Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Duncan walked quietly in the downpour as he swiped off the poultice patchwork Rose had put all over his body. He already cleaned off three spots and yet there were many more to go. Duncan was shocked by the fact that he wasn’t doubled over in pain with the amount of injuries his body had endured hours ago. Each cleaning revealed the same thing, perfect pink skin with no signs of ever being damaged. I should be a dead man, Duncan thought gloomily, just like the rest of those villagers I couldn’t save. Why was I spared and not them?
What was so damn special about me that I should deserve a different fate? Duncan had witness firsthand what the outcome of what he went through, no one ever survived and if they had then they would never be same again. They would probably kill themselves than have to live with the memories of teeth and flesh ripping and the pain that would always be there. People that had bite marks from the ghouls would say that the wounds never heal properly and no matter what they put on it, the pain never went away.
Duncan sat down on a nearby moss covered rock and pulled one leg across his thigh. As he brushed more of the poultice off, Duncan noticed that his back wasn’t hurting. Ten years ago, Duncan was working at a construction site as a mud man and electrician. He was working on a ladder feeding wires into the ceiling when another guy walked in the room with long piece of plywood. The man didn’t see Duncan or the ladder and ran right into them both. Duncan had lost his balance as one of his legs slipped between the gaps of the ladder rungs, breaking leg and his fall at the same time. It also put a permanent lower back pain, but over the years he managed to deal with it. The only time it gave him fits was if he sat cross-legged or any other way than having his feet firmly on the ground.
Duncan twisted and turned, testing his back out and got the same result. He smiled with the knowledge he could once again sit and relax however he wanted without having to struggle finding a pain-free position. It gave him the notion to go running through the forest or maybe climbing a nearby tree. Duncan felt ten foot tall and bulletproof, like there was nothing he could do. If his body heal itself this quickly, then what couldn’t he do? For now, Duncan used the rain to help wash away any residual poultice. He looked up and off in the distance he saw a natural waterfall made by this storm rain.
It washed off the rocky top side of a large embankment and down below was a small pool of runoff water that had been pounded into the grassy area over time. Duncan stood up and jogged over towards the waterfall, figuring it would make it easier to clean the herbal medicine off his body plus it would feel great. Too bad I don’t have any soap or shampoo, Duncan chuckled. Duncan stripped off his tattered wet clothes and carelessly tossed them on the ground. He gingerly stepped into the pool of water, the ground gave way like he was walking on a sponge. Duncan closed his eyes as he stepped under the cascading water, imagining that he was back in his old home with his wife showering together.
Duncan moaned as he recalled that night, he had just got home from work and discovered that Pamela was in the shower with the bathroom door open. The steam from the hot shower fogged up the mirrors and the glass shower door, her silhouette swaying as she ran her bath sponge all over her body. Duncan couldn’t resist so he quietly stripped his clothes off and sneaked into the bathroom. He opened the shower door and stepped inside, surprising Pamela by grabbing her from behind. She screamed but Duncan spun her around to show it was him which she promptly slapped him in the face. They stayed in the shower for a good ten minutes making love. For some reason, Pamela’s face and body slowly melted away and was replace by Rose. Guilt crept into his mind, but there was nothing wrong about fantasizing about another woman. Duncan found himself touching his erect member more than scrubbing down his body, but as he did this he got the feeling that he was being watched.
Duncan didn’t care because it was either Rose or the vampire Devlin. He wanted to get clean and wasn’t going to be a prude around either of those two. Duncan froze, what if it were more of the Chouls watching and waiting for him? He opened his eyes and wearily looked around everywhere that he could see. Nothing was there and the voice in his head was quiet too but that didn’t mean he wasn’t alone. Duncan knew his sword was a few feet away and he could easily grab it if need be, so he decided to draw this person out by turning his back to the forest and face the embankment.
If my guard is down, then that should entice them to show themselves to me, he mused as he listened intently around the sounds of the falling water. Duncan wondered if it weren’t Rose, Devlin, or the Chouls then who would be out here in the middle of the forest. Whoever it was, they weren’t going to like me if they’re looking for a fight. The snap of a down tree branch caught his attention, but Duncan still made no move towards his sword. He turned slowly with his eyes barely opened so he could survey the area once more. Movement to his right was sudden and quick that he could have sworn that whatever it was, it couldn’t be human.
Duncan bolted over and grabbed his sword, preparing himself mentally for whatever this thing was that had been creeping up on him. He quickly turned his head while darting his eyes, hunting for any signs of the one hunting him.
“All right, you’ve had your fun now show yourself!” Duncan snarled.
