The storm raged on, drenching me through my armor. Twilight soaked the castle in a dull golden light, leaving nothing but grey and gold shades. It was breathtaking. But it was off. No guards stood watch, aside from the crows and small black birds of carrion that circled above.
This wing of the castle, it seemed, was abandoned. Rough stones left to crumble, with no exit aside from the one we went through. The path led a ways, then dropped sharply. "There's somebody we need to meet, that way," The creature pointed along the worn and unkempt path. The sound of the wolf's claws clicking were muted by the harsh storm.
We moved quickly across the rooftop, reaching the end quickly. It seems this wing was under construction, as loose scaffolding was all around. The spire the imp pointed to was across the gap. It was much longer than the gap in the spiraling staircase, but it wasn't at an incline. I could jump it easily. The wolf however, probably couldn't.
With a running leap, I launched from the edge of the rampart, calculating my landing as I flew. I had to make the flat part of the roof of a slanted building. My dead heart lurched as my boots impacted and slid across the slick tiled roof. I thought fast and fell forward to dig a claw into the roof. my shoulder jerked as I stopped from my sliding, grime and water covering my hand and already scratched chestplate.
I turned my head over my shoulder to see the wolf hopping between structures of scaffolding at a rapid pace, making it's way to my position on the slanted roof quickly. It was an incredible sight to see. It moved with enough feral grace and power to land and launch itself on the smallest of surfaces
The storm lightened a bit as we crossed the roof slowly, but not enough to make the trip across the slick rooftop faster. Each step had to be carefully measured, else I would slip and potentially fall to what might be my doom. Visibility improved and I could see down into the capital city. It was bathed in the same golden grey half light that the castle was.
"This twilight doesn't seem natural at all," I muttered to myself after almost losing my footing, not expecting an answer.
"But isn't wonderful?" The imp cheekily responded.
It was really. The few beams of muted light that touched my skin felt like ecstasy. It made the darkness hum in pleasure, it's ever present thirst muted under the rays of dim light. "It feels nice," I admitted.
A large window was our way into the spire. But it was closed. Muscles and mana coiled again, sending my form high enough to catch the rough stone edge of the alcove the thin glass barrier sat in with one arm. "Do we need to be subtle? The window is bolted shut", I called down to the imp, who was now lazing across the soaked fur of the golden beast.
"Go ahead and break it, but at least try to be subtle. It might be calm out here, but there's an army of beasts who would wear your finger bones as fine jewelry in there,"
My brows creased, she mentioned avoiding the castle proper in the dungeon, but never anything about demons. If this dark twilight was my territory, it would naturally be home to other creatures of darkness, wouldn't it? But this was Hyrule Castle, how could it fall? Was I even imprisoned under Hylian authority? I shook my head free of thoughts and pulled myself into the alcove.
The frame was metal and bolted into the stone. If i could pull the frame out, I would make the least noise. My talons dug into the stone next to the frame. I would need to grip the frame and pull. Fingers dug easily through the stone until I grasped the far end of the frame with the slightly curved tips of my claws. I grinned and pulled. The frame made an earsplitting screech against the stone. My smirk dropped and I quickly released the frame, cursing inside my head. Too loud. They, whoever they were, would hear. Breaking it in would have been faster and quieter.
Was anyone coming? Panic still gripped me, ears honing in on every small sound. I ignored the pitter patter of rain and the two heartbeats behind me. Thump thump. Thump thump. A single heartbeat. At the top of the tower. Golden mana blazed blinding from the lone figure figure, so bright I could see it without trying. I averted my eyes down. They widened in shock. Below us was another powerful mana, a dark dark purple with flashes of gold crackling through it like lightning.
It was powerful enough to see through hundreds of feet of stone, but it was nowhere close to the tower. We were safe for the time being. I shook my thoughts away and replaced my claws along the frame. With a stronger jerk, the window came free. The sound wasn't as loud the second time, but without the worry of getting caught. Warm and sweet air flooded out as the window was removed. Maneuvering in the alcove, I pulled the window out. "Can you lower the window down without breaking it?" I asked, holding said piece of glass and metal awkwardly.
"Just set to the side," Her voice was right in my ear, hot breath on my ear. I jumped in place, nearly dropping the glass and metal. With a sigh, I pushed the metal frame against the far edge of the alcove, just enough to keep it upright and allow access into the warm hallway.
Landing on the steps, I waited for the others while enjoying the heat of the enclosure.
