Crimson's Tale (43)

“What have I become?” he suddenly squeaked out. The orb around us melted as he collapsed into my arms. Tears mixed with blood ran from his eyes as his mind reeled in shame for his actions while controlled. I held him with one arm while waving the sailors back. Meli did not heed my warning as she rushed forward healers' bag in hand. It took what felt like hours getting him in a room below deck away from prying eyes. I dismissed the others once he was laying in one of the hammocks that hung in this small room.

“You have done nothing.” I said firmly. “A creature of true darkness possessed you and did those horrors.” I stated hard. “Stop this misplace blame.” I told him. “Just tell me what transpired after I left you.” I ordered softly. I tried once more to touch his mind but received only a mix of a million disjointed images due to his shock. All of them hued in red by his blood wielding ability.

“After you left me safely on the far side of the Great Forest?” he remarked slowly. I nodded absently as answer. “My hawk and I started setting camp not knowing a village sat only a half day away.” he continued. “A lone huntress discovered me during my patrol of the area and my camp near dusk.” he whispered. The images started flowing slowly in order within his mind letting me see his adventure directly.

“She attacked you thinking you an animal?” I asked softly.

“Not exactly.” he corrected. “She stalked me as if I was beastly until ...” he explained. A small smile blossomed on his face as he paused. “... Until she heard and saw me speaking with Ferus.” he completed.

“And her tribe believe a legend of a beast that speaks to their totem animal?” I responded. This thought whispered from the blackest parts of my mind.

“And more than that.” he returned quickly. His eyes looked distant as he spoke while a soft smile sat on his face. “A prophecy of a great guardian hero-beast that is befriended by their great hawk and wields his blood to defend them from evil.” he told me slowly. “She spent the night watching over me as I slept.”

“She did not approach you that night?” I commented. The darker part of my mind whispered “I know.” to me.

“Not until morning.” he admitted. “I awoke to find her stirring my fire back to life.” he explained. “Her weapons cast aside from her without fear of me.” he concluded. I need not read his mind to see the pleasant awe that shone in his crystal blue eyes.

“And from that point?” I prompted gently.

“She visited me daily at my camp for noontime meal for what seemed months.” he said softly. “Then, one day she didn't appear.” he stated slowly. “I tracked her path, thanks to Ferus' assistance, all the way back to her village.

“And the prophecy came true.” I muttered under my breath at him. He laughed mirthlessly back.

“Raiders had the villagers trapped and defenceless.” he stated. My link to his mind shifted to seeing double images. The real events and those of his actions while controlled in the rift. “All the bandits saw as warning of my assault was Ferus' claws in a blinding strike.” he continued. His face had been sliding slowly from merriness to sadness. “The villager saw a hawk striking blind their enemy while a beast slaughtered them.” he whispered. Blood mixed tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. “Ferus returned to my shoulder as the last raider fell dead on my blood blade.” he continued. His face went blank as I saw in his mind images of his actions while under the malignant force that stole his dearest friend from him and his own life. “The villagers cheered for me upon the field of butchery.” he spat out vehemently. His mind showed mixed memories of his victory blended into his darkest debaucheries he had been forced to perform.

“That is not what they cheered for.” I told him. I reached into his mind to forcibly untangle the images. The entity had made him see and feel the elation of the saved villagers while he performed soulless actions in the rift. “They cheered for a beastly saviour that acted more like an honourable man than the bandits attacking them.” I continued. As I spoke, I reinforced the proper order of his true memories. He did not slash his way through the raiders but used his blood abilities to bludgeon them into submission. But, I could not alter the true events surrounding the last raider's death skewered by Crimson. “It was his life or hers.” I nearly growled at him. “You chose with both honour and heart.” I informed him gentler.

“I know old friend.” he breathed out. “But it still hurts.” he remarked. “The villagers hailed me in as a hero.” he continued. “And Elana, my huntress, was at my side from that point on.” he added. A soft smile returned to his face but it had a sadness touching it.

“Even someone that looks like a beast can be loved.” I returned. At my words, he blushed a deep shade of crimson matching his clothing. I avoided looking at his private memories of his Elana.

“It was fleeting as my clan finally tracked me down.” he said softly. “I still do not know how they found me but they arrived heavily armed and armoured a few days later.” he continued. “They would have easily slaughtered the villagers in their fervour to end my existence.” he told me. I felt this was his way of justifying an action that could be seen as cowardly to others. “I attacked them before they could reach the town.” he concluded.

“Once you had their attention, you lead them away from Elana's village.” I surmised quickly.

“As fast and as far my abilities allowed me.” he responded with a wry chuckle. “But I underestimated Elana's attachment to me which made her follow me.” he reported quietly.

“What do you mean she followed you?” I stated bluntly. I tried avoiding the images that he forced to the forefront of his thoughts.

