Chapter 13: The Host of the Fallen Part 1

March 1450, Kingdom of Castile, Iberian Peninsula

The carriage stopped, not in front of the majestic castle but on one of its side doors. The coachman Damian moved down from his perch and jerkily walked to open the carriage door.

"We have arrived Padre Tomas." He said in a monotone voice.

Tomas looked at Damian weirdly and said, "Are you alright Damian? You don't sound good?"

"Without raising his head, Damian replied, "I think my muscles got injured because of the sudden stop earlier. Do not worry Padre, this will not affect how I serve you."

"I am not worrying about the service Damian. Very well, as long as you're okay. You may ask the Guardia where the stables are. I will wait for you inside the castle."

Tomas then walked towards the guard at the side entrance. He took a letter from inside his habit and handed it to the guard. He also gave the round ring with strange symbols carved around the cross to the guard for inspection.

"Welcome Padre. The King and Queen have long awaited your arrival. Please follow Pedro here to your chambers. He will also take your companion once the animals are settled." The guard said while keeping the letter and returning the ring to Tomas.

"The King and Queen will receive you tomorrow at the parlor and will introduce you to the Cardinal." He added.

"Thank you, my man. I understand that we have arrived at the resting hour."

After exchanging pleasantries with the remaining guards, the servant led Tomas to his room. He sat at the table, opened his Bible, and waited for Damian to arrive.

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At the Stables, Palace of Castile

Damian and the guard walked together to the stables. After handing the carriage to the stable hands, Damian asked for directions as to where he could put his horses to rest. The stable hand then gave him directions to the free horse stall.

He asked Damian if he wanted one of them to accompany him but Damian just shooed them off and mentioned that he would take care of it.

As Damian approached the stable, he heard amorous sounds coming from the hay loft. He stopped, eyes turning into red and yellow slits before going pitch black. He smiled creepily and waved his hands. The horses seemed to be controlled and quietly went into the horse stalls.

Damian crept into the wall, like a spider stalking his prey. There, he saw a stable hand and a made doing the deed. Damian rose and levitated before the couple.

Too engrossed in their copulation, the couple failed to notice Damian until he clapped his hands. Startled, the couple wanted to separate and dress themselves but they seemed frozen into place.

"What a good and welcoming performance. Perfect hosts for one of my soldiers." Damian said, his voice seemed to be a chorus of different voices.

He snapped his hands three times in front of the couple. Their eyes turned glassy and Damian's mouth opened abnormally wide. His lips seemed to stretch to his ears, and his jaws unhinged, just like a snake. His fingers squeezed the jaws of the stable hand and the maid until they had their mouths opened.

Two dark smoke came out of Damian's mouth and entered the mouth of the maid and the stable hand. Damian then turned towards the stable hand and regurgitated a black, inky, and foul-smelling liquid straight into the man's mouth. As if on autopilot, the man drank the liquid that Damian passed on to him.

After the man had enough, Damian then turned towards the maid and did the same. When he was satisfied with what he did, Damian let both of them go, and their bodies fell to the wood. The man and the maid clutched their throats as if they were suffocating from the viscous liquid they had just drank.

The veins on their faces bulged, their bodies twitched, and black lines formed all throughout their convulsing bodies.

"See you tomorrow my soldiers. Take care of your hosts for me." With that, Damian turned his back and left.