragments that drifted gracefully... It was so peaceful and beautiful.
It wasn't long before they reached the ruins. There were only a couple of buildings that they could see. Not enough for a civilization. A drop of water fell from a leaning pillar and landed on Hewie's nose. He shook his head to the sudden contact and tilted it up.
"Hewie," she called, noticing how far behind he was.
The young white German shepherd barked, dismissing his curiosity and ran up to her. Leon squinted his eyes to peek into one of the houses but it was too dark to make out anything inside. It was the same with the other buildings. They walked through the courtyard past a water fountain that obviously stopped working for some time. It had a cracked sculpture of four women carrying vases in a formation as though they were dancing. One was missing an arm and another was missing a head. She observed every detail with fascination, her folded hand resting on her chest as she used her imagination to envision how it used to be. She then faced her distorted reflection in the water that filled the base of the fountain.
"Hey, Fiona."
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Leon waving his arm for her to come over, to which she did.
"Take a look at this."
He was standing in front of a tall stele double their height between two large crystals. Its eroding inscription was hardly visible yet they could tell it was not in English, unlike the others in the castle. Near the top of it was a sign similar to a caduceus that she had seen on the clothing worn by Riccardo and someone else... an image of a woman briefly flashing in her head.
"I can't read this," he admitted.
Fiona stared at the words before her, realising that she understood them. "It looks like Archaic Latin. I think I can read this."
"Really?" Leon blinked in surprise. "Where'd you learn that?"
After he asked, a doleful expression appeared on her face. "... My... parents taught me. They both studied subjects such as philology in university."
His own face softened in sympathy for her. "It must be hard for her to even think about them."
She remembered asking her parents how they met when she was as a little girl, as any child would. How she felt in awe when she was told the tale of their first meeting after her mother came to Italy and study abroad and the love that blossomed between them. How astonished she was when she found out they could both speak a language almost none would use today. They were truly intelligent people who could also speak in multiple languages. Her father was born in Italy and her mother in England, so it was natural for her to learn both English and Italian at an early age. Yet to learn a language spoken from a time long ago was delightful to her. Something only she and her parents could share. Her father used to sometimes test her in a trivia quiz when the family ate dinner together or drove towards their destination in their car. Though now, being here, she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than fun and games. Pushing the thought aside, she began to translate the inscription as best as she could...
'Water courses through you.
Water courses through I.
Water courses the breath of life.
Ever endless the cycle goes.
Water courses greatest in the depths
of Mercurius.
Ever eternal the cycle goes.
The divine was revealed in the depths
and so we are called heeding His word.
For we are each on the journey to serve...'
The last part was slightly difficult to read covered with loose pebbles so she stepped closer and swiped her fingers to remove them...
'For we are must serve the voyage in His name
for the Great Truth that is Azoth.'
...and regretted reading it out loud, ceasing herself from translating the rest.
"Azoth? Can't say I've heard of that," said Leon.
Her mind raced to find anything to shift his focus elsewhere.
Peering over her shoulder, she saw something close to the fountain. "Oh, there's another one over there."
He watched her go to a second stele and knew what she was doing. She was trying so hard to keep secrets from him. Her uncomfortable tone and demeanour were giving it away. He pondered why she wanted to keep him ignorant to everything.
"It's a map," she proclaimed.
He went up to it and examined it with her. The carvings were simple enough to follow and showed that a number of tunnels connected a variety of areas throughout the ruins as one. The areas had individual landmarks for what they figured to be specific locations. Fiona recognised some from the book she read, including those in the castle. One of them resembled the fountain and he pointed his finger to it.
"This must be where we are now."
Fiona continued to analyse the markings and spotted one representing stairs and trees. She pointed her own finger to it.
"There. That's where the exit is. It leads to the forest outside the castle."
"That's north from here."
The two gazed at each other, a goal clear in mind before heading into a tunnel behind the map.
Riccardo stormed down a long corridor. He had to know how Fiona found out about the Mercury Ruins and how she got in. All information about it was strictly hidden for a reason. It was unlikely that Leon or even Krauser knew of it, so the only conclusion had to mean that she infiltrated the place willingly. When he came to a single door at the end, he slammed his hand on the wooden panel. It burst open to the blunt force and hit the wall with a harsh bang. He marched into Fiona's chamber room, scowling as he scanned one corner to the next.
