Burial of hearts the black widow's malice Read online

  Welcoming me into her home, I gazed around, scrutinizing any imperfection, but they remained only silent thoughts, held for myself.

  As with Jonules dwelling there was a selection of cushions and quilts to sit upon, but also she had a large case of books; old looking, mystical and fraying slowly at the edges. Bags of ground herbs and spices were spread out across one of the tables, as well as a cursed book on alchemy.

  An intriguing symbol was upon the floor, drawn with a white dye of sorts, smeared in whichever way direction; the symbol itself portrayed shapes that seemed to be born out of folly.

  Next to the bookcase was a group of large jars, with labels affront; murky looking water filled them, whilst small objects floated around.

  “Sit yourself over here if you could?”. Zinmbe said whilst pointing towards the symbol on the floor.

  Placing myself down strategically, as not to rub any of the symbolic markings, I was offered a warm cup of wormwill tea; the sound of which of course… filled me with delicious thoughts.

  “Do not distress, the name does not embody the taste”. Zinmbe said almost as if hearing my thoughts.

  Taking a sip of the tea, it was warming, it had a strong taste of orange with an earthy undertone.

  “It will help to relax you”.

  And that it did. No sooner than had I took a few more mouthfuls than my body had started casually slowing down, my mind at rest and my muscles loosening.

  “What a wholesome drink, you should trade this, you could make a fine bit of coin”. I said as my usually strong voice began to reduce into a soothed, slumber like manner.

  “Avis, I know where you are going and why. I have seen, I have heard; you need to be prepared, the journey will test you greatly”.

  “How? Why?”. I said in a confused manner.

  “Alexander was taken from you by the spirits of the otherworld; he, as you, will be tested to see if you are apt to wield the power of the amulets. You shall at first, as you are aware, challenge the might of ‘Hecate’. She is strong and has existed beyond time, she is the guardian of the first amulet, a warrior yet was also once a loving soul”.

  “But in what way will I defeat someone of such power? I do not hold the skills she does, I barely even understand the words in these ancient books of magick”.

  “I will show you the route and it is up to you to learn from it”.

  Zinmbe stood up and walked over to the bookshelf. Her finger ran across many books, leaving an almost clean trail, surrounded by dust, until she came to the book she was looking for; firmly grasping it, she placed it within my hands.

  Beholding it, a painting of a woman was upon the front; she was as three but one, holding a torch, a key, a dagger and serpents.

  “Do you see the key she holds in her grasp? That is what you need to obtain in order to reveal the amulet of Hecate”. Zinmbe said whilst pointing directly at the key on the book’s painting.

  Opening the book, the pages were made from an animal’s hide. It defined many facts about Hecate; her powers, the history of her legacy, her influences in society, including the kings of old and new, among other detailed descriptions. The book seemed to warm in my hands, to the point of where I had no choice other than to drop it suddenly.

  “Even here, she holds the power to harvest what she may, but you must learn through practice”. Zinmbe said whilst posturing herself more comfortably.

  “I must bring safety among us, to prevent unwanted evil(s) coming forth”.

  Her arms outreached, Zinmbe recited the following words:

  ‘Uklay san heuson vareno’.

  Strong winds began to blast around the room, like an unbreakable storm, it held firm in destructive ways; at this point it seemed that this was quite peculiar, as the door was firmly shut.

  As she recited, darkened vapours drew in from above, revolving slowly around the ceiling. A strong presence of light came from the vapours, down onto the symbol drawn out upon the floor. Each of the symbol’s elements lit up one by one, until all of them were emanating light.

  Lowering her arms, Zinmbe turned to me.

  “For now you are protected from harm, but you will have to learn how to help protect yourself, this symbol you will learn is always within you, fixed within since your birth”.

  Nodding I stared at her in disbelief, my eyes uncontrollably glancing around the room, searching for a crumb of normality. If I were sceptical before, I certainly was no more, after this dreamlike spectacle.

  “Remember those words Avis, they will bid you well”.

  “How can I recall that symbol though, it is too complex, I do not have the greatest of memories”.

  “The symbol, as I mentioned is merely a depiction of protection; feel it within you, say the words and hold them true to yourself, hold them like a mother does her child. Come with me if you may? Let us put the knowledge you have gained into practice”.

  Following Zinmbe down from her dwelling, we walked up a steep mound, the path walled by boulders that appeared to have plummeted down from pastures set in the sky above.

  With each step the walk up became more strenuous, my soles frolicking in the mud below, until we at last reached the top; in doing so we caught sight of a very striking courtyard. The pillars that surrounded the courtyard were made of marble, buffed to the finest degree; flower beds sat between each, with a group of precious stones embossed into place. A majestic water fountain fed by a nearby stream, was towards the rear of the courtyard, it was beautifully clean, with carved stone foliage creeping up from the base; the water looked as if though it had become polished, as it yielded the sun’s gaze.

  Upon the top of the pillars lay blocks of refined stone, each of which had small sections cut out into various outlines; so as for when the day dawned, till the sun did set, a portrayal of art from nature’s palette would spill forth upon the centre of the courtyard; lit by magnificence rendered by form.

