As the poils began to emerge from their homes to survey the devastation, so did the clouds start to roll in from the heavens. It was as if Locwitary itself felt the loss of this terrible tragedy. Not one single corpse remained of either the long-tongued creatures, or the walking dead that their infectious touch created. Lia's final act had succeeded in wiping them off the face of this planet, but that did not do away with the scores of dead bodies that still littered the homes and grass.
There was nowhere to look where the motionless remains of a loved one could not be seen. The dead townsfolk who had not been zombified continued to lay there, drained of life. Bright openings of red could be seen along their torsos and faces; remnants of the ferocious power that the lickers held. Such beasts were never meant to come here, and this world had paid dearly for their arrival.
Cassandra could hear the crying in the background, but it took a backseat to her own as she hovered over the remains of the woman she had loved. Lia's scorched corpse was still smoking from the intense blast of heat that had pulsated throughout it during her final moments. Blue embers rose from the dying flames that still clung to her; trickling out into the air and fading away.
Her features were far too burnt to make out, but the shape of her face was still there. The effects of the burnout were so great that her skin and muscle had been burnt to a crisp; leaving only the vague form of what once was to be viewed as it lay on its side.
Stray teardrops fell onto the fawn's flesh. They were absorbed without hesitation, but those that stayed on Cassandra's face would be there for a long while. The brunette covered her mouth as she sobbed on her knees, fighting to withhold her screaming as she knew it would not bring Lia back.
Why are you gone?! There had to have been another way!
Her heart was crippled by the loss of her. In all her days of living, never before had she ever felt such a connection to someone else – only to watch as they were ripped away from their life. She wished that she could have traded places with Lia. Could someone else have taken the mantle of sacrifice? Why did it have to be her?
Lia's body was still far too hot to touch. The thick heat made it uncomfortable to get too close, but she would not separate herself from the fawn. She would sit here for as long as she needed to, or at least until the duties of the present called her away.
And call her away they did.
"Cassandra…" Gibbin's voice was heard from behind her. She did not want to open her eyes. She did not want to turn around at all. She just wanted to stay where she was, but the crying of the surviving poils was starting to become clearer.
Reality was setting in, and she remembered everything that had just been lost. Leta was still out there, and unfortunately, she was now in the custody of that horrible woman.
Why did Narratha do all of this, she wondered? Why did she take Leta?
The brunette swallowed her sorrows just enough so that she could respond. By then, the burly man was getting closer, but his heavy footsteps paled in comparison to the wails of those around her. "Yes, Gibbin?"
He had nothing that he could say. The moment that he got close, his eyes fell on the body of Lia. It sank his heart deeper than he could have predicted. A long-winded sigh escaped his throat, and the butcher soon found himself on his knee beside her.
His hand landed on her right shoulder, and all she could do was resume her crying. A minute was allowed to pass, as he understood that she needed it. Cassandra was strong, but she wasn't without her emotions. Everyone was mourning, and she deserved her time as well.
The man's eyes remained on the corpse of the fawn as he listened to the restrained sobs of her former companion. Gibbin's expression was low; dampened by the bleak stillness of a reality that he was still trying to comprehend. The untold amount of loss that he had witnessed in the last hour was greater than anything that he had ever witnessed before.
It was insane to imagine how two fawns could have unleashed such chaos and death.
It was even crazier to see fawns as the ones who committed this atrocity, but his knowledge of Locwitary's past was vast. He knew that it would have only been a matter of time before the bloodshed began again.
Good things could only last for so long.
His hand gently tightened around her shoulder; breaking her shuddered breathing. "They need us."
She sniffled as her head rose. "Why us? Why me?"
"Because people like us are here to take care of others," he said. "That's what we do."
She turned to him with soddened eyes, yet, a piqued brow that signified her confusion – as well as her disagreement. "I'm not some savior, Gibbin," Cassandra spoke with a bit of frustration in her voice that was beginning to grow with each passing word. She wanted to stay here with Lia, and to be told that she needed to break away was something that she did not want to hear. "My heart breaks for these people, but, there is nothing that I can do."
"Please…" He begged. "I can't face this alone."
Her amber eyes stayed on his for a couple of seconds while she took in the gravity of his words. That was when her defensive glare finally fell, and she looked to the dirt as she stood herself up. "Okay."
Cassandra could see the poils gathering around as they inspected the dead. Some had already discovered the identities of those who had perished as being that of their immediate family. The men and women who uncovered the terrible news early could already be seen crying on the ground. Mothers yearned for their children, while husbands leaned over the corpses of their wives.
