Birth of Dwindella

by Culanaluana

RIP Steve Barton

9. Wastrum and Lore

I felt his icy fingers touch my arm, I jerked away angrily and yelled at him to leave my bed chambers.

"Honestly I love you, Splendor. I'd do anything for you, you have only to ask and I will do it for you.

Give me a command, I'll obey, if you have a wish I'll grant it.

I could give you success, riches, fame, paparazzi you name it.

I'll tear down the sun and I'll capture the moon for you.

I'd turn the whole world upside down if it meant you were happy safe and healthy.

I'd destroy the natural order of This world and of the very universe, if it pleased you.

I'd sacrifice anything and everything just to be with you.

Please don't turn away from me.

Don't harden your heart against me.

I'll kill for you, I'd die a million times for you, I'll do the things you fear the most, the things you feel you could never do yourself. Curses, hexes, dark incantations, infinite bliss, infinite wishes, I'll summon anything you desire,

I'll harm whoever you wish, I'll create exquisite chaos just for you, Splendor.

Just say the word, I'll come to you, I'll bring you thunder, I'll bring you fire and smoke, I'll bring forth mighty earthquakes,

I'll send floods, I'll control the very winds, I'll create plagues and disasters in your honor.

Just turn around, please Splendor."

He was begging and pleading with me but my heart was still wounded.

"Pretty words I'll admit but pretty words and promises won't heal a broken heart. Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting but a pure heart with kind intentions is forever. Leave me. I'm not in the mood to have anyone in my bed at the moment".

"You asked me to be here in the first place."

"Now I'm asking you to leave!

You sat here and boasted about how there is nothing you wouldn't do for me for 10 minutes straight, so if you're so loyal and devoted, leave me alone.

If you mean everything you said you'll respect my wishes."

"FINE, I'll leave.

This isn't going to be permanent is it?"

His voice shifted from purely indignant to vulnerable and anxious.

"It will be permanent if you don't listen to me.

Leave my room now or these may be our final moments together."

Dwindle was actually afraid, he had true fear in his eyes but he backed away and the shock and terror still shining in his eyes.

I then proceeded to have the worst night of my life.

"You know I could have made you love me.

I chose not to, I saved your life, I gave you the warmth of my cloak, the comfort of my hearth and the love from my lips, I even offered you the gift of immortality and this is how you repay me?

You are disgrace, nothing but a disappointment but I'm willing to overlook it, if you give me a few drops of your blood".

I was so confused.

I wasn't in my bed any more, instead I was slumped in a chair, almost to the point of falling off of it and burning myself by the fire that was before me.

I was in the foyer, the fireplace was lit and I saw Dwindle resting his fingers on the mantle piece, he was regal looking and perfectly errect, sneering down at me as if I was lowest lifeform to crawl the earth.

"Dwindle look I'm sorry about how I acted, I was just hurt and I suppose my pride was hurt as well.

I was honestly being so silly.

I know you've changed, you were just fed up, I understand that. I understand the pain of silence and loneliness.

I understand what it is to be isolated from the world, I've lived my whole life that way, so let's be lonely together, let us find our own isolation and we can silence others instead.

I love you, Dwindle.

You aren't just a friend, I believe you to be my soulmate."

"Foolish girl.

You know nothing of love.

You swing in here, claiming that your magic could save me from this curse.

Love isn't magic sweetheart, love can't save you here, only the sweet taste of your blood and tears can save you now".

He took ahold of my arm and forcefully lifted me onto my feet and he proceeded to drag me up the stairs.

Pain shot through my arm as his grip gave me bruises and his strength that he was using to pull me along put a incredible amount of strain on my tendons.

"Painful is it?

You should be used to it by now.

Life is pain, so that's all that's left for you here, there is only pain here, thankfully your pain in this life shall be brief.

Consider yourself fortunate that you get to suffer by my hands alone because not very many people out there would be this merciful."

"I don't understand.

I thought you loved me.

I'm so confused. What's the matter with you?

Is something bothering you?

Maybe I can help.

Just tell me what's wrong!"

"Oh absolutely nothing is wrong.

You see you gave me your blood every night, in hopes that I would be purified, you hoped I would change and I did.

I have changed but the blood wasn't enough, you knew it wouldn't be enough but I kept drinking, holding on to that hope that one day I might be set free yet the more I drank the more I realized, that you weren't what you claimed to be, you had darkness hiding in the corners of your heart, you had a insatiable appetite for life, you longed for life, you yearned for survival, you desired power above all else.

So now I am everything that you feared I'd become.

I became your fears.

This is the new me, take it or leave it, I'm stuck like this, whether you like or not."

"I don't understand why you're being so cruel.

