Uda - Churchlight (2)

Uda quickly averted her gaze. She had to find some way to get information without ending up screaming and shaking on the ground again.

Obviously, the Nightmares were such a serious threat that an entire organization existed to fight them. They probably also knew exactly what was wrong with Nia.

“I thought it would be better if I spoke with you. Not that I wanted to, though clearly Kelwin can’t control his temper. As much as I appreciate his efforts to remind you of your place and your nonexistent worth... if you’re drowning in pain, we can’t learn anything from you. Are you ready to behave? You may answer me. And I don’t mind if you look me in the eyes. Your attempts at seduction or other depravities would bounce right off my mental fortification. Consider it a gesture of goodwill,” said Lera, smiling condescendingly.

Uda slowly sat up, testing whether Lera would allow it. She hated herself for playing along; still, she had no choice. Somehow, she had to get information out of Lera, whether to save Nia, to escape, or both.

“I will behave, Exorcist Lera,” Uda said as submissively as she could.

Lera let out a poisonous laugh. “No need to pretend. I saw you at the tents. No way you’d break that easily. So let’s speak Exorcist to possessed bitch. Casual. And if you’re not a good little bitch…”

Nausea rose in Uda and disappeared again a moment later. She reached for her mouth, expecting to vomit, only to realize she hadn’t eaten anything.

At least not here in the Dream.

She forced her rising sickness down and used the moment to scan her surroundings. She couldn’t see much. They were on a paved road; some of Lera’s soldiers rode ahead of them, with Kelwin at the front, casting dark glances over his shoulder from time to time. Trees of various sizes and colors grew around them, and in the distance she saw a cluster of houses. Then she turned her attention back to Lera and waited.

“Hm. I wonder… what were you planning to do afterward?” the Exorcist asked, frowning.

“Afterward?” Uda echoed.

The question confused her, and she tried to understand what Lera was getting at.

“Afterward?” Lera mimicked her tone and narrowed her eyes. “After you stabbed those people. Just like you said you would.”

Uda hesitated. What should she say?

“I… I don’t know. I didn’t think that far… Exorcist Lera,” she continued her story.

“Of course not. Why would you? Always the next target, always moving forward, right? I’ll tell you this: That makes you just as predictable as the others,” Lera said, her expression darkening.

Uda wanted to ask what she meant, but bit her lip. Lera narrowed her eyes again.

“Well? What is it?” she demanded.

“The others… have you killed and… exorcised many before me?” Uda asked, trying her best to sound frightened.

She had to find out if Nia could still be saved. If she even was truly possessed. To her surprise, a brief flicker of confusion crossed Lera’s face, but she quickly recovered.

“Oh dear, trying to confuse me? You know just as well as I do that we don’t die! We wake up from the Dream and one day return. That’s what the Goddess declared. I’ve already awakened and freed two Possessed. They’ll return eventually and live normal lives. If you can even call this existence a life... but to me it feels a lot like one, not that you would know. And much like me, you know that possession cannot be reversed! I hope you understand now that you can’t throw me off balance. So let’s just keep talking. But I implore you, spare me the pitiful attempts to confuse me. We’ve got plenty of time together. Though, now, thinking about it…” Lera tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I think I’ll deal with that little brat over there first and then turn you over to Immesh. Even I’m not arrogant enough to think I can guard two Possessed on my own. So know that your time with me is limited. Maybe I’ll put in a good word for you. Then at least you’ll get a mat to sleep on in your cage.”

That fake, sugary smile spread across her lips again.

“So, are you going to cooperate now?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes,” Uda confirmed, nodding quickly.

Inside, everything was racing. She couldn’t let Nia end up in some cage, especially not without her. She would lose her mind. Just the thought of it made Uda furious, and she clenched her fists to keep control.

“Good. Then I’ll ask you the same question Kelwin already asked. So don’t be stupid and don’t give me the same shitty answer: what do you want?”

“I…” Uda began, then fell silent.

What could she say? What would a possessed person answer?

“I want to get inside the shield and find someone,” she finally whispered.

Lera grinned triumphantly. “Ah, of course you do. I suspected as much. You’re just like the others. Most of them seek out the people they match best to make them fall. What’s it like, feeling drawn to someone… and then only wanting the worst for them?”

Uda thought again. So... Nightmares wanted to go somewhere when they forced someone into possession. But Nia had wanted to be with the wrong Locu. He was a Nightmare too, wasn’t he? Maybe she wasn’t possessed after all. That would be good for now. But it also meant they were both in the hands of fanatics who would never believe they had the wrong people.

“It’s a compulsion. I feel drawn to someone, and I want to hurt them,” Uda improvised.

“So boring. And what does she want?” Lera asked, nodding disdainfully toward Nia, who was still slumped over.

