The Calamity: Chapter 16

“Alison.”

She didn’t stir much. Hanging from the wall by her wrist she didn’t make any effort to look at her brother. Her shoulders ached with the pressure that her body was putting on them, unable to stand and unable to float. Her chest and face ached from the ‘punishment of her sin’ and she felt disoriented.

“Alison give me some sign you’re alive. Please.”

Her brother had gone through the same thing if not worse and she knew that. There was no jailer with them. They had left a long time ago. There had been some loud noise earlier but she hadn’t paid it any mind. She was just glad they were alone.

Slowly raising her head and shaking away her hair she looked at the dark dungeon. The single torch in one of the corners. The hardstone floor and grimy walls. The other chains that rested against the opposite walls or against the ground. If the Sanctum wasn’t so pristine there might have been skeletons of previous captives.

Looking through her hair she turned to look at him and relief flooded his bruised face. His magic had dropped entirely again and he looked exactly like her. He was exhausted, she could see it in his face and her heart hurt. They were in trouble.

He tried to force a smile but it was hard and it looked wrong with the puffiness there. Her chains rattled as she reached for him but he was too far away. Because of course he was. They didn’t want the mages to be close together.

She looked away from him the strain of raising her head too much and let it sink again. She’d never felt like this before. Since she was a child, she her magic. Her power, even when it wasn’t powerful, she’d at least felt her connection to it. Knew that it would come back eventually after long days and she’d feel whole.

Now she felt entirely cut off from it. Not even with the semblance that it would come back. Like the walls of this prison would never be gone. She would still poke and prod at the walls of her prison, to force a connection with her magic again but each time she failed she became more discouraged.

She heard the chains beside her rattling as her brother pulled at the restraints. Somehow, he had the strength to keep trying. But he wasn’t getting much done. He yanked on it and tried to step forward but all he did was hurt himself and slump backwards again.

“This is what Morrigan warned us of,” he said softly as he yanked at the chains again. “We have to get out of here.”

“What about the others?”

Alistair looked at the ground. “They’re probably in the same position we are.”

“So, we can’t rely on them to get us out.”

Alistair frowned but gave a slow nod. “We’ve always had to take care of each other right?”

“Right.” She said looking down. “Just hoped that that had finally changed.”

“Me too.”

There was another loud boom outside and he looked up with an arched eyebrow. She’d been hearing it too and didn’t know the source. There was shouting outside and more loud booms, the sound of rending metal made both twins jerk their heads upward. They exchanged looks and then things were silent.

“What the hell is that?” Alistair asked his voice in an unconscious whisper.

She shook her head and tried to feel around them. Tried to connect to the magic but like before it was a numbed tunnel. She blinked slowly and then shut her eyes trying to force through it but she just exhausted herself.

Then came the shouting. Commands to stand together. But then came a sound that warped even their hearing. Like two slabs of concrete rubbing against one another in a long and empty cave that. It echoed and distorted the sound so that it tore at their ear drums. There was shouting that bled into screams. Orders to retreat. They heard crunching and foot falls retreating and then silence.

Silence that stretched for only a few seconds but those seconds sounded so much louder. The twins looked at one another trying to communicate with just their eyes and faces. Neither of them wanted to speak in case that brought the attention of whatever made the sound. So they waited, staring at the door in front of them.

The door to their dungeon shook suddenly. Both of their eyes snapped to the door as it shook again. Like giant fists were slamming against the door. Pounding and grinding against it. Alistair yanked at his restraints even harder now. Alison dove head first into the magic to try and use her powers. Even if she couldn’t stop whatever that thing was, even if she couldn’t take it down, she could at least protect her brother.

The sound came again and again and again and then it suddenly stopped. And with it their hearts stopped. They held their breath, didn’t struggle against their chains, or even think. Just blanked out and stared at the spot in front of them terrified of what was going to come bursting through the door.

Instead of something bursting through, the door just opened. It creaked with effort of opening on its somehow still operating hinges. A sword came through first and then slowly peeking through came Vincent’s head. His hair was disheveled and his face bloody but it wasn’t his blood. It was a dark ichor and it was smeared to show that he’d attempted to wipe it off.

