Anima, Ch.41: Black Rosebud

--01-- [Scene : none] <BGM: A Safety Zone>
Rabbie Dungeon...
Why *did* I think to come hide here?
What is this voice, this music, that's beckoning to me?
What is this going to accomplish?
What am I looking for?
--02--  [Scene: Rabbie Dungeon] <BGM: A Safety Zone>
I descended the stairs from the entrance room and into the dungeon proper.
I'd come here plenty of times before to gather herbs, but...I've never been here alone.
Is that why I'm hearing this now?


--03-- <BGM: Echo>
The barely audible song...a wordless whisper, promising answers to ease the anguish in my heart...
Even if I'm just being led into a trap, do I even care anymore?
I've got nothing left to lose...


--04-- <BGM: Echo>
The life I'll have to live from now on hardly seems worth living...

I pressed onward, against the undead sentinels who rose to stand in my way.
They were no match for my spells.

--05-- <BGM: Echo>
The dead walk in Rabbie.
Skeletons, given the gift of unlife, wander its halls and attack the living who dare intrude.
They're mere sentinels for the true mistresses of this place, though: the succubi.


--06-- <BGM: Echo>
It's said that they lead men who come here alone into temptation and take their souls.
It sounds like maybe I have something in common with them now...
Is that who's calling out to me?


--07-- <BGM: Echo>
As I set skeletons ablaze with my magic, I convinced myself that my reason for being here
was to talk to one of them...
...about why I had killed the love of my life with with our first kiss.


--08-- <BGM: Echo>
The large iron door in the depths of the dungeon squealed in protest at being opened.
In the dim torchlight I saw a figure in a gauzy black dress, a sword in hand.
She had long white unbalanced hair.


--09-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
The singing stopped. Hearing the noise, she turned to face the door, looking at me with her deep red eyes.
"You arrive at last, child of sorrow. Come, do not be afraid. Let me see you."


--10-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
I approached, and she did the same.
We met halfway, in the center of the large room, five paces apart.
The succubus regarded me curiously. "A lovely red rose... Those ears...! Are you an elf?"


--11-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
"I thought I was, but I don't know anymore.
I've done something terrible and I don't know why it happened.
There's something horrible inside me I never want to let out again...but I can't stop it."


--12-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
She laughed softly. "How wonderful! The wicked tell me such delightful tales. Speak your heart, then.
Come closer. Let me hear your beautiful voice. Share with me your sorrows."


--13-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
I pointed my Fire Wand at her. "Not too close. This rose has thorns."
In response, the succubus dropped her sword, taking a few steps closer.


--14-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
"Your words wound me! If my silken touch must be gentle to avoid your barbs, so be it.
For you I will shed my own thorns then, my red rose.
Will you show me what sleeps within your heart?"


--15-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
I held back a sob. "I don't know what's in it myself anymore. I don't know what I am anymore!
When I came into this world, I had no memories.
After what I did, I know I'm no elf. I need...an answer."


--16-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
My tears began to flow again. "I... I killed a man. A man I loved.
I kissed him...and he died. He died!
He...just fell over dead, and his skin turned rotted black...
Nothing would revive him..."

--17-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
The succubus' eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, my. This red rose has poison petals...! How fascinating...
Let me come closer. I want to have a closer look at you."



--18-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
She walked around me in a tight circle, her skirt swishing about, brushing against my legs,
then stood before me again with her hands behind her back.
I looked down, avoiding her gaze.


--19-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
"Beautiful. You are exquisite. But the loveliest blooms hide the sharpest thorns.
When your lips met, did it feel...magic?
Did you never feel so alive as in that instant?
Did you...hunger for more?"

--20-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
I had. "It was *exactly* like that..."
"Do you want to know what you did to that poor boy?" She giggled.
"My dear red rose, you may indeed be the blacker of us."


--21-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
The succubus stepped even closer, smiling wickedly.
She caressed my cheek with a gloved hand, wiping away a tear.



--22-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"You took his soul."




--23-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison> <heartbeat>
My heart skipped a beat. "I did what?!" I lurched backward.
The succubus stepped forward to match, smirking, leaning forward a bit to look me in the eyes.
She wiped away a tear from my other cheek.


--24-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"You took his soul," she repeated in a singsong tone. "You tore out his lifeforce and made it your own.
Do not cry. Do not despair over your nature.
After all...now, he's a part of you, forever..."


--25-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"Am I...am I a *succubus*?!" I felt nauseous...
"That's an interesting question..." She put a hand to her chin, regarding me pensively.
"No... We are much alike, you and I, yet quite different..."


--26-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"You have our...abilities, but you're no Fomor. You're far more...interesting. Mysterious.
It would be enchanting to see what you blossom into.
Would you...stay with me, that I may watch you bloom?"


--27-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
The revelation that I'd just eaten Devin's soul rattled me so, it took ten seconds to realize she'd asked a question.
She stood with hands on her hips, swaying seductively, awaiting my answer.



--28-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"What do you mean, stay with you?"

"I would keep you with me...safe from the coming storm.
Dorca Feadhain shall soon be unleashed upon this land.
I can spare you their wrath, my precious rosebud."
--29-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
I shook my head. "I can't hide here forever. People are hunting me down for what I did, and...
I'm a danger to anyone around me.
Not even you would be safe.
No. I...I have to leave. I have to run..."

--30-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
I stepped around the succubus, intent on going to the statue of Morrighan that would lead me outside,
but the door was shut and sealed. Either she'd have to let me out, or I'd have to kill her.



--31-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
She shifted to block my path. "Hold. My name is Lynnira, and I claim you, my exotic wild rosebud.
I will only let you go...on two conditions.
One: tell me your name, that I may cherish it."


--32-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
OK, this is getting creepy. I want to leave. I really want to leave. Right now.
"...I'm Meara. That's...not my true name, though. That is lost, even to myself."



--33-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
Lynnira gave me a look of pity, then with a wave of her hands, produced a tiny black heart-shaped jewel
from seemingly out of nowhere, handing it to me.
Her expression twisted into a covetous smile.


--34-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"Meara. My precious Meara, my second condition is thus: You will come to me once again.
Take this jewel of my heart. Keep it with you, always. By this, you are bound to me."



--35-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"Placed at the altar of this dungeon, it will bring you here. Bring you to me.
Return to me...when you are in full bloom.
I am ecstatic to see how you will blossom, my dear black rosebud."


--36-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
I had no other choice. I took the pitch-black jewel, and put it away in my bag.
Lynnira seemed satisfied, and stood aside. The door opened.
I crossed the darkened chamber, eager to be gone.


--37-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
She followed me to the door. "If your resolve is to flee this land, you must leave immediately."
She sounded genuinely concerned.
"Farewell, Meara. Until you return, I will hold you in my dreams..."


--38-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
She means that literally, doesn't she?
I touched the statue and found myself outside.

The statue in the lobby...had been...defiled.
Its head and wings were broken off and lay in pieces on the floor.
--39-- <BGM: Eat or be Eaten>
What in the... Who did this? How did this happen?
The statues... They're being broken...to let the Fomors out!
It's starting...now!
Tarlach had warned us, but there's nothing I can do.
It's too late.
--40-- <BGM: Eat or be Eaten>
I turned away, and fled into the moonlight.
Word is already out that I'm a murderer. The net is closing tight, and fast.
I have to get away before I get caught.

...I have to go back to Iria.

[end of chapter]