It was quiet, with the exception of the rain and the water fall behind him, Duncan felt like a fool standing naked in the water pool with his sword in hand. Rose would so love to see this, Duncan grumbled to himself as he stepped out of the pool. He wanted to reach down and grab his clothes and get dressed, but something inside him kept telling him to be on alert. Every muscle in his body tensed as he readied himself for this interloper. Several tree branches snapped and fell harmlessly to the ground. Duncan looked over in the direction of the sound and saw a small figure sitting on a long tree branch. Duncan blinked his eyes and saw that this person wasn’t sitting at all, but was hanging upside down and fiddling with its tiny hands.
Now that he saw this creature, the inner voice finally spoke up, though he wasn’t sure what to make of it because all it said was, BROKEN SADNESS. Duncan glared up at his brain and muttered, “Thank you, captain cryptic.” The being finally looked over at him and must have noticed that he was aware of it and then, it waved at him. Confusion racked Duncan’s brain but he decided to wave back at the being. It kicked itself off the tree branch and landed on the ground without making a sound despite all the brush and tree branches under its feet. So the noise it made was for my benefit, as a way to know it was here. Duncan leaned over and grabbed his pants off the ground and was about to put them on but he froze when he felt a soft hand caressing his back, it felt like electricity was kissing his bare skin.
“You are beautiful to gaze upon, I should know because I have been.” A soft feminine voice spoke.
Duncan panicked as he slipped and fell backwards into the water pool. He backed up but noticed that he had dropped his sword by the female creature’s feet. Damn she was fast, Duncan thought with amazement, and now she has his only means of defense and could kill him if she chose to do so. The petite woman dropped down on her knees and looked at Duncan like he was some unknown creature to be studied. She wore a very old but stylish long-flowing blue gown that matched her beautiful, sapphire eyes. She seemed sad and her eyes puffy as well as dark circles, like she had been crying.
“Why do you fear me so, I’m not here to hurt you…at least, I don’t think I’m supposed to.”
“You startled me,” Duncan flashed a sheepish grin, “just wasn’t expecting you to be this close to me after you got out of the tree.”
“What tree?” She asked as she looked confused.
Duncan pointed, “That one over there, the big oak tree that’s about five hundred feet away.”
The woman turned and looked but then she looked back at Duncan with sadness. Duncan lowered his arm and wondered what made her so sad. She was a beautiful lady and other than the dark circles under her eyes, her skin was flawless. She slammed her fist into the pool water, splashing it around as she cried out, “I-I can’t remember! My mind is broken and I can’t remember!”
Duncan realized that’s what his inner voice meant when it said broken sadness, this lady was having problems remembering things and this might be where the sadness comes in. Duncan pitied this woman, the torture this must play on her mind must be heavy. How could she have a normal conversation and keep up with the discussion? It would be maddening to say the least and Duncan figured it would be good to get whatever answers he could from this woman before she forgets everything. Then again, she might be here to kill him and only forgotten it. With her speed, the battle would be over before Duncan knew he was in a fight.
“Calm down, my lady. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Duncan said in a calming voice.
The woman looked up at him and said, “Oh boy, you’re naked! Are we lovers?” Duncan stifled a gasp and a chuckle. How many men of lesser honor had taken advantage of this poor woman? Duncan shrugged his shoulders and replied, “I’m afraid not. You caught me here bathing. What’s your name?”
“My name is Purah. If you’re bathing, can I scrub your back?”
“No, I’d just finished and was about to get dressed.”
“But you’re still in the water. It looks like you’re still bathing to me.”
“Why are you here, Purah?”
“Where is here? Why am I here? Are you sure we are not together in some way?”
“You are in a forest and we are together because we just met. That’s about all I know.”
Purah tilted her head as she gazed upon Duncan. He wasn’t sure what could be going on in her head and figured she was trying to remember the two of them meeting here. Duncan stood up and walked out of the water pool towards his clothes when Purah asked, “You have the body of the divine, did we make love here?”
Duncan snatched up his tattered pants and tugged them on, noting that they were snugger than he remembered. He figured it had to be because they were drenched but this never happened at other times on the road. It registered in his mind what she just asked and it made him almost weep. She didn’t know if they made love either, what an existence.
“No we didn’t make love Purah.” Duncan replied as he slipped on his shirt, it too was snug.
“Are you sure? Why would you walk around naked in front of me if we hadn’t?”
“Because I was bathing and you’ve been watching me so what’s the point in me being modest in front of you?” Duncan smiled.