Little boys and girls frantically combed the crowds for the first sign of their parents.
Some were happily reunited.
Other children could only keep looking.
That was when Cassandra felt the wave of duty that Gibbin had described come over her. She had existed in death before, and that gave her the strength to push on. The loss of Lia was what threatened to cripple her, and withstanding it required a conscious focus on the present at every given second. Her hands shook vigorously as she fought to keep herself together.
As Gibbin waved her along when he walked past her, she could feel the shaking travel to the rest of her body. It made her legs wobbly, which impeded her ability to walk. She shambled over to the others like she was one of the dead, and in a way, she was.
There was nothing left inside of her to work off of. After watching Milo, Vasan, and Lia die, Cassandra felt like she was as hollow as ever. Part of her hoped that this was all one big, terrible dream that she was about to wake up from. At any moment, she would be back in Lia's bed, holding her close as the fawn kissed her.
None of this could be real, she thought, and yet, it felt real with each, waking step.
"Gibbin!" Cried one of the women as she ran up to him. Blood stains could be seen along various parts of her body. She seemed uninjured, but that did not mean she had been spared any of the carnage that had taken place. "I need to find my two girls! Please, have you seen them?"'
He breathed a small breath of relief as he pointed to the group of children that had been placed inside the Hawtow residence. The young poils had stayed together following the explosive and bloody confrontation inside the house, and the lack of parents that had arrived to pluck their kin out from them gave rise to a grim forecast.
Luckily, two children would be going home today.
The woman thanked him with a frantic smile as she rushed on over to collect her daughters. Cassandra joined Gibbin at his right side as they walked over toward the rest of the townspeople. The brunette could feel the stress inside her swelling as she looked on at them. They reminded her of the villagers in their final moments. While her castle had been built so high up, and the windows sealed away the sounds from the outside world, she could still make out the faces of despair that were to be found as the Lycans conducted their massacre.
As far as she knew, no one had survived by the morning, but if some did, then this is what they must have been like. It was just plain horrible.
She and Gibbin stood there while the rest of the villagers approached them; some carrying the mangled bodies of their loved ones in their arms. Tears ran down their cheeks as they fell to the ground, unable to let go of the person who was such a big part of their life. Cassandra could feel herself getting choked up again as she watched these people wither in despair.
How many families have I done this to? How many mothers and fathers would have held their daughters in their arms? We left nothing for them, but we took those women from them.
Gibbin bowed his head as he shook it. Cassandra wondered why he was suddenly reacting the way that he did, but when the poils carried out the body of Brewton, that was when she knew.
The butcher grumbled under his breath, "Those damn creatures took everything from us."
She approached him with caution, taking his hefty forearm into both her hands. "Hey, Gibbin…"
"That man did a lot for this community. He's one of the reasons that these people all came together." Gibbin's heart was a stone. He turned his gaze to the rest of the poils; who began to shout and cry at the sight of their fallen leader. "I know you hardly met him, but that man did everything right. I'm sure they must have told him to take shelter, but, I wouldn't be surprised if he died helping others."
"I remember him," Cassandra recalled how the man had given her a chance following her initial tirade in this town. Any normal person would have cast her out, but Brewton listened to what Leta had to say. Whether he believed the child's white lies or not was irrelevant. He could have thrown her away, but because of his forgiveness, she had a town to come to. Everything else that Gibbin said about him had to be true.
Acomb truly was full of good people.
Gibbin raised his hands up at the crowd. "Please, everyone, try to stay calm!"
One of the men shouted out to him from the back, "Those fawns murdered us!"
"My babies are dead!" Cried another woman.
"Monsters!" A second man yelled. "They brought monsters to our homes!"
Gibbin could see the fire rising. Some members of the crowd were filled with sorrow. Others were angry. "Please! Listen, we are not going to re-build if we devote our hearts to –"
"Who is she?!" Another woman yelled as she stormed out from the crowd, pointing her finger at Cassandra. "She's never been here before until recently! Then the fawns came!"
"She brought the fawns here!" An older man voiced his anger, riling up others in the process. Some of them stepped forward; fueled by the grief of tremendous loss. Cassandra tried to back away, but they only got closer.
One of the women took to the front, eyes red with sadness, and blood stains all around her legs and hands. "I saw them around her! My husband was killed by that blonde fawn! They must have been working together!"
