Chapter Four: His Name Was Belos
The revenant was unsure of how much time had passed since his encounter with the guards. Once the sounds of footsteps from overhead had diminished, he found himself a corner that was hopefully isolated enough, and set down for a quick rest. The next thing he knew he was being gnawed on by slug-rats, having likely mistaken him for a corpse. A hiss sent the creatures scattering, but now that he was awake, there wasn't any point in staying here.
He stood up and haltingly crept further into the sewers. The dim light shining through the grates told him that night had fallen. If there was any time to make his way to safety, it was now. He figured he would head for the wilderness–this island couldn't be all cityscape, could it? And if it was… Well, he'd figure something out.
Luckily, this part of town wasn't nearly as bustling at night as the port where he had arrived. There were a few souls milling about–some even had bodies–but it would be easy enough to sneak around undetected. Especially considering he wasn't the only critter scampering around at this hour.
The metal bars under the drainage ditch gave way easily. His lanky form was easily able to squeeze through the gap, quickly ducking behind a stack of crates as a cart passed by. His escape plan was going well so far, but the next step was where it began to fall apart: he couldn't exactly head for the wilderness when he had no idea where the wilderness was. Brick and concrete surrounded him from all sides, only sparsely peppered with the occasional tree or flower bed. And the only animals were the pests that scavenged by night.
Not one to be deterred by such a minor inconvenience, the revenant made his way onward. Side alleys were once again his friend as he made his way through the town, only stopping occasionally when he heard a sound that was too close for comfort. More often than not it was some sort of raccoon cutting through a trash can with its heat vision, or stray griffins getting into a fight. But occasionally, he heard voices.
Most of the words he overheard were the random musings of the late-night populace, but one had him on alert. "We've been at it for hours, and there's still no sign of it," the voice said. "We even sent some guys down into the sewers, but they came up empty too. Not to be a defeatist, sir, but…shouldn't we call this search off?"
Immediately the revenant knew they were talking about him. He sat stock-still as he listened for the reply. "We don't quit until we get the all clear. That thing is still out there, and until it's either caught or killed, people are in danger. Sweep the alleys again, that thing's small, it could hide easily."
Approaching footsteps. Silently, the revenant darted up a pipe onto the roof just in time to see a pair of guards passing by. They wore the same red and white armor as the ones who had pursued him the day before. He suppressed a growl as they looked around behind boxes and under tarps for their target.
"So…are we sure this thing is a revenant, Sarge?" asked the junior of the two. "I wasn't there when this thing was initially spotted, but I heard there was a lot of confusion. Don't you think it's a bit more likely it was some kind of demon than a creature that doesn't exist?"
The senior held up an apple from a cart, gazing at it like it held all the answers. "Oh, revenants exist alright," he said. "We just haven't seen one in ages. Back in the olden days, hundreds of 'em could appear completely out of the blue, tearing an entire village to splinters before dragging off everyone who lived there to whatever cesspool they called home. But now that one's showed up, it's a sign that they're returning." He turned to face the other. "And believe you me, Bonesborough will be their first target if we aren't careful."
"Um…right." Although unnerved, it was clear the other guard didn't buy her superior's tale. "Those old legends about revenants, they didn't give any tips on hunting them, did they?"
"You don't hunt revenants, newbie–they hunt you." The older guard once again took on a thousand-yard stare. "Legends say they were born from the Titan itself, arbiters of its undying rage. Any who displeased him would have to answer to his unholy spawn, which would tear entire villages to–" The new recruit seemed to be tuning him out.
"Boss! Not-boss!" To both the cadet's and the revenant's relief, a third guard came running over with urgency in his voice. "We've got something! There's a sewer grate over here that's been torn open! It's gotta be him, Sarge."
The two guards looked at each other, before following the third. "Very well. Lead the way." The revenant watched them hurry away before climbing further up onto the rooftops. But before he made his escape, he decided to scope out the surroundings for any more guards, just to be safe.
A sizable company was present on the nearby street corner, coordinating their search efforts. Any people who came near were ushered away and urged to get inside. Off in the distance, he could see what looked like a forest, but he would have to get past them all first. There wasn't an easy way above them by the rooftops, so he would have to wait until they moved on. Though he was unsure how long that would take, he never got to find out.
It was incredibly subtle at first: a hum, not unlike the one that came from his bile pool back on the island. One that was felt rather than heard, so subtle that he wouldn't have acknowledged it if it hadn't been so familiar. That, combined with the dim light that appeared from behind him was all the warning he got, but it was all the warning he needed. The revenant dove out of the way as a bolt of lightning struck the edge of the roof.
"I found it! It's up here!" The guard that had snuck up on him called out to his fellows as he readied another spell. The revenant pounced, only his armor preventing his claws from tearing into the man's flesh. He expressed his displeasure with a gutteral shriek, but that only drew more attention. As their forces gathered, he figured that retreat was his best option. And so, once again, he ran.
In his experience climbing the mountain of his home, the revenant was far more adept at leaping across the rooftops than the guards were. But they had the advantage in number, and their spells made it hard for him to keep his balance. The projectiles they slung his way filled the air, most colliding with the buildings around him or flying off into the air. A few hit their mark, causing him to stagger every so often. He shrugged them off, his only thought being to somehow lose his pursuers.
"Stop! Stop, I say!" one of the guards yelled.
"Do you really think yelling at it's going to do anything?" said another one. "That doesn't even work on regular perps, let alone monsters!"
"Well hey, it's worth a try, isn't it?" he said. "Isn't that in the handbook, that you have to at least give whoever you're chasing a chance to stop?"
Another guard admonished them. "You two, quit arguing! We need to slow this thing down–get up there and face it head-on!"