At the top of the spiraling staircase stood a large metal door, opened just wide enough for the wolf to slink in. I pulled it open and followed, the imp had disappeared but was surely with us.
The room at the top of the tower was extravagant, quarters fit for a noble. A large four post bed, luxurious furniture, a crackling hearth, and large glass windows. And a woman in a black cloak, her aura a blinding gold. Eyes watering, I was forced to turn away.
It was like a sensory overload, and for a moment, I panicked before shutting it down. It was nothing more than light. I was lying to myself, I was terrified. And despite my mind set on moving forward, there was a primal fear deep in my head that left the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Two, Midna?" The cloaked figure questioned. Her voice was icy and tired, as if she hadn't slept for days.
Midna? The Imp! With a pang, I realized I never bothered asking her name.
"Well one of them talks, and I enjoy the company, as depressing as he may be,"
"You said there was only one could use," The cloaked figure did not seem happy that there was two creatures with the imp. One of us wasn't supposed to be here, and I had a sinking suspicion that it was me.
"I changed my mind," Midna challenged.
"Fine, but I do not approve,"
"It'll be fine, oh Princess of Twilight, I'll keep them in check," The title caught my attention.
The woman turned, cloak raising from the floor slightly. Her face was shown. Sharp cheekbones below narrowed blue eyes, a small, tautly drawn mouth, and mild, but strong jaw. She was gorgeous. Not in a comfortable or relatable way, but in a way that would send shivers down one's spine. She screamed domination and power. And if I was right, I knew exactly who she was.
I caught myself rolling my shoulders back and widening my stance, gums tingling. This enchantress was dangerous. I didn't like it. No more thought delving would help me analyze the situation, and I realized this quickly, the feeling of a mental brickwall coming on. The imp and the Twilit Princess continued conversing, with or without my attention.
"Why save a vampire, Midna?" The Princess questioned.
"Why was there a vampire in the deepest reaches of the Hyrule's Black Hall?"
The princess's face betrayed no emotion, eyes slowly flicking between myself and Midna. "I do not know, nor do I approve of your choice," Her words were icy, although they didn't affect me. I was free, for all intents and purposes, her fancy approval didn't matter. I didn't like this princess.
"You're Zelda, aren't you?" I asked, voice twisting in the shadows. I had to have answers. Her focus shifted to me.
"I am, vampire," I was unsurprised by her revelation. "Can you explain to us why you were in the Black Hall?" Her question derailed my thoughts.
"I don't remember, there was a black wall covered in gold runes, blocking the road. I passed through it and collapsed, I don't remember anything after that. And I wasn't like this," I gestured to my body. "When I walked through
Zelda turned back to the imp. "Dispose of the vampire, I don't care how, he is not part of our arrangement," My guts twisted.
Midna's visible eye narrowed. "We're at odds here. I fail to see how he can't be of use, Zelda,"
"Irelivent. A vampire could never hope to meddle in a conflict of this level without massive consequences," So I was weak?
"And what might this conflict be, princess?" I questioned, an edge to my voice.
"Do not trouble yourself with things you can't hope to comprehend, beast," She snapped, eyes flaring, before turning back to Midna, leaving me fuming with controlled rage. "Demise's curse is coming to another cycle, outside interference could ruin our chance of victory,"
Midna's eye widened briefly. "Fine. Allow me a question, highness?" Zelda nodded slowly. "How many previous cycle's have passed?"
An arched brow raised. "Why do you care to know?"
Midna shrugged. "I'm curious, that's all," It was a lie. I could tell, Zelda could tell, even the very quiet wolf could tell.
"You know something more than you're telling me," Zelda called the lie. "But this is the fourth,"
Midna shifted her amber eye to me. "Then my business is done with you, Zelda, I'll take my vampire and leave, I trust you and your new companion will get along wonderfully," She motioned to the wolf, whose snout was bowed before the princess.
"Very well. The guard is coming, you should leave quickly,"Her voice was final and absolute.
"Come, lets leave," I nodded.
With a few short strides, I was out of the chamber, ready to hop over to the window left open. A door cracked open, rusty hinges creaking. My heart leapt, and then I did as well, right through the open window. Without turning back, I continued back along the roof. The rain was back apparently as well.
Popping out of nowhere, Midna appeared. "We're leaving. Where are you from? we need to make preparations,"
"Ordon, but I'm not sure how welcomed I'll be now," The imp scoffed.
