Mirrored Shadows 2

Tainted minds

The old cathedral was like a monument of spite towards the sun that bathed it; a black, gothic structure, with many windows and gargoyles that silently growled at the sinful and the wicked. The weed slept intertwined between the bricks, allowing itself the freedom to triumph over the work of men.

- Why is the Veil inside the cathedral? - Amadeus asked.

- The cathedral once belonged to the worshipers of the Seven Muses... - Monika started explaining.

- ...and they'd use the Veil to cross into Dreaming and reach the Muses. - the demon figured. - I remember the cultists coming to see my creators. They were monsters, much like the Muses themselves...

To Aaron's order, the first party entered the cathedral.

- Try to remain quiet. - he warned and dived into the darkness, followed by the others.

A sickening stench splashed them immediately. It was a scent of decay and something more. Something they couldn't recognize and it itched their eyes like acid fumes.

- What is that awful smell? - Monika covered her nose.

- It's the taint. Watch your step, I've seen blood on the ground earlier. - Aaron squinted through the dark. - We could use some light...

Three fireballs jumped on top of Monika's, Dion's and Amadeus's palms, casting a warm, orange light over the walls and the floor. Indeed, there were many puddles of dark liquid beneath their feet.

The path took them deeper into the abandoned structure. Echoes from its dark past screamed in every corner. Rattling chains and rusty spikes on the walls silently kept their secrets. One column had a symbol on it. A circle of 7 statues - the symbol of the Muses the cultists used to worship in this place. Amadeus tossed a swift gust of flame on it, leaving nothing but a black stain.

As they took the stairs to go further below, the volume of the stench increased. The blood puddles were more frequent too.

- This is where we saw the tainted demon. - Aaron warned quietly. - Be on your guard.

But there was nothing. Only silence. Yet, Monika could see Aaron's soldiers becoming nervous, more alerted. Whatever they saw must have been terrible. But she knew exactly what they saw.

Three flames swayed around the group, illuminating the forgotten corridors on the sides. Whatever lurked in that place, must've been aware of their presence because of the light.

- Guys, maybe we should...-

Everyone turned around at the sound of slipping.

- Monika!!! - Amadeus shouted.

They moved their flames to where she used to be, realizing there was a big hole in the ground. Amadeus widened his eyes into the impenetrable darkness which could not be pierced even by his flame.

- Monika!

For a brief moment, she could not speak. The fall punched the air out of her lungs. All she could do was twitch in the dark and listen to the voices calling her name, while waiting for the precious air to come. Even if it carries the stench. The floor beneath her was incredibly cold, but she could not think about that now.

- I'm going down there.

- Amadeus wait, we don't know what's in there! - Dion warned, but the demon was already inside.

On the first contact with the air, Monika created another fireball and feverishly looked around her. The light spilled over the countless bodies underneath, making her gasp and jump on her feet. The corpses were pale, wrinkled, as if life didn't just leave them, but was sucked out of them. Only the eyes still carried the petrified horror; the last, immortalized sight. Amadeus dropped next to her, startling her. He realized too late that he had landed on somebody's head.

- My love! - he pulled her against him. - Are you hurt!?

- No I... I'm alright, but my god... These corpses... What is all this?

- I don't know, but let's get out of here.

A rope rolled down the hole.

- Grab on! - Dion said from above.

Amadeus lifted Monika with ease and started climbing. She felt that his entire body was shivering.

- Honey, am I heavy? Why are you shaking?

- I thought I lost you...

In the semi-dark around them, she could see the dread on his face. The arm around her squeezed too tight, anxious to get her up. To keep her safe.

Soldiers helped to pull them out of the hole.

- Are you alright? - Dion worried.

- We are unharmed. But, there are corpses down there. A whole pile...

- Corpses?

- They looked... old, yet too.. fresh at the same time...

- We'll have to deal with that later. - Aaron said. - Let's be on our way.

She could still feel the touch of icy skin on her forearms. The lifelessness that stares back.

- How did you fall into that hole? - Dion asked. - You didn't see it?

- There was no hole... I just fell through...

- The cathedral is very old. - Aaron said from the head of the party. - It must be falling apart.

- Or somebody set up a trap...

No one said anything. The unease was already too heavy, as if further discussion about it would summon something. Aaron did the same thing he used to do back when they were fighting the Defiler: he pushed himself in front of the group, sparing his soldiers of any threat that lies ahead. In one moment, he slowly turned around and looked at Monika, placing finger on his lips:

- Shhh... - he whispered and pointed ahead.

