WBM

  Chapter Five

  Ramblers' Blood Curse

  ~SV~

  Warlock Camp, Witch-Fights, Nearing 1 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Crimson is a bit smaller than Rorik, however his look and demeanor are more of what the Prince expects of a killer. Even though Rorik killed Kolo’s man, he is not usually aggressive, and so he does not feel he is a visual intimidation to the Goth. Rorik does not feel as vicious as this man appears, yet the amount of drink he had keeps him from caring and gives him confidence. Using magic, the Ringmaster brings his platform ringside.

  He calls to the two fighters, Rorik stands there, but he is distracted by the crowd of strange looking Witches. The Ringmaster says, “A reminder, as I am aware that other Cauldrons and Witches have different fight rules.” The crowd boos. He continues, “This first fight, is a no Magic, no weapon, no Shade, and no help match. It is just a bare-knuckle fist fight. Good Luck to you both.”

  The Ringmaster brings the protection dome over them and whistles for them to start the fight. The Goth fighter comes running, yet Rorik did not realize the fight had even started. As Crimson punches him hard in the face, without Rorik blocking it, this is the Prince’s first clue that he might be too intoxicated to be fighting.

  ~*~

  Kolo’s Craftroom, Nearing 1 AM, 677, 29th, October

  The Egyptian sighs with some relief, as Kolo is still there, laying against the stone floor of the Throne Room. She glares at the unmoving form, wishing him ill. The Mad Queen hisses a bit louder, “What do you see?” Nepathi is about to tell them it was nothing, as she wants to believe it is something else that they all heard. She is ready to return to breaking her leg, and attempting to get free.

  As her shoulders come down to relax, she suddenly tenses as she sees. Now certain, she moves back behind the pillar and leans on it for support. This is worse than cutting her leg, as the Egyptian’s limbs shake with terror. Getting her voice to work, Nepathi whispers to them, “Oh, Dark. I made a huge mistake; it will get us all killed!”

  ~*~

  Half Moon Bay, Dark Nearing 1 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Sleeping in the Ferry, Sidonia is having a dream-vision of the Lake Bled Ramblers Clan, these events happened yesterday afternoon on the 28th. Grigori ends with a warning to Kristopher, “If you fail to obey these rules, next time I see you, the mark will burn, becoming a branded ‘B’ on you, and all, even humans will see. The clans will know you cannot be trusted. They will not let you in their camp.” Stunned, Kristopher had not believed Grigori would ban him.

  Only now seeing how important it is to him. It is unthinkable that Grigori would threaten to banish him from all Rambler Camps, simply because he wants to be with Lady Leticia. It hurts to see his leader turn his back on him. Grigori still tries to think of something else to say, taking a few steps, he stops as an idea gives him hope. He intends to remind Krist of Mercia, as he seeks wise words about the failed relationship, to help Krist realize he needs to do better.

  Grigori then changes his mind, knowing it will stir up Krist’s anger, and fears he will blame Mercia and Wirf for his banishment; rather than seeing his own faults. The Lake Bled Clan’s leader is saddened at Krist’s refusal to change; it has affected the clan the last few years. He has to protect the clan. It is too late to help Krist, he is banished. Grigori sighs, once the sun goes down he must decide how to tell Lady Leticia, he feels he should have spoken to her first.

  ~*~

  Eastern Black Forest, Country Inn, Nearing 1 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Grekan wakes from a nightmare of Kolo taking Sidonia. The Clerk thinks, ‘Why did I help the Princess seek the book?’ Grabbing Sidonia’s key for comfort, he falls asleep, but has forgotten the key is magical. The key answers his question, in a dream of his trip to Skull Island, when she looked for the book. Sidonia, Andre, Patch and Grekan are in the Poison Potion Pub, on Witch Island in the Mystical Realm, while Tik walks up the hill to a brothel.

  They watch Reba stomp out; Sidonia says to Poppy, “I regret this conflict with Reba happened here.” Poppy smiles, “I planned to give her a final warning, until she threw the bowl at you.” Poppy grabs it from the air, as she adds, “I insist on giving you a slice of pie on the house.” Sidonia smiles, “It is very kind of you.” Grekan says to Sidonia, “I will get our pie and drinks; you can relax.” He brings the tray to where the Dark Princess sits at an outside table.

  She has a grim look and Grekan assumes it is about Reba. Until Sidonia says, “Tik is making us go across to Skull Island at a more dangerous time. I wish I had refused to let him join us.” He offers, “Since we have to wait, at least we can enjoy their famous pie and beverages.” He snickers, as the Oracle says, “It would serve Tik right if we left. The nerve of him going to a brothel. I sense this delay is putting us in grave danger. I rather he be lost, trying to find us, than have the sun go down, before we get there.”

