The Creatures Series

Eighteenth Dark

Eighteenth DarkCreatures of the Dark

© All Rights Reserved

##### Eighteenth Dark #####

--------------------------------

Madness rises,

When the other side of the moon is revealed.

Chanting insanity,

Inviting your mind to lose its control.

Like an emerald gem, my gown stands out on my black features and my pale skin. My parents had forced me to stay in the Noirmelns Castle and made sure that I attend the party very well. My mother insisted that I wear this gown, even though it’s too elegant and girly for my taste of clothing. Still, she even pulled my hair into a fancy twist and showers me with a few silver jewelries. She also made sure that my footwear is a pair of black diamond heels.

Arriving tonight, I’m here in this mystery party. The moon that shines from the open sky deck is now has fully gone. People under me are buzzing, gossiping like a no-ending ritual. And there’s no route to escape, since my parents are watching me.

They even know me enough that they don’t need a few more guards to watch over me, since I will probably take them down easily.

In this boring set of crowd, I scan my eyes to various of nobles from different titles that are dancing on the floor. To the variety of how each show off their achievements. Then my eyes fall on a certain someone with blonde hair and golden eyes, wearing a grey tuxedo. Vido. What is he doing here?

"Oh my, would you look at that," a voice dominates the volume of others from below there. "It's Viscountess Belmounth’s partner, a younger man. And good-looking, too." There's a mixture of jealousy and insult in her tone, now that I realize it.

"I wonder where she got such a handsome dance partner," another lady purrs with almost the same amount of jealousy.

After failing to see who's talking, because of so many voices down there, my eyes dart back to the two wizards that are being talk about. Viscountess Belmounth's arrival is being announced soon and a noble couple approaches them to greet her soon. I can’t even help see it when she intentionally pulls the hand that is being circled in hers to close and let Vito’s upper arm brush her bust.

"They are not dance partners, though," I mutter under my breath, before pulling away from the ladder and find a secret stairs to circle the main one.

There’s actually a backup stairs that can be access by those who knows where it is located. We can switch level with it if we want to avoid attracting too much attention on us by using the main stairs. All eyes will not turn to us, and all eyes are certainly not throwing razors.

Sneaking up from the guests, I manage to find a tall blonde among the crowds. Viscountess Belmounth is tugging his arm so tight, pulling him everywhere she goes. Again, I notice how deliberately she squeezes his upper arm. One moment they even dance, and then the next she is chatting with another noble. They are very....active.

"What a pig," I can hear someone that is standing in front of me, who's apparently also watching them, says. But she mutters so low, that only I notice it.

Truth to be told, Bardola is no thin like a Barbie doll. She's quite the opposite, despite her milky blonde hair and fair skin. Her peachy gown blooms every time she walks, much because of the incorporation of so many layers under it and her overweight thighs. Her bust even looks like it’s about to be squashed out because of how tight it is choking her body. But when I find the opportunity, I pull Vito out of the crowd and to a very unsuspicious lone corner.

"What are you doing in here? And please don't tell me that he ordered you to. Why are you with Viscountess Bardola Belmounth?"

“Wow, hold on a second. Why are you even here?” He asks me. But when he realizes just how stupid his question sounds like, he adds more. “I mean, I don’t know that you will be here. Since you haven’t been in here for a very long time,” he says.

“You know about that part, too? Well, never mind. I was forced anyway.” I let my gaze fall down to the black chains that connect both of my wrists together. It’s not really visible, though. “What’s your reason?”

He seems a bit nervous when he’s about to tell me. “Well, you see, this is my undercover life. Like yours, you became a member of Sorcier to fight easy cases with your teammates. In my undercover life, I became a butler to Viscountess Bardola,” he explains.

I arch an eyebrow. Really?

“It’s true. I was an orphan for real when I was four. She took me in and hired me to work for her. In turn, he provided me with food, place to sleep, and study. Especially one to develop my magic skill,” he adds.

I look at him for a moment. “I have no reason to not trust you, even though it’s much because your life is not my business, whether it’s a lie or not. But now that I already get your presence in here clear, let’s get back to each others’ position to avoid raising unnecessary suspicions, shall we? Oh, and just to remind you,” I say, looking at him one last time and adding, “we don’t know each other in this world,” before walking away and blend with the crowd.

Have nothing else to do, I decide to head back upstairs. I walk to the back of the main stairs, avoiding any form of contact and enter another lonely corner. It takes only ten steps before I spot back the door. My hand rises to the hanger and pulls it out. It feels too light when I do it this time, though. Right away I know that someone is at the other side of the door. And the wizard must be a Noirmelns, to know about this passage.

The wooden door slides open, revealing a family member of mine. He has the similar features as mine; black hair and eyes, with pale skin. What makes us completely different is just our height. While I’m 170 centimeters high, he’s only a meter high. And I don’t even know him.

“Excuse me, Lady, but who are you? I’ve been traveling through these passages and my grandfather told me that no one knows about this besides me and my family. But I never see you before. So who are you?”

“Your analytic ability is quite impressive, but I’m afraid we haven’t officially met before. I'm Arsene. What's your name?"

"Raion."

He studies me for a moment, before saying, "I think I've heard of you before, but my mother didn't let me know much about it." I have an unpleasant feeling about this. "My grandfather said that was because she doesn't like you much, and never allowed me to learn much about you, too." I hate where this is going. "I think you know her. Her name is—"

"You can stop now. I know that you're Eleanor's son," I tell him, gaining a victorious smile from the child.

