I feel that this requires a bit of an explanation. First, this takes place concurrently with the last chapter. I believe it’s pretty apparent, but I wanted to expressly say that just to make sure it wasn’t confusing. Second, this came out completely different than I had originally planned. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
There is a rather large amount of blood in his chapter. I used the word blood 26 times, and that doesn’t even include the times I called it something other than blood. If that bothers you, you may not want to read it. Oddly enough, there is almost no violence in the chapter. There is no other way to explain this character without referencing blood, unfortunately.
Speaking of that character, I’m finally introducing the final main character of the story. Waiting seven chapters to do that may have been a mistake, but better late than never. He has actually appeared before this, but this is the first time he has been formally introduced. He comes across a lot stranger than I originally intended, but hopefully his behavior will make more sense in future chapters.
Part 7
Michael covertly watched Traveler and Sara from atop one of the rugged spires that dominated the terrain. He had no idea how they had been able to follow him. Modred had insisted that the transportation spell would take him to a place no one could follow. Clearly, it had not worked.
Still, he wasn’t worried. The pair didn’t know where he was. If they did, he was certain they would have pressed their advantage. The onus was on him to strike. He was patient beyond his years and he would wait for the most opportune time.
According to Modred, the dimension was inhabited by a group of bestial mimics. With luck, Michael hoped the creatures would do his work for him. The man was expendable – they could tear him apart for all he cared. The girl was another matter. Modred needed her blood. It didn’t matter whether she lived or died, but he forbade Michael from spilling even a drop of her precious blood.
Michael closed his eyes and let out a soft moan. The thoughts of blood triggered an irresistible sensation through his body. The thought sickened him, but he found himself unable to control his urges.
A deep rumbling pulled Michael from his unwanted reverie. His red eyes snapped open in surprise as he felt the spire he crouched atop slowly begin to shift. Frantically he grabbed the edge of the outcropping to try and stabilize himself.
As the shifting slowly ceased, Michael peered over the rocky edge to the ground below. Destruction and turmoil greeted his gaze. The chalky red ground had opened into a great chasm, creating a hole that stretched into the darkness beneath the surface.
A devious smile spread across Michael’s face as he saw the truth behind the destruction. Traveler scurried about the devastation like an ant. Even from his vantage point, he could see the concern on the man’s face. The collapse was the perfect distraction. He could take them both before they knew what had happened.
Blood began to rush out of Michael’s right arm. Rather than drip to the ground, the viscous liquid unnaturally swirled and gathered about his hand. The bloody sphere languidly unraveled, creating a long, thin rope. Supported by the ghastly tendril, Michael silently repelled down from the towering spire.
His feet touched down on the rocky soil with a muffled crunch. Without delay, he crept slowly around the imposing promontory. He had to choose his moment properly. He would only get one chance and he didn’t wish to throw away his advantage.
Rounding the corner, Michael was crestfallen. His advantage had already been spoiled. In the short time it had taken him to descend the tower, the pair had already escaped the deep chasm. He could only watch as they steadily fled the area.
Michael cursed under his breath as his quickened his pace. Modred needed the girl and he would not let this opportunity go to waste. He still had the element of surprise and he fully intended to use it.
After only a few steps Michael skidded to a halt, confusion clearly etched upon his face. Curiously, his gaze shifted to the cave-in next to him. He looked back to the rapidly disappearing pair as he began to realize the truth.
A devious grin slowly spread across his face. It wasn’t Sara. It was painfully obvious to Michael, yet Traveler seemed oblivious to the deception. Modred’s plan was working just as he said it would, Michael noted appreciatively.
Sara’s blood called to him like no one else’s ever had. Michael had always been sensitive to the blood of others, yet she was different. Her blood filled his head with a dizzying sense of fear and desire that infuriated him. It was irresistible.
“She belongs to Modred,” Michael stated quietly to himself as he breathed deeply. He couldn’t afford to lose control – not when he was so close.
Suppressing the unwelcomed urges, Michael turned his attention away from Traveler and the deceitful mimic that accompanied him. His prey was underground.
No longer caring about discretion, Michael leapt into the crevice. He landed with a thud, sending dust and debris into the air. His unique abilities protected his body from the force of the fall.
Michael found himself in a wide, dark tunnel. From this vantage point it became clear that the roof of the tunnel had collapsed, sending Sara into its dark depths.
