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BCTheEntity
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dragonpiece
Lucid Dreaming
Noctis
Dark Summonings: Part 1
Location: Unknown
Time: Unknown
A crow shot off into the air. The sense of magic disappearing in her wake, leaving a sense of absence and lure in her wake. Its feathers rustled with dust as it rushed higher. Gradually it drifted even before it rested alight upon a twisted branch overhead. Its strong claws gripped the gnarled texture easily while it flipped about. A feathered head twisted right then left, observing the creature below.
The glossy black eyes seemed to study intently for several moments then emitted a harsh caw.
Around the figures were a small forest of trees. Their bark appeared to bleed magic creating a thickness in the air, adding to the atmosphere. Gnarled branches twisted into menacing shapes to leer at trespassers. Their surfaces appeared to be burnt, but no true fire had ever touched them. Unseen eyes stalked them from secret hiding places while the mist closed in. Again, another harsh caw cried for the vampire to follow before the bird took off flying.
“Ngh…” Katarina grumbled and muttered profanities in German to herself as she roused her form painfully from the ground, and took a look at her surroundings. And they were some surroundings alright. This was no Nevada any longer, that was for sure - or if it was, then it was a long way away from where she and Ben had been- wait. Katarina glanced about, concerned and confused. Where did he go? Where was she?
“Benjamin?!”
Her voice echoed into the forests, into the inky mists that swirled and broiled about her... There was no response, except for the cawing of a crow... Katarina scowled at the bird, which appeared to wish for her to follow. Kat, for her part, now very irritated and unhappy at whatever bullshit she’d been dropped into this time, unsheathed her rapier in response, and looked about for any other path. “Hm. Natürlich, there’s only one way, and it’s the way of that damn bird-”
It cawed again.
“Shut up!”
Katarina also unslung her assault rifle from her shoulder… she didn’t think it’d be too useful in this land of magical mystical misty forests, but it couldn’t hurt, right? Scowling once again at the bird, she slowly followed it down the path, looking about for any sign of… whatever was in this forest. Internally, the desire to become the Gheist in the face of this danger began to claw at her thoughts, but she was able to suppress it… for now.
The bird fluttered off the branch. Its wings caught the air and drifted into the sky, the dark shape glided along the warm draft it caught. It seemed unfazed by Kat’s shout as it lead the way through the burnt forest. Its shape wove through the branches, mindful never to brush the tips.
After about an hour, a large set of stairs came into view. The arches that covered the pathway appeared made from thick, black thorns. Each one entangled each other at the very top. They shortly melted away to greenery the farther back it went to the front of a large, stone wall. It gave off an ancient and dangerous aura to anyone that passed by.
Smoothly the crow swept below the arches on its path toward the door. When it finally reached its destination, it tilted its body. It landed on the empty lantern hook outside. The head jerked to the door, an obvious indicator she should knock or open it.
Its wood came from an apple tree. A black iron knocker at the center, celtic sigils encircled it. Each of the grooves filled with vines and grew from within. The knocker took the shape of a crow’s head grasping a ring in its beak. Its eyes glinted with unnatural life, while it dared her to knock.
“You want me to knock on the door? Well… here goes nothing.” Katarina took a deep breath to steady herself, ready to spring into action at the first sign of hostility… and rapped on the door, three… slow… steady… raps. “Gott only knows what’s on the other side of this door…” Katarina slung her assault rifle back over her shoulder, but her rapier remained bared and ready to strike, whilst her left hand fingered her crucifix…
She waited with bated breath.
The door creaked then shuddered. Slowly it pulled open to reveal flickering candle light torches. Their light chased the darkness down a long tunnel. Promptly the crow cawed its warning before it darted from its perch. It flew past Kat, gliding toward the roof where it vanished from sight. Feathers were left in its wake like a small trail on the stone floor.
As Katarina entered, the sensation of being watched would creep along her spine. White orbs intently watched her from a distance. Their owners shifted in the darkness and gave no clues to their true size or shape,. They continued to disappear and reappear in various areas, never very far from her.
