Heartworm

I miss my old body. The curated mass of destruction that dissuaded most encounters before they even began. This strange culmination of the fledgling’s will in combination with my own felt distantly familiar, yet different in all of the ways that mattered. The gaping wounds across my body healed slower than I was used to. That, mixed with the rattling and incessant reminder that my own mind was being peeled apart like a fresh wad of mozzarella, made the short run to the docks feel like a marathon.

Laia was hot on my heels, swiping her summoned weapons across wooden planks where my feet had just left. Not every movement was so dextrous on my part, however. With each added gash and impalement, my staggered run grew sluggish. I felt as though I were piloting a visceral clump of flesh more than I was a body. Each wound I suffered served a purpose. Underneath the docks swirled a bubbling mass of red ichor, the last of the blood I could siphon from any nearby fish. It was insufficient on its own, but with each wound granted to me by the pious Laia, I was able to add to the mass of blood beneath the docks. It was a reckless kind of failsafe, one that would only kick in once I’ve been bled dry enough to desperately need the escape. Laia was faster, and entirely unrelenting post-blessing. The failsafe was beginning to look less like a plan B, and more like the only reasonable escape I had from the crazed Marked.

“Will the Council be upset that their dog is damaging their prize?”

“You could be a writhing ball of flesh for all I care! The Council will have what they want regardless.” Laia’s grin surged with the recently invigorated sense of purpose that her sacrifice had given her. Her words fascinated me. The young woman was embroiled in a far bigger mechanism than she had the scope for. I’d feel pity for how she was being used if she hadn’t sent far too many holy weapons into my body.

Upon checking once more, I could see that the boat was already pulling away from the dock, with worried expressions spilling over the hull from the passengers. Phern and Sebil looked terrified that I might not make it. I knew they reserved those feelings for the little morsel, and not myself. I had no doubts in my mind that if they could choose to leave me behind and rescue exclusively Ester, they would do so without hesitation. A smart choice, I didn’t blame them much for it. But the little morsel and I were a packaged deal, and I was not missing that boat.

I had the blood I needed once Laia’s holy glaive tore through my side. The pain was insufferable with multiple cries of pain echoing inside of my mind. The blood that spilled onto the wooden planks below my feet was my escape, my delectable release from this torturous encounter. I pulled the blood through the planks into the swarm of red liquid that hovered just underneath the docks. Despite hesitating to act, I noticed that Lucas had been running after Laia to join us near the end of the docks. I doubted he had the conviction to act, but I needed to be prepared for two opponents regardless.

“What is it they want?”

“It doesn’t much concern you, Baehevar. You will be dead before you see the results.” Laia seemed to believe that our tussle was over. With only a few scant steps before I reached the edge of the dock, and the ship far beyond a normal person’s leaping distance, I had practically no options left.

“You shouldn’t disclose that information, Laia!” Lucas pleaded with his sister as I grit my teeth. A Marked should never be trusted. He knew the council wanted more than an execution for us.

“Results of what?” I prodded. The blood I had collected underneath the dock was ready to burst at any moment. But Laia was so absorbed in her bloodlust that she might accidentally reveal her hand. I needed any sort of information that I could get to circumvent the looming presence of the Empire.

“A transfer of power, if you will. You are assisting the Empire in a most noble way. Baehevar’s reign nearly destroyed the Empire. The only force that ever rivaled the might of Inthenia. Imagine how powerful the Empire can be with Baehevar’s might. With your strength.”

Baehevar’s might. The ritual at Varenthell. It was starting to come back to me, fragmented memories that remained blurred since I woke up in the mind of another being. They weren’t chasing the little morsel because they were afraid of us. Not entirely, at least. They’re envious. They want a God’s power to use as their own.

“Inthenia’s might is not enough? The Empire needs to rip apart a God for more power?”

