Blood Lust and Triggers (61)

Thirty years past in relative peace as I lived in Atlantis and travelled the world. I travelled for both myself and Atlantis being received as a spark of Atlantian light in every place I ventured with the Herald. I researched every possible detail about the lives of my retinue finding no real knowledge than what they had willingly revealed to me verbally. The source of Meli's brain rewiring still perplexed me the more I delved into it. I finally decided to discuss my findings with Annianka to see what she knew and what the entity in the Heartstone would mistakenly let escape.

“I found no information regarding the peculiarity I saw in her mind.” I whispered to her. We had lunch together like many of the days I would be leaving for a new voyage away from Atlantis. This took place in Her Holiness' private garden under the watchful eyes of miss Hope. “No information about this knot that would use her own magic to burn her brain from her head is not listed as having been placed in her.” I explained slowly. She nodded to me in silence. I felt no emotions escaping her even if no mental barriers barred my gifts directly. “I need to understand why such a self destructive modification was made to her biology.” I continued not hiding my annoyance. “What if this modification took place after my arrival?” I added mollified.

“I understand my love.” she replied softly. “I cannot give you information I lack.” she continued easily. “Because of my seal and that of the Council placed in your hands, no information can be withheld from you.” she explained. “The darkest of Atlantian secrets are yours to discover.” she added with a giggle. I sighed and returned to eating in silence while reviewing what I had found. During my research, I discovered the prescribed use for this mental shunt modification. It sat as a final control measure on those useful citizens that suffered from blood lust.

Three forms of this feared genetic disease are noted in the extensive Atlantian files including the blood magic feared in the outer world. The similarities to some of Crimson's abilities dealt in the blood manipulation powers. A blood mage would use their freed blood to call to their victims' blood giving them full control over it at the cellular level like Crimson has over his own blood. Earth based healers could attempt a similar control over blood because of the iron content but at a lesser precision than the blood mages. Water based healers could use the water in the blood with greater efficiency but still paled in comparison to the blood mages manipulating the haemoglobin and its components completely. Crimson could theoretically perform the same level of control over another person's blood but it would weaken his strength to hold the iron manifestation of his own weapons and armour. Most would see it as a small price to pay for defeating an enemy but Crimson held more honour than to use an easy trick to win a battle.

The second listed form was based in the blood rage associated with the beserker style fighter of losing all control until the battle field ran red with blood. The frenzy at causing blood to flow from their enemies was the physical trigger that lead to an uncontrolled butchery. Where blood mages could and relished drawing blood explosively from from a distance, the blood ragers gain a blinding pleasure from the direct method of melee combat in which the blood lust gave them extra strength and speed. The more blood they  spilled, the more they wanted to spill more pulling them deeper in the rage increasing both strength and speed. Seeing or smelling blood was another noted trigger their blind rage that equalled the revelling of the blood mages slow torturous method. Blood ragers would beat anything living until it was nothing but a blood smear with their constantly increasing strength and speed. If their challenger was unfortunate enough to make the blood rager bleed, their rage level would jump to the highest point it had ever reached previously and continue rising exponentially. The rage would make them ignore all damage suffered and destroy their body in a proportional way burning out their body. It would cause their hearts to stop, destroy brain cells, and cause damage to other internal organs eventually killing them.

The short life span was also shared with the third group listed though a rare occurrence. This last group combined the abilities of both other types. The weaker control over blood combined the bursts of blind rage to extract more blood from their attacks while giving them the unhealthy and addictive pleasure of both. It stated multiple triggers in the documentations for the rage and blood manipulation without specifying which held greater predominance in occurrence rate. It warned that, once unleashed, the addiction to the pleasure drawn from manipulating the blood manipulation in others but nothing relating it to healers' elemental abilities. Meli was gifted in healing with a strong earth base and a weak water base assisting her skills as a strong healer. I did not see any signs of her manipulating blood outside of using those two healing ability groupings nor did I find anything listed in her history that would suggest her having demonstrated the blood manipulation abilities of blood lust. It did not answer why they would have placed that shunt in Mekiliean's brain deepening my confusion and worries for my healer.