It was the perfect bedroom for a young lady. It had a queen-sized bed with royal purple satin sheets, pillows and canopy curtains. Alongside was a vanity table, a wardrobe full of the finest gowns fit for a princess, a bookshelf with plenty of books to read and a cushioned windowsill seat by a towering diamond grilled window with a spectacular view of Chaos Forest. He preferred her to have this instead of access to a balcony. The room even had a door to a private bathroom. Riccardo prepared all of this for Fiona personally during her slumber.
He proceeded to open the drawers and cupboards in the room, rummaging through their contents, not giving a single thought of respect for her privacy. There had to be something that could clarify her knowledge of the ruins.
By the time he searched the whole room, as well as the bathroom, it was a wreck. He couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. Becoming frustrated, he was about to leave until something attracted his attention, causing him to do a double-take back to it. On the side of the mattress was a jagged slit, unnoticed before the sheets were stripped off the bed. Intrigued, he treaded slowly over the mess he created, fixated by it, recalling an incident from two months ago...
"Fiona! What are you doing with those scissors!?"
Riccardo assumed the worse when he caught her sitting on the bed as the sharp pair of blades clattered on the floor from her startled fright. Yet apparently she may have had a different intention all along. He knelt in front of the bed and put his hand inside the hole cut into it. His felt his palm brush against a thin, flat object and he pulled it out. In his grasp was a journal. At first he presumed it belonged to her until he saw the initials 'U.B.' on the cover. This was not any regular journal. It belonged to Ugo Belli. A lot of pages were torn out. Between the front cover and first undamaged page was a folded note written by another person. The handwriting was weak... and also familiar.
'My dear Fiona,
What Riccardo has done is despicable. I truly apologise for not being there to save you.
In my current state, I am helpless to do more than I can. I understand what you must
be feeling but do not give up. He may have sealed off the exits, yet there is an alternative
way out. A way underneath the castle. There is a key of Mercurius, much like the other
astrology keys you have found. Find the key with the symbol of Mercury.
Once you obtain it, go to the library past the catacombs. You will see two identical books
with the same symbol in incorrect positions. Put them in the right order and a door will
make itself known. Inside you will find the Mercury Ruins, a place of the utmost secrets.
This journal will serve you as a guide. He will not find you there and you can take a
pathway to Chaos Forest.
It will be a strenuous task but you must not lose hope. No matter what Riccardo does, he
needs you alive. Always remember this fact. You can outwit him.
I shall continue to seek anything else that will be of use to you. I pray for your safety,
Fiona.
Lorenzo.'
"..."
Riccardo felt his eyelid twitch reading the note addressed to her. He snarled, crunching the piece of paper into a ball before tossing it aside and flipped through what was left of the journal. It mostly consisted of sketches and trivial notes of the ruins. Drawings of landmarks were also seen and one of stairs and trees was marked with a circle. As he continued to go through the pages, he found something in particular that Ugo wrote. It was only a piece of the page, wrinkled yet flattened, not properly torn from its bind...
'...to protect Ayla and the baby.
Neither Riccardo nor our lord can be reasoned with. If w—
to escape, then we may have no choice but to esca—
the Mercury Ruins. I will be risking everythi—'
The sentences were cut short where the paper was ripped apart. Riccardo could not fathom how the old man was able to find the journal. It disappeared when Ugo did less than twenty years ago. Either way, he was more outraged than ever. He stood up, throwing it across the room and left with a huff.
"Oh Fiona, what a clever girl you are. But not clever enough. Surely you ought to know by now what happens whenever you try to disobey me. How disappointing..."
The pathway was less affected than the courtyard. There were a few fallen debris yet the walls and twisted pillars did not appear to be coming down any time soon. They walked for fifteen minutes straight with no events until they got to a cave with an arch doorway to stairs leading up. When they went through...
Fiona's fingers hovered over her lips. "What!?"
A cave-in had occurred at some point. The exit was blocked by giant rocks and builders, almost completely covering the entire staircase.
"No! H-how did...?"
"Nothing can ever be so simple these days..." Leon commented to himself, shaking his head with his hands on his hips. "How are we supposed to get out now?"
She suddenly felt bothered hearing the word 'we'. Her eyes fell downcast and her hand absentmindedly drifted to her lower stomach.
Contemplating of what to do next, he turned to discuss it and could see her lost in thought. He could have sworn he had a déjà vu. She was in a similar pose to the figure of the pregnant woman he saw back in the castle. They oddly looked alike. Only she wasn't pregnant. At least there was no reason to think so. She didn't seem to be. Was the figure meant to be of her?
