victim.
Unable to answer at the moment, Knorr nodded weakly.
“You understand there will be no salvation for you..you will cease to be, never returning from the dark. But in trade, I spare Gavin.”
“Yes....ye..” her ratting voice croaked desperately before it was interrupted by a series of gurgling coughs.
Still leaning over her, Mariotte's true, hideous, pockmarked face was finally revealed as she began mumbling incantations. Swaying from side to side like a charmed cobra, she seemed to go into a trance as the stench of sulfur slowly filled the room.
Suddenly the entire room began shaking, then stopped as a ghoul materialized, his hideous body naked, his clawed feet scratching the wooden floor. “What is it you wish of me, hag?” the thing slurred from a mouth that had three rows of short, pointed teeth.
“A pure soul, in exchange for a bit of power from the Dark Lord.” she mumbled in a voice as icy as a December wind.
“A pure soul?” the ghoul replied in a voice so hungry and greedy that even the dying Knorr shuddered visibly.
“Yes...a pure soul....a virgin.” she replied as she handed the chalice to her hideous confederate.
Taking the chalice in his clawed hands, the other-wordly creature gulped down the blood greedily, and after draining every drop, used his forked tongue to lick the chalice clean. “Ahhh yes...a pure soul...an innocent. You shall have your wish, hag.” he rumbled, sounding completely sated.
Shuffling several feet forward, the creature's clawed hand was suddenly hovering over Knorr's near-lifeless body, near her heart. “I take what was promised to me.”
Suddenly screaming as if she was being flayed alive, Knorr's entire body convulsed and jerked as bloody foam and spittle flew from her wide open mouth.
Laughter booming like the sound of thunder, the creature's entire body jerked and convulsed, much as Knorr's had a moment earlier, as a bright golden orb emerged from her mouth, then flew into the ghoul's open right hand. “Tonight, I feast on this soul!” he cried.
Crashing down on the table with terrific force, Knorr's limbs trembled for a moment, then went limp.
“It is done, hag.” the creature hissed. Bringing the glowing orb to eye level, he studied it for a moment. Turning his attention back to the woman who had summoned him, he warned, “Be mindful of how you wield the power, it could be your downfall. Especially if you draw the attention of my brother.”
“Return from whence you came!” she replied in a dead voice.
“Remember, hag, we all have to abide by certain cosmic laws.”
Watching as the ghoul sank into the floor and disappeared, Mariotte paid scant attention to his warning as she felt her newly acquired powers surge within her. Both hands flying above her head, she looked to the heavens and screeched, “Tonight, no soul shall be spared on this, my property! Tonight it will be the home of the damned!”
***********************
Making his way back onto the plantation, Gavin felt something was off. Everything seemed too quiet (even the nocturnal insects had ceased their chatter), and nothing stirred in the darkness. It also didn't go unnoticed that there were no slaves roaming about their quarters, although they were usually still active at this time of night. His wide shoulders tightened as he thought about what Knorr had said earlier, and her fears about the widow.
Arriving at the mansion, he lowered himself from the stallion, surprised when the young footman suddenly appeared out of nowhere and took the reins.
“Evening, master.” the young man greeted him listlessly, sounding as if he had had a bit too much to drink.
Looking in the young
Unable to answer at the moment, Knorr nodded weakly.
“You understand there will be no salvation for you..you will cease to be, never returning from the dark. But in trade, I spare Gavin.”
“Yes....ye..” her ratting voice croaked desperately before it was interrupted by a series of gurgling coughs.
Still leaning over her, Mariotte's true, hideous, pockmarked face was finally revealed as she began mumbling incantations. Swaying from side to side like a charmed cobra, she seemed to go into a trance as the stench of sulfur slowly filled the room.
Suddenly the entire room began shaking, then stopped as a ghoul materialized, his hideous body naked, his clawed feet scratching the wooden floor. “What is it you wish of me, hag?” the thing slurred from a mouth that had three rows of short, pointed teeth.
“A pure soul, in exchange for a bit of power from the Dark Lord.” she mumbled in a voice as icy as a December wind.
“A pure soul?” the ghoul replied in a voice so hungry and greedy that even the dying Knorr shuddered visibly.
“Yes...a pure soul....a virgin.” she replied as she handed the chalice to her hideous confederate.
Taking the chalice in his clawed hands, the other-wordly creature gulped down the blood greedily, and after draining every drop, used his forked tongue to lick the chalice clean. “Ahhh yes...a pure soul...an innocent. You shall have your wish, hag.” he rumbled, sounding completely sated.
Shuffling several feet forward, the creature's clawed hand was suddenly hovering over Knorr's near-lifeless body, near her heart. “I take what was promised to me.”
Suddenly screaming as if she was being flayed alive, Knorr's entire body convulsed and jerked as bloody foam and spittle flew from her wide open mouth.
Laughter booming like the sound of thunder, the creature's entire body jerked and convulsed, much as Knorr's had a moment earlier, as a bright golden orb emerged from her mouth, then flew into the ghoul's open right hand. “Tonight, I feast on this soul!” he cried.
Crashing down on the table with terrific force, Knorr's limbs trembled for a moment, then went limp.
“It is done, hag.” the creature hissed. Bringing the glowing orb to eye level, he studied it for a moment. Turning his attention back to the woman who had summoned him, he warned, “Be mindful of how you wield the power, it could be your downfall. Especially if you draw the attention of my brother.”
“Return from whence you came!” she replied in a dead voice.
“Remember, hag, we all have to abide by certain cosmic laws.”
Watching as the ghoul sank into the floor and disappeared, Mariotte paid scant attention to his warning as she felt her newly acquired powers surge within her. Both hands flying above her head, she looked to the heavens and screeched, “Tonight, no soul shall be spared on this, my property! Tonight it will be the home of the damned!”
***********************
Making his way back onto the plantation, Gavin felt something was off. Everything seemed too quiet (even the nocturnal insects had ceased their chatter), and nothing stirred in the darkness. It also didn't go unnoticed that there were no slaves roaming about their quarters, although they were usually still active at this time of night. His wide shoulders tightened as he thought about what Knorr had said earlier, and her fears about the widow.
Arriving at the mansion, he lowered himself from the stallion, surprised when the young footman suddenly appeared out of nowhere and took the reins.
“Evening, master.” the young man greeted him listlessly, sounding as if he had had a bit too much to drink.
Looking in the young
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