  She drinks before adding, “But I sense it is not worth us all enduring Tik’s anger for leaving him behind.” Grekan gasps, “Tik told you, he is going to a brothel?” Sidonia states, “The annoying part is that he assumes it will impress me, but I do not want to hear of his desires, I think it is gross.” Her father’s scribe is confused, “Why should that impress you?” Sidonia scoffs, “He assumes it shows how manly he is.” Grekan asks, “Those were his thoughts?”

  The dark girl replies, “Not in words, just his tone, and a sense I got of what he was thinking, and his icky grin. It is all just so very… ewww.” Grekan laughs, “Why should it attract you to hear he must pay to see or speak to a woman? I think it seems less manly.” She scoffs, “Yes, and I will never want Tik to make an effort to impress me, in that way. He has none of the values I look for in a man.” She smirks, “If you are so wise, why not speak to women?” Grekan admits, “I am impossibly shy.”

  He adds, “The idea of approaching anyone causes me to want to run to my room. Perhaps it is because I have noticed it is not always about what you say. It seems some females are only interested in how a man looks or their claims of heroic deeds, status, and wealth. Since I lack all of those, it keeps me from being confident enough to try.” Nodding, Sidonia sighs. Grekan says, “In fact, I have had too many dismiss me with one glance.”

  They finish the pie and drinks as the Blackstone Castle’s Human Guards, Andre, and Patch come out of the pub. The Guards stop at their table, holding mugs of ale. Andre asks, “Any sight of Captain Tik yet?” Patch frowns as Sidonia shakes her head, “It is near sunset. I told him I did not want to do the crossing in the dark.” Patch tells her, “He told me he did not want to cross in the sun.”

  ~*~

  Blackstone Castle, Nearing 1 AM, 677, 29th, October

  Since it is dark when the Prince awakes, Viktor believes Donatello will be on duty. Lonely and curious about what else Donatello has learned, he has not found him since the Guard gave him the letter in his father’s den. The Lord of Blackstone Castle goes to each of the spyholes, in the private passageways in the Castle, hoping, “Donatello, might come in for his blood break.’ Viktor fails to find him inside. Disappointed, the Prince guesses, ‘Donatello must be outside on patrol of the grounds or on the Fortress Wall.’

  Tempted to go outside or to the guards’ bunkhouse, he knows it is too risky, if the guards remain compelled by Kolo. The eleven-year-old Prince gives up looking for Donatello for a while. He groans at his nearly constant hunger, it causes him to need to go into the kitchen again, having eaten all his supplies. He hopes it will be less busy, as he walks in the dark passageways toward the kitchen.

  ~*~

  The three captives hear Kolo groan again, in the Throne Room. Regrettably, the sound has just confirmed their worst fears, and the Egyptian’s comments. Nepathi still leans against the pillar of one of the arches in the Craftroom, as the other two Witches Darciana, and Samala remain bound in their chairs at the table. They do not have the Egyptian’s ability to see Kolo. They stare at her with terror and dread at what they assume Nepathi just saw.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  They feel doomed, waiting for her to explain. The Egyptian’s body trembles, as she admits in a fearful whisper, “Oh, Nifl. I nearly cut my foot off for nothing. I should have grabbed him when he looked faint. I could have removed his putrid head.” Darciana admits, “I was planning to eat his heart for good measure.” Queen Samala cringes, at the idea of eating any of Kolo, or anyone else for that matter. Darciana fears the worst as Nepathi rushes to her chair.

  The Egyptian seethes a whisper that fills them with horror, “He is already alive and moving! It is too late. I have made a grave mistake… and I am certain I shall pay dearly for it!”

  ~*~

  Rorik manages to move before the Goth can hit him again. Crimson circles glaring. Rorik lands a punch to the Goth’s nose causing it to bleed. Crimson realizes he failed to notice that Rorik’s reach is longer. Prince Rorik lands two more hits to the Goth’s gut. Rorik comes swiftly with a third punch to the chin. It causes Crimson to stumble backwards. Yet, the Goth keeps on his feet and away from Rorik, until he clears his head and vision.

  Furious, Crimson charges, keeping his head down, he brings rapid, repeated double punches to the prince’s gut. Rorik drops to his knees; a yellow mist comes over his body and the fog forms the shape of a snarling wolf. This startles the Goth, as Crimson huffs, “You are cheating.” He backs up, realizing that the Prince might not be doing it intentionally; the crowd roars with excitement. The Ringmaster shouts, “No Magic is allowed, and no second warning!”