He had the broken piece of a sword in hand, the blade long since smashed off. Staring into the barely lit room he let out a very long sigh of relief. “Holy shit I found you.” He said as he walked into the dungeon.

Neither of the twins knew what to say. Honestly both of them didn’t believe that he was really there. That Vincent had walked through the door looking like hell and possibly there to rescue them. But here he was going straight toward Alison first. He looked at her, crouching slightly to look into her eyes for a moment. She blinked at him several times but he went to her wrist.

Taking out his lock picks again he worked at them slowly. She could hear the pieces tinkling against their restraints when suddenly it was off and her right half slumped forward but he caught her with a laugh. “Hold on. I got you. Let me get the other arm. Just hold on okay?”

She gave a short nod as he took a slow step to her other restraint it took a few more seconds and then they were off. He caught her as she draped both her arms around his neck and held onto him, her legs dragging against the ground. He held her tightly and let out a slow breath gladder to see her than he realized.

He patted her back lightly and smiled. “You came.” She mumbled softly fighting back tears.

“Of course, I came. We’re friend’s, right?”

She nodded quickly against his shoulder and he made sure to keep his arm around her as he lifted her up. Gently brushing his hand through her hair, he said, “Swing around so I can get your brother.”

She nodded again and he crouched against the ground so she could maneuver around. Once she was comfortable and secure on his back, he stood and walked toward Alistair. “You’re lighter than I thought.” He said and she pinched him weakly.

Looking at Alistair he tried to give him a smile. “Hold on.”

“Where’s Morrigan?”

“Still in the dungeon.” He said with a roll of his eyes. “She wouldn’t let me rescue her. Said my priority was you two.”

“We’re going to get her right?” Alison asked from his shoulder.

“Of course we are.” Alistair said fell and landed on his feet. He stumbled forward and Vincent caught him for a second. “Right?”

“Damn straight we are.”

Alistair nodded and then looked at his sister again. She gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. He did the same and then looked toward Alistair. “How are we getting out of here?”

“Haven’t gotten that far yet.” He replied hooking Alison’s legs over his arms. “We should try and find some replacement weapons while we’re at it.”

Alistair bent down and picked up the broken sword. It would be better than using his hand since he was as cut off from magic as his sister was.

When they stepped out into the main hallway there were bodies on the ground. Soldiers but also a grotesque and reptilian like form. Its dark blood coated the stones at their feet.

“What are those?” he asked slowly afraid to even remotely get close to it.

“Honestly? No idea,” Vincent shrugged. “But If I had to guess I’d guess it was a demon. I get that same feeling looking at this thing that I did from the last one.”

“The last one?” Alison repeated and he nodded.

“There’s another in a cell ahead. Almost did me in. The other I kinda snuck up on it and gave it a good ole stab in the neck.”

He kicked its head over and showed that the majority of the ichor was coming from a huge wound in its throat. The blade of his sword was still in its neck. “It’s blood and swords don’t really get along.”

He continued walking, stepping over the bodies of the soldiers strewn about the hallway. Some just lying dead, others lying in pieces on the ground. Legs, arms, and torsos missing their other halves. The smell of iron filled the air but the oil ichor of the demons blood was choking in such a closed in space.

“This is awful.” Alison mumbled against his shoulder.

“It’s no rose that’s for sure. Alistair try and grab one of these guys swords. At least one that isn’t broken. It’ll do you more good.”

Though he was right, he was still hesitant to do it. Staring at the dead he was lucky that almost none of them had their faces exposed. It was easier staring at the dead when he didn’t have to look them in the eyes.

Picking up a sword and but he also kept the broken one for his off hand just in case, he quickly fell in line behind Vincent. The hallway was a gory mess but going back into the other hallway wasn’t that difficult. When they reached the staircase back down to the other dungeon Vincent paused.

“Can either of you make a light yet?”

Alison looked at her palm and tried to create a tiny flame or something but she produced nothing.  She shook her head in small frustration and looked at him. “I’m too weak still. Whatever they drugged us with is still in me.”

“Great. Well let’s be careful walking.” He pressed his shoulder against the wall and took the steps one at a time. It was very slow going but the risk of slipping and hurting Alison was his primary concern. Glancing over his shoulder he checked on Alistair who gave him a nod. Nodding back, they continued going down.

