Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 69

Walking through the hallowed halls, we saw the statues of Benedict and his twelve angels of chaos. The painted motifs of his blessed heaven, white flowers laid along a prairie with sparse tree coverage in front of the rolling hills, yet they worshipped him behind closed doors.

We were in a pious hall lined with stone towers and thin columns engraved with images never deciphered beyond confusion. Embossed pots posted on the wall inlets beside long banners hung from the roof.

Gold statues of a minute stature laid upon a table. In between them laid a long dark emerald bottle. Glasses lingered around it, was it wine maybe? 

Majestic in sight, yet the danger cursed the loin of my feet. I knew which God they served after all. 

Five, was this the place?

Yes…

I loved how you wanted to protect me and put me in more danger with the same breath.

Sorry Mother

Just call me Carmine, getting tired of that Title.

Yes Mo—. Yes, Carmine.

Five leaned before the statue of a man with a burly beard, six arms flanking outward in dominance. 

Without fail, Carmine. There it was. 

The huge pillar that went behind the statue was round and had minute impressions of animals sprinkled in a diagonal pattern. 

Looking up, I doubted there was an end. All I saw was encroaching darkness soaked deep above me and the absent roof that descended from heaven. 

I came over and laid the bombs in between the feet of the man. Five cut the strip off the wire and sparked the trigger. It burned slow and it would take a while before it exploded. 

The bombs Janilla carried were going elsewhere. I took up the bottle and the glass, for I needed something to numb my thoughts for a while. 

Adu and the others should have been okay, because I felt more unsafe as the hours continued.

We came out of this sanctimonious region, but found ourselves hugging the wall in the darkness allotted to us. We watched several soldiers running and jogging around.

Shouts resonated about where the captain was, who was supposed to do what and which commanding officer requested assistance. 

I grumbled. Sore me, of all the luck I had.  

There were a lot of frightened, curious retainers, and petty nobles stalking around, either for information or security. Well, at least I knew why the alter we went to was empty. 

I twisted my lips. 

Five, any ideas? 

If we went out like this, I, covered in blood and Five, carrying his sword, we would immediately stand out.

Another shout, Five moved his hand back, passed me, touched Janilla’s shoulder.

Janilla reacted with a whip of her head at Five. 

Five whispered, “Para is nearby. I can hear her voice, but I cannot detect her presence. There is another empath nearby and I think they are suppressing my range and trying to find us.” 

Janilla frowned. “And?” 

I gave her a glazed stare. “You are the light, we have to stay in the darkness, so you can stay in the light. Go, go now.”

Janilla gave me a nervous glance before sighing and going into the hall. We stayed there for a good while waiting amongst the noise.

I heard Janilla’s voice in my head. Come into the east corridor, metal door.