Apostasy: The Book of Ithaca

Chapter 10

Chapter X



         Hushed whispers floated on the cold air of the Purgatorium. It had been the first time that Valimaar had walked its bloodstained hall since the Wytch hunts six years ago. The scent of death still lingered in the air as it blanketed the room like a burial sheet.

         It was only too fitting to find himself in these halls. For death seemed to follow him like a familiar. Was this to be his curse? He walked between the old devices. They were terrible things, racks, chains, spikes, nails, hammers, and blades. They utilized anything to make a Wytch confess to heresy, and they were quite successful.

         It was curious that of all the places he could think of, the Inquisitor would want to address them here. Following the suicide of Brother Xander, the Inquisitor had caught word of it immediately. He after all, was the ruling head of the Expurgators, and of the Hereticus Administratum.

         He wasn't sure that the Exarch had believed his reports. Perhaps that was why he was here. Perhaps it was time for his confessions.

         The other Executors had been called to this meeting. It had been years since Valimaar had spoken to any of them. Being the highest rank within the Expurgators, their duties kept them always busy.

         They stood gathered in a half circle around the old stone table. Each of them were silent as they watched Valimaar walking towards them. So calculating their gaze was. Expurgators...Always anticipating attack.

         "Brother Valimaar," the Exarch said, "I'm glad you came."

         Glad he came? He had no choice, he was ordered.

         "We await the Inquisitor. I've informed him of what happened. He wanted to address us personally," he said, twirling a small blade on the stone table.

         Their gaze penetrated through him. He could feel the burn of their stares searing his skin as he scanned the lot of them. He knew that he had the same look about him. No matter where he went, people feared him. This was the first time he had crossed this gaze in return.

         "What happened to Brother Xander?" His voice was chilling. Brother Rialev was as Valimaar had always thought, one of the most experienced Expurgators in the Hereticus Administratum. He had been the first Expurgator chosen to be an Executor. With his promotion came the terrors that all of them would come to know. Valimaar knew that they haunted his fellow brother just as they haunted him.

         "He went insane," Valimaar replied, staring at nothing.

         "Insane?"

         Valimaar nodded, "Whatever did that to him had compromised his mind. I have never seen an attack like that. It’s obvious that he was tortured. It would have broken anybody's mind."

         Rialev scoffed at him, "Perhaps. I find it unbelievable that it would have done something like that to one of us."

         "You did not see it Brother Rialev," the Exarch said, "That man was barely alive when we found him. We do not know how long he had been like that, but regardless, every man has a breaking point."

         Brother Tyber placed his hands on his hips as he shook his head. "We were taught to never allow our spirits to be compromised Exarch."

         The Exarch turned from them, "I'm aware of that Brother Tyber, but this was different. Whatever we encountered is far more powerful than a cultist, or a geist. This was something I have never seen in my six years as Exarch."

         "Brother Valimaar," Rialev said, "What do you make of this? We have yet to hear your reports."

         He was a sacrifice to a worthy cause Valimaar

         "I believe that these murders are all tied with one another," he replied, forcing the voices from his thoughts, "I think that they are a type of invocation."

         "An invocation of what?" The young man asked. Brother Melchiah was studying him; reading him. He was young, but strong, and intelligent.

         "A powerful daemon," Valimaar said, his voice trailing off.

         More powerful than you know.

         "Is that so," the voice echoed through the halls. Creeping through the darkness of the back of the Purgatorium, the decorated man walked slowly towards them. His blood red robes were like liquid, flowing with each step he took.

         "Is that so," the voice echoed through the halls. The decorated man crept through the darkness towards them. His blood red robes were like liquid, flowing with each step he took.

         The eight of them dropped to a knee as the man came upon them. Cardinal Celestine, though only an Episcopate, was as intimidating as any of the Expurgators. He carried with him an essence of power that was unfamiliar to the rest of them, as though he were as deadly as the rest of them. Perhaps he was, for the Inquisitor was the ultimate judge. He had sentenced every Heretic that had ever found themselves within the walls of the Purgatorium. The sentence was always death.

         ”Rise Expurgators.” His deep voice rumbled Valimaar’s chest. “I’ve been informed by the Exarch of what he and Brother Valimaar have found. As such, I would like to speak with all of you about this atrocity.”

         ”Your grace,” Brother Rialev said, “I do not understand how one of us could have been corrupted by this abomination. It is against our teachings to allow ourselves any weakness against evil.”

