Tragedy of Rain 8 Chapter 8: Undercrof

There was something about the trees and the smell of pine that made her feel more at home. Not like back at the alienage, that place was never a home. No, since first entering the overshadowed woodlands there was a feeling a kin to a release of all tension. It was a relief to finally find herself surrounded by the ancient trees that had stood since long before the empire or its fractured states.

"We've arrived, and not a moment too soon. I could've sworn we were being followed more than once," Maxine had said little since she had 'rescued' her from certain enslavement.

Since breaking from the main road and entering the woods via an overgrown path both Max and her unnamed rescuerer had said little; their eyes kept scanning the trees with hidden distrust.

Rain had removed the bandage around her face, her eyes adjusted to the fading sunlight, she held her cloak tight against her but the sun against her cheeks wasn't painful. She slowly exposed her arms and shoulders to the light. There was a tingly feeling as it touched her skin, but otherwise it felt remarkably better than before. A single glance had confirmed that the mark had extended further, wrapping around her collar bone and drawing exotic patters around her arm.

"It's always hell the first time," The man said to her. His cowl covered his face and his robes most of his body, "The sun will always hurt against our sensitive skin, but it gets better over time."

"Our skin?" Rain picked apart his statement, "So you know what's happening to me?"

There was a long pause as both her rescuers rocked back and forth as the carriage continued down the rocky path. It had grown remarkably quiet during that time, almost too quiet.

"If your looking for answers I'm afraid we don't have many, only warnings." Maxine answered still apprehensive, her eyes always scanning the trees.

"Which is to say we know what you saw back at the monastery, and we know about that...creature," a single sound of rustling bushes diverted the mans attention as he spoke. Maxine also seemed suddenly on edge, her hand reaching for something hidden in her robes. The other had already had his hands on a small round flask.

A rabbit jumped out of the bush and scurried away without a second thought. The man exhaled, "I really could use a drink."

"You and me both," Maxine looked at Rain with exhausted eyes, "once we get you out of that cage we'll explain what we can, but to be honest the only thing we know for sure is we all share the same...affliction. And had you only worn the scepter robes like you were told you would have been fine...probably"

"That's doubtful, and they shouldn't have sent her in there anyway. What were they thinking?" The older man responded.

"They were desperate, they knew only those with the bloodline could get the stupid catalyst," Maxine responded.

"That's really what they wanted? It's nothing but a trinket at this point," none of these words made much sense to Rain as she desired to get out of the cage.

"What was that thing..." Rain didn't want to remember it, but some things were impossible to forget.

"Difficult to say, there are many names for his kind, and I dare not speak them openly until we've arrived to safety. But it got you good," the man looked at her with blue eyes, "you were in there with it for days and during that time it had woven its power in your flesh and bone. That's how it's kind works, ensnares it's victims and slowly converts them. That mark is it's mark, and it will slowly consume you until you've become similar to them."

"It had no eyes!" the visage haunted her as Rain could've sworn to see its likeness in the darkness between the trees. It had to be an optical illusion.

"That's because it gave them to its master, some kind of token symbol of respect. In return they are given more power." The man leaned back, the seat creaking under duress.

"Oh yeah the mark will give you power as well, resist it as long as you can. The more you accept its magic the more it will expand." Maxine mentioned quietly.

Rain pieced together what they all said, she was afflicted, her body was changing. Had she really been in the red wing with that thing for days? How could that be possible? Her mind could remember little of that time, the memory was hazy at best.

There was thunder in the distance, just out of normal ear shot. She could smell the moisture in the air, the rainy season was bringing another storm again.

"Are we there yet?" Rain didn't want to be in an iron cage during a lightning storm. Her question had dislodged the conversation her rescuers were continuing among themselves.

"I don't know anymore, I could've sworn we needed to go right at the crooked tree but I still haven't seen one!" Maxine had grown frustrated enough to speak louder than she intended.

The man laughed, he had a hearty bolstering laugh that one would imagine in a pub or tavern rather that here, "So our little sparrow had gotten lost after all!"

"I told you to stop calling me that!" Maxine's spat back in anger.

"Funny thing about sparrows, they're the worst message birds alive! Give them a straight path, like this one, and they still can't find there way." The older guard went to pat Maxine on the shoulder only for her to push him aside.

"Oh look we're here, so just shut up!" She jostled the rains to force the horses to pick up there pace slightly until they crossed into a clearing.

"Never lost my faith in you for even a second," The older guard declared as they entered the clearing, the trees wrapping around it like a green curtain.

They arrived at an old brick and mortar building, it's walls covered in weeds. It had been at the center of a small clearing, a lone spot amid a sea of green. Rain couldn't tell how long the building had stood, or what it was originally. Only one exposed wall remained intact, and stood for three stories. The rest was chewed away by time and nature.

What caught her attention was the terrain around the ruined infrastructure. The earth was uneven as old ditches and ramparts crossed each other in a web of layered banks. Wooden planks and cast iron stuck out from the ground like thorns.

