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Chapter 35
The Offering
Amori was laid upon the Engraved Stone, bound and tied so that she was unable to move. Coming to Amori waited a moment for her pounding headache to dissipate. As soon as it did she tested the strength of what it was that held her down, but it wouldn’t budge in the least bit. Trying to calm herself as panic and adrenaline began to rise up in her, she tried feeling out with her fingers what it was that she had been placed on. All she could tell was that it was hard, cold, and wet. That being a testament to why the back of her pajama top and legs was near almost completely soaked through. She did know one thing for surer she was in the inside of a cave. After another minute or so she began to try and free herself again, when the humming began, this time stronger than ever. Hearing soft foot falls; Amori strained her neck so that she could look in that direction. What she saw was a woman drawing near to her. The long flowing gown that the female wore showed off her flawless figure, the thing was what Amori assumed some kind of silk like fabric. Her hair was raised somewhat on her head, but that did not stop her long hair, a deep gold, from swinging well past her waist.
Amori just about started to beg this woman to free her, but as she made eyes contact to do so she knew that the deed would be pointless.
The closer the woman drew the stronger Amori could feel the presence of another, just before a voice smooth as silk and sweet like honey whispered in her ear, “And the Gate shall be opened, those that denied him his reign shall feel the burn of his fire. He will pour out his glorious anger and wrath upon all who would not follow him, thus shall be the time, the time with which Negel returns.” And though the voice soothed her physically, the words brought a pain to her spirit that she did not comprehend. Soon that pain burned out the balm of the sweet laden venom. Such so that from her bare feet to the top of her head she began to feel a burning, it was a fire so great consuming her.
As the woman raised her right hand up above her head, Amori saw that each of her fingernails were fashioned like claws. Then as the nameless woman began to speak Amori heard from her mouth a voice that she knew was not the girls own.
“The Offering shall be made, the flower given over to him who roams in the night. The offering shall be made, the sacrifice bled upon the Engraved Stone.”
“Stop!” Damalis stayed with her hand raised while Negel turned to the offending voice; it was the Daughter of Light. His smile was dangerous; the Keeper’s pet was now here.
“You cannot stop the prophecy, but your impending death is welcomed.” Turning from Amori he pulled out a double edged sword, ready to kill the intruder. When a thought of how to do something even worse came to him, looking to Morgan and then Damalis, he whispered once more in their ears.
Leora noted the direction in which the Dweller was looking, just as Morgan stepped up behind her.
Lowering her hand Damalis made her way to where he stood, Leora following each of them, her senses on high alert.
Stopping once she was at Morgan’s side Damalis leaned into him. “You’re a fool Leora, did you believe that you would truly be able to win his heart.” Damalis slid her hand up Morgan’s chest and to his cheek, turning his face towards her. Lifting onto her tiptoes she kissed him.
Pulling back she peered at Leora through lidded eyes, “You see, he was never meant to be yours.”
A burning so deep that Leora didn’t know to where it had come arose in her, at the sight of this wench touching her chosen. With a speed and ferocity that Damalis had not been expected Leora struck. The force of the impact sent the three flying out of the mouth of the cave, with Leora and Damalis going farther than Morgan. Grappling with Leora Damalis tried to find a hold. But tapping into her supernatural strength Leora took hold of the weaker woman’s arm. Trying to free herself Damalis clawed at Leora’s face. Within the haze of red that she was seeing through Leora jumped into the air shifting forms, and released Damalis’ arm only to take hold of it once more in her talons. Ripping at the flesh there Leora lifted Damalis up before dropping her back to the rocks below. Heading in for another attack Leora was taken off guard. Morgan charged her bringing her to the ground; the impact knocked her out of unbound form.
As his feet hit the ground Morgan tossed Leora bodily back into the cave, he himself following close by. Hitting the wall adjacent to the Engraved Stone, Leora then dropped to the stone floor. Moving towards her like a lion stalking his prey Morgan drew closer to her. Shaking her head to try and get rid of the black dots that were blurring her vision, she made a move to roll away as he reached for her, but was unable. His hands found purchase around her neck. As her head was slammed into the hard rock surface beneath her Leora saw an explosion of colors. Pain followed closely after, working its way through each of her limbs. Fighting to keep consciousness Leora gave one last effort. Tapping into her unearthly strength one last time, she maneuvered herself in till she was able to grab hold of Morgan. She dug her growing nails into his arm. Slamming her head back against the floor he let out a howl of pain before letting her go. Releasing Morgan, Leora laid there for a moment her head ringing. It took her a second to realize that the last blow hand knocked her out of her shifting forms. Gaining her sense she changed to unbound form flying at Morgan talons first.