But the revenant was not as mindless as they assumed. Now that he knew they were coming up after him, he decided to go on the offensive. While they thought they were herding him into an ambush, he was choosing the best spot for his counterattack. He eventually hunkered down on top of a hotel, waiting for them to make the next move.
From his current position, the revenant couldn't be seen. When he didn't leap to the next building, the soldiers spread out to surround the hotel. "Quickly, get up there, now!" The sound of the front door opening indicated that several of them were heading up. The revenant carefully climbed atop the roof door as he waited for them to arrive.
He peered over the edge to see the guards watching for his escape. They were likely watching from all angles, meaning that the chase would only start up again if he ran now. Footsteps were coming from beneath him now as the guards ascended the stairs; hopefully, there wouldn't be enough of them to overwhelm him.
The door swung open as five or so of the guards poured out, aiming their spell circles around the area. They spread out when they didn't see him right away, likely confused. Some of them peered over the edges to see if he had leapt down. "It's not here–did you see it leave?"
"It has to be up there somewhere! Are you sure it's not hiding from you?"
"There's nowhere up here to–" It was then that the revenant made his move, leaping on the nearest guard and slamming their head against the floor. Before the others could turn around, he shoved one hard, causing them to stumble and fall off of the roof. He ducked to the side to avoid a flurry of spells hurled his way, pushing one guard into another. "It's still here! It's still here! Send backup, now!"
With two of the guards on the floor, he slammed both their heads together before moving onto the last one. He let fly a blast of fire, running for the door as the revenant reeled back. But he was not quick enough, as the creature was upon him in three of four bounds. He was thrown against the wall, crumbling and falling. He whipped his hand behind him to fire out a quick spell, which the revenant simply shrugged off.
"Help! Help me!" The guard held back the revenant's face as it tried to bite him, pounding its claws against his chest. He was pinned down, unable to do anything but hold off the furious beast. Eventually seeing an opening, he cast a spell that created a flash of light before the revenant's eyes, blinding it and causing it to stumble back, when he quickly got back to his feet.
The guard backed away, preparing another spell. The revenant, standing too close to the door for him to slip by, recovered from his blindness with renewed rage. It let out a screech as the guard held out the spell circle to dissuade him as best he could.
"Stay back! Go on, get back!" The revenant pawed at the ground, preparing to charge. All he needed was a momentary lapse from his opponent to make his move. And when it came, he threw himself at the guard.
With uncanny precision, an unseen object streaked through the air, embedding itself in the wall and separating the two. The revenant dug his claws into the roof at the projectile's sudden appearance: a brief scan revealed it to be some sort of spear, its black tip firmly lodged in the concrete. Both the revenant and the guard turned in the direction it had come from to see just who had intervened in their struggle.
A lone figure stood nearby–no, not standing, hovering. He was suspended in midair by magic, but they couldn't be sure if it was his own or another's. He floated closer, touching down on the hotel roof before being joined by several others. Unlike the guards, none of these figures looked remotely alike, other than the fact that their clothing and armor was somewhat ramshackle and cobbled together.
"So…this is where you've been all this time." The one who had thrown the spear, perhaps the leader of this odd pack, had pale white skin and a single horn on his head. A handful of other witches and demons joined him as well, all of them being lifted up to the roof. All of their eyes were fixed on the revenant. But their faces wore expressions not of fear, or even readiness, but the stalwart glare of a predator. "Gotta say, you're a slippery little devil. I can see why the old man's offering so much for you. Now then…" Drawing a spell circle, the leader pulled his weapon from the wall, where it flew back into his hand. "...let's make this quick."
The guard stood completely still as he took in the figures before him. "Y-You're…you're Vesh'tai Walpugisnacht. The g-great hunter. It really is you, isn't it?" He took a few cautious steps forward. "Oh my Titan, I can't believe this is actually happening! Vesh'tai Walpurgisnacht, boss of the Wild Hunt, is here to save me from a revenant! It's such an honor, sir, I've wanted to meet you for such a long time now–"
Vesh'tai held up his hand. "Save it." He winked at the guard, sporting a small smile. "Save it until we take care of this thing, that is. And call me Vesh."
"Oh…I…" The guard stammered, likely blushing under his helmet. The revenant, on the other hand, was far less appreciative of these intruders, letting them know so with a loud screech. He hurled himself at Vesh, anticipating him to strike back with his spear. What he didn't anticipate, however, was one of his cronies throwing a net to intercept his attack.
A sudden flash of pain ran through his body, sending him crashing to the floor: the net was electrified. Twitching and writhing as titan-knows-how-many volts coursed through him, the revenant shrieked with fury at the collection of figures looming over him. All of them seemed satisfied with their catch, none more so than Vesh himself. He even said as much: "It isn't everyday we're able to nab a revenant. Not to pat myself on the back, but…" He did so, before leaning down to look the creature dead in the eyes. "I'm not entirely sure what Talus wants you for, but I do know that your head's gonna look great above my fireplace–a real piece de resistance, as they say. He probably won't mind if I help myself to your head, right?"
With his quarry helpless before him, Vesh raised his spear above his head to finish the job, met with excited cheers from his crew. Everything happened so fast: met with the possibility of death, the revenant experienced a sudden burst of power. Not out of fear, but out of rage. Rage that he was about to be killed by a pompous two-bit clown like this guy. His eyes burned with an electric blue glow as he fought through the pain, and threw the net off of himself.
The net was large enough to hold maybe three people, one of whom was Vesh. He and two other henchmen fell to the ground as electricity surged through them, the other hunters either stepping back in surprise or trying to help their boss. But the net alone wasn't enough to stop the spear's momentum, as it still sped downwards, its tip slicing into his abdomen. The revenant let out a shriek and staggered back as blood seeped from the wound in his side.