“Does she suffer from Blood Lust?” I asked more directly.

“She would not be allowed to remain on Atlantis if she suffered that cruel disease.” Annianka returned quickly. “They would have removed her from this world long before your arrival.” she continued blankly. I registered the tasteless euphemism for murder in her statement raising more doubts in what she actually knew about the blood lust protocols in place.

“Unless she was seen as useful but expendable tool by the Council.” I remarked. “No proof of that protocol to be found in the Council's files either.” I added quickly.

“A trace should be available if those documents have been modified or removed.” she returned calmly. “Very little secrets or lies can be hidden at our level my love.” she commented. “Do not see conspiracies because of unfounded rumours.” she added.

“The cross wiring of Meli's brain is not a rumour!” I retorted. It was possibly more snappish a reply than I intended. Annianka stared at me with overly wet wide eyes. “And it is a modification linked to Blood Lust.” I continued calmer. “Which suggests missing information about expendable tools and about Mekiliean's history proving a conspiracy exists.” I surmised with feigned casualness. “Similar to the missing information about your true origins on Atlantis.” I added grinning.

“I simply appeared here and was called by the Heartstone.” she replied bluntly. I felt her closing her mind to me as her arms crossed in front of her chest.

“Does not explain your Atlantian body unless you had already been an Atlantian.” I mused. I felt miss Hope creep closer to hear my words easier. “Did Odin have you possess an Atlantian body or created that body for you?” I stated slyly.

“Stop these silly pointless questions!” she snapped back at me.

“As you wish Princess Annianka.” I whispered in her mind. Her eyes went unnaturally wide as she glanced pass my left shoulder to miss Hope. “No words left my mouth sweetness.” I remarked easily. Her wide eyes returned to me as I saw her realize I had mind spoken to her. I ended our meal in silence while pondering this mistake she had made. I tried listening to her thoughts to see if other mental whispers were confused for spoken words but only found a mix of worries and desires all aimed at me. With but a soft parting kiss, I left Annianka happily wasting time in her garden. Miss Hope walked with me without our normal chatter but this silence ended as she halted me in the foyer of Her Holiness' tower.

“You seem to know more about Her Holiness than you reveal.” she half growled at me. “The Royal Guards have a reason to support Her as we do.” she stated slowly. “Is Her soul, like Her body, of Royal Blood?” she asked in a whisper.

“Before touching the Heartstone, yes.” I whispered back. “I believe Her odd moments are caused indirectly by communing with that central stone.” I explained slowly. “But I cannot prove an of those theories.” I added quickly. She smiled a cattish grin at me as she nodded.

“I understand.” she replied in a purr. “The Royal Guards will continue performing their sworn duty to the throne.” she informed me. “With hope, you will be at her side upon the the throne when she returns there.” she added softly. Her eyes widened as I hissed at her final words.

“My duties could never allow me to be trapped upon a throne.” I retorted. I saw that my reaction was misconstrued by the feline. “My duties take precedence over my own wants miss Hope.” I clarified. “ I will always support her while she sits upon Atlantis.” I concluded.

“Yes Lord Kestrel, Envoy of the Ones On High.” she returned with a smirk. “I thank you and Those that sent you to us.” she added softly. She curtsied to me before opening the main door to Annianka's tower home. I bowed deeply my reply to her. I left in silence returning home to collect my bags and companions. We would visit to the Celtic Faery Mounds as couriers and to repay them for their past visits to Atlantis.

Captain Ent and Captain Curd waited by the doors of my residence making me think Captain Rez was occupied elsewhere or waited at the harbour for me. I barely needed to enter my abode with Sert already handing me my backpack and Meli forcing my courier hip bag's strap over my head.

