Primeval

by Eden Redd

  A door on the other side of the room led to a large room. Inside, Crafting Benches and Soul Caskets took up sections of the room. He wanted a private work area so he could experiment in peace. Val and Morgan watched him as he crafted items and often, he caught them mimicking him. He didn’t want to horde knowledge, but he liked to work in privacy, handing out his discoveries when he was ready. A faint urge for secrecy licked at his mind, knowing if he was too free with information, it could be used against him. He respected Val and Morgan, but the player wanted to be sure he held the lion’s share of crafting knowledge.

  The player’s first act in his new private work room was to build a better weapon. Moving to crafting bench, he pulled pieces of copper and placed them in slots. They made a familiar melting motion, coming together to form an oversized copper hammer like the one he had before. Gazing down, a 2-D menu appeared, asking if he wanted to add a slot to the weapon. Nodding silently to himself, he tapped at the screen. Gemstones in his possession cycled along slowly, allowing the player to pick one. Glancing at the copper hammer, he saw a small slot appear, ready to be filled. Unsure the exact effects of each of the gemstones, he picked up a ruby. Touching it to the gem slot, the ruby attached with no effort and an aura engulfed the weapon.

  You have created a Copper Hammer with added Fire Damage! On command, the hammer head will blaze with fire for extra damage. Copper Hammer is now a magical weapon.

  Will smiled as it started to finally make sense, picking up the hammer and sheathing it over his shoulder. Eyeing the gems in his inventory, each gem seemed to correspond with an element. Rubies were fire while sapphires connected with water. Quartz was earth while opals connected with air. Looking to other gems, he wasn’t sure exactly what diamonds, black diamonds, emeralds and onyxes represented, but his heart quickened in excitement at the possibilities. Seeing that he only had a small number of each gem, he wasn’t sure he was ready to experiment with all of them just yet. A recurring problem he noticed was Val’s difficulty functioning during the day. Gaze falling to a black diamond, he wondered if his hypothesis was correct?

  Taking sheep wool from his inventory, he placed the pieces in slots to form a cloak. Taking out a few more pieces, he added them to the cloak, making it black and a little thicker. Not sure it would be enough to shield her from the sun, he picked up a single black diamond and added it to the design. The pieces and gem melted together until a black cloak spread out, the black diamond gone. Will nearly panicked when an alert scrolled across his vision.

  You have created a Cloak of Shadows! The cloak grants added stealth and protection against Light Damage. The cloak is now magical.

  Will smiled as he lifted up the velvet cloak, the darkness along the edges writhing like a living thing. Another alert filled his gaze as he held the cloak.

  You have gained +1 to Intelligence!

  You have reached the next tier, Apprentice!

  Will’s smile turned into a grin. He created two magical items and his mind worked on what else could he craft.

  “Easy, let’s not use all our gems just yet,” Will said to himself as he turned from the bench with cloak in hand and left the workshop.

  Crossing his bedchamber, he stepped out into the wide corridor. Doors stood ajar, shadows moving in each of the nearby rooms. They had all decided to have their own bedrooms, but the royal chambers had rooms to spare.

  Val emerged from her room and looked over to Will. “This is nice, but I would kill for some wine.”

  “It may be a recipe we have to discover,” Will said before holding up the cloak. “Come here.”

  Val eyed Will and the cloak as she stepped closer. Shadowy darkness writhed along the hooded fabric before Will stretched out his arms.

  “I made this for you,” Will smiled.

  Val cocked an eyebrow before she took the black velvet cloak into her pale hands. A strange kinship latched onto her as she spun it around onto her shoulders. Thin tendrils of shadows touched at any exposed skin with gentle caresses. Val put the hood over her head and instantly began to feel better. It was still midday but she felt like she just woke up at sunset.

  “Want to test it?” Will smiled as he stepped back into his room and pointed to the balcony.

