A Knight's Lilies

“When souls are left tormented in a state of unfulfilled agony, they will oftentimes search for a way back to the mortal plane. This might take the grim but more classic route of necromancy, in which the soul energy is shoved back into a host body to rise once more. Or it could take the route of some more esoteric phenomenon. That being incorporeal forms such as wraiths, ghosts, poltergeists and more. Now traditional thinking places the undead corporeal shells as the greater threat because statistically they are more identifiable and hence most reported. However, when one considers that maintaining an ethereal form physically drains mana from their locations, one quickly realizes that the ‘phantoms’ can be far more dangerous in that they need active life forces to sustain their very existence in this plane. Making them not just unnatural monsters, but creatures whose only goal is to hunt down the living to survive.”

-   An Adventurer’s Guide to Beasts Vol 2: The Undying Hordes

She was terribly cold, her breath frosted up in the air in front of her, her body trembled as it fought to remain still despite the shivering. Her attention was only roused when the sounds of a commotion occurred not too far away past the front door. Eh?

“Something’s coming, please open up?” The lemurach pleaded once more.

Sophie winced at how its voice brought back flashes of Riza when the two first met. Of the sadness and grief in her voice. Sophie strained her ears, focusing on the distant sounds as she struggled to ignore the pleas.

Something snappy echoed outside, then a loud pop before she felt the air around her shift slightly. Like it was being sucked away. It’s like the air is leaving, like the mana is leaving! Spells? Is it Mila? Her eyes slowly opened back up, weary from the cold but filled with hope anew. Her suspicions were soon confirmed when the distinctive neighing of frightened horses cut through the din outside. They’re in trouble, shit!

Her brain slowly scrambled back to awareness second by second. Her eyes landed on the doorway and the shadow that still spilled into the room from the gaps. Gotta get out of here, but how? She carefully craned her neck around the room, searching every nook and cranny until her eyes landed on the far side windows and the rope holding the shutters closed. Ah-ha!

She knew she wouldn’t be able to fight it, she could try, but it would be fruitless. Though she was better than a civilian she doubted she would last too long in a normal sword fight, much less against some spirit creature here to devour souls. Thus she needed to distract it.

She inched over towards the window, one agonizingly slow motion after another to avoid agitating the lemurach. A flurry of pops outside hurried her progress, the panic and fear subsiding slightly as she hyper focused onto crawling towards the rope. With one last effort she pushed herself up and grabbed hold of the rope. Here goes nothing.

One tug was all it took and the rope came loose, the shutters banging against the walls as they were pulled open. Almost instantly she heard the lemurach react, the spirit unleashing a tirade of pleas as it raced to the other side of the safe house.

“I’m just lonely and scared! Please don’t run! I’ll be good, I promise!”

Sophie shuddered when the strange squelchy skittering of something passed by the wall she was next to and for a brief second, she wondered what would happen if she did just let the lemurach in. But after shaking away the thought she wasted no time in sprinting for the backdoor, flinging it open before rushing outside. Her speed however, was her downfall, and Sophie found herself face planting into the little stone pathway near the flowerbeds.

She groaned from the pain, the sudden shock, at least, jolted all of her nerves to full functionality. Ow, ow, ow! She gently caressed her cheek, annoyed but mostly in pain when she finally surveyed the horrifying nature of the lemurach. The flowers had all withered and died under the intense cold, violets, roses, marigolds and lilies all rested frozen in their planters. To her surprise she spied a singular flower, weakened but still standing in the furthest planter. Curious, she reached down to touch it, the cold sending shivers down her spines just as her fingertips brushed it.

“Where did you go?!” The lemurach cried out, her voice coming back around.

Shit. Without thinking, Sophie plucked the little lily, tucking it behind her ear, its petals tickling her skin ever so gently. By the Goddess, MIla, anyone, please help. She muttered to herself before she burst out of the courtyard and sprinted down the alley back towards the town square.

“Stop running! I’m right here!” The lemurach roared from the safehouse, a hint of fury in its voice.

Not daring to turn around, she just ran and ran, leaping over barricades, pushing past discarded weapons and over exerting her body in an effort to reach the square. But something was wrong, besides the abandoned battlefield, she could see no signs of the others, no horse or even a trace of them remaining. She froze and looked around, blinking profusely in a vain attempt to steady herself. Where…where did they go?

There was a small scorch mark that left some soot on the side of the fountain, the only new detail that she noticed. But aside from that she could not see them. In a panic she spun around on the spot, scanning every little thing to ascertain that she wasn’t missing anything, that she was just hallucinating. No, no! Where are they?!

She crashed furiously through the debris, scattered weapons left and right, the metallic clangs ringing out loudly throughout the empty streets. It was here, they were right besides the statues, I swear! I am certain, the weird druid statues. She huffed in exhaustion, her shoulders rising up and down as panic continued to set in. But where are they? I don’t see them. Is there a note? An arrow? Is there-

“Found you.” A shrill, chilly whisper breathed down her neck.

