by Lucas Hault
It was a gloomy land of black crag and tangled forest. Borkan’s eyes scanned it thoroughly as he walked. The woods were dense, while the trees were tall and leafy. Sunlight entered through the cleaves of the tall heaped branches, spreading itself all over the ground that was covered with dry shedded leaves.
The scattered fronds belonged to trees surrounding the region, but the oak leaves laid in abundance. The small thick bushes, grasses and the shrubs were all under the influence of the approaching season.
Borkan stared at the surroundings as he walked, but everything looked fine and perfect so far, tensing the earnestness within his nerves. The messenger’s words never stopped repeating in his head, triggering the rate of restlessness over his mind. The fine trees, thick bushes, ferns and grasses—everything sound and normal. The blowing winds and rustling leaves and the wavy bushes were all well and good.
They proceeded further in and finally stopped at a point. Before them laid a green sloping land full of forests and woods, crowned with clumps of trees and outlined with greenery till the very end, interrupted only by a large stream that flowed in the lower region of the forest. There was also, everywhere, a bewildering mass of fruit blossom. The steep slopes were covered in sponge-like grasses, leading down beside the stream. A mesmerizing place indeed it was, with the sound of flowing stream and the scent of fresh water. The clouds were driving over the face of the sky, while the cool winds blowing and the fragrance of the lovely flowers growing around filled the whole environment.
Borkan noticed a large faction of guards in green, standing down beside the stream. They stood circling the spot, making the view nebulous from the top.
“Something isn’t right father!” he said, as he stood by his side, gazing down at the crowd. The cool breeze kissed his face which he simply loved.
Elias nodded, and they began descending the steep slopes. Getting down the slopes was a bit comforting for Borkan, who could feel the thick spongy grasses under his boots. It felt good and soothing as he jolted. The guards escorted them to the scene, beside the flowing stream on their left, and the thick woods at the opposite.
Borkan could hardly believe his eyes as to what it witnessed. His nerves tensed, while the eyes gaped in dreadfulness, as he looked around, with a chill of fear in his heart. Something horrible, or better awful, extremely brutal, torturing every inch of his eyes in the gaze. His blood ran cold in his veins, for there was a break in his thought which told of the sudden horror which had seized him. He looked at his father who was wrapped in the same.
There were five men and a big tiger lying dead by the stream. The bodies of both the tiger and men were hauled, torn into countless pieces, with scrap of flesh scattered all around. It truly was barbaric and savage.
He glanced around with a gloomy face, staring down the bodies, as sweat ran down his chest. The vibes of repugnance scratched his body, sending a shiver down his spine. Clearly, this never meant any good, but instead marked something appalling, something that might prove minacious to all.
“This is barbaric!” said Owen. He could feel the same upthrust deep within his heart. “Who can be so inhumane?”
Never ever had he witnessed anything so grody and shuddersome.
“It doesn’t always have to be human!” said William, trying to perceive the incident.
“This is what needs to be discovered”, mentioned Elias Rayne gazing down at the bodies. He called the guards around him and began inquiring about the incident strictly. “How did all this happen? Tell me everything right from the very beginning”.
The shorter one among them stepped forward and began, “We had our watch outside the woods and at the borders last night. The woods had constantly been patrolled and everything was reported normal. All looked good, following which we held the borders. It was then all of a sudden when the wails and screams of some men fell into our ears. We immediately rushed into the woods, looking around everywhere, before discovering this”.
He was brief, trying to explain the incident in his best possible way.
“Did you discover anyone or anything around?” inquired Elias. His features had turned rigorous and concerned, as he stood pale but collected before them. He suspected something horrible, though the exact solicitude remained concealed within him.
“Yes My Lord”, replied the guard. He sounded firm, while his face covered in intimidation.
Lord Elias Rayne himself had never doubted the capabilities of his guards. He could definitely sense the situation judging by the stern look on their faces. Something pathetic!
Draco, the shorter guard began to lead and everyone followed. Borkan walked beside his father, though his nerves were still quivering from the scene. He followed Draco across the thick bushes, ahead of those hauled bodies and scattered flesh, with the smell of dry blood and decaying meat burning his senses. Intolerable and horrendous!
They moved across the bushes to witness the splashes of blood everywhere around. Some of the plants were damaged, while some of the grasses burnt, with no more greenery but the remains of fire, visible before their eyes.
They walked past the spot, discovering a dead body of a man around forty, lying down lifelessly before a tall tree. The man was dead for long, for his limbs were rigid and cold. The body wasn’t hauled or damaged like the ones before, but was in a totally different state. The deceased might have been an individual with an average complexion, but the colour of his body had turned dark blue, with some milk-like substance protruding out of his mouth.
“That’s pathetic!” expressed Owen, staring down at the body.
The treacherous scene spoke a lot about the dreadful incident that had occurred under the darkness of the night. Owen went down to examine the body, trying to interpret the situation in his mind. Perhaps he believed the man to have poisoned himself for some reason, and he wasn’t the exception. Any other individual in his shoes might have perceived the same, but it was just the assumption. The truth remained buried with the darkness of that cold night which might have carried destruction by its edge.