  Rorik has black fur beginning to grow, and then his claws come, followed by long sharp teeth. Groaning, the Prince gets up; he steps back in shock as he sees his yellow mist wolf around him, snarling. Rorik needs control, and runs for his charm that is on top of his robe; his wolf forces him back down on all fours. The Prince does not feel he can stop the transition. The Goth sees the Rambler Amulet, and he understands that Rorik had removed it for the fight.

  Crimson says, “Not wise Rambler.” Rorik finally looks up, gasping at the Lunar Phase and Event, which is now visible above him. Too late, Prince Rorik Tricker recalls his Great Aunt Nera’s warning, “I sense a shadow on your tomb. Beware of the Wolf Blood Moon!” It was Nera’s way of telling him that his death may come, during the Wolf Blood Moon, and it will not be good nor natural. Rorik groans, at his bad luck. The Fightmaster yells, “No shapeshifting is allowed! This is your final warning.”

  ~*~

  The Egyptian wants to hide by the pillar, so she can attack Kolo when he nears; yet feels too weak from blood loss. Nepathi grabs the knife, lifting her chain, she rushes to the Rambler. The Egyptian whispers, “Sorry.” She re-stabs Darciana’s hand with the knife, so it will be where Kolo left it. Nepathi stumbles, collapsing on the table, she drags herself to her seat. Defeated; she regrets not thinking to wait and attack him; instead of cutting her foot.

  She only succeeded in bleeding out her energy. They hear the Evil One groan, as he gets up. The tension is terrifying, Kolo slowly limps into their view, leaning on the pillar. Horrified, the Witches wait. Kolo finally speaks, “What the Nifl happened?” They shrug, he adds, “I do not feel well.” Pretending interest, Darciana tells him, “You are more dead than alive, since hitting Anthony’s barrier at Blackstone Castle. You should slumber in your dirt for a few days.”

  She adds, “It will speed your recovery, and is quickest to get your strength back.” Nepathi is too nervous to speak; Samala is thinking of Darciana’s comments of cursing Grave Dirt; casually saying, “Yes, you really do look mostly dead.” Kolo staggers toward the table, taking his ‘flagon with a dragon’, before going to the cabinet to pour himself some blood. His back is to them, as Kolo sees the remaining debris, of plants and dirt in the bottom of his cup.

  ~*~

  Grekan continues his dream of going to Skull Island. Sidonia says, “I told Tik I preferred he wait until we are safe at the Castle, then he could fly to the brothel.” Andre mumbles, “He is too weak to fly.” Patch smirks, “I hoped he would burn in the sun on our way here, but hiding under the tarp worked.” Grekan mocks, “Why did he insist on coming with us?” Patch shrugs, “I have no idea.” Andre glances towards Princess Sidonia, he feels that she is why Tik came.

  Andre is not foolish enough to voice his opinion. Grekan notices his look and suspects it is Tik’s desire for Sidonia as well. Sidonia says, “No reason Tik cannot continue to the island using the tarp, since he insisted on guarding us.” She apologizes to Grekan, “I am sorry I dragged you into this, and was unwilling to wait for Father to bring us. Yet I intended to cross in the daylight when it is safer. I feel it is going to be an unpleasant night crossing.”

  She sighs, “And worse, a dangerous walk to the Castle.” Grekan gasps, “Why?” She sighs, “The water is rougher at night, and going to Skull Island’s Mountain Fortress is more difficult in the dark.” Tik now comes walking down the hill path, with a scowl. Andre scoffs, “I heard, warning him that they do not service Vampires at that brothel.” Patch snickers. She says, “Oh, dear. His aura shows he is in a dark mood. I am not waiting to hear about it.”

  Sidonia rushes down the path that leads to the Witch Island Pier, rather than waiting to have Tik join them. Grekan runs to catch up with her, while Andre and Patch easily walk along with her faster pace. Captain Tik is at first annoyed that they did not wait, then relieved to not have them ask how it went; saving him from needing to lie or being humiliated. Even with the thick trees shading him, he got burnt, and it had been a long walk, up hill, for nothing.

  Captain Tik had even got lost twice, trying to find it. He curses the narrow path with its hanging branches that had kept him from flying there and back. It takes too much power, after being up all day, for him to be mist or blur there. Tik rushes through the fading light onto the boat. Grekan sees he has the bleeds; Tik notices the Clerk looking and glares. Captain Tik gets under the tarp. Andre pays for the boat, as Patch, Sidonia, and Grekan get in.

  Andre unties the boat; getting aboard, the guards position their oars and start rowing. Grekan looks at where they are going, whispering, “The mist that covers Skull Island makes it all very eerie! The only hint that something is there is that east mountain showing above the clouds. Is it always covered like this?” She nods, “That is Shadow Mountain.” She adds, “You can see it if there is a strong breeze. I am worried we might have one.” She points north.

