A short story

[Barbercat]

Rise of the Broodqueen

 

 Zorida fumbled in her bag for the grimoire her agents had recovered from the ruins of Tsankor S’id. She studied the ritual circles within the tattered volume until she came across one particular rite that may work for her plan. She summoned her minions and began the trek to Nythera to visit an old friend.

 

 “The final circles have been drawn. Prepare for his arrival.” Spoke Zorida as she rechecked the runes etched in the ritual circles. She began chanting ancient and forbidden words. They dripped off her lips with power. Slowly the runes began to glow a sickly yellow. Far off in the distance she could see the orange glow of the Burning man. Zorida had to time this just right or it would spell disaster for her and the rest of the Neverborn.

 

  As the burning man drew closer Zorida could feel her madness growing. Closer and closer he came as she struggled to hold her sanity. Her mind was flooded with crazed thoughts and she started to kackle as she uttered the last words. Nythera’s runes flared to life turning a fierce red. The burning man began to twitch as he was slowly pulled to the center of the old ruins. Streams of fire striking each pillar of the prison. The runes flared again with the influx of raw magic. The burning man fell and was crumbling into dust as he did. The magic that made it what it was draining out of its form and into the ruins. The magical circle in the center was lighting up one rune at a time. As the last rune lit the magic burst into a brilliant flash and the prison was torn open. The body of Lilith rose out of the ground sheathed in red light, it was beautiful. The wound from her sister’s mortal blow spilled red light until it closed on its own. Lilith’s head rolled back and red light shot from her eyes and hands. It quickly faded as she floated softly to the ground. Her arm brushed a sharp stone and she bled. The blood was crimson and slow. Lilith looked down, her eyes still glowing red, then up again at Zorida. She smiled a wicked smile. Zorida regaining her sanity as the burning madness faded smiled back. 

“Time to reclaim what is yours.” She said with a wheezing breath.