Finally, they came to the floor and the door was still open as he left it. The one torch was there barely casting light onto them. As the passed the old man’s cell he looked into it and once again couldn’t see him in the dark corner but he heard the rasping laugh of the man. Vincent glared toward the cell.

“Yeah I made it back you old fart.”

“Well we can see that. Good job.” He even clapped slowly a few times.

Rolling his eyes, he picked up the pace to quickly go to Morrigan’s cell. “Hey Morrigan.” He said with a laugh. “Morrigan you there?”

When he didn’t hear any response or sound from the room he frowned and touched Alison’s hand. “Hold on, I’ll need both hands.”

Her grip around his neck tightened as he brought out the lock picks. Pushing them into the lock he wriggled with them trying to carefully work the same magic that he had been before. Sadly, one of the picks snapped and he swore. He pat himself down quickly trying to find another one on him. It took him awhile but he found it in his pants leg.

Going back to work he got lucky and he heard the latch open. Letting out a breath he stood and pulled the cell door open. Taking a careful step inside he saw a shape against the far wall, or rather he saw movement. A slow moving shape that struggled to stand up.

“Morrigan?” Alison asked and the shape came forward. Her skin was dry clinging to her bones, a frown on her face. Her hair was long, grey, and brittle and eyes a dull green.

“I told you not to return for me. Stubborn fool.” She said with a shake of her head. She looked scarily thin underneath her clothes.

“Fools.” Alistair corrected as he walked toward her. She looked at him and gave a grimace of a smile but shook her head. He reached out and she took his hand, standing up a bit straighter. “Well the four of us are together again. What’s next on your master plan?”

“Well I originally thought, give Morrigan a sword and let’s work our way out of here.”

Before anyone could respond the entire building shook. It was a heavy one that rocked against the walls and loosed some stones from the ceiling and plumes of dirt and dust. There was another one and a huge thunderous crash just down the hallway.

“What the hell is going on?”

“That would be the Calamity acting up.”

All four heads turned toward the old voice that came from around the corner. Each of them watched as a man walked in front of their cell. He stood tall with chin length white hair and hazel eyes. His face was sunken in, pale, and malnourished. Like Morrigan his body looked frail and thin. He was wearing the rags of probably a once grey robe.

He pointed a bony finger at them and chuckled. “Didn’t think you four would be worth it. We hear a lot of boastful people in this town. Most of em end up dead.” He shrugged those bony shoulders. “But we like you. You’re entertaining. So, come on. Follow us. We’ll help you survive this.”

“What did you mean that the Calamity was acting up?” Alison asked.

“You should already know,” He said walking away from the cell. “You’ve seen the demon’s causing trouble for everyone.”

They each exchanged a glance but he laughed. “Hurry up. Especially you Sanguiknight. You need to recover and we need to do the same.”

She tensed at her title. Vincent stepped forward motioning for them to follow as he readjusted Alison. “Come on guys. I don’t want to sit here and get crushed by anything Calamity related.”

Alistair nodded and glanced at Morrigan. She grimaced but nodded taking long strides despite how frail she looked. They followed the path as more earthquakes shook the dungeon. The old man was stepping around the fallen blocks of stone from above with a confidence that didn’t make sense for one so old.

They took the staircase upward and at the top moon light was streaming through the doorway. Walking through showed that the wall had been entirely destroyed, broken in. The night sky greeted them along with a nearly half moon. And damn near blocking out the moon was a demon. It towered over them. It’s back was too them not even remotely looking in their way but somehow, they felt its gaze on them.

There were people crushed underneath the fragments of buildings. They were wearing regular clothes and their final moments were sheer terror. In the streets they could see people running and shapes running and darker shapes sprinting and flying down after them. There was a faint sound of a bell constantly ringing in the distance. Chaos was unfolding everywhere.

The echoes of screams could just barely hit them from outside. “What’s happening?” Alison asked with wide eyes.

“It’s a rift opening and letting out the demons into our world. Poor fools. Didn’t know they were so close to death.” The old man said walking over to the rubble. Pushing aside the stones he pulled a body free from it. A woman, her dress strained red. Her legs had been crushed and a shard of stone was protruding from her chest. 

