by Adam Watson
Dray looked up, standing behind the fallen beast was the bestial with the bull head; it stood there still and quiet. Dray could only stare at it in disbelief. Had it really just saved his life? It stood there calm and unmoving, hands by its side, despite the unnaturalness of its melded face, it looked almost ... friendly.
"Kill it!" It was the Oracle. She was standing behind the beastman with a look of intense focus on her face. "Dray, you have to kill it now." Dray rubbed his eyes and grimaced. Kill it? ‘It’ had just saved his life. "Take your knife out and stab it in the heart ... quick! I can't control it much longer." Stab it in the heart? It was defenceless. Where was the honour in that? Killing an unarmed opponent was against everything he had ever been taught, but killing one that couldn't even fight back ... well, that was as bad as killing a child.
"Dray, you have to hurry. I'm weak, I can't hold on!" Dray closed his eyes and sighed, he knew what he had to be done, even though the very thought disgusted him. There's no honour in battle. He pulled the knife from his belt and slowly walked towards the beast, as he did he could see it removing its chest plate.
He looked into its eyes. There was no anger, no malice, no ill will. It seemed to be watching him calmly, unmoving. Dray held the knife up, looking at bare flesh where its heart would be; his hand was shaking like a leaf. I can't do this, it's too easy, it's wrong. It just saved my life, and this is how I repay it ... by killing it?
"Hurry Dray please." The Oracle, he had to protect her, he had to finish the mission, he had to honour Commander Galleon’s dying command. He gave his life for both of us. I can't let that be for nothing. He tensed, then made himself plunge the knife - the beast fell to the ground, dead.
As Dray fell to his knees exhausted, he thought back to what had happened over the last few weeks and sadness overwhelmed him. Behind him he could feel the Oracle standing; she placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"Dray, are you all right?" Dray stared ahead at the carcass on the ground; the light of life now gone from its eyes. No, I don't think I am.
"I've done terrible things, Oracle." The Oracle remained silent for a moment, perhaps thinking about her own ordeal. How could she possibly judge Dray after that? After Lily? After Jarrod?
"We all have Dray." Dray turned around and looked into the eyes of the Oracle. We all have? "This place may have been a good place once, but it is becoming corrupt and tainted by the influence of Solus Bal." Dray continued to stare into the eyes of the Oracle; in his mind he knew it made sense, but he just couldn't believe the world could change so quickly. The Oracle looked down to the ground, unable to match his judging gaze. "Let's just get out of here," she murmured. Yes. That was the best idea he had ever heard. Let's leave this place and never come back. Dray stood up and took the Oracle by the hand.
"Do you know the way out Oracle?" The Oracle smiled, it was good to feel him touch her again, even if it was just holding hands.
"Dray, please don't call me Oracle anymore." They were friends now and furthermore he was her Torac - her divine protector. Having him call her Oracle felt strange, and besides, she wasn't so sure she was worthy of the position anymore. Oracles were revered as the holiest of holies; her experiences in the Temple of Kara had left her feeling extremely impious.
"Call me Kayla, it is my name after all." Dray smiled at that. Kayla. He liked that name. Memories of her naked beauty came flooding into his mind. How could I question her? How could I doubt? he thought. It seemed stupid now to have remorse for the creature that had tried to kill them. It's my duty to the Oracle. Suddenly it was clear in his mind, he wanted to protect her, that's all he wanted to do, and no matter what happened, that is what he would do. He swore it.
"How do we get out of here then Kayla?" The Oracle smiled, her Torac was with her, Tempus was with her, and soon they would be leaving this foul place.
"We have to go further down. There are escape tunnels that can take us from this Temple and beyond the city walls." Dray sighed with relief, it was the best news he had heard since the attack. "Let us go and leave this mess behind us." Dray couldn't argue with that, and he started walking down the long stone corridor still holding on to the Oracle's hand.
"There's a stairway leading down at the end, we must follow it. On the lowest level of the dungeon there is a secret passageway that leads to the tunnels and from there we can escape." Dray looked curiously at the Oracle.
"How do you know?" he asked, the Oracle swallowed hard and looked away. There was no way she was going to talk about what she had done in Lily's body - she didn't even want to think about it anymore.
"I just do." It wasn't the answer he was hoping for, and he knew she was keeping something from him, but he had his secrets too, how could he tell anyone he had just slaughtered a young woman for basically no reason at all. She was calling the guards! Some part of his mind told him it was self-defence. All the guards were dead. How could he have known that? He walked faster. The sooner they put this place behind them, the better.
END OF PART I
FROM THE AUTHOR
I would like to thank you for purchasing and reading Part 1 of Dawn of Darkness.
If you enjoyed part 1 please consider leaving a review, becoming a friend on facebook, following on twitter or sending a message.
Part 2, 3 and 4 coming soon - refer to the website, facebook or twitter for updates or send an email to be added to the mailing list.
Many thanks and best wishes to you all!
Adam Watson
Website: www.adamwatsonauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamwatsonauthor
Twitter: @adam_wtss
Email: [email protected]