Gibbin's voice immediately rose to a frighteningly intense level. The level of fury in it caused everyone in the crowd to fall silent. "Enough! Stop it!" He held his arms out by his side as he glared at every one of them. "This is not who we are! This is not Acomb! We have suffered a great loss today. Those two fawns entered our town and brought these demons with them. They took the lives of those we loved, but I will not stand here and watch as you let them take away what we are!"
He pointed to the brunette by his side, his eyes wide with intensity as he continued to stare down the crowd. "Cassandra did not bring them here! She was protecting your children! I was there with her. I watched her cry with those kids in her arms. Lia trusted her to do so! You all know Lia, right? That fawn gave her life to save us! She would not want to see us devolve into a murderous group! We all came to this town to seek something better. We are angry and we are broken, but if we start harming innocent people, then are we no different than those two fawns? Are we?!"
A man from the crowd spoke out, "Then this is between us and the fawns!"
Gibbin's anger did not subside. "No, it isn't! Those fawns wanted to seek vengeance for something that happened in the past! The one who led the creatures here wanted to destroy the relationship we have with them! Lia would not allow it, and I will not allow anyone here to hurt innocent fawns who only want peace! If we go down that path, then Narratha wins!"
"We don't know who the good fawns are or not!" A young mother shouted.
"Is Leta good?" Gibbin asked.
"She is," the woman replied.
"Then she will end up getting hurt by the poil who doesn't know that." The crowd immediately fell silent; having realized the error of their blind anger. Some of the women broke out into tears – as did one or two of the men. Gibbin's words had struck them harder than any spear could ever, and they knew that continuing the cycle of violence was only going to cause more destruction as time went on.
The poil who had gotten in Cassandra's face to accuse her backed down, sobbing onto the floor. "Please…forgive me! I just want my family back!"
Cassandra could barely keep herself up as she felt the urge to collapse with her. Her fortitude only lasted for a couple of seconds before her posture fell, and she found herself holding the distraught woman. "I'm here for you."
The woman's arms wrapped around her and all they could do together was cry. The brunette knew that even in times of powerful grief, Lia would have wanted her to do this. This was the compassionate Cassandra that she had fallen in love with, and in death, that desire to see her flourish could not fade away.
Gibbin cleared his throat as he softened his voice, taking to the crowd with the hope that everyone could come together. "As we speak now, Leta is in great danger. The fawns took her, and she needs our help."
"What do you propose?" One of the young men in the crowd asked.
Gibbin hung his head as he stewed there in thought. Cassandra turned her eyes toward him as she caressed the back of the grieving mother in her arms, wondering what the next step would be. "We go out there and find her. It is a dangerous path outside of these mountains. We will need steeds and men. A small group, well-equipped, should be sufficient to make the journey. The rest of us, we need to pack our things and re-settle. I fear that Narratha may return to finish what she started, and if so, she will know where to look."
Bradford, one of the survivors of the attack, stepped forward to volunteer. "Count me in!"
That was when an older woman approached him and desperately grabbed at his raised arm. "No! Not my son!" Bradford tried to brush her off, but his mother would not relent. "I'm not letting that woman kill my only son!"
"Me too!" Another one of the mothers wailed from the side of the congregation. "I will not allow any of my boys to be murdered!"
"Gibbin!" One of the women was growing hysterical. "Please, don't sacrifice them! There must be another way!"
The butcher rolled his lips and brushed his hand against his long, dark beard. He stared at the ground as he grumbled his next words, "I'm afraid there isn't." It only scared the crowd more.
He picked his head up and looked into the eager eyes of the young men who wanted to undergo the journey, but he could see the futility in the plan. These men were not experienced in the ways of the forest, nor had they been in a true fight before. Narratha would tear them to pieces the moment she could, and these families had already lost enough.
"I'll go at it myself," he stated. "Bradford, Gerten, any other able-bodied young man: keep our people safe. Pack up and head North, toward the border of Tyillioum. I'll meet you there when I return."
Bradford anxiously accepted the order, "Yes, Mr. Gibbin!"
Cassandra stood up and took him by the arm once again. "I'm coming with you!"
Gibbin paused as he stopped to look at her. "I was hoping you would. Return to Milo's castle, and grab your things. We'll get you home."
The interior of the castle was filled with an eerie stillness that Cassandra had never felt before. Walking through the empty halls felt so surreal, as if what had taken place in Acomb was nothing but a false memory. It was like, at any moment, Milo and Leta would be seen walking down the library toward the dining room, ready to prepare the night's meal.
Now, the halls were absent of sound; save for the low wails of the wind that had snuck into their corridors.
That was when the reality that she was the only living thing still inside that building came to light.
