Archebold awoke...away from the voices. Away from everyone. His back lay back against a large boulder as his legs stretched from the seated position. He awoke but made no motion to open his eyes. He listened, listened to the faint footsteps that approached him. Listened to the muttered voices...young voices. Male...Female...hunger was great...it felt like ages since he splurged over his rations.
He could feel hands tuck beneath his chin and rest his head back, his hand still holding a lifeless grip to his ivory walking stick. It wasn't until the male of the pair attempted to lift the walking stick, when Archebold shot open his hollow black eyes. A hand shot forward and clasped the young man's neck, cutting off his air and plea for release. Archebold turned to the female as his eyes dilated.
A fanged grin was given as he surveyed the baron lands which surrounded him, he observed the spire and the faint familiarity he felt toward it...he recalled a visionEloise had painted for him...and such recalled a spire stretching out of the earth. "Where...am I...what is this beautiful place?" Archebold asked as his eyes slowly fell to the scared young woman as he toyed with the young man's neck. He offered her a look of sympathy and understanding.
"Dear child...simply answer the question...and I'll release him. You'll be free..."
She attempted to search for the words but they were choked into her throat. The slight hesitation caused a snapping sound as Archebold held the limp body of the young man, his head hanging loosely in his hand before being discarded to the ground. Archebold slowly rose to his feet.
"Don't disgrace your end by attempting to run...stay...embrace the eternity that awaits. I don't have the answers I seek...but...discovery...discovery brings wonder and adventure does it not?" He smiled before taking a sudden step toward her, a finger against her lips to stifle her scream. "Shhhhh....I haven't even begun..." Fangs slithered from his mouth before he lunged toward her neck.
Silence fell...their bodies burned to light the darkness which consumed him. Drained of life and substance, their withered corpses burned brilliantly. "Did you foresee this Eloise?" He asked quietly to himself as he stepped out of a nearby cave and stared out toward the spire.
"Is this the vision you built for me?"
Celosia was nowhere to be found...none were. Did she miss him? Did any of them? The wall was gone, and every bit of distaste that god-forsaken place brought to his lips. Archebold was free. Free from the tyranny of the originals, and the weakness of his general...he was bound no longer...bound he was dangerous but contained...the shackles of his race...broken...fingers tapped along the lion's head knob as he kept his eyes on the spire...he closed his eyes and for a moment, he could swear he heard the hearts of the flock beating...beating in unison...a beacon for him.
He could feel hands tuck beneath his chin and rest his head back, his hand still holding a lifeless grip to his ivory walking stick. It wasn't until the male of the pair attempted to lift the walking stick, when Archebold shot open his hollow black eyes. A hand shot forward and clasped the young man's neck, cutting off his air and plea for release. Archebold turned to the female as his eyes dilated.
A fanged grin was given as he surveyed the baron lands which surrounded him, he observed the spire and the faint familiarity he felt toward it...he recalled a vision
"Dear child...simply answer the question...and I'll release him. You'll be free..."
She attempted to search for the words but they were choked into her throat. The slight hesitation caused a snapping sound as Archebold held the limp body of the young man, his head hanging loosely in his hand before being discarded to the ground. Archebold slowly rose to his feet.
"Don't disgrace your end by attempting to run...stay...embrace the eternity that awaits. I don't have the answers I seek...but...discovery...discovery brings wonder and adventure does it not?" He smiled before taking a sudden step toward her, a finger against her lips to stifle her scream. "Shhhhh....I haven't even begun..." Fangs slithered from his mouth before he lunged toward her neck.
Silence fell...their bodies burned to light the darkness which consumed him. Drained of life and substance, their withered corpses burned brilliantly. "Did you foresee this Eloise?" He asked quietly to himself as he stepped out of a nearby cave and stared out toward the spire.
"Is this the vision you built for me?"
