Interlude Three - Hidden Away

Carrisyn breathed in the cool night air and sighed. The manor house looming above her had seen better days, but those were hundreds of years in the past. It was now merely a husk of its former glory. A crumbling stone behemoth hidden away from prying eyes and casual visitors by towering forests and jumbled, labyrinthine paths. The hollow eyes of the windows stared blindly back at her, soulless and dead. It reminded Carrisyn of stories she’d read when she was young, though the only witch in the area was her.

She strode through the main entrance of the manor, the once elegant doors hanging on their hinges like discarded toys. The once magnificent central hall lay in ruins, the chandelier which had once shone on the most powerful of lords and ladies now lay shattered and twisted on the dirty, cracked marble floor. Ignoring the crumbling grand staircase, she walked through the hall and abandoned dining room into the empty kitchen, the fires in the ovens long since extinguished. Only the soft padding of her tall leather boots disturbed the stillness, each step kicking up a cloud of dust. She followed a narrow, non-descript hallway and climbed a rickety flight of stairs. Though shafts of moonlight filtered through holes in the floor and ceiling the corridor she found herself in was dark and ominous.

The odor of decay hung heavy in the air, mixed with something else, something coppery and sickly sweet. Blood. Carrisyn pressed forward, following the maze of passages which finally led to a ruined door and grand hallway. Turning to the north, she followed the hall to its end. A door, still snug in its hinges faced her, flickering light visible from beneath it. Carrisyn pushed the door open and stepped into what had once been an opulent bedroom.

The giant canopy bed dominating the center of the room looked well-tended and several dressers lining the walls looked almost new. The room was secure from the elements and even the tall windows along the outer wall were still in one piece and undamaged. The paint on the walls was peeling and the opulent rugs were frayed and worn. An iron brazier sat atop a stand, lighting some of the room while throwing the rest into flickering shadows. From the far, dark corner of the room came the soft sound of flesh being torn and bones being crunched. Something was eating. The smell of blood hung heavy in the room. As Carrisyn’s eyes adjusted she caught sight of a form hunched over, its back to her. She waited for a few moments before clearing her throat.

The figure stopped what it was doing abruptly and turned its head slightly. It stood up slowly and seemed to be straightening its clothes. The figure turned and walked toward her, finally appearing at the edge of the circle of light thrown off by the brazier.

“I do apologize, I expected you to be later, so I thought to have a little dinner first,” the woman said. Her long blonde hair was disheveled and matted. Blood coated her pretty lips and had dripped onto her chin and down the front of her dress. Her deep blue eyes, the wide black pupils ringed in crimson peered at Carrisyn intently as she straightened her clothes and tried impotently to fix her hair.

“No need for apologies, Eliana” Carrisyn replied with a bow. “It’s good to see you again.”

“What brings you all the way out here, my dear?” Eliana asked, straightening the blankets on the bed, and sitting down delicately, wiping the blood from her face with the back of her hand. She peered down at the stains and sighed.

“I’ve finally found her,” Carrisyn said, barely able to contain her excitement. Eliana was quiet for a moment before a smile of relief tugged at her lips.

“That is…that is delightful,” she said. “Does she have what it takes?”

“No,” Carrisyn scowled. “She’s a worthless mutt. I’ll have to harden her into shape for what’s to come. But I’ll get her ready.”

“Bear in mind we haven’t much time,” the blonde woman said with a sigh. “The machinations of others have been dancing for some time. We are late to the ball and woefully underdressed.”

“We’ll have the last dance, I assure you. Provided our deal still holds, that is,” Carrisyn’s voice dripped with suspicion. Eliana giggled easily in response.

“Your wariness does you credit, but I assure you our deal remains,” she folded her hands in her lap daintily, smoothing the dirty and blood-stained dress as if she were preparing to attend a state dinner.

“Including the use of the chamber, correct?”

“Of course, Carrisyn, dear. Your dealings with my family have colored your view of our arrangement, no doubt. The entirety of the deal remains,” Eliana’s friendly smile looked rather ghoulish with her face specked with blood, her elongated canines glinting dully in the dim light. “But for now, we have matters to attend to, do we not?”

“Yes. I believe the king may be aware of my experiments,” Carrisyn scowled.

“I believe his majesty suspects, yes,” Eliana nodded. “The gulf between knowledge and suspicion is vast, though. There are rumors, however, of the involvement of the Royal Inquisitors in this matter. Specifically, Jaxxin.”

“Shit,” Carrisyn bit her lip nervously.