In a small, rounded chamber, just beneath the staircase of the hallway where they stood, a demon whispered to himself. His head was twitching, and his legs seemed to occasionally betray him, forcing him to limp. What looked like a piece of cloth that was dragging behind him, soon turned out to be a portion of skin, peeling off his back.

- Layer... by layer... He seeks... He wants to know... Uses skin like... like files in drawers... browses... explores... layer... by layer...

Unaware that she had slowly made her way through the party, she stared at the demon in disbelief.

- ...Lazarus...?

To her horror, first his head turned around, then the rest of his body.

- Monika...? Monika!

He started limping towards her as fast as he could, only to face several drawn swords in front of his face.

- Back away. - Aaron warned him. - Now.

- Monika I...

- Lazarus... Why are you here? What happened to you...?

- He's been tainted... - Dion whispered.

- No... It can't be, he doesn't look like those abominations... - she refused to believe it.

- He's not fully corrupted. Some of his sanity and physical appearance remain.

- How did you get the taint? - Dion asked cautiously, fearing the answer.

- I don't know, I was at home and I heard the voice... His voice...

- Whose voice?

- ... and it has remained in my head ever since...

- Lazarus, whose voice did you hear?

He began lumping in a circle again, whispering to himself.

- ...once he gets in your head... he doesn't have to do it again... it sears into your mind... and it burns cold...

- Monika, we have to kill him. - Aaron warned darkly.

- No, there must be another way...

- By the time we discover that way, the taint from this place could spread. We don't know how it works.

- He talks about you, Monika... - Lazarus kept talking. - Sweet, beautiful, Monika... you are important to him... he will slide his fingers under your skin... like it's a pocket... and tear it open... and search... layer by layer... layer by layer...

- Are you talking about Defiler? - Dion asked what she didn't want to.

- You cannot name that thing... Not with that face... not with that form... it's inexplicable... unnameable... and that tune, oh that tune! It's in stone! Underneath my fingernails, in my lungs... I breathe it in and out... make it stop...

His hands reached for the hair and he peeled the scalp off with ease.

- Another layer... another story... He wants to know you as I did, Monika...

Aaron raised his sword.

- Monika, I have to end him.

Lazarus fell on his knees and started giggling. Quietly at first, until it grew into a violent burst of laughter. The rags of his shirt tore apart to make way for a pair of featherless wings that pierced out through his back.

- He is turning! - Aaron shouted and swung his sword.

The blade whistled through the air and clanged against the stone ground, for Lazarus had flipped backwards, still laughing; laughing and bleeding all over the room. The soldiers joined the attempt to strike him, but he was incredibly fast now. As the weapons flailed around him, his eyes never stopped staring at Monika, sending chills down her spine.

- I'm going to get you! - he laughed, pointing at her.

Several swords clashed on the spot where he stood, missing him again.

- I'm going to get youuuuu!

Dion raised his hand and Lazarus remained in the mid air, unable to move.

- Now!

Aaron raised the sword once again and cut the abomination in half. The bottom part rolled over the floor, while the upper one spun in the air, held by Dion. The wings were still defensively flapping around, wounding Aaron's arm. Dion pushed the torso away. When it fell down, it raised itself on its arms, to look at Monika again and attempted to crawl towards her.

- Cut off the head!

- Monika... He will take everything from you... I've seen it...

Aaron's sword severed the head from the body, with lifeless eyes, still fixed on her.

- Don't look... - Amadeus whispered.

She leaned her back against the wall and slid down.

- I'm so sorry, Monika... - Dion said sympathetically.

- He... I have known him for a great portion of my life... What was he doing in here...?

- Perhaps he wanted to enter the Dreaming. To find you.

- But why, what does he want from her? - Amadeus asked.

Her eyes reluctantly wandered off towards the severed head. Lazarus was still staring back at her, so she quickly looked away.

- The way he looked at me. He wanted to tell me something, and that could've triggered the transformation on the spot... Defiler won't let him speak.

Dion turned around the room, until he noticed a shimmer on one of the walls.

- The Veil into Dreaming. Aaron, how do we pass through?

- The Veil that leads into Dreaming opens up at night. Around midnight.

- I guess we should wait, then...

- The night is far. Come, let's head back to the camp. You can rest there until dark.

With a heavy heart, Monika turned her back to Lazarus on the floor. They had their differences in the past as a couple, but this? No one deserves this.

