Never An Absolution - Chapter Six
Never an Absolution Chapter Six (c) Cederwyn Whitefurr Feb, 2001 All rights reserved.
For three days and nights, Ceredwyn slipped in and out of consciousness, as she struggled both physically and mentally to withstand the overwhelming nature that the lycanthropic contagion tried to enforce upon her. Lady Angelica stayed with her throughout this battle, keeping the young Doe damp, as the fever raged within her, ravaging her already weakened form. Finally - Ceredwyn's last shields collapsed - and the lycanthrope seized its opportunity, and destroyed what little resistance Ceredwyn had managed to erect.
"I...." Ceredwyn gurgled, as her eyes cracked open.
"Shhh child - " Lady Angelica breathed, as she smoothed down Ceredwyn's sodden ears. "You lasted a lot longer - than I thought you would, but like me - you were claimed as one of its own."
"Please milady - " Ceredwyn gasped. "Please - kill me...I do not want to live my life as a creature of darkness."
Lady Angelica sighed, then rose and turned away slightly. "Ceredwyn - you are not a creature of darkness. Dorsnek's disease has altered you in many terrible ways, but I swear - you still have your soul. Now please, try to rest as I will tend to the fawns, and when you feel well enough, you may go to them. They are very upset and have been cruelly treated - "
"How...many." Ceredwyn rasped.
Lady Angelica hung her head sadly.
"Please...how many are left...I must know." Ceredwyn pleaded, her eyes filling with stinging tears.
Angelica returned, then took Ceredwyn's soaked paws in her own, and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Less...than - " Angelica began.
"Tell me!" Ceredwyn snarled suddenly, her brown eyes blazing with anger, and her paw nearly crushing Angelica's more fragile hand.
Without warning, Angelica rose and her free hand slashed outwards and slammed solidly across Ceredwyn's cheek. There was a loud slap and Ceredwyn squealed in pain, and stared at the human before her.
"Only eight remain...and if you ever do that to me again...you will not need to worry about Lord Dorsnek, as I will kill you myself." Angelica growled, her features taking on a distinct Lupine form. Without another word, Angelica tore her hand free from Ceredwyn's grasp and fled the bedroom, leaving the exhausted and fevered Doe to lie on her bed and cry herself to sleep.
***
Over the next week, servants brought Ceredwyn food and water, but it was barely enough for the Doe to survive on. Lady Angelica did not come to her, and Ceredwyn lay awake, sobbing of a night time, fearing that she had well and truly bitten the one hand of friendship that had but been offered to her. At last, she had the strength to rise, and when she dressed and left her quarters, two armored guards snapped to attention.
"Your orders milady." One grunted.
"Take me - to the nursery." Ceredwyn whispered - fearing that at any second, they would turn on her...or worse.
To her surprise, they nodded once, then guided her through the twisting passages of the castle, and stopped at a well bound door. Here, two more guards waited - and Ceredwyn wondered why they were guarding a bunch of frightened, half starved and lonely fawns. After a few moments of anxious waiting, the two door guards unlocked the portal and allowed Ceredwyn and her escort to enter. Immediately, the fawns flocked to her, many of them sobbing and shaking, their pelts torn and flecked with dried blood.
"Who did this to the children?" Ceredwyn growled, her rage building, as she stared at the young fawns, who wept and huddled close to her. Neither of the guards even blinked.
"I said - " Ceredwyn snapped, making the fawns wail and shrink back from her. "Who tortured these young?"
"It was by Lord Dorsnek's orders...ma'am." One of the guards spoke at last.
"Then you tell him that if he even so much as - " Ceredwyn shrieked, her voice cracking, the hate swiftly boiling within her.
"Tell me - what." Lord Dorsnek smiled, as he strode in to the chambers. "You...and these pathetic young...are my servants. You have no rights, and I shall do unto you - or them - as I please."
Ceredwyn leapt at him, but Dorsnek only stepped aside, then with a violent backhand, drove the young and irrational Doe in to the wall with a sickening crunch. Blood smeared the wall, as Ceredwyn slid unceremoniously down its cold length, then lay convulsing.
"Listen and heed my warning Doe..." Dorsnek growled. "If you ever try that again...then I swear - I'll tear your heart out and feed it to you before you die."