Cassandra had found her way into Lia's room during the course of her travels. It was a detour that she did not want to make at first; having already cleaned up and changed back into her dark robes. It would have been easier to just walk outside of this place and try to forget everything that had happened, but in truth; it was impossible.
She could never forget.
The brunette had found herself walking along the various tables that were adorned with the fawn's crafts. Her amber eyes stared up that the countless number of drawings that had been placed on the walls, which showcased the talent of her skills throughout all her years. It was strange to see these things without the addition of a romantic candlelight under them. It was almost as if everything had been prepared perfectly that night, and that this room was not ready for her to enter.
She stopped beside one of the tables, eyeing the figurine of herself that Lia had made. Cassandra's fingers twitched as she reached out to take hold of it. It was in the same spot that it was left last night, right before the two women made love on the bed not far away.
Cassandra brought it up to her chest as soon as she grabbed it; holding it as tight as she could, just short of breaking it. Her chest shuddered as tears began to drain from her eyelids. This was not the way she should have been when she took possession of it, she thought. It was never supposed to be this way. The plan was for Lia to be the one who gave it to her before they said their final goodbyes.
Cassandra had been expecting to end her time in Locwitary with one, final kiss; shared upon this bed together as they held hands and enjoyed the moment that would have been left for them. Now, that plan was nothing. It was only the brunette who would stand in this room, mourning the lost soul that she barely got to know, but who had taken her heart with her to the grave.
The grief became too much, and she had to sit down.
Lia's sheets were as soft as she remembered. To think that the two of them were in this bed together just hours ago was nerve-wracking. That moment was so fresh in her mind and she yearned to somehow be able to roll back the clock and return to it.
We were just here, together. You kissed me as soon as I awoke. You should still be laying here. I just want you to come home, Lia…
Cassandra's crying would not stop. She found herself laying down in the same spot where she had been earlier. The brunette rotated her body inward, where she faced the wall. With the figurine still at her chest, her free hand reached out to where Lia had been. It swam through the air with the fruitless ambition of touching the skin of someone who was no longer there. As it fell back onto the mattress, she pulled the fawn's pillow in close and inhaled the lingering scent of her.
It still smells like you! This can't be real! You're not dead!
Tears leaked down onto Cassandra's pillow as she cried openly with no one else around to hear it. The echoes of her sorrow would parade down the vast hallways; unanswered by anyone else. This castle should have been full of life, but now, it was nothing more than a hollow shell of its former self.
Just like her.
She remained there for a little while, sobbing into the fabric while she took in the scent of her lover. Why did she have to be taken from her, she wondered. Was this all an act of retribution from the fates? Was she forever condemned to be robbed of those she loved? It seemed so, and as much as she believed she deserved to be punished for her past actions, the punishment itself was never easy.
When she eventually found the strength to rise from the bed, Cassandra found her hands to be molded to the sheets. She did not want to stand up, as much as she knew she had to. Gibbin was out there waiting for her, and she could not stay here forever. It was best to simply walk away from everything that she had built in this castle. Sticking around was only going to make everything harder.
Forcing herself to part from the bed, Cassandra stood up and saw a note that was on the dresser nearby. It was one that she had never seen before, and her curiosity quickly got the better of her. She approached the piece of paper and scooped it up from where it lay, gazing at Lia's handwriting as soon as her eyes set upon it.
"My dearest Cassandra,
As I am writing this note, you are sound asleep beside me. I awoke from the most peaceful sleep that I have ever had, but the night is still young, and I figured I would take the time to write this before tomorrow when we both find ourselves too busy to function. The light at the end of my finger keeps the darkness away, but to have someone next to me as I indulge in this interruption of my sleep is…something quite grand. To tell you the truth: I never thought we would come to this. I always found you attractive, but I was always too wrapped up in my own head to figure it out. I know I've told you this a million times, but you challenged me in so many ways, and I realized that I was never being true to myself. I was never happy. You never made things easy for my composure, but when I got to know you, I realized how much like me you were. I never thought I could handle someone like me, but, when you took me into your arms, I felt something spark inside me. I didn't know what to call it, but I found myself drawn to you. I guess we all seek that sort of compassion in our lives; someone to hold us and remind us that things will be better. You're that person for me, and I wish I could spend so much more time with you, but, sadly, it isn't meant to be. Maybe I'm wrong. Here I am getting into my head again. I'm starting to believe that fate is not set in stone. We should have never met each other, but yet, we did. I will forever think about the taste of those dark lips of yours. The scent of your hair. The invigorating melody that is your voice. You complete me in so many ways. Ah, it is getting late, isn't it? I'm looking forward to returning to sleep by your side. I know tomorrow, things will forever be different, but I want you to always remember me. You will have a place in my heart that cannot be occupied. The barriers between our realms may be strong, but my love for you is stronger.