Fiona's eyes closed, the past taunting her once more...
"Fiona—Thank God you're safe!"
"How do we get out of here?"
"RICCARDO, NO!"
"You see this!? This is the price you pay!"
"If you had only done as you were told..."
"...fiona..."
"You have no one to blame but YOURSELF!"
"Fiona!"
She faintly gasped, the spell of the trance of memories broken when Leon waved his hand in front of her face, staring at her all concerned.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Ah- ...y-yes," she lied, suppressing the overwhelming feeling that threatened to take over her. "Sorry, I guess I zoned out."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely. I'm sorry," she apologised again. "I really didn't know this was going to be a dead end."
"Hey, it's alright. There's bound to be another way out. We'll find it," he assured with a smile.
He went back through the archway and motioned his hand for her to follow him. She hoped he was right. The map did confirm that the ruins and castle were linked in many ways. Surely one of those ways couldn't be that far off. Leon saw two tunnels within the cave.
"Let's try this one," he said, heading towards the tunnel to the left.
Riccardo instantly detected the switched books when he and Krauser arrived in the library. After removing one and sliding it back into place, the book shelf descended, unveiling the door of Mercury. He turned the handle and it was already unlocked.
"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "How did she get the key!?"
Krauser didn't say anything. He could not afford Riccardo finding out he stole it from him. He was still pissed at himself for losing the damn thing.
Riccardo held his pistol tightly. Upon entering the darkness, his blue eyes underneath his hood glowed red.
The crystals in the tunnel were smaller and farther apart from one another, leaving the long yet narrow passage with a dimmer light source. Fortunately, their sight had adjusted to the dark. Water leaked along the ground in puddles. A gentle yet chilly breeze blew through them. Leon heard Fiona shiver and the sound of material ruffling behind him. He took a glimpse at her and saw her rubbing her arms. Despite how nice the outfit was and how good it looked on her, it was certainly not suitable for the sort of environment they travelled in. No wonder she was shivering in a dress so thin with a skirt that short. He pulled at the collars between his neck and shoulders.
"Here."
"Huh?" When Fiona turned her head hearing his voice, she became taken aback seeing him offering her his jacket. "Oh... no. Thank you but I'm fine, really—"
"Come on," he insisted. "It's cold."
And so he opened and carefully wrapped it over her shoulders. Hugging her arms in a stronger grip, she winced and her muscles stiffened tightly again to his physical proximity but surprisingly she wasn't as intimidated as much as she thought she should have been. He took a step back to give her space when he was done. The leather jacket was quite big for her size, making her appear so dainty. It was fleecy on the inside and warm from absorbing his body heat. She mumbled another 'thank you' awkwardly as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and then tucked them up to free her hands.
He beamed down at her. "There you go. Snug as a bug."
At the far end of the tunnel, one of the crystals was flickering. She blinked and tilted her head, bringing him to avert his gaze to whatever was behind him. Something was blocking the light, a sign of movement. A shadow was coming towards them. Hewie could smell a revolting scent. He hunched his legs and growled at whatever was ahead.
The shadow's mysterious owner came into view as it got closer. It was a small, leaden pink, skinless creature no more than a foot high. It didn't have a face, only a mouth, and was wobbling over its feet.
"What the hell is that?" was the first thing Leon said.
Fiona was confused. It was similar to the miniature Homunculi she used to see roaming through the castle. It was constantly bumping into rocks and crystals until it flopped to the ground, lying on its belly and panted in deep heaves. Something was wrong with it.
He withdrew his knife. "Wait here."
He was about to approach the strange organism and Hewie's threatening growl was replaced with a frightful whine as his ears flattened. His tail curled between his hind legs and he hid behind Fiona.
"Hewie?" she frowned.
The creature began to gag and shake. Leon shot to full alert and retreated to stand in front of the other two. Instinct made them back away, unsure of what was happening. Just then—its back split open and tentacles sprouted from it. Fiona gasped in shock. The fleshy tendrils produced claws as they rose higher and swung wildly. Blood blended with a sickly coloured substance splattered everywhere. Leon remembered this all too well.
"Argh—You've got to be KIDDING me!"
The Homunculus shrieked and it was growing increasingly in size with each passing second. Its limbs bulked rapidly and its high-pitched screeching deepened into a low bellow. Hewie ran to a safer distance, barking at Fiona and Leon to come with him. A sense of dread rose to the terror unfolding before them. The creature was no longer a diminutive being anymore. It was massive. Nearly reaching as tall as the tunnel itself. It couldn't see but could feel the presence of three. One of them had a radiating essence of purity. It immediately craved its life source. With a thunderous roar, it charged for that essence, crawling on all fours at an intense speed.