An elderly woman stood at the end of the hall. She fell short to Katarina’s height by nine inches, but seemed indifferent to it. Along her willowy form she wore a forest green gown without sleeves and an open front. She wore a white shirt underneath to provide modesty. In the front it was tied up in a corset design to hold the fabric to her hourglass figure. Embroidery covered the pleated skirt's bottom and revealed the white underskirt peeking out.
The light danced along her swirling tattoo near her right eye. Their light illuminated the design etched across the cheek and the whole right side. Her irises were milky white but she still studied the vampire approaching her. She seemed hold an air of displeasure in her face. Grey and black curls spill over her shoulders where they hung off the curves of her wrinkled face.
“It took you longer to arrive than I expected it would,” she finally spoke.
Katarina cocked her head to one side, her hand now on her hip. So, this was the denizen of the land in which she found herself - perhaps the creator of this demi-plane. This creature- no, woman, radiated, pulsed with power just standing there, regarding Katarina with a curious, displeased eye. Inwardly, Katarina seethed - how dare this old woman regard her, the Red Countess, who put the fear of God into her foes, as merely more than an annoyance? Who did she think she was?
Evidently someone who either was strong enough to match her - few lived to this woman’s age with such reckless bravado as Katarina would expect from one who would fall to her. Or perhaps this was what the woman wanted Katarina to think- Stop it. This was one of the fey’s tricks, to bind oneself in skeins of misleading trains of thought, confusing one so much that you barely knew what you were saying, let alone what you were agreeing to. Enough of such thinking. The Gheist’s presence once more made itself known, straining at its proverbial leash, demanding to burst through Katarina’s flesh and strike down the crone that stood before her. Katarina, once again, forcibly suppressed it with a slight grimace.
“I apologise for the brief delay, I had some... urgent matters... to attend to. You know, figuring out where in the hell I am, why that bird was making such a ruckus all the time...”
“Why would you want to focus on such trivial matters like that?” Morrigan asked, genuine confusion seeped into her voice.
She promptly turned to the right and opened a door, her figure stepped into a gothic drawing room. Her feet slipped onto the carpet while she quickly lite a candle stick for additional light. She gestured to the nearby chair for her guest to get situated.
“The bird is actually Ambrose, I sent him to retrieve and ensure the Fae Wilds didn’t eat you. It’s a nuisance when it does,” Her tone held a hint of amusement at the thought.
“Eat me? I wouldn’t advise it do that. Necrotic flesh tend to add a bit of a sour taste to the meal… not to mention what it would have done to the magicks surrounding us.” Katarina sheathed her rapier as she sat down - the chair was a welcome relief after the trudging through the ‘Fae Wilds’ that she’d done to get here. “Excuse the mud. So… doubtless you know who I am, so you have me at a disadvantage.”
“You would be surprised at what types of creatures it has devoured over the centuries. Undead to even fae, there’s little off limits to its wild magic." Morrigan pointed out as she wrapped up her task, her visage turned to face Katarina.
She raised her hand then guided her own chair toward her. Casually she lowered her rear onto the cushion and placed her right leg onto her left, comfortable at last.
“You can call me Morrigan,” she let the word soak in before dropping a bomb next.
“How is my great-grandson, Benjamin?” She asked, her serious tone melted into a far more pleasant one.
Aaaah… Scheisse. Play it cool, Katarina. “Well, if you’re so concerned about his welfare, perhaps you could summon him here yourself? As you did to me?” Kat gave a rueful half-smile. This was a surprise, to be sure, but perhaps not a wholly unwelcome one. After all, perhaps she could use this to not just find out more about him, but perhaps she could assist this ‘Morrigan’ in protecting him?
