The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

14 - A Place of Safety

No pain. No anything. It's all gone. Now what?

Perhaps I don't want to know.

She recalled the horror of her final moments. The look of heart-rending despair in Lorcan's eyes. What good had it done to reach him? No good at all. There had been others nearby, she was sure of that. Angry, shouting voices. It didn't matter now.

Nothing mattered. It was all gone.

No, it was all still there. She was gone.

Now what happens?

Her eyes manged to focus on the gloom of her surroundings. She stood in a large cavern. A pale, red light shone through large cracks in the stone above her, the source of it unknown. A path led through lush, abundant foliage, drawing her attention to a large oak tree at the far end of the cavern.

Of course. What else did you expect?

She walked slowly along the path, dreading what she expected to happen.

Judgement. The Plains or the Abyss. Or neither.

As she neared the tree, two figures came into view. This isn't right. The Twins are golden haired and beautiful. I've seen paintings, gilded statues...

"Are we not beautiful?" hissed a harsh, scratching voice. "Are we not what you expected to see?"

The figures were draped in billowing, transparent red cloth that did nothing to hide the shining white of their grinning skulls, empty eye sockets staring at her with an unnerving blankness. The material showed skeletal ribs and arms, but instead of legs, each Twin floated on a column of black smoke that tapered away to nothing as it reached the ground.

Was this what I expected?

Arianna opened her mouth to speak, but found that nothing would come out. She clutched at her throat in panic.

"No words are necessary, pretty one," said the voice, the sound of it like something probing her mind with sharp claws. "We'll find what we want to know."

"Much to know," cackled another voice, lower pitched than the first, but just as unpleasant. "Prideful, lustful-."

"Not all consuming," interrupted the first voice. "Not enough to judge either way."

"Such privilege," said the second. "She knows there is suffering in the world, but what does our Princess do to aid her people?"

"Smiles sweetly," said the first. "Gives out scraps and expects them to be glad of it. All superficial. Tries to ease her conscience. Cries herself to sleep over the old soldier who calls a gutter his home, or the mother, clinging to her child because she won't believe that he's dead. Tears, and little more. What good is she?"

What more am I supposed to do? She wanted to shout. I have little money of my own. Nothing else to give them!

The Twins turned to each other, cackling with laughter. Arianna felt the crushing weight of dread on her chest, certain that she was bound for the Abyss. The pressure grew worse, and was joined by a cold sensation, spreading across her skin like cold water.

The chill sank into her body, creeping through her veins. She tried and failed to scream, as the cold turned to pain, creeping to every part of her body. She fell to the ground, clawing desperately at her arms, attempting to expel whatever it was that was causing this.

Not whatever, whoever.

The pain abated, and she was aware of the presence of someone else inside her, a cruel violation of every part of her body. Was this part of the Judgement? She looked up at the Twins, who regarded her with detached curiosity.