Awakening - 2

A red stream trickled forth. Sputum and mucus interlained with the Red. The face contorted in agony and with it, a twisted pleasure of what had occured. Misery and contempt racked the features, the eyes welled forth with tears. I withdrew myself. And gazed down upon the thing that lay before me. Truly it was a waste. A waste of my efforts.

I turned to my fellows who had watched the unfolding spectacle. Hardly the work of an artist at all. I scoffed at the creature, its blood still wet on my hands.

I reached my fingers up to my mouth and ran my tongue over the the tips. Bitter. Iron. Warm. I spat it back out.

"Truly. Humans are disgusting."

Laughter.

"An Archon deserves something with a richer aroma. Bring me one of the new servants."

The Doors open, two of the Altairic came through, eyes dim. Hearts cold. They carry a fresh Servant. It is different. Smaller. Stranger. Its eyes are bright. Much brighter.

"Yes this one..."

A 'Female' was it? A female yes. With ears of Point and hair of red. The skin that enraptured it was warm to the touch, softer than the last. I ran my tongue up its neck. Its taste was far richer than the thing that I had soiled myself with.

"And what is it called?"

Another Be-winged figure lights down next to me, large eyes. Feathers drift down. Robes cover its skin. Its golden skin.

The Winged Thing speaks to me, its voice like syrup, pouring honeyed words into my ear; "My Archon, it is a Elvaran. We have made them to replace your worn out servants."

I run my fingers through its hair. It is soft like freshly spun silk. It recoils from my touch.

Anger. Annoyance.

I strike it. It's head flips to the side. A red stream. So much red.

Its makes a noise. So Pitiful. The escape of air from its lungs. It then goes silent, it goes limp.

"It... it is broken."

The Altairic at its sides give it a shake, it flops like a broken doll.

"How pitiful. To break so easily... Like glass. To release so much red so easily. I want more of them. Make me more."

The Winged creatures laugh, feathers glide softly down, I catch a few in my outstreched hand, I burn them. The smell is... interesting. This world is so very... exquisite.

A disturbance. Something else.

I turn my head. I face East. The Winged ones alighting the Gallery follow my eyes. A great feeling. Something has just invaded my Garden. I close my eyes. My mind reaches out, out across the Palace, out into the passageways, the frightened eyes of the Servants that huddle in the Warrens I give them. The Glowing Soldiers that await my commands, out further Further. Beyond the Walls, out into the city, the Human Rabble consort and dance and work and play for my amusement. Dirty. Further Look Further. My mind goes even further, beyond the city, Into the forests. Into the old places. Places where my Light does not reach yet.

Something. Darkness. Anger. Pain. Misery. Torment. HATE. ANGER. RAGE. PAIN. HATE. PAIN RAGE HATE HATE HATE HATE- HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTEEEEEEE-------

My mind recoils, the red assaults my eyes, I cover my ears with my hands. The Gallery is full of a chorous of screams, feathers fall. Bodies fall. They moan on the ground.

What was that!?

"What was that thing!? A presence in my Garden! A mind so strong, so angry - what is this thing?!"

Something had invaded my Garden. Something Dark. Something so full of hate. I... smiled. I couldn't wait to meet it. I couldn't wait to break it. I couldn't wait to violate its soul and drink its Red and feast on its mind and find its hate and turn it into fear.

"SILENCE!"

The Gallery silences. A few sobs. The Phelites. Pitiful. Without my focus they would be little more than scavengers.

"Summon my Captains! Summon my Heroes and Champions! Find me that Dark Thing, Find it and Bring it to me!"

The Gallery alights with a burst of wind, the Phelites take flight, heading out into the alcoves and passageways, heading into the city, arms outstrechted, Light following them on their wings. They Sing to the people below, the People look up, even the Servants and Elvaran look up with wistful eyes. Heroes and Champions, Captains and Soldiers all rise to follow...

I run my long tongue over my lips. I cant wait.

-

Coughing. Pain. The Air stings the lungs. The flesh burns. The Creature stirs. The rain has ceased. It slowly manages to rise itself up. Pushing down with its arms, it manages to rise to its knees. Smoke rises from its body. It manages to turn its head back to the way it came, the Gateway has crumbled. The ground around the Gateway has been burned with fire, the grass and trees are dead and rotten.

The Creature tries to stand. But it is no use, there is no strength left in the body. The eyes close. A face appears. It burns with a flash of Light. It burns the eyes, it sears the mind. The Minds within scream at this sight. A face of terrible beauty, contorted in a hungry smile, tongue across lips.

It is sickening. The Creature vomits forth. Its stomach is empty, only acid pours forth. It burns the throat. It burns the senses. It stains the ground. The Creature pushes itself up. Anger lends it strength. It has slept enough. It stands upon its feet.

And that was my second day.