Author's Note: LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!
Totally revamped, revised, and hotter than ever, I present to you LotM 2.0! Same characters, stronger attitudes, and hopefully much greater detail!
Chapter One – The Mission Begins
“Lady Caligo!” the tall, dark-skinned man shouted at the front of the Basilica. “You are summoned before the Jury!”
Murmurs floated through the immense structure as the robed figures looked around for the renowned woman, the daughter of the villainous General Fautor, the sister of the wicked Lord Ultor...
At the back of the room, one person leaned casually against the gray stone wall, arms crossed, eyes as blue as glaciers watching the crowd as they whispered. This was a very large Gathering, and very important.
“Caligo!” the man repeated.
With a sigh, the woman pushed away from the wall gracefully and marched towards the front of the vast dimly lit room, her own black robe billowing around her feet. The crowd parted for her, some out of respect and others from fear.
There was a group of seven aged men sitting in a row at the front of the Basilica. The old men wore robes colored cream and gold, and five of them had white beards grown down to their plump bellies. Their eyes were cold and unfeeling as they watched her approach, and the woman returned their heartless gaze. Many knew of her growing hatred for the Jury, although gossip was not wisely shared in her presence. Respect was an integral part of her character, as well as loyalty, and she would not tolerate insolence even from her elders.
Standing before the Jury, Caligo gently removed her hood and lowered to one knee, as was the custom. One gloved hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
The Jury waited patiently for the mass of people to grow silent, and then the elected Speaker addressed Caligo.
“Lady Caligo,” he said in his strong voice, his beard rattling against his chest. “As you know, our world is growing weaker.”
Caligo nodded. It was true; the magick was beginning to fade. Everyone could sense it. According to prophecy, this was the time when the Lord of Darkness would return to restore power to his realm. Immediately, Caligo knew what the Speaker was going to ask of her.
“In order to return balance to the Darkside, our Lord must return,” the Speaker declared, confirming her prediction, and effectively turning the crowd into a clamoring mob.
The multitude desperately strove for silence, but when a woman fainted pandemonium ensued. Caligo steeled herself against the temptation to turn around with an angry glare and an insult, instead waiting with the old men for everyone to regain their composure. It seemed to last forever, but finally the Speaker was satisfied enough to continue.
“We have chosen you, Lady Caligo, to retrieve him.”
Caligo drew in a shaky breath. Damn them! Did they not remember what had happened to Ultor!?
“Why me?” she whispered.
“You dare to question the Jury’s decision!?” the Speaker spat at her. She did not reply, keeping her eyes fixed on the cold stone floor. “Our Lord must return. You will find him on the surface, hiding behind a false name. Leave as soon as possible… The Jury has spoken; our will shall not be defied… Go in Darkness.”
“Go in Darkness,” the crowd murmured. Then it was time to leave.
Caligo stood, but remained at the front of the room, facing the empty seats of the Jury as the others gradually flowed out of the Basilica.
To the surface, she thought. Gods of old… please do not let history repeat itself…
When the Basilica was completely empty of the Darkside’s elite, she slowly turned around and walked towards the large wooden doors. Outside, the silver trees were trembling in the icy wind, and dark clouds swathed the skies.
Her Ministry was waiting for her. Ministries were mostly formed for political gain or religious duty these days, but hers was military, like the first Ministries. Lords usually led Ministries, and more recently Ladies had been granted the ability to form their own. There weren’t many of them.
Caligo’s Ministry consisted of five men and one woman. Ferus was the oldest and the wisest of the group, and had been a loyal soldier in the army when he served under her father’s command. When Caligo had been declared a Lady after the War of Proditor, Fautor had sent him to become the first member of her own Ministry. He was reasonably tall, with a thick dark beard and long, scraggly hair. Susurrus came after, having been a friend of Ferus, and was just as tall but smaller in build. Then Dens and Fremo, who were brothers, joined her. Dens was extremely loyal and would do anything at all that she asked, even if it was ridiculous, while his brother had a strong sense of personal honor. Next was Lea, a fair blonde who was faithful and gifted with visions occasionally. She had probably saved the lives of many troops with one particular vision during the war, when she warned Caligo about an upcoming invasion. Lastly was Fallo, a shy young man who strangely reminded Caligo of a rat. He had only been a part of the Ministry for a few months.
