As sung by Death

The ragged shirt I wore danced in the wind, though I felt nothing on my skin. I stared around the burning empty clearing. Ruins decorated the field. A once proud tower now reduced to a heaping pile of scorched concrete. Desolation screamed in every corner, every crevice; but the devastation could not hold me gaze. My attention was turned forward to a woman who stood in black.

Her entire body was covered in a fluid silky black material that appeared to be constantly flowing, like water made into cloth. I couldn’t tell her figure because even though she was still, her body seemed to be in dancing on spot; or maybe my eyes couldn’t focus on her. She was robed from head to toe, covered completely save for her eyes. Her eyes.  It was like staring at the full moon in the dead of night. Round, rich and beautiful. They held mystery, allure and danger. One glance was enough to tell me who she was.

“Am I dead?” I whispered in a voice softer than non-existent breeze.

She seemed to deliberating on whether or not to answer. She cocked her head to the side and seemed to size me up, looking at me from top to bottom. Her eyes her sly, calculating.

“No” she purred.

Her voice was like music; Violins singing a melody that would wreak havoc on any heart.

“But you will be” she continued.

There was no threat in her sentence. No malice. It was a fact. I inhaled sharply at her comment but felt no pull of air. My lungs were empty. I stared down at my body and realised that I was burning. No, not burning. Burned. My skin was ragged and bleeding, flesh and bone exposed. Blisters and purple bruises blossomed on me. The effect was actually quite artistic, if not somewhat macabre. Despite the chaos that was my being, I felt nothing.

“I’m dying” I said, feeling the gravity of the words as they held new meaning to me.

I couldn’t remember how I got in this state, or my name for that matter. I had no past, nor would it seem a future. Nothing held importance but the now.

“Who are you?” I asked, willing my voice more strength. The answer was on the tip of my tongue. I knew exactly who she was, but fear forced me to feign ignorance.

She stared at me with a shrewd expression. Her eyes twinkling as she looked on. She was waiting for me to answer.

“Death”

Neither of us said the word, but I knew it to be true. Had I gone insane? Was this really happening. Nothing made sense, yet I didn’t seem to care. I knew why she was here and that was all that mattered.

“You know” she sung in her voice, as if she was responding to my thoughts.

“A deal” I said curtly, losing all my fear. I knew now what she was here for, and that after we were done I would be dead. There was no point in fretting over the inevitable.

“I wonder” Death said, as she moved fluidly to the side, her body seemed to be made of the same watery black material. “What would you surrender to return back to the living?”

“Return?”    

“Walk among life once more” Death explained with a soft murmur. Her words rolled of her like honey.

I pictured it then, but I knew why I was dead…or dying.

“No.”

“No?”

Her word seemed to linger in the air. Sweet and seductive. Every fibre of my being screamed to protest, but I had to hold fast.

“No” I repeated, forcing out the word with conviction.

“How noble” Death teased, her eyes scorching with both danger and allure. “What if then, you could save another?”

“You soul is mine!” Death explained coldly. I felt a chill that had nothing to do with weather. “But your body cannot follow”

I didn’t get where she was going with this.

“How far does your nobility extend? What if I could lessen your…ordeal…on the other side? For a trade.”

“What would I be trading?” I asked hesitantly. What left did I have to offer?

“Your body is just a house for your soul, but it needn’t be that specific.”

My brain was finally clicking into place. “You want to put another soul in my body?” The whole idea seemed pointless.

“Do not try to fathom death.” She said in a voice barely louder than a murmur, but it rung with the solid clarity of thunder.

“ A father of four died in the same explosion that took you” Death explained “But his time can be extended if you allow it”

“No”

“An orphan on a field trip” She continued like she hadn’t heard my answer “ Her life cut short by cruelty…or saved by compassion”

“No” I repeated, the word felt wrong in my mouth.