Purah stared blankly at Duncan as he reached down and picked up his sword. Something about Purah didn’t sit well with Duncan. What exactly was she? Definitely not a vampire as far as he could tell and he wasn’t sure how to go about inquiring without making her mad. He sheathed his sword and extended his hand to help Purah up off the ground. She took his hand and then it appeared the Purah was convulsing, like she was having a small seizure. Duncan cursed, blaming himself for this reaction. Is my touch now worse? He guided her to lie down on her back. Duncan was uncomfortable with touching this strange woman any more than he had to because at this point, he didn’t know his own strength.
He paced back and forth, considering on running back to the cave and bringing Rose out here to check on Purah. She did know a thing or two about medical treatments but would she know how to deal with what this woman was going through? She took care of me so why wouldn’t she be able to do the same for her, Duncan reasoned. Before he took a step to head back to the cave, Duncan noticed something else about Purah: She was glowing and it was getting brighter too.
A blue haze of light shimmered all over her body, it pulsated in rhythm with each of her convulsions. She looked otherworldly, like she belonged amongst the stars and not down here on this hellhole called Earth. Duncan was at a loss on what he should do so he felt the right to do was stay by her side and make sure Purah didn’t flop over into the water pool and end up drowning. He squatted down beside Purah and at the urging of his inner voice screaming TOUCH HER, Duncan placed his hands on her. Purah’s body stilled as her convulsions slowly dissipated, though the blue haze of light was shimmered around her body, it swirled and faded into a dark hue of purple.
Am I causing all of this on this poor woman? How much more pain will I inflict on those I care about and on total strangers? Duncan pulled his hands away to see what would happen and instantly, Purah started convulsing again. Duncan rolled his eyes and decided to pick her up and cradle her prone body in his lap. You happy now? I’m touching her now tell me why I have to do this in the first place?
No Response.
Figures, Duncan felt like his inner voice could at least guide him a little better than this. What’s the point of having it if wont teach me or help me understand what the hell I’m doing? What is it anyways and what am I becoming? Duncan rubbed his hands along Purah’s back to sooth her but felt something odd. He gently turned her so he could examine her back and saw through the purple haze that she had these strange tendrils that were physically apart of her. They were all bunched together and teemed with energy. Was this the source of her great speed and what function, if any, did they provide her?
Duncan looked back at the cave and wondered how Rose was holding up. She had been through a lot today with losing her home, nearly getting eaten by the ghouls and then almost became a meal for Devlin. Not to mention she had boots and a bath robe to wear, which would get her into a lot of trouble if others found her dressed like that. Maybe I should go back to Melona and gather some of her clothes, which might make her feel better. That would mean fighting through Gods knows how many ghouls to do it and I might not survive this time.
Duncan felt movement in his lap so he looked down and saw Purah had curled her arms around his waist and gazing up at him, her sapphire eyes sparkling. Her smile for whatever reason made his body heat up, like a full body blush. What was she and why does she seem so comfortable with me, Duncan mused. It wasn’t that he didn’t find her attractive because Purah had a beauty that ran deep inside her. It was because of a promise he made to his wife Pamela that held him back from trying to pursuit this mystery lady. Many men and women that he had run-ins with since the firestorms hounded him that his wife was reaped and probably dead so he should move on and live life to its fullest. The probable part was what kept him in line because what would happen if he went fooling around and start a new life, only to have her show up on his doorstep?
He smiled at Purah but knew deep down that this wouldn’t work out for either of them. Mainly because of him and the promise he made so long ago that still haunts him today. Pamela wasn’t a good woman nor a good wife, she was constantly bickering with him and starting fights over the littlest things and when she wasn’t doing that, she was expecting him to handle everything around the house and cater to her every whim as she slept around with other men. It was Hell, Duncan knew this but that didn’t mean he was going to go out and break his promise to her. If Pamela were dead and he saw it to be true, then he could move on without having the burden of guilt weighing on his weary shoulders.
“Why are you so sad Duncan?”
“I’m not sad, just distracted and have lots on my mind.”
“No, you’re sad and I can tell. I know sadness all too well. It feeds me and makes me stronger.”
Confused, Duncan asked – “How can you do that? What kind of person would want to feed on misery?”
“I have been cursed to do this due to the ultimate choice I made long ago.”
“Who cursed you? Why would anyone want to do that someone else?“
“Because I went against the Will of the Creator and defied Him. He casted us out for our transgression against Him. My curse was to do the opposite of what I did when I was one with the Heavens.”