When they left the cathedral, everyone felt like the brightness of the sun lifted a heavy burden off their chests. But the memory defied the sunny day, much like the cathedral itself. Monika knew, right there and then, that what she just witnessed would haunt her dreams for many years.

Devon's group came back to the camp shortly after, reporting no sighting of another tainted person. But that did not calm Dion. Lazarus's taint alone was enough to suspect that there were more like him.

When they entered Aaron's tent, Bruno played chess with Muriel.

- You are cheating! - Bruno complained.

- Oh leave me be, kid. You won four games in a row. f*****g 7 year old beats me...

- Language!

- Right, sorry. Don't tell your parents I said that.

- Are you boys having fun? - Aaron came in, putting away his sword.

Muriel got up and saluted.

- I was teaching the boy to play chess, sire.

- YOU were teaching ME!?

- Will you let me have this!? Ahem, so anyway, sire, how was the expedition?

Aaron looked at Bruno, then Muriel.

- It went well.

Monika hugged Bruno.

- I missed you.

- Mom, you've been gone for an hour.

- That's a lot in mommy years. - she squeezed him.

- Mooooom not in front of the soldiers.

Everyone sat down and silently glanced at each other. The boy explored their faces. The awkward silence told him something is wrong.

- Are you okay mom? Dad?

- We are fine, son. - Amadeus lifted him and placed him on his knee.

The maps on the war table caught Monika's attention. She got up and started searching for a specific one. The bright, yellow one, with golden letters and symbols. It was the map of Heaven. Unlike Hell, where the whole Plane is vertical and arranged in circles, Heaven was in the form of scattered islands. They were symbolically represented by clouds on the map.

Aaron approached her to look down on it as well. Their heads connected on the temples, as they shared the space above the map. Amadeus's leg started nervously jumping, making Bruno bounce.

- So you're actually planning to get to Heaven. Monika, that is one f****d up place. It's nothing better than Hell.

- Better or worse, that is our destination.

- Or you could just stay here. - he winked and nudged her gently with his shoulder. - We could stay up all night by the camp fire...

Amadeus finally got up and squeezed himself between them, which made all three look like a wrinkled sack of flour.

- Amadeus, you alright pal? - Aaron asked in confusion, as his ear was bent on Amadeus's head.

- Now I am.

- He sure looks alright... - Dion teased.

- Well umm.. You guys should get some rest now. My tent is fully at your disposal. I'll come here around midnight to escort you to the Veil of Dreaming. You'll love it there.

- Do tell us more, we've only spent there, like, 10 years of our lives. - said Amadeus sarcastically.

- Oh right, I forgot. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make arrangements with my men. Monika.

He bowed and left the tent.

- We should just leave and wait by the cathedral. - said Amadeus.

- Why?

- Why? Didn't you see the way he looks at you? That guy is totally not over you.

- Oh come on sweetheart, that is ridiculous. Aaron is a friend.

- Yes, that looks very mutual.

- True or not, you know you have nothing to be jealous about, so please stop that. Imagine if I started being jealous of every woman, man, even a goddamn animal that looked at you. And I'm married to the most beautiful man in the universe. - she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss. - Was that convincing enough?

- I need more convincing.

She kissed him again.

- More.

- Get a tent. - Dion scoffed and went outside.

- Uncle Dion, wait for me! I don't want to be with them smooching!

***

When the sun rolled behind the hills, the south wind rushed to meet the tips of tall grass. It swayed around the restless tents, tossing the campfire in all directions. A rare pause in the fabric of time, when both good and bad seemed to have stopped to catch a breath.

Monika stood outside, alone, breathing in the freshness and chasing the mosquitoes away.

- Lost in thoughts? - Aaron stopped next to her, rubbing his arm where Lazarus cut him.

- Rare are the moments when I'm not.

- Likewise, likewise...

The wind rose, lifting the tent edges and flags and sending the dirt up in the air.

- Some thoughts never leave you. - he continued, looking at the distance. - They become a part of you. You learn to bear them like scars.

She nodded, pulling on her coat tighter. It was getting colder.

- Like thoughts about you. - suddenly he said.

The feelings of discomfort slowly grew, so she remained silent.

- You are... hard to forget.

- Aaron.

- No, I know. I'm sorry. You are with him... with that... demon and...

- His name is Amadeus, he is my husband and he makes me very happy.

- Of course he is...

She whipped him with a serious glance, finally turning to face him.

- What is that supposed to mean?