  We walked to the centre of the courtyard and then Zinmbe turned to speak to me.

  “Avis, you are a pleasant woman, but you need to guard yourself ready for your journey. Let us prepare. I will summon a dark spirit forth, are you prepared?”.

  “No… ”.

  “Good, let us begin”.

  “Eorvra san shimakay, volankol satami”.

  With those words spoken, a violent struggle between land and air took forth. The casting of darkness upon the ground, the placing of a vile container of ruptured hearts; the pain I could sense forming before me, the tortured souls combined as one. I could see a creature forming out of the melee of the rotten flesh; black as the night that death did embrace, it had eyes like silver eclipses, shimmering virtues lost. A tongue, cruel in intent, protruded forth, tasting the bitter scent of battle that was about to ensue.

  Stepping forward, it sported ragged clothing, decaying from the creature’s abominable touch. Venting in a furious unhallowed roar, it took a step closer to me, and again, soon it was half the distance to me and I began to panic; what do I do? I looked at Zinmbe.

  “Recite the words Avis, do it now”.

  Thinking quickly as the creature began to run towards me, I said:

  “Uklay heuson vareno”.

  “Avis No, ‘Uklay san heuson vareno’”.

  Just as the creature was upon me, I managed to declare the sacred words; with them spoken a dull haze surrounded my body, protecting me from every angle, every swipe it took did not affect me, but I was still fearful and distressed. Zinmbe quickly banished it back to the labyrinth of despair it called home.

  “That was close Avis, one moment longer and you would have been gone. Now the incantation you used was only for temporary measures, it quickly dissipates from existence, so you will have to learn accurate and strong defence magick, as well as of course predatory attack methods”.

  “Yes, thank you for your considerate… training techniques, I will be sure to return the favour”. I said in an abhorrent manner.

  “Now, now Avis do not get hostile, th
at was merely training, in reality it was minor compared with what you shall soon discover, but for now let us return to the village to rest, tomorrow we will need to practice again”.

  Turning back, we left the courtyard and headed down the steep mound. I was somewhat agitated with Zinmbe, her teaching methods were dangerous, how easily I could have been slain just moments before and it seemed not to even cause a single frown upon her forehead, as if it was normal.

  Passing by her dwelling, I took note of the surrounding area. It was now late afternoon and the sun was starting to gradually depart from the grand stage in the sky; I could still smell the odours in the air of the food we ate earlier that morning. Flocks of birds flew past; occasionally I could make out their forms through the small gaps in the forest tops, swooping elegantly with one and another in a display of skill.

  Close by was a small pond surrounded by dwindling undergrowth; the odd plant here and there managed to fight off the fatal blow the water was issuing to life around it, but for the most part, the land before it lay barren. The pond itself was stagnant, there seemed to be no source for the water, so I assume it was just collected from the frequent downpours of rain. The smell emanating from the pond was quite unpleasant, as if creatures had been drawn in to take their final breaths of life, then left to decay; excluded from a righteous passing.

  I quickly hurried back to the village, swatting away little flying pests as I went by, departing with Zinmbe and cautiously thanking her for the help she had given to me today, even if it was untoward in practice.

  “Avis, come over here, I have it ready”. Operk was holding a garment in front of him, with a small beam of glee on his face.

  “So… what do you think? I am quite fond of it personally, I assume you like it?”.

  Putting out my arms to hold the garment, I inspected his craftsmanship. As requested it was an opal red, he had also lined the sides with a black lace material; unlike most men of the time he did have some decorum, the top was not revealing, actually it did not reveal anything at all; it was a garment designed to last and to keep me warm. I could not see any way a dirty mongrel could try and undo it with any form of ease and this pleased me significantly.

  “Thank you, it is flawless, may I try it on?”.

  “Of course, I will wait here, you may use my home to try it on if you wish”.

  Entering his dwelling, I was greeted by a mountain of useful clutter; sequins, fabrics, threads of many colours, even pots and pans were thrown about in a colourful display of organised chaos. Slipping off my clothing whilst ensuring no one was having a peek at my dainty figure, I raised the garment around me and fastened it tightly. What a perfect fit, it was snug and warm, yet not overpowering. Lifting one of the pans strewn about the floor, I caught a view of my reflection, unclear as it may be; I was very pleased with what Operk had accomplished and wanted to thank him some way.

  “It is surreal, thank you so much, how can I ever repay your kindness”. I said excitedly.

  “No, no that is fine, but perhaps… are you any good with gambling? We have a small challenge soon to begin, you could bet on my behalf; if you win I could even give you some coin, if I am feeling generous”.

  “Well, I have not gambled before, but I will… give it a go?”.

  “Good, come over with me to the meeting area, we should get settled before the games start”.

  I followed, with little interest in where I was going; my legs drifting loosely as I walked, in a sense a mediocre form of protest at gambling, each to their own I suppose, but I for one will not be wishing away my coin.

  The area had been cleared from the meal before, stone blocks were placed in various supportive positions, in order to hold up a large wooden platform; I am presuming for gambling purposes. Surrounding the platform was around twenty cushioned stools, the fabric indigo with embellished imagery; I could tell the chairs had not been used for some time, wood rot had begun to grab hold in many of the chairs, which you could detect through the distinct aroma in the air.