From the expressions on their faces, she knew her Ministry had already discovered their next task. Their robed figures drew together to speak quietly in the dark.
“We’re going to the surface,” Caligo stated simply.
Susurrus frowned. “The surface is dangerous. And many of us have never been there.”
“Do you not trust me?” Caligo asked, looking at him coldly.
“Of course I trust you, my Lady,” he replied awkwardly. His expression gave her the impression that he wanted to say something else, but he kept silent. The man was six years older than her, and whenever he showed submission it made Caligo feel discomfited.
“How are we supposed to find… him…?” Dens asked quietly.
“The Jury said Lord Undertaker is hiding behind a false name. We will rely on our senses to find him. It should not be difficult; his power will draw us to him.” After a moment, Caligo added, “I will scry for him back at the den.”
Her Ministry looked unsure and timid, all except Ferus. But he had been to the surface before, in the war…
She pushed the thought from her mind. “This task is not optional. The magick of our world is fading, and the only way to return the balance is for Lord Undertaker to return. In any case, if we fail in our mission the Jury will likely have us hanged.”
“Caligo is right,” a voice stated behind her.
Looking around, Caligo scowled at the man coming towards them. His hair was short and black, slicked back around his head. Combined with his sharp yellow eyes, he looked like a snake… And she knew from previous experiences that his bite was full of venom.
“I was not speaking to you, Lord Furor.”
“Oh, but perhaps I could lend a bit of encouragement to your little fellows here, hmm?” he said. Then he grinned snidely at the others. “Have no fear, my friends. The surface has made Undertaker weak. He is nothing to worry about.”
“Lord Undertaker is the spirit of the Darkside,” Caligo warned through her teeth. “Without him we would be nothing. He deserves respect, not your spiteful remarks.”
“Oh! Well, perhaps he’ll strike me down when he returns…” Furor muttered. He stepped closer to her, too close, and she cringed inside. “Ironic, isn’t it? That you can be so devoted to the man who killed your brother…”
In a split second, Aeternitas was blazing in her hand, the tip of the blade digging slightly into Furor’s neck. His Ministry behind him drew their weapons, and in reaction her Ministry also drew theirs. All was quiet.
“My, this is civil,” Furor murmured.
“If you even think about mentioning that again, I will not hesitate to slit your throat,” Caligo whispered harshly. “Is that understood?” Furor said nothing, glowering at her with a passionate hatred that surged through him. She added more pressure to her sword, and a trickle of blood ran down his neck. “Do not forget that you once followed my orders.”
When he still remained silent, Caligo slowly stepped away. Regret immediately washed over her for not killing him anyway. Sheathing her sword at her side, she turned to her Ministry.
“We must prepare for our journey.”
Then she led them away from the Basilica, and Lord Furor’s Ministry.
________________________________________
Caligo sighed when the door was shut. Finally she was alone, left to decipher her mixed thoughts and emotions about their newly assigned mission. Her anger at Furor was still hot, but she would deal with him later. There must eventually be a day when the two adversaries would be alone, with no witnesses… She knew he would never be as powerful as her for the sheer fact that his intentions were impure. And she knew him well, for he had been a soldier under her command in the War of Proditor.
No, I don’t want to think of war right now, the tall woman thought as she crossed the darkened room.
Easily locating a candle, she blew a small spark to light it, and let herself smile. A simple, childish spell, but it still gave her great pleasure to cast. For just a moment, she let herself slip into a memory from years long past.
Her father, Lord Fautor, used to punish Caligo and her older brother for lighting small fires in the creek bed that ran along the western border of their land. However, Fautor was not very adept at punishing his children, and after he gave them a slap on the wrist he couldn’t help praising their rising skills.
This memory was followed by one less pleasant. The image of her brother’s dead face flashed through her mind, his body lying cold atop the mound of wood and spices that were used for the traditional and honorable funeral pyre, and she immediately withdrew herself from the reminiscence.
With another sigh, Caligo stripped off her clothes and sunk into the warm bath that had been prepared for her. Even though she wanted to rest within the embrace of the steaming water for hours, she knew that scrying for the Lord of Darkness would take a long while, not to mention that it was a task she was not looking forward to. After washing quickly, she pulled on a black robe that had runes cast upon it to aid in her meditation.