With their prey wounded, several of the hunters readied weapons or spells as they tried to surround him. Seeing as his first attempt at attacking led to him getting a net thrown in his face, the revenant reluctantly decided that he had to run. He bounded from the hotel roof to the next building over, leaving a trail of blood as he went.
"Get off me!" snapped Vesh as threw off the net, pushing away the hunters trying to help him. "Don't just stand there, get after it! If it gives us the slip, it'll take a whole day to track it down! Move!" He shoved them forward as the chase resumed.
The members of the Wild Hunt were much more nimble than the guards, and were able to follow the revenant across the rooftops. He had a sizable head start on them, however, so they were too far behind to cast any spells at him effectively. He knew they'd reach him eventually, so he went with another plan: scaling down the building, and returning to his trusty old alleyways.
He scampered over fences and across walls as he ran from his pursuers, who were rapidly gaining ground. "Don't let it out of your sight! Follow that blood!" he heard Vesh yell from the back. "Remember, it likes crawling over things!" He suddenly realized that was right: he did prefer taking the high road when faced with a choice, something his would-be captors had obviously factored in. So instead, he did just the opposite, crawling into an empty warehouse through a crack in the wall.
With a moment or two to rest, the revenant clutched his wound, panting profusely. Despite his earlier display of strength, he felt weak, and not just because he was injured. It was as though his energy was slowly being sapped out of him–just what was that weapon? He didn't have any time to recover, as the Wild Hunt soon found his location. "Hey, there's blood–he's in here!" Magic began pulling the bricks away to widen the crack he had entered through. He made a speedy getaway, leaping up to the rafters and out an open window."Up there! Get after him!"
Rapidly growing more and more fatigued, the revenant knew he wouldn't be able to run for much longer. But it seemed that somebody else knew it too, as he was about to receive some very unexpected help. As his surroundings began to blur, one thing stood out to him: a speck of light, shining out a dim blue just feet away from him. As it was the only thing he could focus on at the moment, he followed it. The light sped away, fast enough that he couldn't catch it, but stopping every so often that he never lost it. It was as though it wanted to be followed.
The ball of light eventually led him down an alley to a seeming dead end. Just as he was about to consider climbing up to the roofs again, he heard a voice call out to him. "Quick! In here!" The light darted into an open door, where a figure gestured to him to enter. With no time to be suspicious, he bolted inside, with the person shutting the door behind him. The revenant almost collapsed on the carpet, panting heavily as his rescuer peered outside through the curtains.
Mere moments after he had reached safety, the Wild Hunt ran around the corner. Vesh pushed to the front of the pack, looking around for any sign of the beast. "Alright, he can't have given us the slip that easily." He looked around, noticing a trail of blood leading up to the roof. "Got 'im!" Bearing a grin, he and his followers followed the trail upward, with the illusion disappearing after they were gone.
The one who had rescued him sighed in relief once the hunters were gone. "That was a close one, wasn't it?" She turned around to face the revenant. She was an old woman, her grey hair tied in a bun and wearing plain, dark clothes. Although she was the definition of unthreatening, the revenant couldn't help but be unnerved by her. Unlike just about everyone he had met on this island so far, she showed absolutely no fear of him. In fact, she seemed rather excited to see him. "No need to worry, they're gone now. I don't think they'll be back here anytime soon."
With the danger gone, and the revenant beginning to regain his senses, he eyed the woman cautiously. She didn't seem to be a threat, but he couldn't take any chances. Not wanting to stay here longer than he needed, he took a step back, only to collapse to the floor. He looked down to see that his wound was still dripping blood. It wasn't life-threatening, the cut was deep enough that it would take at least a few days to heal, maybe weeks.
The woman let out a small gasp. "Oh, no, they got you good, didn't they? Here, let me." She crouched down and slowly approached the revenant. He hissed in warning, something which she seemed to anticipate. "It's alright, it's alright, I can help. There, it's okay." A spell circle hovered near her hand, which she moved near his wound. Her calm demeanor soon spread to him, and he allowed her to proceed. Gently, she placed her hand down, and the pain receded. The cut sealed up, leaving only a scar and a dull soreness.
Curious, the revenant got to his feet and examined the now-sealed wound. He looked back up at the woman, who was glad to see him better. Her warm smile was comforting…and somehow familiar. But there was still one question on his mind. "Why?" he croaked.
"Oh!" She almost jumped back in her surprise. "So you can speak! The books said you were sentient, but I didn't think you could talk!" She then hurried over to a nearby table, where she opened a journal and began to scribble something within.
"Who…you?" he asked. As grateful as he was, he still had no idea what was going on. Thankfully, she seemed more than willing to accommodate him, turning back around once he had asked.
She closed her book. "Ah, I imagine you must have quite a few questions, hun. I'll explain everything–but first, come, come, you must be exhausted." She led him further into her home, gesturing for him to sit down on a large, plush couch. He gladly did so, sinking into the cushions. "And don't worry about the blood, I was planning on steam-cleaning anyway."
Although he was comfortable, there was still too much on the revenant's mind for him to fall asleep. And he was glad he didn't–after stepping out of the room for a moment, the woman returned holding a small pouch with a familiar smell. He sat bolt upright once she approached, which made her smile.
"You recognize this, yes?" She handed him the small pouch of bile, which he snatched up and greedily downed. The fatigue and exhaustion he felt melted away almost instantly. "You're a thirsty one! I have plenty more if you want, just say the word."
But one was enough for now. The revenant returned his gaze to the kindly old woman who had gone out of her way to rescue an unholy monster like him. "Why…save…me?"