You were never cruel."

"I was always cruel, before you even came here, I was a cruel creature created to either hate or be hated.

Now stay here will you".

He gave me hateful push which sent me flying onto a red silken sheet.

It dawned on me I was on a bed.

I attempted to get off my stomach but I felt a brutal tug as my head was being twisted back, then my face was shoved back into silk sheets and I was held there to the point I was nearly immobilized.

"Refuse me again, I will drag this out even longer.

I shall enjoy hearing your beautiful screams, so don't hold back on my account"

He laughed in a snarling and sinister way.

I then felt a pain so severe, I felt my entire body was being torn in half and my soul blossoming out from it's mortal construct.

His teeth were entirely too close to my throat, I felt my muscles being torn, my throat was being exposed, his teeth grinding against my skin and ripping the very veins from my neck.

Then the pain subsided, I felt only peace, my neck went numb, I was getting ever so tired, I felt I needed to close my eyes and rest.

"Now you can belong to me."

Then I saw nothing but darkness.

"Splendor, Splendor, Splendor".

I heard a distant voice call to me, it whispered so faintly I almost disregarded it entirely.

Then the familiar melancholy voice grew more distinct.

"I know you asked me to leave but I simply had to come back, please don't be angry with me".

I couldn't move at this point.

I still only saw darkness.

I wanted to scream but my throat still felt broken from the previous incident.

"You have every right to be angry with me.

I understand, you must feel very used and it hurt when I made you play the fool. You're not a fool, I was the fool that should've just told you the truth the moment you made your suspicions known to me.

Can you hear me now?"

I still couldn't speak, I saw a bit of faded light in the dark but i still felt as my throat had been ripped out.

"I'll tell you the only reason I came back in here is because I heard you screaming.

Oh goodness me, you're ever so pale, you're nearly immobilized,

Oh no, there are marks, I see bruises all over your throat.

That explains a lot, no wonder you didn't answer me, you probably couldn't even speak and there are thumbprints on your arms.

This is horrible, I swear upon God and all that is holy that I didn't do this.

Please believe me."

I felt a cold prickle on my neck, then there was a warm release, like a fetter had been been loosened from my neck.

I gasped and started to cough harshly.

"I believe you.

I still can't see though".

I spoke hoarsely.

"I think you were having a night terror, Splendor."

"Don't you mean a nightmare?"

"No, nightmares don't assault you in the night, not literally at least.

You were having a night terror, a night terror can be completely psychological but it can be quite metaphysical as well.

However from what I can see right now appears to be either the beginning of a possession or the effects of dark magic.

Oh no the curse, Dirkor Wastrum".

Dwindle snarled and hissed the name through bared teeth.

"Dirk doesn't know magic, at least I don't think he does.

Ouch, Why does my throat still hurt so much?"

I went to touch my throat but he mildly batted my hands away.

"Don't touch it. That will only make it worse, you'll hurt more, be patient, sit still and I'll remove the pain. You see I only removed the bruises and in my haste I forgot to remove the pain as well.

Relax."

I felt his lips ever so tenderly touch the center of my throat.

"Now does that feel better?"

"Yes it does actually.

My neck still aches though".

I decided to sit up but I couldn't help but let omit a hollar as my neck felt like it was so broken it could fall right off my shoulders.

"Oh poor baby. Is the pain that bad?"

"It's excruciating. I feel like my neck is going to fall off."

"Shh shh shh, now I want you to slowly tell me what happened after I left this room."

"I fell asleep and then I woke up in front of the fireplace, you were standing over me, you accused me of disappointing you, you told me I was a disgrace, it was the same you owe me spiel that Dirk tried pulling on me.

Then you dragged me up the stairs, you bruised my arms on the way, then you threw me on a red silken bed and then I felt a furious pain, I could feel your teeth rip through my flesh, you tore my throat open, I mean you shredded right through my neck just like you were an animal.

You pulverized it.

Then you said to me" Now you can belong to me".

'The most frightening thing about this dream is that it was all my fault.

It was my yearning for survival, my insatiable longing and appetite for life and my desire for power that corrupted you.

It was my blood that transformed you into all that fear.

I was so confused cause I didn't realize I was in a dream. So I apologized to you, I told you I understood that it was pain and loneliness that drove you do all those things and I acknowledged that you had changed.

I admitted to you that I loved you and that I believed you were my soulmate".

"Do you still believe that?"

"Yes I do and I still feel it too".

"I'm glad to hear that.

I hope you know that I won't be leaving you alone for even a single moment now.

I shall be your constant shadow from now on in.

I feel terribly guilty because I could have prevented this, I should have stopped this from happening and I didn't.