“YOU ARE NOT A GOD!” A shimmering wave of magic pulsed across her body as she spoke. She spoke as if she was a God herself. In truth, she just wielded a shred of Inthenia’s power, thinking it made her ordained in some manner. I had seen this before. The most terrifying Marked I had encountered were the ones that had sacrificed so much to the Gods that they felt truly elevated beyond the rest of the mortals. That power always led to the same result inevitably. They believed themselves to be untouchable, growing so reckless that they charged headfirst into their own demise. “You are a blight. A warlord that paraded around like a God! You wanted the world for yourself, only to burn it all down when you couldn’t control it all!”

“Baehevar didn’t want control of Kistram! He wanted to extricate the Deathless from the Great Hunt!”

“He?! You think I can’t see what you are, beast?”

Laia was certain of my identity. Lucas, less so. I could see him look at Laia with hesitation as she spoke. Had he decided to trust in the little morsel? It felt incredibly late to trust in Ester’s words when he had already betrayed us.

“I care not for what you think I am. I only want you to understand the God that you claim to hunt. If Baehevar is who you want, then you must look for a God of Deathless rather than a warlord.”

“You animals think yourselves better… stronger…” Laia veins began to glow with a menacing golden thrum. “You think immortality makes you God among men! You aren’t any better than the rest of us. You cannot kill a God, yet the Empire put down Baehevar like a rabid dog. That makes him a pest, and the rest of the Deathless the feral animals that eat up the scraps.”

“...They are not feral.” Lucas spoke, his tone unsteady but his footing secure. Laia did not move her head to face Lucas, yet her face twisted into a confused disgust as she regarded his words.

“Watch your words carefully, Brother.”

“I mean only to say you should not underestimate them. They are more than intelligent enough to plot and scheme. I have seen the ingenuity of this Deathless time and time again. There had to have been a reason that she-uh, they- saved my life.”

“A tactic. One to make you question your judgement, no doubt. It seems you are falling for that exact scheme.”

“I am not sure that was the goal…” Lucas kept his head tilted towards me even as he spoke to his sister. With his otherworldly vision, it made sense that the two of them would not face each other when they spoke. They had no need.

“Remember your oath, Lucas. We are the protectors of this land, the harbingers of justice to keep the Empire’s subjects safe from harm. The single greatest threat to the Empire stands before us, and you question me? This blight must be dealt with.”

“But you aren’t dealing with the threat! You- The Council- are going to strip this Deathless of their power to use it for yourself! That isn’t justice! It’s a strife for power!”

“Power IS justice, Lucas. With the strength of a God, the Empire will be able to protect everyone. Imagine the immortality of a Deathless for the most fervent believers of Inthenia! No one could harm the Empire again. Not one would dare to.”

Laia’s vigor thrummed ever brighter in her veins as she spoke. As she continued to preach, Lucas grew more uncomfortable. I began to wonder if his own sister frightened him more than the Deathless he stood faced against. Their familial feud was none of my business, frankly. But it offered me enough time to plan every step of my escape. I would be able to make it to the boat if I utilized the blood before me. I was juggling pints of blood, most of which was my own, in a dangerous manner. If mishandled, I would be starved of all blood and feral in practically no time. That was not a thought I wanted to contend with. Three voices in one head was already too much to handle. A fourth would surely cause our mind to shrivel into itself for eternity.

“ESTER! GET ON THIS BOAT RIGHT NOW OR I’M TURNING US AROUND!” The squeaky voice of Phern danced across the waves to reach my ears. Her care for Ester was admirable, but foolish. If she turned their boat around to come back, it would surely end in a swift execution for everyone. I need to leave now, before that thought is entertained any further.

“I believe that’s my cue, darlings. Hope you can solve the sibling tensions.” I gave a curt smile and flicked my wrists. In an instant, the swirling mass of blood that I had accumulated underneath the docks erupted into a dazzling display of gore. Great spikes shattered the wooden platform. My aim was for the Marked woman, the clear threat. Despite the strength she wielded, there was only so much one could muster in an instant to protect themself. Spears of blood screeched across golden barriers leaving her untouched. The largest of the spikes, however, landed exactly where I wanted. Piercing through her barrier with a high pitched shattering sound, a spear of blood pushed directly into her stomach. A shocked expression formed across her mouth as she looked down to the bloody spear that suspended her from the ground.