She nodded, anticipating the question. "In order to understand that, you first need to understand something else." She sat down on the couch next to him. "By now, you've no doubt noticed that the people around here are quite fearful of you." An understatement if there ever was one, he thought. "You are a revenant, hun, a kind of monster that hasn't been seen on the Boiling Isles in decades, maybe even millennia. The reason they're afraid of you is because they don't understand what you are."
He cocked his head to the side. "You…do?"
Again she nodded. "So many people here–Oh! Forgive my manners, hun, I haven't even introduced myself! I'm Mary, Mary Pembrooke. I'm a librarian down at the Bonesborough Library. In my time, I've read so many different stories and tales about the unknowns of the Isles. And one of them is that of the revenant."
She got an excited look in her eyes as she explained. The revenant could tell she was a natural-born storyteller.
"Like so many mysteries of our time, all that is known of revenants is what has been transcribed over the years from forgotten authors and fallen civilizations. So many different sources describe different interpretations of the same creature, many of them contradicting. As the information has been diluted over time, all that most people know the creatures from are horror stories. The revenant is seen as just another boogeyman, but I think it's much more complicated than that. You see, one thing that remains consistent among the stories is that revenants are born from the Titan–possibly any titan. I believe that they are meant to be protectors, summoned when their titan is in danger." She looked warmly at him. "The fact that you're here means that the Titan brought you here for a reason."
This was certainly not what he expected to hear. Not only was the woman not afraid of him, but she seemed to think he had some sort of magical destiny, a reason for being here. But he wasn't from this titan. He had been born from his old island, one which he had left behind. Had he made a mistake in leaving? But something had called him here, he was sure of it.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind–this was not the first woman who hadn't been afraid of him. "Mask?" he asked.
"Pardon?"
"You…have…mask?" He moved his hand in front of his face, tracing the shape of a long beak. "Bird? Bird…mask?"
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," said Mary. "I don't think I've ever seen someone around here wearing a mask like that. I can certainly look into it at the library, though." She got back up, walking into the kitchen. "Now then, I suppose you must be hungry. Would you like dinner?"
The revenant didn't need to speak to make his feelings known, happily jumping up from his spot and following after her.
In the dawn of this world, when the titans roamed free, they wielded powers we can barely hope to dream of. One of these was the ability to summon a powerful undead warrior from a plane beyond, referred to as a 'revenant.' Little is known about these beings, other than that they were said to be able to wield magic similar, but not identical, to that of witches.
Many experts have theorized exactly what this plane beyond could be. Some say it is a dimension higher than our own, a source of all the unknown creatures and phenomena rumored to exist on the fringes of the Isles. Others still suggest that it may be an afterlife of sorts, itself connected to the theory that witchkind may have existed prior to the extinction of the titans.
On the subject of the titans' fall, some fringe beliefs state that revenants themselves acted as the power that led to their extincion. While evidence suggests that a single event caused the titans to die off within a relatively short period of time, little is known about the actual cause. Theories include climate shifts, warfare, disease, necro-wasps, and, as stated above, a mass incursion of revenants that spread beyond their master's control.
With a sigh, Alvin closed the book. "Are you sure this is the only book you have? Some of the material in here seems a little…sketchy."
The librarian gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, but all the other books about revenants were rented out. I suppose with that sighting by the bazaar the other day, it's become quite the popular subject. Will you be borrowing it anyway?"
"Guess I might as well." He handed her the book as he glanced at the shelves surrounding them. All these books, and there wasn't much aside from speculation and hearsay, even in the restricted section. Then again, maybe the public library wasn't the best place to search for information on the unknown.
The little old lady working the desk passed him the book. "You know, there was a lady who came in here a while ago asking for revenant books. I haven't seen her in hours, so she may still be here. She might have found something a bit more solid if you can find her."
It wasn't like he had any other leads. "Thank you; I'll see if she's willing to share." He picked up his book and made his way back over to the tables in the center of the room. He looked around, only now realizing that he had no idea what the woman looked like. However, he did notice someone sitting at a table with a stack of books sitting next to them. The person's odd appearance led to him looking closer, seeing that the books had titles like 'Unknowns of the Isles,' 'Demons From Beyond,' and 'Rise and Fall: a History of the Titans.' This was her, no doubt.
He sat down in the chair across from her. "Er, hello. I'm not disturbing you, am I? Would you perhaps be willing to answer a few questions?"
The woman's body was covered completely in a white robe, and her face with a curved mask. "No, I'm not interested in buying anything," she said matter-of-factly, not even looking up from her book. "If that didn't answer them all, feel free to continue."
Alvin couldn't help but crack a smile. "A library seems like an odd place for a salesman to do his work. No, I think the two of us have a shared interest." He gestured to her books. "Something tells me you're looking into revenants."
"Lucky guess," she replied. "And it's not like that's rare these days. I'm sure you've heard about the sighting at the bazaar?"
"I have," said Alvin. "As a matter of fact…um, can you keep a secret?" She didn't move. "I have reason to believe that this creature was brought back to the Boiling Isles on board a vessel that I was on. I was on a research expedition to another titan, when I had an encounter with the ghastly beast. In a way, I can't help but feel a connection with the creature–and not one of the emotional kind, but like my existence is bound to it, like its presence here is somehow tied to me–"
"Let me stop you right there," the woman said, holding up her hand. "Are you sure it was a revenant you saw? Because based on my readings, they're just a myth. An old ghost story meant to scare impressionable teenagers at the cinema. That's actually why I'm here, trying to prove that these sightings lately are just mass hysteria."
"Mass hysteria? No, no, the revenant is all too real. As much as I wish it were a myth, I've seen it with my own two eyes. It…it killed a man in front of me, dragged his body away. I've never seen any other demon or animal like this thing."