“As I fled after my attack to gain their attention, I nearly ran her through.” he explained slowly. “I told her to follow Ferus who would lead her away from the army at my heels.” he stated. “It forced my path closer to the foothills and along the escarpments of the mountains.” he continued. “Too bad I was ignorant of the lands I escaped in.” he told me. “I found myself with sheer walls in front and beside me while my people blocked my retreat.” he concluded.

“It does not explain how you fell out of a rift into this world.” I remarked. I could see in his mind the whole story but knew he needed to speak it by himself to heal.

“The air between myself and the mountain I faced tore open.” he stated slowly. “I could sense the heat and smell the brimstone from the rift.” he continued at the same slow pace. “I nearly chose to turn and face death at the hands of my people.” he explained. “But I must believe Ferus knocked me forward into the rift to protect me.” he concluded. Mixed emotions warred on his face. The joy of escaping death soured by losing a being of his true kind that loved him.

“And when did Ferus change?” I remarked in the silence. “How was he corrupted?” I clarified slowly.

“That is where I am as confused as you my friend.” he returned. He avoided my gaze as he continued. “After my tumble into that hellish place, I searched for Ferus.” he continued. “It was in vain since I could not even find a feather of my companion.” he concluded. I sensed that he hide a part of this story, a part of the mystery he was trying to forget himself.

“What did you find?” I asked with mock casualness. His eyes half closed still avoided me as small tremors ran along his tense jawline.

“I found Elana's body.” he finally admitted. “A blood wielder's spear driven deep into her heart.” he continued. “It was her dying action that launched me into hellishness alone.” he reported. “She must have followed me instead of Ferus without my knowledge.” he concluded. Tears rolled down his cheeks in rivulets of mixed tears and blood.

“But no sign of your hawk Ferus?” I stated. He proved he knew my pensive and perplexed face by his words.

“We are both in the dark on this matter.” he returned softly. “Can a gemstone have something to do with it?” he asked pensively.

“Explain your thoughts.” I requested. I saw half images hued so deeply in red to make them appear as mostly empty blackness.

“I removed the spear and attempted using my powers to push the blood back into her body as it healed.” he answered. “But the blood kept escaping my mental grasp which could simply be attested to the strength of her still beating heart.” he continued. He shrugged as I saw his mental images becoming clearer defined. “Or it was the black egg shaped gem down the slop near her body.” he stated. The words tumbled slowly from him as the thoughts clarified to lightly red hued memories. “The gem egg sat in an indentation with Elana's blood pooling in it.” he concluded.

“It is possibly related.” I replied pensively. “I just do not understand how it would have hatched a hawk.” I continued slowly. “Nor why it would be an identical match for Ferus.” I added. I viewed his memory of Elana's wounds receiving the answer I kept to myself. Feathers from Ferus sat in the wound confirming that both had attempted to save him by self sacrifice.

“It is a possibility in the very least.” he said. I could see that as his thought processes returned to normal, his mind calmed. “I did not touch the stone.” he assured me. “After failing to revive Elana, I collected stones and buried her in my clan's tradition in a cairn.” he continued his tale. “I walked away from that place of sorrow.” he concluded.

“Then you spent how long travelling in that separated space?” I asked softly.

I believe about two to three weeks but time moved oddly their making it impossible for me to assured of the passing of time.” he explained. “During the time I had to battle from time to time to survive.” he continued. “Hunting and scavenging for food and potable water.” he mentioned. “Then I spotted Ferus circling in the sky above me.” he concluded.

“Was there any signs of something amiss about him?” I remarked. “Oddness in his call, in his flight, or in his behaviour towards you?” I suggested.

“He dove in to attack me at first.” he replied quickly. “He had no voice but his flight was normal in all way.” he explained. “After the initial attack, he calmed a bit to finally land upon my shoulder.” he continued. “Then the moments of darkness began when the false Ferus sunk his claws on me.” he stated. “Every time the bird sank it's claws lighter but causing the same control over me.” he concluded.

“Until all that imposter needed to do was land on your shoulder.” I told him directly.

“But when I was free, I started realizing something was wrong.” he informed me. “I started attempting to escape it which lead to it forcing me into harsher battles when it controlled me.” he continued. “It was at that point when I ran away in earnest using my full abilities to defend myself from that evil bird.” he said. “But it seemed in vain as it chased me to a cliff high above the nearly barren landscape.” he concluded.

“A rift into this world formed, correct?” I hazarded.

“I stood at the edge of the cliff slowly being pushed to the edge by what I believed was my Ferus.” he returned. “I glanced behind me over the edge to see another rip forming exuding smells I have never faced before.” he explained. “I threw myself backward into the rift with the false Ferus following closely to me.” he ended.

“And that is when you landed on the deck of the Leviathan to see beings that looked like yourself.” I concluded for him.

“”Yes.” he interjected. “It made me forget about that damnable bird which allowed it to land on me once more.” he continued. “Then I moved away with the vague memory of hunting beings that lived here.”