Stretching her senses, she felt Lea standing at the door. The small woman always stood guard when Caligo scryed, for it was dangerous to be interrupted at all during the process. With a deep breath to release her tension, Caligo sat down on a large velvet cushion and took the black scrying mirror into her hands.
“Lord Custos, God of Wind and Guardian of my family, guide and protect me as I journey through the mist,” she whispered.
Then she began weaving a spell into the mirror. She could feel the glass become like ice in her bare hands, and an eerie mist began to swirl about inside, as if it had become a window. Staring into the fog, she began to feel herself move forward and pass through the portal.
Lights and colors raced around her and Caligo paused to orientate herself. She focused on the thought of Lord Undertaker, asking where to find him in her mind. When she opened her eyes she was floating over a large city. A second later she was standing outside of a large building with the words Hartford Civic Center on them. She could not sense the Lord of Darkness anywhere, but something told her that she needed to go to this place once they reached the surface.
Having gained the information she sought, Caligo knew she should go back. But she couldn’t help herself. Focusing again, she wanted to see him. The lights rushed around her, and abruptly she was deposited into the middle of a dark room.
“Who’s there?” said a man’s deep voice. It rang with power.
A light switched on, and she trembled at the sight before her. The Lord of Darkness himself was sitting up in a bed, staring straight at her. He should not have been able to see her.
“How did you get in here? Who are you?” he demanded. The power in the room was overwhelming.
Without a word, she disappeared and brought herself back to her body. Hastily she stood on shaking legs, and stumbled to the door. Lea looked at her in surprise when the door burst open.
“Gather the Ministry. Tell them to wear simple clothes. We will take nothing with us that we can spare.”
“What about weapons, my Lady?”
“Small knives, if they must, and hidden. Go quickly!”
________________________________________
Caligo adjusted her sword at her side as her Ministry approached the crowd at the foot of the mountains. A messenger approached her, a blue diamond stitched onto his sleeve. That was the symbol of General Fautor’s regiment. He offered her a folded piece of paper.
“A letter for Lady Caligo,” the man said.
As she expected, the letter was sealed with her family crest: a feather crossed over a sword. “Where is my father stationed?” she asked.
“We were in the southwest when I left, in the town of Anicula. He said they would be moving east to the villages at the foot of the Domum Mountains.”
“Thank you, soldier. Go in Darkness.”
“Go in Darkness, Lady Caligo.”
She turned to her Ministry as the messenger walked away. “Ferus.”
“Yes, Mistress?” said the big man. He had a heavy brow and trimmed black beard.
“Start leading the others up the trail. I will catch up.”
“I will do as my Lady wishes,” he replied faithfully. The others followed him at his command, and the crowds made a path for them. “Go in Darkness” was spoken softly from many lips as Caligo tore through the seal and looked at her father’s steady handwriting.
My Dear Caligo,
I am certain you felt the same undeniable fury I had when I discovered the Jury assigned you this task. It is not just, and I cannot tolerate the fact that I am helpless to do anything about it.
I will not lie to you – I fear for you greatly. You are all I have left in this world, and without you I don’t know how I could survive. I know you are not reckless, and that you will do all that is necessary to protect yourself and your Ministry. Just keep in mind an old man’s wish to see his daughter’s smile one more time before he passes through the mist.
When you find Lord Undertaker, do not be forceful. I have a strong feeling that Ultor simply took him from whatever life he had been living and attempted to force this world upon him. Please try not to make that mistake.
I love you, Caligo. Remember that whatever follows your return, I will always remain on your side.
Go in Darkness,
Father
Caligo took a deep breath as she gathered her nerves. She could not burst into tears in front of all these people, just before her mission. Folding the letter into a small square, she slipped it into one knee-high boot. She felt uncomfortable without her armor, but they needed to look as simple as possible on the surface. Gripping the handle of Aeternitas, she decided to cast the invisibility spell upon it before climbing the mountain. Once they were on the surface, everyone’s power would dwindle, and spells would be nearly impossible. She would be able to do the basic protection and unseeing sigils without losing too much energy, but to cast an actual spell would drain her completely. Finally ready to face a life on the surface, she felt a cold mask slip over her, and she pushed her feet into the crowd.
“Go in Darkness, Lady Caligo,” floated to her ears from many voices and faces. She nodded to each in acknowledgement, but her mind was numb. There was no cheering or celebration. This mission was too serious.