It was the best opening I could hope for. I moved the last portion of blood that I had saved towards my end of the dock and stepped onto the coagulated circle of blood. I did my best to once more subdue the mental battle that raged on in my mind as I commanded the bloody circle to move me towards the ship.

I was truly surprised when I heard Laia scream out an order to Lucas rather than a cry of pain. Even when her very life threatened to quiver off the mortal coil she prioritized my capture.

“BRING ME THAT BEAST!” Laia choked out, her words accompanied by sputtering globs of blood that trickled down her face to stream down the length of the bloody spike. If the task of my capture was being left up to Lucas, then I was home free. I doubted the Marked man would have the guts to act before I landed on the boat. His demeanor betrayed his conflicted mind.

The crackle of soft rain pittering against magic told me something was wrong. What had started as a sprinkle of rain was growing more fierce, threatening to become a storm in no time like the Gods were furious at the events unfolding. The rain that pelted the circle of blood beneath me did not crackle. It had to be something else. I got my answer as I turned around to see a blisteringly bright flash of golden light attached to the Marked man. The entire force of his blow splintered my mind and shattered my ribs, just how much had he put into that?! Shock was the only thing I managed to process in the short time it took for me to be sent flying backwards towards the boat of my- of the little morsel’s allies.

CRACK

…

Lilith?

…

“ESTER!” Phern had called out my name from somewhere behind me. I was on the ship. Or rather, I was in the ship as I had crashed through whatever I had been thrown into. I could feel splintered wood digging into my back, pierced into my arms. I wasn’t sure how, or even why, but I was back in control. No other voices, no ravenous screaming in my mind. Just me.

“ESTER PLEASE GET UP! SHE NEEDS YOU!” Phern finally came into my vision, emerging on my left side with a panicked expression.

She was talking about Cecelia…

CECELIA!

“Agh, fuck! I’m coming Cecelia I-” Bones clicked together, some into place while others clicked out of place. I pried my battered body out of the wall I’d been crushed into and started to limp towards Cecelia. I could feel the blood that pumped through her body like a distant limb I had no control over. It was slow, a steady stream of blood leaking out from her chest. I needed to stop it.

“I can fix it… I can-” The rest of my words failed to leave my throat as an immense weight crashed into my back hurling me towards the back of the boat past Sebil and Cecelia.

“ESTER!” Phern screamed out as I tumbled into the front end of the ship.

“LUCAS!” Sebil yelled out towards Lucas, the weight that had pinned me against the edge of the boat, head pressed against the thick wooden railing.

“HANDS UP!” The words followed a swift movement from Lucas as he summoned a holy dagger into his palm to press it up against my chest, the tip already sizzling against the demonic skin it grazed. “Don’t fight me! I only need the Deathless.” I wanted to question his choice of hostage, personally, but there were far more important thoughts that took precedent. “Let me take her, and the rest of you can get Cecelia medical assistance at the village across the lake.”

“Lucas! You don’t need to do any of this!” Sebil attempted to plead with Lucas. The pain on his face was obscured by the now pouring rain that made it hard to discern whether the liquid dripping down his cheeks originated from his eyes or the heavens.

“Don’t question me! I have to do this! For the Empire.” I wondered who he believed this was for. His words came across more like he was attempting to persuade himself rather than others. If this wasn’t for himself… who did he think he needed to do this for? “I’m taking her! A fight on this boat will only jeopardize Cecelia. The Deathless comes with me…”

Lucas shuffled to his feet, keeping the tip of the dagger in its place just above my heart as he did so. It was my turn to awkwardly stand next, made considerably more difficult by the accumulated wounds I had gathered from the previous fight. That, and being slingshot into the side of a boat by Lucas. When he tried to move me towards the back of the boat was when I finally stood my ground.

