Diary of the Shadow Queen

Maxine hummed to herself as she tasted her freshly brewed wine and sighed in disappointment. It had a very good taste, at least, compared to the other local liquors, but nowhere near as good as the wines brewed on Earth. This is one of those things that requires experience to improve it rather than skill. Still, it's more than good enough to sell to the local taverns.

Maxine shrugged and began to bottle the keg of mead. The task was made much easier with her recently purchased bottling tools that she was only able to afford due to the bodyguard work two months ago. Thankfully, those two nations had signed a peace treaty, but rumors had gone around that the Chanti Empire was still gathering resources as if they were preparing for something. However, there was nothing to indicate what they were really planning. The only thing that stood out to Maxine was a spy that seemed particularly interested in watching shifters that were shopping.

Regardless, she put it out of her mind. She had more important things to worry about than possible conflicts with other nations. It wasn't like any single nation was a threat to her in the least. She could literately take over this planet single handedly if she really wanted to. The only reason she's shown as much caution as she has is because Emily was likely to give birth any day now. While the rest of them could defend themselves, Emily and their unborn child were not in any condition to do so.

"Maxine, Darzog is here to see you about something," Hellen said as she from the doorway, "He's waiting in the living room for you while you finish up in there."

"Alright, I'm almost done anyways," Maxine said loudly to Hellen.

"Good," Hellen said, "Now, I need to go back to keeping an eye on Emily. She looks about ready to pop."

"I'll join you later," Maxine said calmly as she shoved a cork into place.

Maxine swiftly left the storage room and made her way to the living room. She spotted Darzog in his human form instantly. He was a lanky man with the exact same shade of dark brown hair as his transformed state. He was one of those few people that made you want to trust them after only speaking to him for a short time. It was probably why he was elected as their alpha and represented the shifters whenever the city's leadership needed something. Maxine was also given the role of advisor simply because she was far more knowledgeable than any other shifter.

"Hey, Darzog. How's little Dannar?" Maxine asked.

"He's doing great," Darzog said with a grateful grin, "And I wish I was just here to let you know that."

"I figured as much," Maxine said, "So, what's the problem?"

"Well, one of the young women working at the butchery has been acting oddly. I think she's sick," Darzog said, "I was hoping that you or your sister could take a look at her."

"I'll talk with Thera," Maxine said calmly, "But just to be clear who we are talking about, it is Clarice that needs to be looked at, right?"

"Yes, it is," Darzog replied and Maxine sighed.

"She hasn't been in Izkar for even a week," Maxine said bluntly, "I hope that you're aware that she could easily be bait to lure out our medicine maker."

"I'm aware," Darzog said calmly, "But I don't want to see our people suffer needlessly when I can do something about it."

"And that's why everyone trusts you so much," Maxine said with a knowing smile, "Still, Thera should be able to treat any normal ailments. If she can't do anything, we'll see about having the medicine maker take a look. Just make sure that Clarice understand what will happen to her if she reveals the identity of our medicine maker." I'm still surprised that nobles havn't figured out that I'm the medicine maker. I've literately been monitoring them to know the exact moment when they do. It's obvious to me, but perhaps, it's not so obvious to everyone else.

"I'll be sure to impress upon her the importance of this," Darzog said.

"Good, so long as she understands," Maxine said calmly, "By the way, what tipped you off that she was sick? And what do you mean that she was acting oddly?"

"The first day she was at work she seemed fine and amiable. But the following few days, she got increasingly aggressive and angry," Darzog explained, "And this morning she recoiled from the door when I came to check on her. At that time, she had a mild fever." That doesn't sound good. In fact, it sounds eerily similar to rabies.

"Where does she live?" Maxine asked swiftly and grabbed a satchel filled with various powders and vials as she instantly changed her mind, "Scratch that. Take me there, right now!" When it comes to rabies or anything ailment that effects the brain, any delay can leave permanent damage. I don't care if it outs me as their medicine maker. She needs immediate treatment!

Darzog hesitated for only a moment before rushing out of Maxine's home with Maxine running behind him. She got a few curious looks from a few onlookers, but their path was relatively unimpeded. They turned several times before Darzog began to slow infront of a small hovel. Maxine spread out her spiritual sense and looked inside of it before he could touch the door. And she was grateful that she had. Clarice had torn apart the interior of her home while in a half-way transformed state that was reminiscent of a tiger and seemed to be struggling to keep herself in control.