         The Inquisitor raised his bony hand to hush the man. “I am aware that this is troubling the lot of you Brother Rialev. You are aware that the eight of you are the highest of our order. As such, you are different from the rest; stronger. The lower ranks of the Expurgators do not possess the same strength of spirit as you. It is no surprise that Brother Xander’s had been compromised.”

         ”I understand that your grace, but we have a duty,” he replied, clasping the silver cruciform that hung from his neck.

         ”Brother Rialev,” the Exarch said, “Please, be silent.”

         The Expurgator nodded his agreement.

         ”Cardinal Celestine, Brother Valimaar and myself pursued this murderer into an abandoned building in the slums. It is there we found an abomination. The likes of which I have never seen. It was a man, of sorts, many in fact. Their flesh had been carved.”

         ”Carved?”

         ”Carved with words your grace,” Valimaar said. “It was an inscription that spoke of the coming of great evil. I believe that these murders are some form of ritual.”

         ”There was another inscription on the palm of the severed hand,” the Exarch added, “It was written in Kalimag.”

         The Cardinal nodded. “I see.”

         Kalimag? Valimaar had never heard of the language. It was no surprise that the Inquisitor, and the Exarch knew of it. Being of the highest ranks within the Hereticus Administratum, he was certain that they had crossed the paths of many dark rituals.

         ”What did it say?” The Inquisitor asked.

         ”Repesti meun domarco,” The Exarch replied, gripping the hilt of the small blade he spun on the table.

         ”Rise my lords,” Cardinal Celestine said. His eyes closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose between his finger and thumb.

         The Exarch nodded. “I believe that the princes are returning.”

         The princes? Valimaar was not aware of any princes. Who were they? Eight princes, eight sons, and eight brothers come. Brother Xander knew of it.

         ”Cardinal Celestine. There were flies, thousands of them.” The Exarch said.

         The Inquisitor sighed. “Belial.”

         ”Lord of the Flies.” The Exarch added. His voice was shaky.

         Cardinal Celestine sat down as he placed his hand upon his brow. Whatever it was troubled him. Had it finally bested them?

         ”Expurgators… listen carefully. We stand on the precipice of annihilation. This is more than a ritual, or a wave of murders. This is an awakening. I cannot go into great detail what is happening, as the prophecies are vague, but we face the coming of a great evil.”

         The eight of them shared looks of bewilderment. Prophecies? Valimaar was not aware of any prophecy.

         ”There are ancient texts that speak of the return of the eight princes of hell. The coming of the flies is mentioned briefly. It is the sign of Belial, one of Azaal’s sons.”

         Belial has come Valimaar.

         ”What does this mean to us?” Brother Rialev asked.

         ”We cannot allow this awakening to happen. These rituals must stop. If the princes return from hell, we will be obliterated in their wake.” The Inquisitor replied.

         ”You want us to find this murderer?” Brother Melchiah asked as he gripped the stock of his pistol.

         ”I want you to kill him.”

         You cannot stop them Valimaar. The awakening has already begun.

         ”What if he has completed the rituals?” Valimaar asked.

         He has. They are here Valimaar. Look with your eyes, and see them.

         ”If he has completed the rituals Brother Valimaar, we have only one line of defense against these evils,” the Inquisitor replied, lacing his fingers. “Saint Peregrine’s Fall.”

         Saint Peregrine’s Fall. He recalled the box that Lady Elaine was quick to recover from the dead priest on the road to Duraine. She had referred to it by that name. Hope remained.

         The relic will not protect you Valimaar. Do not listen to him.

         ”We are unaware of its whereabouts. It was stolen close to three weeks ago by an Eparch of the Basilica,” the Inquisitor added.

         ”I have found it,” Valimaar replied.

         It will not save you.

         ”Where is it?” The Inquisitor’s eyes were wide.

         ”The Vicar Forane recovered it upon our return to Ecclesia,” he said. “I shall retrieve it from her.”

         Do not bring it to him Valimaar. It will be your downfall.

***************

         Lady Elaine struggled to make sense of it all. Never had she seen so many travesties befall the Divinity. She pushed back the sobs that interrupted her breaths as she clutched the wooden box in her hands. So much death had happened over such a little thing. It didn't make sense to her.

         She rolled the memories of Father Gordon through her mind as she lay in the soft velvet covers of her bed. He was such a remarkable man before he was imprisoned. He always explained to her the art of translation as if she were his student. He took great pride in her abilities she after all, had gained more knowledge from him than any Eparch of the Basilica. Those times were gone, as was he.

