[ Current Day Hours after Ch 6]
{Voices in the air}
"How did I end up like this?"
"Can someone please tell me what this is? I'm Scared!"
" Am I dead? When did I die? I don't want to die,…I'm not ready!"
" Please! Can someone help me. I just want to go home to my family. I don't like this place, its frightening!"
"All I remember is being hunted by a hooded man! Did he kill me? Am I dead?"
It was still a quarter till sunrise in Windhelm. The streets were now deafly quiet with only the sound of the guards patrolling. Though most of the guests at Candlehearth Inn were being plagued by another sound. The sounds of a fellow guest, restless in their room. Gavhelus had not been able to sleep a wink. Not from normal reasons anyway. He had been unable to quell the swarm of voices crying out throughout the city. Souls of the dead that were for some reason extremely vocal this morning. He made several attempts to drown them out with tankards of mead, but to no avail. It had become overwhelming to the point of reclusion. He was reduced to a ball in the corner, hoping that the torment of the souls in this place would soon pass. Normally they would eventually, but this morning they had grown louder than ever before. He sat on the floor in a cold sweat. On the verge of losing his mind, he tossed the bottle in his hand at the wall shattering it, then he went to cover his ears. He seemed ready to pull them out of his head.
Gavhelus: Blimey why me! I can't,…take this yappin' anymore. I've gotta do somethin' about it before I lose it.
He went to place a hand on the wall and slowly pick himself up from the floor. He noticed a tankard on the table still holding some mead in it. He paused for a moment before waving it off.
Gavhelus: No,…drink's not gonna help me now. These souls are suffering. I should be able to follow the sadness and get to the bottom of this.
He stumbled to his feet and made his way out of the room. He tried desperately to make sense of the screaming voices. All of them seemed sorrowful and confused. They were not scattered like the souls of the dead normally are in most places. They seemed to be concentrated. Like they were originating from one place, and Gavhelus set out to find it.
Inside of the Windhelm prison, the walls were buzzing with talk of the new prisoner. He had only been in custody for a couple of hours, but he was behind the commotion in the square that had taken place only hours ago. Kin sat in his cell blankly staring at the floor. He felt completely defeated and foolish for thinking he could do anything about the butcher. He heard footsteps approaching, the sound of metal grieves against the stone floor. His cell door opened as a person stood in the doorway. He was too consumed with self loathing to even look up at them. The person tossed a pile of clothes of the floor that appeared to be his.
Person: Get dressed. We still have a job to do.
Kin looked up to see Minevi standing in the door. She did not look happy about the situation at all. He didn't really know what to say to her. He knew that his actions may have compromised the talks between the empire and the stormcloaks. The Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, was not likely to be happy about the damages to his city. Kin slowly stood up and began removing his prisoner rags. Once he was done clothing himself, he stepped out of the cell to see Minevi leaning against the wall.
Kin: I'm sorry,…
Minevi: (Sigh) I know Kin,…
Kin: I,…I couldn't save them.
Minevi: Why did you run off into the night like that?
Kin: I thought I could stop the butcher,…and save the girl from the Inn. I failed to do both.
Minevi: So what exactly happened out there?
Kin: He's been using necromantic dolls to do the work for him. It took everything I had to take it down. But it was too late. He'd already murdered her and several others. It's how he made the doll.
Minevi noticed how Kin couldn't look at anything other than the floor. His posture was limp. Even back in his own clothing, he seemed less than himself. The longer she stared the more she noticed new scars. It was frustrating. She felt powerless in the task of keeping him out of trouble.
Minevi: I see. We'll deal with it later. Right now,…the Jarl wishes a word with us. More specifically you. It's the only reason I was allowed down here to collect you.
Kin: Have I messed things up for you?
Minevi: Possibly,…but such is the way of politics. I know you had the best intentions, but for now all we can do is press onward.
She pushed off of the wall and began making her way out of the corridor.
Minevi: Come, our high king awaits.
Kin slowly began after her feeling both guilt and relief all at once. He was afraid Minevi would resent this. She did seem upset, but her mood toward him was as warm as it had always been. Minevi had turned into the aunt or older cousin he'd never had.
Outside in the frosty streets, broken glass and wood lay on the ground from the brawl earlier that night. The commotion had caused a stir in the city folk. It looked as if a tornado had just ripped through the alleyways and the main square. Most of the residents were told to stay inside by the guard, but one hooded man was making his way carefully through the city. He did so very stealthily while carrying over his shoulder what looked like a body wrapped in cloth. He seemed frantic, almost furiously so. He muttered to himself as he made his way.
