Creatures of a Night

I have consumed others. I think doing so sustains this body. A body that was given life from a kiss. The power of the dark pact, I suppose. Yes, I remember receiving some form of kiss. The one I refer to as my Master. Still, to be resurrected by someone who does not care for my Heart nor my mind, saddens me. That is...if an "Undead" like myself is ALLOWED to be saddened.  

My Heart weakens. My Heart withers. My Heart woes. My Heart...  

“Are you well?” A witch named Victoria is perhaps the only friend I have within these obfuscating woods. Not sure if I am fond of such a thought. Like me, she is not herself. She is a talking cat, after all. Whether it was a spell of her own undoing or a curse bestowed from rival, I cannot say.  

“What do you think? We have been wandering through this forest and to what end?"  

She scoffs. "The END is the Enlightened Mirror, remember? It's the answer to our problem.  

Ridiculous. "As if a magical mirror is going to help me seem less like..a monster.” I MUST EAT SOMETHING SOON. SOMETHING TEEMING WITH LIFE. SOMETHING THAT WILL GRANT ME VIGOR. I CANNOT WITHSTAND THIS ANY LONGER. My mind continues to fever. I use the very bone of my finger to grate the damp soil.  

She pauses as she stands right beside me. The bell that dangles from her collar rings. “Hey!" She swipes her claw at my ankle. It doesn't hurt, yet it still annoys me. "Listen to me! This forest will eat you alive, if you allow it. DO NOT LOSE HOPE.”  

Easy for Victoria to say. She is only burdened from her furry and small statues. She is not the witch she once was. And to top it off, she does not suffer this accursed Hunger that gnaws at my waking thought. Although... Despite her poor choice of words, she is kind enough to console me. It is the primary thing that is STOPPING ME FROM BURROWING INTO HER GULLET AND FEEDING ON HER ENTRAILS. I need to break this curse and Victoria is my ONLY ally. Yet, this fact does not weaken my appetite.  

“We must hurry..." I whine along with my bones. Emaciated, I cannot recall the last time I consumed a life. "If we dawdle any longer, I fear I will lose what little hope I have left.” I pause to rest my back against one of the trees towering above me. I am certain that if I were able to make a face, there would be a frown. “This curse... This Hunger... I fear I will lose myself to HER magic.”  

"We'll find a way, Undead. I promise you this much!" Victoria raises her paw. I suspect she wants me to eat it.  

"High paw!" She snickers. Definitely seeming pleased with herself. I hesitate to extend my reach to her. Not because I do not appreciate this gesture of hers, but because I REALLY NEED TO ENGORGE. ANYTHING WILL DO. ANYTHING!  

Before long, I realized that my mouth is wide open as drool drips onto her paw. Oh! 

"Stop it! Stop it at once!" Something hits the mire. I can barely feel it, yet I still feel as though something is amiss. Raising my hand, there is a light breeze between my lips and my eyes. "Were you TRYING TO EAT ME?" 

I have no response to that. Especially since I was SO CLOSE TO APPEASING THIS NEVER DYING HUNGER!! "I'm sorry, Victoria..."  

She recoils and hunches her back as her tail completely erects. Victoria is right to keep her distance from me. We are not friends, for we hardly know one another. Simply acquaintances that share a mutual objective. She hisses after sniffing her moistened paw. "Do that again, and I will have no choice but to set you on fire. Don't think just because of this form, I can't cast a spell, Undead..."  

There it is. That word again: UNDEAD... As though this affliction is what I desire. I don't even recall my own fucking name or what it was that I had done in my past life. All I understand is that I NEED TO SILENCE THIS BLOOD CURDLING RAGE I FEEL. This absurd need to guttle everything that has a pulse. Yet, I can't help but feel...disappointed.  

Regardless, we continue our adventure in unraveling the whereabouts of this Enlightened Mirror. And the ache within my belly DOES NOT CEASE! If this wasn't an ill enough omen, there is a chill that sprawls through every joint in my body. I'm impressed that in this condition I can still feel the cold.  

“Tread carefully, Undead. We are being watched...” Victoria warns me as we wander about. She looks both ways and turns towards me with her pointed hat. Do all witches wear such odd hats?  

My Master, whose name escapes me, communicates to me through her macabre scattering of deceased crows. No matter how damaged the crow's body, as long as a single eye remains intact, SHE can contact me. Should I reveal this information to Victoria? BETRAY MY MASTER?! MY CREATOR! MY HEART AND ALL THAT GIVES ME WARMTH IN THIS DISTURBED REALM?! I WILL- “Are you referring to the crows?" 