Owen got himself too involved in inspecting the locus, while the inquiry continued.
“What else did you come across?”
“Nothing else, My Lord! We only found this man, who was already dead on discovery. We were all around the forests but couldn’t inspect anyone or anything around the woods”.
“What about this one then?” asked Borkan pointing at the deceased. It simply appeared absurd, because if they witnessed no one around, then how could it be possible that a stranger was found dead in their place.
“We know absolutely nothing, My Lord”. He was specific, with the same look around his face, which spoke more than his words could ever do. “We were everywhere around but didn’t notice anyone in the woods or around the wasteland”.
The answer wasn’t satisfactory, but he believed it just like his father, though something abominable struck his senses time and again.
“Did you patrol the wasteland?” asked Lord Rayne.
“Yes My Lord!” was the humble reply at once.
The wasteland was a huge barren land following the forests of Townslane. It extended miles and miles to the south, following which was the Southern Woods that led to the city of Harot, the place forbidden by law. However, the Southern Woods and the large wasteland acted as a big separation between Harot and the vice-capital.
Everyone stood in silence. The peculiar incident had destroyed everything, leaving no possible clue to unveil the truth. It was bizarre and hideous, something that none had ever witnessed before.
“There must be some wild animal behind it”, explained William. He inferred it as a theory of a wild hunt by some hungry beast, which appeared suitable before his own eyes. “The ones must have been killed by some hungry predator that might have been ferocious, tearing them in pieces”. His conception satisfied none but himself, and yet he was pleased with it.
Elias shook his head. “This isn’t the hunt of a beast or any wild animal
, as there are no such around here”. He drew himself to the remains of torn flesh, and continued, “There is definitely something else behind it”. He sounded cold, recalling something in his mind.
The mercilessly torn bodies, the pieces of flesh scattered everywhere around, the split of blood all over the place and the body of a stranger poisoned to death, it was all catastrophic and concerning. Borkan knew the look on his father’s face. A steely hardness shone from his eyes and Borkan seemed to read it that he took the matter more seriously.
“This must have been the stranger, who was the one behind these killings. He must have killed them all, before poisoning himself in the fear of being captured”, said William. He tried one or two explanations, but, indeed, he was completely puzzled himself. This assumption flashed much appropriate in his senses, looking straightforward in his exposition.
“This can’t be done by an individual. It is merely impossible for a single man to carry it out himself”. Borkan denied this at once. The stranger found dead was timid, not that strong to execute the task all by himself.
“True”, supported Elias. “The stranger might not have entered the woods last night. He must have been here long before, hiding and avoiding the guards all the while”.
He sounded appropriate and logical to a large extent, as this seemed the only possibility, if not any exceptions.
“Didn’t you suspect something similar before?” asked Borkan boldly. The guards shook their heads.
Elias turned to the messenger and began, “Call Sir Thomas Wright to the Palace immediately and tell him to take over the case”.
Sir Thomas Wright was the private detective and a close friend of Lord Elias Rayne. He was known for his intelligence and remarkable abilities, and the extraordinary skills that the man possessed. He was the only detective in the whole country, having resolved all his cases perfectly. He had been handed more than a thousand of cases, which were all successfully resolved.
“Yes My Lord!” replied William Hayes and left.
“My Lord!” cried Owen, from the bushes behind the body of the stranger. It looked like the man had finally found something.
Borkan along with his father walked hurriedly to the spot. The incident continued to flash within his mind all the while, as he tried drawing appropriate conclusions. His head ached, but no sensible conclusions, not by that moment. It disturbed him further.
“I found it within the bush”, mentioned Owen, handing Elias Rayne a small bottle labelled red.
He examined the label closely; that pungent smell burning his nostrils from the far. The tension around that face relieved. It looked like a ray of light into the large pit of darkness. Something struck his mind, easing his nerves, drawing a little smile over his honoured face. Elias tilted the small bottle to confirm it, and there he was.
He sighed. “It’s the Dorphous”.
The beckoning garden of the enormous Palace of Jewelsberg had always attracted Barbara Maddox, like a butterfly towards flowers. A mesmerizing blonde of twenty, Barbara was the second daughter of James and Presley Maddox, following her elder sister Joanna. A compelling beauty with a snow-like complexion and fascinating green eyes, she was long-haired, with a pointed nose that was perfectly drawn from between her slim brows, and a flash of light red on her cheeks, similar to her rosy lips that were merely impossible to resist. A bewitching maiden praised for her elegance and fairness, Barbara was adored by the damsels of her place, who were the patron of her incomparable beauty.
The day was beautiful in Jewelsberg. The sound of the birds chirping filled the entire atmosphere with leisure and love. The sweet pleasant rays of the sun casted upon the dense sandalwood trees bordering the large fountain, spreading its shadow over the place. The alluring fountain was fixed in the midst of a large rectangular pool, that had its surface covered in dark green leaves and floating water lilies. The pool had two angelic sculptures attached at the corners, while a broad belt of shrubs outlined the region. Two outstretched stairways slid down from the elevated expanse of the garden, separated by refined windows scattered generously around the walls in fairly symmetrical patterns, and connected to the granite pathway abutting the pond. Barbara was seated right before the nursery, and ahead of the pathway, with her feet immersed into the pool.