         I leave this in your hands now.

         What was he leaving in her hands? She could not grasp it. Simply leaving Ecclesia behind to make for the land of Wytches seemed like insanity. Wytches after all, were not at all welcoming to Ecclesians, especially those of the Ecclesiarchy. Who could blame them? The Ecclesiarchy had eradicated their presence in Ecclesia six years ago.

         What of the sect that Valimaar spoke of? Could they help? She had so many questions and no one to answer them. It was all so hopeless.

         She jumped at the gentle knock on the door. As it creaked open, Father Papal poked his head in.

         "Forgive my intrusion Vicar Forane, but Brother Valimaar wishes to speak with you."

         She wiped the burning tears from her eyes and nodded. "Send him in Father Papal."

         She watched as her bodyguard entered the room. He seemed... troubled. Sorrow, no fear, filled his eyes. She had never seen him look like this. What was the matter with him?

         He took a seat at the foot of her bed and sighed, "Forgive me my lady."

         "Valimaar, what is the matter?" She asked, lifting herself from the sanctity of her pillows.

         "The Exarch and I found the abomination's lair." His head hung low.

         "And?"

         "We found one of our brethren," his fists were clenched shut as he shook his head.

         Lady Elaine pushed the covers away and placed her hand on his shoulder, "What happened?"

         "He took his own life."

         Had Azul forsaken them all? An Expurgator taking his own life was something unheard of.

         "Lady Elaine, I require the relic you found."

         Why did he want it? What was going on?

         "My lady, I've been informed that it's our only chance of surviving the coming darkness."

         "By whom?"

         He stood, "Cardinal Celestine."

         "I'm afraid I cannot give it to you."

         He stood, turning away from her. "My lady, I-"

         "Listen to me," she said withdrawing her hand. "I found the place in the library that Father Gordon spoke of. There was a note from him addressed to me. I spoke to him."

         Anger surged through Valimaar's body. She was so stubborn sometimes. What would he have done if she were killed? How could he live with himself?

         "He told me that I need to get it out of Ecclesia and find the book."

         Valimaar spun on his heels. The heat of his rage burned her. "Forget the book!" He pointed toward the door. "Out there beyond those walls there is a plague killing every citizen of this sovereignty! Here there's a murderer claiming the lives of every esteemed member of the Ecclesiarchy! That book is not going to do us any good. This isn't a game Vicar Forane. We're facing annihilation!"

         Was she so naive to him? Who was she to deny him his request? He was in fact, an Expurgator, and she was but a priest. She was not a daemon hunter, and not a warrior, but the Vicar Forane. He didn't possess the knowledge of Ecclesia's history, or its relics. Who was he to scold her?

         She jumped from the bed and hammered her fist into his shoulder. "Valimaar! You think of me as so arrogant that I don't know what is happening out there?" Tears flowed down her cheeks like a river of diamonds shimmering in the candle light.

         Valimaar stumbled backward from the shock. He had never seen her like this. It was not his place to yell at her. He was after all only a member of the Laity, and she was a priest. He had no business telling her what to do. Such acts were often punishable.

         "Forgive me my lady but-"

         She raised her hand to silence him "Stop it. I'm not some princess, and I'm tired of being treated like one."

         Valimaar returned to the foot of the bed and sighed. "What do you want to do."

         She plopped onto the red velvet beside him, "Listen to me. Father Gordon knew of the relic. He knew that somehow Azaal's servants would be hunting for it." She placed her soft palm on his cheek. "That priest we found on the road was shot Valimaar. The soldiers of Aegis were looking for him."

         "What are you saying?"

         "Who commands Aegis?"

         Valimaar stared into her azure eyes, "Cardinal Celestine."

         She nodded. "Aegis wasn't in Duraine to maintain a quarantine. They were hunting that priest."

         He turned from her gaze. "What would you have me do?"

         "Father Gordon told me to take Saint Peregrine's Fall to Lokken. He said that is where the book is."

         He shook his head, "We're to just pick up and leave for the land of the Wytches? That is madness."

         "Valimaar, I have a feeling he is right. I think he knew that Cardinal Celestine wasn't meant to have it. Do you not believe me?"

         Do not bring it to him Valimaar.

         He forced the whispers from his ears. "I don't know what I believe anymore."

         She nodded. "Perhaps one of your seers will enlighten us."