As Rathurn Burns.

Chapter 7 : Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo

The journey was torturous . Our legs were sore and our bodies weak. We walked for days. Only stopping twice to sleep . The sleep was not sleep at all. It was like being paralysed in the woods. Left to question our sanity as the sounds of the night surrounded us. Sleep brought us no comfort. It brought forth a new understanding of what we were fighting for. No longer did this feel like walking toward a battle. It was to be the battle. The battle that determined whether there would be any hope for humanity . The fight that would either bring the tenebris to its knees or place them on a throne of gold. So we moved. We would walk through the night. Surrounded by the sounds of howling wolves. We walked till our shoes were worn. When they were worn beyond use we walked with bare feet . We walked as our feet bled . We walked towards what I could only describe to be our certain demise. Yet somehow this made us all the more determined.

We reached Laus. Kaufman tells me I was on the verge of death when we arrived . He says that for four days and 3 nights I was asleep. Sleep. Sleep like the sleep in the woods. This meant that the last four days of my life were dreams. Nightmares . Dreams tainted by the barbarism of those I encountered. Surely this was the work of the tenebris. No devil had the power and sadistic nature it would take to bring these visions upon me. Only the tenebris.

I woke up to find myself in a strange house. One I had never been in before. Consumed by curiosity I wandered around. As I wandered I discovered a Library with works about the true nature of the supernatural. I came across a book that caught my attention. It was in no way captivating because of its physical appearance. It was caked in dust and grime . I assumed it had remained undisturbed for several decades judging from the dust it had collected. I was captivated by the words inscribed on its cover. "Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo".

I heard footsteps approaching . Something inside me knew that this book was not meant for my eyes. I hid it as quickly as I could.

"Heavens! You're awake. We feared you had been kidnapped or worse when we found that you were missing. Are you okay?"

Kaufman spoke rapidly and unclearly. His worry was visible on his face that was now covered in a hard solemn expression.

"I am fine , though I feel the need to ask. Where am I?

"You are in my home child"

The words were spoken by a feminine voice . One I failed to recognise. As the frail , petite lady stepped into the light I realised she had been silently hiding in Kaufman's shadow.

" I am Celestine. I pray that you are alright . Since you arrived you haven't spoken or showed any signs of life. Only the fever gave us hope. The fever also brought worry .Last night you had a fever so high I was certain you would not make it. "

Only they would make me bleed from my eyes as my body was set aflame. Only the tenebris would tear my limbs apart and leave me for dead. Only they would make me watch as my family were brutally slaughtered. Only they would force Kaufman do drive a blade drenched in poison into my back. The tenebris.

I wondered if these were dreams. Were these only dreams or perhaps visions of the future. My only concern was whether or not the tenebris would fall. If they are to fall Kaufman's betrayal will serve as a price paid.

My body was not plagued with a natural disease . I knew it was not a regular illness but poison of the tenebris. I knew Kaufman would worry if I told him the true cause of my pain. So I made no attempt to reveal its true cause.

I just walked back to the room.