Weakly, Ceredwyn staggered back to her cloven hooves, then wiped the blood that streamed from a cut above her eye.
"If you ever...touch these fawns again..." Ceredwyn gurgled.
Dorsnek sneered at her mockingly. "You'll what?"
Ceredwyn stared back, the bloodlust hot within her, and Dorsnek smirked and turned away. Imperceptibly, Ceredwyn unsheathed a hidden dagger...then leapt. Just as Dorsnek turned around for one parting comment - she snarled and slammed the blade home deep in to his un-armoured belly. With a savage wrench, she drove it in to the hilt, then up, intending to disembowel him right then and there....
Dorsnek staggered backwards, his muzzle thrown back as he howled in agony, as he clutched the dagger in his stomach. Alarmed, the two guards leapt and clubbed Ceredwyn with the flat of their blades, driving her to her knees. Dorsnek stared at the crimson blood that soaked his paws, then he smirked...and to Ceredwyn's horror, pulled the long bladed dagger free and licked the blood from it.
"Oh...my lovely little Doe...has tenacity...as well as heart. My dear - if you must know...I am all but immortal...and should you have wished to kill me, then perchance...you should have used a silver blade?"
As the guards pulled her head back and laid a dagger against her pulsing throat, Dorsnek smiled and lifted his coat, to reveal the gaping wound, which healed before her eyes.
"No - do not kill her...as I need her to care for the fawns...at least...for a little while. She is barren - and no use to me for my purpose but she can still feed them...and fatten them up for me." Dorsnek growled quietly.
Ceredwyn struggled in the grip of the two soldiers, and she spat defiantly at Dorsnek.
"I'll kill you...you...you hell spawn!" Ceredwyn snarled.
"I do not think so...my lovely Doe. You may harbor the thought - but as you have just demonstrated - you lack the intelligence and wherewithal to do it. You're not a killer. I know that now. No - you have too much of your mothers blood in your veins...."
"Do not speak ill of my mother - " Ceredwyn snarled. "She was a - "
"A what? Do you know how she begged? When I took her, as my right dictated...how she screamed and pleaded for mercy? No - you have no idea, and do you know what? I ravaged her like she was some common tavern whore - and at the moment of my consummation of my pleasures...I tore out her throat and drained her of blood as she drowned...." Dorsnek smirked. "Now - that is power...that is the spirit of a killer. You my lovely - do not have that within you...."
Ceredwyn broke free of the soldiers grasps and she leapt at Dorsnek, the bloodlust overwhelming her. Effortlessly, he clamped his paw around her throat and squeezed, choking off her air. Ceredwyn gasped and fought against him, but his paw was as immovable as stone, and his grasp intensified - forcing her to her knees and making her vision blur.
"Do not make me destroy you my love..." Dorsnek murred softly. "You may not be able to conceive my young...but there is still a place for you - in the scheme of things...."
With a tender lick to her nose, Dorsnek released her and watched her crumple semi-conscious to the floor. With a soft growling laugh, he turned and strode purposefully from the chamber, leaving Ceredwyn to retch and choke pitifully on the bile that rose in her throat....
***
Some time later, Ceredwyn had recovered herself, and she gathered the injured and frightened fawns around her tightly, hugging each of the remaining fawns tightly and lovingly. Their cries and sobs tore at her heart, but Ceredwyn could do but little to ease the physical and emotional harm that had come to them. Instead, she concentrated on trying to make them remember happier times, and told them stories about their people...which, after a while, seemed to make them happier. More than one, after three hours of listening to Ceredwyn's stories and songs, became drowsy, and Ceredwyn rose and hammered on the heavy door. A guard came in and looked at her, then grunted.
"What do you want now?" He spat.
"Please - can I get some water for the children? They're very thirsty." Ceredwyn asked.
With a grunt, the guard closed the door and Ceredwyn knelt, then began comforting the crying fawns.
"Shhh...it'll be all right...." Ceredwyn whispered, as she sneaked her paw in to her gown and felt the reassuring coldness of the crystal vial she had hidden. "Soon my young - you will be at peace...and he will never be able to harm you again...I promise."
