To Court the Fèidh - Chapter Thirteen -
Story by Cederwyn Whitefurr on SoFurry
Confronting the one who is directly responsible for everything he suffered during his time as an Order member, Alexander is sorely tested between his desire for vengance, and the mercy and compassion of his Feidh blood.
To Court the Fèidh
Chapter Thirteen
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
8th October, 2021
All Rights Reserved.
With a savage crash, the door was slammed off its hinges as the stag stood there, covered in blood and gore, panting and one paw pressed against the edge of the door.
Stunned, the Arch-Magi stared at him, as Alexander took a stumbling step forwards.
“You're weak Fèidh, just like your Therian kin! I can sense it in you, you've lost too much blood, exerted yourself almost to the point of death...and for what? What have you achieved?”
Taking another step, the stag's head lifted as he stared balefully at the Arch-Magi, then he shuddered, turned his head and spat bloodied phelm onto the floor.
“Give yourself to me Fèidh, and I will put an end to your miserable, pathetic existence...”
Stumbling, the Stag fell and his hand struck the edge of the small garden that held herbs and other plants useful for their magicks and potions the Arch-Magi crafted. His hooflets gouged at the earth as if trying to dig into it.
“Pathetic, insignificant, weak and mortal beast!” Raged the Arch-Magi. “Look at you, you will not even stand to face your death? Very well, if you wish to cower in the dirt, then so be it...”
Eldritch magicks lashed and tore at fur and flesh, the sickening stench of it filling the air as Alexander screamed and dropped to the ground, helplessly convulsing as the Arch-Mage poured a lifetime of hatred, violence and rage into his magicks.
“Once! Once we called you brother! Once, but no more...” Enraged, the Arch-Magi stood shaking with exertion, stress and pure, unbridled hatred.
It emanated from him as a visible aura of black shot through with red streaks.
“We took you in, raised you, taught you, gave you everything! You could have had so much! Yours for the taking! In time, you would have learned that which I know!”
Again, that lightning surged and Alexander writhed and shrieked in torment, cloven hooves skittering on the stone floor, body wracked with the agony almost more than he could stand as his muscles convulsed and even his very bones felt like they would shatter and turn to powder.
“I had hopes for you child – you could have gone far, achieved so much...”
Again, the Arch-Magi paused and glared at the broken and sobbing body of the stag that lay quivering and whimpering like a kicked dog.
“Have you nothing to say? I expected more from the likes of you...”
“I'm...nothing...like you!”
Callously, the Arch-Magi stamped down on the bleeding paw, then ground the bones beneath his heel, drawing a sadistic pleasure from hearing Alexander shriek.
“No, you're weak, pathetic...you turned into...this...”
Hatred boiling like magma within him, the Arch-Mage used it to fuel the vile magicks that twisted and crackled like ebony fire – scorching the floor and tearing into and through the Stag who could no longer scream – he could just writhe helplessly. It built within him, through him, surrounded him – it knew no limits or boundaries, it just... was.
“Pathetic beast! Now, Fèidh!” Snarled the Arch-Mage. “Only now, before you die – will you see the full power of my magicks! Oh, trust me – child – that which I have used on you was a taste of that which is to come...”
With a malicious grin, driving a silver dagger through his hand, the Arch Mage lifted his hands up and cackled like a madman. Around him, the torches in their sconces flared brilliantly, the window shutters slammed open as a wind filled the chamber like a tempest.
“You will die beast...your suffering will be legendary until the end of time itself...”
As the magicks ravaged his already weakened body, the Stag shrieked, convulsed and contorted helplessly. Fur crackled and vanished, flesh turned black and dead – yet more did come, then more upon that, and more again.
Unable to even scream for the very air itself burned like acid in his throat and lungs – lungs that desperately struggled for life giving oxygen that was denied to them. Writhing and choking, he could only endure...until he could endure no more and his very heart seized within his chest...
Snarling, the Arch Mage looked down at the corpse. “Oh, you think you've died? No beast – I will bring you back again and again and...”
A single hooflet twitched on the ground with a faint click. Then a finger, the paw moving almost imperceptibly – wrist bones flexing as the paw was dragged towards the body and started to push it upwards.
“No...you're dead, I felt you die!” Snarled the Arch-Mage, as he summoned his magicks once again. “I'll...”
“I'm...not...a...Therian...” Come the wheeze from the stag, who clawed at the marble floor, his hooflets skittering and clattering.
With a choking moan, Alexander pushed himself up off the floor, panting and shaking as he weakly rose to one knee.
“LIES!” Shrieked the Arch-Magi, as he unleashed everything he had.
“I...will not...submit...” Come the growl from the Stag, before he shuddered and slammed his paws down on the ground, the force of it cracking the marble. “No...more!"
Thrust backwards as if he'd been struck, the Arch-Magi saw the sudden flare of emerald green that sheathed the stag – the wounds melting away as it struggled back to its cloven hooves and lifted its proud, noble head to glare balefully at the Arch-Magi.
“You think your black magicks will save you? Do you even understand that which you claim to wield?” Come the threatening voice that made the Arch-Magi recoil again, the very voice thrumming with power and menace.
“You dare...”
Snarling, the Stag lowered his head, razor sharp antler points facing the Arch-Magi.
“I dare nothing – I make no idle threat human!”
He experimentally flexed the fingers on his right paw, slowly turning it over then back again.
Incensed, the Arch-Magi's fingers splayed out and his vile, tainted magicks lashed out then vanished as the Stag gripped his wrists and with a savage twist, shattered them.
“No more playing, no more games... I grow weary of your petulance and ignorance!”
“You...how... No Therian...” Sobbed the Arch-Magi, as he stared down at his shattered wrists, the fingers like claws.
With a disgusted snort, the Stag glared, his eyes burning with that eldritch, emerald glow – seemingly the orbs were no longer eyes, but pure fire.
“Someone once said, human is, as human does... I did not understand her, now, I do... I see you and yours for what you are! Insignificant, petty, jealous and domineering! You seek to impose your morals and beliefs on the world around you!”
“I - “
“SILENCE!” Shrieked the Stag, as he glared at the Arch-Magi, who slumped into a chair and found himself incapable of speech, his eyes widened in growing fear.
Pacing, the Stag gestured around him, then turned to face the Arch-Magi again, before he crossed his arms over his chest, then sighed and forced himself back to calmness with a visible effort.
“ Your magick? Pathetic, twisted, warped, corrupted – just like your hearts! Hatred has turned you dark and twisted... How did a once proud and noble people, fall so low into the darkness?”
Waving a paw, the stag returned the ability to speak to the Arch-Magi.
“I'll have your heart and eat it raw...” Snarled the irate human.
“Doubtful... Would you like me to excise yours from your chest and show it to you before you die? I wonder – can I do that? Would you like to find out?”
“Gu...” Began the Arch-Magi, before he found himself slammed against the wall, the Stag's paw locked around his throat and squeezing until he couldn't breathe.
“No... No one will come to help you now – I promise you that, now, child – will you play nice? Or shall I discover how many bones are really in a human body? Oh, I'm certain you know – triple that number... it is how many you will have before I let you go unconscious...then I shall heal you...”
His eyes wide, the Arch-Magi clawed at the iron-like paw around his throat. With a disgusted snort, the Stag released him and watched him slide to the floor choking and wheezing.
“I jest... Unlike you, I'm not cold, driven by fear and hatred and anger...”
As the Arch-Magi began to speak, the Stag froze him with a baleful glare.
“Do not tempt me...”
TO BE CONTINUED...