PART 31 – My Name is Clara…

            “I’ve been alive for thousands of years, and through out all of that time I’ve been looked at as a monster, a demon, the cursed being of the world.  I didn’t choose to be a demon; no one gets to choose who he or she is.  And once that’s decided, you can’t change whom you are no matter how hard you try.  My existence has been a sad and lonely one, and this is the first time I’ve been on GaeoGaia, the world that I want to be mine.”

            “When a demon is first created we are nothing more than an idea, a concept, floating around in a black void.  We have no shape, no form nor consciousness; we just float in the void.  Over time we come in contact with other demons, and our mind screams for us to consume them, this is how I lived the first century of my life, killing other demons.”

            “After a while the idea begins to take shape.  We become a monster; a grotesque being that wanders the abyss alone.  The shape I took was beautiful amongst the others; I knew I was destined to become a powerful demon.  Unfortunately my looks attracted the attention of many envious demons.  I spent another century killing any demon that opposed me.  And I quickly came to the realization that each time I consumed another demon, I made myself that much stronger.”

            “My form changed yet again, I towered hundreds of feet over those who once hated me, but consuming them no longer benefitted me.  I yearned for something greater, so I began walking, discovering the void as I went.”

            “I once believed that the void went on for an eternity, but eventually I found myself elsewhere.  I walked across a desert of black sand where the moon was always directly above me.  I walked for years, alone.  I stopped my journey when I reached a beach; the water was gentle and went on forever.  I stared at the twisted rocks that protruded from the water and waited for something to happen.  Several years’ later, other demons of my stature began showing up, we kept our distance from each other.  But that changed in less than a year.”

            “So many of us gathered along the coast that we were forced to stand close, and it was only a matter of time before someone attacked someone else.  A free-for-all battle raged on for weeks until I was the only one left.  I killed the new friends I had made and I was right back to being as lonely as I was before.  And then my form changed for the last time.”

            “I came to resemble a human, one of the most beautiful demons ever, I would later be told.  I sat alone on the beach amongst the corpses of other demons until one day a man came to collect me.  A man named Gaj.  He grabbed my hand and walked with me, it took us another year to reach a massive palace, a place he referred to as the table.”

            “I was welcomed into the palace, many other demons of my kind populated it.  For once I felt at home.  The demons of the palace helped me end my habits that I had picked up travelling the abyss.  Shortly after my looks attracted the attention of Gaj once more.”

            “It turned out he was a God, he had a seat at the table of the Gods and Goddesses.  It was against the rules of the table for a God to wed a demon, but we were soon to be married.  Upon hearing this the other members of the table banished Gaj, sent him into a vortex from which he’d never return.  Entirely my fault.  I spent the next several months researching how to get a God from the vortex.  I would need to sacrifice three of the purest royal souls, princesses.”

            “In order for that to happen I would need to enter the human world.  I waited patiently for centuries until fortune smiled upon me.  A cult consisting of three elementalists summoned me to the human world using the regenerative powers of an elementalist named Fhal.  Somehow they knew what I wanted, they had located three princesses and planned to capture and then kill them.  I was proud of them and that brings me to where I am today.”

           

