Chapter One Hundred Six: ‘When the waters run red...’
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It seemed like no one wanted to make the first move. Even the gentle wind had gone, leaving the air so still that Zeff could feel his own heartbeat. And perhaps that wasn’t a coincidence. Zeff had heard that a strong enough soul could affect the atmosphere physically.
Indeed, the pressure of the Gargoyle’s presence was palpable. Zeff had felt it as soon as he met her, but now it was on another level. Everything seemed heavier. Even breathing felt somehow more difficult. Was this really just the field density of her soul? Filling the air with pure willpower?
It was a warning, he knew. His own body was telling him. This person standing before him was not someone he should fight. This person was a monster. And he was nothing. Thirty years as a servant? A child, by comparison. Helpless.
But no. That wouldn’t work on Zeff. He wouldn’t succumb to mere dread. The old well wouldn’t let him. His pit of boiling hatred. It wouldn’t let him forget everything that had brought him here.
Gargoyle or not, this woman was standing between him and his son, between him and the people responsible for Mariana’s death. So he maintained his concentration and tried to assess the situation.
The first point was hyper-states. None of the Rainlords were using them yet, but Sanko was already wielding pan-rozum. If any of their reapers moved to merge with them, she would undoubtedly attack. But she probably didn’t know who had which abilities, so she wouldn’t know whom she should target first. What they needed was a distraction so that Octavia and Rayen could safely merge with Wendy and Lonogren. Perhaps he could provide that for them.
At least, that was what Zeff was thinking until Octavia Redwater surprised everyone by stepping forward.
“Everyone, wait a moment,” the little old lady said. “I have something I need to show you.” She ripped the top of her cane off, revealing a white inner piece, which she grasped with one hand.
And immediately, Zeff could sense it, as could everyone else, he was sure.
Octavia pulled the rest free. A white blade, thin like a rapier but so much more deadly than that. Because it was made from bone.
Zeff didn’t need to look any closer. The foul aura leaking from it told him everything he needed to know.
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every night at midnight PST by ~400 words.
“Everyone, wait a moment,” the little old lady said. “I have something I [need]to show you.”
ReplyDeleteThe badass meter in this story's broken. Every time we think it's maxed, it goes higher. Odd.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps that wasn’t [an] coincidence.
ReplyDeleteGive that sword to Lynn, or to Hector as a gift.
ReplyDeleteI think she just fused it onto her hand.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't fused it, she's just holding it.
ReplyDeleteYou sure about that? Although I suppose the same principle that kept Domination from taking Hector might keep the rapier from fusing to Octavia.
ReplyDeleteFixed, thank you.
ReplyDeleteGot it, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI just think that she's overpowering it by using her soul-empowering technique.
ReplyDeleteMore like: Awesome.
ReplyDeleteBy any chances, is that a aberration bone?
ReplyDeleteIt would be good if Octavia can persuade Sanko by giving her the weapon, but if the only reason why Octavia took it out is to start a fight between them and Sanko... that's too bad, because the title for this chapter is 'When the water runs read...' it kind of give it a bad feeling, like it will be the end of the Redwater, or I could be wrong in this, maybe the whole Rainlords will be killed by Sanko, Miles, Lawrence, and co.
ReplyDeleteThe dirty nuke of weapons, no? :)
ReplyDeleteIf she were out and out just going to use it to attack, she wouldn't be showing it. She's trying to pull a mutual destruction gambit by showing that, yes, we have something that can tip the balance, thanks. And, do you feel lucky, punk? ;)
ReplyDeleteIf it were their own blood, I'm sure they'd have died out.
ReplyDeleteSo now we know that a bone device must be usable by servants. I thought that it couldn't be used any more than it would fuse, but I guess not.
ReplyDeleteIs it by any chance that one that Sermung had to stop personally, because that would be awesome.