Blood of the Abyss

Blood of the Abyss Part 17

Chapter 17

The Vision

Warning: blood and gore

Caspian

Sounds of music danced around my head, sweet hums of violin strings. I stared into the mirror adjusting my neckerchief and smoothing out my dark blue jacket. I tried to smooth my hair back, trying to make it more presentable than the state it was in now. When I felt it was finally decent I took a deep breath and glanced over at the opposite staircase from where I stood. She would be there any minute. I felt myself grow anxious as I waited for her. I could hear the music to my right grow louder. The ballroom itself was filled with an assortment of attendees. Women in lavish gowns and coated in gaudy make-up, and men standing aloof in corners, eyeing the women from a distance. Chandeliers twinkled light from the ceiling and the music filled the room in a continuous swell. I turned back to look at the staircase.

The door at the top of the opposite stairs opened and I caught a glimpse of a shimmering red fabric. There she was standing at the top of the staircase. My body froze and I could not take my eyes away from her. The glimmering red fabric formed a large and ornate skirt covered in ruffles and waves as the dress moved. The bodice hugged her curves and accentuated her small waist. The low neckline showed her pale skin, her hair was pulled up, with ringlets falling and brushing against her neck. Her face was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, it was not caked with makeup unlike the other party guests. She only wore a red rouge on her lips.

I tried to pull myself out of the stupor I found myself in.

"What?" She asked in a soft, shy voice. I shook my head and struggled to speak for a minute.

"You look-" I was absolutely dumbfounded. Words couldn't begin to describe how beautiful she was. Words would never be able to fathom how magnificent she was. I shook my head and grinned at her. "You look absolutely ravishing." She blushed a light pink and gave me a soft smile. "Shall we?" I extended my hand out to her which she graciously took and I led her down the remaining stairs into the ballroom.

As soon as we entered the grand room, the eyes of the party goers were drawn to us.

"The young lord with an elf?" Came some hushed whispers, others looked at the pair disdainfully. Her blush reached her pointed ears and I quickly pulled her to face me.

"Shall we dance, m'lady?" I bowed exaggeratedly in front of her. She smiled and curtsied.

"It would be my pleasure, my lord." I took her hand and we started to dance around the ballroom in a graceful waltz. The music around us grew louder as we moved around the ballroom. I spun her in graceful circles as we continued the dance. The next note struck by the violins sounded off. At first, I wasn't sure if it had actually happened as we kept dancing, and no one else seemed to notice it. Then another note of dissonance, and another. Shaken, I led her away from the dancefloor and toward one of the guests. I tapped his shoulder, but when he turned to face me all I saw was his flesh rotting away to expose bone. I pushed her behind me and pulled out my sword from my coat as I backed away from the rotting man.

"Are you okay, Caspian?" I heard her whisper. Turning back I saw that her flesh was covered in sores; some bled, some oozed a yellow puss. Her skin slid off her face in large slivers.

"What are you looking at, my dearest? Why are you so afraid?" The thing that was Lysandra asked. Her head tilted to the side as more flesh fell off and made a sickening splash on the floor spreading her blood further around her. Horrified, I started backing away from her, unsure of where to go as more guests appeared with rotting flesh.

"Darling why are you backing away! Whatever has you spooked we can work it out!" She said as she approached. I waved my sword to make some space between me and whatever those things are.

"Stay back!" I say. Panic set in and my body was ready to run. I rushed forward trying to get away. The Things blocked my exit and I raised my sword hacking through the crowd. Fear pushed me forward as I hacked my way through the things blocking my escape. I made it through the door and turned to see more skin falling off of what used to be Lysandra in big clumps. She grinned widely at me and lunged toward me. I desperately tried to back away, but she was moving so quickly. I quickly pointed my sword toward her and lunged back toward it. I closed my eyes as I felt the sword stab into her skin. I opened my eyes and noticed the sword had gone in at an angle, and had emerged from her back. The exposed blade was coated in scarlet. I glanced up to look at the creature's face, but the face was not that of a thing missing clumps of skin. It was Lysandra.

"NO!" I screamed. Lysandra looked at me, her eyes wide with confusion. She tried to open her mouth to say something but only blood poured out, dripping onto her chin. The sound of her choking echoed in my ears as I stared at her in horror. Blood started to stain the red dress and darken the fabric to nearly black. I pulled the sword out of her and cast it aside while I wrapped my arms around her. I fell to the ground, holding her head up. Her brilliant green eyes seemed to fade as her life drained from her. She opened her mouth again, trying to speak, but only gurgles emerged as her throat filled with blood. Her skin grew cold and I felt her final, struggling breath. Lysandra was gone.

"Lysandra..." I felt tears sting my eyes as I buried my head into her chest. "Lysandra..."