Barbara was in the large garden located behind the magnificent Palace of Jewelsberg. A couple of squirrels could be seen over the ground looking for their nuts. The green plants bloomed, while there were butterflies in different colours all around the flowers. The cool sprinkle of gushing water touched her face and her bare arms that were exposed by the sleeveless silk gown covering her body. The rich silk gown felt soft and smooth all over her body, comforting every inch of it. The pale yellow colour of the fabric suited her, with a thin diamond necklace around her neck and a similar fancy bracelet gripping her wrist. She looked gorgeous, lying on her haunches by the edge of the pool, dwelled in some other world, the delightful essence of which had still not faded; as she, alluringly, blinked her eyes from time to time, allowing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly, and a sweet smile that lit her charming face.
“I was sure to find you here”, interfered Joanna Maddox, approaching her sister before the fountain. She was no stranger to Barbara’s infatuation for the garth, where she used to spend most of her valuable time.
Joanna, the firstborn, was a beautiful woman of twenty-two, with a high cheekbone, shining blonde hair and a similar pair of eyes like that of her sister. There were freckles dotted on her naturally blushed cheeks, and a body most women would kill to have. Her ears were pierced by golden hoops that were concealed by natural blonde waves, enhanced by highlights of pink, and a small mole on the left of her chin. The Maddoxes were known for their blonde hair and green eyes throughout the three continents. It was said to be their genetic signature, continuing right from their great ancestors. Joanna was slightly shorter than Barbara, but both the daughters of James Maddox were extremely beautiful and ravishing—a pair of beauties that women loved to hate and feel jealous, but at the same time admire them endlessly. Though it was Barbara who outshone Joanna, if ever the two sisters were to be compared. They were the two priceless gems of their house, and the elder sister was betrothed to Lord Austin Starkweather, the President of Spion.
“It is no good to skip your breakfast”, said Joanna benignly.
“I wasn’t hungry”, she replied, looking her into the eyes. Joanna appeared fascinating in her sleeveless cream-coloured gown, and a similar necklace around her stringy neck.
“You should learn to take care of yourself. I won’t be always around you”.
“But as long as you are, I don’t need to”.
The sisters were closely attached to each other, knowing one another well and perfect. Their father James Maddox was killed years ago during the War of Syneria, leading to the partition of the country. That was when North-Eastern Syneria came into existence. Their mother, Presley Maddox, was gestating at the time of the father’s death and died the following year, while giving birth to Barbara. However, the young woman had always cursed herself for being the cause of her mother’s death. Joanna was just two at that time, and both the sisters were raised with love and care by Balben Maddox, the elder brother of James. Balben and his wife Ashley had raised the two, treating them as their very own daughters.
Joanna settled comfortably beside her sister and continued, “You had some other dream. And this one must be pleasant unlike the last one.” She was familiar to Barbara’s dreams and the significance that it played in her life. Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face, and Joanna could read her grimace which made her the happiest person at that moment to watch her younger sister smile.
Barbara closed her eyes vehemently, as if she had returned to the virtual land, into her sweet memorable dream, where the gentle winds kissed her body and she smiled, parting her rosy lips, showing the regular line of snow-white teeth within. “Last night I dreamt of father and moth
er, sitting beside me before this very fountain. They appeared so much different and beautiful, dressed in rich fabrics, and face as bright as moon, that I could nothing but admire them endlessly. They were happy and glorified like always before. They embraced me, while mother kissed my forehead. Her lips were so soft and it felt so good that I could actually feel them over my skin—a sensual touch that I still remember!”
This made Joanna smile too. She was too small when her parents left her with her newborn sister, who just meant life to her. Joanna had always wished to catch a glimpse of her parents in her dreams and wanted to talk to them, and hold them, and embrace them and live a moment with them. But unfortunately, she wasn’t that lucky like her sister and could only hear of them in Barbara’s narration.
“Did they speak to you?” asked Joanna, fantasizing the scene in her head.
She nodded. “Mother told me that I had nothing to do with her death. It was just the fate, and she loves me just as she loves you. Father told me that he was proud of both his daughters, and called you his strong one.”
The smile continued on Joanna’s face, though tears had begun to take its form and filled her eyes instantly. She tried to hold herself, as she couldn’t let her emotions overtake her, unaware of the fact that her sister was up to the same.
“Father and mother loved us insanely and wholeheartedly”, began Joanna. “Aunt Ashley says that mother had some complications in her gravidness, and yet she wanted to have you. She had always loved you right from the very beginning and wanted to see you into existence”.
“But she couldn’t!” mourned Barbara. She was regretful and disheartened to discover that her mother’s wish remained unfulfilled, and she was no more into existence. A part of her still blamed herself for it.
“And you had nothing to do with it”, began Joanna. “You witnessed mother speaking the same in your dream. This is the truth. Your life is the emanation of her sacrifice. She was determined with all her heart to give you birth. You should be proud of it and live with it happily, or else her sacrifice would mean absolutely nothing”.
