RECKONINGThe snow covering the forest ground reflected the moon light, keeping the black of night at bay long after sundown. The night was clear after the winter storm, and the snow covered everything. It had been a fairly gusty storm so the snow found its way everywhere, over rocks, over trees, and even under their sheltering branches. The moonlight, consequently, found itself everywhere, lighting up the park to the point where one could see quite clearly for nearly a hundred yards or so.In the clear areas.Like so many things in life, no matter how bright the light is shining, no matter where or how it is directed, there are always still dark corners. The denser parts of the park, where the trees stood closer together and the branches seemed to be thicker… more clustered together, these places remained hidden. They remained dark, the thick tangled black trunks and branches crisscrossing over each other providing a shield from prying eyes. And like so many things in life, dangerous things, wicked things, found their way into these dark corners.Roach was a dark, wicked thing. In people, darkness is hollowness, a lack of soul, like a cold damp fire pit. Dark things see the world differently. Without the light inside to compare they cannot see the light outside. When Roach looked at the world, he could not see the light in people, their souls. To Roach, they were as inanimate and unreal to him as clothing, tools, or toys. In most cases, they had even less value to him. Their usefulness to him always ended very practically, and often very sadly, for them. It was his wickedness that caused that.In people, wickedness is manifests itself in intelligence. Roach was no scholar, to be sure, but he was extremely intelligent. Evil is the result of that intelligence being guided without a soul.Roach was extremely adept drug dealer / whoremonger. He was dark enough to do what was necessary to gain the power and money he wanted and he was wicked enough to know his limitations. Roach had been in jail once, learned from the experience, and had never returned. He also was smart enough to avoid the treachery and gunplay that went hand in hand with his chosen profession. That is not to say that he had never killed anyone. Indeed he had killed more than his share of valueless things, and had never bothered to count. Roach was wicked and never killed when it could come back to hurt him.Dark, wicked things are curious by nature. Perhaps because the unknown was dangerous, or better yet powerful. It was curiosity that had lead Roach to discover the forgotten underground railways that lay beneath his neighborhood. Wickedness had allowed him to use these railways to build his small drug base right under the noses of the police and rival dealers. Wickedness is how he used them to carry out kidnappings and assassinations that kept him strong. Curiosity is what brought him to the woods tonight.The railways had a partially hidden exit in the park. Roach knew this was both dangerous and powerful. It could allow someone to discover his drug base, or it could allow him a more expansive route to ferry his product.Roach was not alone. There were two dark things with him. They lacked his intelligence, but what little they did have kept them both useful and aware that without Roach they would be two dry, crumpled little dark things.They followed him out here this night, deep into the woods. Roach said there would be no cops, it was too cold.He was right.Roach said that they would be able to see just fine. The moonlight was strong.He was right.Roach said that they would find something out here they could use.That remained to be seen.The woods had an eerie, turn of the century ghost story look that night. The effect was lost on the trio, as they merely perceived it curiously; dark wicked things only know fear when faced with actual death. Roach looked for the darkest corner of the woods, almost instinctively and he found such a dark corner not too far from the opening to the railway. A nice good secluded area that was elevated on a hill. It could not be seen for the thick black branches. Roach knew it would be hidden even better in the summer, when leaves filled the trees.Then his cold eyes with their big black greedy pupils spied a light, a small glow high on the hill that had almost got by him.The light flickered… a fire then.Who would have a fire here? Curious.Dark wicked things are good at being silent when they want. Like wraiths the trio crept up the hill towards the light. The snow was fairly new so it did not crunch. The branches were clearly outlined by the snow and they avoided them easily.Fate always seems to favor the dark wicked things.At the top of the hill was a clearing. From under the cover of the tree line Roach and his two shadows peered. The fire was huge, a bonfire. The mind of the dark wicked thing noted that despite its size and brilliance it could only be seen from this close proximity because the tree cover was so dense. He also noted the figure moving about the fire.The person wore a ragged hooded cloak, and moved, or rather danced around the fire. The dance was slow, small movements, at first. Roach thought he saw a glimpse of skin, a bare foot, and then a leg also bare.