“A brother!” Death said with a flash, the sky seemed to mirror her excitement. I hadn’t noticed it before but now that I did I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Black heavy clouds bled into the red sky. It looked like the gold of a sunrise but angrier, more vengeful.

“A brother” Death repeated “Whose only crime was to have the good intention to surprise a loved one on their birthday”

My still heart leapt to my throat.

“Picture a man being called into work on a weekend; His birthday no less. Frustrated and angry, his brother decides to surprise him at work. But behind the scenes, death was bubbling to the surface. Who could honestly say what it was? A faulty gas line? A flash of lighting? A terrorist? In that moment, hundreds died”

The scene was very easy to picture. I could still hear the phone ringing. I could still feel the resentment as I trudged my way to work. The flash of light still burned my eyes. The taste of ash and blood still filled my mouth. All of it was so fresh, so vivid.

“Why are you doing this?” I croaked; my voice hoarse with pain I would never feel.

“His body was ruined beyond recognition, but yours is still so full of life” Death said, ignoring my question. “He can walk back into life if you allow it.”

“All he needs is your yes” Death said in a hiss. The words ran through me like electricity.

My brain felt numb with stress, but no pain followed. It was odd to have so many emotions running through me, without my body to feel them. My heart should’ve been pounding with such ferocity that it threatened to explode out of my chest, yet it was as still a rock.

I could picture him; Fragile, human and so full of life. Wave after wave of grief rocked my body to the core. It pained me that I would never get the time to mourn over him; but maybe, I could offer him the courtesy that was denied to me.

I stared into Death; watching the black fire that was her eyes. Her body so fluid and ever shifting, yet perfectly still.  Was all of this true?

“You said you would lessen my ordeal?” I asked, remembering her proposition. “How?”

Suddenly her face was serene. All the malice that it once held was gone. There was no beauty, no allure and no danger. All emotion was erased; save for one, tranquillity.

“Peace of mind”

Her answer was wordless; but I heard it echo all around me.

Knowing that my brother would be saved; that he would get to live again. The thought was beyond comfort. It was a bliss. Whatever I had to endure on the other side, I felt that I would be able to bear it.

My lips parted and I forced the air out, making sure that I articulated the word perfectly so no mistake could be made.

“No”

Thunder and lightning broke the sky. The earth exploded with a deafening roar. The winds screamed and howled with an unnatural fury.

Death stood there in the midst of the chaos; her face still perfectly serene. The juxtaposition was frightening.

“Why?” Death asked softly, but we both already knew the answer.

“How could I face myself knowing that I robbed my brother of a deed so selfless…If the tables were turned; I wouldn’t be grateful for what he did, I would be heartbroken; living in a world where meaning lost all gravity.”

I listened to myself make the speech. All around me the world seemed to quiet down; giving me the silence to think.

“Do you think he would see me as selfless…or selfish?” I asked, wondering more to myself than to Death.

Death walked forward. Her body was more graceful, more fluid in motion. She held out her arms and pulled me into a hug. Her embrace was warm and light; like the one my mother used to give me before going to work.

“You can ask him yourself”

War

I am breathing in chaos. Destruction and death polluted the air.
The world crumbles. The earth exploded as I raged on.

I am scared.

The land washed in blood and bullets. The walls painted with red of the innocent and the fallen.
Gravity held no meaning to the limbs that flew across the battlefield.

I am terrified.

Fire bathed me. The world turned orange. My skin peeled off in attempt to flee the massacre.
My breath burned. My blood boiled. There was nothing but flames.

I am burning.

 I am ash. My existence reduced to dirt and fading memories. There is sorrow in my being.
I am better forgotten, and you will forget me.
You will forget my fire,my fear, my horror, my death.
You will forget everything but my name and coax me back.

I am war.