Maxine delved deeper and scanned Clarice's body with her spiritual sense and found the majority of the viral infection in her brain. The next highest concentration was in her saliva glands and the rest was scattered throughout her body. Just as I thought. It's very similar to rabies and I have something already prepared that should get rid of it. It's also good that the poor woman has realized what's happening to her and is trying to keep herself contained to avoid spreading this infection.

Maxine grabbed Darzog's wrist before he could reach for the door. "Don't," Maxine said softly, "You need to stay out here. I know what that illness is and my particular variety of shifter has a high resistance to it. Yours does not." Darzog gave her a confused look before nodding his head and backing away.

Maxine transformed into her battle state and very carefully opened the door to Clarice's hovel. The woman instantly turned to face Maxine with a snarl, but had the presence of mind to warn Maxine off. "Get away from me! I can't... control myself for much longer," Clarice growled out, "Run before the black rage consumes me!" Is that what they call this illness? The black rage? Seems fitting since it drives those infected with it into a feral rage.

"You have a brain infection," Maxine said slowly and carefully, "It's causing you to feel intense rage. I have some medicine that can cure this infection, but I need you to drink it for it to work. Can you do that?"

There were a tense handful of seconds before Clarice nodded and held out her hand. Maxine very carefully retrieved a vial of the medicine from her satchel and placed it into Clarice's hand. "Drink it all in one go," Maxine said gently and held her ground as Clarice ripped off the stopper before downing the concoction down her throat, "Good. It'll take a little time to work, so I'm going to put you to sleep now." With lightning speed, Maxine dipped her hand into her satchel and removed it with her palm held up before breathing out hard to scatter a potent sleeping powder directly into Clarice's face. The woman was surprised for half a beat before rushing at Maxine. However, she hit the ground at Maxine's feet and reverted back to her human state.

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Clarice's clothes were in shambles, but still covered the more sensitive areas. "Okay, Darzog, you can come in," Maxine said over her shoulder and waited for Darzog to join her before she said anything else, "I don't know if I got to her in time. We need to find a place to keep her contained until she wakes up."

"I can help with that," Melvin Temmil said as he walked through the open door behind them.

"And how did you know to come here?" Darzog asked cautiously.

"We were running through town. That isn't something either of us do unless there is a problem," Maxine pointed out, "Melvin just came to see what was going on."

"Precisely," Melvin Temmil said, "With that out of the way, I believe you mentioned that you needed a place to contain her. Might I ask why?"

"Clarice contracted an illness that she referred to as the 'Black Rage' before I dosed her with a knockout powder,'" Maxine said, "Our medicine maker already had a cure made in advance. As for why it was made in advance, this is the kind of ailment is that you can't wait for the medicine to be made. It has to be ready beforehand to prevent the patient from becoming completely feral."

"I see," Melvin Temmil said to himself, "Let's get her to the isolation room at the wizard's tower."

"Thank you," Maxine said as she threw Clarice over her shoulder and Darzog gave Maxine a glance before he left. He's probably off to go check on the rest of the community. Clarice was handling meat afterall. It's possible that some of it could be contaminated. Just to be sure, though, I'll remind him later to keep an eye on everyone that bought meat during the time that Clarice was working for him.

"I was expecting Darzog to carry her," Melvin Temmil commented as he lead the way.

"My variety of shifter has a greater degree of resistance to the 'Black Rage' than the other shifters," Maxine said bluntly, "Even if she wakes up and bites me, I should be fine until more of the medicine can be made."

"Yes, I seem to remember that reptiles don't seem to be affected by it," Melvin Temmil remarked, "And it's good that you caught it this early. I would hate to see such a beautiful woman turn into a raging beast while her body literately rots." Oh, shit! Is that was this illness does? That's all kinds of disturbing and that's creepily similar to the behavior of zombies in fiction.

"We certainly caught it early enough to spare her body, but I'm not so sure about her mind," Maxine said sadly as she spotted the wizard's tower ahead, "And her illness may not have been an accident." I wouldn't put it past the Chanti Empire to pull a move of biological warfare. They wanted to cripple this city with a group of insane shifters, but they failed to realize that the Black Rage can easily infect humans as well. Idiots messing with viruses like this is how a zombie apocalypse gets started.

"How certain are you of that?" Melvin Temmil asked seriously.

"Thirty percent," Maxine replied, "While the timing of her illness is suspicious, it doesn't scream conspiracy. That is unless there are similar incidents in other neutral cities."

"I'll inform the archmage about this," Melvin Temmil said, "But first, let's see to this young lady."