The old man dropped to his knee and placed his hand over her face. His eyes and hand immediately glowed green. The woman’s body began to shrivel growing thinner and thinner then losing its color until it became grey. The reverse happened to the man as his body filled out, skin still a ghostly grey. His hair gained a sheen becoming more silver than white. The glow in his eyes remained as he tilted his head back with a light chuckle.

When he turned to face them the look of horror on their faces brought a cruel smile to his face. One that made his green eyes seem even more sinister. He suddenly looked in his late twenties, maybe mid thirties. The only one who didn’t seem phased by this was Morrigan. She looked at him with narrowed, almost accusatory eyes.

“Come on now. There’s a demon in the city and us regaining our youth has you all aghast.” He shrugged his shoulder slowly and chuckled again. “It feels good to feel our own magic again.”

“You’re a mage?” Alison asked.

He rubbed his jaw as he walked toward them slowly, a swagger to his step now that he was much younger. Even his voice was deeper and had more energy to it. “Hm, those drugs have done a number on you two. Otherwise you’d be able to feel our power.” He said but instead walked past them and shoved rubble away pulling a younger man from the rubble.

“Why do you keep talking like that?” Vincent asked.

The mage didn’t respond and instead focused on the young man. He was still alive though not much longer. He groaned lightly, his lower half covered in blood and his chest torn open entrails spilling onto the ground. With it came a strong acrid scent but he ignored it and threw him onto the ground. “You’re no good to us weak.” He said staring at the Sanguiknight. “Get your strength back and then we can make a plan.”

Something about this mage was frustrating to her. The fact that he knew so much about her but she didn’t know anything about him. She didn’t like not knowing information. She glared at him but then looked down at the boy. His eyes had rolled into the back of his head by this point. She crouched down immediately and grabbed the man by his shoulder.

Tilting his head upward she thrust her face into his neck and tore at his throat. Blood, still warm, splashed against her mouth as she started to drink. She was drinking his blood but more than that. She swallowed the life from the man. Warm essence like an intangible energy that transferred from him into her.

And as she drank a similar transformation that the mage went through. Her skin gained its usually dark luster. Her hair it’s previous sheen and her eyes the easy glare. When she rose from him she looked like the Morrigan they knew and loved. She wiped the blood from her mouth slowly and spat the excess onto the ground.

“Hm. The Cerisan’s have a nice way of doing things.”

“it’s a process that doesn’t require us to kill those we feed on. And it’s rarely this messy. A gift of immortality and a curse to continue to take life.”

“I can imagine. Octavia wasn’t a woman who did anything that wasn’t elegant.”

Morrigan narrowed her eyes sharply and reached for her sword but she grasped at empty air. That didn’t stop her from giving a look that could kill to the man. “Choose your words carefully mage. I won’t hesitate to slit your throat.”

He clapped and opened his mouth to speak but the ground shook and the demon outside let out a roar. “We believe we have pressing matters.” He said and looked through the broken wall. “Like that. That’s definitely an issue.”

“How do you expect us to get out of here?” Vincent asked. “We don’t exactly have horses or anything like that.”

“Ah but you do. The Sanguiknight can call her spectral mount. And we’re pretty sure that the Sanctum took your horse.”

“Blaze? Blaze is here?” He asked having earlier made peace with the fact that he would probably never see the horse again. He was going to look but prepared for the worst and didn’t let himself hope for better.

“Yes, we believe the horse you came here with is here in the stables. Though we’d hurry to rescue it before the demon’s got there. And yes Sanguiknight. You need your sword to properly call the horse. You and the boy go and get your weapons. We, the lockpick, and the other mage will get the horses.”

No one moved yet. A plan of action being thrusted at them out of nowhere was shocking to say the least. But his eyes flashed as he looked at each of them. “Come on now. We don’t have time to waste.” As if to emphasis this the ground shook as the bell suddenly stopped ringing.

Morrigan nodded and looked at Alistair. “Come.” And immediately started walking down the opposite of the hallway. Alistair looked at them with some mild hesitation, staring at her sister. She gave him a small smile and he nodded going after the Sanguiknight. Watching them go Vincent and Alison faced the mage.

