Left with Skulls (Julius X Death!OC)

PART VII - THE CAVE

Julius's mind stirred awake. The feeling of his body was creeping back to him. His bones were stiff, limbs tangled and numb. The cold ground beneath his body was hard and unforgiving, as small, but sharp rocks sunk and threatened to pierce his skin. Metallic taste invalidated his tongue, creating an urge to vomit. The wind hollowed in his ears, carrying a tapping sound from one side to another. The scents of dirt and rot spoiled the air around him.

Between the dense darkness of his mind appeared a white flame. It was calm and strong. Julius relaxed, relishing his soul in the light. The flare expanded, gently taking over. His vision grew brighter and brighter. The surprising intensity of the light started to burn his eyes. The pressure in his head increased, making his brain feel like it was being mushed. He couldn't take it anymore and his eyes shot open.

A heavy gasp escaped his lips as all of his senses came back. Crashing at him like waves in the storm and for a second, he regretted waking up at all. The sore joints of his limbs burned as he tried to move. Pulsing pain in his head and the coldness of his skin almost made him faint again. His elaborated breath shook his body as he slowly sat up. His eyes started to adjust to the darkness surrounding him and with a flick of his wrist, he sent a magic light above his head.

The breath got stuck in his throat.

Skulls.

Massive walls made of skulls surrounded him. Grotesque bricks were piled up one on the another creating in Julius a bizarre impression of awe and utter disgust. Their empty eyeholes stared at him hungrily. No. Not at him, at his soul.

A shiver ran down his spine.

Skulls seemed to be of various ages, those at the bottom were yellow, sunken in the dirt, and consumed by moss. Pale worms were crawling out of the skulls' mouths and Julius felt his stomach flip. Upper layers of skulls were brighter, fresher and as they went up the sicker he felt. Some of them still had blood on them, fragments of rotten flesh, and damp hair.

A drop of water fell on his cheek breaking his stare on the nightmarish sight in front of him. He looked up and saw a big opening over him. Meters and meters away, on the night sky hung the full moon.

Julius frowned and surveyed the space around him. It seemed to be a cave. Made in black rock with a rough and sharp finish. Water dripped from the walls with echo traveling from one side to another going further and further giving the impression of endless tunnels.

How did I get here?

Julius sighed. He massaged his temples and dug deeper in his memories. How come he managed to get himself into something like that was beyond his comprehension.

The freezing wind picked up, whistling between skulls as if it was a natural way to do so. The air tickled the exposed nape of his neck as it flew by. He tensed.

Someone is behind me.

Julius shot up and swirled around, ready to strike. His movements stilled when he saw a woman sitting a few meters away. A woman from the lake.

He locked eyes with her and everything came back to him.

Amaretto

She sat on the rock with straight shoulders and hands on her lap. Her neat black clothes were hugging her body like armor. Her face was stoic with this same enchanting stillness like last time.

'Hurting you is not my intent, magic Knight.' Her velvet voice washed over him with a sense of comfort. Julius narrowed his eyes at her, his body ready to strike.

'What is it then?'

'I would like to offer my aid to you.'

'Why?' Not that he was above getting help, on the contrary, he loved being freed of his responsibilities just not by his main suspect. Which, to add, did confuse him greatly.