"That's the funny thing about fear. Makes us see things that aren't really there. In your panicked state, I think it's more likely all you saw was a ghoul of some sort. Same thing at the bazaar. Did you know that there hasn't been a revenant sighting since the days of the civilizations that supposedly invented them? It's because they're just legends."
"Wh–I…" Alvin stammered, before reaching into his pocket. He removed a piece of paper and, stopping himself before he slammed it down, gently placed it in front of her. "This is what I saw, down to the tiniest detail. Does this look like a ghoul to you?"
The woman examined his drawing. It wasn't his finest work, and may have just been a fabrication for all she knew. But something about it seemed to cause her to change her demeanor. "This…this is what you saw on the island, right?"
"As I said, down to the tiniest detail. Anything I see, I can draw. And I don't exaggerate."
She seemed to doubt this claim, but nevertheless, she bought that he had really seen it. "You know, it occurs to me that I don't know your name," she said.
He held out his hand. "Alvin Grizzwold, sub-senior researcher of the A&S Guild."
She took his hand. "Call me Eva."
"That's it? Just Eva?" he asked.
"For now," she replied cryptically. "Oh, and don't think I didn't notice you eyeing me–yes, you can ask about the mask."
"Oh, right, sorry about that," Alvin said. "But, yes…why do you wear a mask?"
"I was born with a breathing problem," she said. "The mask helps keep it stable. Anyway, you still haven't asked me any of your questions."
Alvin coughed awkwardly. "I was going to, but it seems you don't believe in revenants. What I would have asked was if you had any information on how to find it."
She shrugged. "Like I said, most of the things in here are from back in the olden days. More about what they were and what they did, not much on the hows and whys. Speaking of, why would you want to find it anyway? It's supposed to be dangerous."
"That's exactly why we need to find it," he replied. "Every day it's out there is another chance for it to hurt innocent people. We at the Guild need to do everything we can to track it down so we can stop it from–"
"Sorry. Not to be rude, but you wouldn't happen to work for Talus Archibald, would you?"
He looked confused. "I don't exactly work for him in the sense of an employer, but he is my immediate superior in the guild, yes. Why? Do you know him?"
"I've heard of him." She was quiet for a moment before standing up. "Alvin, I've enjoyed our little talk, but I have to go. Here, maybe these will help." She slid her pile of books over towards him, and then turned to walk away. She paused, turning back. "If you ever do find anything out about this thing, come find me."
He blinked. "How exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"Eh, you'll see me sooner or later. I don't exactly blend into the crowd." Her tone of voice made it sound like she was smiling. "See you, Alvin."
And with that, she was gone. Alvin held up a hand. "See you, Eva." He had no time to dwell on his new acquaintance: he had work to do. He opened the first book, and began to read.
It wasn't entirely clear what the relationship between Mary and the revenant was. To an outsider, it would certainly seem like he was her pet: a wild beast taken in off the streets to be nursed back to health. But Mary herself didn't see it that way. The revenant was no mere animal, especially not to her. He was an intelligent creature, capable of understanding her, of feeling gratitude, and of course, speaking. Perhaps that was the main indicator that he was sentient, and not a mindless monster.
And so, while his wound healed, he stayed with her. He ate her food, slept on her couch, and listened to her stories. Although he could talk, he only did so if he had a question, or some pressing matter to be brought to attention, preferring to remain silent as she regaled him with tales of the past, both her own and the Isles'. He learned everything she knew about revenants…but still had too many questions, more than she could answer.
And then, of course, there was the issue of bile. By some almost miraculous twist of fate, she was prepared for this as well. Not by her own power, but she was prepared nonetheless. "You see, I have a condition," she had explained to him. "My bile sac doesn't work as well as it should, so I need new bile occasionally. I get some delivered every week, so I wouldn't mind sharing some with you!" One pouch every two or three days was more than enough to sate him.
Not to mention how his grasp on language improved during his stay. With how often she told him her stories, he slowly but surely began to speak with "the eloquence of a scholar"-at least, that was how Mary put it. As a librarian, she was quite proud that she had the opportunity to teach him something like this, as proud as a mother would be of her child. In fact, he began to suspect that was almost how she saw him.
Mary's house was not large by any means, but the revenant never felt trapped inside, even though she felt it was for the best if he never stepped outside. It was not the sprawling fields of his island, but something about the novelty of it all prevented him from getting cabin fever. Of course, some days he simply napped all day while she was at work, but others he explored his new surroundings.
The house was filled with what could only be described as knicknacks, collected from all over the Boiling Isles. Historical trinkets and unearthed artifacts filled the shelves and drawers around her home. None of them looked familiar to him, although Mary was happy to answer any questions he had about them. And with one of these questions, his life would change forever.
There were a lot of pictures in Mary's house. Some of them were of her: her earlier years, showing her as a child to a young woman. In some, he saw her with a man he didn't recognize, as well as another little girl. He wondered why he never saw either of them around the house. The rest of these pictures were much, much older, and were likely counted among the relics she kept. Images of ancient witches performing rituals, strange beings that looked downright abstract, sprawling landscapes from all around the Isles. One of these caught his eye: a towering figure with an antlered head, standing only ankle-deep in the ocean. It gripped the hilt of a giant sword, which was buried into the chest of a similar figure.
"Caught your eye, has it?" asked Mary, noticing the revenant staring at the painting. "This one is called 'A Son's Retribution,' by Van Gore. It dates all the way back to the Deadwardian Era!"
The revenant studied the creature within, his gaze drawn to the striking pair of antlers that jutted from its head. "Who…is this?" he asked.