Cassandra, I will always love you.
Your dearest,
Lia"
She stared at the note with parted lips and a furrowed brow. It was a paper that defied the reality around her. It felt like Lia was still in this room somewhere nearby, watching her, speaking the words that she will never get to say. It was enough to soothe Cassandra's heart together, but not enough to spare her the onslaught of tears that were to come. She broke down crying once again, crumpling onto the ground in a withered mess of sadness.
This was the cost of the sweet embrace of love. A taste that was so delicious, but never again allowed to touch her tongue. The impact of the loss mirrored the sweetness of its existence.
Lia was a woman capable of things beyond herself. Even from the grave, she managed to hold Cassandra's soul in her loving arms. The brunette could only wish to return the favor. The tears went on as time washed away. She would stay in that room for as long as she needed, but within the parameters of what was expected of her.
Gibbin was still waiting, and they would have to depart shortly.
As she struggled to pull herself back from the throes of despair, the sudden chirping of a bird could be heard nearby. Cassandra looked toward the direction of the calls, where she noticed a small, blue bird standing at the base of Lia's window. The feathered creature peered at the brunette as she steadily rose from the floor.
The two locked eyes as Cassandra's face grew confused, yet, oddly calm.
This is one of those birds that Lia talked about when we were picking fruits. She loved them so much.
The bird tilted its head at her before it flew further into the room; landing on top of one of the slightly open drawers. As soon as it reached its mark, the sky-colored animal began to peck and pry at whatever was inside. Cassandra immediately rushed over; fearing that the bird was about to destroy some of Lia's belongings in its search for food.
"Get out of there!"
The bird dashed away as soon as it could, flying back over to the window and staring at her yet again. Cassandra sniffled as she laid her hand on the edge of the drawer; her amber eyes bordered by tears. "Just…leave!"
The bird chirped one more time before it flew out of the window and back out into the sky – where it rejoined a flock of blue birds that quickly faded away out of view.
Fighting the urge to cry again, Cassandra turned her gaze down to the drawer, noticing a unique book that had just been uncovered.
What is this?
Cassandra had taken custody of the small book that Lia kept inside one of her drawers. It was the fruit of curiosity; birthed by the emotion that one was on the brink of missing out on everything that remained. A quick skim through showed what seemed to be a diary of sorts. With time against her back, it was decided that the book would be read at a later time.
It was only ironic when she went snooping through the library to collect anything else that she may have needed for her trip that she came across another, older book, that appeared to have belonged to Milo.
Another skim through – another diary.
I am so sorry, Milo. I wish you could have been here with me. I wish all of this had gone differently than what took place. It's almost like you and Lia are here with me. I will not let your thoughts fade away. I promise that you two will live on, in one form or another. I owe you both that much…
Cassandra found herself sorting through a small box that was kept on one of the library desks. Milo had used it to hold more medicine and instruments. Such things were found in abundance in his work area, as the man's dabbles in medicine were great. He was always searching for the next breakthrough, and it was a stroke of luck that his partner was a woman who could heal at the touch of her hand.
Where he failed – she succeeded.
You two were the perfect pair for this town.
Her pale hands continued to comb through the box, hoping to find any necessities that would assist her during what was told to be a long and uncertain trip. As soon as her hand found itself deeper into the bottom of the crate, a strange, cylindrical vial was felt along her fingertips.
Huh?
Cassandra carefully lifted the vial out from where it was held. As soon as her eyes were able to glance at it, she noticed it was filled with a unique, pink liquid. It was the same pink liquid that was in the vial that Milo had attempted to use on Lia when she was assaulting her.
It was said to be able to temporarily disable a fawn's powers.
There were no thoughts in Cassandra's head; only a blank stare as she looked on at what was in her possession. If this liquid was as rare and as powerful as Milo had described it to be, then it would likely come into use during their journey. It was an odd thought, as the plan for her was not to seek Narratha out, but to locate other fawns who may be able to assist her. Gibbin said that he understood that she was not from this region and that to cross the lands by herself was too risky. If they could render aid in any form, then they can help her with what she needed.