… a woman's leg.The dance became more feverish, as she undulated wildly. Her arms and legs flashed more and more. Roach saw that there was a dry area of ground surrounding the bonfire but that the woman danced wildly and stepped on the snow as well as the dry ground without care. The dance got even more crazed and it seemed to Roach that she was not dancing so much as going through some kind of seizure. The undulating motion caused her hood to fall back and her huge unkempt mane of hair burst free. Even at this distance he could see the leaves and twigs entwined in her hair. It was as though she had been rolling about on the ground.More shaking and then she began to take huge steps around the fire as from the other side came another bare leg. Another woman danced around the fire from the side he had not seen. Roach now saw as the second woman danced now facing them that beneath the cloaks… the women were naked.Dancing naked around the fire.One of the dark things behind him muttered.Yes, Roach agreed; Damn.The women stopped moving around the fire, shook, and began to roll their bodies, swaying back and forth in front of the blaze.More muttering came from behind him as his two dark followers enjoyed the show.Roach thought quickly in his wickedness about what was going on here. There was no one else on this hilltop. They had circled as they came up and he was sure. Whatever happened next he was sure would not be seen by anyone. The dancing of the two women drew him strangely.Their bodies were sweating from their exertions despite the cold. The sweat shone on the skin and the trio of dark things felt stronger stirrings than even at the dark corner bars where the women danced naked and did whatever pleased. Roach knew enough to be wary of lusts but his confidence was strong.It was too dark up here for anyone to see.The park was empty anyway.They had an escape route.The women were theirs.The dancing began to reach a pitch. The women writhed and convulsed. Their legs stiffened, spread apart on tiptoe, as their breathing became loud audible gasps. Now.Dark wicked things entered the clearing and the light of the fire. The women continued their wild movements apparently unaware. Roach walked right up to the one closest, the one he had first seen naked. Brazenly he stood right in front of her and admired her body as she rolled her hips in snake-like fashion in front of him. He allowed the smile to slide across his lips. He wanted her to see it when she noticed him. His two shadows were over with the other woman, respectfully leaving him one to himself.Big black pupils surveyed her body. The sweet pained expression on her face, the sweat sheen covering her full breasts, the rippling muscles of her belly, the small enticing patch of soft hair that made his jaw tighten, the swaying thighs, legs taught with spasms, small pretty feet on tip toe, as convulsions racked her body.Damn right.Then her feet collapsed to the ground, and the cloak settled back over her body, leaving only one smooth thigh exposed. Roach slowly raised his eyes, very careful to keep the smile in place. First he saw the now relaxed neck, then to his surprise, a smile, as sly as his own.She was into it. Good.Then he saw her eyes.Dark wicked things only know fear when faced with death. Roach looked into the woman's eyes. The pupils were big, black, and there was no soul behind them. There was a flicker of fear.But if Roach had learned anything in life, it was that the adage of fortune favoring the bold was true. The smile stayed."You ain't have ta stop dancin'." he enjoyed the smile, but the eyes were so cold. He had never seen eyes that dark before, not even in the mirror.She looked at him not with shock, fear, or even anger. Her eyes were like those of a spider having found a fly wonderfully close to the center of the web.She raised a small delicate hand and placed it on his chest. Roach liked this but the wickedness in him warned him of danger.There was still a small flicker of fear……but he liked her smile.There was some shuffling behind him. Roach figured the woman on the other side was either fighting or giving it up. Then the shuffling quieted a little and He wondered why it still sounded so heavy. He turned to check, he did not want this to be a fight, not if it did not have to be.One of the shadows was on the ground and not moving. The other was on his knees in front of the woman; her hand around his throat drawing blood, her other was raised high... fingers splayed like a claw.Wickedness can be a wonderful survival tool. It combines ruthlessness with viciousness in amazingly effective ways. Roach turned clockwise lightning fast while swinging his right fist in a solid backhanded arc. His left hand reached into his pants and grabbed the handle of his nine-millimeter.The punch missed by a margin so narrow, that he could feel the edge of her nose push air back at him. The gun came up and that soft delicate hand of her became a terrible claw that slashed at his face.There was a gunshot, but Roach never saw