"Impressive isn't it?" The taller guard spoke to her. He had stepped down from the carriage and walked around to the opposite side. He glanced at the lock, his hand on his chin pondering the crude cage.

"I can't believe they shoved her in there like some sort of animal, I'll have there heads for that," Maxine pushed him aside and touched the iron door with gentle fingers. She gripped the bar and with a motion that alarmed and stunned Rain she pulled the metal door frame from its hinges. The doorway exposed she reached out to offer Rain a hand.

Rain's eyes were wide and hesitated at first, "don't worry Rain, I'm not going to bite." Maxine said softly, she met her eyes and smiled. As Rain extended her arm she found found Maxine's skin was warm to the touch and she helped her out of the cage. As her bare feet touched grass and earth her legs shook, she had never actually seen, much less walk on, so much grass.

The older man removed his cowl to reveal a charcoal face with a strong regal jaw line, his eyes a vibrant blue. Rain had never seen anyone the likes of him and was briefly shocked, "What's the matter, you look like you've seen a ghost?"

"Sorry but I've just..." Rain didn't know how to complete the sentence without sounding rude.

"Never met an islander huh?" He smiled humorously, "relax your in safe hands now."

Rain didn't know how much she believed him, but her skin no longer felt on fire so that was a good start.

"Let me take a look at your arm, I've seen the mark manifest several times, but rarely as complex." It felt awkward for Rain to let him feel her arm and study her skin, "This place is home do dozens of protective wards, they should halt the spread for now. We'll be able to help you learn how to slow it's progress on your own later."

"It's going to continue to grow?" Rain already knew the answer, he had mentioned it earlier.

"Yes..." The man said sourly.

"Why, what is it doing, what happens when it spreads too far?" Her question met an uncertain face as both Maxine and the older man were searching for an answer. The sound of thunder was now close enough for them to hear it.

"The mark is both a gift and curse, the stronger the mark the greater the magic. The more it grows the more power it will give...until it takes control completely." he said the words as if he knew more but was reluctant to say.

"So were cursed? Back in the jail they said I consorted with a vampire?" Rain suddenly was afraid that the stories about them were true. That she was given the vampiric curse.

"What is a vampire exactly," Maxine interjected, "blood sucking monsters that can't stand crosses, onions, or sunlight?" Maxine placed her hands on her hips while speaking, "vampire is just a name of a fairytale monster given by most humans. There are no vampires, but there are monsters and yes we've all been infected by them."

The older man fully removed his cowl and some of his robes to reveal a tailored vest against exposed muscle, "They got the sunlight right though, but like I said before it gets better."

"Not by much," Rain spoke instantly.

That made the man laugh again and he patted her head with his large calloused hand.

A sound began to sing through the bushes and the trees, it was far away but it's echo seemed to bounce off them. Rain recognized it and suddenly felt sweat run down her shoulder blades and collar bone. A cold memory of a skinless creature without eyes playing music from a Kings bones struck her mind.

"We hear it too, we need to get inside now," Maxine opened a hidden door in the center of the infrastructure.

Rain didn't need to be told twice as the sounds were growling louder. The melody mixed with the sounds of the brewing storm making it chaotic in nature.

Rain walked down old wooden steps followed by the others. She caught the scent of cooking meat and stale sweat. Her eyes adjusted to new lamplight and found a chamber full of people.

There must have been a hundred people seeking shelter in these lost catacombs, young and old they gathered huddled around different sources of lamplight. A few had marks like herself, many however seemed like simple villagers.

"Welcome Rain to the undercroft, my name is Zane by the way." The charcoal islander said as he handed her some clothes that he retrieved in a box near the entrance, "We don't have much but you'll find several comforts here."

Rain still clutched the robes she had used to garb herself, "any chance I could get some privacy?"

Zane chucked and placed a hand on the back of his head, "well I could show you where you can sleep-"

"Not so fast fat man," Maxine cut him off and immediately pulled rain to her side, "I'll tend to her, go check on the supplies or something." She motioned him away.

Zane winked at the pair and with a cheery disposition walked away to talk to some of the others nearby.

"He's harmless, just so you know." Maxine told Rain as soon as he was out of earshot, "but he can be light on manners, that's just how islanders are."

"I guess I believe you? But I would really like to cleanup. The noise out there, those creatures are not far away are they?" Rain watched as Maxine took a glance at the door above. Runes has been carved in the door and all over the ceiling. Protection wards and healing circles. Rain looked at the markings on her arm and realized they hadn't changed in a while. Her skin tone seemed a little paler than before also. Maybe the curse was reversible?

"There all over the woods, we've rescued about all that we could. These people may be all that's left of the townsfolk who once called this place there home." She looked at rain, "but follow me we can worry about them later," For the first time since she was rescued Maxine seemed more her old self, her smirk the brightest thing in the room.

Chapter end