A familiar twinkle came into Mary's eye. "Ah, that question required a bit of a history lesson to answer. You see, Van Gore based this painting on the legends of a long-extinct culture only known as the Head-Dwellers, named after where they lived. While almost all ancient witches worshiped the Titan, they all had different names for it. The Head-Dwellers gave it the name 'Arbagh.' They told that Arbagh was the king of the titans, but one who was assassinated by his jealous brother. Arbagh's son, the rightful prince Belos, is shown here getting revenge on his father's killer."
"Belos…" The revenant felt something powerful emanating from the painting. The prince's eyes weren't rendered with any emotion, but they didn't need to be–he felt many things just from looking into them. Hatred for the man who killed his father; pride at having gotten his vengeance; relief at being free from this burden. "Was he great?"
"Oh yes, very much so! The Head-Dwellers believed Belos watched over his father's dead body, not allowing anyone to disturb him. It was this that allowed life as we know it to flourish and bloom on the Boiling Isles. Although they worshiped Arbagh as their god, Belos was their savior. Every member of their tribe aspired to be more like him every day."
"Then I…also do," said the revenant. "Be more like him. I will be…great also."
Mary smiled. "I'm sure you will. In fact…do you remember what I said on the day we first met? According to the ancient texts, revenants were summoned by the titans. Because of that, I think you're here for a reason."
In his time staying with her, the revenant had grown used to walking on two legs. From his tall stance, he lowered himself down so he was eye-to-eye with his host.
"I'm not sure exactly why you're here, but I don't have to be. You, hun, are a son of the titan." She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek. "You're going to do great things one day…Belos."
The revenant cocked his head to the side. "Is it…my name?" he asked.
"Oh, I-I may have gotten carried away," she said, chuckling. "It's just that I've never known what to call you up until now. I figured a nickname couldn't hurt, especially one that… Er, do you like it?"
"Yes," he replied. "I will keep it, to be what I need. I will be Belos."
Days passed, turning into weeks. Belos had come to enjoy Mary's company. It was more than her just providing for him, more even than her showing him kindness. She was happy, as though she was honored to have a houseguest of his nature. Considering how much she knew about ancient history, she likely was. And having someone this fulfilled just to be near him…something about it was equally fulfilling to him.
On one of these days, she came home from her job, the look on her face suggesting she had a lot on her mind. Belos came over once he heard the door open: "What is the matter?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing," she replied. "Lately, so many people have been asking about revenants. The fad's been dying down lately, but there have been so many strange characters since that day. In fact, I remember seeing a woman with a bird mask, like you described."
"Bird mask…" he growled. "Does she have a name?"
Mary shook her head. "It isn't her you should be worried about, hun. Why, earlier today, an entire gang came in! I was worried they were going to tear the place up like last time, but they only stood around the lobby while their boss questioned me."
Belos returned to the couch, offering Mary a pouch of bile before sipping it down when she refused. "Hope he didn't hurt," he said.
"No, he didn't do anything like that, but I was afraid he would for a moment. I had to ask him multiple times to leave his spear at the door, which he didn't seem happy about." At this statement, Belos' non-existent ears perked up. "He asked me a lot of questions, and when I pointed him towards some books, he didn't seem interested. He only wanted to hear what I knew. And the way he talked made it sound like he was planning on hunting you down specifically…"
"Was he…Wild Hunt?" asked Belos. "Him and the others, were they Wild Hunt?"
"Hmm?" Mary didn't know what he meant.
"Vesh. He had the name Vesh." He thought for a moment. "One horn. Did he have one?"
By now, Mary was getting worried. "Y-yes, he did have a horn. Do…do you know this man?"
Belos stared into the distance grimly. "Vesh is Wild Hunt." He stood up, placing his hand over his scar. "Him. Him."
Mary was speechless for some time. After a while, she slowly stood up, walking down the hall to her room. Belos followed, unsure of why she had left. She didn't say a word as she searched through her closet.
"Why are you?" asked Belos. "He does not scare me."
"Maybe not, but he scares me," said Mary. She removed a bright red dress from the closet, tossing it to Belos. "Here. This was always too tall for me, but it should fit you okay." She continued searching around the room, rooting through her drawers.
He eyed the dress curiously. "Why…should I wear it?"
She returned, handing him a large veiled sunhat and a pair of long gloves. "You have to wear something out there. It may not be an ideal disguise, but it's all I have."
When she moved toward the door, he stepped in front of her. "I can't leave. Don't need to."
"It's not safe for you here," she said, pushing past him.
"He is not a danger!" he said. "Vesh is nothing. I'm much stronger now. I can fight him, I can–"
"Hun, I know you don't want to leave," said Mary, "but I can't protect you if he knows where you are."
"I will protect you," he said. He placed the clothes aside, grabbing her hands. "You will not be afraid of him either."
She sighed. "It's…I'm not afraid of him, I'm afraid for you. I know you think you're strong enough to fight him, but…" She turned away for a second, bringing back her journal. "Belos, listen to me. Everything I've ever learned about revenants is written here, things I haven't told you yet. Take it. It might help you find out who you are."
Although he took the journal, Belos was shaking his head. "I can't leave. I can't leave you all alone. You helped me, you made me who I am, you–"
"Now you just stop right there," she said. "Yes, I took you in, but I didn't make you into anything. You are who you always were. If I helped you see that, then I'm glad, but you already had everything you needed. And with that notebook, maybe you'll find it a little quicker."
"I can't," he said. "I can't say goodbye."
"Then don't." She pulled him closer, and the two touched foreheads. "This doesn't have to be goodbye. You may be leaving, but I'm not going anywhere."