“The faster we reach the ship ...” Sert began.

“... the faster we can be off.” Meli concluded. The Captains chuckled as they stood bracketing my doors.

“Rush ahead while the Captains give me parting advice and asks the same of me.” I returned quickly. I moved to one side passed the Captains allowing them to bolt ahead on our path. “It is the most excited I have seen those two in weeks.” I commented half to myself.

“Voyaging away from Atlantis invigorates them.” Ent remarked smiling.

“Especially without the dress wearing viper for company.” Curd corrected. The twisted smile he wore spoke volumes of his distrust and hatred for Colêsträ.

“Better a hidden sword than a naked blade.” I returned casually. “Or would you rather I take feral guards with me?”

“Her Holiness would be appeased by that acceptance.” Ent replied with a lolling laugh. Curd bent closer to me.

“Miss Hope would also be pleased.” he purred at my ear. “She does not want Annianka's canary harmed.” she added in a purring chuckle.

“Annianka knows I can take care of myself without assistance.” I retorted in a squawk. Ent stepped back in silence while Curd stood unmoving with a mocking sneer on his face. “I have no time presently to curb you kitten.” I continued firmly. I allowed my eyes to shift to twin spinning stars in utter blackness as I registered the amicable jest this was for Curd.

“I have never understood the felines' sense of humour.” Ent stated calmly. “Nor their lack of survival instincts.” he continued softly. Curd stared at him for a moment as a growl formed in the back of the tiger's throat. “Should I mention this incident to Valeria, my mate?” he remarked passively. The growl died as Curd swallowed hard with wide eyed fear.

“I believe this issue between you two is beyond my range of duties.” I commented. “But please wait until I have embarked on the Herald before resolving it.” I added casually. They slowly nodded to me allowing us to walk briskly in a vain attempt to reach my companions before they boarded the ship. The walk was in an untypical silence which relieve me from hearing about Atlantian problems as I moved to escape the isle. Sert and Meli waved madly at me to hurry up as the Captains and myself weaved our way around the crates scattered on the dock itself.

“We do have a schedule to maintain Lord Kestrel.” captain Destine called down at me.

“We can learn of any potential problems once we touch ground again Sir.” Sert assured me.

“And we do not need to worry about Flower causing a scene.” Meli added quickly. I could see Destine shaking her head while my companions laughed.

“It appears time to be off again is upon me my Captains.” I stated to them quietly. They turned to bracket the boarding plank holding a salute until I passed between them to reach the deck of the Herald. “I will be expecting a full report upon my return.” I tossed back at them. A resounding 'Yes!' replied me. “Including the tension between both of you.” I added. Silence followed causing me to chuckle under my breath at them.

“Pull the plank and set sail!” Destine ordered. I glanced at her to notice the smile she wore. I had met good hearted pirate captains, like Balthis, that bore such a smile when setting out to sea. Over the years I watched here change into more of an adventuring spirit without losing the professional thinking of the top Atlantian navel captains. This spirit shone through her and her crew whenever we departed on a new voyage. Our return to Atlantis caused them to deflate into a wistful state while most felt the trip had been too short. Through time, if they escaped destruction, I saw them leading the pirates' life of plundering the wrongly rich with honour and showing mercy to the innocent. The age of the privateers was far in the future when trading as much as plundering in the open seas would be the norm.

The few ships we saw during the long voyage to reach what would be the British Isle. Only wave of greeting were sent to us as they passed. Our sailors would wave a reply to the foreign sailors while the ships' captains saluted each other. I had at times lost count of the passing years. Over forty years since my arrival in Atlantis felt like multiple centuries even multiple millenniums to me. Being greeted by other vessels had become normal no matter where we sailed now. This was our normal voyaging condition of calm waters and uninterrupted leisure. The uneventfulness of the sail continued through the hike around this verdant land. My companions hid their annoyance and frustration until we took the last trail returning us to the Herald.

