The Shadow Way part 4

Creed rose to his feet and wiped the sweat from his brow. The bloody machete was tossed aside, then he looked down at his handiwork. “I gotta say, I’m a little impressed. You weren’t ly’n when you said you couldn’t feel pain,” Creed wiped some blood on his pants, “Not a peep from you. Respect. Even the toughest bastards out there would’ve made some noise if they started getting cut the way I just cut you. Or maybe they’d just die like a normal person. But not you, though. You don’t even look uncomfortable… Ya kinda look stupid down there… but not uncomfortable. I’ll be honest, it’s gotten to the point that I don’t even know what I’m looking at anymore. I mean, I definitely see your intestines over there but… that?,” he pointed down at part of the bloody mess below, “… I’m not even sure which organ that is.”

“I believe that’s the pancreas,” Eleazar answered helpfully.

The necromancer was still on his back with arms and legs restrained by old, frayed ropes. His midsection had been cut open from sternum to naval with several of his organs stretching out from the gaping wound. Parts of his intestines and other organs were pulled out far enough to be placed on the dirt-covered ground where they were nailed by smaller knives.

“From what I could get from your conversations with Queen Faith, ya’ll don’t care for each other,” Creed sat down to retain some energy, “Why are you doing her dirty work? Just give it up.”

He spoke calmly despite the gruesome scene, “Eleazar is my spiritual name but my birth name is Henri Delacroix. I was born into the Iconoclast sect of Iseda, which is rare. Most of the time, people break away from society and join Iseda once they realize how full of lies it is, but I skipped a few steps. Still, it took many years before I realized Iseda was just as false as the outside world and sought enlightenment elsewhere. I took an interest in the cycle of life and that led me to the Shadow Way. Queen Faith has given me a chance to experiment while I help her get revenge. I hope you know, I don’t condone how sanctimonious her people are. They’ve tried to kill me in the past, after all.”

“Yeah, the Iconoclasts like to kill people they don’t agree with.”

A peculiar look crossed Eleazar’s face, “They weren’t always that way… But then, the Reformers were once very different as well. In the end, they’re all fools.”

“You’re kinda judgmental for a guy who just killed a whole lotta people.”

“I don’t have to justify my actions to you. I’m only interested in my studies.”

“Well, your studies are doing a lot of harm so how about cutting that shit out?”

“I’ll stop when I’m ready,” he grit his teeth, seemingly not noticing the trickle of blood escaping his lips, “In the meantime, do your worst! All you’ll accomplish is destroying flesh!”

****

By the time Cassandra’s Camaro pulled up to Pete’s Shop, a swarm of Infected were already surrounding the small building. It appeared as though they had boarded up the windows and doors to avoid any attacks but it also meant there was little hope in getting inside to rescue them. Alysa could have likely provided some mystic spell in this case but as she left to confront Queen Faith, Cassandra and Mary were left to their own devices.

“What do we do now?,” Mary asked quietly.

“I’m not sure,” Cassandra answered, “They got the place boarded up so I know they’re in there but I don’t know how to get ‘em out.”

Suddenly, a grotesque face with pale eyes pressed itself against the driver’s side window, startling the two ladies inside. Drool dripped from the Infected man’s mouth as he clawed at the window. Cassandra pressed a foot against the door and quickly opened it, striking the man in the face. The swinging door pushed him to the ground but another Infected rushed toward the open car. Cassandra tried to slam the door shut again but he managed to get one arm inside. She desperately held the door tight, pinning the forearm in place. The Infected growled and snarled as his hand twisted around in an attempt to claw Cassandra’s eyes. Helpless to do much else, Mary looked out the passenger door and noticed the Infected were now rushing toward their vehicle. Soon, they had the entire car surrounded and began beating their fists against the windows. Cassandra let out a frightened grunt as she continued to hold the flailing arm in place, hoping that the Infected wouldn’t pry the door open farther.

Across town, Alysa walked down the sidewalk to her home. Soon, she would be confronting Queen Faith and she hoped to not only defeat the priestess for good and all but that her victory might somehow win the favor of Mama Johnson and Papa Abadie. Her mother had always wanted her to be a priestess and she didn’t want to ruin that any more than she already had.

