Odder The Demon Hunter - The Blood Curse

Odder laid on the cold stone floor at the edge of his small wood framed bed and stared at the markings on his forearm. Most of the swelling disappeared allowing a clear view of the bold pattern as well as the ink spreading into his veins. He rubbed the patterns and grimaced from his movements. “Grrr.” He clenched his fist and slammed on the floor. Renzt! He’ll get his payback.

“Not from you,” said his inner voice.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. “The Archwizard sent me to deliver a washbasin,” a hardened voice said through the door. “Once you’re clean, you’re to meet the King in the assembly room.”

Odder, feeling drained, composed himself enough to answer. “The King, why?”

“I have no other details besides what I conveyed.”

“Leave the basin in the hall then.” He listened to the clink of the metal as the bowl landed on the hard tile. Water splashed over the rim, trickled under the door, and spilled into his room.

Odder wobbled to his feet, his back lurched from the pain. He stumbled to the door and pulled in the basin. He removed his clothes, splashed the warm water onto his wounds, and cleaned himself.

He walked over to his small wardrobe to pick out a pair of freshly washed trousers and tunic. Once dressed, he sat on the side of his bed to rest and muster the strength to go. Several pages, sticking out from under a book caught his eye on his end table. My collection of prank spells. He smiled and grabbed them. Shuffling through the pages, he voiced the titles. “Endless Hair, Stone Flesh, Slippery Step, Bounce, Flaming Head, Fly Away, Donkey Ears, and Flatulence.”

He traded several scrolls back and forth with Finkle and longed to be able to use them someday. His collection gave him just enough cheer to get him to his feet and meet with the King.

An emptiness swelled in Odder’s heart as he approached the assembly room. His body ached but not compared to the fears and insecurities battling in his mind. “No good will come of this,” said his inner voice. “You must flee.” He took a deep breath. His hand trembled as he reached for the door. He hesitated, pulled back, and turned away. The door opened, and Odder peeked over his shoulder. An elderly gnome stepped out.

“Momma Tonk?” Odder said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

She placed her finger on her lips and pulled at his pant leg encouraging him to lean down. She whispered, “I am of no concern, lad.”

“What’s this all about?” Odder asked, worried lines drawn into his forehead as he took a knee.

“Destiny calls us to rise at certain times in our lives. Now is one of those times.”

“I already received my punishment. What did I -”

She placed her finger against his lips. “Even in the darkest of hearts, we can choose the light. You can choose to rise.”

“But I… I don’t think I can,” Odder said.

“Ignore that inner voice of yours,” Momma Tonk said, with a quick tongue. “It’s evil.” She stepped aside and motioned for him to enter.

Does she know my thoughts? Odder stood with a slight wobble. His legs felt like the limp noodles in a focarie’s stew, but with an encouraging wink from Momma, he mustered the courage to walk through the door.

The massive room, barren of any furniture, echoed when the door shut behind him. Magic flames danced along the stone wall producing eerie shadows. Closed wooden shutters blocked the view to the outside world, but vibrated from the storm’s thunder. Across the chamber, Odder caught the silhouette of the King and Drugan. Why are they hiding in the darkness? He waited for a reply but received nothing. In the middle of the room, stood the High Wizard Edan holding a large book in his left hand and forearm.

With his right hand, he pulled glowing words from the pages, throwing the spells into the air where they hovered. He motioned for Odder to approach.

The high wizard glared. “Magic flows through and around all life, but yet you are void of it. After our encounter, I counseled with other elders of Skyger. Demon possession is our conclusion.” He turned the page and threw another word into the air. “Are you aware of this?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The King whispered to Drugan.

“A fortuneteller told me I’m cursed.”

“She is correct. This is powerful magic with a wicked purpose. The demons will use your soul for their evil scheme. The path you walk leads to darkness.”

Odder’s heart pounded, his fingers cramped. Maybe he’s right. “What must I do?”

“Say not a word and clear your thoughts.” The High Wizard set down his book and held up his hands. He reached and grabbed a spell floating in the air, and threw it toward Odder. The glowing words stretched out like a whip and wrapped around his arm with the other end landing on the ground next to him. The wizard reached for another floating spell and repeated the process on the other arm. Two golden chains now shackled Odder to the ground.

Just as he began to speak, the wizard threw a flat plate of silver that covered his mouth. Odder’s body trembled. He dug his nails into his palms.

Edan walked over to the bound elf. “Be calm, I will release your demons, but first I must make sure you cannot speak up against me.” The wizard grabbed four screws from under his robe. “This plate and these screws are enchanted and will bind your demonic words.” One by one, he pressed his boney forefinger against the screws, pushing each into the plate on Odder’s face.

Odder tried to scream, but the sound could not escape. He thrashed his head back and forth from the unbearable pain until he collapsed on the ground. The wizard grabbed Odder’s hair, and turned him over, then placed a golden coin on each eye.

Odder’s body convulsed, and sour foam spewed from his mouth. His breathing became shallow and rapid while his flesh smoldered giving off a spoiled-burnt odor as if thrown into a fire. The wizard chanted words in old Elven, causing the spells in the air to flash and plunge into the elf’s chest.

A muffled roar rose under Odder and grew louder like the sound of a thousand goblins charging through the castle’s defenses. Light erupted from the markings on Odder’s left forearm. Claws grew from his fingertips, and horns shot out of Odder’s forehead, throwing pieces of skull and blood into the wizard’s face. He snapped the chains and grabbed Edan by the throat. Drugan swooped in behind a wall of blinding light and freed the High Wizard. The King grabbed one of the floating words, wrapped it around Odder’s arm, and secured it to the ground once more.

“This is foolishness,” said the King.

“The exorcism must go on!” Edan demanded.

“No! This is not the plan.” The King removed a small mirror from his cloak and broke it over Edan’s head.

The High Wizard cried out then vanished.

Odder’s raged subsided, and a sudden silence overcame the chaos. His pain left, his mind numbed, and the onset of darkness gave him peace.