Their embrace was interrupted by a knock at the door; more of a harsh pounding, really. Mary flinched, while Belos glared in the direction of the noise, growling. He began making his way towards the door to confront what was no doubt his hunter, only for Mary to place a hand on his arm. He turned to face her, looking into her pleading eyes.
"You have to go," she whispered. He wanted to protest, but he knew she wouldn't hear it. And even if she led Vesh away for now, he wouldn't give up until he found him. Leaving was the best thing he could do now. Lead Vesh away from Mary, so he wouldn't put her in danger. It was the only option.
He relented, picking up the notebook and makeshift disguise. The pounding at the door repeated, even more impatient this time. "Go," he said. "Stand strong. He is nothing."
She nodded, smiling proudly. "I know." The two shared one last look as Mary left the room, locking the door behind her. Belos headed for the window…but something stopped him. A gut feeling, as though something in him knew leaving was the worst thing he could do right now. He chalked it up to his reluctance to leaving Mary behind, but he stayed anyway, at least for now. He leaned close to the door, listening intently to the commotion outside.
Mary opened the door, acting surprised to see who was there. "Oh! Vesh, I hadn't expected to see you again so soon. I'm sorry, I haven't had much time to find anything new, but if you come back later, I might–"
"Oh, no, no, that's not why I'm here," said Vesh. "There's no need to be sorry. In fact, I actually came to apologize to you for my conduct earlier. My conduct was nowhere near appropriate, especially not for a library. I…actually, may we come in? This should only take a few minutes, I don't want to take too much of your time."
"Actually–" Mary was interrupted as a few of Vesh's goons pushed past her and into her house. Vesh himself followed them, making himself at home. "I-I suppose you can stay, but only for a moment."
"A moment's all this will take," Vesh said, seating himself down on her couch. "Again, I apologize for how I behaved today. I've been under a lot of stress, you see. Me and my team have been tracking the movements of a certain beast; I'm sure you've heard of it?"
"Why, I can't say I have," said Mary, looking around cautiously as several brutish thugs positioned themselves around her living room. "If it's beasts you're after, I'm sure the library will have more details than anything I–"
"The revenant, Mary, the revenant," said Vesh, once again interrupting. "Ever since it first appeared, we've been hunting after it. Talus Archibald of the A&S Guild has personally commissioned us to bring it to him. As it has already proven itself to be highly aggressive, it is absolutely imperative that we find it as soon as possible."
"I see. And how much are you being paid for its capture?" Mary asked.
Irritation briefly flashed in Vesh's eyes–but only briefly. "I believe his exact words were 'handsomely,'" he said. "But as I said, this creature is dangerous. If we don't find it soon, people are going to get hurt." The edge of his mouth twitched at this.
Mary sighed. "If there was anything I could do to help you, I would," she said. "The last thing I want is for Bonesborough to be unsafe. But as I told you before, anything I know about revenants, I already told you."
"And what about this specific revenant?"
She looked at him. "Hmm?"
Vesh laughed as he got to his feet, shaking his head. "Mary, Mary, Mary. I seem to recall you mentioning that revenants were intelligent creatures, the way you saw it. And, while I like to imagine that I'm somewhat famous around here, one thing I don't recall is telling you my name. And yet, when I showed up here, you addressed me as Vesh."
"You said it yourself, you are indeed famous," Mary said. "Everyone knows the great Vesh, leader of the Wild Hunt."
"I suppose that's fair," he admitted. "So, what's my last name?"
Unwilling to show weakness, Mary thought for a moment. "I'm afraid I don't recall. I've definitely heard of you, but I don't pay much attention to the details."
He grinned. "I see. In that case…I'm sure you won't mind if I take a look around. Just to make sure everything's where it should be." Vesh made his way over to the hallway, only for Mary to block his way.
"I do mind," she said. Her pleasant demeanor was beginning to falter, but so was his. "You've barged into my house uninvited, asked me for information I don't have, and now you're trying to root around in my private business. Mr. Vesh, I must ask you to leave."
Vesh was neither intimidated or angry, instead appearing impressed. He snapped his fingers and held out his hand. "Grimsby?"
"Yeah." One of the larger Wild Hunt members handed Vesh his spear. By now, any attempts at appearing pleasant had come and gone. The threat of violence hovered overhead, and Mary was all too aware of it. She, as subtly as she could manage, held her hand behind her back in preparation to draw a spell circle.
"I've been nothing but polite to you, Mrs. Pembrooke." Vesh stepped closer, circling the old woman like a predator. "I've done everything I can to get you to quietly hand over the revenant. But if you don't want to make this easy, you only have yourself to blame for what comes next."
"His name," Mary hissed, "is Belos."
Before Vesh could respond, Mary thrust out her arm. The ball of light reappeared, this time as a flash that blinded the hunter momentarily. As he cried out and stumbled back, Mary cast another spell, wrapping her curtains around another member.
As soon as Belos heard the commotion, he slammed himself against the locked door with his full weight. It buckled and broke very easily, only taking three hits before he smashed through. He ran down the hallway to save his savior, seconds too late.
Mary gave a valiant effort, but she was no fighter. Even if she had been, there were seven of them and only one of her. They overwhelmed her faster than she could incapacitate them, blasting her with spells and striking her with their weapons. With the last ounce of her strength, she let loose a blast of fire at Vesh, an attack he saw coming. He, consumed by his anger, struck back. Belos arrived just as he drove his spear into Mary's heart.
Time seemed to stand still. The revenant watched, stunned, as Mary looked down at the fatal wound. A green glow seeped from it and into the weapon, flowing down into Vesh's hand. On his face he wore an expression of sadistic glee. Once the glow was completely gone, he pulled the spear out, and Mary's body fell to the floor. Mary's fireball had ignited the drapes behind him, soon spreading to the rest of the room. His eyes raised to meet Belos', illuminated from behind by the firelight. "There you are," he said, flicking the blood off the spearhead. "Time to play."