Hooded man: They think they can stop my work! Why don't they see that this is for the best? These women will never reach the potential I can give them. Why let these fine bodies go to waste on normal lives when they can serve in being a vessel for something greater? They should be grateful. Especially this one. She will do nicely.
The man had finally made it up to a house that appeared to be abandoned. The former resident having been recently murdered at the hands of the butcher, the house was now vacant. He opened the door quickly and made his way inside. The house was completely unfurnished. Spare furniture and barrels were stacked in the corners. All of it now completely covered in cobwebs. Once inside he laid the body on the floor and went to grab the legs. He then started dragging it all the way to the room in the rear of the house. He opened the door of a large standing closet. He then pressed his hand against the back wall of it. There was a click, and then the wall began to retract. It opened the way to a secret room lying just on the other side. There were bones and blood scattered everywhere, and what looked to be inanimate bodies hanging from the walls all draped in black robes. The limbs of the hanging corpses were riddled with bruises and crude stitching, with most of them not matching and appearing to be put together forcefully. Markings of some sort of blood ritual were scratched on one of the table surfaces. Another table sat in the middle of the room. It was clear that whatever hellish deed was taking place here had been happening for some time. He lugged the body up onto the table and went to uncover the head. His eyes lit up as he gazed upon the face of his next victim. It was Taviiah, sedated and unconscious. The man then removed his hood. It was the owner of the House Of Curiosities, Calixto Corrium. He was the butcher. The one behind all of the recent murders in Windhelm. He smiled with excitement as he turned to another table with bloody surgical tools scattered around a journal. He joyfully picked through all of them while muttering to himself.
Calixto: Soon sister. We will be reunited. This time you'll have a better body than the one that gave out on you. This body will be perfect. I've gathered the best limbs and organs I could find in this town. All for you. I've failed many times attempting to make you the perfect vessel. Most of them were only good enough to do the hunting for me. The next will be my masterpiece I'm sure.
Calixto was so frantically consumed with his project that the large and muscular dark elf standing in the far corner of the room went completely unnoticed.
Gavhelus: If only I had caught on sooner.
Calixto immediately jumped as if suddenly being struck by lightning. He dropped the tools in his hand and slowly turned to see Gavhelus standing right next to his hanging corpses.
Calixto: How did you,…what are you doing here? No one is supposed to know about this place.
Gavhelus: I just followed the trail of lost souls left in your wake.
He was still sweating from the strain of hearing the swarming voices. This was where they were the loudest. His anger toward Calixto was the only fuel keeping him from losing his mind. He stepped closer to the table and placed his hands down on it. He looked at Taviiah laying peacefully on the table and became even more infuriated.
Calixto: You don't understand. I have to bring my sister back. She deserved a longer life,…a better one. She was born with a weak constitution and was prone to sickness easily. It finally got the best of her. I can't live on knowing I couldn't do anything to give her a better chance.
It was an attempt to get Gavhelus to sympathize with him, but there was one gaping hole in his logic.
Gavhelus: Tell me. Have you even stopped to consider if that's what your sister would've wanted? Dozens of young girls, slaughtered like lamb, just so she could live again. After what you've done,…I'm sure you could live with it all, but what about her mate?
Calixto: (smirks in a sinister manner) At this point we'll just have to find out when she gets here.
Gavhelus: You don't get it do you? The very fact that I'm here means this whole thing is done. The murders, the rituals, ( looks up at the corpses on the wall ) whatever the hell these are. All of it. I don't know where you got this sort of necromantic power, but it stops here.
Calixto: So what now? You're going to kill me? You think I'm going to let you stop me after all that I've sacrificed?
Gavhelus: Those lives weren't your sacrifice to make arsehole. The souls of those women are screaming out against you, unable to move on from their violent deaths. Their cries fill my mind every waking moment in this place.
Calixto: You,…hear,… their voices? I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean.
Gavhelus: To put it simply mate. You're givin' me a headache,…( Lifts arm and summons bound greataxe to his hand.) and I'm gonna kill you to make it stop.
Calixto looked upon the glowing weapon nervously as he slowly reached his hand back on the table behind him.
Calixto: That's the problem with the living you know,…so susceptible to their own bodies. Now let me show you what happens when you remove those limitations.
