Chapter Fifteen

The Walk.

I don’t know how long I was dead. I don’t think it was long because when I awoke I was surrounded by my soldiers. Standing up it didn’t take me long to figure out what happened. The people from the company were waiting on reinforcements or perhaps a way to move me without reanimating me in the process. My people arrived first and their only goal in the following bloodbath was to get someone friend or foe close enough to revive me. By the looks of things, The Company held their own for quite some time before one of my followers reached me. Once I started to reanimate the rest of the guards retreated leaving the site for my men to secure. It helped immensely that I could see it all happen through the memories of my followers. My thought process stops when I see the follower who sacrificed herself to revive me. Even drained there is a beauty to her. I can see what she looked like through the memories of the others. A divine image blonde hair and silver eyes. Skin pale and smooth vampirical in its perfection. A glowing image indeed. Perhaps even literally when she was alive. I could see she was a recent convert through one of the others who seemed to be a close friend. “What a waste. She could have been so much more.” I get a strange sensation. Even distant as it is within me I recognize it. Guilt or perhaps more accurately regret. Regret for what specifically I’m not sure, but Inanis senses it. “A vision indeed to reach you my prophet. After the crucible I put you through I couldn’t feel anything within you. Except for the rush of the slaughter that is. Although I did think Trish might reach you if we ever found her.” I can feel Inanis thinking. “This one is already a loyal follower though.” I can sense where he’s going before he speaks again. “You mean was a loyal follower Inanis. There is nothing I can do for one this far gone.” I feel reassurance as if Inanis himself knelt beside me and placed his hand one my shoulder. “Just follow my instructions as always my son. I think this one would be good with you even though your heart is as dead as you would be without me. Bring her to my crypt and bring the guard hiding in the fourth tent on your left.” I don’t understand how he could sense the guard even when I could not, but the guard was indeed there. My followers captured her with ease. On his command, I picked my dead follower up myself and walked every step to the crypt.

When I stepped inside Obsidians limits I couldn’t move like I used to. The extra supernatural strength I had leaves me and the body I carry feels painfully heavy. “There is a price to pay for what we’re going to do. The pain of your walk to my crypt will provide part of the necessary sacrifice for this miracle. Now walk my prophet.” It has been two years since Inanis had caused me any pain. This time I can feel purpose behind the pain. At first, it’s not so bad, but when I get about halfway there I start to wonder if this person I’ve never spoken to is worth this pain. It is only the faith I nurtured over the last two years that keeps me walking. Even as my feet start to bleed and my veins feel like acid is running through them I walk. The walk takes longer than it should. My muscles ace and feel heavy like cement as I see the sun start to dip below the horizon. It’s the same anomaly I encountered the second time I visited the crypt two years ago. Inanis is deliberately extending the distance to his crypt. How much pain does he need?

I’ve been walking for two days. I don’t know why I don’t stop. Every step is excruciating and the time between each is painfully long. Just as I think I’m reaching the limits of my new faith the crypt comes into view. Even spurred on by this walking the remaining distance is not any easier. I fade in and out a few times, but never drop my followers body. Walking down the steps of the crypt is almost enough to break me. As I step of the last step all pain leaves me and I kneel with my follower in my arms. The door to Inanis opens and I see one of his spherical cages is fading. “The price of pain is paid.”