Morgan was snapped out of the Dweller’s hold as searing pain spread through his body. He tried to move his damaged arm but was unable to. Leora had one locked at his side and the other arm she held over his head; both within her vice grip. A growl of pain escaped him as he tried to wrestle her off himself.
Leora held on to him with all that she had until she heard him speak. “Leora get off me!” Letting her hold go, she hopped off of him and took a step back. Without waiting she jumped over Morgan, throwing all her weight at the Dweller, who was still standing over Amori.
Grabbing Amori’s hand he looked into her eyes, though he knew that she was unable to see him. Just as he reached out to place the other hand on her face, he was knocked away by a heavy body. Taken off guard he was sent flying.
Shoving the body from on top of his own Negel took a step back, and saw that it was Leora. Looking to the side he saw Morgan on his knees now, blood staining his shirt and running down the length of both his arms. Trying to reach out into the others mind, he realized that she had freed him. Gazing to and fro, he searched for Damalis but she was nowhere to be seen. Not having the time needed to take hold of Morgan’s mind, Negel pulled out his double edged sword once again. He then focused his full attention on Leora, “Let us end this.”
Leora was not fully prepared for his swift attack, moving back and side stepping she made to move out of the way of the swinging blade. Like lightening the Dweller attacked again this time scoring her flesh. A screech sounded from her mouth as the blade made contact with her outstretched wing, leaving a gaping wound. Pushing through the pain she charged him, the same as she had Morgan. Side stepping her attack, Negel reached out his hand and grabbed hold of her injured wing. With a firm hold on her left wing he yanked her backwards. Pinning her to the floor, he placed a foot on her chest and snapped the wing that he held. The sound of breaking bones resonated throughout the cave.
Blinding pain shot through the entirety of Leora’s body, making her barely register the words that were being spoken. “You thought you could stop me, stop this?” He said gesturing to Amori on the stone. “Call out to the Prince, call out to the one you serve.” Leora tried but couldn’t think through the aching pain pulsing through her. Removing his foot from her chest Negel grabbed her around the neck and lifted her easily into the air, and slung her like a ragdoll to the wall opposite him.
Leora hit it with a yelp, too tired to stay in shifted form. Her own blood matted her hair and made her clothes stick to her body; she looked up as his shadow moved over her.
“Now you die, at the hand of Negel.” Negel raised his sword above his head, as Leora’s eyes widened in remembrance of the man she had met in Aion, he had been truly warning her.
Before the blow fell Leora looked to Morgan then Amori. And as their eyes met she realized that Amori had seen everything that had and was about to occur. The blade descended finding it mark. Leora’s body slumped down on the floor. Her once vibrant eyes now clouded in death. Negel turned to Morgan, the boy was of no use to him any longer, but he had served his purpose well, and for that Negel decided to let him live. With a flick of his wrist the Dweller sent Morgan flying out of the cave mouth, before he turned his attention back to Amori, the Offering.
Amori watched as the Dweller made his way towards her, his movement but a shadow to her natural eyes. A grunt from the entrance of the cave caught both their attentions. Both peered in that direction. Standing on shaky feet Damalis made her way to them, her only focus being Amori.
Moving so that she once again stood the same as she had previously, over Amori Damalis raised her hand her own blood dropping from it.
“The blood shall be spilled and the Gate shall be opened, the sacrifice given and bled upon the Engraved Stone.”
Amori’s heart started beating faster and faster, as she watched Damalis’ hand make its way her wrists. All of a sudden she felt something like a dagger slice into both her wrists. Tears poured from her eyes, lifting her head as much as she could, Amori saw the blood flowing from both the wounds. A hand on her forehead pushed her back down. “It will soon be over.”
Placing the tip of her elongated nail on Amori’s forehead Damalis dragged it lengthwise across. Leaving a deep wound in its wake, before she fell to the ground and breathed her last breath. Amori screamed out in pain at the deep incision before blacking out. The Offering had been made.