The penultimate eclipse

A Chapter by Honourfish

Chapter 2: The Penultimate eclipse

Gradual, swaying, falling, maroon autumn leaf; last of a rough masterful oak, hung perpetuated, defying gravity, unwillingly into a devious trap forged to ensnare, exact torture and induce exfoliation.

Light to the touch to top a thin, towering, tainted, thumbnail, counteracting the hallucinogenic force temporarily stabilising the virtually extinct; while flanking on a three dimensional plane a fragile, elongated fingernail opposed its brother.

Excreted from the nails intending to digest the physical barrier contradicting their meeting was a darkness poison, diffusing across the innocent, suckling the water out of its veins causing the surface to crack and smoulder in black venom. Initiating from the epicentre came the crumbling of the leaf, leaving a dazzling white radius of the purest patron struggling behind a sphere of black emptiness to once again be dominant.

The deserted, shadowed, cobbled path of Thaymere whimpered under the feet of two robed figures. One tall hunched back raising his knobbed arm to inspect the eclipse whilst the other shorter yet younger in physique held the outline of a stave, pulsating a feeble joint aura of nothingness.

“A fine night for your Acrkaryi, my pupil” rattled the taller gruffly, difficultly.

For even humans knew to be seen on an eclipse was stupidity driven suicide.

Lost in the great oaken shadow entered the master wordlessly, imperatively, beckoning. Emerging round the central tree onto which the town was formed, gliding onwards shadowed in the superior shadow by the lesser shadow.

Poisonously gradual pace curving gradual incline feet from their destination. Encircling like a cobra stood erect bark spikes warning those wishing entry that those unwelcome were those who suffered.

Thousands of petrified onlookers usually dancing in the breeze remained rigid as a spine, as blackness wavered over them instantaneously killing all that touched its infinite depth.

Indistinguishable chains of smoke forced its way skywards struggling out of the stone prison that set its walls so thin. While the runts fell helplessly back down claiming their final resting place atop the sturdy thatch.

No noise, none that could seep through the thick brick or lined glass windows. The unnatural silence of patience, anxiety or an inclining into the unknown; the house reeked of it.

Inhaling deeply through the remnants of nostrils as a wide crooked grin set on the taller; “Fear” it rattled “they know of our visit”.

The warmth of the door penetrated momentarily the icy depths of the fingertips until it was overwhelmed. From the tips came a malicious blackness swooping round the room forming a barricade stronger than any feeble fence engulfing it in darkness.

Pressuring the hinges slightly with the other hand pushed open and entered the taller sourcing the barricade, arm high, furiously fuelling, its soul strengthening its power.

Opposite to the robe stood a proud human, rough long golden hair waved its way down his face as he charged forward glinting steel wielded wildly in his paw.

Effortlessly the taller used his free hand and forced the darkness upwards and claimed the weapon whilst pushing the man casually to the back of the room. “Now” hissed the taller calmly. The pupil stepped smoothly to the left to see the scene in full. In the right corner stood defensively a mother protecting threateningly with a silver knife in front of a cot while a man struggled to his feet in the left. Smiling evilly showing yellowing teeth the pupil stamped his stave against the black floor emitting no sound or any sign of a repercussion of the action.

Venturing forth from the cot, unusually relaxed with dilated black pupils the mother strolled towards the man who was looking perplexedly at her. Lips met in a furious embrace as the woman dominantly smothered the man in euphoric passion, biting his lower lip causing scarlet blood to ooze down his face before releasing him. Silently thrusting her blade through his heart she cackled and watched traumatised as he fell devastated through the darkness; falling submissively to her feet, weeping profusely. “Ha” grated the taller “now finish off the child.” Obediently the pupil thrust his stave towards the cot releasing rancid hatred in a stream of fury.

Mad passion welled upward in the woman as she dived to meet the oncoming missile, which hit her in the chest throwing her backwards over the cot smashing it and crushing the child.

The taller chuckling soundlessly whilst removing the barrier bringing life back into the dead room and walked out leaving the pupil to admire his first victory.

As eagle eyes scoured the room they widened peering into the arm of the baby which unmistakably twitched. “Come” commanded the voice from the darkness and obediently the pupil followed never looking back.

“Ahhh” salivated the voice from upon its throne “your parents were my Acrkaryi victims.” Comprehension dawned across Artherus’s face “But why them?” roared Artherus “Why not some other defenceless human to play part in your sick initiation.”

“Watch your tongue!” exclaimed the throne “The Acrkaryi is the most sacred ritual performed to Christian a demon. The very same day I was baptised in the fire of Yazthkyl: ‘Lykrac’ the most powerful demon ever.” Artherus waited momentarily before repeating quietly “but why them?” Lykrac laughed from his pedestal. “Silly boy, because your father was one of the rare idiotic humans that had visions of leadership above their place, above the common mule. He was the human leader of the ‘Quercus’.” At no answer to this statement Lykrac continued in a hoarse laugh “It caused a bit of trouble for me and my master as he was close friends with a god, ‘Petherus’ I believe this so called god was called, decided to hunt us down like we were its pray” spitting out the last words like venom.

“Fool” Lykrac whispered relishing the apparent stupidity.

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