[3]
The ground trembled. Dust filled the air. Chunks of sandstone rained down like judgment.
Shouts rang out as men called for each other, their voices nearly drowned by the chaos. As the dust began to settle, Roark took in the scene.
Roark
Get the injured to a healer!
One man lay crushed beneath slabs of sandstone, coughing blood. Roark grimaced, stepped forward, and drove his sword through the man’s skull—a mercy.
Strong men
Roark! The path Granny took is still open!
With most of the men tending to the injured, only a few remained with Roark as they moved toward the narrow crevice. As they slipped through the small passage, a sound met them.
Gloom
No... no, you can’t be dead! Please!
They found him kneeling in blood and rubble, hunched over Granny’s lifeless body. Her crushed form leaked red beneath his knees as he clung to her.
A broken amulet slipped from her robes, clinking to the stone floor.
Roark’s blood ran cold at the sight of it.
Strong men
H-her eyes… She’s a vampire…
Whispers and disbelief spread through the remaining men. Granny—the kind elder they’d known—had hidden a cursed bloodline.
Cure
'Who would’ve thought my current host would be so lucky…'
The ancient being smiled to himself, stepping up silently beside Gloom—unseen by the others.
Cure
We can bring her back.
Gloom jerked his head toward him, eyes wide with shock and raw desperation.
Gloom
Please... Please! Bring her back!
The men’s confusion turned to horror as Granny’s body twitched… then rose with unnatural grace. Her red eyes snapped open.
Strong men
He's a necromancer!
The men staggered back, fear overtaking them. Roark stepped forward, face dark and unreadable.
Roark
All of you. Return to the village. Tell the chief what happened.
Strong men
B-but what about—?
They obeyed. Only Gloom stayed behind, trembling beside Granny.
He looked up at Roark, confused and overwhelmed.
Gloom
I didn’t… I didn’t mean for this...
Roark knelt and picked up the bloodied, broken amulet from the ground. His grip tightened as he saw the familiar markings—the same amulet Ann wore.
Roark
Take your... creation... and run.
Roark
Go. Now. Into the forest! And don't stop!
Cure placed a hand on Gloom’s shoulder, nudging him gently.
Gloom stumbled to his feet. Granny followed—eyes lifeless, movements strange. They disappeared into the trees beyond the ruins.
Roark’s home – Shortly after
Roark burst through the door, face pale and grim. Ann came quickly from the kitchen.
He didn’t answer with words—just placed her mother’s shattered, bloody amulet in her hands.
Her breath caught. Her eyes went wide.
Roark
You have to go. Now.
Ann
But—what’s going on? Is she—
Roark
There’s no time! They’ll come. For you. For the baby.
She stared at the amulet in her shaking hands. Then looked up at him—eyes wet, but hardening.
Roark gently brushed her hair back, then turned toward the door, grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
The village would have to go over his corpse before they touched his wife and his unborn child.
Comments
Jock◯△□
I need my fix of your amazing writing! Update soon, okay?
2025-05-16
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