  Val stepped in, making long strides until she stepped out onto the balcony. Sunlight covered the castle and the lands beyond. The light stung for a moment, but she didn’t feel as weak as she normally did. The hood blocked out the sun and she felt like she could move about during the day with most of her strength.

  Will stood at her side, admiring the view below before Val turned to him, her demeanor seemingly smaller. She tilted her head forward, gaze downward. Will eyed her, not sure if he did something wrong until her ruby red lips parted.

  “Thank you, Will.” Val said in a small voice.

  “I just wanted to feel better if we need you during the day,” Will smirked.

  Val looked up, a softness at the edges of her eyes. “The thank you means more than the cloak. I…have had a difficult time adjusting to this new life. I have faint memories of a time where I…would never have lived like this.

  “When we first arrived here in your land, I was a little disappointed. Your home was so small and I had no idea how we would all live here. Building the castle helped to sooth my initial feelings and, it’s beginning to feel like a home.”

  “I’m getting the same feeling,” Will said with a slight nod. “Everyone here is starting to feel like family.”

  “I think we all work well together,” Val said with a fanged smile. “Well enough to expand the territory.”

  “You have ideas?”

  Val nodded. “I have ideas. But, for now, I will enjoy the gift.”

  “I will try to make some more items for the rest. I was meaning to ask, have you seen Morgan?”

  Val lifted up the cloak, fingers running along the fine fabric, “He mentioned he was going to carve out stairs along the cliff face so there was easier access to the beach. He made a southern archway with a door.”

  Will smiled. “I’ll go find it and see if he needs any help.”

  The player was about to leave when Val leaned in and kissed his cheek. Will found it odd since they had been intimate together, but the simple act left a warm heat against his heart. Leaving the large bedroom, Val stayed as she looked up into the blue sky without a heavy weakness.

  Stella sat in a chair in Milly’s bedroom. Milly was making her bed for the fourth time, talking about how excited her bedroom was close to Will’s. The witch smiled before she looked to the open bedroom door and Will walked past without looking in. The witch let out sultry exhale, before turning her gaze to Milly who caught what she was doing.

  “You like him,” the horned woman grinned.

  “He’s not bad on the eyes,” Stella said with a heated tone. “I know you two have been intimate and…”

  Milly sat on the edge of the bed with a kind smile. “He woke me from my former self, but he is his own person as am I. I adore him, but I would never latch on like some parasite. We are free to love and lust who we want.”

  Stella lifted up the edge of her hat, gaze on Milly. “You are very awake.”

  Milly nodded. “I’m happy to be alive and have friends. He saved me just as you saved me. How could I ever stand in the way of desires?”

  The witch looked to the hallway, Will long gone. “I’m not normally into living guys but there is something irresistible about him. I have had the thought to explore it, with your permission.”

  Milly let out a happy laugh. “There is no permission to give. Share his bed, and if you want, at another time, we can share our bed.”

  Stella caught the wanting gaze of Milly and she blew her a kiss and a wink.

  ***

  Will exited out the south gate and onto a small ledge overlooking the beach and ocean. Looking down, he noticed stairs carved into the cliff face and proceeded to descend. The stairs were manageable if the entire staircase seemed a little rough.
If anything tried to climb the stairs, they would have to do it single file with a good chance of slipping off on a rainy day.

  Memories flooded the player as remembered climbing the near sheer vertical cliff on his first day here on Jova. He wasn’t sure when he would come back here, but it calmed his heart as he made his way down. When he reached the bottom, he looked out to the waves crashing on the surf and the ocean beyond.

  Stepping onto the sand, he crossed the beach slowly, drinking in the sea scent as gulls spiraled over the water. Eyes scanning, he saw no hint of Morgan as he reached wet sand, waves crashing down just ten feet away.

  The first day colored his mind again, remembering the trunk and the letter. The words of the letter had faded and he couldn’t remember exactly what the note said, but someone left it there for him so he wouldn’t be completely without anything. The gentle crashes of waves caused the player to wonder about his benefactor. Were they some god like Yir or something else?

