Greetings all
And now to jump back to our trio in the swamp. Don't forget to read @zakludick's update
“No. I have been dying to loosen the restraints.”
That was what Rex had said as he started transforming. His clothes had split, and then his skin. Matted fur, a mixture of black, grey, and red burst through the tears as his face elongated and became a maw. His eyes turned yellow as talons sprouted from his hands. Oddly enough, while his legs had shredded his pants, his boots remained unscathed, making the transformation look somewhat incomplete as he stood to face off against the beast before him.
The ghoul king, or whatever it was, swung its head back to look at Rex with a thrilled look on its face.
“It has been centuries since another has been made! And this one willingly so! It would be such a shame…”
Rex didn’t give the beast an opportunity to finish its sentence. Despite his feet still clad in boots, they ripped up the pavement as he ran at the thing, talons sinking deep into the stone before him.
This is madness.
This wasn’t the thought of the weapon at his side, this was Robert’s own thoughts. They were screaming at him to get away. This wasn’t something that he could do anything about. His magic had long since disappeared and he was too afraid to draw the sword at his side, terrified that somehow wielding it would bring the monster back.
Perhaps it is time that it does make an appearance.
This was the weapon. Robert looked at it and hissed at it, “No! I only just got my humanity back.”
We are both cursed by the one we trusted, the one we believe in. There is no more humanity for us. This is what awaits us and if you don’t stop it…
“Why would I want to stop it? If I die, then it’s over…”
And where would your soul go cursed?
That struck Robert deeply. He had once been devoted, and even though his life had been turned upside down, some of those values were still within him. Where did cursed souls go? He thought of the undead follower of Magna, and he shuddered. Would he be called back again and again, his body slowly succumbing to the ages?
Too late he realised that Rex wasn’t managing the creature he fought. Too late he realised that the creature had thrown him aside and was now rushing at him. Too late he realised he was nothing but prey. However, what stirred within him was not.
Robert woke with a sharp inhalation of breath when he realised his clothes were shredded and soaking wet.
“Calm, calm.” Said Millmor as a massive claw pinned his chest down.
Robert could smell blood, and he could feel his heart pounding against his chest in fear. The blood wasn’t his. He felt no pain. He gripped the wrist and slowly sat up, rubbing at a groggy head.
There was a fire before him, as it was dark now, he could just make out something outside the pool of light.
“You are not like us.” Said Rex to his right.
A side glance told Robert all he needed to know about Rex’s condition. Injured, if going by the blood-soaked bandages, but alive. So, what was that on the outside of the light?
Robert got to his feet. He needed to see what was beyond the fire. No one stopped him. The closer he got, the more blood he smelled, along with the putrid stench of innards. His foot knocked something aside and he glanced down. It was a tooth. In a rush, everything came back.
Robert sat down heavily, almost heaving in disgust as he saw himself grabbing the upper and lower jaw of the creature that had attacked him and split it in half, but it hadn’t ended there. Robert looked back to Rex and Millmor. They looked tattered, broken, and fatigued, but it wasn’t from attacking the dead thing that lay just outside the light. No, it was from trying to calm him.
“I nearly killed you.”
“But you didn’t.” said Millmor.
“But I could of.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I’m a danger to everything. I should wander the swamp.” Robert leapt to his feet, so sure that he could get lost in the swamp if no one stopped him.
Then he was on his back, with Rex pressing the rapier across his chest. He wasn’t quite human yet and he roared in the man’s face.
“I understand!”
Robert could do nothing but stare up at the man-beast.
“You want to be a hero, but it stops you every time. Makes you attack the innocent, but this,” Rex pressed the sword down. “This is what is stopping you from turning on everything, isn’t it?”
“I was a knight…” started Robert.
“So was I and I was trapped in old teachings for the longest time. They aren’t, not completely. They don’t take us into consideration, naming us beast, monster, abhorrent. We don’t have to be. You don’t have to be.” Rex stepped back and allowed Robert to get to his feet. “You can wander the swamp if you wish, but there is a way to take control.”
“I taught Rex control, and I can teach you.” Said Millmor. “But only if you want to.”
Rex turned and shouted at Millmor. “He has to have control. That thing nearly ripped us apart.”
“What stopped me?” asked Robert.
Millmor and Rex looked at each other, then Millmor grinned and Rex looked uncomfortable while mumbling something.
“What was that?” asked Robert, not getting the joke.
“I asked for mercy, okay!”
Mercy. Mercy? No one had begged for mercy, not to him at least. They had begged from gods and received none. This man had treated him like a sentient creature, knowing that he could be reasoned with. Robert looked to the blade and wondered if this too could help the one trapped inside.
“Its punishment seems more severe. But enough of this. Rest. We’ll talk more in the morning.” Said Millmor.
Back to you Zak.
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
| by @lex-zaiya | by @zakludick |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
| Part 3 | Part 4 |
| Part 5 | Part 6 |
| Part 7 | Part 8 |
| Part 9 | Part 10 |
| Part 11 | Part 12 |
| Part 13 | Part 14 |
| Part 15 | Part 16 |
| Part 17 | Part 18 |
| Part 19 | Part 20 |
| Part 21 | Part 22 |
| Part 23 | Part 24 |
| Part 25 | Part 26 |
| Part 27 - You’re Here | Part 28 - Incoming |
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
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