A Toll of Crimson: Part 2 (Final)
Evelyn's lifeless body dangled from its wrists, prominently exhibited at the entrance of the Cress Estate. The crime she committed was echoed about the estate grounds and when people gazed upon her lifeless body they were met by a haunting visage of a pale countenance marred by crimson tears. The absence of her eyes left only empty, abyssal voids in their place. A gloomy calmness hung in the air, an eerie sensation that seemed to penetrate deep within. The pinprick of her eyes shot down to the idle sway of Evelyn’s body, one which clung to the graces of life by way of her blonde hair catching in the wind. In her mind’s eye the scene of Evelyn’s end was stark and vivid, like a fresh stroke from a paintbrush. -- The metallic links of the chain recoiled with a horrifying symphony of tearing flesh. Argrin extended his hand and ran his broad finger against the heavy saturation which soaked through his shirt. In his ears he heard his heartbeat like the heady drums of war and to the corners of his eyes a darkness wavered—temping and waiting, eager to consume his consciousness. Evelyn stood by the doorway, the plate she held previously clattered to the ground by her feet, scattering meat clear across the floor. Her skin kissed skin began to pale around her eyes till her face held the complexion of a sheet of bleached parchment. The veins on her face surfaced, tracing a path from her jaw to her eyes, which were now consumed by a disturbing shade of green. As she smiled, her face contorted, and her mouth muscles battled against the resistance of her skin, causing her smile to become crooked and menacing. Her once beautiful eyes were agape to the point her iris was minimal, all consumed by the now glowing green her eyes possessed. The room's atmosphere underwent a transformation as Evelyn's hand emitted a palpable surge of energy, causing the air to become oppressively heavy and difficult to inhale. The stringent scent of blood was overpowered by the palpable smell of brimstone coupled with an intense heat which manifested itself from the magic swelling within her palm. The room froze in time, just for an instant, before Evelyn’s concentration was wrested as her body careened toward the ground with an ungodly crack of her skull against the pavement. When she raised her hair, her face was veiled by her blonde tresses, yet what peered from beyond the curtain of it was the demonic pinion of her unkind eyes. Her eyes transformed, resembling the slitted gaze of a serpent, while her mouth stretched wide, exposing razor-sharp incisors. Then, akin to a spider, several tiny eyes popped open across her forehead. “Voidsent?” Ingram hissed as he rose from his seat. Cormac was already at Argrin’s side, applying pressure to the entry wound while the other gently wiped at his companion’s test to attempt looking at the damage. “Doesn’t fucking matter what she is.” He barked, “She’s dead either way.”
Ondrea swiftly circled the table, only to be halted by her mother's commanding gesture. Her outstretched hand, aimed at Evelyn, trembled with such force that beads of sweat formed on her temple. “Collect her.” She spoke between the grit of her teeth. “My magic wanes.” Ondrea's heart raced as she charged towards Evelyn, weapon in hand and ready for action. But as she reached out to grab the woman's hair, a strange energy filled the room, causing everything to freeze. The silence was deafening, and even the blood pooling around Argrin seemed to stop. Ondrea's mother's arm stopped trembling, and when she looked back at Evelyn, something was terribly wrong. The green in her eyes had vanished, leaving only the black with orange and yellow-rimmed pupils. A chilling, guttural laugh escaped Evelyn's lips as her appearance transformed. Her face pulsated with visible veins, her teeth became disheveled and yellowed, and a long, decaying tongue slithered from her mouth.
She looked possessed, and her voice no longer belonged to her. It sounded like static from a radio, an eerie white noise. Ondrea stood frozen, her grip on her blade tightening, while Evelyn's neck cracked unnaturally. Ondrea scanned the room for any movement, but everyone else remained still, leaving only Evelyn in motion.
“Who are you?” Ondrea found her voice. “You mean what am I?” Evelyn slipped up and slowly circled around Ondrea. Silence surrounded then, capitalizing on the stillness of the room and yet when Evelyn walked, a song hummed from her. A song which her father and mother sang to her when she was young. “—A blood demon, summoned by The Watchers. I’ve been waiting to consume your bloodline for quite some time, little devil.” That otherworldly chuckle manifested itself once more, albeit against the shell of her ear. “I only want you.” Evelyn’s tongue lapped at the lobe of her ear. Ondrea wanted to move, wanted to drive the blade in her hand through Evelyn’s skull but all sense of motion ceased. She was trapped. “The tensions between The Watchers and House Cress have been---constant. Seems like your darling father couldn’t hold his end of the bargain.” Evelyn slipped her arms around Ondrea’s shoulder and gave the corner of her face a snuggle while her free hand traced her fingers through Ondrea’s long, midnight hair. “What bargain?” She asked, staring mile long ahead. A whisper followed, dark and sinister. “A bargain for eternity.” With that, Evelyn was before Ondrea, her hands cupping at her cheeks as she forced Ondreas attentions to her. “---He died before his debts were paid and now you, darling devil, are my divinity.” Without preamble, Evelyn closed the gap between them and captured Ondrea's unresponsive lips with her own. Ondrea squeezed her eyes tightly, fighting back the noise which harbored itself within the hearth of her throat. When she opened them, she felt hair between her fingers and heard the echoes of her mother’s command. Evelyn, or what was left of her, cackled up toward Ondrea in a manner that had ignited a dreadful flame within her belly. “Restrain her! Elyssia called, and with it Ondrea followed, still unable to relieve the sensation of Evelyn’s lips against her own. ---- “Lady Cress?” A voice called from the opposing end of the room. Ondrea turned about and regarded the nurse who stood at the entry of the infirmary door. “It’s time for his bathing.” A fresh pitcher of steaming water was perched in her grip. “Bring it here.” Ondrea spared a last glance at Evenlyn’s hanging body before plodding toward Argrin, who remained still and slumbering. The nurse arrived no soon after and set pitcher to the side table. “Would you like assistance, my lady?” She asked softly. “No.” She whispered. “I have him now. If you would please fetch more towels.” The nurse left and Ondrea plucked the pitcher to pour it contents within the basin, no soon after did she procure a white cloth and dip it within, all the while humming the song her parents sang to her when she was younger. Sunlight trickled in, causing the golden elegance of her eyes to rim with orange, and the whites of her eyes to become possessed with a momentary surfacing of black.
Feckin' Heathen