He then slammed his hand down on the table behind him. He had activated some sort of glyph that was etched into the surface. It began to glow a bright purple as the room started to shake. Gavhelus readied his weapon, unsure of what would happen next. The corpses on the walls began stirring and twitching. They were coming to life as if powered by the glyph's magic. As the magic in the dolls stirred, the corpses all began to scream out ghoulishly. Calixto smirked as he saw the confusion on Gavhelus's face. They all then dropped to the floor simultaneously, awaiting the next order from their master.
Calixto: Kill him.
The dolls all shrieked and immediately lunged at Gavhelus with demon speed. He quickly threw up his axe to guard the attack, but the force of all three at once sent him flying through the wall and out into the main room. He rolled to his feet to find one of the dolls already airborne in front of him preparing an attack. He quickly leaned to the side to dodge the swiping blade while catching the doll on the end of his axe. He spun himself around with it caught on the end of his weapon and flung it into the nearest wall. He spun himself around once more, releasing his axe in that direction as the corpse tried to get back to its feet. The axe caught the doll square in the chest, pinning it back against the wall and shattering the warped soul gem in its chest cavity. The weapon then disappeared as he summoned another bound axe to block an attack from the rear. As they clashed, Gavhelus looked into the face of the murderous doll. Its expression was one of horror, confusion, and hate. He mustered more strength and pushed the doll back away from him.
Gavhelus: This,…this is what's been torturin' these souls. This is one bloody sick experiment for sure.
Calixto watched frantically in the corner while gathering things in preparation to make an escape. He knew the dolls were powerful killing machines, but they seemed to have met their match in Gavhelus, and this made him nervous. He yelled out to the remaining two.
Calixto: Protect me at all costs! He must not interfere with my work!
The next doll rushed in to attack Gavhelus almost faster than the eye could see, but he was ready for it. He ducks under the blade as the doll passes him by. It then dashes back for another flurry of swipes that were all dodged and parried. The last doll jumped at him from across the room with its blade drawn. He was busy dancing with the other and did not have time to react. The doll managed to land a slash to the back, but Gavhelus did not flinch. He turned his head to the doll's direction. The dolls may have sensed the danger in his glare as they both backed away from him simultaneously.
Calixto: Thats it. Ware him down my pets. It's only a matter of time now.
Gavhelus widened his stance and let his axe hang low to the ground. He was big, but not slow. He just had to watch his opponents carefully, and those blood red eyes of his never missed a movement. The two dolls danced around him while twirling their blades, waiting for their opening to attack. Gavhelus became annoyed with their cautious prancing.
Gavhelus: Well what you waitin' on?! Surely you're not afraid? Let's get this on with then!
Calixto: They're not just mindless dolls you know. They're smarter than you think, the ultimate killing weapons. Able to learn and react in combat. I'm afraid you've given them too much time to assess the situation. They won't fall for your tricks now.
Gavhelus smirked at Calixto's commentary. He could hear in his tone that Calixto thought he had already won.
Gavhelus: You know, you're not the only one who knows how to play with the dead. My way's a lot faster,…and more badass.
Calixto's expression quickly turned from smug to confusion. Surely this big oaf is not versed in the school of necromancy he thought. Gavhelus then raised a hand that was glowing with a purple aura. Suddenly a similar aura appeared on the ground next to him. The light lit up the entire house as a figure began to emerge out of the floor. It was a skeleton clad in tattered armor and chainmail, also wielding and old great axe. Once fully summoned, the skeleton took up a battle stance similar to Gavhelus's while facing the opposite direction.
Gavhelus: Now lets see how they hold up in a fair fight.
Calixto was now panicked. His plan of escape had just become more complicated. He was becoming less confident in his dolls abilities and began barking orders at them.
Calixto: End this now damn you!
The doll went in for the attack. They were swift, but Gavhelus and the skeleton both guarded against their blades with ease. The doll's movements were everywhere, attempting to slice at them each time they dashed in a different direction. The skeleton seemed to fight at the same level as Gavhelus, even trading places with him to fight the opposite doll as Gavhelus took on the other. They were fully in sync. The dolls then backed away once more and began running along the walls in an attempt to trick their eyes. Gavhelus and the skeleton stood back to back, waiting for the next barrage of blades.
Gavhelus: NOW!
As both dolls leapt from the walls to attack, Gavhelus and his skeleton companion both stepped toward their respective opponents while swinging their axes wide. They both dodged the blades of the attackers, and in the same motion, made a full rotation with the swing of their weapons, cutting both dolls in two. The bodies fell between the two of them having failed to land their attacks. They still moved, struggling to continue on fighting despite missing most of their bodies. It seemed they felt no pain. Gavhelus and the skeleton then raised their axes over their heads and brought them both down on the chests of the dolls, killing them both instantly. The corpses went motionless as the skeleton began to disperse. Gavhelus smirked as he looked around the room to find Calixto, but he was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that in the commotion he decided to make his exit.