Maxine continued to follow Melvin Temmil into the wizard tower and made special care to only step where he stepped. Wizard towers were notorious for being death traps to the unwelcome and unwary. Wizards could literately kill enemies a full stage above them as long as they had proper preparations and they are the most prepared to defend themselves when residing in their tower. Wizards are kind of like batman. With enough prep time, they can beat people significantly stronger than they are, but as a form of balance, they are also the most fragile form of cultivator.

Melvin Temmil walked up several flights of stairs before they reached a holding cell made of some kind of transparent material. Maxine lowered Clarice onto the bed within it and heard the reinforced door shut behind her just as she left it.

"If she isn't sane after waking up, kill her quickly," Maxine said firmly, "Even when reduced to little more than a feral animal, some part of her will still be aware of what she's become. It'd be a mercy for her."

"Understood. I'll see to it that silverine bullets are prepared," Melvin Temmil said softly, "Can you find your way out?"

"Yes, I can," Maxine said, "And thank you for helping us."

"You never have to thank me for that," Melvin Temmil said with a gentle smile.

"You still havn't given up on me," Maxine said firmly.

"Never," Melvin Temmil said with a grin before he turned around, "Now, I need to make a report to the archmage. I'll see you another day."

"Bye," Maxine said as she started making her way out of the wizard's tower. However, as she exited it, she found group of priests and their followers staring right at her with a worshipful gaze. It made her very uncomfortable.

"Miss Maxine, it's a pleasure to see you again," the head priest, Zackariah, said in greeting, "I was wondering when you might drop by for a visit to the church of the goddess today." Maxine did not need this kind of frustration at the moment.

"Another day," Maxine said diplomatically. Hell, no. I looked into this goddess. She is literately worshiped by every shifter in the city and this goddess looks a hell of a lot like I do in my full-hybrid form. There is no way in hell that I will go anywhere near that church and be declared their 'holy daughter' the moment I set foot in there. I rather have all of my teeth pulled out.

"That's unfortunate," Zackariah said in a disappointed tone, "I'll just have to ask one of the other priests to escort your younger siblings home later."

"Why are they at your church?" Maxine asked while trying to keep her hostility out of her tone, "They were both told quite explicitly to stay within one hundred paces of our home. That is unless you somehow forced them to go there."

"I wouldn't dare do that," Zackariah said without missing a beat, "They were invited along with your mother." With a thought, Maxine spread out her spiritual sense and scanned the interior of church of the goddess. Neither Hellen or her younger siblings were within it. So, he's lying through his teeth. I was so surprised at his bullshit that he almost tricked me.

"First, you say Lucas and Reena were at your church without supervision and needed me to bring them home," Maxine said calmly, "And now you are saying my mother is with them. You're obviously lying and just so you know a good lie is one that's consistent. Have a good day." She walked around their group and began to head home. Now, I'm definitely avoiding that church like the plague.

On the way, she spotted a few people that were paying quite a bit more attention to her than normal. However, she brushed it off after thinking about it for a moment. She had literately just walked past them not that long ago in a transformed state with a young woman slung over her shoulder. Of course, they would be curious about her.

Just as she reached the front door, she felt an extremely hostile gaze on her back. She whipped her head around instinctively to look at whomever it was. However, she didn't spot anyone at all. There was only a nearly empty street with a brothel at the end of it.

Maxine looked around for a few more seconds before going inside and spread out her spiritual sense in that direction. She didn't find a single suspicious person. She was beginning to get a little worried. Whomever was hostile was clearly far more adept at remaining inconspicuous than anyone else on this planet. Great, that's one more worry to add to the pile. Now, I have to keep an eye on Emily all the time. I can't risk leaving her undefended while she's this close to giving birth. Still, this is way better than having to worry about other powerful cultivators. At least, here I can easily handle any problems that might crop up.

Maxine went back to work while keeping her spiritual sense trained on Emily, but she frowned when she detected a lot of activity in the street. What's going on, now? She quickly became alarmed when many of the shifters were getting visibly nervous as they were moving towards Darzog's home. Oh, maybe someone heard about the girl with the Black Rage. It wouldn't be surprising to see them worked up over that, but its a little odd that they found out this quickly. It hasn't even been an hour. Someone must've spread the word intentionally either just before or right as me and Darzog were tending to Clarice. Why would someone do that, though? I don't see any realistic reason why anyone would bother. Now, I should stop with this line of thinking before I give myself a headache. In any case, if Clarice was intentionally infected with the Black Rage, we should be hearing about the reason for it soon enough.