She wanted to tell Gibbin the truth right there and then that she was not from this world, but with the fragile state of the town itself, she did not want to create cause for alarm. It would have to stay buried for now, at least until they were able to find any fawns that could help. Gibbin had mentioned that an elder fawn could likely take her to where she came from, and the brunette had decided that such a path may be her only ticket home.
By holding that vial in her hand, another idea came to mind; one that tugged at her nerves. Leta would not leave her thoughts, and though she did not believe that she would survive an encounter with Narratha again, the concoction inspired a form of confidence in her that she had never felt before.
Cassandra carefully wrapped the vial in a cloth before she set it inside the small bag that she had grabbed for the road ahead. The books fell in as well, and her time in Milo's castle would end after she gathered the supplies needed. With the thought of the vial in her mind, she took hold of her sickle before making her way toward the exit.
Gibbin would undoubtedly find great use in the potion, as he had taken it upon himself to face Narratha and get Leta back. She hated herself for what felt like taking the coward's way out, but after what she had witnessed, she knew that she was not going to be the savior of Locwitary. Not by any means. This world and all its problems were far greater than her, and she still had a family to save back in her world.
Bela and Daniela needed her.
She had everything she needed to return home to Castle Dimitrescu, but the weapon in her hand felt lighter than it ever had before.
The bindings that secured Leta's wrists to the chair were tight; close to being able to cut off her circulation, but short of turning her skin purple. Her body had been restrained with various ties and straps, making the wooden fixture an extension of her body that she could not escape from.
Her face was red with tears. They poured out from her eyes endlessly, as the fresh images of her sister's death would not leave her mind. The girl was forced to keep her emotions to herself, as Narratha had stated that she would cause harm to her if she had to hear them. So, the child sat where she was, burning in her mental hell as the woman who had stolen her sat at the other end of the table.
Narratha had been freshly healed from the fierce battle that she endured with Lia. Falena's magic was slowly trickling back in, and the first order of business was to patch up the wounds that her accomplice had sustained. After a fresh bath to clear her skin of blood and dirt, the redhead appeared rejuvenated as she eyed the plate of meat in front of her.
The blonde was not too far away, though the table had only been set for one. Falena was more focused on tending to Narratha than herself. To her, she was lucky to have made it through most of the massacre unscathed. It was Narratha who had taken on Lia and suffered the consequences. When the redhead was done eating, then her strength would return, and she could heal her as well.
The steaming plate of cooked flesh sat under the freckled fawn's nostrils. She drew in a long breath, appearing somewhat put off by the scent, only for the hungry anticipation of gluttony to overtake her green eyes. Narratha stabbed her fork into the dish, before severing a small piece that was promptly shoved into her mouth.
Her gaze found itself on the tearful child not far away from her. She said nothing as she chewed her bite and swallowed it – her stare unwavering as she did so.
Another bite of the meal went down before she finally spoke, "You seem sad."
Leta fought the urge to burst out into a chaotic fit of sobbing. It was the fear of violence that kept her molded together, but the cracks were making themselves known. In a sadistic glee, Narratha smirked as she watched the girl teetering on the brink of terror. The woman casually downed another helping of her food, not even blinking as she kept her eyes on her.
A third helping was cut off, and Narratha inhaled the aroma as she brought it under her nose. "You know…" The fawn tossed it into her mouth and began to chew, her voice muffled under the presence of the flesh, "Today was a fun day." She gulped down the portion. "It breaks my heart to see you so upset on a day like this."
Leta quivered as her eyelids pressed shut. The girl leaned forward, her chest buckling as her breaths fell from her mouth like a stuttering car engine. Every inhale was a snotty draw, echoed by nothing but the broken whimpers of shattered innocence.
Without any warning, Narratha stood up and slammed her fist down onto the wooden table, rocking everything that was set upon it as she screamed at Leta, "I said stop crying!"
With a jolt and a loud gasp, Leta sat back in her chair with the widest eyes that she had ever had. The violent boom of the redhead's ferocious tone was unlike anything she had ever heard. It inspired raw fear that electrified her nerves. The girl's heart had to have been racing at a million beats per minute, but even the overclocked pulsation of her center was nothing compared to the thunderous roar of the killer in front of her.
Seeing that her captive's whimpers had been stalled, Narratha's posture softened as she slowly slipped back into her seat and resumed her dinner. A fourth bite. Another one kept in her mouth as she made conversation, "I consider it ungrateful for you to act this way, after all that I did for you. I saved you from those poils, did I not?"
Leta's whimpering returned, but quiet as ever. It was the only response that she could muster.