Show Reel

A Faustian love affair

I sold my soul to the devil

Tossed away my breath

I threw my all to the never

And gave my heart to death

I broke my back for vanity

And murdered for fame

Spilled blood of the innocent

All in love’s name

You were promised to me, if I were better

So better I became

Yet when you saw my glory

You cried out in shame

Who could love such a fickle heart

A dancing flame in wind

I sought your love to cherish

But you burned it into to sin

So I took it all, hate and shame

Body, blood and bone

Set fire to your wicked tears

And your empty heart of stone.

Prelude 1: Witch

 The moon shifted behind the grey sky, light peering through as the clouds sailed silently through the night. A gleam of silver flashed when the moonlight bounced off a wicked blade.

Curved sharp metal that tore into the night and a swift polished black wood that held it in place; my scythe sent shivers of terror to anyone who beheld it.

I stood there, a lone figure in an open field. There were no trees, nor houses, just the burnt twigs and scorched grass that stretched to the far ends of the field.

It was difficult to believe that this used to be a farm, filled with all sort of succulent fruit; now it resembled a bomb testing site, if nothing else. This was to be expected, of course, for nothing was safe from them.

Witches; spell wielding abominations that roamed the earth. Their sole purpose was to raise all sorts of havoc and bring about destruction. It was in their nature to destroy. This farm stood in the way of one and it suffered accordingly. Nothing could survive an encounter with a witch…except me.

My hood was pulled back, raven black hair whipping in the wind. I cursed my luck, from the chaos around me I was certain this caster would use fire spells…the wind would turn to her favour.

“You seem tense” My scythe said

“You can’t feel it, can you” I asked

Having a conversation with my weapon might have been a cause for alarm, but not for me.

My scythe is no ordinary metal. It is a demon weapon; a person with the ability to turn into weapon of incredible power. It is slightly ironic though, because demon weapons were made by witches, and now their very creations were being turned against them.

“Feel what?” Soul, as my scythe’s human form was called, asked.

“The witches’ soul” I grimaced, my whisper lost in the passing breeze.

I could sense it. It was like standing next to a roaring flame, I could feel the scalding intensity, threatening to burn me if I moved just a step closer.  Not everyone was gifted with my ability to perceive souls, and now I wished I was one of them.  The witch was drawing closer, a malicious sun in the dead of the night. My senses were screaming at me, “RUN AWAY” they yelled, but my duty kept me rooted.

“She’s here!” I whispered, crouching into a low stance, ready to move or dodge, and moment’s notice.  I tightened my grip on Soul, feeling the smooth material under my finger tips, it felt like metal; yet the weapon was perfectly light that I could wield it with ease.

The footsteps could be heard now, rubber on dry sand. My heart beat quickened as I paced my breath. My eyes focused, trying to penetrate into the darkness. The clouds were shielding the moon again, limiting my vision. The wind and the darkness…it was as if fate were trying to get me killed.

“It seems I am expected” a coy voice spoke. It was whimsical, as if the words were sung, yet heavy, weighed down with a slight bass.

The clouds passed, the moon shone, and the witch was thrown into sharp relief.

“Warlock!” I gasped.

For it was no witch, he was a warlock. A very rare exception seeing as magic only travelled into women. No one was certain as to how Warlocks came to be, each speculation was as wild and improbable as the last, yet the common thing all agreed upon was that Warlocks were dangerous.

His eyes glowed with a yellow aura; I could see the magic dancing behind them. His skin was a rich brown, short white hair swaying the breeze. His build was slim, flowing robes of scarlet and gold were draped around his body. He looked both angelic and terrifying at the same time.

“Is that him?” Soul asked, his voice threatened with over confidence. “We can take him!”

I was afraid of this. Soul, having no talent for soul perception, tended to judge his opponents on look rather than feel. If he could feel the over whelming aura emanating from our opponent, I’m sure he wouldn’t be so confident.

“Be prepared” I warned him.

“Are you going to try to kill me?” The warlock asked, his voice perfectly innocent, yet an evil smile played on his lips. “I hope, for your sake, you don’t!”

“I’ll worry about myself thanks!” I spat.