He looked at the two of them and then went toward the dead bodies on the ground. His hands began to glow again, the same green that his eyes retained and the bodies began to glow as well. Slowly both bodies crawled to their feet. And considering how badly their bodies were destroyed it was incredible that they managed to even do that much.

But they crawled to their feet the expression on their faces empty. Shambling toward him he glanced back at Alison and Vincent. “What?”

Vincent shook his head and Alison hid her own look of repulsion. Instead she asked, “What are you?”

He laughed in response and started walking toward the hole in the wall. “If we survive this. We can do more than explain that, we can teach you.”

“Can we get a name at least?”

He stood on the edge of the hole staring into the city itself and the two zombies came to his side. One jumping forward while the other climbed down the side. “Our name is Vayne.” With that he stepped out the other side and disappeared from view.

Vincent walked toward the edge of the hole and stared at the chaos. Bodies in the streets. Some of the buildings had entirely collapsed down. Fires and smoke filling the sky on certain sections of the city. They could see armored soldiers running down the streets shouting and trying to direct the people in the city. The big demon was still moving its body causing destruction but there were smaller demons like the ones that had made their way into the cell.

He looked directly down and saw Vayne waiting for them on the ground. There had been quite a bit of distance between them and the ground he now stood on. “How the hell are we going to get down there?” he mumbled.

“Jump,” Alison said softly and looked at him. “He’ll catch us.”

He glanced at her and frowned. “Permission to be skeptical.”

She found the energy to laugh and squeezed his shoulder. “Permission granted.”

He smiled at her and against all of his better instincts he jumped. It wasn’t long before the air itself grabbed him in a tight grasp. It was like being in one of Boss’s bear hugs. Staring at Vayne he saw the glow of his eyes but unlike Alison he didn’t have to use his hands. Vincent’s legs kicked slightly as he was lowered to the ground.

Stumbling as he landed, the two zombies looked at him with disinterested eyes. He ignored them both and kept going walking beside Vayne. “Lovely isn’t it? All of this.” He spread his arms wide taking in a slow breath.

“Lovely isn’t the word I would choose,” Vincent mumbled. “Horrifying maybe. Disturbing is another good one.”

Vayne laughed again as a pair of soldiers ran in front of them. Their armor was splashed with black ichor. One of their swords was completely eaten away while the other had a limp. They didn’t get far when a roar echoed through the streets. The pair of soldiers looked up as a creature on all fours leaped at them.

It looked like a wolf except it had several eyes that blinked at them awkwardly It had a large circular mouth open where the howl was coming out of like wind except sharper. One of the soldiers panicked at the sight of the thing. He drew his sword despite its broken piece and he tried to attack it.

It slammed its head into the soldier’s side sending him flying into the wall. There was an echoing crack and the man slumped against the wall. The other soldier tried to stab at the things neck splashing the black blood everywhere but it didn’t manage to cause any true damage.

It jerked its neck and threw the soldier back but he let go of the sword and stumbled backwards. The demon turned on him with another howling roar. Stepping forward it leaped at the man its mouth closing around the top of the man’s body. His screams were muffled by the interior of the demon’s mouth but the crunch of bone was loud to each of them.

Vincent made a hesitant step backwards. He glanced back at Alison and she shook her head, eyes terrified. She was very much trying to cast her magic but it wasn’t working.

Vayne stepped forward and raised one of his hands toward the soldier that hit the wall. Green magic radiated from his eyes as he began to stand slowly. Pushing himself to his feet he faced the demon and raised his hands in fist. The other two zombies came forward to fight as well. The demon finished crunching on the former soldier and turned around to face the three of them.

It stared at the dead with confusion and then locked onto those behind them. The living ones that made it howl in interest. It leaped forward but the zombies barred its path. It shoved them backwards but neither of their supposedly weak lower halves broke. The demon grabbed one in its jaws and shook its head back and forth roughly.

Its chest separated from its legs and was thrown into the wall in a messy explosion of guts and blood. Vayne made a frustrated sound as he lost a zombie but that allowed him to increase his efforts with the other two. The soldier leaped at the demon grabbing it by the head. It arms glowed green suddenly, along with Vayne’s eyes, as it dragged the creature to the ground.

