Faery Island

The Serpents Greed

Chapter XVI - The Serpents Greed

Rick

Wind rushed through Rick and trees zipped by like as if they were being pulled from out of underneath them. The Wyrm slithered and withered beneath his hands. For such a huge creature it was slick and agile getting through the dark woods. Rick caught sight of the creek a couple of times and a cave but it was to dark to make anything else out.

Before long they came out to the open, and in just a few seconds they were going twice as fast as they had before. Like a bullet being shot, everything was just a array of colors from then on out.

When the creature stopped, Zelroth stepped off, stady and strong. Rick on the other hand stumbled momentarily getting his balance back as the wyrm vanished back the way they came.

Even in the darkness the stars and moons lit up enough to see the giant tower that loomed above them taller than any tree that Rick had seen.

"What is this?" Rick questioned warily, nothing about the wall brought any memories to mind.

"This is the wall of Amarathine. Beyond it is the city. It is heavily guarded and even with passage the trials are almost unbearable as they bring out what we fear, hate or dread the most rather its from our imagination or our past."

Rick whistled in amazement, human trait he hadn't given up just yet. "Sounds like this place is pretty steady, not going to fall any time soon. How are we getting in?"

"It is. Its the Immortal city, afterall." Zelroth looked up to the top of the wall and glanced back down to Rick. "And we get through by you."

Rick's eyebrows furrowed. "Me?"

"Yes. As a Narazza you can teleport short distances. The wall shouldn't be a problem. Go ahead." He explained like it was simple.

"Look, that's not possible. I can't possibily do that. I've tried." Rick shook his head and put his hands through his hair. His throat burned and he felt jittery.

Zelroth could see this. "You're in Lacelin now, your world not the humans. Try, and we'll get you what you need."

Blood.

Rick licked his lips and paced a couple times. Zelroth was patient as he waited. "Fine, I'll do it."

He stood infront of Zelroth and breathed in the night air, a hint of smoke concentrated and relaxed him. He called in his mind out of instincts to the shadows and darkness that hung around. He felt its cold curl around him and slither like a greedy snake. All over his body, it couldn't get enough.

He then pictured the wall, pictured the brick under his feet and the wind that rip through his hair on the edge.

"You are a powerful one, Ricalos," Zelroth praised.

Turning around he could see most of the world around him. The ocean was seen in the distance and the volcano closer than ever. Though, the dark woods and Creek of Sorrow were no where in sight, reminding Rick just how quickly they had traveled.

Within the walls, torches flickered with light, but all was quiet. Guards walked the brick streets solemly and creature's whines and sounds of interest echoed in alleys.

Rick didn't need to be asked. He took them down within the wall where they stood in darkness behind a large house. It was run down compared to the surrounding houses but not bad.

Zelroth pushed the red curtain to the side and walked in. Rick followed closesly behind. The inside was dimly lit, and large like a aldetorim. A fire in the middle kept it warm and cast shadows on to the walls that slithered and gathered around Zelroth.

The floor was covered with sleeping bodies. None woke, just slept worrieless. Some seemed to be humaniod and animal like all at once, others lacked any kind of point to their ears and plain, humans. All of them were covered in dirt and dressed in brown rags.

"What is this place?" Rick asked, speaking quietly as not to wake them. He hovered over a girl with red strawberry blond hair, pale skin and a young sunk in look to her face. Deep down, he felt something inside for her, like he knew her. Blood pounded in his ears as he kept starring at her, focusing on only her.

"This is the save quarters." A hand slapped down on to his shoulder. "Not that one. She would be missed." Only then had Rick noticed that he had been focused on her neck. His throat and body ached, reminding him why he was there again.

He allowed Zelroth to lead him through the quaters to the back where sickly old man laid on the ground. He seemed writhered and nearly dead but for the small rise and falls of his chest.

"This one," Zelroth gustered to him. "I'll leave you too it." Without anything else he glided out of the building, the curtin swaying in evidence.

The man still slept, leaving Rick to punder what he was going to do, and how. His body ached for need but he wasn't sure how to get what he wanted.

Carefully he placed his hands on the man's throat. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins and the pounding of his heart. Hunger rose and clouded Rick's thoughts. He no longer had to question himself but let his body do the work brainlessly, like breathing.

Darkness curled around his hands and down his fingers, licking at the man's neck they made a small slit, letting blood ooz. They slithered away, letting him put his mouth to the blood. It tasted of heavy iron but the greatest thing he had ever had.

Fracticly, animal like he held tighter, digging in deeper with his teeth. The world was fading away, just leaving him and the blood that he craved.

___

Stumbling out he gripped the curtain tightly, scanning the night. His vision was clearer, his senses stronger. Somehow he knew where Zelroth had gone, following the feeling that lead him to a smaller, nicer house just outside another wall.

The purple curtin glided quietly behind him. The house was nicely furnished and lit. Zelroth sat in a chair, looking powerful in the ordinarly setting, another man dressed in darker metal and purple cape. Badges lined up and down his arms, and curly brown hair and green eyes starred at him analyzing him.

"The wash room is just to the right," He said simply, his voice full of authority. "Get yourself cleaned, son."

Rick bit back his tongue, he instantly didn't like the man but he did as he said.

The wash room was just a small room with a large dish of bright coral colors, the water was clear and seemed endless. But Rick was tacken aback by the image that starred at him through the mirrows that covered the walls from all sides.

Rick's skin had became pale as if he had never seen the sun in his life, his eyes were darker and larger. His hair had became brighter, longer and attracting. Pointed ears stuck through the hair and he had grown again.

But the most disturbing was he wore armor now. Heavy and black with pointed edges, he looked like a dark prince from a fantasy game. Blood covered his hands in crimson and his face was smeared with it.

"Oh Gods," he muttered. The horror of it all slamming down on him.

"Don't be frightened." Zelroth now stood behind Rick. "You're starting to see, to feel everything as you should. Embrace it."

"I,-"

"You've said it all before. You liked the blood, did you not? You can't fight it anymore and you know it. Just. . . Let go."

"Let go of what?" Rick hissed, dipping his hands into the cold water. It slowly became red and then despated like magic.

"You're humanity."