What happened next was primal. Pure, guttural fury welled up inside of Belos, manifesting itself as the loudest bellow ever to leave his maw. The entire house shook from the sound as he screeched to the heavens, his eyes glowing brighter than they ever had before. Any concept of who he was before, even who Vesh or the others were, was gone. All that was left was one single, solitary drive. Everything that wasn't him in this room needed to be eviscerated. And so he charged.
The Wild Hunt had been startled by his roar, many of them flinching. Even Vesh seemed to reconsider his odds as the creature launched itself at them. Grimsby was the only one among them completely undeterred, intercepting the revenant by hurling a flaming couch at it. The furniture slammed against the wall. "Hah! Got 'im!" he said. "He wasn't so tough, ey?"
Claws tore through the fabric, and in moments he was free once more. As Grimsby was the nearest target, he hurled himself at him, claws prepared to rend. Grimsby swung his staff, a palisman shaped like a cobra knocking the revenant aside. He prepared to follow up, but Belos was faster, slicing a gash in his side. The witch cried out and fell to his knees.
The air was growing hotter, and thick with smoke. "This isn't good," said Vesh. "Wild Hunt, fall back and regroup! We can't take him, not in here!"
"Nothin' to worry about!" choked Grimsby, trying to stand up. "I've been hurt worse, I'm not about to let this–" He gasped as he felt the revenant's claws piercing into his skull. It stood behind him, glaring at the others as it held his head. It grabbed on with its other hand, those claws digging in as well, and with one swift motion, tore. The Wild Hunt backed away in horror as Grimsby's headless body slumped to the ground. The revenant loomed over him, the flames lighting him from behind.
If Vesh was uncertain of their chances before, now he was certain in the other direction. "Run! Go!" He urged the rest of his team out the door and away from the threat. He gave chase, with only the collapsing rafters preventing him from hunting them all down then and there. He backed away from the heat, returning to the corpse to take out his anger. He bit and tore into Grimsby's body, devouring the man's bile sac. But even consuming him wasn't enough; he wanted more. The familiar smell of magic bile came from the discarded staff. With similar ravenous intent, he cracked the palisman apart like an egg, drinking down the nectar within.
It was only then, when his rage was completely spent, did he return to Mary's side. Had it not been for the bloodstained shirt, she would have looked peaceful. He imagined she was content to have allowed him to survive another day, even if it cost her life. Chittering gently, he placed a hand over the wound, just as she had done for him on the day they met. Closing his eyes, he touched his head against hers once more. He could smell the bile within her…but could not bring himself to take it.
Instead, Mary gave him one last gift before he left. He found his way to the icebox in the kitchen, scooping up as many bile pouches as he could carry. He slung the dress over his chest, using it as a pouch to carry everything she had given him. With one last look at the woman who he had befriended, he made his escape as the house burned down.
He watched the smoke rise as he clambered across the rooftops, heading for the safety of the wilderness. He pressed his hand against the journal, vowing to do everything in his power to make Vesh pay. "Thank you…" he said, turning his back on what had been his home.
The familiar jingle played as the words 'Bonesborough Local News' flashed across the screen. They were soon replaced by a man in a suit sitting at a desk. "Tragedy stuck early this very morning as a fire broke out over the residential district." A graphic of the burnt building after the blaze had been extinguished appeared next to him. "Though the damage caused by the flame was minimal, authorities are saying it claimed the life of seventy-eight-year-old widow Mary Pembrooke, a librarian at the Bonesborough Library. While its cause has yet to be identified, witnesses say that a strange figure was sighted near the area, speculated by some to be the fabled Bonesborough Revenant."
The image on screen changed to that of Vesh, the words 'Vesh'tai Walpurgisnacht, Wild Hunt Leader' appearing beneath him. "I was hunting this creature for weeks now," he said, appearing somber. "I knew it was a danger to the public, but I had no idea it was capable of such atrocities. But I swear, as head of the Wild Pack, we will do everything in our power to take this despicable monster down!"
"Although there has been no definitive proof of the creature, sightings of the revenant continue to crop up," said the newscaster. "Does this beast truly exist? Did it cause the death of this woman? After a short break, we'll delve deeper into this mystery. This is Percy Porter, reporting."
Vesh tapped the crystal ball, turning it off. "Huh? What do you think?" he asked the room. "I always thought that if this gig doesn't work out, I could make a killing on the silver screen. Quite a performance, no?"
His lackeys mumbled their approval, while the others present, Talus and Alvin, were less convinced. "Perhaps some tact is in order?" Talus said. "Not only did this monster kill an innocent woman, but one of your own was slain as well. Shouldn't you be mourning for poor Grimsby?"
"Ah, that sort of thing happens all the time," Vesh said, waving him off. "Occupational hazard. Now then, what is it you wanted us here for?"
Talus motioned to Alvin. "My associate here claims to have some more information on revenants. Once he brought it to me, I thought the two of you could combine your efforts to help stop this beast. And this incident only proves just how urgent this all is." He abruptly smacked his hands on his desk. "I don't care how you do it, just bring me this thing."
Vesh walked over to Alvin. "'Grizzwold,' eh? So, you think you've got something that could help us on our hunt? Either way, looking forward to working with you!" He grabbed Alvin's hand and shook, perhaps a bit too strongly.
"Oh, no, just some tidbits here and there," Alvin said, rubbing his hand. "Really, I'd be more of a burden than anything, I don't want to slow you down."
Vesh slapped him on the back, laughing. "Nonsense! Grizzwold, old buddy…I think the two of us are gonna be great friends…"