“Your funeral” he sang “though it would be rather distasteful to kill a girl…perhaps, if your friend could fight me while you run along…” His eyes narrowed with insolence.

“Bastard!” I hissed. My muscles tensed.

“Take him out before he gets a chance to call o n his magic!” Soul advised.

Heeding his words, I tore across the field, closing the distance between the warlock and myself in seconds. I brought Soul to the side and cut across in a wide arc. The chances of getting a hit with such a sweeping attack were slim, but it showed me how he would react.

The warlock took a careful step backwards, avoiding the hit with minimum effort; his hands were a light with golden flames.  “Burn!” he said, in venomous hiss.

The fire leapt from his hands and clung onto my scythe. Soul let out a howl of pain. I spun the scythe overhead throwing off the flames as it whistled in the silver night.  I then brought it down in a deadly slash threatening to cut the warlock in half.

Again he dodged smoothly, this time a calculated hop to the side. Soul smashed into the ground, the blade sinking several feet underground. 

“You must try better than that” The warlock said silkily. He was toying with us.

I heaved Soul from the ground and pivoted on spot; throwing the entire force into the scythe. 

A deathly shrill sang as it sliced through the air.

The warlock this time didn’t move, his eyes closed as his death came shrieking at him. My attack connected.  Yet, something was odd.

“Is that all?” He taunted, peeping from one half-closed eye. His expression seemed…bored. He was holding the sharp edge of the blade with his bare hand; the attack didn’t even break his skin.

I quickly pulled Soul out of harm’s way and retreated several steps back. Brute strength would do little over here.

“What now?” asked Soul, his voice seemed shaky.

“Resonance!” I replied in an undertone. “Ready?”

As a reply, I felt a burst of energy shot through me, charging every cell in my body. I smiled as I relished this power, and sent my own wave of force into Soul; amplifying his. The feedback was instantaneous. My body felt weightless yet extremely durable. I focused my thoughts on my prey.

The warlock was staring at us with an appearance of awe and disregard. It was unnerving.

“Wipe that smirk of his face!” Soul growled.

I bounded forward, my scythe now glowing with a blue energy; a shining crescent azure moon in the field of darkness.

“FALCATE SLICER!” I screeched as I swung my scythe in a beheading strike; a trail of blue was left in the wake as Soul tore the midnight.

My blade felt no resistance this time; it was like slicing through air.

“Ha…” I breathed “stupid cocky bast…”

But my words were caught in my throat.

The warlock stood there, his whole body seemed to be burning with that same strange golden flame…no, he wasn’t burning…he was made out of it!

“How disappointing…” he sighed “I thought you were better than the rest”

“The rest?” I choked.

“Looks like there is nothing to be gained by keeping you alive”

He then stretched his blazing hand forward, palm facing me.

“Good bye” He smiled.

-to be continued- 

A DA short

The world grew quiet. Everything seemed to be veiled in shadows and stillness. My eyes couldn’t penetrate the overwhelming darkness. The only source of light came from a gem that was a top of my staff; beautiful black polished wood that was carved from a tree of power, I could feel my magick swimming into it empowering the white diamond, setting it a glow. 

“What do you see mage?” a gruff voice asked, his eyes wearily trying to peer into the cave.

He wore think armour of metal and leather, a sunburst symbol printed on his chest plate. He had a menacing long sword that he held with a degree of proficiency; he clearly knew how to use it. A templar was what the people of the Chantry called him; filth, was one of my better nicknames for him.

I held no personal grudge against the man, but all mages despised templars, for the two were as opposite as flame and water.

“I can see as much as you can!” I replied bitterly, a stupid question altogether, I thought.

“Watch your tongue, mage!” he spat. I could feel his angry glare at the back of my neck.

“I should say the same, templar!” I hissed, my voice carried in the large cave.

“What do you think you...”

“Shhh!” I silenced him; my stance crouched low, as I began to draw my magick. 