  “Come hither ye old folk of Yilesul, make merry, the games henceforth shall begin”.

  “Werdo, speak as you do usually… ”. Jonule said whilst he gave him a firm look.

  “Very well. Gather around for the games are soon to begin… better?”.

  “Much…”.

  Once everyone had seated themselves, Werdo stood up to announce the rules of the games.

  “Entry is a thousand coin, you may choose your bet amount, but a minimum of fifty coins does apply; there will be three rounds; the payout will be based on the amount of bets placed, now please prepare your coin”.

  One by one, each of the players gave their thousand coins over to Werdo. Not only were those seated taking part, but also a large crowd stood aside of the platform as well. The piles of coin soon mounted up; I could see the eyes of many lighting up at the prospect of victory, their plans of indulging in luxurious items shown quite clearly.

  “So, what is this game then, a card game? Rune stones?”. I said intrigued.

  Werdo brought over to the table two metal platters enclosed with wooden covers. Lifting the first then the second, he asked for everyone to make a choice.

  “Seriously? We are betting on wingleybugs? (A small creature similar to that of a caterpillar) You have to be kidding me…”.

  Operk turned to me in reply:

  “These are no ordinary wingleybugs; they are imported from quite far away, they lavish on brutality and war”.

  Raising my eyebrows, I cupped my face in my hands; I might as well watch grass battle soil, be just as good to bet coin on.

  “Avis, choose one”. Operk said growing irritated.

  “Fine, that one”. Pointing at the bug to the right.

  Everyone was given a chance to place their bets. My bug had three to one odds against it, with a two hundred coin bet; waste of effort if you ask me.

  Uncovering the wingleybugs again everyone stopped what they were doing and intensely glared at the conflict that was soon to arise…; both opponents were of equal size, the only difference being their colouration. They swept back and forth as they faced away from each other in utter disregard; one reaching the edge of the platform it turned back upon itself and with seeing the rival, an almighty squeal came forth; almost causing my ears to implode. They raised their bodies, growing grander, until to my disbelief, they were almost ten times their original size. Their eyes drew blood unto them, their mouths opening, drenched with some poisonous looking fluid, whilst showing a ferocious set of teeth. Lurching forward, they moved much faster than they previously had, ripping at the others flesh in a display of brutal dominance. The crowd roared with each blow to the other, until finally mine was declared the victor, destroying the foe in a somehow merciful way.

  “Well that was unexpected”. I said in a surprised manner; Operk gave me a well-rehearsed grin.

  Werdo took the victor away, returning shortly after for another round of ruthless warfare, and again, to the amusement of Operk, mine was victorious.

  The final round was upon us; what remained of the runners up, was strewn upon the platform. The two victors ready to fight their way into the history books, to be crowned a hero among bugs. The odds were much higher on this occasion, fifty to one, with a thousand coin bet. Most involved in the gambling had chosen to back the larger of the two opponents, but to the dismay of Operk I had chosen the smaller. The fight had begun; strike after strike, they wore down at each other. At this point the contest had caught a slight hint of my interest, but not enough to warrant a joy. It seemed as though the one I had backed was about to lose; Operk had lowered his head, not wishing to watch as he lost his coin. When all hope was all but vanquished, my bug fought with all the strength it had left, leaping back up and roaring mightily; the bug’s mouth rotated, like an out of control wheel, causing all around it to be sucked in; even the trees strong as they may be drooped down, as the people who had gathered held onto anything they could. With the intensity so great
the rival could no longer withstand being drawn in, sliced to a slush, by the unforgiving fangs.

  “Yes”. Operk rose in exhilaration, embracing me in his arms and thanking me, as most of the crowd sat grey faced in defeat.

  Winning more than sixty thousand coin, he was very pleased, giving me a fair share of the coin, as a gift to thank me for my flair at gambling.

  Full from my wholesome meal earlier, I chose to put my head to rest, ready for a new day tomorrow. Bidding goodnight to a few of the villagers, I slipped back into my dwelling; laying down upon my soft bed. For a while I thought about all unlikely events I had encountered today; far from anything I had ever needed to become accustomed to back home. The thought of Alexander came to the front of my mind. I was trying my hardest to keep a strong mind, but with him gone, I was becoming restless and broken; I closed my eyes, soon my thoughts knitted into one, building up a repetitive story within my mind; each time the same scene but the characters changing; slowly I tired and drifted quietly into a deep sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  Opening my eyes, I was met by Bibi sat atop of my chest, staring straight at me; startling me, I leapt back a touch.

  “Rise and shine”. Bibi said, ending in his usual squawk.

  “Morning… to you too Bibi”. My voice trailing on each of the words, as I lay half asleep.

  I could hear a few too many people laughing, singing and going about their everyday lives; but at this time of the morning, surely a minor hint of quiet would not harm anyone. Getting up from my bed, I bobbed around the room, falling aback as I attempted to get clothed. Eventually managing this usually easy task, I opened my door, peering out; the sun typically a welcome sight, this time blinding me, forcing me to look down as I closed the door behind me.