An invisibility spell kept her hidden from the Infected but she was still wary of every snarling face that rushed by. She didn’t see anyone on the street who wasn’t already infected, which worried her. Hopefully, Creed would find a way to end the curse.

Back at Pete’s Shop, dirty fingers snatched the rim of a car door and flung it open. Mary and Cassandra quickly backed up against the passenger side with Cassandra raising her shotgun. She knew these people had been infected by a curse and were not in control of themselves so killing them was unfathomable and yet, as she witnessed the creatures pushing into the car, she found her finger inching toward the trigger. It’d be one clean blast from the shotgun at close range. That’d be all it would take to remove the threat. Multiple hands reached out, inches from her face. She closed her eyes and began to squeeze when she heard Pete Bone Splitter shout, “Jesus, Cassie! Don’t shoot!”

When she opened her eyes, she saw the Infected removing themselves from the car while Pete and his wife, Lucille Hudson, ducked their heads inside. Behind them, the Infected backed up as if afraid, giving them plenty of space.

“Are ya hurt?,” Lucille asked.

“We’re good,” Cassandra told her as she watched the Infected turn and shamble down the road, “Did you do that?”

“Anointing oil from the shop,” Pete explained as he opened the small bottle in his hand, “We whipped some up while we were stuck inside,” he dabbed some of the oil on his finger before smearing it across her forehead, “Smells like shit but it works.”

“It usually wards off evil spirits but it’s apparently useful on… whatever those things are,” Lucille continued.

“Hi, Miss Creed,” Pete greeted her as he placed some oil on her forehead, “It’s been a while.”

“I’m so glad you two are alive,” she said.

“You’re lucky we got out when we did,” Lucille got in the backseat along with Pete, “What’s going on with Creed and Alysa?”

“Hopefully, they’re working on a way to end this thing,” Cassandra quickly drove them away from the shop.

“And where are we going?,” Pete asked.

“The Museum.”

****

The sun was beginning to set when Creed used the saw-like blade to finally make his way through the bone. After that, the rest of the leg was easy enough to cut through. Creed tiredly tossed the limb in the pile along with two bloody arms and the other leg. “Now that’s a workout,” he rubbed his achy hands, “That scholar was an asshole but he had some decent tools,” he turned back to Eleazar, “How ya doi’n down there, El?”

The ropes once binding him had now been removed as there were no longer any limbs to be tied down. He was propped up against a barn post while blood poured from four stumps and at the center of his belly, his insides still dangled out and formed a sick pile in front of him. At that point, the blood-loss alone should have killed him but he still had a fully conscious and content look on his face. “I told you before…,” he began, “… It is only flesh.”

“I’m pretty sure arms and legs are useful in your daily life to one extent or another,” Creed stooped down, “Y’know, I’m beginning to suspect you actually want me to destroy your body in some kinda Obi-Wan Kenobi type deal. Gonna get more powerful once I chop you up completely?”

“I do not crave power.”

“Yeaaaah, but you wouldn’t say no to it, I bet,” he leaned in, “What if I cut you down to the absolute lowest you can go without destroying you completely? Maybe leave you with nothing but a head, not able to move or crawl your way out of the hole I’ll eventually bury you in?”

Eleazar said nothing and simply continued to stare.

“Left with nothing but your thoughts… forever… buried alive! I’m sure that won’t be fun. No one around to finally remove you from this vessel of flesh you like to pretend ya don’t need?”

Eleazar smirked proudly but Creed noticed a slight twitch in his face that indicated fear. It was all he needed.

“That’s what I thought,” he grabbed the necromancer by the back of his head and forced him onto the dirt floor where he placed the saw at the base of his neck, “Anytime you wanna stop the spell, lemme know.”

****

When Alysa finally arrived at her home, she found Queen Faith standing in front of her mother’s garden. The priestess stared at the flowers and never turned around as she spoke, “Your mother made a lovely garden. In Iseda, we say that when we take a life, we must give a life. Is that why she planted all this? To atone for the lives she took?”