Narratha tilted her head; deliberately biting down on her food one, single time as she did so. "What an ungrateful child you are. I was going to offer you some of my food, but…" She chomped down on the bit of meat and funneled it down her throat. "Only grateful fawns get to eat here."
"Please…" Leta begged with a shaky breath. "Don't kill me."
The redhead chuckled as she leaned back in her seat. There was a sinister poise in the way she sat there, still eyeing Leta like a bloodthirsty monster. "It breaks my heart that you would expect such atrocity from me."
Narratha rose from her chair, fixing her hair as she methodically walked over to her. Leta shook in place like a caged animal; trapped with nowhere to go. Her shivers only strengthened as the killer approached her.
In a surprising move, the fawn extended her hand outward and placed it against the child's soddened cheek. Her face was still, yet, a sharp scowl could be seen along her mouth as she looked down at her. Narratha spoke softly as she kept her hand along Leta's face, "I have nothing but love for us fawns, especially our youngest. You do not trust me. You fear me. I can sense it."
Leta found the courage to voice her concerns, "I want to go home."
Narratha continued to caress her cheek. "What is home, dear child? The poils? You have been ripped away from where you belonged. I was there, you know? I watched as a group of them destroyed everything that we knew and loved. You were just an infant, but you were gifted to the man who led them to our commune by our disconnected elders."
Leta's eyebrows raised. She wasn't sure whether or not she could believe her. "What?"
Narratha's fingers moved to comb through her wavy locks of brown hair. "It is true, unfortunately." The fawn exhibited a slight bit of remorse as she went about her words. It was a strange shift from her previous demeanor. "I watched grown men take children as young as you…" Her brows pinched as her anger rose. "…and defile them! Grown men…destroying the very soul of a little girl!"
Leta remained quiet, but Narratha had already started to calm down. The woman returned her hand to the girl's cheek once more. "To be violated; to be a puppet for another's lustful pleasure…it is a pain that I hope you never know."
The child sobbed into Narratha's palm, which compelled the fawn to gently nurture her as she held her. Narratha's scowl did not relent, and neither did her eyes. "It truly breaks my heart, dear child. I never wanted things to be this way." She pulled her hand away from Leta. "Your sister forced my hand. I asked her to come with us, but she refused. I fear that dreadful man, Milo, must have poisoned her mind with lies. Oh, how my heart breaks for her, indeed. I can only guess what he did to her when he took you both."
Leta listened to what she said, and she could not allow it to go unargued. "Milo never hurt any of us. He loved Lia, and me. He always made sure –"
Narratha cut her short with a powerful slap across the face.
Leta gasped in pain as soon as her head was done recoiling from the blow. The girl whimpered as soon as the shock wore off, crying in a fit of agony as her bound body attempted to curl up into a ball.
The redhead's anger spewed out from her mouth like a dragon's fire, "He is dead! I killed him! Do not keep him alive by believing his lies!" She stormed up to Leta and grabbed her by the throat, pulling her face as close to hers as possible. Growling through her teeth, Narratha birthed a sense of fear that Leta had never felt, "You forget that I saved you! How dare you minimize every struggle that I have faced! Do not be an extension of that man! Your sister was…"
Pain took the wheel. Leta broke down in Narratha's grasp, which only made the fawn angrier. There was nothing that the girl could do. She was too hurt and too afraid to reel in her emotions. The dam had burst, and there was no drying it up. Her heart raced with the idea that at any moment now, Narratha was about to end her life.
Falena entered the room, which stole Narratha's attention for the time being; as well as putting a halt to Leta's crying. The short, skinny blonde glanced at her accomplice before bowing her head as she moved closer to the table. The redhead followed her with her eyes, but Falena's intent was already made clear. She retrieved one of the cups that had been set along the table and started to pour a drink into it for her.
"Falena," Narratha said.
"Yes?"
"Do you wish to eat alongside me?"
The blonde's freckled nose curled as she smiled. "Yes, I most would!"
"Go fetch yourself some fruits and ginyol from our kitchen. My powers are coming back in great force. I will heat it up for you." Narratha let go of Leta as she straightened herself out. The fawn took a breath to calm her nerves, having realized the amount of violence that was creeping up on her.
Falena appeared to be giddy with excitement. She clenched both her fists and brought them to her chest, waving them around as she hopped out of the room. "You are most kind, Narratha!" She took off as quickly as she could, leaving the abusive woman and the tormented child alone together once more.
Narratha smiled as she turned her eyes toward Leta. "Such a loving fawn, isn't she? Falena has made me so proud. I once thought that our people were lost in the shadows, but she brings forth a light to our future."
