127

Maryanne

It had been years since I'd seen such a gruesome sacrifice. Once, I might have been confused about what type of creature could inflict such cruelty, but not anymore. Anyone is capable of this, but only one beast, in my many years, has ever left such tell-tale marks.

This was the work of none other than one of Bilgames' Aqrabuamelu... Specifically, one that wasn't content with their master's insistence on order and protecting the world. Bilgames put Ameerek to death for his betrayal, but death couldn't stop the sadistic half-scorpion-half-man. He returned as a dybbuk, or a detached soul that can possess the bodies of the weak-willed.

Noel for all his strengths, doesn't know how to handle something like this, so rather than waste time explaining and allow whatever curse the blasted creature cast to settle in, I channel his magic and cast a containment spell myself. Alistair watches impatiently, but he knows better than to interrupt me while casting.

Once a proper containment is cast over the entire quadrant that's likely infected, I turn to Alistair and wave him closer. He obliges, though it's obviously not without some irritation at my lack of answers.

I cleanse each person, casting individual containment fields on each person to protect us while we investigate the issue. By the time I finish, I'm already getting exhausted, much to my frustration. Clearly, Noel is right in that I need to gather enough trustworthy witches to establish a coven.

Once I take a deep breath and cross my arms, Alistair quirks a questioning brow.

"Right. Sorry. This was a curse. I needed to cast a containment to prevent it spreading beyond this area. I also cast containments on each of us to try an prevent it from sticking, so to speak."

"You know what did this, then?"

"Yes. A traitor from the first cthonian. One of his warriors who didn't agree with his attempts at preventing the disaster his enemies sought."

"He didn't deal with the threat?"

My lips purse at the accusation in Alistair's tone. How often had I held such a similar emotion against Bilgames? Where did it get me?

"He did, but some threats can't be eliminated through normal means. When he dealt with this one, it was such a situation. The warrior, Ameerek, rose again to stand against us. He now travels as a malevolent spirit who possesses the weak willed, creating havok where he can."

"So what was his goal here? You said a curse, but why? What kind of curse?"

"Now that we're all as protected as I can make us, we can try to determine that."

"Alright. What do we need to do?"

"We need to get a better look at the well."

"No fire."

"No, fire could cause the fumes to ignite, even with my containment spells, we could end up flambeed."

Alistair quirks his lips at my joke, marching closer to the offending well.

Noel conjures a fairy light, floating it down into the well to illuminate the dreary space. What it shows has even my stomach turning.

"Are those...?" Esme asks, shivering.

"The men from earlier? Yes."

"Does that mean Ariel was behind this?"

"Not necessarily... We need Novak."

"He can't be recalled yet," Alistair shakes his head, leaning away from the well.

"If he's not back soon, you might not have a choice," I inform him, glancing back in the well before retreating back to the scene behind the barracks.

I grab a stick from the ground nearby and shift the pile of entrails around, searching for a grounding talisman. When I don't find one, I return to the well, the group trailing behind me.

"Noel, we're looking for a grounding talisman. It will have a metallic base and likely be in the shape of a pyramid or three dimensional diamond."

"Right. Can I use a summoning to draw it out, or would that mess with the curse."

"It could risk shifting the target to you, so I wouldn't. Mundane means of search for this one."

"Bucket it is," he says, turning a little green as he drops the well's bucket down into the depth of the red-putrid fluid and body parts.

It takes several bucket fulls before we locate the blasted thing, and sure enough, it's a gold-encrusted pyramid with grounding symbols and ancient runes etched into its surface. I use a cloth from my stachel to grasp the thing, wiping the grime from its surface while I inspect the etchings carefully.

Once I've finished, I groan.

"There are two more. They should be within this area... one is probably at the rune circle behind the barracks. The other is likely at a third equidistant point from the other two."

"Should we split up?" Mercy asks, a frown marring her pretty face.

"No. It's not safe until we can figure out the purpose of the curse and neutralize it."

It doesn't take too long to find the talisman wedged under a loose brick with bloody fingerprints, but the third talisman takes a while to find. We do eventually find it, in the center of a pile of leaves with scattered vermin entrails.

Once I lay the three pieces out side by side near the center of the triangle they formed, I can't help but shudder.

"What's wrong?"

"This is dark, dark magic, Esme. We're lucky you found it so quickly."

"What is it meant to do?"

"Drain. Weaken. Sicken. Kill. No discrimination, kill all, but starting with the strongest among the target area."

Esme, Mercy, Alistair, and Noel all share a long look before turning back to watch me work.

"I can't neutralize it alone, I'll need more strength... He used three sacrifices, so I need to channel at least five unique magics."

"If that includes yourself, we can work with the five of us."

"It should work. Are you sure you want to risk it?"

"I can't leave this to fester when we have the means to stop it now." Alistair says grimly, Mercy, Esme, and Noel nodding their agreement.

"Very well. Circle up."