Alysa answered in a straight-forward way, “Yeah.”

Faith turned and stared at Alysa with one good eye, “And what about you? Did you plant any flowers?”

Again, she was straight-forward, “Yes, I did,” then added, “So what’s going on here? Why you at my mom’s house again?”

“I was going to burn it down to draw you out but then I sensed you coming earlier than expected.”

“Yeah, your plan went a little south, huh? Speaking of, Creed’s gotcha boy over in the barn.”

“I doubt that,” Faith appeared concerned despite her words.

“Bet! I don’t know what ya’ll did to him but I know he’s pay’n back tenfold. Won’t be much longer, the necromancer’s gonna be forced to end the spell.”

Queen Faith shook her head, “I don’t care what happens to Eleazar. Your temple will fall and this evil city will crumble. And then, when you know you’ve failed your people,… you will meet your mother!”

Alysa had stored up plenty of spells in preparation for this moment, knowing she would be in a mystical battle, and once she had heard enough, she cut loose. An animalistic spell allowed her to summon the speed of a cheetah and she used it to dart forward in a flash while kicking up grass and dirt. Likewise, Queen Faith had come prepared. A defensive spell stopped Alysa within inches and the inertia disappeared. As dust and grass blew past her, the priestess charged up a concussive blast and Alysa countered with her own. The explosion created a globe of violent energy that tore a hole in the yard and the light could be seen for a mile. Mystic shields flickered around them as smoke swirled about. Alysa touched the ground and instantly, a chasm opened under the priestess. Faith raised her arms and hovered over the opening, but then vines shot out of the dirt and wrapped themselves around her wrists before pulling her in. Alysa then brought her hands together and the chasm closed around Queen Faith.

A moment later, a pillar of fire shot out of the earth with enough force to knock Alysa down, then Queen Faith launched herself through the flames for another attack. Alysa summoned a water spell to counter. Faith was hit with the force of a fire hydrant and the pillar was doused, but as retaliation, she kicked up force winds. The mixture of water in the small but powerful whirlwind resulted in what appeared to be a localized hurricane. There was a blur of debris and moisture before both women collapsed in pain and exhaustion in the middle of a puddle. They lay on the destroyed lawn, soaking wet and breathing heavily.

“You… got better,” Queen Faith admitted as she struggled to sit up.

“Yeah,… my mom taught me a lot,” Alysa answered while in an equally breathless state, “I just… needed the practice.”

“But you haven’t finished your training… and your mother isn’t alive,” Faith grew curious, “… Did she embed her knowledge in you?… Subconsciously?”

“Yeah,… why?”

“It’s unusual for Reformers.”

“But it ain’t against the rules,” Alysa grew defensive, “What would you even know about what Reformers do?”

She grit her teeth bitterly, “I used to be one!”

Queen Faith flew into the air with the image of a hawk briefly appearing. Alysa likewise summoned a hawk and met her in the sky. Telekinetic energy pushed against one another, causing the two women to spin around in a circle.

“Three hundred years ago, Queen Obeah Alvita emphasized the importance of training!,” Queen Faith shouted, “A true priestess knows this! Why would your mother educate you this way?”

“Some people in my temple don’t agree with a lot of what my mom did,” Alysa answered as she pressed against her.

“At least there are some Reformers who care about history!,” Queen Faith sneered.

Faith let go and dropped past Alysa. At the last moment, she telekinetically grabbed hold of her ankle and pulled her to the wet and uneven ground below. The movement was unexpected and Alysa couldn’t mount a proper defense before she fell face-first into the mud. “There is so much about Iseda history you don’t understand,” Queen Faith stormed forward as Alysa picked herself off the ground. An animalistic spell gave Alysa the image of a claw and she took a hard swing. Queen Faith ducked under the attack and a knife materialized in her palm.

Alysa felt a strange, fiery sensation in her lower stomach. She stopped for a moment and so did Faith. When she looked down, that’s when she noticed the knife sticking out of her belly. “In your next life…,” Queen Faith sneered, “I hope you better understand which side to take.” When she pulled the knife out, there was a spray of blood, and Alysa dropped to the ground.

Continued…