Resheph Strikes

The memory started as Fidelisa and Eos walked down the halls of the nursery, Eos chatting excitedly about how in less than a month she would be taking part in the ceremony of adulthood. She would finally be able to join society as a full member of it.

Their friendly banter was cut short as a blood curdling scream echoed down the hall from the living quarters. Fidelisa reached for her young charge, to pull her back, “Lady Eos, we need to go - now.”

Eos shook her off, “But what if someone is hurt, Mistress Puellia, we need to go help.”

Fidelisa paused as her instincts told her they should run, but knowing they are in the nursery, it is a sacred ground as none would dare put the children of Gehenna in danger. “Yes, Mistress.” Rushing forward to a slightly open door.

Pushing the door open Fidelisa froze at the sight, a monstrous man stood there another tutor on her knees before him as he held her by the neck squeezing so she could never scream again. His other hand reached down to her chest, taking a deep breath as he allowed his will to pull her soul from her body. The glowing orb ripping from her flesh and resting in his grasp as he brought it up to his parted lips, as his long slender tongue darted from his lips and wrapped around it to bring it into his mouth. Closing his lips and gulping one could feel the life extinguish forever more.

Fidelisa opened her mouth to scream but his eyes met hers and she froze. Her mind panicked as she could not think, could not act, every fiber of her body screaming to her. Tears formed rolling down her cheeks, as she slid down the door to her knees, her body shaking uncontrollably.

Eos pushed by her, just in time to see the lifeless body of the tutor collapse. The demon laughed, turning back to face the five year old child that had been shielded by the tutor, “now little child of the false king, you shall be next.” He snarled reaching out to grab the child’s hair.

Eos bolted forward, grabbing the arm that reached for her nephew, “Run, now!” she commanded, using all her strength to hold the arm firmly, allowing him a path to freedom.

The boy scrambled over the corpse of his tutor and across the floor making his way out the door past the broken Fidelisa sitting there.

The man growled, shaking free of the petite young woman, “So eager to die, girl, very well, your soul shall be mine.” Grabbing her by the hair and lifting her from the floor to look in his eyes as he smiled.

Eos though refused to cry out or beg for her life, reaching up to claw at the hand holding her above the floor.

The man laughed in her face, bringing his other hand to her small chest. Taking the breath again as he pulled at her soul with his ****.

Eos fought through the pain, realizing this could be it, and in her final moments she spits in his face.

The man laughs again as the girl’s body goes limp, her soul glowing brightly in the palm of his hand. Tilting his head back and opening his maw he lifted the soul high and let it fall into his eager mouth. Swallowing, “delicious I love the brave ones, they taste the best as they lose hope.”

Dragging the lifeless body of Eos as he marched towards the door, he paused before Fidelisa. Looking down at her, he through the corpse knocking her to the floor. “Weak woman, not even worth it for me to consume. A coward has no place of having the honor of being my meal.”

Stepping out through the door, as Fidelisa could only cradle the body of her young student, rocking slowly and whispering to her, “it will be okay, it will be okay, I am here dear, I will never let you go.” While more screams could be heard from deeper within the chambers.

With tears rolling down Alexis’s cheeks the memory finally faded, and she sunk to her own knees. “Aunty Lisa?” she whispered, begging for the woman to be okay, as she reached out for the fading form of her mentor. Not noticing at first as another memory was starting to form around her.