The Womb of Tenebris' Gaze

..."We walked inside her mind, and found ruins older than sleep— and far less merciful."...

...Pagina Prima...

As a vulpine maiden, she was imprisoned within a cage-fortunate, forsooth, that it was spacious and decent. Only if her arms were left unshackled, might she savor the small realm that was hers.

And- as a vulpine maiden- she bore no name. Yet her mistress, a lady of kindly mien who oft donned the guise of a Jester, bestowed upon her the appellation Tamamo Martialis- for, according to that lady: the golden tresses, long and wavy, blazed like sanguine flame at dusk's waning light before darkness stole them away... Moreover, the lady found her in the Sun Garden ere the sun's descent, rendering her semblance as graceful as a newly born dawn. But frailer still. Yet, until this hour, Tamamo hath never known her own name.

Mistress Tenebris came but at mealtime... Breakfast was served at the fifth hour of the morn, luncheon at the fourteenth, and supper at the twenty-second... Yet the hours oft danced in flux. This arose from her ill custom- imbibing spirits till oblivion claimed her.

She dwelt in the ancestral mansion, vast and imposing... Tamamo resided in the subterranean vault, directly beneath her lady's chamber. By some cruel twist of fate involving her and her sire and dam, Tamamo inherited this abode. As for her progenitors, their fate was lost to whispers. Many claimed they fled southward post-tragedy, choosing the humble life of tillers after Tenebris swept away their lands. Yet naught but fools believed such tales! What stood certain was their vanished presence from Rome, lost to the void. Henceforth, mansion, courtyard, garden, open fields- all belonged to Mistress Tenebris... A solitary figure, dwelling on Rome's outskirts, despising children, and oft dispatching her pale-skinned thralls northward to maraud barbarian lands and the like.

By virtue of her boundless wealth, which seemed an endless wellspring, she held vast private estates in Vienna, commanded mercenary hosts centered therein, and trafficked fresh bondsmen from Hispania unto the Eastern realms... At least so the scant known annals say, kept under lock and key for her sole ken.

Yet Tamamo knew the lady's private life well. She oft beheld her, for she would frequent the basement's gloom. A recluse, prone to mutterings, and at times, a grin so terrible it rent the soul. Not forgotten was her curious habit of peering beyond the pine wardrobe- that wooden sentinel beside Tamamo's cage, motionless, mute, blind to all within. But Tenebris ever yearned to know what secrets it concealed... And Tamamo watched with her great eyes fixed upon her, causing the lady's awkward retreat from that cupboard's shadow.

Rarely did Tenebris converse with Tamamo. When she did, strange were her words. Tamamo recalled how her mistress once queried, 'When wilt thou be grown?' and touched the maiden's cheek through iron bars. Tamamo only shook her head, and Tenebris departed, expressionless. And always thereafter, for days one or two, Tenebris was gone, leaving the vulpine famished, feeble, and near death. But why, Tamamo could not fathom- only knew that thanks to her keen hearing, she perceived uproar above: chaos, tumult, an ill wind blowing over the house.

During these times- these cruel fortnights- Tamamo would curl beneath, her bushy tail enfolding her like a cloak. Her small frame, no larger than a child of twelve summers. Her sole torment whilst shielding herself thus were the iron manacles binding her wrists- heavy, clumsy shackles that chafed relentlessly. Yet amidst the chaos overhead, she found somber slumber, wandering dreams of mysteries beyond her ken.

Surely, she was tethered to Mistress Tenebris- the sole living soul she saw nowadays. In her dreams she pondered: the lady was never wrathful, yet never truly gentle. There was imbalance in her speech, in her smile that failed to reach her eyes. And- And?

And, awakening- was it already a week?- she stretched back and forth... Cloaked still, before the door lay no sustenance. Mistress Tenebris approached, yet only to inquire her state. Poor fox!

...Pagina Secunda...

The day was unknown. A week? Two? Time had lost meaning... If one were to gaze upon her, bare and unclothed as she was, ribs etched sharply beneath pale skin, sunken belly, cracked lips, and skull forming stern lines as cheeks hollowed... she did naught but lie there, and when strength allowed, would lean upon iron bars, clutching knees, swallowing her own saliva... The plate- abandoned, remnants of one (or two, or three) fortnights past- lay untouched. Her eyes grew vacant. Only three memories remained: her mistress, the plate, and the unanswered query- asked over and over: Was she wrong?

Five days hence, Tamamo knew not if she lived or dwelled in a phantasmal labyrinth consuming her soul. This chamber- cold stone beneath, iron bars that had grown as extensions of her flesh- knew no dawn nor dusk, no hour marked. She only yearned for Tenebris to return. Lying prone, heart pounding, she awaited the footfalls of her mistress's shoes- so familiar- but they never came. Only clamor above- now her sole companion. She was utterly broken!

