Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 44
Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex started HERE with Part 1 and ends at Part 111 HERE
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found HERE.
Seems like I am doing villain arcs... I am enjoying them OK?
Part 44
She reached out with fingers made from the stuff of her mind. It was as though she had extra limbs. It felt real in her mind and she could see a slight haze and glow of where they were but she was sure that no-one else could see them.
Ghostly fingers reached the body on the ground before her.
She reached inside with her ghostly hands and reached with one hand for the heart. Her fingers gripped it tenderly, like a lover's touch. She then began to squeeze and release, squeeze and release.
Meanwhile, her other hand went for the base of the spine, gripping the most basic nerves where it entered the brain.
The surgeons and medicine men of this world could not even comprehend what she was manipulating in the heart and brain of this corpse with her magic. But the Lord of Darkness had showed her the way, the Apostle Temolach had guided her with the otherworldly knowledge she needed.
The corpse stirred and stood up. Her spirit hands were still connected inside of it. This was the result of her new form of Necromancy. Before the Apostle of the Lord had woken up she had been one of the Necromancers who had seen to the raising of the dead to protect the Temple.
The undead that she now raised were far superior to the ones she did before. Faster, more powerful, and capable of being altered to suit specific needs. Responsive. Almost intelligent.
"I... serve the Cold Lord..." The corpse of the dead man said in a husky whisper.
Stredentia smiled in satisfaction. She was alone and she was careful about letting others see her emotions. However, when she was alone she would take the opportunity to use her face to express what she felt.
If there had been someone to observe her now, they would know from her expression that she was immensely self-satisfied and elated at the creation of another successful undead servant.
The Army of Death would grow. She would bring about more death and she would raise those that were killed by her undead.
It was because of this that she was called the Corpsemaker.
She caused a chain of events that made dead people kill the living which were then added to the ever expanding army. Though she was in charge of these undead and she got to keep a portion of her undead, the Apostle could effortlessly take command of the undead as though they were his.
She had been awestruck at how the Apostle had done it. It broke down everything she had thought she had known about necromancy.
She felt a presence behind her rather than hear it. If she could detect her co-worker then he intended for her to sense him.
"You are ahead of schedule." She said without turning.
"The lovely Stredentia! How marvellous it is to see you like this in the moonlight." He walked around her and into view to inspect the living corpse she had just raised. "Great work."
She tried to ignore his compliments but the truth was that the two of them were of a similar age and he was quite handsome. "Did something happen Darius?" She thought of his wording of 'lovely' to describe her and thought that it must be friendly flattery. She had never been a beautiful girl growing up. She doubted that his words were chosen because he was smitten with her.
Instead he was playing the game and currying favour.
He was one of the head Acolytes and had powers, but Stredentia had magic and it was always good to have someone with real magical talents in your corner.
Darius became serious and his smile disappeared. Out from nowhere, as though pulled from the night itself a dagger flashed in his hands. "Have you ever heard of Letulah Molder?"
And that's it!
Back to @lex-zaiya
Thank you for reading!
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Vetitum Nemus
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