“Quite,” the woman nodded. “Does Prince Galen know of your discovery?”

“Princess Sascha knows or soon will, so I imagine the prince does as well,” Carrisyn scowled. “Though I’d dearly like to know how she finds these things out.”

“Sascha and Alarice’s network is deep. His highness will no doubt call upon you soon if he hasn’t already. You must be ready to begin immediately. Galen is not known for his patience.”

“I have a vague idea where to start,” Carrisyn scowled. “Though I don’t relish the idea of sending the mutt into the warrens.”

“She’s the only one who can make it through without a blood bath. The wards and guardians would kill most humans and the residents of the warren would quickly eliminate those who survived,” Eliana shrugged.

“She’s not a full elf,” Carrisyn admitted. The woman gazed at her as if absorbing the magnitude of what she was saying.

“I’m not sure I understand,” The woman finally murmured quietly.

“She’s a half elf,” Carrisyn admitted.

“Oh, my,” Eliana frowned. “That isn’t good.”

“I know,” Carrisyn replied. “I was under the impression she’d be a full elf. But a mutt will work, right?”

“Provided the chief is amenable and gives her the key, I suppose,” the woman didn’t seem convinced. “The problem is with the ritual once you find Sylvaenyr. I doubt a half elf will have enough true blood to survive.”

“She doesn’t have to survive,” Carrisyn shrugged. “She just has to get us what we want.”

“You shouldn’t be so quick to throw away your assets, dear Carrisyn,” Eliana admonished her gently. “These are lives we’re playing with.”

“I’ve been trying to reach this point for five years,” Carrisyn replied a little more coldly than she’d intended. “I’m finally here and I won’t be denied. If that means sacrifices must be made, so be it.”

“Your sister, yes,” the blonde woman replied carefully. “I understand your feelings better than most. However, we must both realize that losing our humanity while chasing our goals defeats the purpose of that pursuit.” She glanced down at her blood-stained hands and sighed. “We’ve both sacrificed more than we care to think about. Should we sacrifice others as well we risk becoming the monsters we battle against.”

“I’ll sacrifice whatever I have to,” Carrisyn shrugged. “Sometimes to kill a monster you have to become one. I accept that reality.”

“I see,” Eliana glanced up at Carrisyn, the cool blue depths of her striking eyes holding her for a long moment. She leaned over and pulled open a drawer in the table beside the bed, pulling out a small leather bag. She closed the drawer and handed the bag to Carrisyn.

“What’s this?” Carrisyn asked, opening the bag, and peering inside at the deep blue stone glinting in the faint light thrown off by the brazier within.

“I owe her a favor,” Eliana shrugged. “The Prince will request the presence of one of his loyal guard to protect you. It will, of course, be a ruse to keep you under a tight watch. She will eliminate the reason for that request. Simply call her name and she will serve as she did a millennia ago. When…when she has finished her task do what I never could and free her.” Carrisyn noticed a slip of paper tucked into the bag and pulled it free.

“Interesting,” Carrisyn muttered. “Is this who I think it is?”

“Yes,” the woman nodded. “She deserves her request granted. Something I was too greedy and fearful to do. If you would in my stead, I’d be grateful.”

“I can do that,” Carrisyn tucked the pouch into a hidden pocket in her skirt. “Once we’re done, of course.” The woman smiled.

“Be careful, my dear. We are playing a dangerous game by other people’s rules.”

“Not to worry,” Carrisyn flicked a smile on and off. “I’m always careful. You know…you don’t have to live this way.” Eliana blinked at Carrisyn in confusion.

“I have a number of villas. I can let you use any of them. Or I can send carpenters and smiths and masons here to renovate Stonewood if you’d prefer.”

“I was exiled here on purpose and, while I appreciate your offer I will stay and live as I have as long as is needed,” the woman said gently, standing, and patting Carrisyn’s arm delicately. “I will serve my sentence until such a time as we complete this task. Then…then I will make a difference at last by my actions rather than my ‘crimes’. Besides,” the woman glanced into the dark corner, the light of the brazier glinting off her canines, “the hunting is plentiful.”

“As you will,” Carrisyn nodded and turned to leave.

“I will see you soon, I hope,” Eliana called gently. “Carrisyn, dear.” Carrisyn paused and turned back. “Be kind. Your sister needs that from you as much as she needs anything the ritual and chamber can provide.” Carrisyn nodded noncommittally. As she closed the door behind her Carrisyn heard the sounds of eating resume from the room behind her.