it, all he could see was a flash of crimson, his blood. Her nails had torn open his face, and ripped open an eye. He let his legs buckle and he fell backwards. Blood was on his lips… he could taste it. Roach pulled the trigger several times as he fell. In between each loud explosion her could hear them laughing.Then there was a sharp pain in his wrist as the woman grabbed it and Roach could not hold onto the gun. It fell from his hand and he felt it bang against his knee. He searched blindly for it with his free hand.More laughter.Darkness and wickedness can be a source of strength. With dark resolve Roach opened his other eye. The gun was not by his knee, he could not see it.More laughter.Some gurgling, most likely his other shadow was still alive. He looked up to the woman whose claws dug into his wrist. She was regarding him with an evil fascination her eyes deep hollow pools of black water.The light from the bonfire wavered. There was more laughter now, and Roach sensed something darker and more wicked than he. The dealer turned toward the brilliance of the fire and saw a third woman.She was standing in the bonfire.Naked, save for some kind of pendant, the woman stepped out of the flames. Her skin was on fire but did not appear to be burning. Roach blinked his one eye hard not believing what he was seeing. She stepped, flatfooted onto the ground and the dry leaves and twigs under her feet caught fire. Where was that gun?The woman from the fire smiled at him almost sweetly. Roach still saw no burning. She looked briefly at the other shadow and then quickly back to him. Wickedness warned: Pain now.She reached down toward him, her hand toward his face. Roach's hand scrambled through the dirt and snow searching for the gun. Heat poured out from her so intense that he felt his skin begin to blister seconds before she even touched him.The heat was white hot, her burning hand sealed his mouth shut, and he screamed through his nose. Then his mind went black to match his heart.She stood and looked down at her mark on his face. It was good. He would be useful, as well as the other two, although the dead one would only last so long. She turned to the first woman whom still held the limp wrist of the interloper in her hand. With a deliberate slow movement she extended her hand and the woman took it in her own. Steam rose from their touch."You are flame unbounded." the woman said seemingly unharmed by the burning touch. Indeed she was unharmed, as there was a thin layer of ice covering her skin. As it turned to steam at their touch the snow she stood on renewed it. It slid up her legs, over her body, down her arms and covered her against the heat."You are absolute now Embrena. Perfect fire.""We are nearly complete Lavena. We are fire.""We are nearly complete." she answered. "We are water."The other woman looked up at this recitation and then regarded the two men at her feet. The earth there softened beneath the two men. Slowly they began to sink into the earth as if it were quicksand. The dead man was completely consumed, but the other sunk until only his head was above the ground. Then the earth was solid again and she walked to join the others."We are nearly complete." she said. "We are earth.""Where are we lost Terrainna? How are we not whole?" Embrena asked almost formerly."There is no wind. No wind to shape the earth.""There is no wind. No wind to carry the rain.""There is no wind. No wind to fan the flame." then Embrena turned back to the bonfire. "Time is short. We have seen the end of this city in our dreams. A reckoning is coming. The storm shall be upon us within but one turn of the seasons."Terrainna spoke then, her voice deep and strong. "We have seen the paladins as well. Those who will rise against the storm.""I have seen these beings as well you know. But I have not seen them stop the storm. The city will be consumed. The reckoning is coming." Embrena said still staring into the fire."We need to become complete. We need the wind. We must find our Zephrynne. Only then can we see clearly and find an alternate path. Only then can we stay the storm." she regard the small mound of earth that held the dead man."We must send these to find her." and the three moved again to surround the fire. They began an intonation together in latin.The earth softened again and the two buried men were pushed out, moist dirt clumps clinging to them. First the man who was buried to his neck stood then he staggered away from the bonfire and down the hill.Roach opened his eyes. Darkness and wickedness lay deep in his eyes. But there was urgency as well. The wind must be found he knew. The wind must be found and brought here. Roach followed the first man back into the woods.Finally the body of the dead man stirred. Lifeless eyes opened and it stood as well. No longer a man, the dead thing had only one instinct, one drive and that was to capture the wind. It too moved back down the hill leaving the women alone on the hilltop again. They continued their dance around the bonfire, oblivious to the cold, repeating only one word."Reckoning."
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