Bred For Extinction

Betrayal?

Cianna's eyes stare hard to the ground, then gently lift to Mochan's stern features as he also raises his vision, "Come, I will show you more, even though your understanding is little. The story ends soon."

They rise, moving to the church. Each step is spent in contemplation, and the night seems to halt its' breath. Mochan still trusts nothing, while Cianna labors with heavy thoughts of the past. Entering the church, all seems barren. Heavy dust covers the floors and small rows of pews. In the front, however, stands the Madonna, clean and white with hands outstretched in loving comfort. Her beauty indescribable as even Mochan is overtaken with warmth and eyes stare in lost reverence. Cianna leads, making her way to the statue and with the gentlest of gestures, does she stoke the statues cheek. It begins to slide away in a circular motion, showing an opening beneath its' base as Cianna once again speaks, "This is my home. You are welcome here."

She slowly glides over to a small alcove that exists in the wall of the church. Here, the prayer candles exists, and as her hand grabs a candle, slowly does she rub thumb and forefinger together, sparking a flame that ignites and catches the wick alive in fire. One candle touches another that is in turn passed to Mochan and the journey is ready to be continued.

Stone steps show age and green moss as movement traverses down, echoes of feet fly as the arch of candlelight spreads showing surroundings that are dusty and dismal. A sob erupts from Cianna's chest, "I hear nothing...not a movement...not a breath...I was promised!" The last remark is soft, yet full of fury and anger as pain dances in her eyes.

Mochan follows in silence, his trust more than before, but hesitation exists in his soul and confidence is not complete. As the soft dirt ground below is reached, the candles carried cast a soft glow across the surroundings, showing off aged bones and skulls that have deteriorated over the decades as they lie half buried in the soil.

"He has raped my world," Cianna's rage is apparent as she barks, hands reaching down to caress a bone that appears no different from the rest. "This will be dealt with...the bastard lied."

Mochan stands puzzled, but knowing his words mean nothing, he simply walks the path that is lead.

"Do you not feel anything? You are so cold wolf. Look at the poor innocents that have been a victim of my stupidity. But this is not a concern to you, is it?"

"Woman, I have eaten more innocents than you could ever imagine. What has happened in your life or even what is to happen...is no concern to me. I care nothing for no one or no thing. Finish the path and deal with your feelings on your own time."

"Oh, rest assured it will be dealt with...and when it is, hell is to pay."

Mochan shrugs nonchalantly at her words, focusing on his own dilemma. "Hell pays nothing, only those that are to go there pay. I think both of us can count on that destiny."

Moving forward, a half-circular room is entered, and what appears to be the end of the journey as Cianna converses once again, "After I was fed upon, I was brought here. So close to death was I, beyond feeling...still, all I heard was the talker's voice asking if I wished revenge. In the end, or perhaps I should say the beginning, I murmured the words that they wished to hear. Revenge was what I wanted. I was re-fed the blood of the silent one, and as I laid here and suffered for what seemed like countless nights as the change took place, I eventually became like him...vampiric in all aspects. You see how it is all such a lie. My kind hides behind religion...religion of all kinds. They offer salvation, yet at the same time, slowly do they bring in the demonic hordes that they, and I, am. The game is so easily played out. I was told that my revenge was simple, and so it was, for in my rage did I rend my one night husband to mere shambles. Yes, him and all his guards were feasted upon until my belly was swollen like a mother with child. But there was a price to pay for my retribution...I was now what they called the Madonna...I was offered a salvation that I had accepted and by doing so, I owed a payment. I had to assist in the spreading of the religion. Under the guise of these false pretenses, was I to make the new religion grow and prosper. With my revenge over, I had no choice but to follow their wishes. Salvation had come to me and I had accepted." She stands strong, but there is something in her statue that shows weakness.

"You say they made you the Madonna...this I do not understand." Mochan's eyes blink and squint at his first semblance of feeling.

"They made me the Madonna...the savior of this land. As prayers came to this statue, I heard them all and did my best to help the villagers, who were all my family. I did all I could to help, to care, and to offer all I had to the people of this dying land. Never did I feed from them, and always I used my powers to heal and cure their ailments, whether of the skin or the soul. But surely you see now how it was such a game. The whole time, as they came to me with prayers and as I answered them, the greatness of Christianity was spreading...all because of the love I had for my people and had no other way to help them. I never understood until it was too late, that as I helped and answered prayers, so was I spreading the lie that was Christianity and the power of the vampire race. Such a game it all was, and is, even at this time."

Mochan comments nothing, until the pause and silence causes him to spurt words out of discomfort, "You are the one who said we were just pawns in some kind of Holy war, and as I begin to gain a picture of what you mean, I still have gained no knowledge of where you said you would point me."

"If you would let me finish, I will explain," the agitation definitely has shifted from Mochan to her as she now shows a build up of lost dreams.

"Well, if you would stop pausing and simply finish, then I would not have to push," nostrils flare as Mochan shows signs of increased distress. "I grow tired of all of this, simply tell what I need and point the way."

"Fine, "she closes her eyes as a sigh enters her lungs, "The travelers moved on after creating me, and I was left alone to tend my flock...but even as the humans have small land owners, and then barons, and then farther up kings...quickly did I learn that I was small in the scheme of things. Even though the blood traveler, the one that created me, was high in the chain, even faster did I learn that this region belonged to Penduran and what he asked for must be law."

"I take it that he asked for much?"

"In truth, no. He simply asked for the pick of my town. But they were my family, and so I had to refuse. He did not seem that evil then, and compromised. In return for my service would he allow my town and family to remain untouched. It seemed a quality trade and so you see how I ended up in the new world...where you found me."

"Where I found you...you were starving and close to death. There is no trade off there."

"How was I to know this...I was sent as a spy to seek out the next great wolf, in exchange for my people and my land. True, I was inexperienced and could not survive in such a world of competition, yet I did uphold my vow. But know as I have returned here and stare at the bones of my descendants upon the floor, now I know what a hoax it all was. You see I served a dual purpose throughout all of this, and believe me, I have not betrayed you wolf. Penduran wanted me to search in hopes of finding a great wolf. In exchange for my services, he decried to leave my village and all my people intact, so that when I returned this land and all its' inhabitants would again be under my and my alone control...to do with what I wished. But as far as you, you were a God-send. You found me in my most desperate time, and asked to find someone like him. It has all been such a perfect ending. Although he is not perhaps the greatest, his rank is high. I believe, now, that I have served you both extremely well. The problem lies in that you have not betrayed me, but he...as I stare at this empty terrain, he has taken all that his family could feast upon. You have asked me to point you forward...and this I shall do, even as I sit here with remorse and grieve for what was once mine. Penduran lies in the saddle mountain, and even with your strength, he is far stronger. Do not think he is ignorant of the situation. He knows you are here and close, for I have been relaying messages to him the whole time we traveled. I thought he was to be trusted. But at least I offer you this choice...go to El Ciero De La Silla and find him as he waits...or run and find a better day. The choice is yours, as I see your patience is thin, and now, so is mine. I will hold you no farther with my story, and in fact I ask to be alone now as I decide which way to turn in order to move forward as well."

Her face is grim as final words are spoken, "I have not betrayed you wolf, and you have saved me, but our roads now become separated as I truly am depressed at my loss. You know the way out and should you decide to continue after Penduran, the mountain is not hard to find, nor is it far...simply look to the sky and find the horse's saddle. Move along, and leave me to regret past decisions." She stares down as Mochan simply nods, knowing he has learned all he needs here, and the time for progress and decision is at hand.