Unbroken Curiosity

Chapter 3: The Hive

Lady Lillias of the Pax

"The thing in the dark. Look out!" Donny the wise yelled. Lillias did not see from where it came, only that it moved very fast. It was upon Losain before the Shain could properly react. It howled, swiping at the sergeant with a claw-like hand. Luckily it was only a scratch... A scratch that cut through the Shain's obsidian skin, sending small bloody fragments flying towards the landing party. The impact caused the creature to stumble, its momentum carrying it forward until it stopped beneath Lillias' feet. Her eyes were not on the creature, however. It was on Losain. The Shain looked stunned and confused. His eyes met hers.

"Sergeant." One of his men called before Losain collapsed.

It was Donny that ended the confusion. Without a word, the elf appeared next to Lillias, repeatedly bringing his foot down onto the creature's head until nothing but thick blood reeking of disease remained. The blood splattered against Lillias coal coloured dress. She looked at Donny, angry until he muttered, "Co-Dek."

She did not hesitate then. The Co-Dek. Losain rose to his feet. Through lifeless eyes, the Shain observed the terrified landing party. Lillias's hand rose with instinct as she whispered the word Fragor. At her palm, air and dust turned into a small solid ball that shot towards the Shain a moment later. The ball hit, exploding into an uncountable amount of pieces, throwing the Shain backwards, deeper into the darkness. Now Donny spoke louder and clearer before the howling of a thousand creatures came from the darkness.

"Co-Dek. It's the Codeks. Run. Run." The elf yelled. The others did not hesitate. Not even the pious Lord Cobalt or the men and women of Razor Company. The elf's words inspired a fear unlike Lillias had ever witnessed before. The others made their way towards the rope, with Lillias in the back. Luckily, they had not wandered far from the hole created by the divide. It was only a few meters behind them. The thunderous approach of a thousand Codeks came closer and closer, sending vibrations through the old tunnel. Finally, the others reached the rope but came to an abrupt stop.

"No. No. Fuck!" One soldier then yelled. "The rope... Finnick! Finnick! Drop the rope! Damnit! Drop the fu..." From the divide, a small lump object fell—the body of the dwarf. The creatures were close now, their shadows visible in the faint golden light. Lillias turned to face the creatures. As did Donny. Both Primals lifted their hands and whispered the word Obex. The particles ahead of them began to vibrate violently, creating a volatile invisible wall. When the first of the Codeks jumped from the darkness, it exploded, turning into red mist. Still, the creatures came, mindless and starving, leaping towards Lillias or Donny, exploding.

"Finnick! Drop the rope, please. By the Creator! Please!" One soldier shouted. But there came no reply. Lillias's arms were already getting tired, and her mind clouded. Her golden bracelets became warm as smoke rose from the black and green stones connected to them.

"They won't be able to hold them at bay for much longer!" A childish voice came—the Half-Man, known as Robert.

"Robert is right." Lord Cobalt said. "If we linger here, the Co-Dek will overwhelm us, and we will join their number."

"What do you propose we do, my lord?" A soldier asked.

"Fight as our ancestors fought. Turn the tide, and maybe we will survive!"

Lillias's arms shook as she struggled to keep them in front of her. The other's voices became unintelligible. She struggled to keep her eyes open. Then, the green stone cracked, and Lillias lost consciousness. Her mind swirled. Images of her past returned. Voices, long forgotten, overwhelmed her. "No!" She shouted. Again and again, yet there was no reprieve.