Her stomach dropped and her muscles froze in place. Something breathed uncomfortably close to her back, the presence looming over her, a sickening bony cracking with every move it made. Fuck, fuck, fuck! She began hyperventilating as all thoughts left her head, the horrible chill surrounding her making her tremble. For a moment she contemplated running, but nothing worked, her body refused to function. Yet when the presence grew just a little closer, Sophie couldn’t help herself, forcefully tearing her frigid limbs from their positions and slowly turning around, her eyes widening at the monstrosity before her.

What was once a slender woman stalked closer towards her. Tight fitting but decorated tunic, torn skirt and leather boots indicated she had once been a wealthy burgher or lower noble of sorts. Though for Sophie, that mattered little. The lemurach was instantly identifiable by how inhuman it looked. Its arms arched unnaturally far back, the bones likely long broken; her legs propelled her upwards, like a puppet being forcefully stretched vertically. Beyond that it was hole where her nose was that allowed Sophie to see the other side of the square, or perhaps the missing eye that left a gaping hole in its skull which indicated it to be unnatural. If anything it was the unnerving smile the creature had, polite almost, if not for the fact that it only kept growing and growing and growing, until her mouth stretched from ear to ear, the singular eyeball unfocused and lolling with every motion.

“Hello.” It smiled, opening the entirety of its mouth and face. Frosty dried blood stains decorated its teeth, an icy mist sent barrelling out with the simple words, the creature's neck growing longer with every second.

There were teeth, many, far too many teeth, and a tongue that uncoiled itself from within that now stalked uncomfortably close to Sophie's face. For the first time in a long time, Sophie screamed.

Her scream had been so visceral that not just the creature got stunned, but she found herself unable to speak or utter any noises besides a dry cough. Seizing the moment, she took one fearful glance up towards the castle and broke out in a mad sprint. The lemurach roared with angered agony, the shriek from behind her shattering what few windows were nearby and very nearly destroying her ear drums as well. But that mattered little, she had to run.

The streets echoed with the sounds of their pursuit, her boots slapping against the cobble streets and the cracking of the lemurach’s bones. But she felt a change in her surroundings, a darkness that fell upon her which clouded her mind. I…I was left behind…they left me.

She crashed her way into an alleyway, shoving aside the flimsy wooden mantlet that cut the alleyway off. Behind her she could hear the lemurach, the wretched creature’s gnarled hands shattering what was left of the mantlet. Crap, crap, please.

Sophie was devastated, the unpleasant echoes of her experience in the Mistveil returning in full force as she dashed around in a panic. The feelings of loneliness and pain overwhelming her mind, seizing control from more rational thoughts. Where did they go? I don’t want to be alone here. Mila said she would be back. Sophie shook off her malaise and kept going, stifling her doubts until she was safe.

The city however, seemed to have other ideas. Whatever darkness wracked the city had been absolute. The deeper she went, the more destruction she saw. Whereas the town square and outer areas had mostly just destroyed houses and barricades, the damages were mostly superficial if still disquieting. Yet, here, there was no longer any doubt that something horrible happened. Violence, was the first thought she had when she glanced at the claw marks which raked deep scars into the walls. The barricades here too had suffered greatly, many lay shattered or crumpled into doorways like some makeshift battering ram. The houses themselves, though larger than the ones before by a room or even a story, had also in turn experienced much more vicious attacks. No building here escaped unscathed, many bricks, planks, and stone lay scattered across the street. Another obstacle in her frantic flight.

“Why are you afraid my dear?” The lemurach with Riza’s voice purred loudly.

Sophie shuddered but had a horrid realization, she was getting tired. With no awareness of how far or long she had run, the lemurach had simply just kept up, watching its prey exhaust itself. Her muscles ached, her mind ran ragged, her emotions shot, she was on the verge of collapse. There’s no one else here, just me.

Her clothing clung to her skin, the fabric soaked with sweat from the effort but she was just as unrelenting as the lemurach, which also grew increasingly agitated. It was only when she reached the gate which separated the wealthier districts from the outer section that she paused, her path ahead blocked. Not only that, but she finally turned around, her eyes glancing back at the devastation around her. Here, death had finally left its mark. Where blood had only been splattered occasionally around the houses, here she had not even noticed the streets stained with red. She grimaced at the thought of how many people it must’ve taken to dye the streets red, Were they trying to get in? Or out?

She bashed at the gate, scraped at it, knocked politely, then angrily, but nothing seemed to work. She threw herself at the door, her body doing nothing but injuring itself with every attempt. Sore, tired and frustrated, she looked around and found only little alleyways around her besides the main road. Though she considered sprinting down one, there was something odd about them, like the shadows themselves seemed to be moving on their own, writhing as they fought to grow.

Time was not on her side, and at last she found herself at an impasse, trapped under the shadow of the gate, her only way out back down the street where the lemurach approached. Seeing her paused and standing at the gate, the lemurach paused, retracting the body’s arms as it stood back on two legs. A wide grin overtook its face and Sophie could only slump against the doorway, awaiting the inevitable with one trembling hand weakly waving the sabre in its general direction. Ah...fuck. For her it was over, a strange sense of resignation began overwhelming her body, her muscles simply giving up, their energy spent and their fate sealed. With an exhausted sigh, she let the adrenaline fade, the instincts that urged her to run suppressed so that she rest. Defeated, she slumped down against the gate, plopping on the ground with a sad little thud. In the name of the stars, I can't believe the gates are closed, all because what? The people behind them were peasants? Not fit to tread in the noble district? I can't believe this shit. By the saint damnned hells!

