For Nikali decreed that Farrah was not healing anybody. She was manipulating them, and turning them against their friends, families, and their empire. It may not seem like it at first, Nikali told his people, but if they were healed by Farrah then they were no longer one with the future of Eluan.
On the next execution day, the amphitheater was filled to the brim with Eluan citizens. It was standing room only in the bleachers, and down below on the last aisle before entering the auditorium floor where Nikali awaited his newest captives.
The amphitheater had been worked on continuously since its conception. The bleachers were taller than ever and still needed to be improved. The auditorium floor had been altered. The ground was smooth stone with divots and drains at all corners of the floor. When the executions were done there would be little mess to clean up.
A line had formed just before the entrance of the floor to the auditorium. The people in line were bound and gagged. A chain kept them all together. There was no escape and any attempt was met by a swift kick to the ground by a number of guards that were some of Nikali’s truest believers.
Those captive were plucked from the Capitol streets accused of having consorted with Farrah in the recent past. Once sick and near death they had returned to the city healthy and more vital than ever. It was clear they had been healed by Farrah’s arcan touch. That meant that they were now enemies of Eluan.
Ravetroopers had formed under Nikali’s name. They marched through the streets everyday gathering intel on people believed to have been infected with Farrah’s arcan. The people were taken from their homes, their businesses. The ravetroopers would not be stopped.
“This is getting out of hand,” Marais whispered to Quaet while they watched the spectacle from the bleachers.
“You are more than welcomed to stop it,” said Quaet.
Marais did not move from his seat.
“As much disdain as it is to say it, Farrah is our enemy,” admitted Quaet. “We don’t know what she is up to.”
“She is healing people,” said Marais.
“Nikali is listening,” reminded Quaet.
Marais held his tongue. He couldn’t say too much so close to Nikali and his shameless believers.
“We’ve lost a lot of faith from our people these past couple of years. The avadons, then Tcher. Maybe it’s time we weed out some of the dissenters.”
“This is slaughter,” said Marais.
“This is survival,” said Quaet.
Nikali made his appearance out of his carriage. The usual supply of new Tamor Blood surrounded him. There was more than ever, and it was growing stronger. Once Nikali opened the first barrel the lower rows could smell it as the wind suddenly picked up, and wafted the aroma around the amphitheater.
“Thanks to all of you we are cleaning up our Capitol and bringing the power back to where it belongs!” Nikali shouted. The crowd roared to life in appreciation. Many of the ravetroopers kicked their captives as a sign of strength and support for their emperor.
“Bring me the traitors that you found,” ordered Nikali.
As the ravetroopers kicked the chain gang of captives forward Nikali danced on his feet anxiously awaiting their approach. One by one they passed Nikali, and the emperor stepped in closely to brush up against them.
Nikali could feel the traces of Farrah’s arcan on many of them. But not all. Their whimpers were muffled from their gags. Nikali ignored their pleas for freedom. He could sense their personal arcan, even just the small traces. Every one of them had been indulging on the Tamor Blood that Nikali had offered throughout the city.
Nikali smiled at his latest spoils. The Blood Beauties had been offering up their own slaves as a sacrifice to begin the harvest, but now the plan was truly taking effect. The line of captives would taste so much sweeter in the Tamor Blood, and they would offer so much more power.
The chain gang stopped and were forced down to their knees by the ravetroopers. Nikali stood in front of them all admiring his captives. Then he turned to the audience above him. He circled around to look at every single one of them while he spoke.
“Let this show you all that Eluan does not bow down to our enemies! They bow down to us. With their blood spilt we will grow stronger!”
The crowd cheered at Nikali’s decree. Eluan had been hurt enough over the years. It was time to take back everything they had lost to their enemies.
Then Nikali snapped his fingers. The fury arck charged into the arena and headed straight for the chain gang. The beast jumped the last few yards and began mauling its victims. Their screams were cut short as the fury arck performed the execution of the chain gang one man at a time.
As the bodies fell one by one, their blood poured out of their gashing wounds and began to drain down through the grates on the floor of the auditorium and collected into the cauldrons positioned under the floor.
The Tamor Blood would be very sweet that night.
Chapter 37
Nikali shifted through the nurses that were in Heric’s quarters. Several times he almost fell, but caught himself at the last second. His muscles seemed to have given up from keeping Nikali steady, and he relied on bursts of arcan to keep him on his feet, fueled by his latest batch of Tamor Blood, made from the blood of his executions.
The nurses knew their cue whenever Nikali arrived. They avoided eye contact and began to make their way out of the room. Alma was the last one as usual. She waited for the other nurses to leave before confronting Nikali about his cousin’s condition.
“It is still the same,” said Alma. “Please, just let Heric rest. He does not need you.”
Nikali scowled at Alma. “I am the only thing that is keeping him alive.”
“That is not true,” said Alma. “The girls have worked tirelessly to care for Heric while you are not around. Henri has not stopped in trying to find a remedy. We all care for Emperor Heric.”
“I am the Emperor, now,” mumbled Nikali. “The Royal Council is a joke. Henri will not find anything. It’s up to me and the other Gods of Louson now. We can still revive Heric. I know it.”