After the crowds dispersed, she began to trek up the trail on the face of the mountain. This path was smaller than the others, formed over years of heavy soldiers’ feet marching to the surface for yet another bloody battle. She knew all of the trails very well because of it. In just a few minutes, she caught up with her Ministry. Ferus relinquished command, and she continued to lead them up the mountain.
At the top there was a fog that served as the veil between the realms of Darkside and Earth. She paused to let her Ministry rest.
“You all have heard of the dangers on the surface,” she stated. The Ministry diverted their entire attention to her. “When we cross through this fog, you will feel the power and magick of the Darkside leave you. The first time it is extremely intense and disorienting. Ferus and I will be there to help you. There are other things that will begin to affect you, namely the feelings of hunger and thirst. In this world the power of the Darkside sustains us, but on the surface we will have to gain energy from food and water. Our first objective is to find a place to eat and rest while I figure out where this Hartford Civic Center is. From there we will find transportation and locate Lord Undertaker.” She stepped forward to emphasize her next words. “While we are on the surface, I don’t want any of you to say one word about Lord Undertaker or the Darkside. I will develop a cover for us, but even when we find Lord Undertaker I do not want any of you to approach him or speak to him until I say you can. I will handle it. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my Lady,” they all answered faithfully.
She glanced at the fog. “Let’s go.”
________________________________________
Suddenly they were in a dry, blazing desert. Caligo gasped as she felt her powers warp back to near non-existence, but quickly regained control over her senses. She felt exhausted. Turning around, she looked to her Ministry just as Dens wretched whatever was in his empty stomach into the arid sand. She tried not to gag herself, and Ferus went to help him up. The others were trembling.
“Look at me!” she shouted, and they obeyed. “Breathe deeply. Center yourself. That way is north,” she said, and pointed to the distance. “Orientate yourselves!”
Eventually they seemed to calm, and she began to lead them out of the desert. After an hour or so, they came upon vegetation, and eventually a road. The road took them to a tiny town with a gas station, a diner, and a few houses. She paused just outside the town to examine her Ministry. They were wearing basic black and grey tunics with black trousers, except for Lea who wore a blue skirt. Hopefully they would look normal enough.
“Remember, follow my lead,” she reminded. They all nodded and followed her to the diner. All of them were exhausted.
The older woman behind the counter and the single man on a stool drinking from a small cup stared at them as they took two booths at the end of the diner. Ferus and Dens sat across from her while the others sat in a booth in front of them. Slowly the waitress came over to take their order.
“What can I get you this morning?” she asked, eyeing Ferus as if he was going to jump up and grab her.
“We’re new around here,” Caligo said with a polite smile. “Could you tell us what is available?”
“Oh… Well, we have eggs, bacon, toast, and sausage if you like… Coffee and fresh orange juice to drink,” the woman replied.
“Could we have a bit of everything? We have been on the road a long time and need our energy.”
“I see… Of course. It will just be a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” As the woman walked away, Caligo looked at Ferus. “Do you have a handkerchief?”
His brow drew together in confusion, but he nodded.
“May I have it please?”
Ferus fished it out of his pocket and immediately handed it over without question. Taking the handkerchief into her hand and hiding it under the table, Caligo drew all of her strength and focused on a spell. There was no concept of money in the Darkside. Lords bartered with each other with the things their Ministries were capable of producing. Her father had learned how to deal with money on the surface, and spent nearly an entire day in mediation to learn the spell to transform a simple object into the money required for life on the surface. After a minute or so the handkerchief successfully transformed into three one hundred dollar bills. She felt like she was going to pass out. Soon the woman came back with their food, and they all ate quickly and quietly. Feeling only a little better, Caligo had the woman get her change.
“Excuse me,” Caligo said before the waitress could walk away. “Could you tell me how we can get to the Hartford Civic Center?”
“Hartford? Are you talking about Hartford, Connecticut?”
Caligo did not answer. The woman gave her a strange look, but continued.
“Well, there’s all kinds of ways to get there… You could drive… or fly…”
“We could fly there?” Caligo asked curiously.
“In an airplane, of course,” the woman said, staring at her as if she had grown another head. “I think you should talk to Jack over at the gas station. He could probably help you more than I can.”
“Thank you,” Caligo replied. She looked at Dens. “Let’s go.”
