The Gathering: Race For Immortality

Chapter Two: Mhercee Aristabelle

My heart was in my throat as I ran along the building tops, my cloak fanning out behind me, the money jangling in the white skin pouch. The golden twine that held it in place brushed my skin gently, the bright golden sunsetting was off in the distant horizon. I grinned to myself as I listened to the  Soldiers running behind me trying to catch up. I glanced back warily and let out a short dry laugh as they fell farther and farther behind. I stopped running turning around suddenly and stopping. The Soldiers stopped stumbling into each other, they all held their hands up to me weakly. I knew they weren’t armed I had destroyed all of their blades before.

I smiled and looked up at them allowing some of the shadows to show my smile. They gasped and backed away, I frowned and closed my mouth remembering what I was and what I signified to these people. I dropped my eyes and closed them slowly as the soft breeze swept across the flat roof. I stepped backwards and dropped down between the buildings, the dark brick rushed past me as I dropped curling up into myself hugging my knee’s as I fell. The hood flew backwards and I looked up at the greying sky, it would be a starless night tonight.

I closed my eyes slowly and tipped forward spinning into the fall. This far from their palace was known as the NightLock, the ground didn’t exist well not really. This area was ruled mostly by King Jyriah. A harsh and violent man who sat upon a ivory throne made from bones of hounds he had killed as a small boy. His legends were known throughout the kingdom, his Queen was just a cold frozen woman who had never known love in her life and had shown none to the children she carelessly brought into this cruel and morbid world.

I quickly unfurled my body and landed with ease on the shadowed cobble stone pathway. The gas lamps that hung from the sides of these run down buildings creaked in the soft wind. What was worth living for in this world? I sighed and lifted the white skin pouch, I tossed it in the air and caught it silently. Was this all I could really do?

I dropped my head and walked along the path following it towards the rickety wooden hut that sat tucked in-between two of the larger buildings. It had gone silent now, all prepared for the crowning ceremony at the castle. My hands tightened and my knuckles quickly went white in aggravation at the thought. I had envied her for so long, to have such a loving family, to feel such warmth and adoration. I growled grinding my teeth together, I spun quickly and slammed my fist against the stone building feeling the shock run up my arm and shake my bones. I turned quickly and stormed away from it all, I didn’t need to envy her anymore. 

She was alone.

Just like I was. I looked up at the sky my eyes closing as the breeze picked up my long hair blowing it out behind me with the cloak. It whistled past my ears making the dangling earrings jingle softly in the night. The soft scent of water and fear reached me. My feet carried me forward towards the weak little shack, sadness gripping my weak heart. The door was loosely attached and allowed in a terrible draft that I knew gave them the chills. This was all I could do for other rejected Daemons. Sounds of sleep drifted from between the cracks and splinters in the walls out towards me. What would become of them when I had to leave for good?

My eyes began to sting at the thought of it, no I wouldn’t go there not now. Just like her and her loving family that had been ripped away from her, I couldn’t think of it now or I would lose composure and disappoint my heritage. Very gently I rapped my knuckles on the door and waited in a calming silence as one inside got up and responded to my call. The door eased open and the bright shimmering cobalt blue eyes answered me, his shaggy black hair fell down around his shoulders as he looked up at me his mouth spread in a smile. It was welcoming and encouraging, I returned it swiftly unable to deny.

“Mikhail” I whispered lifting the bag up to him.

Slowly he raised his hand to take it like it might vanish before his eyes. His small hands clutched the present dearly as if I had given him something that he had always dreamt of. I couldn’t help but grin at the look of happiness on his small angular face. I grabbed the back of his head and pulled him forward planting a light kiss on his forehead.