“Henri is trying something new,” said Alma. “Please, just give the new treatment a chance.”
“I can do both,” said Nikali. “I can do anything. Good-bye.” He waved his fingers in Alma’s face.
Alma rolled her eyes then turned away. She would not get through to Nikali that day or any other.
She slammed the door on her way out, making sure Nikali heard it.
When Nikali was finally alone he turned to Heric with a smile.
“I’m more powerful than ever,” said Nikali. He sat down on the ground next to the head of Heric’s bed. He was eye level with his comatose cousin. Nikali reached over and pulled Heric’s eyelids apart. Heric’s eyes were still. They stared back at Nikali with little life.
“I can sense you screaming in there,” said Nikali. “Stop screaming and wake up. Then we can defeat Farrah together. She’s turning people from us. People want to follow her and not me. Ungrateful children, they all are. I’ve provided for them since I took over. I’ve given them pleasure, and no responsibility. But they still want more.”
Nikali moved his hands away from Heric’s eyes and placed one across Heric’s face and the other on his chest. “The people are giving me power. They worship in blood. If only your father could have seen it. Then he would say he was proud of me.
“But I will not fail you. You will wake up, Heric. Then you can say what your father never did. Nor mine.”
Then Nikali invaded Heric’s mind with his arcan.
But something was wrong.
Nikali no longer felt Heric’s presence like before. He was tainted. There was emptiness. Nikali shifted through pain and blackness. Heric was even further than before. His senses were dull. Something was interfering with Nikali’s arcan.
As Nikali stayed connected to Heric he did not realize that the numbness was beginning to spread. Nikali could not feel his body. He was no longer numb f
rom the Tamor Blood. He wasn’t feeling at all.
Nikali’s body drooped closer to the floor. Something was grabbing hold of him. Something from inside of Heric.
Heric’ screams returned, louder than ever as Nikali pushed his connection. He was breaking through, but it was only making his own condition worse. Nikali was not waking Heric up. Instead, Heric was dragging Nikali down with him into whatever hollow void his consciousness was in.
Nikali began to release his arcan. He tried to pull away from Heric’s body. It took much of his strength just to pull his fingers from Heric’s face. His muscles were difficult to move. He was near catatonic. Nikali’s eyes focused on one point in the room. As his body collapsed fully to the ground Nikali only watched what was directly in front of him.
The floor was nothing. There was no pain in the collision. Nikali could not feel the cold stone against his skin. His vision grew dull. There was the dream again. Marina stood tall with the Louson army marching through Eluan.
Then just as quickly feeling rushed back into Nikali’s body. He gasped for a large breath, not realizing he had not been breathing since being pulled into unconsciousness.
Something was different. Something was wrong, that was all Nikali knew. Heric was worse for the ware, and even with Nikali’s power it was not enough. Nikali had to do more. He can to keep getting stronger, and only the Blood Beauties could provide that now.
Across the palace, Marina Arraw smiled. She felt Nikali’s panic as her plan ripped through his heart. She vowed the demon would die.
Chapter 38
Days passed and Darden could not believe they had yet to run into any Eluan soldiers. He was sure they would only be able to stay at Jemn for a day or two, max, but Abigail insisted they stayed. She said it had to happen. Abigail was the talk of the villages nearby. Everybody knew they were staying in Jemn. Their camp grew everyday with believers that came for Abigail to save them, and every day they went unchallenged it drew power away from Emperor Nikali, and Darden could not shake the fear that their time was running short.
The healthy outnumbered the sick in the flock of followers that surrounded Abigail. Even with those that had been healed and returned to their homes Abigail’s work was growing faster and stronger.
Finally, the day came that Darden could not avoid. The four strangers were true to their word. They had waited. There were no disturbances from the outlanders. They had barely ever left their tent. They kept to themselves and turned away any greeter that came to their door.
Darden tried to fudge the lineup over the past couple of days. He moved some people ahead of the strangers that were in much dire need of help. The strangers had not shown any kind of ailment. They simply demanded an audience with Abigail, and after the one woman’s display of aggression Darden did not want to give them what they wanted. But Abigail insisted.
“Who are they?” she asked Darden one night looking out of her window at their tent. The strangers’ tent glowed from their camp fire set up inside their quarters. Their shadows danced in the light of the flames against the tarp of their walls. The strangers in the tent intrigued Abigail, though she would never tell Darden that. He had enough to worry about. Several times she tried to reach out to them, feel their emotions, but they were closed off from her. They were as mysterious to Abigail as they were to the rest of the camp.
“They are from the outerlands,” answered Darden. “They barely live in the Eluan Empire. Sometimes I think we forget about them. And that’s how they like it.”
“I want to talk to them,” said Abigail. She eyed Darden when she said it, already knowing what Darden had been up to.
“I wouldn’t advise that,” said Darden. “They aren’t sick. We can’t trust them.”
“You are not my advisor,” said Abigail. “You are my friend. You need to trust me. I want to speak with them. They came out all this way for a reason. Let’s find out what it is.”
