Seven Sins Committed

6. Wrath

Wandering stained wallpaper hallways, no concrete course in mind. I ventured places my mind desired, the first stop leading me inside the servant quarters. Shrunken heads attached to century old, shriveled bodies decaying into dust littered the immaculate floors. Horrendous odors intense, I wrinkled my nose, bile rising in my throat. I barely told each maid from butler besides the clothes, but I couldn't name one from the other, their faces holding thin masks of leathery skin over brittle bones. The hexes raveling them ended, and they finally rested in peace.

I covered my nose, using my cotton shirt streaked with red hand prints and splotches. Stenches suffocating the air with a thick invisible fog, I escaped quicker than anticipated. Thunder purred contentedly in the distance, rain subsided to light drizzling. Mist sprang where I walked, falling in array directions.

Adrienne's shrieks quieted, but I still heard her savage rants echo throughout the mansion. Death would peck her lips before too long; however, I fretted with my stolen power she'd regenerate.

Shivering despite being a furnace, I rubbed my arms, glancing side to side. The courage drained me of energy, and I wanted nothing more than live in solitude, never return. I considered gathering the mare, but her broken legs were wasted. Considering the servants, I doubted she survived without the magic supply. I picked at my clothes, walking beside rows of clipped trees.

The duchess repeatedly explained if she died, my life would end as well. I wondered why I hadn't keeled over, gagging for oxygen, skin falling in rotted chunks. Mystified, I didn't question long, focused entirely on thinking of a way to successfully escape. Holding my chin, I circled the rose hedges, thinking as I walked. Twinges of pain burned my back, and I felt my skin crawl. My monster was itching to melt completely with my soul; my usual voracious appetite stronger, but I didn't dare want to eat after prior incidents.

Crushing lean twigs, I traversed the bushes, ignoring the thorns ripping at my clothes. My heart thudded loudly, and I wondered if the organ would burst skin. I walked through dampened wheat stalks, feet stepping on mounds of pulp. Fattened grey clouds promising another storm circled the sky like a flock of buzzards. Glancing up, I noticed ravens and a turkey vulture hovering, floating over my head. I wondered if Adrienne called them, pleasuring herself with vivid imaginations of beaks plucking my eyes and claws tearing my flesh. Death wouldn't come easy for me.

Fog shrouding the forest I buried those women the night before loomed invitingly, encouraging me to enter their terrain. I complied, happily enveloping with the shield. My stomach gurgled, and I began debating if the woman buried alive still tasted succulent.

Making the decision to unearth the coffin settled heavily on my mind, giving me determination. I forced aside several brambles when a heavy weight slammed into my chest. Grunting with effort, I reciprocated, shoving blindly back at the invisible force. The mere touch sent me careening backwards, flying into an ancient oak. Leaves shuddered, drifting onto the forest floor.

I slumped down, disoriented, white flashes obscuring my vision. Thankfully, I recovered quickly, the damage didn't effect me as bad unlike the normal human. Growling, the beast raised hell, prowling back and forth, my restraints no longer holding it back.

"The fallen Queen creates beasts," a voice rumbled, carrying throughout the valley. "They complete her bidding, until havoc ruins the land."

Fear sparked the beast, keeping it at bay. However, the other half of me curled my lip back, exposing sharpened fangs I could no longer hide. Blood red eyes glinting underneath locks of hair, I raised my head. "Stay away from me," I snarl softly, more beast than man. I found my feet, leaping into a predatory crouch.

"Many creatures her hands shape, her blood the souls for these beasts. The Holy Christ is almighty, but he can't waste his time perishing the evil of this land." A tall shape appeared from the mist, walking, hands folded in from of them. I smelled a lively man, protected by a light scorching my face. "Guiding me, he sends priests to carry out his biding. They purify the land, heal people in peril."