He sensed the disturbance as well as he took a defensive position. Both of us trying to learn our surroundings as quickly as possible should a battle breakout. 

“Did you hear that?” I asked uncertainly, hoping the faint whisper I heard was part of my imagination.

“Yes…what was it?” He said, scanning the darkness for the source of noise.

Suddenly, the air was thick with magick, I could feel its power run down my spine and fill every fibre with its being. An Emissary, I thought; A darkspawn gifted with the power to wield spells.

“GET DOWN!” I shouted, throwing up a magickal barrier.

My timing was perfect. The moment the barrier was erected several bolts of fire came at me, the attack was significantly lessened thanks to my spell.

“He’s an emissary!” I called out “do your job!” 

But I needn’t have said that. Already the templar was running around the flames into the darkness, there was a power surging through him. One I knew only too well, and despised.

Templars had an ability to disrupt the flow of magick in a mage, rendering them incapable of casting their spells. 

Knowing that he was running blind into the darkness, I decided to assist him. The noise of the battle probably alerted every darkspawn of our position. The time for stealth was over.

Using well chosen words in the ancient Tevinter language, I directed my staff forward, allowing a burst of light to explode the darkness. 

A small army of darkspawn came into sight, cursing their number, I began to summon my magick; I would need a much more potent spell to tackle their overwhelming magnitude.

The templer showed little regard for their number; already he was engaged with at least 5 at a time, hacking and slashing his way to the emissary, the evident leader of the pack.  His usual pristine armour now washed with black ichor and blood. The darkspawn stood little chance against a warrior so gifted for battle. It pained me to admit it, but I would be already dead if it weren’t for him.

I turned my attention instead to the darkspawn behind him, there was little doubt the emissary stood at the back of the line, firing spells to avoid direct combat.

My magick was at bursting point; I focused my mind, turning my thoughts to destruction, flame, quake and shatter. 

A darkspawn leapt at me, bearing a rancid stench and a menacingly rusted sword; but my spell was ready. At my command, I let forth my magick. The whole cave shook with its power, every darkspawn in sight was helpless as my spell set them ablaze in fire and lightning.

“It seems your are useful for some things” the templar sneered, wiping his sweaty brow with the back of his hand.

“Watch it templar” I warned “ I still haven’t decided if you’ve out lived your usefulness”

At that remark, we both met in glare, wondering if this will truly end in bloodshed.

My mind was left in peace for long, as a bolt of energy knocked me off my feet. I feel to the ground feeling a warmth spreading at my head.

Magick? I thought, my head was spinning.

“You didn’t kill the Emissary templar!” I shouted, already crafting spells of freezing and disabling in my mind.

Another blast sent rent the entire cave. I saw the templar flew across and fall broken on the cave floor, where he lay quite still. If this were to continue, the place would cave in on us.

I picked myself up and searched for the Emissary, it wasn’t that difficult to find.

A lone figure stood a mast a small hill of dead darkspawn corpses. There was a halo of power surrounding it, glowing with a sort of sinister malice.

I let loose my spell, the effect was immediate. A cocoon of ice formed around it, imprisoning it.

I could feel my mana wading, I had cast too much. Pulling out my reserves, I called on all my strength. I could feel a surge run through my system,  but even then I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

Already the Emissary began placing a shield, without any incantation or spell gesture. I could feel the power emanating from it; even on my best day I couldn’t hope to produce such a powerful defense.

 A loud battle cry broke the air. The templar ran with a fury I had never seen before, his sword blazing with an energy I knew originated from lyrium. 

His blade came crashing down the magical barrier, shattering it like thin glass. My chance I thought.

The templar turned his gaze then to me, for at that time, we both we knew what was about to happen.

I had channeled all my magick into a single spell of such  destruction, it would eat everything in its path. My eyes a glow with the power as I stared at both templar and darkspawn.

“good” I whispered, as my spell took effect.