Duncan wondered how long this lucidity in her memory would last. He wanted to know more and gleam as much as he could from this Heavenly being before she shut down and forgot everything. Wait, Duncan realized, did she basically claim to be an angel, one that was kicked out of Heaven? That would explain the tendrils, those had to be her wings. Time to press her for answers and hope for the best.
“Are you an angel?”
“I was…once, but no longer. I lost that in the fall so now I’m considered to be a fallen angel. Most humans would say I’m a demon, but they’re different from us in so many ways.”
“Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?” Duncan asked and immediately thought wow, did I really ask that corny pickup line as he struggled to stifle a laugh.
“Yes it did and I’m suffering from its affects for the rest of my days. My wings didn’t obey my commands and I hit the Earth, head first. That was when my curse began.”
“Tell me about this curse?”
“It’s an opposite or reversal curse. Whatever you once could do, you now do the opposite. I was the One who eased the grieving and suffering of Man so that they could transition and move on with their lives, such as in the death of someone they once knew. Now I feed off the sadness and suffering of others. I gain strength and power from it, like tribute is given to deities. The injuries I sustained has caused me to forget many things and conversations, which frustrates me into sadness and tears. In a way, I feed off myself too.”
“How is it possible for you to have a conversation with me for this long and not forget?”
Purah had a contemplative look on her face before saying, “I can’t say for certain, but I know I haven’t been like this in a long time. Strange that a mortal could cause my mind to feel normal once more.”
“Lately I haven’t been feeling so mortal…I’m changing and I’m not sure I like it or not. Today I was being eaten alive by those Chouls and yet all my wounds have healed in a matter of hours. Does that sound like something a mortal can do?”
“That’s impossible, your body too weak and fragile to begin with and it would never heal like that unless you were otherworldly like myself…though you do have the body of the divine.” Purah giggled.
Duncan’s cheeks redden slightly. He wasn’t sure what to think of this fallen angel he held in his lap. Duncan chuckled inwardly, how many in this world could say that? There was a connection between the two of them, that much he knew to be true but where did it come from and why now? Did it have to do with the recent changes in his body? Duncan felt like Purah was a good person who was damaged and fucked in the head, kind of like himself only worse.
“What is a Choul?” Purah asked.
“It’s the name I use for those undead Christians ghouls that prowl the land.”
Purah looked sadden as her gaze went from his face down to his abdomen. Duncan wondered why she would feel so…ashamed. She didn’t march the ghouls into Melona to “cleanse everyone’s sins”, that was the bastard Sully. Duncan will forever feel a sense of pride for slaying the man, he was responsible for the deaths of a lot of good, decent people. People who were living a life of comfort and love and that little Bible-thumping prick decided to come along and murder them all.
“Did they hurt you badly?” Purah asked but never looked at him directly.
“Yes. What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?”
Purah looked up at Duncan, her eyes pleading, “It’s my fault you got hurt. Don’t hate me for my role in it.” Duncan’s heart ached as he looked into her eyes and saw her tears were about to spill out and mix with the rain. He ran his finger through Purah’s silky black hair while, trying to relax her and figure out why she’s so depressed because he got attacked.
“You had nothing to do with it. It was some asshole named Sully who’s -”
“This was Sully’s fallen warriors of the Light that did this to you?”
Duncan felt a chill run up his spine – “You know Sully and his little army of Chouls? Why did he attack us?”
“It’s what they’re supposed to do, take out all those who weren’t taken to the Promise Land. Certain ones are chosen to lead a group of fallen warriors of the Light throughout the land and rid it of all the sinners and heretics who didn’t give themselves over to Jesus.”
Duncan was ready to ask his next question, but he felt he already knew the answer. If Sully was one of the many people who got reaped, would it stand to reason that Pamela was still alive. Was she like Sully, a blood-thirsty murderer or was she the same manipulative, lazy, cheating bitch that he once loved...and hated? He wanted to know but something inside him seemed to hold him back from asking. Bloody coward! Duncan chastised himself, he could discover if she lived or not. If she had died, then he could be free to be with whomever he wanted to be with but Duncan felt deep down that she lived.
“Is that where you live, the Promise Land?” Duncan asked. Chicken!
“Yes, I live there but it feels more like a prison to me. I tend to wander off which annoys the other fallen angels because they’re afraid I may get hurt or taken advantage of in this new world.”
Duncan could understand their fears but even damaged as she was, he believed Purah could take care of herself just fine. He could see them acting like older siblings watching out for a younger sister who was weaker or disabled. If so, Duncan found that suffocating to say the least. He loved his personal freedom and enjoyed being able to go wherever he wanted. Having multiple mother hens around you tended to weigh one down. Was that why she wandered off so much, to feel free?