"Have some faith, the world isn't completely against you," I didn't believe it for a second.
"Fine," I dismissed the subject. "How will we get away from the castle?"
A grin split the creature's face. "You'll see," A thought crossed her mind and face and her smile dropped a tad, but still shined. "But first, let us formally introduce ourselves. I am Midna, wanderer and rebel," It was vague, but fitting.
"Rebeling against what exactly?"
"The King of Twilight, he usurped my land's throne and is the one invading yours. He could be responsible for your…" She paused, but I knew what she was going to say. "Change,"
"Thank you," I nodded. "Seems we have a common enemy,"
"We might, but lets not worry about that at the moment," She glanced to the sky and blinked as a large droplet smacked against her headpiece. It was raining again. "Tell me a bit about yourself and we'll be on our way,"
"My name is Link. I'm a goat herder and apprentice bladesman," I wondered if I should say more, but nothing seemed to be needed.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Link," She bowed in mid air. "I think we'll get along quite well. But lets get out of here," With a flick of her right hand, she sent a bolt of magic at me. My eyes widened as I started dissolving into black squares. I gritted my teeth. Everything went numb. The imp's face was laughing. Then I couldn't even see that.
Flashes of black, purple, and gold flew around me as I flailed and reformed, trying to grasp anything. Then I started dissolving again.
Burning liquid covered my booted feet, the skin itched and stung. It started at the bottom of my feet, and climbed up past my toes and up to my ankles. After a few moments, I was whole again and I opened my eyes, looking at me feet. Water and white sand, evening sun beating down hard on it. This was the sacred Ordon spring.
My eyes widened, the darkness was creeping out of my legs, leaving them feeling weak and powerless. My knees fell out, and I pushed my hands out to break my fall. Upon contact with the water, they burned, darkness retreating, climbing up my limbs.
"What's happening?" I groaned, before my arms collapsed. My body crashed into the ankle deep water. It seared and burned before it abruptly ended.
Thump thump. My lungs burned. Thump thump. Pulling my mouth above the water, I gasped, starved for oxygen. I was alive!
I couldn't feel the darkness anymore. A rough chuckle escaped my lips as I searched for it, enjoying every breath. Where an inky blackness sat deep inside myself, a fire now roared. After having a taste of my mana in such a concentrated form, this fire almost seemed like another form of it. I would experiment later.
I propped myself up on one knee. On my attempt to rise, I fell back down, chainmail clattering against plate. After such a small number of waking hours, I was so used to using the darkness to move that I couldn't rely on the strength of my body?
After what felt like a godly effort, I stood.
The imp watched from a few feet away, floating above the holy waters. "Vampire's are said to loose power in holy places, but I didn't think the stories meant it so literally," She said.
"What do you mean?" The lack of unholy energy circulating in my body was like a breath of fresh air to a drowning man. I was perfectly happy without it and it showed. Warmpth radiated through my chest, warming my once dead flesh and circulating fresh blood once more.
"I mean, you've lost anything that would make you a vampire. You're a normal elf now," Midna frowned.
"How is that bad?" I shot back at her. How could she see this as a bad thing?
"Don't snap at me," she shot back. Rage boiled under my skin. "While it might not be fun for you to be bloodthirsty, you'll need the power it gives you for what's ahead,"
Then it crashed down around me as I remembered my predicament. I was in a life debt to this imp. Rage simmered down into frustration. "Just how dangerous will this be?"
She shifted in the air. "Very. I couldn't honestly tell you if we'll mark it out alive. You seem to be a natural at blood magic and tracking, and that will help us by a huge amount,"
An arched brow indicated i wanted more information. I could understand the blood magic, it wasn't simple, trial, error, and analyzation cracked the code. Tracking though?
Catching my glance, she elaborated. "Vampires can sometimes catch on to the essence of another. I don't know how, but your ability to detect my," her gaze wandered as she searched for the right word. "Curse," the word was spat out. It was a sore subject. "Leads me to believe that you have a knack for it,"
"It's visual, the darkness lets me look at the world through different eyes. Zelda burned gold, brighter than the sun. So did the wolf," I explained, to try and give my perspective. A grim thought came to my head. Midna was dying. I remembered the curse. Though I couldn't see it now, I remembered it in vivid detail, distorting and draining her essence.