Had it been a month, Ja? The floor grew colder still beneath her cage. She longed now for the wild lands that had lately graced her dreams. Yet this thought brought dread- the shadow of death loomed. Her arms- frail, tangled, grimy- near tore free from their iron fetters. Then the nightmare struck: 'When wilt thou be grown?' choking her throat, her eyes sharp with pain... She thought to tear her own arm- the right one. It trembled! But the left was still, nerves numb. Lips cracked, trembling with frustration- she bit, scent of rust and iron rising. One pinch, one bite, a muffled scream. Though pain wracked her head, at last the cuff fell free. Blood gushed from the wrist; left arm unbound, though chained by black iron fixed with monstrous nails to the wall- true freedom denied.

Again the nightmare whispered, 'When wilt thou be grown?'

Tamamo clenched her agony, tears welled, teeth chattered, breath quivered, heart thundered, hunger gnawed. Palms pressed low, soaked with dark blood of torment. She drew near, sniffed with reddened snout, performing the rites of the carnivore upon her prey- sobbing while gnashing sinew and bitter flesh, nose raw from the stench of decay.

Now, for the first time in endless time, Tamamo felt the joyous stir of motion. Though maimed, still alive...

The basement's vaulted ceiling spun before her bleary gaze. Breath labored, limbs trembled, chill crept into marrow's depth. But life endured. Pain in her arm was proof- gnawing, punishing. Blood flowed from the severed limb, soaking ancient stone stained with sorrow. The iron chain held fast, but only one limb bound now. She tottered, head spinning, yet cared not. At last she could move more freely. Then, sleep or faintness claimed her, and in that state, sweet dreams blossomed- the first meeting with Tenebris, in the Sun Garden. When Tenebris first smiled upon her.

...Pagina Tertia...

The morrow, barely risen from slumber, footsteps echoed- faltering, staggering, yet familiar... Tamamo curled her tail to one side. Mistress Tenebris, she thought. She cometh. Yes, she cometh.

Shifting by the wall, cheeks flushed, clutching an empty flask of spirit, eyes heavy and gleaming with cruel mirth... For the first time, she sang softly, 'Tamamo. Tamamo. Art thou there, Tamamo? Still there, Tamamo?'

Tamamo knew not her name. Hence she moved not.

Tenebris sighed, 'Haaa... if thou dost not answer,' hiccupping once, twice, 'if thou dost not answer- 'tis hard to know... Thou art scarce now, here...'

'Scarce,' thought Tamamo.

She twitched her tail. Tap! tap! tap! Swift steps neared, bars rattled- Tamamo gasped and leapt back- Tenebris sighed anew, 'Ta, ma, mo...'

The little fox shivered, eyes wide with dread at Tenebris's presence. Then the lady seemed to weigh her, dropped the flask shattered upon stone, unlocked the cage, entered, closed and barred it anew- a menacing smile that chilled Tamamo's spine. Approaching, she knelt; Tamamo powerless, body frail; Tenebris raised her left arm, revealing torn flesh, ragged bone, first signs of decay...

Tenebris hummed, 'Hmmm, this one seems too young, yes?' prodding dried blood.

Tamamo squirmed in pain and shame, writhing softly before the lady, then hid her arm behind her back.

Tenebris noted the tears dried on Tamamo's face, cupped her cheeks with both hands. 'Tamamo. Good child. Do not kill thyself. Tamamo. Not yet done. Tamamo, mine own.'

The girl understood not, staring back with hollow hunger. But Tenebris heeded not, drunken flush still upon her visage, smiling once more. 'Do not. Leave. I shall slay. Understand. Tamamo. Coward. Near extinct. Tamamo. Remain. Not as thy brethren. Tamamo. So cease.'

Her heart clenched. Tamamo released. Tenebris left the cage, closed it, but left it unlocked. Tamamo fell- heart deadened, haunted by 'brethren' spoken by Tenebris. Fear took root; ears sharpened unnaturally.

...Pagina Quarta...

All night she curled, head bowed, soul half submerged in recent horror. Tenebris vanished after strange talk; on waking, Tamamo found the lock undone. Heart fluttered, cheeks flushed with sudden joy. Yet Tenebris lingered without; fear gripped her. Her body shook at the thought of that cruel smile yesterday. Still, curiosity stirred- what of the outside world? She longed for freedom! Yet cold basement breath seeped to brittle bones. The scent of dried blood haunted her nostrils, yet fear overcame pain creeping through her frame. Slowly she rose, dragged weak limbs, strength near spent. She had but two days, gained at cost of her arm, now crippled. She reached with the bound hand, grasped the bars- cold iron long a part of her world, but today she would leave it.