"How can you tell?" He asks out of curiosity.

"The resemblances are hard to miss," I admit.

"You're really smart. Not many can figure that out," he praises me.

"You're quite smart, too," I praise him back. "And it does not supposed to be that hard; I remembered how Eleanor looked like when she wasn't having an emotional wrath before. She was so beautiful and innocent, until your grandmother sadly persuades her into doing things she shouldn't do...."

I can't believe I just trail off about my dangerous cousin in front of her son.

"Yes, indeed."

His response is much more understanding than I thought he will be. But his eyes dye out into a darker shade when he admits that, looking away to the distance I can never reach. Looking so sorrowful.

"That reminds me. Who is your father, by the way?" I ask, trying to lighten up the mood.

In an instant, he turns his attention back to me. Eyes flicking back to a normal glint, with a hint of something I usually can't find on a pair of a kid's eyes. What is it? Cheerful? No. Playful? No. Naughty? Close. With a hint of mystery.

He puts a finger over his lips and whispers, "That's a secret."

Pain.

I feel immobilized and fell to the floor. My back is facing the wall when that happens. My sight is failing each second I try to understand what's going on. But Raion just stares at me in shock, not knowing what to do.

"Go," I managed to choke out and feel the unbearable pain. My throat feels like someone just pierced a knife through it. "Don't let anyone enter," I add when the wave of torture has left me, creating a new wave instead.

Raion is still frozen on his spot for a few moments, before blinking and nodding at me. "I understand." He whispers ever so lowly that I begin to think that's just a fragment of my imagination. He's already gone the next time I blink, though.

Another pain shoots through my body, shattering my focus. I don't scream. Not dare to even move. But this time, I try to remember where it's coming from. Close to my heart. Not my chest. No, my upper left arm. I try to move the muscle, and gain an instant shot of the pain while I almost moan. It's the same, alright.

It is silent for a while, letting me regain myself and process what has just happened. The connection spell. Someone knew about it and is using it on me. On us.

Fifteen years ago, I put a spell on my friends. I was still a child back then. I had no clue for the further consequences. The spell allowed me to protect them even from miles apart. But in an exchange, I am connected to them physically. That means, if they got hurt, the effect would fall on me. Although that would only happen if they are in the brinks of their deaths.

So that means.... I gulped. That my friends are dying.

Wincing while getting up, I claw on the wall to help me stay in balance. Another pain struck through my body, this time at my right thigh. I can see blood flowing out from my open flesh, too. Black pool starts to expand from what's already on the floor. It's getting darker and darker by the seconds, losing its freshness. I don't dare on giving up, though. If I do not get back to Sorcier Tower soon, then they all will be dead. And so will I.

"Shara...." The wound from my right thigh is gaping. "Crease...." My left upper arm is aching. "Nono...." I can finally find my first scar, from my back. The scar is burning across it. "Banri.... Arch.... Shrade.... Please, wait for me.... I'm....coming."

Another part of my flesh is being ripped open, forcing me to fall. My palms catch the side of the wall, preventing the law of gravity from pulling me down. I plant my claws on it as hard as I can, but it just makes me bleed even more than what I already did. I know that the pain is demanding my attention. The torture has turned to the left leg. So weakening.

My whole body is covered with black blood at this point. My emerald gown is now torn in here and there. What was worth $8000 has been turned to nothing within a few seconds. But I don't think my parents will be concerned of the gown when they ever find me like this.

Pain shoots through me again. This time, close to my heart.

No! If I let this being keep up, then my friends will die. They are in danger. I must have them now.

Trying to get up again, I don't even fall to the floor this time, but also coughed out blood. The black liquid, as thick as used oil, and smells like one, too, flow out from my lips like a fountain. I can hardly control myself by this point.

The pain is too close to my heart. Razor sharp claws feel like caging it. I throw up more blood, making another pool and grow weaker. Then suddenly the small passageway is so noisy.

“ Arsene ─”

“....Arsene!”

“ Arsene, oh no ─”

I can hear my name being call with so many different voices, but none that I want to hear. The pain from my body is definitely screaming for my fullest attention, blocking me from even following that happens next. Like being constantly drowned into a pool of water and being dragged to the surface over and over again, my sights are struggling to keep awake.

“What’s going on? Where did this all injuries come from?” I can hear my father asks in panic.

Someone that possess a bass voice answers him, “It appears to be that your daughter had made a binding spell with someone. Or should I say, a few wizards. Her friends, I suppose?”

“She’s healing,” a comfortable hand appear on my shoulder to press my wound, “but the injuries keep appearing. We need to stop the bleeding before she bleeds herself to death.”

My father sighs heavily from above us. “How could she do this without consulting us? And at a night like this, even.”

“Listen to me, Arsene,” I can hear my mother speak to me, her other hand caresses my cheek sweetly. “You need to cut down your ties with your friends.”

“No!” I managed to scream out loud, even though it sounds more desperate. “I can’t. It will kill them.” Blood comes out from my lips in no time when I am able to choke those words out, leaving tingling trail over the layer of skin of my neckline.

“Well, it’s better than having you dead. For good, this time. Your family needs you to stay alive.” My magic, you mean. No, I don’t want any title on my name. Leadership is another spectrum of universe for me.

I feel weaker by each passing second. “No....” The word barely slips my lips this time. I can’t lose them. They are my first and my only best friends. Even if I did make a mistake by doing the ritual without anybody’s permission, I still can’t cut the ties to save myself.