            “Make sure she’s tied up really tight Gell, we can’t have her moving for this.”  Clara cracked her knuckles as Gell threw the kidnapped girl at her knees.  They had grabbed her from Dumuzil on their way out of Hazol; she was needed for a certain ceremony.  “What do you want!?  My father has bowls if that’s what you’re looking for!  He’ll pay.  He’ll pay!” The girl begged.  She was young, exactly eighteen; her birthday had been the day before.  Gell grabbed her off the streets while she was on her way to her boyfriends to spend the night.  Clara needed this girl for a certain operation.  Gell had tied her wrists, ankles, knees, and elbows together, this girl wasn’t going anywhere.  Clara knelt down beside the terrified girl.  She pushed the girl’s long brown hair out of her eyes and then smiled.  “Oh you’re definitely a virgin, I can tell from those eyes.  But your also definitely not innocent, you have a man you love, no?” Clara asked.  The girl answered yes after some hesitation.  “Such a beautiful thing isn’t it?  I’ve been in love, I actually still am.  Unfortunately he was taken away from me, and that’s where you come in.” Clara rubbed the girls back as she stood up.  “I need you to be the link between this world and the demons world.” Clara finally stated.  “You’re a demon?…” The girl began to panic and then started to scream.  Clara flinched.  “Gell, if you wouldn’t mind.” Clara commanded.  Gell grabbed the girl’s neck and squeezed silencing her instantly.  He lifted her off the ground and rested her on a stump, the moment he let go of her neck she began to scream once again.  Gell silenced her for good when he knocked her out with a sucker punch.  “Well done Gell, now get your mother her tools.”

            The girl woke up to Clara gently touching her face.  “Darling wake up, unfortunately you need to be awake for this.” She said.  The girl blinked a few times as she came back to consciousness.  She was thinking about screaming until Gell threatened her simply by clenching his fist.  “What’s your name girl, tell me.” Clara asked in a comforting voice.  “Gemma, my names Gemma.” She cried.  Clara smiled.  “Listen Gemma, you’re going to die tonight, and I’m sorry it has to be you, I really am.  When I complete my mission I will always remember who you are and what you helped me achieve.”  Gemma began to panic, Gell walked up to her and grabbed her neck and squeezed slightly to stop her from yelling.  “If I can, I’ll make sure you are successful in the next life.”  Clara placed a large black bowl on the ground in front of Gemma and pulled a pair of work pliers out of a black bag near Gell’s feet.  She snipped the pliers twice in her hand to test them.  “We need to start with her fingernails.

            Clara dropped ten bloody fingernails into the bowl at her feet and then looked over at Gemma’s tear covered face.  “Things will be over soon.  Gell, the blood please.” Clara snapped.  Gell grabbed a wine keg from behind a nearby tree and began walking towards Gemma with it, she begged for mercy as he approached.  “Close your eyes Gemma, and your mouth too, this is the blood of about thirty babies.” As soon as Clara finished speaking Gell dumped the wine keg over Gemma’s head, she screamed as they did this.  “Your being awful loud, maybe I’ll take your teeth next.” Clara threatened.  She leaned forward and grabbed Gemma’s cheek, “Don’t worry it’s only your molars.”

            Clara has to use some serious force to pull Gemma’s jaw; she stopped screaming as her mouth filled with blood.  Her shouts soon became drowned gurgles.  Eventually, after several painful minutes, Clara dropped 8 fully developed molar teeth into the bowl.  “And a little bit of hair.” Clara grabbed Gemma’s bangs and viciously pulled ripping a well-sized chunk of hair from her head.  As a final touch Clara poured a vial of thick blue liquid into the bowl and picked it up.  “Okay, we’re almost done Gemma, I just need you to swallow all of this.” Clara asked calmly.  Gemma began crying, blood dripping from her lips.  She shook her head in defiance.  “Do I need to get Gell to open your mouth for me?” Clara talked down to Gemma as if she were but a mere child.  She didn’t respond.  Gell grabbed Gemma’s hair so she couldn’t turn her head; he then continued to squeeze her cheeks putting pressure on the holes where her molars once were.  Gemma squealed in pain and opened her mouth to moan in pain.  Clara took this window of opportunity to quickly pour the fluid into Gemma’s mouth.  Gell quickly held her mouth closed and then held her nose.  Gemma had no choice but to swallow her own nails, teeth, hair, and the blue liquid Clara mixed it with.