Her ears heard the soft click of the door lock, then it ground open and the guard carried two large buckets in, then set them down and left again, closing and locking the door. Ceredwyn waited until she was sure he had gone, before she uncapped the vial and poured its contents in one of the buckets.
"Here little ones - come drink. It'll help you get...better." Ceredwyn spoke quietly, her voice becoming choked, as she felt the hot tears sting her eyes.
In ones and twos, the thirsty fawns drank of the water, then each nuzzled her softly, their eyes gazing at her with love and trust. Ceredwyn waited until each of them had drunk their fill, bravely holding her own tears back. It took her entire strength to hold herself together, as she watched them stagger, then crumple and lapse in to sleep...then she heard their soft breathing falter...and cease.
"Why goddess?" Ceredwyn shrieked, as she burst in to tears. "Why did you force my paw in this action? Why did you make them suffer? It is me he wanted - not our children...."
Ceredwyn wailed and clutched the still head of one of the now dead fawns to her breasts, and she wept unashamedly. Her tears coursed down her muzzle, and dripped on to the fur of the young fawn who lay unmoving in her paws. At last - Ceredwyn put it down, then she rose on shaking hooves and turned, just as the door creaked open and she looked up to see Lady Angelica looking past her, at the corpses that lay within the nursery.
"You - " Lady Angelica began.
"Tell me...that I did the right thing...." Ceredwyn wailed, as she ran to the human woman and buried her muzzle against her breasts.
***
Lady Angelica sighed, then cradled the head of the sobbing Doe and stroked her ears, as she began leading her away.
"Yes...my child. You did the right thing...you have saved them - from a terrible life. Now - they will be at peace, and go to the Goddess...and be saved from Lord Dorsnek's evil desires and plans Now, come with me - as when he finds out that which you done - your life will but mean nothing...."
Guiding the crying anthro Doe through dimly torch lit corridors, Lady Angelica led her down in to the even darker dungeons, and Ceredwyn locked her hooves, and refused to move another step.
"No...I...I can't...." Ceredwyn wept.
"Ceredwyn - please, you must follow me." Lady Angelica whispered, her breath short and nervous. "Lord Dorsnek will be informed - and when he finds out that the fawns have - "
"No - I'll face him...and he'll kill me. It would be a noble death, instead of running away, my tail clamped down and living as a coward." Ceredwyn growled.
Without warning, Lady Angelica slapped Ceredwyn sharply across her furred snout, making the Doe squeal and cry.
"Listen to me!" Lady Angelica snarled. "He will not kill you - that would be a release...compared to what he will do to you. If you think he's hurt you now, then my dear Doe...you have no ideas - of how his rage will grow. Now, you can stay - and be tortured and beg for a death you will be denied, or you can accept my offer...and get as far away from here...as you can."
"I...." Ceredwyn wept.
Lady Angelica savagely pulled Ceredwyn down the dark staircase, nearly making the Doe fall. Quickly, they ran through the stone lined hall, Ceredwyn's hooves clacking sharply against the floor, its hollow sound echoing back. Lady Angelica paused, then pulled sharply on an empty torch sconce. With a low grinding sound, a crack formed in the wall to their right, and the outline of a doorway splintered the stone. Impatiently, Lady Angelica put her hands to it and pushed, her surprising strength becoming apparent, as she grunted and forced the stone door open. Taking a quick glimpse into the exposed passage-way, Lady Angelica gave Ceredwyn a quick hug and pressed a small pouch in to her limp paws.
"Go...my child. Run from here - run as if the very legions of the hells are at your hooves...for when Lord Dorsnek finds out that which you have done, then I assure you child - they will be after you." Lady Angelica breathed, her eyes gleaming in the torch light.
Ceredwyn glanced at the small and surprisingly heavy pouch, and it jangled quietly as she affixed it to her corded belt.
"Its not much - some coins I had saved - and I pray that you will be able to use them to find safety - far from this unhallowed kingdom. You must leave my child - and never look back. I know Lord Dorsnek will hunt you - and with the Lord and Lady's blessings - I'll hold him back as long as I can." Lady Angelica sighed, then thrust Ceredwyn through the door. "Remember your people young one - do not ever forget. Your father was proud, noble and kind - you have much of his bloodline within you. So long as you remain pure - you will have the strength you need...now - go!"