Darden did not argue any further. He carried on with his orders. He grabbed Grifith to join along and together the two men went across the camp to greet the outlanders once again and give them a proper introduction.
“Hello,” Darden called out. He wanted to knock, but there was nothing to knock against. His hand brushed up against the hide canvas of the tent and slid down with little noise.
“Do not come in,” said the familiar voice of the woman that had attacked Darden.
“That’s fine,” said Darden. “But Farrah will see you now.”
Darden could hear shuffling coming from inside the tent. Then the entry way opened and two of the outlanders stepped outside. They were dressed up in their traveling gear complete with their veiled head coverings. Darden tried to get a peek inside before the flap was covered, but they were too quick.
“It’s a nice day out,” said Grifith. “You don’t have to cover up so much.”
The two strangers stared at Grifith without saying a word.
“You’ll have to excuse Grifith,” said Darden. “He means well.”
“We’re comfortable in this,” said the man Darden recognized as the stranger who stopped the woman from hurting him. Darden was slightly relieved that he was one of the strangers greeting him.
“Great,” said Darden. “We’ll show you the way. Farrah is curious to meet you all as well. We had to move a few people around to make this meeting happen today. But I’m glad we are able to finally do it.”
The strangers didn’t thank Darden for his hard work. Instead, they once again returned a silent glare through their veils. He assumed it was because they were rude people and not because he was lying. He was a good liar. So Darden turned around and lead the group to the small house that Grifith had picked out for Abigail on their first day in town.
The house was nothing special. It sat crooked on its foundation. Debris remained scattered by the front door. Grifith was kind enough to clear a path for people to walk in and out of the house. Darden showed the strangers into the main room on the second floor. Farrah was waiting for them. She stood by the window looking out at the mass of people that camped outside waiting for her next move.
“Hello,” said Abigail. “Welcome.”
The strangers remained silent. They only nodded their heads in greeting to Abigail.
“Darden said you wanted to speak with me,” said Abigail. “That will be difficult without talking.”
“With all due respect, Farrah,” said the woman. “We wish to speak with you in private.” Then she turned and glared once again at Darden and Grifith.
“We’re not leaving her alone,” said Grifith. “What you can say in front of her you can say in front of us.”
“Yeah,” said Darden.
“This matter does not concern you,” said the woman.
“If it concerns Abigail then it concerns us,” said Darden.
Abigail let the argument die down. The four of them all looked at her for guidance.
“I’ll be fine,” said Abigail. “You can leave us to talk.”
Darden was surprised at her decision. They had not left her alone with any of the new people since the inn. They didn’t want to risk another attack from the Blood Beauties.
“They are not with the Blood Beauties,” said Abigail anticipating what Darden was going to say. “I would know.”
“Then what do they want?” asked Darden. His stubbornness was testing even Abigail.
“I’ll find out,” said Abigail. “But they will only talk with me. Please, wait outside. I’m sorry.”
Darden forcibly shut his mouth. He nodded his head and turned to leave. Grifith was less angry about the situation. He frowned then followed Darden for the exit.
Once the two men were gone, Abigail waited another moment to speak again. She wanted to be sure they were free from prying ears. Abigail was good to her word.
“Who are you?” Abigail asked.
“That’s complicated,” said the woman. “My name is Odessa. This is Paltro. We come from a town in the Tolos Flat Mountain
s in the southeast.”
“I know the mountains. There is no town out there,” said Abigail.
“We are not on any map,” said Odessa.
“Darden says you are outlanders,” said Abigail. “Your garb would suggest you live in the desert, not the mountains.”
“You’ll have to excuse our privacy,” said Odessa. “We’ve lived in seclusion from the rest of Eluan. It is uncomfortable for us to show our faces in public.”
“Why is that?” Abigail asked.
“It’s the way we were raised,” admitted Odessa.
“Very well,” said Abigail. “I will not force the matter.”
“Thank you,” said Odessa.
“So why have you come all this way?” Abigail asked.
“We’ve come for you,” said Odessa.
Abigail stirred in her seat. She was used to the attention from the rest of her flock, but the way Odessa addressed Abigail was different. There was a confidant tone in her voice that reminded Abigail of another woman’s determination.
“What for?” Abigail asked.
“Our city was founded by a powerful man named Marage,” said Odessa. “He brought the founding families together and he saved them all. He showed them amazing abilities that is only just now being replicated across Eluan.”
“Arcan,” answered Abigail.
“Yes,” said Odessa.
“What does this have to do with me?” asked Abigail.
“Marage said when the world was ready his daughter would visit us, and she would lead us to freedom.”
“Me?” Abigail asked. She was stunned at the news. She could not believe she was the daughter of a savior in the southeast. Everything she felt. Everything she knew was driving her to Myrus, the complete opposite direction.
“We need your help, Farrah,” said Paltro. “Our city is dying. We believe it is time for Marage’s daughter to save us. Then we heard about you. It is fate.”
“I want to help,” said Abigail. “But I don’t know how. Myrus is calling to me. They need my help as well.”
Eluan Falls: A Whisper of Fate Page 17
