The House Of Blood and Dust, Book One: Darkness Rising

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Don’t give up on yourself that is what they told me, the worst enemy of oneself is of course yourself. The world may be dark and painful but you cannot lose hope upon oneself the suffering I have caused upon many a man, woman and child is enough to destroy the mind of a soul, but the ridicule and the constant reassurance that I am a monster, an emotionless beast that no one will ever love, is crafted in my mind. I climb through the rubble with Feredir by my side, the eradication of the orcs hunting me starts here. We make our way to the highest building which hasn’t been destroyed yet,

          “We’ll have to climb a lot of stairs, Avenji be sure to keep an eye out for enemies, the rifle I gave you works fine?”

          “It’s a carbine rifle of course it works, but if it does jam Circe will destroy you if I die or am harmed.” I laugh and cock the bolt of the rifle after placing the magazine into it,

          “Yes, you and her are perfect for each other… you and her both scare me.” I laugh again as we enter the door into the skyscraper. The sky is set ablaze and the lighting in this building is none existent. The Injex mask adjusts and turns night vision on,

          “The mask working okay?”

          “Indeed… you have no need to fuss over me Feredir; I am still the same as when you left me… not even a vampire can stop me.” We move forward, side by side, staying in formation; the elf with his bow in hands and I with a old carbine rifle, we reach the stairs and I open the door with my shoulder.

          “First stairs, commander first.” I take point and slowly move up the first flight of stairs; nothing just the droned out sounds of death from outside and another a hundred or so flights of stairs.

          I’d say we’ve come around about half way up this building, nothing thus far has tried to kill us, but the monotony of this paint work and the pain crawling throughout my legs could possibly be the death on me.

          “So I am guessing you have dragged me up these stairs for a reason, correct Feredir?” He breathes deep and laughs at me, following close behind me,

          “Of course, once we have reached the roof all shall be revealed… are you annoyed with me?” I stop and look at him, his Injex mask is bleeding from the eyes, the lips are blooded as well as it having elven tattoos around the face.

          “I have a problem.” The blood from his eyes, seem to show his pupils they show concern.

          “A problem… what sort of problem, my commander?” I laugh at the title he has given me. I think about it wondering how to tell this elf, all words seem to have alluded me and my heart seems to break as I think of it. The building shakes, the outside world is becoming more hostile, I stare at him, “Avenji, we cannot have this building coming down upon our heads, tell me or no just hurry up.” The words seem to go… those words, I miss Circe more than anything and I cannot think straight.  

          “Nothing, we move forward.”

          “As you command, commander.” I push forward up a few more flights of stairs, the enemy will most likely be on the floors, I am assuming we are cutting past them. I believe the elf will worry about me now the pounding of my heart through my ears is deafening, the thoughts of this woman distracting me, oh gods why? We reach the roof and take point on each side of the doors,

          “There is a group of them, around about fifteen men, all armed I guess with three magazines that I have and your arrows we can take them all out in open conflict or just stealth our way through.” Feredir looks outside, staring and wondering