Entry: Ravenloft – The Inner War
Gaia Name: Presca
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Ravenloft – The Inner War
by Kim Robarts aka Presca

Isle de Gambino, September

The early dusk settles in the meadow along the coast. Animals graze peacefully on the tall grass. Stray bovine eyed one another, leisurely as sheep stayed in their own small group to the north. They were surrounded on either side by the Gaian Ocean.
Slowly, a gathering fog drifts like an apparition up the embankment towards the grazing animals. At first, they take no notice as often this would occur just before winter would relinquish it’s hold on the seasons. They felt the chill, but continued to eat in blissful ignorance.
Suddenly, one of the sheep bayed, plaintively. The fog seemed to envelope itself around the creature and lifted it up off it’s feet, as it fought and kicked at the near invisible force.
Now the other animals looked up in shock and concern, more for themselves than that of the possessed sheep. Some backed away out of fear.
Then, as quickly as it began – it was over. The injured animal fell away as the strange cloud moved on in rapid succession across the plains.
The sheep’s mate curiously nudged the male with her nose, but the other sheep could barely move as it struggled to its feet like a newborn. Then once more it collapsed, crying out in obvious pain.

Barton Town, July, Richelle Wynter’s house

There is a loud, mechanical sound coming from Richelle’s bathroom that morning.
She holds up the source of the noise – her handheld hair dryer. She eyed it skeptically.
“I should really get rid of this piece of junk, you’re about on your last legs aren’t you?” She commented and without a moment of thought, she pitched it into the trash near the sink.
It was part of her morning routine before starting her day of work at the outdoor cafe at Isle de Gambino. The people there knew her by name, it was a simple waitressing job – but it paid for the rent. And then there was the added bonus of a front row seat to the goings-on and movements within the city itself.
Gaia proved to be a fascinating place to be since she left Ravenloft ten years ago. It was a city remodeling itself, much of it thanks to it’s interim government led by President Lanzer and Vice-President VO. Even though at times it wasn’t exactly partisan with continuing strife with Lord Gambino’s construction of his new mansion, built in part on the backs of the good taxpayers and dissent from the south with rumblings in Durem from the sisters of the royal lineage of the Von Helson, who Richelle to liken to Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, though she never dared voice her opinion in public.
She walked over to the tiny mirror in her bathroom and grimaced at her image. No one could mistaken her for Paris Hilton!
Richelle Wynter though not uncommon still proved to be a striking woman. Tall, so tall that the frame of her head reached the top of the mirror, she played erratically with her stubborn, chestnut hair that fell around her face and shoulders. She stared back into the deep, near ebony eyes that faced her. Her broad nose held prominence on her heart-shaped face, as her full lips scowled at the unplesantness.
Making a sound of disgust, she quickly looked away.
Then, she for just a second – only the flicker of an eyelash – she thought she saw something outside her window. A dark shadow that skirted past her without any form or distinct shape. It was very large, what ever it was – so large in fact it seemed to blot out the sun for a moment and so quickly she thought she’d imagined it.
Grasping her neck as her breath was caught there, Richelle felt instant terror grip her breast.
“What the hell was that?!” She asked herself and without hesitation she withdrew her surge sword from her robe, the weapon never leaving her side. Most in Gaia distrusted her – namely because of her bagest lineage. So she was forced to be wary of strangers.
The instrument was a simple metal rod. She flicked the sword once with her wrist and it hummed to life. Fire came from the weapon in a long, svelte stream of menacing power.
She ran to the bathroom window to cautiously peer outside, but whatever it was was gone leaving nothing but a lovely view of the valley.
“Damnit, where did it go?!” She cried. She tried to reason with herself what it could be, it seemed almost to move of its own volition – so she knew it couldn’t be a low-lying cloud. And, in her blood – she felt it’s presence. She knew what it was – she was just scared to admit it.
“Where are you?!” She hissed, defiantly as she gradually opened the bathroom door to peer into the next room, isolated in the darkness. “I know you’re still here! Show yourself!”
But, her bedroom was deathly quiet and whatever it was refused to appear.
She searched the room in vain. She could smell it now, the stale stench – like rotting flesh. Her skin crawled as she could no longer deny it.
There was only one time in her life when she encountered such a combined threat as this – an anju.
Anju had been dreaded throughout history by living on the base fears of others, inhabiting a world of nightmares as like a doorway into the human mind. There’s was a world of hopelessness, they feasted on human souls to gather strength. Like a parasite.
“It can’t be!” She whispered, roughly.
Anju, she knew, normally wouldn’t travel without a host nearby. She also knew it posed no real threat to her. Her race – the bagest, had been solely responsible for eradicating the disease from Gaia when people were dying from the anju in record numbers.
So why was it here?
Suddenly, she felt a sharp push against her left side and a cold wind run right through her. She spun around to look about her and then faced the bedroom once more. The shadow began to take form against the wall. It’s enormous size building as a tower in front of her.
She held her sword steady, she did not fear it. So why were her hands trembling as her fingers coarsely gripped the shaft? Anju were no match for the bagest, yet she’d never faced one by herself.
“You can do this, Richelle!” She chanted.
As she advanced into the room, the creature’s true appearance began to form. A tremendous mass of ebony darkness, a wraith of amazing ferocity and power. The long, arching talons of it’s fingers and the gaping vortex of his mouth. The teeth were like razors and lined every inch of it’s lips. And the eyes – the red, slanted and angry eyes like lava pits that were numerous on the skull of the entity. The smell that came from the demon was putrid.
But, as she came forward, she noticed the creature lost it’s strength a little and seemed to move away from her.
‘That’s curious!’ She thought. ‘It fears me!”
“Richelle!” Came the anju’s deep voice. It seemed to rumble across the walls.
“Richelle! Richelle! Richelle! Richelle!”
And, then he said it over and over again until at last it seemed his voice was everywhere in her room, echoing in her head.
“What do you want?!” She screamed in frustration and tried to steel her nerves.
“I be what you cannot see.
I feel what you cannot heal.
I am and am not,” the creature chanted.
Then suddenly, there was an eruption of laughter from the anju and it began to spin. Like a funnel of dark smoke, she jumped aside as it spun even more and then shot up to the ceiling and like it never happened – it disappeared.
She stood for a moment, grasping her chest as her heart beat feverishly and then collapsed in a nearby chair.