One step. Two steps.

Stumbled! Almost fallen, she crossed the cage door. Eyes swept the dark, dank chamber, thick with dust. Her right hand, chained, pulled- pulled- pulled- again! Pain, agony, torment. She freed it! Sweat poured; she collapsed breathless. Heart pounding wildly from effort... But suffering fled; she saw her hands, both free- though one maimed- and clutched her empty belly. Rising, she walked toward the wooden stairs upward. Each heavy step lightened, as if treading upon dream-waters.

Stairs creaked. So did the door as she opened it slowly. Reaching above, she paused, listening. No sound. Breath ragged, she pressed on. Along the corridor, each step made heart race faster. So close. So near.

The air above the basement was strange. Stifling, yet faintly scented with freedom. Before her lay Tenebris's chamber. Chaos. Havoc. The room struck by tempest. Wardrobe open, its contents strewn upon the floor. Garments flung about. Bottles of spirits toppled, some broken, dark stains upon ancient carpets. A tilted desk nearly toppled, papers scattered wide. A great mirror cracked in a corner-

And a scent- a strange odor.

Tamamo froze, eyes wide as she realized not only this chamber was wrecked, but the whole house.

Bloodstains everywhere, candles melted in their holders, shattered glass lay scattered upon floor, rugs, and more. The open window revealed a bright day she no longer beheld...

Yet as she neared the open window, footsteps sounded... origin unknown... Tamamo retreated, heart pounding. She must flee. At once.

Footsteps.

Footsteps she knew.

Tamamo froze. Her weak frame felt smaller. Breath caught. 'Twas Tenebris.

She came.

Without thought, Tamamo turned and fled to the basement. Steps faltered, nearly fell, but forced herself downward to the place she wished to leave.

No refuge.

None-

A wardrobe? A foolish thought?

Yet barely aware, she had pushed herself inside the old basement wardrobe. The heavy wooden door creaked as she closed it. Darkness. Silence. Tamamo held breath. She heard Tenebris's footsteps descending slow. Her own heartbeat thundered in her ears.

As she calmed, something brushed her foot. Cold. Soft.

She froze. The sensation of human skin.

Slowly she lowered gaze into the gloom.

Eyes.

Eyes open, void of life's light.

Bodies piled in impossible heaps, cramped in this narrow cupboard.

Fox-maidens dead. How vast was this wardrobe?

Tamamo could not scream. Nor move. The rancid stench filled her nose, crawled down throat, nearly made her retch. Their shameful parts- torn.

And, alas, the door yanked open!

Tamamo pressed trembling hand to mouth. She wished to flee. Must flee. But Tenebris stood before her.

One second. Two seconds. Silence. Here.

Then- Tenebris smiled- a dreadful smile! She said, 'At last, thou art grown, Tamamo!' and leaned close, breath held at mouth, gasping, smile crimson staining her lips' corners. Her arm snatched Tamamo's ears; the fox girl shrieked as they were pulled close together... Then, brazenly, the lady dragged her so the girl had no choice but to follow. Again and again she dragged her, until once more inside the cage...

The fox cried and screamed, with imperfect human voice, 'Release. Release.'

Was this just? The fox was thrown, slammed against the wall.

'Thou art the only one freed from these shackles. Thou art special.' Tenebris explained.

'Mercy- mercy-'

Tenebris replied, 'Ah, hear that? Thy brethren must be proud! Thou art first; thy speech grows steady.'

Yet the fox was too busy shielding her small frame with feeble hands over her face, deeming these words as wind passing...

Tenebris neared again, yet Tamamo expected no grace. She saw Tenebris as threat- a foe she could no longer flee! Before her stood the cruel mistress, who knelt once more, grasped the fox's wrist gently, opened it- revealing the disheveled, soiled, neglected little face; parched, starving, sweating tears.

'Snatch.' She said. The fox still horrified. Tenebris smiled. She crushed the bones of both wrists till the girl writhed fiercely! Then she fell- and alas, fell into the arms of a predator who could destroy her at will! Now the girl could only scream- utterly powerless... Poor fox! ... Even in a world unknown, she suffered.

Yet shortly after, Tenebris soothed her- embraced her tight, adjusted her face with care. Whispering close to the fox's long ear, she said, 'Be calm, Tamamo. Hey, Tamamo- soon this place shall ring with sweet cries, won't it, Tamamo~'

.......

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