She returned to her seat, cutting off another sample of her food. The fork hovered in the air as the redhead waved it around in circles. Her head was propped up under her hand; elbows upon the table. "Everyone speaks of this 'bright future' that Locwitary has. They have it all wrong, you know? Poils and fawns will never coexist together. At some point or another, their predatory instincts will arise. Fawns are too forgiving. Such beautiful, young women we are. Surges are taught to withhold their powers. To forgive."
Narratha laid her fork onto her plate. "But, at what cost?"
Leta stayed silent as she tried to suppress the sharp sting of the slap. She gave Narratha her attention, as it appeared likely that the woman would strike her again if her focus wavered.
"The only path to Locwitary's future is one where fawns awaken and embrace what they were meant to be. We are powerful creatures, and we've chosen to fall at the hands of this weaker species. Poils have only been allowed to propagate due to our cowardice. Our inaction. Ever since that terrible day, I've fought to carve a path to freedom. Falena accepted the truth, but many others did not."
Narratha smiled as she picked her fork back up. "I was born without substantial powers. Yet, I possessed the mindset needed to begin our future. How unfortunate that I was not given the tools I needed, but my commitment to us fawns knew no bounds. I had to change the fates."
She pointed the fork at Leta. "I could sense how much you hope that other fawns will come to your rescue. You are wrong for thinking that, dear child. So very, very wrong. Most fawns do not get it, you see? They would rather us be raped in the grass than act on the greater will to survive."
Leta's voice cracked amidst the foreboding dread that mounted within her. "I'm scared."
A grim smile pulled across Narratha's deeply freckled cheeks. "Hmm…of me? What fawn fears Narratha? Have you heard my name before?"
The girl shook her head from side to side.
"I see…" Narratha twiddled the fork around in the air again; the meat hanging off from the prongs, on the verge of falling off. "I'm not well-known, admittingly. But, I suppose I am spoken of by other names. Do you wish to speak to another fawn and get their opinion of me?"
"There are other fawns here?" Leta nervously asked, secretly hoping that they could be her link to freedom.
"Yes!" Narratha laughed, holding the fork out to her. "Here, ask this one anything you want. She would love to tell you all about me!" She shook it in the air, and that's when Leta's eyes realized just what she was referring to.
As the child sat back in horror, Narratha's chuckling carried around the room. She took a bite of the meat, chewing it deliberately as her eyes stayed locked onto Leta's.
"I'm known by a few names, but most call me the Surge Eater."
NOTES:
What fawn fears Narratha?
Things aren't looking good for Leta. She's trapped with two very dangerous people. As I'm sure some of you have already figured out: Narratha is the mythical Surge Eater that we have heard about throughout the course of this story. A scourge upon the land, she is the one responsible for the multiple deaths of any fawn – or poil – unfortunate enough to cross her path.
Cannibalism has its rewards, and its curses.
Cassandra now finds herself on a path into the unknown. Gibbin knows this world well, and these two will be on their way to what may be her only remaining chance at returning home. We are going to see what lies beyond the mountains as she journeys into the heart of Locwitary.
Expect secrets to come to light, as well as insight into the lives of the lost.
Nine more chapters are left until we reach the heart-pounding conclusion to this story of redemption.
The next chapter will be released on the 19th.
On a separate note, and as mentioned in Fragmented Fears, I am considering writing other stories dealing with some of our favorite RE characters finding themselves in new worlds. I currently have a story in mind involving Leon and Ashley, which will play out like a dark fairy tale of sorts – taking place immediately after the events of RE4.
Set in a strange forest, the two find themselves stumbling upon a small community of people who live within its confines. Taking elements of folk horror along with the otherworldly outlook of this new domain, Leon and Ashley discover danger takes a different form in this realm. While the forest may conceal many threats, the fiercest predators are the ones we let in. As the weight of salvation finds itself upon Ashley's shoulders, she must rise to the occasion – or risk both their souls vanishing amidst the tall trees.
No viruses. Only nature.
If this story interests you, let me know! I've already gotten some positive feedback so far, and I plan to release it as one of several, shorter tales outside the main plot of Fragmented. Will Jill be next?
Thanks again for your support, as always! You guys have been amazing throughout this entire journey, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you. You've really inspired me to branch out further than just this one story, and it has really helped my writing along the way. If you plan to stick around this site, just know that I will be here too. Wouldn't trade a single one of you. I hope your lives have been well and that you have been happy and healthy in between. Stay safe out there in the meanwhile and I will see you again soon! 😊