  Grekan sees the dark clouds. When Anthony asked him to accompany Sidonia, it sounded like a grand adventure. He now fears it was foolhardy to agree. His first look at the island from the ferry, was of the large skull shaped mountain’s face, peering out. This side is not much better. He tried to ask to stay on Witch Island. But could not come up with a reason for not helping the Princess; now it is too late. He groans, “I wish the ferry dropped us at Skull Island.”

  Sidonia agrees, “The Ferry has never gone there, since it is forbidden.” Facing Skull Island, Grekan thinks the clouds are causing the island to feel too foreboding. Even Sidonia seems off.

  ~*~

  Kristopher glares at Grigori, as he stands there with his back to him. He suspects his former leader has more to say, and does not want to hear it. Krist’s rage builds, ‘I am always blamed and excluded from status in the clan. It is why I seek forbidden pleasures, to feel better, and now Grigori wishes to take her from me too? He will tell Leticia. What if she sides with Grigori?’ This fear causes Kristopher’s rash action of rushing up the stairs.

  Hearing this, Grigori starts to turn, Krist pulls his dagger, unleashing his anger. Krist does not care that it is cowardly, as he violently stabs the Rambler Leader, Grigori, in the back. Seeing the blood stuns Krist as he gasps, “What have I done?” The burn hits, he cries in horror, “I forgot! Too late; it is causing the curse!” It radiates pain from his heart as he lets his leader fall backwards with his dagger, down the stone stairs. Krist manages to stumble away.

  Krist goes toward the woods, to hide so others do not know, but the curse is coming quickly. Hurriedly, he removes his clothing, before the shift destroys them. Naked he runs to hide them. A yellow glow comes over him in the shape of a wolf. His hands change, dropping his clothes, as his feet change it forces him down. On his knees Krist attempts to fight it; locked in the curse he crouches as brown fur covers him.

  With a scream, his ears, eyes, and teeth all change. Crying out as his bones crack and shift, he finishes the transformation. A Wolf now, Kristopher no longer tries to hide his clothing. He is unconcerned with what the clan thinks of him. Kristopher no longer cares if they learn he killed Grigori, triggering his ‘Ramblers’ Blood Curse’. His hate has him seeking vengeance against the clan. Running, Krist’s wolf hopes they track him into his trap.

  ~*~

  Sidonia is on edge about the crossing and walk to the Castle, yet Grekan has never known her to be afraid of the dark. Tik says gleefully, “Finally it is Darkshine!” Grekan whispers, “What does he mean?” Sidonia replies, “Darkshine is a term used here, when both moons are in the sky.” He gasps, “Two Moons?” She points, “The Dragon Moon is nearest in the south.” Grekan nods, “Oh, yes.” She directs him, “The Eye Moon is further away and to the north.”

  She whispers. “Most use that term when it is night; however, the sun is not even down yet.” Grekan snickers, then says, “The moons look like their names.” A breeze slowly reveals a dark feature above the mist to their right on the island, he points, “Look, a structure to the east. Is it your father’s Castle?” She says, “I wish. No, it is west. That is the Mighty Fall.” Her tone gives him a shiver of dread. He asks, “Please tell me of it.” The Dark Princess sighs.

  She looks ready to decline, later Grekan wished she had, “Three thousand years ago, the Giants tried to take over the Banned Continent, they foolishly attacked the Blood Masters.”

  ~*~

  The crowd in the Warlock Camp is going wild as they watch the Witch-Fights; none have witnessed anyone shift before. The Goth crowd yells hate chants; the Necromancers and Warlocks love the idea of seeing a death by wolf. Rorik scoots back away from the Goth, on his hands and knees. Still, the Prince’s eyes, teeth, and growl, match his snarling mist wolf, as the wolf wants Crimson’s blood. The Goth yells to the Ringmaster, “He is losing control.”

  Crimson adds, “I need my magic to help stop his shift, or we might all be in danger.” The stunned Ringmaster nods, “I will allow it. Go ahead, and good luck.” The Goth sends his mist grabbing the charm. Crimson throws the amulet to Rorik. The Prince wants it, but his hands fail to grab it in time, as he finishes his shift. The black Wolf refuses to be restrained. Crimson sees the wolf coming for him.

  For Ramblers, October is known as the Wolf Moon; it has more sway over wolves. Also, there is an unusual occurrence of it being a Blood Moon, all three days. Had he drunk less, he might have remembered it was a full moon and not fought. But Prince Rorik Tricker is not wise, nor did he recall his Great Aunt Nera’s warning, in time, to be wary of the coming ‘Wolf Blood Moon!’

  ~WBM~