"Go, go!" Leon yelled, clutching onto Fiona's hand as they ran for their lives.
If he had his gun on him, he'd probably stand a chance. He had killed B.O.W.s worse than this in the past. But Fiona and Hewie were his top priority. He had to protect them no matter what.
The Homunculus sensed the essence going further away and refused to lose it. The tunnel rumbled as it barged and destroyed the boulders and crystals in its wake, disintegrating the light from each one. When terrified Fiona dared to look back, she saw its head scraping against the roof of the tunnel. Cracks were spreading across it.
"Leon!"
He didn't even need to see. The cracks scattered directly to the opening where they started. They watched in horror as the entrance crumbled and collapsed. He grabbed her arms and held her back.
"Look out!"
The three stumbled as a heavy mist dispersed from the fallen rocks. They spun around as the panic began to sink in, realising they were trapped. Hewie barked in an attempt to fend it off.
Not ready to die and definitely not willing to let Fiona and Hewie die either, Leon shoved his hand into his attaché pack, taking out a yellow antimony. He didn't know what good it would do but it had to be worth a shot. With no other choice, he hurled the tiny object at the creature. It didn't have much of an affect as it burst on its chest, golden sparks already sizzling out. She picked up on what he was going and threw an antimony filled with a black powder from her pouch. The second made enough impact to slow it down. They continued to throw more until they finally managed to stun the beast. It screamed as colourful bolts of electricity finally paralyzed it and they took their chance to get past it and run like hell. Hewie jumped sideways to dodge a large rock that fell beside him. More were dropping everywhere around them. The tunnel was falling apart.
The power of the antimonies quickly wore off and the Homunculus dragged its limbs to twist itself, resuming the chase for its prey. Leon's grip on her hand tightened as he made himself sprint faster as they neared the end of the tunnel, his chest feeling heavy as his panting quickened. Once they would get into an open area, the more odds they would have on their side. Fiona felt almost weightless over her feet trying to keep up with his speed. The strap of her pouch started to loosen down her waist. She tried to hold onto it but she was struggling to because of the jacket's thick sleeve and their erratic pace. Inevitable, it slipped through her fingers.
"Leon—"
"Forget it! Leave it!"
The pouch landed on the ground with a quiet 'clang' sound under the Homunculus' bawling howl. It was starting to gain on them until its foot stomped on the bag. All of the items inside exploded at once. A booming noise erupted and the three almost fell over as it wailed and smashed its head into the tunnel's roof. They reached the end at last and the whole passage collided, crushing the Homunculus behind them. When they thought they made it out, Leon saw a huge rock fall right above them.
He pushed Fiona out of harm's way and jumped in a rolling motion. Hewie leapt in time before they could all be crushed themselves.
By the time the loud rumbling faded into silence, the place was covered with a second wave of the musky dust. A horrid smell of the creature's pulverised flesh stained the air. Hewie's fearful yapping could be heard when the ringing in Leon's ears subsided. He got up coughing with one hand covering his mouth whilst swatting the dust away with the other. His head darted to check on Fiona but she was nowhere to be seen.
"Fiona...! FIONA!?"
Relief surged through him when he could hear her coughing as well. The dust gradually settled and he discovered she was on the opposite side of the fallen rocks that now divided the area in two after spotting her through a small gap. There was no way he could get to her.
"Are you alright?" she cried when she noticed him. "Where's Hewie!?"
"I'm okay. Hewie's with me. I don't think he's hurt."
Fiona sighed greatly before it was replaced by a fretful guilt present in her eyes. "Thank goodness... Leon, I'm so sorry! I swear I had no idea this would happen. I—"
"Calm down. I believe you. Are you hurt?"
"No. What do we do now?"
He surveyed the cave in thought and then back to her. "Wait, the map said these tunnels are joined together, right? See if you can make your way back to the courtyard. We'll meet you there."
"A-alright. Please take care of Hewie!" she pleaded
"I will. Take these." He passed through a handful of magnesias and antimonies to her. "Be careful, Fiona."
"You too, Leon. You be careful..."
Thank you for reading! Hope you liked this one. I may have taken a stretch at Fiona's knowledge of such a language, but its something I choose to do anyways. To quote the show 'Scrubs': "Because I can!"