“She… doesn’t want anyone. She lost someone she felt connected to…” Uda began, before she could stop herself.

It seemed like a good idea to feed Lera a vague truth, just in case Nia told a different story; still, the wave of nausea that flooded her told her she’d said the wrong thing.

“You’re sooo... noble... You’ve got me all figured out, haven’t you? By the Goddess, I hate all of you. You disgusting vermin. I told you—you won’t break me! Little shit, how did you get through? Enough. We’ll be arriving soon. Both of you will stand upright on the way to the Chapel of Nal. I was going to let you lie down, keep you hidden. Instead, the townspeople deserve to see the filth we caught. Ah, who am I kidding—I already sent someone ahead to announce you.” Lera smiled, though her hands trembled slightly.

She raised her index finger and said in a mock-stern voice, “Come on, stand up. I’ll allow you to hold on to the side of the cart. But I won’t let you shield yourself in any way. You deserve everything that gets thrown at you. Insults, trash... If you’re lucky, that’ll be the worst of it! Don’t get your hopes up. We both know you don’t deserve mercy.”

She laughed with a bell-like brightness and waved a soldier over. The woman nodded and brought the horse Lera had ridden before arrival. The Exorcist mounted it gracefully, clicked her tongue, and moved up to rejoin the front of the procession. She raised her finger once more in warning, eyeing Uda critically.

Uda struggled to her feet, clinging with both hands to the smooth, dark wooden wall of the cart so she wouldn’t collapse.

“Good bitch,” Lera breathed with a mocking wink, then turned away from her.

Uda carefully touched the back of her neck and felt the metallic mesh. To her horror, she couldn’t find a clasp, and the moment she touched it, her strength drained away.

Another shiver of revulsion ran down her spine as her fingers brushed the stones. She had hoped that, with time, she might get used to it. That she might be able to ignore the chain entirely and still find a way to escape with Nia. Even if they were locked in a cage or some other prison, maybe she could eventually bear it. However, with every touch, the disgust only deepened, and at last Uda gave up, cursing under her breath.

Nia finally stirred again, and Uda gave her a silent signal to stand. She knew that Lera and Kelwin were likely out of earshot by now, but the riders around them kept throwing cold glances in their direction, and Uda had the feeling that she and Nia were surrounded by a pack of predators.

Nia didn’t even try to speak and avoided looking at Uda. Her face was flushed, and she stared at the ground in fear and shame. Uda wanted to embrace her, to reassure her that somehow, they would make it through this...

She couldn’t.

Bitterly, she stared at the first houses they were passing. The buildings were far from as magnificent as the residences in the ruins they had left behind must once have been, but they were well maintained, and the tiled roofs glowed invitingly in the light of the setting sun.

Well, they certainly won’t be welcoming us there, Uda thought bitterly.

The road wound its way up a hill, and larger buildings soon appeared on both sides, some clearly serving special purposes. She saw a carpentry shop, a tavern, a bakery, a butcher, even a spice merchant. But despite the friendly signs and the lively activity in front of the shops, she could enjoy none of it. When the townsfolk spotted their group, there was a wave of celebration, and Lera was greeted almost like a saint. Voices rang out from nearby windows with cheers and blessings, and someone tossed flowers into the road ahead of them. Lera waved gracefully and smiled more warmly than Uda had ever seen. The Exorcist even laughed at a group of older men sitting at a table, raising glasses of red liquid in her honor.

But as the cart drew closer, everything changed.

The first rotten egg hit when they rounded a corner onto a wider cobbled street. It wasn’t the last. A tomato struck Nia on the head, nearly knocking her over, and she barely managed to grab the side of the cart with a groan. A gonza hit Uda in the chest moments later, its soft innards exploding all over her tattered clothes.

“Stinking abominations!” screamed a young woman, hurling garbage at them.

“You’ll pay for your deception!” shouted a man, throwing a stone at Uda.

She didn’t duck in time and was struck in the shoulder.

Pain shot through her arm and chest, and she gasped as laughter roared around her. Nia only trembled and wept quietly. The small town they rode through seemed to rise up and hurl its contempt at them. The air was heavy, and Uda wished more than anything to be somewhere else. Now she, too, was trembling, and she longed to scream through the streets that she was innocent, that all she had done was try to help her friend. That it had been the right thing to do. But she knew it would only lead to more rotten fruit being thrown at them.

Only when they reached a square with a small fountain, more like a basin, and a large chapel did the assault slow. Nia was hit one last time, the juice of the tomato running into her eyes. A crowd of both joyful and hateful people had now gathered around them, and Uda did her best not to meet any of the icy faces. Lera had reached the chapel and dismounted her horse with graceful ease.