At the gas station, Caligo picked up a map. After a minute or two of searching, she found the place called Connecticut that the woman had mentioned, and within it was the word “Hartford”. Grinning slightly, she took the map to the counter, where the man she assumed was Jack was standing.
“My companions and I are lost,” she said, laying the map on the counter. She pointed to Connecticut. “We are trying to get here.”
The middle-aged man scratched his greasy hair as he looked at the map. Then he unfolded it further. “Well, you’re here,” he said, and pointed all the way across the map at a spot in a place called Nevada. “Just next to Death Valley.”
Caligo frowned. It would take weeks to reach Hartford without horses. “I need to reach Hartford as quickly as possible,” she said, looking up into the man’s eyes hopefully.
Jack scratched his head again. “Well, the closest airport is probably in Las Vegas. It’ll take you about three hours to drive there.”
“We… do not have transportation,” she said vaguely.
“What? You mean you don’t have a car? Were you in an accident or something?”
“Yes… Yes, an accident. We do not have a car.”
The man looked out at her Ministry. “I suppose you’ll need more than a car. A van maybe?”
“Yes, a van.” Caligo had no idea what she was talking about, but she seemed to be getting somewhere.
“How much money do you got?”
“How much would you require?”
He lifted his nose, staring down at her as he bit his lip. “Twelve thousand dollars.”
“One moment,” she said, and turned around. She picked up one more map as she went out to her Ministry. Taking a deep breath, she motioned Dens and Fremo to her. “I need to cast another spell,” she said quietly to them. “I fear I do not have the strength. I need your help.”
“What should we do, my Lady?” asked Fremo.
“Just place your hands over mine and concentrate,” she said, holding out the second map between her two hands. She glanced behind to make sure Jack wasn’t watching. They did as she said, and she focused once again on the spell her father had taught her. A few moments later she had the money Jack wanted. She wavered on her feet when suddenly a strong hand steadied her. It was Ferus.
“You are tired, Mistress,” he said softly.
“I will rest when we are on our way, Ferus, and not before,” she replied coolly. Then she turned around and marched back into the gas station.
Jack gaped at the cash she dumped on the counter. “This is what you asked for, correct?”
“Yeah, yeah!” he answered immediately and swooped up the money. “Follow me.” Jack led her out behind the gas station to a large blue metal box on wheels. “She’s a little messy, but she runs like new, and she’s got a full tank of gas,” he said and handed her a key.
Caligo looked behind her to where her Ministry was waiting. She motioned for Ferus to come closer, and immediately he was at her side. Then she looked at Jack. “Thank you,” she said, and glared at him until he left. “Ferus,” she said quietly. “Do you know anything about cars?”
He stared at the blue van. “General Fautor spoke once about them.” Stepping forward, he opened the driver’s side door. “One pedal makes it go forward, and the other makes it stop. But… That is all I can remember.”
“It will have to do. Get in and try it.” With that she handed him the key, and strode away to the others. “Lea!”
“Yes, my Lady?”
Caligo handed her the remaining money from the first spell she had cast. She felt so tired… “Take this and buy food and water in the station.”
Lea took the money and gripped Caligo’s hand. “You must rest, Caligo.”
Her head snapped up. “Follow your orders and I will take care of myself,” she said coldly. Lea shrank away. Susurrus came to her and led her into the station.
Abruptly Caligo felt like she had been stuck with a sharp pin, and spun around toward the northeast. Power from the Darkside began to steadily drip into her bones, and she saw a flash of clear, cold green eyes. She gripped the handle of her invisible sword, feeling its magick seep into her and intensify the puncture in her mind.
“What is it, Mistress?” Dens asked.
“The Lord of Darkness,” she whispered. “He is watching me.”
“How?” Fallo asked, even as he stepped away from her.
She shook her head, her dark hair blowing across her face. “I don’t know.”
Then, as quick as it had happened, it was over. The small amount of power from the Darkside had completely reenergized her. Trembling, she pulled out the map and returned to the van with the others trailing after her. As she discussed what roads would lead them to Las Vegas, Lea and Susurrus returned with their purchases. In a matter of minutes, they were finally on their way.
Ending Author's Note: Enjoy? I hope so. Qayin: any way to help me figure HTML out on this thing? I like to italicize and bold some stuff... LOL! Thanks!