            “And the final step.” Clara smiled and in one fluid motion she spun around, unsheathed her sword, and tore open Gemma’s stomach.  Gemma moaned slightly as the contents of her stomach flushed out and made a puddle at her feet.  She looked up at Clara, who smiled back; she could feel her vision starting to fade.  Gemma blinked slowly once and then passed out, seconds later Gemma would be dead.  Clara and Gell stared at the puddle of guts anxiously, waiting to see if they did what they were supposed to do correctly.  Nothing happened.  “Why isn’t anything happening?” Clara sheathed her bloodied sword and frowned.  “Clara…” A voice echoed.  The voice had no origin; it seemed to travel with the wind around Clara and Gell.  The voice had a terrifying tone, whatever this voice belonged to was as evil as something could get.  Clara smiled widely hearing this voice, a voice that gave even her chills.

            An arm flew from the puddle, coated in a thick blood coating.  The arm appeared human but it had claws rather than fingers.  The blood from Gemma had created a portal, and it was bringing something out of the demon’s world.  A head was then pulled out of the portal.  Again it was human like, but the eyes were larger and were deprived of eyelids, they glowed lime green like Chamberlain’s did which meant the bearer had bad intentions.  The beings face was bent forward so it had a snout that it represented something of a Goblin or a Kobold, several teeth protruded from the lips of this monster.  This was undoubtedly a monster of demon origin.  When it had fully emerged, it stood almost eight feet tall, complimentary to it’s lanky yet defined body.  The monster was wearing broken pieces of armor over its legs and an open flowing shirt revealing its human like chest.  He crossed his arms and looked down at Clara and Gell.  A tear fell from Clara’s cheek as she took a knee and bowed before this being, Gell did the same.  “Gaj Blantatherus Vi Yargabathe.”  She glanced up at him.  “My husband.”

            “All of these years and your beauty still hasn’t escaped you.”  Gaj said smiling.  Clara ran to him to hug him, but he stopped her when he put his hand out.  “You and I both know I’m not actually here, touching this projection will bring harm to me.”  Clara stepped back slowly, heartbroken.  “I’m grateful that you were able to perform the ritual successfully, it’s been so long since I’ve spoken to a true being.” Gaj informed.  “I’d do anything for you my love.” Clara smiled.  “I’m also happy to see that the three cultists I was able to communicate with from here have brought you back, may I speak with them for a moment, I’d like to thank them for protecting my wife.” Gaj asked.  Clara looked at Gell.  “There were three, two of them have already been defeated.  Quella and Hale were cocky and got themselves killed.  Quella tried to fight two high-leveled elementalists and Hale underestimated his opponent.  Only Gell remains at my side.” Clara stated.  “Quella and Hale were nothing more than bodies needed to bring you back.” Gaj said coldly.  “As long as Gell is alive our plan will work.  Now all you need to do is bring three people of pure blood to the table.” Gaj instructed.  “The process was harder than I originally anticipated, but things are going as planned.  Soon enough I will bring you back and earn myself a spot at the table.” Clara laughed.  “And once the two of us are in control of the table, we can crush Acriale, Zaidoulu, and Markevv and then restart the world in our image one continent at a time.”  Gaj victoriously clenched his as if he had already achieved his goal.

            The aura of seriousness quickly left the air, “I’ve missed you Clara…” Gaj started.  Clara began hysterically crying.  “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to feel your touch Gaj.” Clara cried.  “The next time I hold you Clara, we’ll be at the peak of our lives, and I’ll be able to give you anything you want.” Gaj’s figure shifted as if he was fading.  “He’s fading.” Gell added from afar.  “Don’t leave me yet!” Clara yelled lunging towards him.  Upon contact she simply phased through him.  “You can touch me once we’re together, I’ll be waiting for you at the table.”  Seconds later Gaj disappeared into a cloud of white mist.  Clara stood there staring at the ground, softly crying.  “Mother…” Gell said.  Clara looked over her shoulder at Gell.  “Grab our things Gell, we need to get to the table.”  Clara began walking away into the forest.  “What of her?” Gell asked pointing at Gemma’s dead body.  “Nature will find a way to dispose of her, we have a handful of kingdoms to destroy Gell, now lets go.”