I failed you".

"No you didn't fail me, what happened was not something you could not have prevented. I'm the one that is to blame.

I'll take responsibility for this.

Honestly I could have prevented this myself but I sent you away, I put myself at risk because of my stubbornness and my injuried pride."

"It's your fault that you were assaulted?

Something about that doesn't sound right.

You didn't ask for this, you had no idea that such a horrible thing like this would occur.

You needed your space, you deserve that but meanwhile someone violated your space during the night, you shouldn't blame yourself for the violence of others.

You aren't responsible for people's actions, you can only control your own actions.

Now I need to attend to your neck and then there's your sight.

I admit I can be cruel at times but this is beyond my capabilities of cruelty."

I nearly jolted because his lips caressed my own, the sensation felt like the touch of tulips, wet with the luke warm morning dew.

"Can you see me now?"

"No, all I see is a fuzzy glimmer of a light. It's like street lamp that's swallowed up by the fog".

"Don't use your eyes.

Use your mind instead.

Open the doors of your mind, hear my voice, allow your mind to run towards it.

Listen with your heart, open your heart to this light, your heart is free, outstretch the wings of your soul, there are no chains and no fetter, the door to this cage is open, escape it, flee, Escape the darkness. You're stronger than the darkness, you're stronger than the blindness of evil, break free from it's grip, over power it, crush it, grind ot beneath your feet, grind it dust. Light is forever, darkness is only temporary.

Reach out and hold onto this light, you are one with this light, you are the light, let it enter you, don't fight it, don't hesitate to embrace it.

You love this light, it is a treasure, treasure it and cherish it.

This is your best friend.

Now open your eyes".

It was then I realized that the light had been the soft blue glow of his eyes.

"I can see. How did you do that?"

"I didn't do anything, silly, you did it all yourself.

I just guided you through it, you had the power, I merely helped you focus and channel this power.

You know I believe you might actually be magic afterall."

"I told you I was."

I lazily directed a unimpressed look towards him.

"Yes you did.

Now whatever shall I do with the one who's actually responsible for this?"

"Well since he's already cursed, there's no point in cursing him again. Wait is it even possible to curse someone again?"

"There's no laws against it, of course demons don't follow the rules that well, so there aren't many rules out there that can be used to control us.

There used to be actual laws at one time but i think Satan either forgot them or he did away with most of them.

So it's possible to curse a soul twice yet as you said there's really no point in cursing him again.

I'm curious though, about what curse he's under.

Maybe the book shall enlighten me. Tell me all there is know about Dirk Wastrum, more specifically I'd like details about his family curse and how it effects him... please".

I heard the book rustle swiftly and it opened to a specific page for Dwindle to read.

"The Wastrum Curse is a incorruptible curse which means spells of healing will have no effect on it, nor can blood hexes separate it from its host.

It must be replaced by another curse in order for it's removal to be successful.

The curse must either be absorbed by another soul or it must be taken on by another demon.

The Shadow should not be allowed to roam free in any manner, it must be put in a organic vessel immediately or or must become one with a demon who has a willing heart.

I suppose there is a point to cursing him again afterall, however on the Bright side it looks like I'll be inheriting a new shadow."

"You can have more than one?"

"Of course, the amount of shadows a demon can have is infinite.

It's a defense mechanism, we have our shadows so we can escape certain dangerous situations like for instance if I wanted the trap of a warlock, I could escape the enchanted vessel by merely using my shadow, I'd simply swap places with my shadow, then I'd be free.

This shadow isn't like your own, this shadow of mine, is alive and it's very powerful, it's very difficult to subdue even when it's contained within a magical vessel.

However removing your shadow is not something you want to fo that often.

Shadows tend to cause chaos in the real world and since they are sentient beings they are often very creative, extremely intelligent and they are incredibly stubborn, so they don't take orders very well, they hardly take suggestions.

They will only listen to the commands of it's Master which is the demon in which it belongs to.

Shadows are very much a part of a demon, so removing it, can potentially drain a demon if it isn't removed correctly.

It has to be done slowly or it can be painful or it can cause the demon to be vulnerable for indefinite amount of time.

Oh shit, I wasn't supposed to tell you that."

"Why?"

"Shadows are meant to be a mystery, they have been kept a secret from humans for countless millenniums.

Of course there were a few humans who figured it all out, there have been numerous warlocks and wizards that mastered the art of summoning shadows themselves.

That's why the Wastrum family line was cursed, Walrick Wastrum found out not only how to summon shadows but how to create them.

The shadows made him unstoppable but there was a young woman known as Lore that was immune to the powers of his shadows and eventually she was able to defeat him.