Gavhelus: Sorry mate. Not gettin' away that-
He stopped short in his sentence and dropped to one knee. His head was pounding all of a sudden. It was the voices again. Panicked and frightened, their voices swarmed into a tempest of screams and shouts. It was finally starting to get the better of him. The disruption to his senses rendered him unable to take another step. All he could do was grip his own head tightly with both hands. He could hear the dread and worry in their cries despite it being so many at once.
Gavhelus: I,…hear you all. And,.. I'm trying,…to help you. But I need,…
He struggled to keep it together but the noise was too overwhelming. He was about to lose consciousness if this kept up. His vision was beginning to blur as he looked down at the floor holding his head. Right before he was about to black out, he saw a pair of brown legs covered in newly made scars step in front of him.
Taviiah: Gavhelus?
Taviiah had apparently just waken up from her induced slumber to find Gavhelus hunched over on the floor. She looked around the room in confusion, but as she began to notice details, things started to come into perspective. She then looked back at Gavhelus and remembered the pain he was in when they first arrived in Windhelm.
Taviiah: The voices of their souls. They must sound like a painful symphony to you now after seeing all this.
She kneels down in front of him and places a hand on his shoulder. She felt his shivers and shakes. She felt the strain in his muscles. His hair was now like shining black silk from the sweat pouring out of his head. It was too much for him. She was unsure of what to do to help at first, but there was one thing she thought to give a try.
Taviiah: Would you all just SHUT THE HELL UP! Can't you see you're hurting him?!
She paused for a moment after shouting in the empty house. She sat there, unsure if the ghosts could even hear her. She looked down at Gavhelus once more and noticed that his breathing became less erratic. Was it actually working? Did they actually hear her plea? She then placed another hand on his other shoulder and took a deep breath.
Taviiah: I know that you all are scared,…confused,…angry. I can't imagine the place you all are in right now. You might be struggling to come to grips with your own deaths. Maybe,…you're not even aware that you are dead.
She paused for a moment, realizing she would have to say something that would be unpleasant news for anyone.
Taviiah: Your lives were taken from you,…and then your bodies were used in your killer's misguided attempt to resurrect a loved one. I know that this isn't fair of me to ask,…but please. Don't punish Gav for your loss. He's only trying to help you all. He's the only one who know's how you feel. The only one who can hear your pain. But he can't do anything to help you find peace unless you let him. So please,…
She sat with her hands on his shoulders, looking down at the top of his head as a tear ran down her cheek. The tear then fell onto his head, and suddenly the grip on his locks began to loosen. His hand slowly let go of his head and his body began to relax. It seemed the raging storm in his mind had actually passed. He took a few deep breaths, and looked up to see Taviiah kneeling in front of him. He smirked once he realized it was her.
Gavhelus: Glad you finally decided to get out of bed. Sorry our adventures are such a snooze fest for ya'.
Taviiah smiled at his joke, taking it as confirmation that he would be ok now. They both stood up slowly. She watched him to make sure he was able to stay on his feet.
Gavhelus: They heard you, ya' know? The girls I mean.
Taviiah: Strangely enough, I kind of knew that already. I'm just glad they were able to calm down. I know this transition isn't easy for them.
Gavhelus: It almost never is, especially when death finds you like it did them. But I think they understood you.
Gavhelus clenched his fist tight having become taken with frustration. He was starting to see the depth of the pain Calixto had caused these women, all for his own selfish desires. It was maddening. He took another deep breath before looking up at the ceiling.
Gavhelus: I'm sorry that this has happened to you guys really. I wish I could do more for ya'. I wish I would've paid more attention to the things you were all sayin' sooner. It's not fair, loosing your life to a coward. It must be infuriating. I know that this won't bring you all back,…but I will hunt him down and make him pay for this. You guys just get some rest now,…I'll take it from here.
Taviiah: Are you sure we'll be able to find him before he makes it out of town?
Gavhelus: He couldn't have gotten that far. I'll sniff him out, trust me. He's a monster in human shape, but he can't hide what he is for much longer. Come on. Let's get this over with aye.
Gavhelus and Taviiah both made their way out of the house, now on the hunt for Calixto who was desperately trying to escape the city. It would only be a matter of time now, but he would surely answer for his crimes one way or another.
Chapter end -