The Sun Rose
Matthew Ryan Fischer
The clouds began to part and the winds died down. The shadows receded
and the sky turned from black to a dull grey. In the distance there was the
glow of the future. The long night had ended and the day would return.
The soldier rose, the woman helping him to his feet. The man with
the stoney arm seemed less stiff. He approached and the three went together,
searching the other ruins.
Day had come.
The crow flew away, satisfied. The spell was broken. The murder was
on the move, with other business to attend to, and different spectacles to observe.
Sophie, Darius, and Captain Hawkins found Ariadne near the former
stables, caring for the dead.
“The spectre is gone,” announced Sophie.
“You’re sure?” asked Ariadne.
“As sure as I can be. I don’t think the Necromancer ever completed
his spells. She seemed to need to change bodies, like she was using all their
energy up. When I killed the servant woman she was inside of, I saw a green
energy dissipate and fade away.”
“Good,” nodded Ariadne. “Enough have already died.
“Have you seen Lady Hanbrook?” asked Hawkins.
“Not yet.”
Hawkins took his leave to go search for other survivors.
“How’s your husband?”
“Better. His fever seems to have broken and he’s more mobile. The dawn
seems to have reawaken something inside.”
Ariadne stood, brushing herself off. “Good for you, I suppose.”
“We didn’t cause last night. We fought to end things.”
“Yes, a great many people did. Not all as lucky as you two.”
“You hate what we are.”
“No. I’m tired and have seen too many bodies and need to leave
this town.”
“You never told me how you knew what we are. How did you know when
the others didn’t?”
“We all have our secrets. Yours was obvious. I just knew how to
look.”
Ariadne walked away towards the rising sun.
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