The Pillar of Enera

[Book II Chapter 101] SILVER: Revelations in the Undermist

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“Jonathan’s mansion should be just to the south.” Kate announced as they left Nolfis.

Silver glanced around at the mist-filled inverted forest his girlfriend had dragged him to. “Is this really necessary?” He complained.

Kate stopped and looked at him, cat tail flicking nervously. “You’re not excited to learn what damaged your soul when you were young?”

“Not really.” He admitted. “I don’t remember that thing, and I’ve begun recovering. I’m not sure what tracking it down would accomplish.”

“Besides,” He continued. “Your interest in this is unfair. I told you about my past, but you’ve never told me how you ended up on the Isle of Dreams.”

Kate hesitated, pursing her lips, then nodded. “A demoness burned my village. She had red skin and long curved horns. I only caught a glimpse of her before our house was set ablaze. We lived in a bakery, and my mother hid me in the oven.” She shivered. “I can still remember her screams as I pounded on the door…”

“I was almost dead when Arther rescued me. He’d been tracking the Laughing Man when he somehow found me in the smoldering ruins. End of story.”

“Was the arsonist caught?” Silver asked.

Kate shook her head. “She escaped back to the demon world before she could be identified.”

Silver contemplated silently. “Do you think she was one of the Laughing Man’s apostles?”

Kate frowned. “I don’t know. It’s true that he was in the region, but Arther figured it was because he loves spectating tragedies. Of course, we didn’t know about the apostles at the time…”

As he listened, Silver smiled. “Let’s hunt her down.”

“There’s no need.” Kate quickly objected. “It was so long ago——”

“I’ll go along with tracking down the creature that attacked me.” Silver interjected. “And in exchange you’ll help me find the one who destroyed your village. Deal?”

Kate opened and closed her mouth before finally saying, “Sure.”

“Then let’s get going.” Silver sprinted off. He’d believed this outing to be pointless, but his attitude had done a one eighty. Understanding Kate’s past alone makes it worthwhile.

They left the purple-leaved trees and crossed a weed-filled field. Silver spotted a road in the fog, which meant Thornbridge Manor was near. Going through an old metal gate, he halted abruptly. What on Enera…

On the side of the path, a small rift shimmered ten feet in the air surrounded by three overlapping magic circle which glowed a sinister violet. This was not what he had expected to find.

Kate eyed the magic skittishly, “Do you think it connects to the Moonlit Lands?”

“That would make the most sense…” Silver replied.

“Why would this be here?” Kate whispered in a urgent voice. “Isn’t it incredibly dangerous?”

“Calm down,” Silver said, frowning. “If this is Jonathan Bark’s property, there may be an explanation. We should find him.” At the very least, no monsters were coming out.

Kate shook her head. “Opening a portal to that place during a Dark Age is madness. I see no justification.”

A man in black emerged from the rift, staring at the ground and mumbling to himself. When his eyes met theirs, panic swept his face, then receded just as fast. He cringed, averting his gaze.

Before Silver could ask a question, he felt them arrive. It was the strangest sensation, an army of summons crossing over all at once. They appeared on all sides, giant monstrosities of every imaginable type. Somehow he knew each one was stronger then they were.

“Enough of that.” Came a sharp voice. “As long as you are a guest here, no violence is permitted on the premise.”

The nightmares around them froze as their summoner jerked in fright. After a short moment, the man waved, and they vanished.

“My apologies…” He turned away from them. “I forgot where I was and acted on instinct.”

Another man, dressed in the finest clothes, walked out of the mist. “No harm done.” He said with a smile. “Dorothee has prepared a lavish feast. Why don’t you and our new arrivals join us for dinner?”

A couple of minutes later they were led to a somber dinning room, where a middle-aged man looked up from the head of the table and smiled. “Alucard warned me we’d be receiving more guests. It’s always a pleasure to see new faces.”

His pleasant demeanor faded as he sensed the tension it the air. “Did something happen?” He asked.

“Adam Bishop ran into our young friends here returning from the Moonlit Lands.” Alucard explained. “Without my intervention, there would’ve been an altercation.” More of a massacre, Silver thought bitterly.

“I see…” Jonathan glanced at Adam. “Good job. Please keep maintaining the peace.”

“Of course,” Alucard bowed.

“I tolerate no violence at Thornbridge Manor.” Jonathan declared. “Now, with that settled, I invite everyone to join me.”

Silver and Kate sat across from Alucar and Adam. Neither of them had an appetite. Instead they stared as the man who had attempted to murder them gobble his food carefree.

“Why did you attack us?” Silver had no desire to skirt around the issue.