“Cecelia first.”

“This is a trick.”

“No tricks, I promise. I need to help her before we go.” I spoke like I was asking him, but there was only one answer that I would accept. I could feel all of the blood seeping out of Cecelia, I would not leave this boat until I had stopped the bleeding. Lucas nervously tightened his grip on the summoned dagger. I could tell he wanted to refuse, every hesitant second standing near Phern and Sebil made him seem uncomfortable. Ashamed, even.

“Thirty seconds. Then we’re going.” Lucas kept his head facing downwards. I wondered how a person like him could truly ‘look away’ from someone when they wanted to. He seemed to be avoiding Sebil to the best of his ability despite certainly being aware of his presence through his own form of sight.

“Thank you, Lucas.” With more exertion than I would like to admit, I managed to lower my creaky bones down towards Cecelia. Her eyes remained closed, the only real indicator of her presence was the soft breath that exited her nostrils, and the rhythmic thumping of her heart. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. But it didn’t matter what I wanted, I needed to save her. I gently pressed my palm onto Cecelia’s stomach and closed my eyes. I just needed to stop the bleeding, something which sounded easy for blood outside of a body. The trick was managing to perform that same maneuver on blood that still flowed inside of another person. It was always more distant when it belonged to a living thing, like the ability to touch and manipulate it was reduced. Grabbing onto something slicked with butter rather than not.

With as delicate a presence as I could manage, I reached out towards Cecelia to attempt to coagulate some of her blood. As I did so, a distracting conversation began above me.

“Is this really it? This is what your heart is telling you?” Sebil asked, his words laced with an anger that was rarely ever heard from the man.

“Stop it. This isn’t for me.” Lucas didn’t turn his head towards Sebil, but responded nonetheless.

“You’re living your life for another, then?”

“It’s for Laia. For the Empire. Sometimes the cause is more important than the heart.”

“You drown out your heart with anything you can find so as not to hear it.” Sebil spat at Lucas.

“I’m done.” I interrupted the tense conversation once I had finished my task. As far as I could tell, I had managed to stop Cecelia’s bleeding. There was far more required to truly help her, but none of it was within my grasp. I could only hope Phern could scrounge up enough ingredients to help Cecelia once I was gone.

“We’re leaving.” Lucas stated bluntly as he wrapped his arms around me and started to usher me towards the back of the ship with him. Now that I was properly standing, he seemed willing to ‘officially’ restrain me with holy handcuffs that shimmered into existence around my hands that were both pulled behind my back. The boat Phern had unmoored came with a small rowing boat on the back, most likely to reach smaller fishing locations the entire boat couldn’t reach itself. Lucas hurriedly thrust me into the small rowing boat and stepped in after me.

My heart hurt as I looked back towards Phern, Sebil, and the still unconscious Cecelia. I wondered if I’d see them again. It felt like an abrupt end to something I hadn’t had the chance to fully appreciate yet. This second lease on life I’ve been lended felt far too short to end now, yet I’d be within the grasp of the Council in a day.

Once Lucas had situated himself within the small rowing boat, he moved towards the connecting ropes. The same dagger he had used to threaten me floated towards the ropes, hovering menacingly as Lucas waited.

“I thought you better, Lucas. If you wish to live as others command you, then you had better hope we never meet again. There is only space in my heart for the Lucas that listens to his heart.” Sebil spoke steadily despite the clear anguish on his face. There had clearly been conversations between the two that I had missed. Lucas seemed to almost recoil against the words that he heard.

“You thought wrong, Sebil.” Lucas swiped the dagger across the tethering ropes, freeing the small boat from the larger as we dropped into the waters below. A crack of thunder accompanied our fall into the waters below, as if a God was angry that they lost a bet over some prediction.