Ceredwyn was roughly shoved through the doorway, which ground closed behind her. Blinking in the dimness of the underground waterway, Ceredwyn began quietly walking along the limestone path, resting one paw against the cold, wet tunnel wall. Tears stung her brown eyes, but she bravely held them at bay, as she kept walking, trying desperately to stop her cloven hooves from clacking so sharply against the stone. A low roaring sound grew and grew in intensity, as Ceredwyn walked down the tunnel cautiously. To her, the sound was that of an enraged dragon - so loud was its roar. Rounding a corner, she blinked owlishly at the faint light that flickered at the end of the tunnel - obscured by mists. Making her way towards the light, the limestone tunnel become wider and higher - and Ceredwyn was almost deafened by the cataclysmic roar of the massive waterfall that lay at the end of the tunnel. Wreathed in mists that caressed her terrified form like the touch of specter's, Ceredwyn stared at the drop from the edge of the waterfall. Its bottom was wreathed in mists and clouds, as thousands of gallons of water rushed over the waterfall and spilled down in to the dim depths far below.... Wringing her paws, she turned back towards the dark tunnel that she had followed - then turned back to look at the sheer cliff face. Indecision wracked her, as she knew she could not return to the castle - nor would she survive the fall from this height....
***
Lady Angelica made her way stealthily back towards her chambers, then as she prepared to cross a four way corridor, Lord Dorsnek materialized from out of the shadows, flanked by six of his loyal soldiers. Lady Angelica immediately assumed a defensive position, and her hand stole to the dagger scabbard at her waist. Lord Dorsnek stared back at her contemptuously, his half human / half lupine form towering, the dewlaps curled back along the muzzle and revealing the shearing canines..
"Going somehewere...mother?" Lord Dorsnek growled, his eyes burning with pure, malicious hate.
"I am not your mother - you vile spawn of the hells!" Lady Angelica shot back scathingly. "I gave birth to a human child - pure of heart and of mind - not you, a creature grown fat on the deaths of hundreds of innocents - whose souls live in purgatory because of your vile depredations."
Lord Dorsnek stepped closer, then ran his furred paw across his mothers cheek, then a sad smile touched his muzzle as he leaned in close and inhaled, then snarled and with a savage swipe, smashed Lady Jessica across the corridor and in to the stone wall.
"What have you done!" Lord Dorsnek raged.
Lady Jessica staggered back to her feet, then wiped her gloved hand across her mouth, and glanced at the blood on her glove.
"Its not I - who has done it...but the one you trusted - to care for the fawns." Lady Jessica smiled mockingly. Horror spread its cloak over Lord Dorsnek, as Lady Jessica's words seared deep in to his black heart.
"Yes Lord Dorsnek - Ceredwyn has ended the suffering of her peoples young - they will not suffer the same fate as others - and in this, I am grateful! She had the courage, the love and the strength - to poison the fawns. They are at peace now - and already, Ceredwyn is making her escape from your vile depredations. You have lost Lord Dorsnek - your plans are falling apart around you - and when Ceredwyn escapes and spreads word of what you have done here, you will find your castle besieged by vengeful humans everywhere! Your evil will end Lord Dorsnek - and I pray that Ceredwyn is present - to watch as your head is paraded through the kingdom on a pike!" Lady Angelica snarled, her voice lashing the werewolf like a cat-of-nine-tails.
"No - you lie!" Lord Dorsnek raged, his eyes blazing with his hate and disbelief. "I had broken that Doe.... I owned her, body, mind and spirit!"
Laughing contemptuously, Lady Angelica spat on the marble floor. "No Dorsnek - you cursed her...you ravaged her body - in unspeakable ways. You took from her her innocence and trust...but you did not break her spirit. That Doe is stronger than you realize Lord Dorsnek - and I have strength in the knowledge, that she will bring about your downfall." Lord Dorsnek recoiled from her vicious barrage of words - each one lashing him viciously like a barbed whip. Turning away, he growled dangerously and stalked off, his voice seething as he snapped out his commands.