The building immediately drew Uda’s gaze. The chapel looked completely alien. Its white marble tower rose high into the sky, and instead of the pointed steeple Uda had somehow expected, a massive white stone shimmered atop it, held in a golden frame. It wasn’t the same material as the repulsive stones on the cursed chain that bound her. No, this stone was majestic, noble. The white didn’t repel Uda; it gave her a faint sense of peace, and something about it was captivating. A feeling of connection stirred in her, and she didn’t know why, but this light was the first one that didn’t make her feel sick. Gentle colors flickered now and then within the glow of the stone, and she wondered who had built this beautiful chapel, which looked almost as though it had been carved from a single piece, and somehow… old.

Uda nearly forgot the pain still searing through her shoulder, only to be torn from her thoughts by Lera’s cheerful voice.

“Greetings, friends of the Light! Servants of the Circle! I have done what I promised you. I have wiped out the Nightmare Tide! Thanks to the Holy Shield, I destroyed them all, every last Nightmare! I stopped them from growing, multiplying, and finally invading this place! You are still safe!” she proclaimed, arms spread wide as if she meant to embrace the entire town.

Thunderous applause erupted from the growing crowd. Uda noticed that everyone looked at Lera with awe. Some even bowed to her or threw more flowers her way. Kelwin too was admired from all sides; he strutted around with his chest puffed out, winking at a few young women who giggled and whispered as they watched him. Uda wanted nothing more than to tell them what the young aspirant was capable of doing to someone, but Lera spoke again, drawing Uda’s attention.

“There is sad news, though. The Holy Shield had deteriorated so much that the newcomers were attacked. Not many made it, but we have new heroes who proved themselves! Some of the newcomers even managed to resist the Tide, and soon, a new Aspirant may join the ranks of the Nightmare Hunters! And with the help of the Light, I strengthened the Shield so arrivals are safe again!” Lera continued to beam at the crowd.

Her words were met with another round of cheers and cries of happiness.

Suddenly, Lera pointed at Nia and Uda, and the shouting ceased.

“Two Possessed tried to break through the Shield. I captured them and will deal with them. I promise you, they will do no further harm!”

In the cold silence, she abruptly turned and walked with a spring in her step toward two older men and a very young woman who glared at Uda as if her gaze alone could kill. To Uda’s surprise, Lera knelt down before them.

“Rak, Ye, Crib… I failed you last time. I wasn’t fast enough, and you paid the price. You lost the one you had connected to, and I can’t bring her back. I can only hope she one day returns to you in the light of the Goddess and finds you again,” Lera said, and to Uda’s astonishment, her voice faltered several times.

The men and the woman stared at her silently and exchanged uneasy glances.

“Exorcist Lera, it wasn’t your fault. You protected us as best you could,” one of the men said quickly, reaching out his hand to her.

Uda thought Lera’s eyes had grown wet, though it was probably only the light from the large stone atop the chapel tower, which now lit the square alongside the rising moon.

Lera took the hand hesitantly and soon stood tall again. Then she pointed at Uda and Nia once more, this time with a trembling arm.

“I’ll take these two with me on my next expedition beyond the Shield. They won’t trouble you anymore. There, they’ll be useful… as test subjects or Nightmare bait. You have nothing to worry about! I won’t risk another Eskia,” she whispered, smiling smugly once more.

The crowd erupted in cheers again. For the first time since her capture, Uda felt fear rise in her, and the hairs on her neck stood on end.

Test subjects? Nightmare bait? How am I supposed to protect Nia there? She won’t survive! Uda thought in despair.

Lera was about to speak again when the bronze doors of the chapel burst open and a man came running out, dressed in white robes embroidered with gold and wearing a dented golden helmet.

“Exorcist Lera! Exorcist Lera!” he called out, panting in panic.

“What is it, Vicar Sarg? Speak!” Lera demanded, clearly annoyed that everyone was now turning away from her and toward the vicar.

“Forgive me, forgive me! I’m late and interrupting, but… I managed to do astral travel! I did it! I wandered into another realm of the Dream! Through the Voids! It was incredible, so peaceful… and there, I saw a prophet of the Goddess! Maybe even the Goddess herself returned! She… brought the Sun! She brought the sun to that realm! And the holy ring she brought as well! It was… beautiful…”

Uda could see the light in the vicar’s eyes, as if he had drifted completely into himself for a moment. She felt deeply uneasy, not just because there seemed to be other areas within this Dream. Whatever that actually meant...

That damn circle! It is in that other realm as well? And someone has brought it… Surely not a prophet. Definitely not a Goddess. Someone else. Is that person dangerous?

Uda collapsed, choking back bile. A cry escaped her lips as she clutched her forehead. The symbol appeared in her mind again, and she had to fight to break free of it. Chaos erupted around her as people began speaking over one another in a rising wave of confusion.