Dawn of the Epoch

Chapter XXXI - The Hunger

Shenouda dreamt. She dreamt of Ghaelvord standing over her as she lay on the table. She would stand up and he would pull her in close. She felt the press of his lips and the strength in his grip. She felt listless and reckless. She wanted to indulge. Then he would vanish in a wisp of smoke. The smoke would swirl around the room. She chased it. It led her down the long hallway lit by candles. The hallway led to a large wooden door where emaciated men in shining armor with hollow eyes guarded the path. They solemnly and silently opened the door for her. She found herself sprinting through into the clear night. The starlight and glow of the moon revealed her surroundings. More emaciated warriors in gleaming medieval armor milled about, clearing trees, building barracks, and fighting over scraps of meat around a campfire. Then she saw the smoke swirling around the campfire. The fire grew hotter and gave off more smoke. The freakish men with the skeletal bodies breathed it in and grew rowdier with every breath.

“Ghaelvord.” She whispered.

She thought that he could hear her.

“Shenouda.” His deep voice billowed around her from all directions.

She turned around and saw nothing. Then she felt his arms circle around her from behind and clasp over her belly. She leaned her head back and rested it on his strong shoulder. Her kissed her again and vanished in a cloud of smoke. She breathed the smoke in deeply. It made her skin tingle. Her mind went blank. She felt calm and lightheaded.

“Run along now. Move!” She heard someone yelling.

She looked and saw a scarlet-skinned man leading a group of prisoners chained around the ankles. These prisoners looked like normal people, not like the skeletal monstrosities around the campfire. He towered over them. His legs coiled beneath him in an almost bird-like way. They never totally straightened as he walked. She looked at his feet and saw black bird-like talons extending from his toes. His muscular physique shone in the moonlight, but not as brightly as the prisoners. For some reason, their bodies glowed in front of her. She realized that she could see waves of heat emanating from them. As she looked closer she could make out the lines of blood flowing through their veins. She felt sorry for them. She wanted to unshackle and free them.

“You there!” She cried out. “Release those people!”

She started running and found her legs pumping below her with very little effort. She covered the distance in a few seconds and leapt at the scarlet demon-man. Then she heard a loud whoosh and he was gone. She flew through the air and missed him. She landed in a heap on the ground. The whooshing sound came and went rhythmically. She looked up and saw the demon floating high above her with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face. Bony, bat-like wings flapped around him, allowing him to hover in the air.

“Commander, your pet bites.” He said.

“Show some respect Malacoda. She is the beginning of a step forward for the humans. She may one day elevate them to the level of the Dahjaat. Also, she is my new consort. Shenouda, come now, come to me and do not attack Malacoda.”

Shenouda looked into Ghaelvord’s ice-blue eyes. Her tense muscles relaxed and she walked toward him.

“Come now. You must be famished.”

Shenouda still felt dizzy and listless. She followed Ghaelvord back into the main hall and down the corridors. Her skin prickled and she felt weak. Her short burst of exercise had drained her of her energy. She followed Ghaelvord into a round room covered with soft pillows and lounge furniture. A group of small dark-skinned people wearing primitive animal furs sat around a fireplace in the center of the room with a round smokestack rising to the ceiling. The prickling sensation grew more intense.

“Go on.” Ghaelvord prodded.

She turned to see him, but he vanished again into a column of smoke. The smoke billowed throughout the room and as the people breathed it in, they passed out. Shenouda’s urges grew stronger and her sight became clearer. She could see tiny strands of heat and the heat drew her. She walked almost involuntarily toward the heat and experienced a heightened sense of smell. She smelled copper. She enjoyed it. She got closer and the smell intoxicated her. Her willpower gave way and she descended on the passed-out villagers. Her canine teeth had elongated into fangs. She lost consciousness.