The woman that he brought back jumped onto the demon’s back and slammed her fist into it. Her fist glowed and each impact echoed off the beast back and it let out a whimper of pain on each hit. The soldier picked the demons head up slightly and crashed it back into the ground.

Finally, the demon sank to the ground puddles of black staining the ground around them. Vayne’s eyes faded back to hazel and he was quick to start moving again. “Soldier. Stables. Which direction are they?” he asked when passing the zombie.

It groaned turning toward their right and pointed. He gave a curt nod and started walking not bothering to wait for either of them to follow. They hesitated, Vincent taking care to look at the demon’s corpse before following after him.

The path they took was what looked like the main road. There were several store fronts abandoned during the time of crisis. Make shift barricades left and right from carts or doors. Abandoned weapons and toys on the ground with the occasional body accompanying them. Some in one piece with just bloody wounds on the neck or chest while others were entirely torn apart.

Vincent looked to the side hearing shouts just on the other side of a row of buildings. They were hiding from the big demon as well. He could only imagine that the people were going towards the gates to the city and try to escape but the demons were likely going after them as well.

“You’re a necromancer, aren’t you?” Alison asked as they caught up him.

“What tipped you off?” he chuckled.

She ignored his sarcasm and instead continued. “Necromancy is legendary amongst mages. You taught Poppy, didn’t you?”

He snorted. “My former student. She was talented we can give her that. But no ambition. Wouldn’t do what it took to truly gain power.”

“And what does that entail?” Vincent snarked.

“A little bit of ambition. A little bit of sacrifice. But the reward is great.” He said as the soldier grunted. The stables for some reason were still in piece. Not that either of them complained. Many of the stalls were abandoned. Either soldiers mounting their horses or the horses seeing the chaos took this moment to escape.

“We believe your horse should be here. If he’s alive.”

“Please don’t say it like that.” Vincent said wincing. But he walked into the smelly hay filled place. He checked each stall slowly for his beige horse. Most of the section seemed to be empty, not even corpses. “Blaze. Come on Blaze you better be in here you dumb horse.”

He heard it though it wasn’t that loud. A whinnying snort of protest. He stood up straighter at the sound and suddenly he was rushing toward the back of the stable ignoring how tightly Alison was clutching her arms around his neck.

It was almost at the end of the stables that he saw the shape moving in the darkness. Slowing down he was face to face with a large muzzle. The horse sniffed at his face several times. And then he was being licked and pressed against by the moist head of the beast.

He let out a sigh of relief then scowled through his laughter and held onto the creature. “Yeah I know. Glad to see you too. Really glad.” He said softly as he held onto the horse. Blaze even looked up at Alison rubbing his muzzle against her face making her giggle.

Vincent stepped toward the block where he was and he frowned. The Sanctum had removed his handlebars and custom stirrups. He’d have to replace them next time he was in the Free City. For now, though he could ride the horse bare back.

“Let go.” He said softly to Alison as she did. Reaching behind him he lifted her up slowly and set her on Blaze’s back. Holding the horse’s side, he jumped and swung his leg over so that he was directly behind her. She put her hands-on Blaze’s neck as they trotted out of the stables.

Vayne looked at them, his eyes on the horse specifically and nodded slowly. “Hm, a Sanctum horse. Was hoping for something more exotic than that.”

“Watch what you say. Blaze can out run and out maneuver any horse you’d find alive or dead.” He glared at the mage which earned him a laugh. A deep throated one that made him shake his head.

“Fair enough.” Vayne shrugged his shoulders slowly.

Alison rubbed the neck of Blaze lightly. “So now we need to catch up to Morrigan and my brother. Then we get out of here.” She said shuddering as another demonic roar echoed through the air.

Before Vayne could agree there was an explosion. One that rocked the ground but was in the opposite direction of them. All three of them stared at the smoke and fire that emanated in the distance. “What the hell was that?” Vincent mumbled.

“I have a bad feeling that our friends are in the heart of it.” Alison said.

“We agree.” Vayne closed his hand into a fist and let his zombies fall to the ground truly dead again. He walked toward the stables. There was a flash of his green magic and when he came back out he was riding on an undead horse with a large gash in its flank.

“Let’s go,” Vincent said as Blaze took off down the street with Vayne behind them. “I just really hope they aren’t dead or worse out there.”