The Land of Etherio

My Corruption

Pro: I finally got out of the cage
Con: I was about to die

"I need you to die" the witch said.
This was still registering in my mind when two unsightly little creatures appeared at her side.

The witch parted the root-like bars of my cage with a gesture and her minions entered.I shrieked and backed away but they followed to retrieve me.

They grabbed me by my arms and legs and despite their small stature overpowered me.

They dragged me through the inky blackness and we dove through it. We exited into a dark forest of looming trees gently lit by torches.

All around me shadowy figures of inhuman nature danced in the dark. Some hooded and others bare, their faces contorted in wicked grins.

The creatures, the orcs had taken me to a stone altar. A large circular slab of stone decorated with a five-pointed star and other sigils scrawled in blood.

They lay me in the center, fastened down by shackles forcing my limbs and head into the points of the star.

The creatures howled in excitement as I was being pinned down and they all gathered around me. The orcs retreated into the crowd after successfully binding me.

From the hordes she emerged, the architect of this wicked nightmare. Despite all of her seething evil, she was beautiful with a kind, motherly smile.

She stepped towards me. I struggled in my shackles. She raised a hand and all entities fell silent.

"My children, my kin." the witch began "For too long have we awaited this moment. Finally, the One has been found, the young maiden who shall aid us in our mission".

"I'll never help you" I screamed in defiance.

"My child" she said in her sweet voice "This is your destiny, to aid me in my return. For you see, you have the gift, you're able to see this projection of mine which means you have an affinity for magic of my nature. And so it shall be your responsibility to become my vessel."

Vessel? 

Did I hear that correct? Was I to become her? Consumed by her?

No, never. I would never become her.

"And now, we shall begin the ritual and and welcome my return, the Deep Malevolence" she uttered.

She closed her eyes and suddenly a trembling ensued. The very air burst with excitement, the ground grew unsettled with anxiety.

My ears began to ring and my head started to hurt. The witch started to fade but as she did I felt her presence even more. She was closer, too close, inside of me.

It hurt, a wrenching feeling in my soul. I started to lose my will. The witch was barely visible now. I started to give up........then it came.

Suddenly a large tree had crashed down breaking the silence. The witch had lost concentration and the monsters had panicked. Then a thunderous roar swept the forest almost deafening me.

The monsters were scattered and the witch continued to fade but I didn't feel her. I saw my chance and struggle to break free. A surge of energy flowed through me and in a haze I had destroyed the shackles through some mysterious force.

I quickly scrambled to my feet and ran barefoot through the forest. I turned to face behind me and caught a glimpse of the roaring creature, a human-shaped beast screaming almost like it was......in pain.

The hordes fled and as they did I heard them cry "the beast! The beast of Raven's Edge! ".