Wizards

CHAPTER 30: Wizards, Monsters, and The Blood Witch

The stench of blood that stained every stone, in the roads, in every gutter, in the walls of every building reached Eliot's nose as he pushes the manhole cover in the center of what appears to be the city's square.

     Bodies of men and women, wearing black robes and the others red, lying lifeless on the ground, flooding the gutters with their blood. White stones were covered with splashes of red. Eliot turned everywhere, staring at the evidence of a wild fight between these groups of people lying on the ground.

     "At exactly five minutes, the attack will begin," said Morrigan, ascending from the manhole after Eliot. "We need to reach Rei, or get closer at least."

     Morrigan dusted off her brown jacket and looked up at the tall black tower further at the north. "Rei's up there," she said.

     Eliot and Morrigan started running. Their feet stomped the bricked ground and it only went faster as they further until they had a clear view of the tower. Eliot stopped.

     "What's the matter?" Morrigan asked.

     "It's strange," said Eliot, "There's no one in the city."

     "Now that you've mentioned it. . . ."

     An explosion started shaking the ground, it came from different directions.

     "They're here," said Morrigan.

     Eliot and Morrigan stood their ground, waiting for an immediate response from Niflheim and his men. But there was only silence after the explosion. No response.

     Nothing, thought Eliot.

     But — a movement. The bodies lying on the ground moved, rolling over the gutters, lifting their heads — groaning.

     Eliot and Morrigan started running again, faster, straight ahead to the cursed Black Tower. As they get closer, some of the bodies started to move a little bit faster. The dead bodies started opening their eyes.

     "We need to move faster!" Morrigan said.

     It felt like they were running for more than an hour now. Their knees started to ache, their bodies started to feel heavier, their lungs were almost out of air.

     Eliot noticed Morrigan starting to slow down, so he grabbed her arm. "We have to keep going, Morrigan," he said.

     The dead started to move, reaching for the sky, reaching for them. Only now did Eliot notice the blood on the engraved lines on the city ground flowing was coming from the Black Tower. Some of the bodies started growing spikes; either that or those were bones stabbing their way out of their bodies.

     They ran past each dead body which was moving quite slowly until they reached the wretched tower.

     "Lord Sangderoi's last defense," said Morrigan. "He used the same tactic when the Rebellion cornered him in this tower. . . . He turned his own people to monsters like these."

     By the time they reach the doors of the Black Tower, the people of the Blood City already turned into something they're not. Not monsters. But rather enhanced. Bones overgrew their bodies, fangs almost reached their eyes (which were as red as blood), and their screams, — even their presence — made even Morrigan shiver.

     Parts of the Blood City were sparking with jets of spells from the Casters. Eliot could hear the screams already — both by rage and cowardice.

     "Go!"

     Eliot looked at Morrigan, making sure if it was her who spoke.

     "She needs you," she continued, "I'll hold them off."