Victoria hops onto a stump. She stares at me in silence for a moment. I wonder if she knows... "Tsk! Don't take me for a fool, Undead! I'm well aware of ______'s ability to speak through the dead, especially birds!" Oops... 

She sighs and turns away from me. "But it is not the crows I speak of. There is another presence following us. Your Master are armed you, yes? Where is your sword? Your shield? Don't tell me you're a sorcerer?”  

A strange question from a strange creature. Of course, I have already proven more than capable of subduing ANY WHO WOULD DARE THREATEN MY MASTER'S LIFE!! THEIR INNARDS PLUCKED AS THEY SCREAM FOR MERCY. THEY WILL HAVE NONE!! "Of course I armed, witch. Behold!" I raise my arm and bend it to bulge...something. Aside from the fact that this carcass possesses little muscle, its rather difficult to see with the rusted armor I wear. 

 Silence. Pure and total silence. Not even a scoff or a snicker. Ouch... "Did you tell a joke? For an Undead, you're pretty odd..." I shrug as I slouch.  

Despite the silent observer lurking somewhere in the shadows, the witch and I discover a clearing within this forest. Just enough of a gleam from the moon above to brighten the area. A pond is revealed before us. And within its murky waters, something even brighter than the moon thrums with power.  

“There! That glint!” Victoria’s tail erects as her fur stiffens. She dashes towards the edge of the pond. “This must be it!” 

"How could you possibly know? Is it because of your keen sense of smell as a cat?" I tilt my head.  

If anyone could believe it, Victoria squints her tiny eyelids. "Did you SERIOUSLY ask me that question? I AM A WITCH and a damn good one to boot!"   

ENOUGH OF THIS! DESTROY! TEAR! RIP HER INTO PIECES! DEVOUR! FEED! HUNGEERRRRRRR!!!! The Hunger strikes once more. My bones twitch. It feels as though something is crawling inside of me. I fall to my knees. And I embrace my stomach. Snarling, hardly able... To keep track of what's... 

“Dammit! Is it ________? Is she contacting you?” Victoria's eyes glisten with fire. Above her head is a sphere of emboldened flame. "DO NOT TEST ME, UNDEAD! I WILL DESTROY YOU!"  

 “GRRRRAAAGGGHHH!!! I CAN'T FIGHT THIS ANY LONGER!!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!!” I swipe at her. EVERY FIBER OF MY BONES WANTS TO EAT THE LITTLE WITCH. 

"NO!!!! THAT'S ENOUGH!!!!" I grip my wrist and I yank it. It dislocates. My body... I can barely control it! With my unfurled hand reaching towards her, that strange presence draws closer. Along with it, a tap onto my shoulder. The fireball floating above Victoria's head grows larger as she fires it in my direction. Within a thunderous flash, I should be scorched, yet I have been moved.  

"My, my... You poor creature." Who is this man? I feel as though I recognize him. He is a nobleman. Rather, he dresses like an aristocrat. He is quite tailored and his eyes gleam with a carmine aura. The forest has grown quiet, unlike my head. Something throbs in my head as he continues to rasp. "So THIS is what ______ has done to you. A nasty ordeal, indeed."  

He knows? "You know who I am?" I groan and I wheeze as another flame is being prepared behind a veil of smoke.  

"Oh! You can talk as well! That's rare for a creature of your ilk. But you don't remember anything at all of your past, it seems."  

"Stay right where you are, monster!!" Victoria snarls. "I'll slay two Undeads with one flame!"  

Before I can even gather my thoughts in response to this stranger's words, he appears before Victoria. He is too swift. I lunge, but my leg falls apart. In fact, my entire being falls. Bone by bone.  

"That is enough out of you, young lady." He reaches over, she flinches, which causes the fireball to shrink. He's tormenting her! He's taking his finger and he's scratching behind her ear! He's killing her!  

"Oh no! Dammit, stop! Curse this feline body!" Victoria giggles and begins to meow.

"Unhand the witch, you blackguard!" I shout as my head bounces onto the soil again and again until it is upside down.  

He chortles. "Such slights are unnecessary, my good man. Do not worry, _____. I will fix her mess. But first... Let's find you a meal. You will need your strength if you are to be of use to me."  

And now, I am at the mercy of some handsome nobleman who literally holds my head within his possession. Though I cannot fully trust him, I need to learn about who I once was.