Suddenly, he took her by the shoulders, bringing her close, leaning his forehead against hers. Monika was unable to push him away.

- Aaron stop that.

- I ran away from you, from everything, just to forget. I went to wars, hoping I'd finally be put out of this misery. And just when I thought I was dealing with it a bit better, you came here. And ignite everything again.

- You are hurting my arm.

- You broke my heart.

- How exactly did I break your heart, Aaron? By not loving you back? That's a very unfair thing to say.

- No, you know what's unfair? A demon who was never created to love, gets to be loved by you and not me, who wrote you a thousand letters in blood and burned them.

- I think we are leaving now. This was clearly a mistake.

- No, stay... I'm sorry... I'm a pig, I know... A fool, but I can't I...

He slowly let go of her arms, as if he was releasing something extremely fragile and precious, scared he'd break it.

- I'm sorry, Monika. Please don't hold my foolishness against me.

- Whom should I hold it against, then?

- I've seen too many wars... I don't know what came over me, I acted like a complete moron. Please forgive me and don't remember me by this... Remember me by good, old days. I'll prepare my men to escort you to the Veil.

He bowed deeply and left. Monika stood there for a while, rubbing her arms, processing what happened.

- Is everything alright? - Dion joined her, looking after Aaron as he was leaving.

- What? Oh, yes. Yes, everything is alright.

She felt so much irrational shame. As if she was the one who did something wrong, not Aaron. Maybe because she failed to see what Amadeus saw. When she entered the tent, he was sitting on a chair, with one of his legs lifted over the arm rest. The moonlight illuminated his perfect face, making him seem unreal for a moment, like a painting. A painting that came to life once he turned his head towards her.

- Sun of my life?

Something warm filled her chest and reminded her that at the end of a day, even a bad day like this one, she is one very happy person.

He took her hand and pulled her on his lap. They stared at each other.

- There is a shadow cloaking your thoughts. What troubles you? - he tilted his head, caressing her cheek.

- I love it when you talk like that. - she smiled softly. - All cheesy.

- And I love you.

Monika sighed and leaned against him, taking in his scent.

- Never forget that... Never doubt it. And never leave me...

Later that evening, Aaron peeked into the tent and noticed that they had all fallen asleep. Several men waited outside. He closed the tent and stared at it for a brief moment, rubbing the wound on his arm. A black vein was branching from outside.

- You called us, sire?

- Take the torches and burn the tent down. They are tainted. Kill them all.

- ... sire?

- Do as I say.

***

Monika walked through fields of purple grass and golden flowers. The sky above her was promising rain. A great fog gathered, and not even the winds were able to scatter it. They brought many voices; whispers from unknown places and things that may come. She paused there for a moment, confused, but content. It was impossible to tell where she is, but it didn't matter. The grass was softer than anything she ever touched. The feeling of comfort made her feel at home.

- Monika. - called a deep voice behind her.

It was Lazarus. Or at least it seemed like it was him. Everything was there except the way he looked at her. There was something wrong with his eyes. Not long after Monika noticed that, she saw there was also blood on his hands.

- Lazarus?

- You need to wake up, Monika.

- Why...?

- Let me redeem all the pain I caused you... Wake up.

Smoke rose from the grass all around them. It was thick and dark, making her cough.

- Wake up... wake up... - his voice was fading away. - Wake up...

Monika jumped out of her dream, still coughing loudly. She was covered in sweat. The tent was on fire. Bruno was choking next to her.

- Bruno! - she screamed. - WAKE UP, THE TENT IS ON FIRE!

Amadeus picked the boy up and grabbed Monika by the hand.

- Dion! - they called through smoke, unable to see him.

Resistant to fire, Amadeus placed Bruno into Monika's arms and lifted one of the tent sides for others to run under it. He covered them with his back so the burning pieces of the tent wouldn't fall on them.

- Bruno! - Monika dropped on the grass with her son, as he coughed. - Here comes the fresh air, baby, breathe!

- I'm... okay, mommy...

She hugged him tight, finally caught up by the postponed fear and realization of what could've happened had she not woke up.

Dion looked around. All the other tents were gone. But then:

- Guys.

Amadeus and Monika raised their heads, realizing they are surrounded by silhouettes in the dark. The fire of the blazing tent started spreading, catching on the dry grass.

- Aaron?

The flames illuminated the night, and the grass got a burning orange color. Aaron and his men stood a bit further, slightly revealed by the fire. After standing there for a while, they moved towards them.

