The Howling Dark, Part 15

The Many Voices speaking in a multitude of languages and dialects reverberated both within and without as the blood continued to fall from First's open mouth, pooling at his feet and even more strangely... it appeared as though their were fish of some hideous kind swimming around beneath its crimson surface.

The thick red blood quickly spread across the floor and was hungrily soaked up by it like a drop of black ink being absorbed by a sheet of solid white paper and the once white space became a deep, deep crimson as the distant walls defining the boundaries of this bizarre place seemed to begin to melt.

The faces that had been cackling maniacally the entire time suddenly froze, their expressions etched in a perpetual state of shock, horror, and fear as First's jaws snapped shut just inches from the tip of The Doppelganger's nose, causing the air to split as his jaws came together with such speed and **** that a thunderous sound like a bear trap being tripped could be heard.

First's face was once again blank and his body had returned to its former whiter than white color. He stood up while still staring down at Aaron's Doppelganger., "I'LL SAY IT AGAIN... ǝΛɐƎl ... NOW!"

The Doppelganger shivered, shaking from the power contained in The Mysterious First's words but... a glint of defiance still remained in his glowing gold eyes as he stood up and spoke., "Tell me why... Why Him and Not ME?"

'First' sighed as he turned and approached Aaron. Every step was as silent as a cat's however each step still caused the ground to crack and the vast expanse of white dyed with subtly shifting shades of red to shake fiercely. Stopping only a few steps in front of a still **** Aaron, 'First' again sighed before speaking., "WHY?... SUCH A SMALL WORD AND SUCH A SIMPLE QUESTION BUT... WITH FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS... THE REASON IS THIS...," 'First' turned to face the angry and confused Doppelganger., "... YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT... YOU ARE WEAK... EVEN WEAKER THAN THE CHILD BEHIND ME..."

"BUT...!," The Doppelganger tried to argue but he was quickly silenced by simple wave of First's hand.

"... THE POWER YOU OBTAINED...," 'First' began, not giving Aaron's Doppelganger a chance to argue., "... IS MERELY A SHADOW OF WHAT THAT CHILD ALREADY POSSESSES..."

"Then..."

"... THAT'S RIGHT... YOU HAVE BEEN BLINDED BY THE MADNESS OF OUR FAMILY... MY MADNESS...," 'First' placed a hand on The Doppelganger's shoulder in sympathy., "... I'M SORRY MY SON I NEVER WANTED YOU OR ANY OF MY CHILDREN TO BE BURDENED BY MY MISTAKES BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT... EVEN THOSE WITH POWER LIKE OURS. YOU ASKED ME WHY?"

The non-existent air grew heavy and cold moments before 'First' began speaking again., "... BECAUSE HE IS THE LAST... THE ONE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR SO VERY LONG... HE IS THE STRONGEST... THE ONE WHO WILL DO WHAT NONE OF US COULD... EVEN ME..."

The defiant look in The Doppelganger's flashing yellow eyes was still there but it no longer had the sharp edge it had had when The Doppelganger had asked 'Why?', Instead there was a hint of begrudging acceptance of a Will beyond his own, one he could neither fight against nor hope to overcome.

"I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN... YOU HAVE BUILT A KINGDOM... CONQUERED ALL YOUR ENEMIES AND PROVEN YOURSELF... AND NOW... YOU WISH TO REAP THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABORS...," 'First' sighed as though there were a great weight upon his chest before continuing., "... SUCH IS THE RIGHT OF EVERY ONE OF US WHO HAS CLIMBED TO WHERE YOU ARE BUT YOU MUST REALIZE THAT THAT IS NO LONGER YOUR PART TO PLAY IN THE TRAGEDY OF OUR RACE. NO, THIS POOR BOY WILL HAVE TO SHOULDER THIS BURDEN IN YOUR PLACE."

The Doppelganger shrugged off the hand from his shoulder and pushed past The Mysterious 'First' to stare at Aaron. The expression on his face was difficult to read but it appeared to be one of respect twinged with frustration and even anger as his features rippled restlessly.

'First' didn't say or do anything as he stared at The Doppelganger's back and drooping shoulders with a solemn look on his blank, expressionless face.

"I tire of this game anyway. I'll leave you alone for now Aaron... I can wait. You'll become me in the end anyways... You don't have anymore choice than I did.," The Doppelganger stated in a resolute but quiet tone before disappearing in a wisp of black and grey smoke, his face the last to vanish as the light in his eyes dimmed and finally faded from sight, taking his dark and dreary expression with them.

A bead of silver quickly took shape in what would have been the corner of First's right eye had he had eyes that is before freezing half way down his cheek then shattering and scattering into the non-existent breeze rushing past his pale motionless form.

"SO THIS IS THE CHILD WHO WILL SOMEDAY INHERIT MY POWER AND LEAD OUR PEOPLE INTO A NEW AGE.," It was more a statement than a question., "I SEE GREAT PROMISE IN YOU AND I ALSO SEE... GREAT DANGER... YOUR OLDER BROTHER MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN ABOUT HIS ROLE IN OUR PEOPLE'S FUTURE BUT HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING... THE DAM CANNOT HOLD BACK THE RISING TIDE FOREVER... I'M TRULY SORRY..."

