Jack held back his impulse to interfere. A whisper of anticipation was building within his ethereal form.
This wasn't his fight to win. Not yet. This was a stage being set. This was a prelude to sothing that could be far more interesting.
He needed to understand the players and the stakes. Before making his move.
Brother Elkey's inquisitors closed in on Amaranth. She didn't scream. She didn't beg. Instead, she took a deep breath. And then, she scattered the herbs from her pouch. Creating a cloud of pungent aroma around her.
The inquisitors hesitated. They were montarily disoriented by the unfamiliar scent.
"Take her!" Brother Elkey roared. Impatiently waving his hand.
They lunged forward. Their swords raised. But before they could reach her, they wobbled and kneeled down. The cloud of pungent aroma was poisonous. It weakened the inquisitors.
Then... A wave of oppressive darkness suddenly descended upon the village. The air seed to thicken. It was heavy with an ancient, malevolent presence.
A palpable dread settled over everything. It seed to suffocate hope. Replacing it with the icy grip of utter despair.
Jack didn't know where this sudden oppression ca from. The facial expression of everyone here was... suspicious. Did it co from Amaranth? Or Brother Elkey? Or Father Lucca? Or Elder Kinderman? Or another unknown party he didn't know?
Whatever it was... This was an excellent ti for mischief.
A piercing shriek ripped through the air. It was a sound so unnatural, so filled with primal terror, that it made the listeners' blood run cold.
Jack grinned. It didn't really show in his invisible faceless form. But he did grin. He savored the mont of utter chaos after he used the [Banshee's Requiems].
The weakened inquisitors stumbled back. Clutching their ears. Their faces were contorted in agony. The villagers scread. Fear was gripping their hearts.
Even Brother Elkey flinched. His unwavering faith was montarily shaken.
Amaranth was also shocked. But she seized the opportunity. She darted into her cottage, slamming the door shut behind her.
The inquisitors quickly recovered from the poison and sonic assault. They hamred on the door. Trying to break it down.
Father Lucca was jolted from his stupor. He finally acted. He stumbled forward. His drunken gait was surprisingly quick. He threw himself at Brother Elkey. The dagger was glinting in his hand.
"You will not take her!" He yelled. His voice was raw with desperation.
Brother Elkey was enraged by the priest's audacity. He easily deflected the attack with a backhand. The force of the blow sent Father Lucca sprawling. An inquisitor pinned him to the ground.
"Blaspher!" Brother Elkey spat. He lood over the priest. "You have defiled your sacred duty. You will pay for your treachery."
Elder Kinderman finally seed to snap out of his stupor. He pushed through the crowd. His face flushed with anger.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringent.
"Enough!" He shouted. "Brother Elkey, you cannot do this. This is my village, and I will not allow you to terrorize my people."
Brother Elkey sneered. "Your village? You are a puppet, Elder. A weak, ineffectual leader. The Church will decide the fate of this village, not you."
He turned back to the inquisitors. His voice was cold and unwavering. "Break down that door. Bring the witch!"
The inquisitors redoubled their efforts. They battered the cottage door with their swords and axes. The wood splintered. The hinges groaned. And, with a final crash, the door gave way.
They stord inside. Their weapons were at the ready. But the cottage was empty.
Amaranth was gone.
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Where had she gone? How could she have vanished so quickly?
Brother Elkey's face darkened. "Search the village!" He bellowed. "She cannot have gone far. Find her! Now!"
The inquisitors fanned out. They were searching every house. Every barn. Every corner of Asquall Village. The villagers watched. Their faces were etched with fear and uncertainty.
Jack observed the spectacle with detached amusent. He knew where Amaranth was. He had seen her slip behind her mirror. She covered herself with a blanket of energy that seem to make her invisible.
Her invisibility was nothing in Jack's vision though. He saw her move to the church. Interesting. Did she just try to hide in the most improbable place? Or, did she have other purposes?
anwhile, Brother Elkey was frustrated and enraged. He paced back and forth in the village square. He stopped in front of Elder Kinderman. His eyes were burning with suspicion.
"Where is she?" He demanded. "You know sothing, don't you?"
Elder Kinderman t his gaze. His face was unreadable. "I know nothing." He said. His voice was surprisingly firm and bitter. "As you've said, I'm just a puppet."
Brother Elkey grabbed the elder by the collar. His grip was tightening. "Don't lie to ! You are protecting her. Why?"
Suddenly, a chilling laughter echoed through the square. It wasn't Jack. The sound had a ghost-like ethereal quality though. It sounded like the laughter of a child. Yet, it was laced with an ancient, malevolent energy.
Everyone froze. Their eyes darted around. They tried to locate the source of the laughter.
"Looking for soone?" A voice whispered. It seed to co from everywhere and nowhere at once.
A small, wooden doll slowly materialized in the air. It floated in front of Brother Elkey. Slightly higher than his head. It was crudely made, with button eyes and a drawn mouth.
But as everyone stared at it, the doll's features began to shift. Its button eyes widened. Its drawn mouth twisted into a grotesque grin.
The doll then spoke. Its voice was a distorted mockery of a child's. "She's closer than you think."
It then pointed a tiny wooden finger towards the church.
"Inside." It squeaked. And then, it was burst into flas. It vanished into ash before it hit the ground.
Brother Elkey stared at the church. His face was a mask of fury and bewildernt. He released Elder Kinderman and turned to his inquisitors.
"Search the church!" He ordered. "Tear it apart if you have to, but find her!"
The inquisitors hesitated. They glanced at the dilapidated church with a mixture of fear and reverence. Invading the house of God was a serious matter. Even for the Inquisition.
"Do it!" Brother Elkey roared. His patience finally snapped.
The inquisitors reluctantly obeyed. They stord into the church. Their swords were drawn. They ransacked the sanctuary. They overturned pews. They tore down tapestries. And they even smashed stained-glass windows.
Jack watched, his amusent growing. Those inquisitors were dumb. Did they really think they could find a person by doing those stupid things?
Brother Elkey was also dumb. Well, he was either dumb or crazy. He was a human, wasn't he? Then why didn't he listen to another human, Elder Kinderman for instance?
OK. Not listening to other humans was still acceptable. But why the hell did he listen to a talking doll?
The doll had just thrown a wrench into the works. Who had controlled it? Everyone's expressions and gestures were again suspicious in Jack's vision.
Either one of the characters here was so cunning that he or she could hide it so well. Or there was another party Jack didn't know at play here.
The inquisitors found nothing in the church. No! They did find sothing. A hidden passage behind the altar.
Brother Elkey pushed past them. His eyes were gleaming with anticipation. "She's in there." He said. His voice was barely a whisper.
He advanced. His sword was raised. He was ready to confront the heretic witch. He was ready to bring her to justice.
Jack watched him go. A dark smile spread across his non-existent face.
He had a feeling that Brother Elkey was about to discover sothing shocking. Amaranth White was not the only secret hidden in Asquall Village. The ga had truly begun.
Now, it was ti to see who would play it best.
User Comments
0 comments from readers