“Which the vile entity discovered you knew me from the moments it controlled your mind.” I replied slowly. His eyes widened at my words. “I cannot change your memories of me but I can lock them away from external spies.” I offered. He nodded slowly to me. “Only you will know me as Genin but I do ask you keep this knowledge to yourself my friend.” I asked. He smiled as he nodded quickly to me. I smiled back. “Here I am know by many names but I believe you can name as I am known in Atlantis.” I told him. A soft knock sounded from the door of the cabin. I motioned him to relax as I went to open the door. Balthis stood at the door with the female sailor that had first laid eyes on Crimson.

“May we have words?” Balthis asked gruffly. I was in a mid step backward to allow him into the room when he spoke again. “Alone.” he clarified. “Marina offered to stay with your friend if that is acceptable.” he added slowly. I nodded slowly my agreement before exiting the room. Marina saluted me before entering the room leaving the door open. I hesitated before following Balthis to watch as Marina sat across from Crimson with a small shy smile on her face. Balthis lead me the length of the corridor to his cabin. He held the door open as he stood rigidly waiting for me enter before him. I peered ahead into the room with my eyes and mind cautiously as I moved forward slowly.

“What is this about?” I asked with forced patience.

“That something from a rift is sitting on this ship alive.” Balthis retorted. I held back the urge to laugh in his face over this childish complaint.

“He is not a thing born in rift space.” I snapped back instead.

“Are you positive about that?” he returned quickly.

“Does he not look human to you?” I replied.

“Then why does he have such powers?” Balthis retorted.

“I admit he travel through a rift space.” I stated softly. “But he was born somewhere far from here.” I explained. “A race that is far from being human to begin with.” I continued slowly. “Because of his human form, he was treated as an abhorrent thing hunted by his own people.” I clarified to Balthis. “He has the ability to manipulate his blood giving him great strength but he has a good heart.”

“I cannot keep him on board without risking issues with my sailors.” Balthis remarked quietly.

“I would not ask you to keep him.” I returned quickly. “I have been thinking of sending him to a remote location as an envoy to their deities.” I informed him. “It would be too easy for the Atlantians to realize he is not human.” I explained. “I cannot take the risk of them realizing that I existed before my rumoured history started.” I continued slowly. Balthis nodded at my words. “Even the Atlantian would question the fact that I seem to be able to time travel.” I lied.

“I have always known that you appear when you are truly needed.” he stated. “If this is because you can walk into the past, so be it but I need that man off my ship before something happens to him.” he concluded.

“We can deposit him at the southern tip of Africa.” I told him. “He would not be on your ship longer than a week.” I admitted. “Gives us time to verify if that entity that possessed him changed Lockey's notations.” I explained in a whisper. “Best to discover if a spy sits on your ship unknown to you.” I reminded him quietly.

“True.” he admitted after a moment. “But do not ask me to transport that man ever again.” he added gruffly.

“I already have his transportation planned.” I remarked with a half smile. “But you may have problems with Marina.” I continued. “She seems a little taken by the crimson stranger.” I concluded. Balthis gruff barking laughter was the only answer I received as he open the door to his cabin. With a wave of his hand, I was dismissed. I slowly returned to Crimson's assigned room. I stopped at the door and peered into the room. Marina leaned forward in her seat as she spoke with him. I did not listen to the words being exchanged. I knocked on the door frame gaining me a look from her before she slowly rose to her feet.

“He appears to have recovered well from his unwanted guest.” she reported. “Will he be accompanying you back to Atlantis or does he have another deposit point?” she asked in a whisper.

“The tip of Africa where another friend will guide him home.” I answered.

“I cannot wait to return home.” he stated quickly. I left it at that as both Crimson and myself said goodbye to Marina then waited in silence after a few moments closing the door before speaking.

“Very nicely done.” I remarked softly. “How did you know to lie to her?”

“Best to agree with your comment then question it in front of others.” he replied softly. “Secondly, I know that I would not return to my home world even if I do know it is in your powers.” he continued. “It is also why I told her that you had already examined me medically so she did not ask for a medical person to verify my health.” he added.

“You always thought ahead when explained a situation.” I remarked. He smiled at me as he tapped the side of his head with his index finger. “I will have someone meeting you after we drop you off.” I told him. He nodded back to me quickly. “They will take you to India so you may hide away from those that would seek out information about myself.” I concluded.

“An will I be told of your history here?” he asked. I nodded back. We spent the next day going through my history in this world making sure he understood it was the only history others needed to know. I sent Little Thunder with a message to Aurora, to ask her to have guides and arrange passage for Crimson to India. It was only a few days after he arrived that I had him deposited near what would become the tip of Africa. I had told my companions that I would explain who this being was once he had been released safely back in the world. I feared that moment since what he had whispered to me and I had seen from his full mind that he had finally allowed me to enter.