"You're right, we are mortal and fragile. But even if we are tortured or wounded, we'll fight to survive. You should feel the pain we feel and understand. I am the messenger that will deliver you to that pain and understanding" -Beserk, Guts
Lyall's Pov
Fear… defined as a very unpleasant feeling that something or someone is dangerous and will cause pain or harm. But I think it's more than that. It's like a wave of illness falls upon you. It fills you from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. It will fill your lungs with cold water like your drowning. Your brain will no longer function and your arms and legs will feel like heavy metal planted to the ground.
I felt all this… with what I just witnessed. I remembered crawling my way to Elisabetta's screams. The in-between still flickering in and out of focus. But it was different. The more the in-between came into view the more… that I wasn't alone. Dark figures keep emerging out of the stone of the walls, behind pillars, looking down upon me. More pressure on my chest keep coming like waves. It was coming to a point where I can barely breathe.
But I still crawled on. Soon I came across a staircase where the screaming was more deafening. Even though my body protested I started to climb the stairs. Foots ran up and down the steps in the frenzy. " Oh my god! What to do!?" One of them shriek. "We have to calm her down." Another said. "It like something possessed my lady. What a mess it is." Another speaker in a whispered. I tried to listen on anything about Elisabetta but it was almost impossible since my ears are buzzing of his of the figures of the in-between.
"Pathetic…" one hissed. "A mere mortal cannot save her" another hissed. They all kept repeating the same thing, 'that I won't save her.'. I shook my head. "Ignore them. Keep going!" I thought with determination. Once I finally made it to the top my body just wanted to give in but I pressed on. I finally dragged my useless body to the door of Elisabetta's room. I lifted my arm to grab the door knob. I hesitated for a fraction of a second cause her door turned to the rotten version in the in-between. "Do I really want…?" I thought in hesitation. But I only shook my head and grasped the knob and turned it open.
(Warning: Rape)
And this is the part… where fear took over me. Before me was Elisabetta lifted in the air. Tears falling down her face in agony and pleasure. A man… no… a monster was lifting Elisabetta and… raping her. A torso of a bull, the upper body of a man, a face of a lion, and the horns of a bull. He had red serpent eyes, fangs, claws, and red fur all over. He held her legs around his waist and pushing himself inside her ruthlessly.
I started to cry myself. Feeling the contents of my stomach rising up in my throat. It wasn't the image that scared me… no it was his power. This was no ordinary demon. It's mere presence gives off a powerful aroma. I was shaking. Elisabetta's screams echoed throughout the room. I wanted to cover my ears, speak, scream, move, anything! But I couldn't…. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
The slapping of flesh sickened me, her screams shook my bones. "No more! Please!" Elisabetta begged. But it fell on deaf ears to the monster. Not able to hold it anymore. I threw up the contents of my stomach. After I was empty, everything was silent. A cold sweat went down my body. I didn't dare look up.
There was a loud thump… the clicking of hooves came towards me… I was shaking like a leaf. Silence fell. I think my heart stopped for a moment. Then… I looked up. There staring down at me with those blood red eyes was the monster. I let out a silent scream. My mouth was open by no sound let out. It only smirked at me.
"Well… what do we have here? Another sampling?" He asked himself. I only cried harder. "Oh… now, now. Don't cry." It soothed. He caressed my cheek with his clawed hand gently. I can only stare at him in fear and shock. This was a different kind of cruel. He was trying to kill me with kindness. That what he was doing was not wrong. I looked passed the monster with my eyes and see Elisabetta curled up in a bawl and crying into the sheets of the bed.
"Dear child…? Why do you come before me?" He asked me with curiosity. I tried to get my brain to work. Think of a way to get out of this. Before I could open my mouth he reached out his clawed hand and started caressing my cheek. I was shaking violently by his touch. "So beautiful… they way you look at me with such fear in your eyes… and tremble at my touch… gets my juices flowing." He whispered with a look of lust in his eyes.
Now I'm terrified. I have absolutely no idea what to do. Suddenly he grabbed my throat and lifted me into the air choking me. I gasped and grabbed his wrist trying to free myself. He squeezed my throat when I tried to struggle. I was gasping even more now. "Oh yes you will be a lot more fun, than that bitch over there." He said while licking his lips. Showing off his sharp fangs. I was losing hope and oxygen. My arms fell limp to my sides. But just when I was about to lose consciousness a voice in my head spoke. "Say it… say the words…" it whispered. "What? What words?" I asked in my head. A sharp came from my marked hand, like someone slapped it with a stick. I didn't even wince. I was too weak. The monster pulled me close to his face. Getting ready to kiss me. I smelled his foul breath of rotting flesh. I tried to gage but I couldn't with his hand almost crushing my windpipe.
"Say the incantation… say it…" the voice whispered again. "Incantation?" I said in my head confused. I was trying to think if I heard this voice before. Then it hit me! When I was falling a female voice was singing in the darkness. I can still remember those cold words being chanted out over and over again. Another shot of pain went through me. "Say it!" She yelled. I closed my eyes crying. "What choice do I have…" I thought. Just when the monster was about to put his nasty lips on mine….
"Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free
The spirit free" I sang.
I can feel myself changing. My body felt stronger. I felt no pain, no fear, empty. I opened my eyes and started at the monster. But these were not my eyes… they were someone else's.
"Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free
The spirit free." I sang again.
I grabbed his wrist with brute force and squeezed. He growled at my defiance. My veins were popping out of my arm but… I can also feel power surging through me. He yelled in agony. "Let me go you bitch!" He growled. He let go of my throat and dropped me. Landing on my feet I still held onto his wrist, draining his life essence. He lifted his other hand and tried to strike me but I grabbed it and held it down. Now both hands in mine I squeezed even harder till I heard a satisfying snap. He howled in pain. I was draining him more.
"Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free
The spirit free" I sang one final time.
He howled. He crumbled at my feet. Turning to skin and bone. But before he turned to dust he hissed. "Damn you…. Iona…". Then he was gone.