Stories Of Adyssia

The Forsaken Grounds

"Savaun!" cried an anguished, female voice from within a confined, blackened space, with yellow strips of light sieving from above through horizontal slits. With a loud scream, the darkness shattered apart as the woman struck the wooden barrier with her right hand- splintering it with ease into countless shards. The vampire Narissa, lay on top of a crimson cushion within a sizeable coffin resting inside a small, creaking room. She wore a large coat made from the black fur of a bear, while her equally black hair was drawn up and tied into a knot above her head. Her deathly pale skin was almost as white as snow, while her lips were bloodred and both glassy eyes were almost grey and lifeless.

Vagon, the last cleric of the warlocks, had sent for reinforcements and after promising to help free Nerlim from wherever he may be, Narissa had agreed to sail across the ocean and join her brother Linoq in a siege upon the Remnant fortress.

"Savaun," she wailed softly and squirmed inside the coffin, wincing in pain and waiting for tears that could never come. It had been centuries since she had last seen her youngest brother, and despite the feud simmering between the two over Savaun's reckless behaviour and his role in inciting the Kendirans to move against their father, she suddenly felt a deep longing that hurt worse than an elfin blade to the heart. Shivering as though from cold, Narissa's body shot up from the cushion- rising into the air and then gliding effortlessly out of the coffin. She landed next to it and instantly hunched over, placing a bony hand onto a round table that was subtly swaying back and forth nearby. The small cabin she was in had wooden walls, which bobbed ever-so-slightly, a silver lamp dangling from the low ceiling, casting shadows onto the wood-panelled floor, and a map of the south of Adyssia, resting on top of the table. Narissa dragged her body closer to the table, holding onto it for balance, and planting her face onto the scrawled parchment below, she heard a soft rapping coming from outside the shut door.

"Your highness," said a soft voice quietly, pausing for a reply.

"What is it!" spat Narissa, leaning back and clasping both her arms around her waist as she rocked back and forth while standing.

"We have reached land at last," replied the upbeat voice, forcing Narissa to stand up straight and level her hair. She staggered away from the table and stood in front of a small, round mirror hanging off the wall, and gazed at her reflection- deceitfully youthful and visibly pained. Raising a feline-nailed hand to her eyes and pressing under them gently, Narissa sniffed despite an absence of tears, then, taking a deep breath, she finally turned away and headed for the door.

Outside in the cramped passageway, two female vampires stood at the ready, clad in lavender armour from the neck down and each with an extensive silver blade sheathed around their waist. They kept their long, dark hair twisted in ponytails, and remained standing when Narissa emerged.

"Are we not early?" said Narissa as she extended a hand and pulled the door shut behind her.

"We are, by three days" replied one of the vampires, almost smiling, "Elfin magic truly is a wonder."

"Be wary of it," retorted Narissa quickly, "never forget that it is perhaps the only kind of magic that can kill you."

The two beaming vampires' faces fell and they nodded in unison.

"Listen," said Narissa contritely, "We have travelled a long way and all too often mistakes are made upon arrival. Never forget that she is our prisoner and given the chance she would not show you any kindness."

"Yes, your highness," the two vampires said in chorus with their hands clasped behind their backs.

"We merely found it fascinating that's all," explained one of them, looking down at the floor as though in shame.