  Movement caught the player’s eyes, waking him from his daydream as a fin broke the water’s surface. It glided along, unencumbered and with a dedicated speed. Will kept his ground, watching the fin move closer until it dipped under the waves. Long seconds ticked away before a head emerged and soon shoulders. Will watched as Morgan stepped up from the waves in just a loin cloth and onto the muddy beach.

  Will looked away, “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just wondering how it was going with the stairs.”

  Morgan’s black eyes blinked before giving a razor smile. “I finished it about an hour ago. I thought I would go for a swim. The beach is mostly safe, but everyone should be careful the deeper they go. I saw some strange creatures down there.”

  Will nodded.

  Morgan turned his back to Will, gazing out at the ocean. “You didn’t come down here for a progress report.”

  Will looked out to the sea as well. “I didn’t. I came down to thank you. Your help with the castle design really helped.”

  “No thanks needed. We needed a home that could buffer any attacks. It sits on a prime location. Hydras would be hard pressed to come from this side. Plus, this is a great view.”

  Morgan sat down, water rushing up to touch him, but his black eyes never wavered from the sea.

  “Will, I have faint memories of commanding men and women in battle, but I can’t focus on the details. It’s a little disturbing since I don’t like any unknowns. I have resigned myself to take up this new life, but I don’t know for how long.”

  Will remained silent, listening as Morgan continued.

  “There are things about me, hungers I can’t keep at bay for too long. I thought about this as I carved out the stairs. Considering we are the only civilization as far as we know, I need to know if I can stay, even if my urges get the better of me?”

  “What kind of urges?” Will unsure what he meant.

  “I used to hunt. When I caught my prey, they were judged. It’s hard to explain more than that. We have fought together and I have given you the benefit of the doubt as I’m sure you have of me. I need to be free with my hungers.”

  “Is this something the rest of us have to worry about?”

  Morgan smiled as he continued to face forward. “No.”

  “I don’t see an issue here. You can stay for as long as you want.” Will said as he stared at the ocean. “It calls to you?”

  Morgan shook his head. “She calls to me. I felt her connection when I went for a swim. There is another like me, but she is far away. One day I may have to leave anyway, but for now, I would like to stay and help.”

  Will felt the cloud of confusion wrap around his mind. Morgan clearly was going through some internal conflict. He was trying to explain, but remain vague, perhaps to soften the blow to some dark secret. Will felt his own dark secrets touch his mind, but they could not be seen through a misty barrier. A small thought whispered it might be for the best.

  “Morgan, I won’t judge you and I don’t believe anyone else will either.”

  “Thank you, Will.”

  Will nodded as he looked over to the sun dipping lower in the sky. “I think we are having dinner soon.”

  Morgan nodded. “I’ll be up soon. I just want to enjoy this view a little longer.”

  Will turned and walked back to the stairs.

  Morgan leaned back, breathing in the salty air and enjoying the majestic view of the sea.

  ***

  Everyone gathered in the private dining room. Milly placed plates of food in the middle of a long table, large copper forks sticking out of slabs of meat and plates of fruit and vegetables. Val simply sat back in her chair as the rest gathered began to eat. Lanterns glowed along the edges, giving the room a comfortable atmosphere.

  Will felt slightly self-conscious sitting at the head of the table. He wanted to sit on the sides with everyone else but Milly insisted and Val backed her up. She mentioned he was the tie that binds and he simply shrugged, not sure what she actually meant.

  Belle reached over to one of the slabs of meat, picked it up and jammed the whole thing in her mouth. Eyes turned to watch the spectacle as the meat caused her mouth and neck to bulge before it settled in her lower midsection. Patches of bubbles churned before the thick piece began to break apart, the slime looking on innocently.

  Val spoke up as she leaned back in her chair. “What’s our next move? We completed the castle and from what I remember of your secret map, there is another Idol we should acquire.”

  Will smirked. “It’s going to be hard to keep secrets from you.”