'First' stepped forward, a single silvery tear falling down his cheek, leaving a trail of tarrish black in its wake before freezing and blowing away., "THAT I MUST ASK THE SON OF MY SONS TO DO WHAT I SHOULD'VE BUT COULD NOT...," A low deep rumble could be heard rising up in the background., "... I FEEL SHAME... I FEEL ANGER... I FEEL... RELIEVED... RELIEVED THAT OUR FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS BECAUSE.. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE THE ONE TO DO WHAT I COULD NOT..."

'First' seemed conflicted for a moment as he watched Aaron's eyes move to and fro beneath his pale eyelids., "MAYBE IF I HAD RESISTED THINGS WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT... NO, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO... FIGHT THE GLAIVE?... I KNEW FROM THE MOMENT THE GARUDA THRUST ITS TALONS INTO MY CHEST THAT IT WAS OVER. AS THE LIFE DRAINED FROM MY BONES... AS MY HEARTS BEGAN TO SLOW... AND MY BLOOD BEGAN TO BURN... THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THAT MY PLACE AS THE PATRIARCH OF THE KIN'RIT LINE WOULD HAVE TO BE ASSUMED BY ANOTHER... I'M SORRY THAT IT HAS TO BE YOU MY SON BUT I KNOW THAT... YOU... WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE."

The gawking blood spattered faces with their eyes wide in absolute horror, their mouths frozen in a silent scream began to fade from sight one by one, taking the ghastly and bloody hues with them, absorbed into the endless expanse of white like water supped up by the thirsty roots of a great tree.

The silence was soon filled with a slow, constant dripping sound, true the sound had never stopped... it had merely been pushed into the background because of First's presence but now it was reasserting itself.

"IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MY TIME ON THE FAR SHORE IS NEARLY AT AN END.," Stated 'First' in a somber voice, looking almost tired or perhaps thin might be a better description as he eyed Aaron wearily, glancing down at his hand as the increasingly smaller drops of white falling incessantly from the tips of his fingers were coming less and less frequently.

Red cracks... shallow at first... appeared across the endless expanse of brilliant white shining with rays of golden light then the cracks grew wider and deeper as blood tinged with thick globules of some heavy silvery metal oozed from them like pus from an infected wound then as the cracks continued to widen they began to reveal the infinite void of The Howling Dark underneath. Seconds later, The World of White fell away like the glass of a shattered window and was replaced by an unending and oppressive darkness. The brief but serene song of birds conversing jubilantly back and forth with one another could be heard as the last vestiges of the white space faded and all was black once again.

The Mysterious 'First' was silent for a moment, standing as motionless as some ancient statue before looking into the distance on either side of him and for a moment there was a sense of pride but it was quickly replaced by the weight of Authority., "VOGASH... RENON... MY SONS... THANK YOU..."

As he said their names, two Men stepped out of the darkness on the periphery of The Howling Dark on either side of him and though they were some distance from Aaron and The Mysterious 'First' they were clearly visible as if they were only standing a few feet away.

The two were as much alike as they were different. They both were of similar size and build with the same unnaturally pale skin but where one's hair was long and wreathed in shadow the others was as white as snow and the way they dressed was both similar and different. While one seemed to have stepped out of Ancient Japan the other was dressed in the regal attire of someone from China's distant past. Now obviously neither of these two Men looked as if they came from Asian Stock but they also didn't look like they came from anywhere anyone had every been before either.

The dark-haired Man who answered to the name Renon bore a large red circle on his smooth and otherwise white chest and his eyes were a yellowed gold. The other Man, Vogash who had long white hair wore a long piece of white cloth over his eyes branded with a red cross but a pair of soft golden lights where eyes should be could be seen through the thin but not quite transparent fabric.

Something else stood out about the Man called Vogash... In his right hand was a spear which stood taller than the Man holding it. Vogash tapped the butt of the spear on the ground, the sound of thunder cried out from every contact with the ground and after five taps he held the spear out in front of him horizontally and instantly the over six foot spear shrunk down to less than a foot. Vogash reached behind him and put the spear away. With the large, ornate and exquisitely crafted weapon no longer the center of attention something else drew the eye. They were like bees or wasps dancing through the air all around the white-haired Vogash but they weren't insects at all but needles.

The needles that hovered around him were made of silver and resembled those used in Acupuncture and were enveloped in a vibrant golden aura. There were dozens of them and each one was unique. One had a coiling dragon ascending to heaven while another had clouds etched into it that were so detailed that one could almost see them slowly drifting across a magnificent silver sky and there were still others that depicted common scenes from daily life like the changing of the seasons which were so exquisitely detailed and realistic that it was as if a moment in time had been captured in all its splendor. Looking at them one could almost see the leaves of Autumn fall or the first snows of winter settle. That having been said it goes without saying that each was a masterpiece of incalculable beauty and inestimable value.