She was near, Michael noted as he paused to allow his eyes to acclimate to the darkness. He could feel the pull of her blood further down the tunnel. The gentle pulsating of the call assured him that she still lived.
There was no time to dally. Sara’s blood wasn’t the only one he could sense. Michael knew the vicious creatures that inhabited the tunnels were all around. Their dirty, polluted blood gave Michael a headache. He would not allow them to steal his prize.
Michael moved down the dark, slightly sloping path. As he walked blood began to rush down his arms once more. The blood on his left arm flowed around his fingers, forming a set of long, vicious looking claws. To his right, the sanguine liquid shifted into a long curving blade. He hoped to capture the girl without a struggle, but he wanted to be prepared.
His hopes for simplicity were shattered by the low growling of a nearby mimic. Michael could not see the creatures. The darkness and its natural camouflage rendered it invisible to his eyes. It could not hide from his other senses. The foul blood that flowed through its veins left an unmistakable trace.
Michael slowed his pace slightly as he monitored the creature as it scurried along the wall beside him. Lashing out suddenly, Michael slammed his left hand into the creature’s thin body, pinning it to the wall with his bloody claw. The small, dog-like creature thrashed about wildly as its camouflage fell away. Hastily, Michael thrust his makeshift blade into the creature’s skull, ending its erratic movements.
Michael reeled backwards, letting the creature’s lifeless body fall to the ground. Its blood had mixed with his own, filling him with a severe nausea. Bracing himself against the wall of the tunnel, he closed his eyes as the impurities filtered out of his bloodstream.
Taking a deep breath, Michael turned his attention back to his search. He knew she was close and he couldn’t allow such a minor inconvenience to distract him.
He did not have to wait long. Within seconds he found the object of his search. Sara lay, unmoving, on the hard stone floor of the tunnel. The collapse appeared to have flung her down the slope until her body had come to a rest against a large rock.
“Alive and unconscious,” Michael said quietly to himself with a smile. “Perfect!”
Michael knelt down beside the motionless woman. Eagerly, he reached out to her, rolling her body onto her back.
Catching a glimpse of her face, Michael reared back, his eyes wide. A scarlet stream of blood poured from a small gash on her forehead. His breath caught in his throat as the tantalizing sheen of the blood filled his mind with disturbing thoughts.
Hesitantly, Michael reached out to the girl once more. His hand stopped inches from the mesmerizing blood. He swallowed hard as he struggled to ease his trembling hand. Modred had forbid him from touching even a drop of her blood, yet the voices in his mind urged him forward. They needed her blood just as much as Modred did.
Taking a deep breath, Michael lightly touched the stream of blood. Upon his touch, the warm blood began to seep into his finger. He shuddered slightly as the liquid mingled with his own, filling him with a feeling he had never know before.
He soon found himself overwhelmed. Frantically he pulled his hand away from her face. Backpedaling wildly, Michael found himself on the ground. His heart pounding frenetically as he struggled to breathe.
Michael desperately tried to understand what had happened as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The blood had filled him with an unimaginable pain and sickness. Yet, he felt better than he had ever felt before. He had felt a sense of clarity and freedom that he had never experienced. He needed to feel it again. He needed to know what she had done to him.
As his heartbeat slowly returned to normal, Michael crawled back to Sara. He found himself relieved to see that she had not regain consciousness. Taking another deep breath, Michael reached for her pale forehead once more.
“Get away from her!”
The command reverberated throughout the tunnel, shocking Michael back to reality. Turning to face the sound, he quickly realized his mistake. He had lingered too long, allowing Traveler to find them. He had no time to dodge the shining bolt of purple light that streaked towards him.
The blast flung him deeper into the tunnel. Slowly he stood. His body felt weak and his mind was clouded from the contact. He knew there was no way he could fight. Frustrated, he began to run deeper into the tunnels. He couldn’t afford to allow Traveler to defeat him.
As he ran, Michael peeked over his shoulder. Thankfully, Traveler had not pursued him. Instead, he saw him kneel protectively next to Sara before the two vanished from sight.
Slowing his pace, Michael stared down at his finger. It still tingled from the girl’s blood. Letting out a deep sigh, he pulled his thoughts away from Sara. He would have to explain his failure to Modred, an idea that he did not relish.
Log in to comment