She made smalltalk about the journey we would embark on, as if trying to sell the idea that it might not be so bad, but I was torn between the grim thoughts in my head and the pleasant warmth slowly returning to my limbs and didn't fully listen to all of it, answering in one sentence answers. I needed to tell her about the curse, it wasn't fair not to. Only a truly depraved individual would cast such a curse on somebody, and it would be a horrible thing to do to let.
She caught on to my mental blockade and stopped after a short time. "Lets get prepared, pack what you need and say your goodbyes,"
I nodded and started walking from the center of the spring. The reaquired plate and chain was far heavier without dead man's strength, and being bogged down by water didn't help it at all.
By the time we left the large, but shallow lake, the sun was starting to hide behind the trees. The north wind was drawing rain clouds down from Snowpeak as well. A biting wind tore through the lush valley that lead to Ordon, chilling my wet form as we began our march.
It was a two mile jaunt from the spring to the village. Not far, but long enough for the sun to dip behind the horizon, lighting up the sky with wondrous shades of purple and gold.
A feeling of dread built within my gut as we walked in silence. My vision was sharpening, the textures of bark, dirt, stone, and foliage coming into focus with more vibrancy than I had ever seen. I turned to Midna, who had been floating behind me. "Do I still look human?"
She shook her head. "Your eyes are reflective, like a cats," The feeling of having a brick in my gut intensified. "I doubted you'd stay in a human form for long, and with the beasts about, you can't afford to be human,"
I turned and kept walking. Gather my things, then leave. The stress ate at my brain, and with each step I took away from the spring, I could feel the darkness creeping back into my flesh.
Midna caught my attention with a pat to the shoulder. "Stop moping. I need you in tip top shape!" Her snarky cheer didn't do much. I turned back to the road. "Hey! Don't ignore me!"
I sighed, irritated. I needed time to think, or to vent. She wouldn't allow either. "I need time to think, please," I tried to make the words sound soft, but they came out harsh.
"What makes this so hard to understand for you?" She pointedly inquired.
That set me off. "I don't know if my best friend is dead or alive, I'm a walking corpse, I just broke out of prison, and I can't be around the people I love anymore!" I inhaled, to find that it didn't give me any relief. "I understand that I can't be weak, but you need to understand that this is hard for me,"
Rage gave way just as my heart did. Tears prickled at my eyes, and with great anger I turned back without waiting for a response and started walking again, unwilling to let the creature see my face. The warmth slowly drained from my body.
"Link," I paused. "You aren't as different out here as you were in the thick of the twilight. It warps us all. You haven't become a beast, you've just changed," It sounded like as close to an apology as I was going to get.
"Just give me time, please," It wasn't so much a plea, as a flat request. I'd shut down emotionally.
"Fine," I heard.
I focused on the steady thunk of my heavy boots, mindlessly moving over obstacles as the wildlife grew louder and louder.
This path wasn't the main path into ordon, but a side trail. It was secluded and inaccessible by horses due to the small, but fast and deep, river we were about to come upon. Ilia and myself had made crossing it possible, but as I came upon the steep drop that was the bank, I realized I wouldn't need the rope swing anymore.
Glancing up at the tallest tree that hung over the river, I spotted the rope. Still strong, despite it's age.
Tearing my eyes away from it, with a backward glance, my body coiled, and I leaped. The river was only 10 feet wide, crossed in a single bound easily. As much as I loathed to admit it, Midna was right. The far reaches of Hyrule was a dangerous place. Being as physically able as possible would be a boon.
The rush of wind felt refreshing, and I found myself mesmerized at the sight of the leaves as the arc of my jump descended. Veins, stems, and fibres, all in amazing detail laid before me. I landed flat on my feet on the opposing bank, the soft soil giving slightly beneath my boots.
Ordon Village was close. The imp hadn't muttered a word, and for that, I was thankful. She was just as much of a victim as I was, in the grand scheme of things. I assumed at least, judging by the constricting golden film surrounding her essence. It wasn't her fault that all this happened. Regret for mychildish actions panged in my gut.
The past 6 hours had been surreal. I'm not sure if I accepted it yet, but I was going to try and make peace with my current state and what I had to do. Maybe I could stand to live as a vampire. The blackness wasn't overpowering and uncomfortable anymore, seaming to have settled down. As long as my thirst didn't come back at the worst of times, I would be fine.
This would all work out. I'd be fine. That's what I told myself.
This is turning out to be an interesting character experiment. Link's in a very volatile state at this point in the story. He's not secure, and he's in way over his head. Midna's at a loss. Zelda is hyperfocused on Demise's cycle.
Next: Into the Breach