writing_shadows

The thunder had been rumbling around the sky ever since he had woken that evening, the roiling clouds straining to unburden themselves upon the jungle. Yet, they held back still.

He stood at the base of the pyramid, looking up toward the squat, square temple at it's summit. Figures could just be seen moving out of the doorways onto the ledge. Even at this distance, and after the years he'd been here, he could still feel the hackles of his Beast rising in fear at the taint that rolled from their ancient shoulders.

Soundlessly, the darkness at his side parted to reveal one of their number, the mist of his Obfuscate falling away as he consented to be seen. "We are ready for you now."

Theodore nodded, without saying a word, and began to slowly climb the rough stone steps before him. The Shadow left behind briefly kissed a mirror, before evaporating into smoke once more.

As Theodore climbed, he tried to still his mind toward the task ahead. He knew that this could be his last chance to show these ancient kindred that he was worthy of learning their powers before they slipped into sleep again. Ten years of work tracking them down, and gaining their trust sufficiently to get them to accept him as a student.

"Such secrets they have that should be mine by right. They claim to be gods of these parts, but not one of them possesses a power beyond that of ordinary kindred. Save for the High Priest himself..." His thoughts rambled to himself as he tirelessly climbed.

As he approached the last step, he bowed his head in deference to the withered form that stood watching him. The High Priestest was edging on six hundred years old, and was once more rapidly approaching the point where she would sink into eclipse to wait for her blood to thin, that potent vitae that surged around her tattered and withered frame. Imperious and arrogant in her surety, she had ruled this small group of kindred for more than the last two hundred years, her sunken eyes watching and waiting for any slip ups. As they currently watched Theodore.

"Interloper. You came into our domain many moons ago seeking knowledge of that which you had no right. Yet, you have shown since then that the Gods surely walk with you." She snapped her fingers, and another kindred exited the temple, baring in their arms a mortal.

The High Priestess raised her arms, and for a moment as she stepped forward she seemed to be walking on bloody red rose petals, and then like a physical wave her Awe washed out over the top of the temple. Continuing to walk, she reached within her robes and pulled out a gleaming stone knife.

Theodore struggled for a moment with a desire to sink to one knee, and managed to remain standing as she stepped up to the mortal, now lying on a stone altar. Her presence seemed to contract back down again, pulling inward toward the mortal and as she drove the point of the knife into his chest it crystallised around him and his death rattle of a breath paused...

She dragged the knife down his chest, even as he struggled against those vitae enhanced hands holding him down, and the flesh parted like butter under her gentle touch. Grinning, and revealing her teeth, she thrust her hand into the mortals body and with a tug pulled his feebly beating heart out, holding it up to the sky which acknowledged her with a crash of lightning and another rumble of thunder. The mortal began to scream in terror, as he watched her begin to devour his heart before his very eyes. Screamed and was unable to die...

She turned to look at Theodore, "You will learn this, and you will use it to show the correct deference to Quetzalcóatl while I sleep." Her eyes bored into him, and at last the compulsion to kneel overtook him.

"Yes, High Priestess," he replied, as the rain began to fall.