“Well, suffice to say, he is still finding his feet. More than once have I had to, ah, what’s that charming phrase... pull his boots from out of the fire? But still, to be expected for someone his age and inexperience.” Katarina leaned back in the chair, hoping that Morrigan would at least be placated with the answer. She had to tread very carefully… in some respects, she did not see Morrigan, but rather the old, corpulent Pomeranian Duke Boguslaw Gryf. It was 1585, and the two of them were discussing the future of Thorn… and Katarina, just as now, had to walk a fine line between strength and conciliation.
Morrigan looked at Katarina a moment. The words sank in then she suddenly broke out into laughter, her arms wrapped about her middle. After a few long moments, she wiped her tears from her eyes over the ‘joke’.
“My dear Red Countess, isn’t it obvious? I would’ve,if I could. Sadly his mother and I came to an arrangement. I can’t get into contact with him until he seeks me out first,” Morrigan yawned as if the memory of the deal itself bored her.
She leaned into her seat, her legs provided a lopsided stand for her elbows. Her fingers twined together then she rested her chin onto them. Her Cheshire smirk broke through her wrinkles as she then straightened up in her chair.
A brief frown broke her antics when Katarina mentioned Benjamins’ difficulty. She nodded, and again her demeanor altered back. She sighed before she replied.
“It’s a pity preventing it would’ve ruined things. Werewolves tend to more pests than anything.” She made little effort to hide the disgust and disappoint.
Another thoughtful moment and Morrigan snapped her aged fingers. It sounded like a dried twig breaking. A soft glow abruptly appeared as it floated over to her. She smiled at it while she put forth an order.
“Could you bring us some mead and Cornish pasties.”
The little light bowed and zipped off into the hall.
“You must be hungry after the trip at least,” Morrigan’s tone indicated she wasn’t going to take no for answer.
Kat snickered in reply. “I will politely decline, my tastes are… more discerning.” She looked about at the room - it was almost as though she’d been taken back in time, to a time without all of the glass and steel constructions of the modern day - it was more familiar to her, in a way. Stonework walls, open fires, dim lighting… candles. Perhaps it was calculated by Morrigan to put Katarina in a position of familiarity? She didn’t know, but she wasn’t going to mention otherwise.
“I think, if I may, add my own outlook on werewolves? Untamed, they are little more than animals, more of a nuisance than outright useful. However, were he to be able to harness his power, and utilize it fully, he would be a potent force.”
A small, fleeting twitch lurked near Morrigan’s mouth. She looked ready to object when her attention was stolen and her head jerked to the side. Another individual appeared in the room.
The man walked without a sound, his hand placed firmly on a cane and his gait fell into a casual one. He stopped beside Morrigan’s seated figure. At first glance, he appeared to be a man in his early twenties. His worn hazel eyes drifted into Kat’s direction as he shifted his wavy, blonde hair from his vision. Through he looked older, his features still held strict connections to the boy he used to be.
“She’s not going to poison you, Kat. It wouldn’t be in her best interest.” A maturity and experience laced Benjamin's chosen words.
“You know, I had hoped you wouldn’t reveal yourself this soon,” Morrigan said with a pout.
“Hrm… Well, things just got a lot more interesting. You must be a Ben from the future… yes, I recognise him in you. So then, the point of this meeting has been laid open - perhaps sooner rather than later is more beneficial to you and this world of yours, actually. I’d hate to see what happens if you leave an agent of undeath in the world of the fey for too long.” Katarina sat back in the chair, a pensive air about her as she considered her next course of action, and line of questioning. So Morrigan had brought her here to discuss something about Ben - aye, perhaps his future? Maybe something was endangering the future? Katarina had little time for the games and riddles of the fey when it came to Benjamin… she decided that a direct approach would yield the greatest answer in the shortest timespan.
“So, then, fey… what is it you want from me?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that.” Benjamin pointed out. He then looked to Morrigan who lightly at the name fey given.
“She’s not familiar with your past, grandmother. Not yet." He rested his free hand on her shoulder in a kind gesture, but it seemed to hover above it. In fact, on closer inspection it appeared like he wasn’t solid at all to the surroundings.