"Take her away - I'll deal with her myself...."
Lady Angelica made no effort to resist the soldiers, as they led her to the dark, dank dungeons beneath the castle. Lord Dorsnek paused, then rested his paw against the cool stone wall, then he snarled to himself and ran off down the passageway.
***
Ceredwyn leant back against the cold, wet stone of the tunnel wall - her muzzle streaked with tears. Helpless, she knew she could not return to the castle, nor could she find any way down the cliff face. Again and again, she had beat her paws against the unyielding limestone wall, tearing the fur of her paws on the sharp jagged stone. Pain was ignored, as her rage grew in to preciously unimagined heights at allowing herself to be cornered like a rat in a barrel. It was only her exceptional hearing - that alerted her to danger. Swinging about Ceredwyn shrieked, as Lord Dorsnek's paw grasped her by the throat and his strength slammed her violently back against the tunnel wall.
"Now - my young Doe..." He breathed, pressing his muzzle against hers. "Now - shall you suffer, for killing those fawns. Oh - will you suffer...."
Ceredwyn gurgled and struggled futilely at his crushing grasp, her vision blurring and lungs searing. Even her neck verterbrae began to protest under the relentless grasp of the enraged Werewolf Lord.
"You have no idea - of what I will do to you - for your foolishness. Oh, believe me young Ceredwyn - what I done to my mother - will seem like a vision of heaven, compared to what you shall suffer!"
Lord Dorsnek dragged her hard against him, and his fell breath made the choking Doe retch. His breathing grew in heightened expectation of feasting apon her blood - but he was unexpecting the reaction from Ceredwyn.....
Without warning, her knee lashed out and up, connecting solidly with his undefended groin. Lord Dorsnek emitted a high pitched shrieking whine and staggered backwards, his blood red eyes squeesed tight in agony as he slid to his knees. Fuelled by her lycanthropic rage, Ceredwyn lashed out with her hoof and kicked him in the shin, dropping him to the bank. Agonising whines were torn from him, as she repeatedly kicked him, each strike harder and with more conviction than the last. Bones fractured and flesh tore under her relentless assault - and Lord Dorsnek curled up in to a defensive ball, to escape the merciless ebating he was recieving. Never in his life, had he ever been treated to such pain, nor such humiliation. Suddenly, his animal like voice shattered like fine crystal, and the agonised screams broke in to the high pitched wail of a human - the real human - trapped within the Werewolf.
"Please...forgive me...I beg of you...have mercy milady!" Came the shrieks of the tortured human spirit within his lupine form.
Ceredwyn paused, stricken by the very real pain and compassionate feelings that frightened voice reached out for. To be held - to be comforted and soothed...the very thing - that Ceredwyn was helpless to resist.... Ceredwyn dropped to her knees, then clutched the shaking half-human / half wolfs head against her breasts and wept bitterly. Lord Dosnek's true spirit shone through - the werewolf's hold broken by its incredulousness at being attacked by a creature - it had long considered incapable of such. Just as swiftly as the true human spirit was released, it was forcibly and stealthily squashed by the overwhelming will of the Werewolf, as it reasserted itself...unbeknownst to Ceredwyn.
"You - have no idea...." He growled, his voice low and filled with menacing intent. "Of what you have done...."
Ceredwyn screamed, as his powerful paws sank in to her tender thighs, and his hot, fetid breath seared against her covered breasts. Ceredwyn slammed her paws up and knocked him flat on to his back, as she staggered to her shaking hooves. Lord Dorsnek rolled over lithely, then crouched, his ears slicked back and dewlaps curled in a menacing gesture. Just as he leapt, Ceredwyn dodged aside and squealed, as his powerful teeth tore deep in to the tender calf muscle at the back of her right leg. Staggering, Ceredwyn spun away from his attack - then she tottered on the edge of the river.
"NO!" Lord Dorsnek screamed, as he leapt to catch her.
With a pain filled but knowing smile, Ceredwyn toppled in to the river - and was swept over the waterfall...and never uttered a single shriek. Lord Dorsnek staggered to the edge of the precipice, and he stared down at the mist strewn abyss that had swallowed the one he had sought to control - the one - who he feared more than death itself....
To Be Continued...