Vogash tugged the cross-collar of his outer robes to the side and the small, buzzing needles flew into his robes and disappeared leaving a brief sparkling trail of gold dust behind them as they did.

Both Men's handsome faces were etched in a serious, even severe expression that left no room for questions or arguments only obedience. They were the very picture of what an Alpha could and should be.

The two Men immediately kneeled... a very significant event that few would even recognize or understand. These two Men were like Great Trees... it had taken them hundreds even thousands of years filled with blood and sweat and pain to reach the pinnacle of their art and like The Great Trees they echoed they did not bend to anyone and yet here they were doing that very thing despite the nearly unassailable aura of Dominance and Superiority that radiated from every pore of their finely honed bodies which should tell you something about the being they were kneeling before.

"We Greet The Father of Our Fathers!," The two kneeling Men spoke in unison with their heads lowered in respect.

"I THANK YOU FOR COMING TO YOUR BROTHER'S AID BUT I AM EVEN MORE THANKFUL THAT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WAS NOT NEEDED... THERE ARE SO FEW OF US LEFT... WE SHOULD NOT FIGHT AMONGST OURSELVES."

"Yes Father!," Renon and Vogash spoke again as one voice.

The Mysterious 'First' didn't look at either of the kneeling Men but strictly speaking he didn't need to, he just kept watching Aaron... seemingly entranced by whatever he was seeing.

"YOU MAY GO MY SONS... THE NEED HAS PASSED AND OUR FUTURE IS SAFE... FOR NOW..."

"Yes Father!"

"... BUT STAY CLOSE... YOUR BROTHER WILL NEED YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD WHETHER HE REALIZES IT YET OR NOT."

"Yes Father!," Said Renon and Vogash as they stood up and prepared to leave.

"ONE LAST THING..."

The two Men stopped.

"HE WILL HAVE NEED OF YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR EXPERIENCE... TEACH HIM."

The two Men bowed deeply and spoke in unison., "We Have Already Begun."

'First' almost seemed to smile.

The two Men stood straight and stepped back, disappearing into a vertical sea of deep black with a loud splash.

"AND WHAT OF YOU FALLEN REGENT?," The Mysterious First's many voices boomed but he was met with only silence., "DO NOT TEST ME WOMAN... COME OUT... NOW!"

From the Darkness behind Aaron, stepped a figure wrapped in blue. The heavy dyed wool hung loosely about the figure's head and was open in the front, revealing the face of a Woman. Her fiery red hair spilled out from around her neck and across her chest like blood from an open wound. Her eyes were a sickening yellowish green that only served to reinforce the inhuman aura that wafted from her like the scent of **** from an abattoir.

She would have been beautiful if not for her pale, dirty face or the fresh claw marks from some unknown beast that split her lower lip in two places and the dried blood in the corner of her mouth.

The Dark seemed to want to flee her presence as the space around her almost tore itself in two trying to escape contact with her body and there was a faint crackle of electricity in the air and the smell of sulfur.

"AH THERE YOU ARE.," Came First's many amused voices.

"You Knew?," The Red-Haired Stranger's voice cracked and the entire space shook.

"OF COURSE... I AM FIRST."

As she stepped or... more accurately she seemed to glide across the ground toward Aaron like some ghostly apparition the shaking caused by her approach intensified but then she suddenly stopped.

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?," The Many Voices As One demanded.

"You May Have Been Locked Away For A Long Time But Even You Must Know I Follow A New Mission Now.," Said The Mysterious Red-Haired Woman., "One of My Own Choosing... Not The One "He" Gave Us."

"AH YES YOU'VE BECOME SOMETHING OF A VOYEUR NOW I UNDERSTAND."

"Aren't We All?," The Eerie Female smirked before stepping back and just like Renon and Vogash she disappeared without a trace into the infinite black.

Shaking his head, 'First' placed his hand on Aaron's shoulder., "PITY IS NOT THE WAY OF OUR KIND BUT IF IT WERE I WOULD SAY THAT YOUR LONG NIGHT WILL SOON END AND NOTHING WILL BE AS IT WAS OR AS IT IS... AND FOR THAT... I AM SORRY."

'First' turned and began to walk away., "I'VE GIVEN YOU ALL THE HELP I CAN FOR NOW... THE REST I LEAVE TO YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS.," The Many Voices as One said in a somber and for the first time since The Mysterious 'First' appeared... quiet voice.

"REMEMBER THESE WORDS MY SON... TOO GREAT A TALENT WIELDS THE LIFE OF ITS OWNER... NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND."

With his parting words spoken and the final drops of white falling from Aaron's fingers, 'First' continued walking and with every step he descended into the darkness as though he were walking down a set of steps and into a pool of blackest black.

"WHEN THE TIME COMES TURN YOUR BACK TO THE NIGHT AND YOUR FRONT TO ME AND... I WILL BE THERE."