Evmor: The Calling

Chapter 16

Thank you for being patient waiting for this chapter. I did my best to update as soon as I could. Hope you enjoy this one and I'll go right away to work on the next :)

Chapter 16

The next few days were horrible.

I was never left alone, constantly with someone who would hover nervously around me. I was forbidden to leave my room, to even leave my bed, and I was officially banned from all kinds of physical activity under strict orders from Marco. I wasn’t even allowed to go watch the soldiers train despite my urgent need of a distraction.

Every night I was jerked awake by a nightmare. I sometimes dreamt of losing the ring all over again, watching myself hand over the ring to Erebus while I screamed at myself to stop from the inside. I dreamed of the demons as well as Rocco, staring at me with unmistakable disappointment.

But the worst of them all was the nightmare of the Atramentos taking full reign over Evmor. It was very similar to the nightmare I used to get before everything, before I found out about Evmor. But instead of a single kingdom burning up in flames, it was the entire world. Blood and demons overflowed the alleyways and streets, thick black smoke rose like serpents into the sky, and on the top of everything sat Erebus, sneering down at the destruction.

On his hand glinted a ring, its once clear blue gem tarnished into a murky black.

Exercising was my only form of distraction and I trained again on the fifth day, secretly in my room when no one was here. I winced at every motion I made and my movements were too stiff, afraid I would reopen my wounds. I twisted around this way and that, spinning the twin daggers in my hands. As I whirled around, dodging an imaginary sword, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

And then I saw Erebus.

He was there, sneering at me like he did in so many of my dreams. I immediately lost my footing and was sent crashing to the floor, my knees knocking painfully against the marble. I scrambled back away from the mirror until my back hit a wall and I continued to stare, my breath coming in short gasps.

With a furious and terrified scream, I flung my dagger at the mirror. It struck the glass and cracks fissured out from the center then the entire glass shattered and collapsed to the ground.

I was sobbing freely now, clawing at myself to rid the feeling of betrayal and failure. Adalia and Harriet rushed in, pausing when they saw the shattered mirror and me sobbing on the ground. Then they glided their way further in, settling themselves down cautiously next to me. Their slim arms enveloped me in a hug and a new wave of tears washed over me.

The next few days were a repetition of similar breakdowns.

Every night I went to bed clutching desperately onto the promise I made to Rocco.

I promise, I thought. This wasn’t the end. I would get the ring back. Or I would take down the Atramentos with me.

Deciding all these days of being pampered and traumatized was enough I determinedly dragged myself out of the bed, wincing slightly as my still tender injuries pulled. I found my wounds had healed sufficiently, most of the small ones now only a shimmery white scar against my skin. The burns from the demon blood on my face, neck, as well as my wrists, were practically gone. I silently thanked Marco and his ways of healing. I twisted around to look at my back and grimaced at how much of my back was covered bruises.  At least all of them had faded to a greenish yellow. The only real scar that remained was the one on my leg and abdomen.

I ran my finger along the raised angry line of red on my stomach. It was rough and bumpy, and I shuddered at the memory at how the demon’s claw had dug itself in. The scar on my leg looked very much the same only it resembled more of a puncture wound: a perfectly round scar, its surface shiny and tender. I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone but I was worried. I got cramps often on that leg, or sometimes it would just give out from under me. I tried to dismiss it as the result of not using my muscles for almost two weeks, but couldn’t stop the worry gnawing at me.