His words seemed to have done the trick as the woman abruptly relaxed then continued.
“Yes, ahem. As you aren’t aware, you’re the only one that can see him besides myself and anyone who’s died before. Mentioning this to my grandson could very well alter his future for the worst. Maybe even wipe him out of existence." Morrigan stated, her tone hinted with annoyance the fact. Like someone who talked about a minor issue at the supermarket.
“Eventually I’ll be meeting with him to get him back on the right track of things. I rather you pretend and lie that you don’t see him lingering behind me. Due to my history, I’m very close with Death himself.”
“Hm. Death has a personification now? Well, I suppose that’s the least surprising thing I’ve heard since my awakening. And yes, naturally, explaining what may happen in the future has an unhealthy way of devastating the paths of the present, leading down an entirely different path which may, as you say… lead to unfortunate consequences. But you say that only people who have died may see him- oh. Of course. I suppose I have a tendency to forget about that time in particular…” Katarina shuddered involuntarily at the memory of the leer of the filth Lithuanian pagan that her parents forced on her as a ‘mentor’. He was at fault for everything that happened… Perhaps a sword through the back was too quick a punishment for him.
“So why bring me here? What is it that you expect me to do?”
“I thought it was obvious?” Morrigan’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Can you imagine me having this conversation where prying ears or eyes could witness it? What better place to reveal a secret than in the Fey wild?”
“No, that’s not what I’m…” Kat sighed in exasperation and leaned forward, her head in her hands. “Yes. I know why you’ve brought me to this location, it’s so you can tell me what it is that you want me to do in secrecy so nobody like the fucking Hounds or whichever anti-magical hit squad the mortals have cobbled together this time can hear us, but you seem to be missing the question I’m actually asking.”
Kat looked up at Morrigan directly, meeting the fey’s eyes with her own. “What do you want me to do?” And then a thought crossed her mind. “Or is this just a conversation, a… head’s up, as Ben would say, and I’ve been completely oblivious this whole time?”
Morrigan looked at Ben.
“Yes, it is. You’re usually around me. If I knew you could see something behind my grandmother, I would want to know and that could very well affect what I do. She is asking you to let whatever happens, happen. And never reveal that I exist.”
Benjamin sighed, “She’s not going to tell you anything other than what you need to know. When the time comes, she’ll reveal more when it’s important and influences my future.”
“Like I said, I thought it was obvious. I did ask you to lie and pretend you don’t see him.”
“A-ah. R-right… Yes, of course...” If blushing with embarrassment was possible for a vampire, Kat would have turned beet red. “My, uh… my apologies…”
Ben chuckled and nodded, “It’s alright Kat. Sometimes it’s better to be absolute in an answer when dealing with those of magic. It’s a lesson we will all learn eventually.”
He jumped when Morrigan clapped, her lips curled into a wide and pleased smile.
“Now, with that out of the way… shall I show you to your quarters? I expect you to be staying with us for a little bit and know your way around the castle.”
Kat snapped back to Morrigan’s attention at the sound of the clap, and then hurled into a state of even greater confusion as she heard the words ‘staying with us for a little bit’. Oh. Oh dear, that was not in her plans.
“You mean.. You… you want me, an agent of undeath, anathema to your very existence and the existence of the world around you at this present time which currently probably most definitely is not happy at my presence… to stay here.” Kat blinked. Vampires never blink.
“Ach. Scheiße.”
“She’s… eccentric,” Ben stated as he watched his grandmother jump up onto her feet.
“My dear, I’m not actually a fey. Besides, you are my guest and my followers will respect that or suffer my wrath,” she explained.
“Besides, you’ll need to help my grandson when he arrives. Currently I am waiting for my messenger to return with news and you will want to hear it. Now, no more delaying.”
Benjamin shook his head then gestured for Katarine to go before him. He kept his body subtle and postured in a gentleman fashion.
“After you.”