Lore was the first Shadow Slayer to ever be recorded in history.

You see shadows are energy vampires, they drain energy and they can eventually drain the life force out the person to the point of death.

Lore had this peculiar ability to recover her life force at such a incredibly rapid rate she literally would take no damage, during battle.

She could also absorb shadows abilities, so she was given the name Demon Eater.

There are Shadow Eaters that still exist, they often will keep a few shadows as companions or pets, so nowadays they are referred to as Shadow Tamers.

There's not much need for their services these days because shadows normally stay attached to demons, or they live in other alternative realities and other alternative dimensions. Any questions"

"Well that's very interesting but I still don't understand why Walrick Wastrum was cursed".

"He misused the knowledge that was passed down to him.

He misused his power, he had to be subdued".

"So the curse subdued him".

"Yes, it has served to subdue every one of his descendants."

"If that's the case, I don't think it would be wise to remove that shadow from him."

"Why? I won't even have to sacrifice one of my shadows to remove it.

You know shadows can enable us to be in more than one place at once.

We can send our shadows out on missions and they will return after the job is done.

It's like having a mini me, do all the work for me."

"If this curse is subduing him, if you remove it, it's quite possible he'll be a lot worse than he is now."

"I know this but that's what the second curse is for, the second curse will be sure to subdue him permanently.

I will design it to be very constrictive, so he'll be weaker, far weaker than before.

Would you like that?"

"I thought the curse he has was supposed to do that".

"Yes it was but now it has failed to do it's job.

It has to do with genetics and as you know a lot can change after several generations.

So I'm not lifting this curse for the sake of his family, I'm lifting the curse for you because clearly it has become a danger to you.

If the shadow of Swerva is indeed attached to him then these marks weren't inflicted by mere mortal hands.

Don't you see?

Oh it makes so much sense now.

At first i thought Dirk came in here himself but now i see the shadow of his curse was here, the shadow did this to you.

Oh no, that means he's using the curse to his advantage.

He's not just using it, he controls it.

That's sick that's so twisted, he's developed a immunity to it, he's feeding off of it."

"Okay, but what has he to gain from doing this?"

"Why does a man beat a woman?

For control, they use violence to keep the woman in line, that's all this is.

He was angry for you standing up to him, so this violence was no doubt intended as a display of power. He wanted to intimidate you, scare you into submission, he was trying to trick you into believing he's stronger than you are."

"If he's that powerful that he can control a shadow just to penetrate my dreams at night, that night terror blinded me, it almost broke bones, it bruised me and it nearly destroyed ny throat and my neck was nearly a disaster, I don't think i can defeat him again especially if there is magic involved.

I can't overpower a shadow, I'm not a shadow tamer or a shadow eater, I'm only one human."

"You are more powerful than you think, if you can turn the heart of a demon fron eternal darkness than you can handle fighting a shadow.

If you don't face him, Splendor, Dirk will follow you even to the very ends of the earth, don't run from danger like he has, be brave and don't allow him to subdue you.

Don't be intimidated by him.

Don't let fear overcome you and besides you won't be alone, you'll have me by your side and I will fight for you and I will defend you".

"I am still scared though.

What if he does call that doctor?

What if I get dragged away to that terrible place again?"

"No, I won't let that happen, Splendor. You survived Morningside didn't you?

Yes you survived, so you'll survive this as well.

Don't doubt yourself, you can do this."

"Are we going to do that tonight?"

"You want that pesky shadow of his interfering with your career do you?

You want that thing roaming around the studio, following you to all those random locations,

causing chaos and havoc wherever it goes?"

"No not particularly. I just don't know if I'm ready for this just yet".

"Oh but that shadow is ready, just wait till it starts feeding on you every night, he'll have won after that.

Just go down there and get it over with."

"Where do I start? I mean what do i do? How do i do this?

What's next?"

"Start by talking to him.

Yes just go talk to him, get him talking, maybe something vital will just slip, he might even give us some answers, just distract him for me and I'll do the rest".

"Great you're using me as bait.

I really like this plan".

I snidely remarked.

"No you're going to him, you aren't bringing him to you, so you aren't the prey, so you have the upper hand.

He only has a shadow, you have a full fledged demon on your side, not everyone has a demon as back up, so what could go wrong?"

"Are you crazy? A lot can go wrong.

If that shadow fails he can always use his own hands just to strangle me.

I mean you remember what he tried to do out in the car.

What if tries to do that again?

Do you know he's wanted for murder, Dwindle?

So if he wants to murder me, he'll just do it, he probably won't even bat an eyelash, that's how evil he is".

"No one is going to be murdered today.

I'll make sure of it.

Now go, I'll be right behind you".