- Aaron what happened here? - Dion asked when he and his men came close enough. - We almost died!

The soldiers formed a circle around them and drew their swords.

- ...What are you doing?

Only then could they notice that his left arm was almost entirely black. Monika protectively pressed Bruno against her.

- What do you think you're doing? - Amadeus stepped forward.

- Something is wrong with him, Amadeus. - Dion whispered.

- Clearly.

- No, look at his arm.

Aaron gave a slight nod to his men and they set their torches on fire.

- You traitorous son of a bitch... - the demon growled at him.

Instead of a reply, Aaron gave another nod and the soldiers pointed the torches at them.

- Muriel...? - Bruno called.

- I... I'm sorry. Captain says you are all tainted, I don't want this... - he shivered out of control.

- Tainted?

Amadeus grabbed one of the ignited torches by its tip and crumbled it into ashes. Monika raised her hand and the flame of each remaining torch flew into her palm.

- Soldiers, cease this. -she spoke calmly. - You don't want to spill more blood, for if that is the fate of the tainted, you would have to spill the one of your captain.

They all looked confused, not knowing what to do. Aaron kept nodding to them without words.

- He is changing into an abomination... - Dion whispered.

Monika left Bruno behind and slowly moved towards Aaron.

- Monika, what are you doing? - Amadeus asked.

- Aaron, are you still in there, old friend? Try to remember things! Maybe you can fight it by remembering who you are. - she pulled out a carved wooden flower, showing it to him.

The soldiers looked at them in wonder. Their captain's now black eyes fell on the flower like it's some distant memory, rather than something that is here and now.

- I heard the tune, Monika... everything we did to resist was in vain... we are so small to him... I'm sorry Monika, I will kill you now...

To their horror, his infected arm fell off as if it was never attached to him. Dion quickly turned Bruno's head so he wouldn't watch.

- I am sorry too. - Amadeus picked up his sword from the ground and beheaded him with one swift strike.

Aaron's men were frozen in place, watching their great captain falling on the ground like a pile of rotten, black meat. Warrior, leader, hero. The briefness by which it all played out. To end like this.

- Him too... - Monika shivered, kneeling down next to her friend's deformed body. - First Justice, then Lazarus, now you... - she placed the rose next to him. - Have I doomed you...?

- The speed of this taint. - Dion looked down at Aaron. - How fast it takes even the strongest. I hope this is the last case here... I fear the human world is contaminated as well...

- Possibly... - Amadeus replied, lost in thoughts. - Or maybe none of the plains are contaminated at all. - he turned to Dion and started whispering while Monika mourned over Aaron. - It seems like the taint strikes those closest to my wife.

- Indeed, it's too precise for something that is supposedly spreading like an infection.

A crackling sound interrupted them. Aaron's body started to disintegrate into black ashes. As it flew up in the air with the wind, Monika's hand remained where it was when it held his shoulder, like it was still there.

- My love...? - Amadeus whispered softly.

She stood up and wiped her tears.

- All our stuff were in that tent.

- Well... We could go back and...

- No, Amadeus. We came too far and we don't have a carriage.

- The Veil into Dreaming is right here. - Dion reminded. - We are almost in Heaven. I'm sure we'll last until then.

Amadeus nodded agreeably.

- We could also pick some stuff from our home in Dreaming.

- Our home... - Monika repeated.

- Let me go to the cathedral and clean you - know - what before you come there with Bruno. - Dion said.

- No, you are not going in there alone. - Monika protested.

- I'll be fine. I promise. Bruno, borrow me the Hilfehown? Once I'm done, I'll call you with it. A perfect chance to test it, don't you think?

- Here you go, uncle Dion.

Without further discussion, he turned around and went into the cathedral.

About ten minutes later, they could hear the sound of the horn and Monika was relieved. He was okay.

As they walked down the corridor, they noticed that Dion illuminated it by placing fire into braziers. The blood on the floor was gone, and so was the ominous hole through which Monika fell. Still, she walked around it in a wide circle.

Lastly, Lazarus's body was gone too. Amadeus consolingly touched her shoulder, knowing what she felt.

- Is it midnight yet? - she asked.

- The Veil glows differently. - Dion said, standing next to the shimmering surface. - I will pass through first. If everything is okay, I'll use the horn once again.

- Wait, why are you always taking these risky steps? - she complained again. - Why not me?

- Because I am far less important.

- I disagree.

- That's very sweet. Alas. - he stepped into the Veil and disappeared.

- Did he just... I will kill him, I swear!