  Val nodded. “But I do think we should have a strategy for the future. The castle is big, but it's just us here and we have no real defenses if another hydra attacks. The walls will keep out the ghouls, but I don’t think any of us want to engage bigger monsters just yet.”

  “I do want to search for more of my people,” Sil spoke up.

  “We still have to decide on how we are going to use the territory we have,” Milly added. “We will need bigger gardens and livestock if we are taking on more people.”

  Will sat back in his chair. “During the construction, I gave it some thought. We are at the beginning of creating a haven for any lost in the savage lands. I hate to be dramatic, but I think we can build something great.

  “Yir showed me the basics to village building. I can only think that is the direction we should go. There is nothing but miles of forests and mountains north of here. Maybe we should start something big.”

  “You want to build a kingdom?” Morgan asked with a smirk.

  “Let’s start small first,” Will smiled. “But I do think everyone here should have a say. Raise your cup if you think we should make Castle Thorn a haven for the lost?”

  Val lifted an empty cup. Morgan lifted a cup filled with water. Stella lifted a cup and her leg. Sil lifted her cup of water. Milly smiled as she lifted up her cup. Belle lifted up her hand as if she was holding a cup. Nova stood and lifted all four of her hands.

  “The tribe has spoken,” Will smiled.

  The player turned his attention to Val, “Tomorrow, we can decide on who and when we travel to collect the other Idol, so everyone rest up. We will have a lot to do.”

  ***

  Dinner over, Will helped Milly and Nova collect all the tableware. Milly offered to clean it and shooed away the stalker and young man once everything was in the nearby kitchen. Nova gave Will a quick surprise hug before she let go and waved goodbye with two hands.

  Will couldn’t help but smile. A good feeling swirled in his heart. A feeling like he never had the ear of others was pushed away, replaced with a knowing that the small misfit group looked to him for guidance. It was enough for him to walk with confidence as he made his way to the main hallway and toward the royal quarters.

  Sil, Val, Morgan, Belle, and Stella were already gone, Will assumed to their bedchambers. Night had fallen and during dinner, everyone but Val seemed a little tired. Walking into the royal quarters, some of the doors were closed on
either side of him. The excitement of dinner began to wane and Will’s shoulders began to sag. Making his way to his room, he pushed the door open and closed it behind him.

  Shadows swayed to lantern light. Something moved on his bed and Will smirked. Stepping closer, his thought it was Val, maybe needing a late-night snack. She often came to him after sunset to drink a little from his neck before she left. They had only been together one time but he could see she was having some kind of difficulty wanting to be intimate with him.

  The blankets moved, but the person underneath didn’t show themselves.

  “You don’t have to hide…” Will said as he grabbed the edge of the blanket and tossed it aside.

  The player froze as he looked down on Stella. The gray-skinned woman lay like a pin-up model, witch hat on her head, orange hair spread out while wearing a black bikini top and a string bikini bottom. Smooth skin glowed in the dim light as large breasts strained against her top, barely concealing anything from view. Eyes opened and a look of faux surprise accompanied a feigned gasp.

  “Will, what are you doing here? This is my room,” Stella said with a dizzy edge.

  The player’s eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “Har har, you know this is my room.”

  Stella sat up, looking around like she was a lost child. “The castle is still so new; I couldn’t remember where I hang my hat.”

  “It’s on your head,” Will said as he crossed his arms.

  The witch reached up, pulled off her hat and threw it. It glided through the air before landing perfectly on top of a chair.

  “Stella…” Will began.

  The witch swung her legs under her and stayed on her knees, thighs spread. Chest out, breasts pushed against the thin fabric.

  “Would it help if I told you I was scared to sleep alone?” Stella said with a sultry pout.

  “I don’t think you need to tell me anything,” Will said as his gaze fell to her creamy breasts.

  “But I like to tell stories. Isn’t that what you guys like?” Stella put a single finger to her lips. “Like right now, I need you to keep me company, protecting me from the big, bad monsters.”