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There was no mercy for a man like him, damned to play vessel to a demon.
Hands roughly grabbed him up and dragged him away from the podium. He felt the rage and despair mix until it morphed into a sort of madness. He found himself grinning as a short maniacal laughter escaped from between his lips. He would get out of the bowels no matter what and he’d ensure that those who’d caused his imprisonment would feel his wrath.
“We can kill them together.”
Castian closed his eyes, forsaking the teachings of his family and letting the demon bind them together tighter. After all, he was already a monster in the eyes of the public. It wouldn’t hurt becoming more of one. Then again, how could he be damned a monster when he was born and raised in Veil City, a place full of them.
The home to all beings that went bumped in the night.
FREEDOM
9 years later
CASTIAN
The gates opened and the smell of death emanated.
Castian fingers curled as he listened to the blue jays cane hitting against the stone walls. He tilted his head to the right, letting the screams of the other prisoners cut through the noise in his own head. The darkness of his cell was something he’d grown accustomed to over time.
“There is someone who wants to see you.” The voice of the blue jay felt like it came from all around him. Lifting his chin slightly, Castian kept his eyes closed and asked. “Is there?” His voice was rough after little use.
There weren’t a lot of people he could talk to in the bowels. No one here was up for much talking when the only thing they could talk about was their past. And that only angered them. Currently, the only reason it was so noisy was because of the presence of the blue jay standing in front of him. None of those who called the bowels home wanted to be reminded of the place beyond the shroud of black that surrounded them.
“Yes, the rat of the council somehow got permission to release bowel filth back into the population.” The blue jays voice rang with disgust, he clearly didn’t agree with the council’s decision.
“Kill him.”
Castian ignored the command, as he’d done a thousand times before.
“Why are you telling me this,” he asked out of curiosity.
The Bowels offered little excitement; he’d been drowning in boredom since he’d been dragged here. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t think of a way to escape this place he’d been imprisoned in. He only knew time passed when the guards brought food, and even then night could be day and day could be night.
He sighed, “Did someone send you?”
The guard scoffed, “No, I wanted to be the first to tell you that your time is running out.”
“Kill him.”
“Murder him.”
“Take his head and heart.”
The screams grew louder and Castian finally opened his eyes. The blue jay’s body filled his view, but like always the faces of others were nothing more than melted masses of flesh. When he’d realized his vision had been altered he’d panicked but then he’d learned soon enough that the criminals that were truly guilty appeared like monsters to him. The ones who he saw as humans had no sins on their soul. Only those who carried sin were marked with the monstrosity of melted flesh.
He smirked; he’d avoided seeing his own face afraid of what he would find there. Was he also nothing more than layers of flesh and bubbling wounds?
The banging noise grew louder. “Did you hear me? You’re not going anywhere; you’re going to be dragged before the elders and strung up.”
The blue jay released a laugh holding gross levels of glee. “Come, tell me, have you ever seen a magic person die by the rope? It’s beautiful as they hang there swinging as hot spikes are slammed into their bodies—” The blue jay’s voice was cut short, as he made a gurgling sound. Castian stood, his body appearing like a wisp in the dark of his jail cell.
“I’ve seen someone hanged before,” he freely admitted as he walked towards the small opening of the jail door. The blue jay’s throat was currently wrapped in the twisting bars that had once blocked his view, though he couldn’t remove the nails and locks due to the anti-magic barrier. Castian had long learned what hecoulddo within the bounds of prison. “Their eyes first bug out, a lot like yours are now.”
He entered the single stream of light that came from the torch hanging up near his door. His brown hair disheveled, and his eyes empty he observed the red-faced blue jay. “And they struggle, a lot like you’re doing now.”
Castian leaned forward, observing the guard scratching at his throat. “I’m interested in knowing what pressure will allow just enough air in.” The man gasped as the bar grew slack but then nearly screamed as they tightened once more. He kicked against the door. “And what pressure will cut it off instantly? Do you mind being my puzzle?” he asked softly.
“Castian?” another person called out.
