The Hollow Root - Chapter 36
First time? Here’s the table of contents:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8
Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29
Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35
Amy heard Fasaani’s screeching yell and picked her head up. ‘Smell this’ Amy thought to herself. This could be anything, but likely would not be something good. Amy adjusted her shirt and stood up with as perfect posture as she could muster. She walked down the stairs to find Fasaani holding a dagger in her palm, her eyes wild as they stared at the blade’s edge.
“Faz... did you want me to smell something?” Amy asked quizzically.
“Yeah... I am hoping you get a faint hint of what the hell this thing has done. My knife was buzzing like a hornet that just found fresh meat.” Fasaani grabbed the blade and held it gently pointing the handle at Amy.
“That’s... that’s a delightful metaphor Fasaani...” Amy said grabbing the handle.
The dagger was well balanced and felt like it was excellently crafted. Amy was no blacksmith but she did notice that this dagger made her feel like she could effectively stab something and that had to be good. Amy pulled the dagger up to her face and noted Fasaani’s eyes widening in some kind of hopeful stare as it inched closer. She drew in a deep breath letting the world around her fade into nothingness. It was her and the scent etched deep into the dagger. Faint wisps of elderberry, pine and... iron? This dagger had tasted blood. Amy exhaled and then drew another deep breath in. This time she was certain. This dagger had been bathed in blood. She closed her eyes and tried to follow the scent to gain whatever information her wisp of a power might allow her to gain. Then there it was a faint shadow reenacting something.
Amy focused on the vision. Two ghost-like figures in a dark room. They had no voices but Amy could see they were arguing. One figure pushing the other and then falling to the floor distraught. The two figures danced around each other like a ghostly ballet. Then... one of them was holding the dagger. The figure moved ritualistically around the other that now seemed to be on its knees... if ghostly figures have knees. The figure holding the knife moved behind them and sliced the dagger across what appeared to be their throat. The figure held the dagger in the air triumphantly and then placed a bottle-like shape under the dying figure’s throat. The two shapes then faded into a mist as Amy’s eyes opened.
“This dagger sacrificed someone. I... I don’t know more or why, but I am certain it took a life.” Amy said as she steadied her thoughts.
“I FUCKING KNEW IT. That dark room over there screams blood magic. When I was in my blood magic phase I had a similar room... I mean I had better decor but you get it.” Fasaani said.
“Faz, I can sort of smell again but just barely. I don’t get sharp images just ghost-like wisps with no sound.” Amy said holding the dagger out towards Fasaani.
“That’s more than I get Amy. Any idea why you get anything?” Faz said.
“No... Remember how Kavin created Vaino?” Amy said.
“Yeah he... wait... he used a dagger. KAVIN GET DOWN HERE NOW!” Fasaani screeched.
Kavin was looking in a cupboard where he had found an image of a man and the woman they had seen in the other photos. The man looked familiar but he couldn’t quite figure out why. He put the photo in his front pocket and walked down the stairway to find Amy holding a dagger and Fasaani looking eagerly at him.
“What?” Kavin said.
“Do you know this dagger?” Amy said holding the dagger by the handle towards his face.
Kavin looked at the dagger closely inspecting it. As he took the knife into his hand it felt familiar though he couldn’t tell why. He ran his finger gently down the blade and as it neared the tip he felt a sharp pain in his mind, almost like the knife had pierced his skull.
“FUCK” Kavin screamed dropping the knife to rub his temples. “I... I’ve used that dagger. Why have I used that dagger.”
“DID... YOU... KILL... VAINO’S... PARENTS... WITH... THAT... DAGGER?” Fasaani said with a firm pace.
“I... I don’t... maybe? It doesn’t look right but it felt right. I don’t know. My head hurts so bad.” Kavin said grimacing.
“It’s okay Kavin. Just sit. It doesn’t matter. We need to focus on what we know. Someone was sacrificed with that dagger in this house. That sacrifice was powerful... powerful enough that I think it has something to do with the rum that stole our powers. So let’s just take a deep breath. Maybe you two will get some of your connection back too.” Amy said using a teacher-like tone.
Kavin slumped down and began slowing his breath. Fasaani started pacing like a predator caged at a zoo. Then as Amy stood straightening her posture and preparing to take control of the situation the lights began to flicker throughout the house. The three of them looked confused as a cold wind pierced their clothing and sank into their bones. The air became painful with each breath they drew. A sharp cold slicing at whatever comfort they had previously felt. Kavin’s fingers stung by the icy air shot into his pockets only to find the picture of the man and woman. He pulled it out in the frigid air briefly forgetting he had taken it moments ago. Amy looked down at it and without hesitation she said, “That’s that guy we just saw. The guy who told us to come here.”
Silas sat in a room in an abandoned building near his old home. He had ripped through their cabinets and found salt and some dried sage. It wasn’t much but it was enough to help ground him for some parlor tricks to possibly frighten them while they dug through his past and he formed a new plan. He carefully poured a circle of salt around his feet and sprinkled the sage on top. He pushed his rage down and used it as an anchor to push electricity into the air, this would cause the lights to flicker. Silas loved a classic horror film move. That wouldn’t be enough though. He wanted to cause them some pain while he was at it. He pulled his thoughts inward and took a deep breath. What could he accomplish with limited space... it’s cold... he could probably use that to give them a good chill. Silas stood and opened the windows and returned to his salt circle. He envisioned his emotions pulled into a ball of energy sitting at the tips of his fingers and then held the imaginary ball to his lips. Silas then drew a huge breath in that felt like it dropped the air temperature by 3 or 4 degrees as it moved into his lungs. He then exhaled into the orb of energy. As he released the cold air out towards his enemies he uttered the phrase “You all should chill out” with a slight smirk.
Silas dusted his hands off and stepped outside of the circle. He needed more than parlor tricks to get back at them. Then without warning he caught a scent on the air. It was the blank scent he remembered from Amy earlier. It was odd to him how the smell of nothing felt so haunting. He pulled the smell into his nostrils. It was so empty. He drew another breath and something changed. There in her scent was a touch of cedar. Just the faintest hint.
“No... no... no... it can’t be.” Silas stammered as he began pacing his room.
“She... we don’t have a connection. The sacrifice was deep it should work on anyone. Why is it wearing off. Shit. I wish there was a single source of information on all of this shit. How many shamans have differing opinions on blood magic... never mind this isn’t useful Silas...” He continued to pace.
“Think... Think... What are you going to do. They don’t remember you, you could just leave? Ha... yeah... I could just leave. Why take my vengeance when I could just go retire in Paris and never see these things again. Just me some wine and streets that smell like piss. It’s perfect.” Silas let out a small shriek as he continued to pace back and forth.
“Alright I can’t retire. I didn’t kill Molly to have nothing to show for it. They have to pay. They need to feel the pain they have brought on the world. I need to get Amy away from them. There’s something off with that one.” Silas said as he looked out of the window towards his old home.