Duncan was about to ask her another question when he got interrupted by a loud booming voice. It was both menacing and melodious at the same time.
“Hands off her, you loathsome, hairless ape! She belongs with us and not a lowly slug like you!”
Purah turned her head to see who had spoken. It was Penemuel but he looked haggard, like he was hurt and been flying around for a while. He had his long sword drawn and had death in his eyes.
“A friend of yours?” Duncan asked but never took his eyes off the other fallen angel.
“It Penemuel and he’s here to take me home and will try to kill you for being with me.”
“Good because I’m spoiled for a good fight!” Duncan eyed the other fallen angel and imagined him as being on the same level as Sully.
Purah panicked – “No don’t! You’re no match for him! He will kill you and I don’t want that to happen!”
“Then talk to him and see if he will see reason.”
Purah shook her head, “I doubt I will remember why I went to talk to him, I-I don’t want to lose you Duncan!”
“Final warning human! Let her go and you might still live…maybe.” Penemuel growled.
Duncan rolled his eyes as he lifted Purah up off his lap and onto her feet like she weighed next to nothing. She helped him up with an expression of awe and wonder, like she had never had anyone move her like that in her entire life. Duncan thanked her and then yelled back at Penemuel, “Keep your Holy Roller panties on, I’d rather not hurt her or you for that matter. There’s no need for violence.”
Penemuel glowered at Duncan as he hovered in the air, glowing brightly as his tendrils swayed. Duncan noted that some of the tendrils were missing, like they were damaged and the fallen angel struggled to maintain his menacing appearance. If I can take out his wings, would that force him to fight like a man, Duncan mused as he plotted his attack. Purah stared off into space, looking around like she didn’t recall where she was because her memory had failed her once again.
Duncan side-stepped from her to show the other fallen angel that he was no threat to her. Penemuel only glared at Duncan as he commanded, “Purah, get over here now! You need to come away from that filth. I need you to help me figure out who destroyed your creations!”
Purah looked all around her, everywhere and turned around several times before asking, “What filth? I don’t see any filth here, just a lovely waterfall.”
“I think he’s referring to me as filth, Purah.” Duncan muttered under his breath, but she heard him.
“You sir are not filth. I can see that from here and I feel drawn to you too…for some reason.”
“Purah!” Penemuel hissed as his patience waned, “You know better than to associate with humans! He could hurt you and I can’t allow that to happen. I’m putting my life on the line to see to it that you are returned to the Promise Land safe and unmolested!”
“Humans?” Purah said confused as she looked around, “There’s no humans here!”
Duncan glanced at Purah to see if she was mocking Penemuel. He could see in her facial expressions that she genuinely believed in what she was saying. What did that say about me now, he wondered, am I becoming something more than human? She did say that no mortal could heal as fast as he did, so it wouldn’t be too farfetched but Duncan was having problems wrapping his mind around the notion. Duncan kept his sword sheathed but his hand was anxiously awaiting to grasp it.
Penemuel landed softly on the ground without making a sound. He cautiously walked up to Purah and looked her over. Purah reached behind Penemuel and snatched on of his broken tendrils and asked, “What did you do to yourself this time? Don’t you know how to fly?”
Penemuel grimaced in pain as she tugged and pulled on it. Duncan watched intently and making mental notes. Purah glanced up at Penemuel and then to Duncan before saying, “Did our brother send you out to fetch me this time?”
“Yes he did but I also have a task for you to perform as well.”
“Oh a task!” Purah jumped up and down with delight as she clapped her hands, making sparks appear, “Why didn’t you say so in the first place!”
Penemuel sighed - “I did but you forgot again. This human has to die for touching you Purah, you know this.”
“But there is no human here who has touched me, only Duncan there.”
“He is the fucking human!” Penemuel roared, his anger surging, “Are you so blind that you can’t see this creature for what he truly is?”
Purah placed her hands on Penemuel’s chest as she looked up at him with pity in her sapphire eyes, “That’s the problem, you don’t him the way that I do and if you did you would either be running from him or befriending him. If you choose to fight, then prepare to die. I won’t be able to save you from him.”
Rose and Devlin came running up beside Duncan. Devlin remained unarmed but then again, he was lethal without a weapon when he went full-on, killer vampire. Purah looked over and saw the other two and commented, “If that’s the human you keep referring to then by all means, end her life but know she’s the only human here Penemuel.” Penemuel snarled at the two newcomers. His sword flared a bright blue hue and it appeared to be on fire. He took to the air and flew as quickly as he could fly, he aimed his sword for Rose’s head with murder in his fiery eyes.