Adam swallowed and shrugged, “I recognized you as enemies and moved to dispatch you. Pardon the mistake.”

“Will you hunt us down once we leave?” Silver asked.

Adam shook his head. “You needn’t worry. Since Jonathan has offered you hospitality, killing you would turn him against us, which we can’t afford.”

‘We’? As I though, he’s one of Torak’s disciples. “What are y——” Silver began but Kate tugged on his arm.

“Before that,” She said. “Let’s ask our host the question we came to find the answer to.”

Silver sat back and let Kate explain the circumstances behind their visit. “Do you have any idea what could have been responsible?” She finished.

“I immediately suspect a cipactli.” Jonathan answered. “Those crocodilian monsters are always hungry, with mouths on every joint of their body. They’re also one of the few Moonlit denizens who feed on both fear and anger. Perhaps a sufficiently brutal attack by such a creature might produce the injuries Silver suffered.”

“However, you’re asking the wrong person.” Jonathan gesture to Adam. “We have here a man who knows even more than I do about the Moonlit Lands.”

“Would you help them?” He entreated. Silver and Kate looked over skeptically.

Sighing, Adam put down his knife and fork. “You’re searching for a Cipactli named Tizoc. He was one of my earliest familiars. Greedy, even for his kind, he developed a troublesome ability to not only devour a person’s present emotions, but their future ones too. Once I discovered this, I quickly rid myself of him.”

“Do you know where we might find him?” Kate jumped in.

“He’s a lesser sovereign without a fixed territory.” Adam revealed. “Locating him over there would prove difficult. I suggest you wait. He’ll be coming to Enera soon.”

Silver narrowed his eyes. “What are you planning?” He demanded.

“I intend to invoke the mother of all ruptures, releasing the Nightmare King and his legions into our world.” Adam stated plainly.

Silver and Kate gasped. Johnathan raised an eyebrow, “No subtlety whatsoever.”

“There’s no point in concealing it.” Adam resumed eating. “Once Astra learns of my activity here, she’ll deduce as much.”

“Why are you attempting to destroy creation?” Kate asked.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to live in a perpetual state of terror? To feel fright imagining the worse outcomes in every circumstances?”

“Isn’t this something you did to yourself?” Silver objected.

“I adopted it as a way of life, and it became the source of my power. This doesn’t change the taxing effect it’s had on me over the centuries. I’m tired, oh so tired…” Adam trailed off. “Yet, what I’ve experienced is but the tiniest fraction of what Torak has endured for eternity. He deserves rest. I understand this better than anyone.”

“And you’re willing to sacrifice everyone on the planet to achieve it.” Silver said.

“Who has offered the peaceful embrace of death to all those who have ever lived? If not for him, the souls of the deceased would linger in limbo, suffering endlessly.” Adam stated coldly. “When I kill in Torak’s name, I am merely collecting the tribute owed to him.”

The rest of meal proceeded in silence. Later in the evening, Silver and Kate tracked Jonathan down and found him standing before a large painting. It depicted a figure in warped armor with sharp red pupils.

“The Nightmare King?” Silver guessed.

“Indeed,” Jonathan responded. “The one who will soon grace the world with his presence.”

“What made you turn to the dark side?” Silver pressed.

At this, Jonathan laughed. “I’ve always been on the dark side! Tragedy and horror are my life’s work.”

“You know what I mean.” Silver said coldly.

Jonathan grew serious. “I wish to see the moonlit denizens marching Enera in all their twisted splendor. That’s all.”

Silver couldn’t hide his disbelief. “You’re betraying humanity on a whim?”

Jonathan ran his fingers over the canvas. “I’ve live isolated from the world, alone in this unchanging place. When Torak’s disciples approached me, I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse them. At least, not one that held any weight.”

Silver couldn’t wrap his mind around the author’s logic. “This could lead to Torak’s victory. Even if it doesn’t, you’ll end up in Tartarus. Either way, you’ll be finished.”

“I am well-aware of the ramifications, thank you.” Jonathan smirked, seemingly unconcerned.

“Don’t some of your descended still live in Glimvale?” Kate chimed in.

Sadness flashed on Jonathan’s face. “They do. Fortunately, with the warnings you’ll bring back, they’ll have the opportunity to flee. Adam and his companions are nowhere near completing their preparations. They’re missing a crucial piece for their ritual.”

“I don’t get it.” Kate exclaimed. “If you’re working with them, then why are you helping us in this way?”

“Torak’s disciples are interested in the slaughter. I’m after the spectacle.” Jonathan responded.

“Besides…” He added softly. “If I were truly their ally, I would unleash Alucard upon the world. Even the Nightmare King pales before the deaths a vampire plague would bring.”