Eclipsed.
The old man was dying an ugly death and for all their skill and faith there was nothing either a holy priest or shaman could do to prevent it. Nevertheless, the busied themselves by plumping the sweat-stained pillows that propped the old man up, fussing like fishwives with candle stubs and curtains to keep the shadows and drafts at bay, and still the bedchamber was bitterly cold.
The counts bottom lip hung slackly and a ribbon of spit drooled down his chin. Cleaning his own chin with the back of his liver-spotted hand. The Old age spell ravaged the count with shocking speed. All of the strength and vitality that had driven the man had fled in a few short weeks; leaving behind a husk of humanity. His bones stood out against the shallow skin. There would be no dignity in his death. However, the sands were never kind to cowards and foolish men.
Death, he now finally understood, wasn’t the great towering eerily figure of a skeleton in hooded robes with a scythe in hand. Not for him. A week ago he lost control of the muscles in his face and his tongue had bloated so much he could barely lisp an intelligible sentence. He lost this fight to a woman.
Using a cold compress his wife leaned over the bed and toweled the sweat from his fevered brow. “ Shh...” he heard his beloved coo, “ Be at ease husband, I shall be taken care of.” she soothed, seeing that he was trying to say something. The frustration ate at his face, sheer loathing burned in his eyes. He was staring at his new mysterious half-breed bookkeeper, Kelliann, standing near a window silently.
She was beautiful in her own way, pale-skinned and fine-boned, long and lush brown curls flowed down her back like a waterfall and draped off her shoulders, too. Her teal eyes captivating with their emotions and gleam if she looked your way. The combination crafted a glamour of delicacy around the woman- in truth she owned the foul temper of a demon, and could be a devious weasel when the mood took her. Such as her mood took him to his death bed and he hated her for it. A beheld goddess to worship had become his undoing. His death bringer.
“ W-Witc-ch...R-Run...F-From...” The Count Drak rasped, gripping at his beloved’s hand- As though if on cue he broke into a violent coughing fit before the last words of his warning cleared his lips. He slapped away the ineffective servants and healers away that huddled around him, “ L-Leeches!”
A jagged streak of lighting lit the room, throwing gnarled shadows across the inhabitants. Thunder rumbled a heartbeat later, the vibrations running through the thick walls of the castle abode. Kelliann could barely keep the smug smile from her face. Rain lashed at the glass, breaking and running like tears through her reflection.
“ Get..Out!” The Count bellowed out before another coughing fit took over. Still, the servants scurried away in a hurry, though, Kelliann merely turned to leave slowly. “N-Not you bitch.” he slurred coldly, pointing a shaking hand her way. “ Y-You stay.” His beloved whispered in his ear; scolding such behavior to the savior of his money, land and ships. Little did his family know what he signed over, what he sold his soul for. “ Leave, woman!” he rasped, eyes blazed with impotent rage. His wife obeyed and in passing gave Kelliann an apology before shutting the door.
“ Come now, Count. Show some dignity in your final hours to loved ones. I promised you, I will do all I can to dishonor your memory if that makes you feel better.” Kelliann said sweetly, offering him a delicate smile.
“ I-If I am cured...I-I will kill you, Bitch, get out and leave mine alone. I shall g-grant mercy.” he rasped, shaking with his fever.
“ What? Leave?” Kelliann said, hugging onto her book. “ And miss your final breath, dearest pawn of mine? Oh no, not for all the trade in Azeroth shall I miss this.” she moved to sit on the end of the bed, smiling. “ You, dearest Count, have always been an incorrigible liar and a cheat. This honesty and looking out for your family now is one of your redeeming features coming to the surface a touch late, perhaps your only one. A pity.”
“ G-Get...Out.” He rasped again, the fury in his eyes grew.
“ Shh..” she soothed him and patted his leg. “ Not much longer.” She said softly, eyes pale with the likeness of silver in their shimmer.
The frail count contorted in a series of violent convulsions, almost as though his body were somehow earthing the raw electricity of the storm through her touch. And then he lay deathly still. In the deafening silence that followed there was a single knock and the door opened. The lady of the house stood in the doorway, head down, humble. “ My Goddess...Is the deed done?” the noble inquired, not waiting for formal introduction.
“ Yes.” Kelliann answered coldly, “ He assumed he was his own ending, though-” she gave pause to look back to her Ladyship, “ A shame he will learn the truth in hell, M’lady, that his loyal beloved was the true end. How bitter sweet.”
“ You got what you wanted, Goddess, I was loyal and provided.” her ladyship spoke, bowing lower as Kelliann stood to leave. Her boots left wet prints on the cold wooden floors, her clothes damp like she threaded outside, and yet, she never left the room.
“ My sister shall contact you, M’lady Drak...Good eve.” was Kelliann’s departing words. Her ladyships face lit up with that simple sentence and broke into a lopsided smile, “ Thank you.” looking towards her dead husband soon after, spiting a wad onto his chest. “ Good riddance.”
@byairandbysea