“Even the wild animals have avoided us.” Sert grumbled.

“No special plants nor any books or scrolls to be had either.” Meli retorted. “Not going to attempt carrying stones slabs!” she remarked at me. My mouth had partially opened partially to make a comment before her snappish remark.

“But you could copy the words to paper.” I returned undeterred. “Either by writing it out or smudging it with dirt to a paper sheet you could carry back with you.” I continued easily.

“I would waste time we do not have.” she snapped again at me. “I am not being blamed for us to be late again.” She nearly growled at Sert with her words.

“I never blamed you.” he returned in mock indignation. “I just said you had been debating over which book copies you could borrow.” he explained. He flashed her a boyish innocent grin as she glared at him. I raised my hand at them bringing their conversation and pace to a sudden stop. I did not know this was the moment that would reveal the truth about Meli. I spotted the giant covered in fur and totting a giant twin sided axe barring the trail before us. “I will handle this.” Sert told us. I let the glamoury slide from him but he still was only half the giant's full height. He walked casually forward to speak with the axe wielding monster in our path. “Excuse me sir but can we pass?” he asked loudly. His answer came in the form of the flat side of the double bladed axe on his head in a quick strike. The speed shown by the giant seemed impossible for his incredible stature and girth. The nearly twenty foot tall giant movement had blurred to bring the axe soundly down on Sert's unguarded head. He collapsed in a heap at the giant's feet while the axe snapped back up for a second strike with the bladed edge.

Meli launched herself from my side with a death scream that would deafened any normal human around us before I could react to the attack. She ran up the front of the giant without even a momentary pause to place her feet. During the climb, I saw her fist turn into boulders as tendrils of earth rose to swirl tighter around them. I felt her earth wielder gift exploding around her as the fury to protect Sert rushed trough her mind coupled with a red haze of rage. This was a true sign of blood rage with the control fraction showing it as the rarest of the three forms of Blood Lust. This combined to fuel her as she began pounding with lightning quick rock coated fists at the giant's face.

The giant's face had started collapsing inward after the first few strikes while Mekiliean continued pummelling without mercy. The giant slowly fell backward as Meli continued her assault until he was upon the ground. Its face was a mess of bloody slime held in the bowl of his skull. Meli finally stopped to turn and rush to Sert's side as he groaned. She did not look back at the carnage she had unleashed upon the giant as she assisted Sert to stand. I led them down the path sending them ahead to the town. I returned to the scene to make the corpse disappear before it caused rumours of a giant killer of titanic proportions lose upon the land. Like the Earth wielders, I called upon the stone and sands to move aside sinking the giant's corpse into the ground many thousand feet below the surface. Even if multiple billion years passed, this corpse would never again see the light of day.

I returned after this to find my companions sitting by the entrance of the port town. Neither seemed to remember what transpired other then the possibility of Sert bumping his head. I had to presume the blow to his head caused the forgetfulness Sert suffered but nothing seem to explain Meli lost memories of the even. The trigger in Meli's case was her protective nature for her adopted big brother which made me fear a worse out come when Trixie had crossed their path. At least, it made me the only person that could report this problem in our talented pupil. I suspected that Annianka knew something she would not reveal to me, or any one else, about Meli's blood lust to protect her from possible repercussions. This genetic abnormality may be rejected by Atlantian but in Lemuria, it would relish this gift and cheer Meli as a step below the gods themselves because of it.

I fully probed Meli's mind finding no sign of the blood lust that had erupted in her to protect Sert. All I knew with certainty was if Meli's blood lust erupted while on Atlantis, her mind would be ignited and burn away before she could use it. It was a dirty trick to have destroying herself while nobly protecting others. I knew training exercise that would allow her to control this rage making the cross wiring of her brain obsolete and ineffective unless she truly lost control of her blood lust. We returned to the Herald to sail home with very few words about our trip other than it being uneventful.