“So feisty, but now so docile, how delectable.” It spoke as a long tongue slithered out from between its maw.

Her brief moment of rage subsided as it stalked closer, replaced by a onrush of sadness, of realizing that she was, alone once more, left to die. I’m going to die alone, but I don't wanna, I want to see Eva, to show her my new sister, and...Sophie stifled her emotions, focusing all her attention on the creature when it gently pushed her trembling blade aside, the creature leaning down towards her as the fleshy viscera squelched with every step. It loomed over her, the singular eye extending itself towards her, the veins and blood vessels holding it together spilling out from the socket. By the Goddess, save me. Sophie was struck by how cold its breath was, the dark bloodied maw of a face-mouth unexpectedly frigid much like the energy emitted by the creature. It stopped just above her and Sophie could hear the cracking of bones as it’s neck stretched downwards inhumanly close, the countless rotted little gaps in its flesh further unsettling her.

Its tongue suddenly launched itself at her and Sophie squealed in fear. But as suddenly as it struck, it recoiled, like a child tasting something sour for the first time. The monstrous maw contorted in disgust, the singular eyeball pulling itself back into the socket as the tongue now more cautiously gave her another lick. Dried parchment like skin rubbed against her face, the frigid saliva eliciting an unnatural fear in Sophie that stunned her and brought about a disgustingly warm trickle running between her legs. Once more the lemurach recoiled, and for the first time Sophie could see confusion wracking its monstrous features when it reeled backwards.

“So warm, so tender, but the flesh, why do you taste like the dead?” It hissed in disgust.

Sophie could not answer and just continued trembling, the uncomfortable warmth now pooling under her in a puddle. Without warning, the creature's arms crackled as its bones were dislocated once more and lifted Sophie up against the gate, tearing the back of her tunic against the rough wooden gate in the process. Still unsatisfied, the lemurach then ripped open her tunic and Sophie could feel the rotted icy flesh of the creature press up under her breast. It landed with a calm almost pleasant chill before a searing pain followed.

For a moment, she only heard her own panicked breathing, her mind still in a panic until the creature finally released her, leaning backwards and scrutinizing every part of her even more intently.

“Lively, but heartless. How? Or rather…” It paused, a sickening crack echoed throughout the street as it readjusted it’s neck back into place, “Why is one dead yet alive, and so...untarnished. Why is one like you, here?”

Sophie felt momentary relief when it placed her down, the creature no longer looked set on consuming her. But still filled with fear, she could only gulp and raise her free hand to point at the tower. The lemurach looked almost thoughtful with its one eye, raising its own arm to follow the trajectory of Sophie’s hand.

“Why there?” It pressed, and Sophie winced when it’s tongue licked the bottom of her palm.

“Cr-crystal.” She managed to stammer out, her voice still hoarse and fading fast.

“Why?” The lemurach clicked its jaw, narrowing its mouth in displeasure when it took one more look at her, a hungry look on her face.

That was in fact a very good question, she herself only vaguely understood that it was energy that belonged or was useful to the entity. But she did know that the ‘fake entity’ of the cult also had something to do with it. Weighing her answer, Sophie was unsure, but clenched her eyes shut as hoped it would not sense the deception.

“H-hungry.” She whispered, an answer not technically incorrect, as she was tired, filthy and scared. But only the entity wanted the crystal, arguably hungry for either its power or to disrupt the nascent false entity. Whatever it wanted, she could only speculate unless it tolkd her more.

The lemurach seemed to pause, contemplating her words when suddenly its one eye lit up with whatever excitement its monstrous visage could muster.

“Hunger, a feeling I all know too well. Say…what if I were to help you get to your food, will you help me in return? Fair’s fair.” It giggled.

Though it sounded like Riza, seeing the creature’s entire neck vibrate only unsettled Sophie further. Reluctantly, she nodded, figuring she didn't have many options anyways. But on seeing her agreement, the smile it produced sent a shiver running down her spine and across her chest.

“Splendid, all I desire is one particular…morsel. Nothing more than a...lying weasel man, one who…accelerated my downfall.” It growled, the massive teeth gnashing excitedly a little too close for comfort, “He’s in the tower as well. A remarkable coincidence really. And!” It raised one hand up, the gnarled fingers snapping into place as they straightened themselves, “You and I won’t be alone.”

Before the words could even register themselves in Sophie’s mind, the lemurach seized her by the waist and threw her over its shoulder. Its skin was frighteningly cold, almost frozen even, and every moment Sophie’s bare skin touched the creature she could feel a searing pain spread from the point of contact. She dangled helplessly in the lemurach’s grasp and lamented how pathetic she was for not even resisting the creature. But was there even any point? The others... Disgusted at her own cowardice, she could only clench her eyes firmly shut as the lemurach began skittering past the city streets with her in tow at a dizzying pace.

Goddess forgive my weakness…and please keep the others safe.