Isle de Gambino Outdoor Cafe, Daytime, Same Day

Despite the horrifying experience of the morning, Richelle decided it best to try to act as normal as possible and forget what happened. Yet, why it happened remained a mystery to her.
Serving a few of her regulars at The Senius Tree Cafe always did cheer her up. Especially Rina, her co-worker from the mainland who always had a sunny outlook and a fast joke for her.
“So did you hear what Ian was up to this weekend, Richelle? I heard he was out with Moira at a local Durem bar!” Rina exclaimed as she stacked some dirty dishes from a nearby table on her tray and pushed a stray lock of her mahogany hair behind one ear.
But, Richelle wasn’t listening to her as she wiped the table clean, she was still thinking of other things.
“Richelle? Something up? You’ve been quiet all day!” Rina replied and sat down for a moment near her.
Richelle sank gratefully into a chair across from her and looked over at her friend.
“I’m sorry, I just had a rough morning, that’s all. I’ll be OK, thanks.”
Rina touched her hand and smiled. “Men trouble?”
Richelle laughed. “Not everything involves men, Rina.”
“The important stuff does!”
She shook her head at Rina. “No, this wasn’t a man. Look, I’m just not ready to talk about it OK. Can we just…”
She was about to finish her sentence when suddenly she heard a gargled sound across the cafe. It was a woman, gagging on something as she started to clutch at her throat. Several people nearby screamed and jumped away as the woman seemed to leap from her chair and struggle. A few plates on her table shattered on the cement of the terrace as she pushed them in her fight for her life. Richelle was possibly the only one who noticed it – as the woman stumbled for breath, her feet at one point were lifted off the ground.
“Oh shit!” Richelle exclaimed and leapt out of her chair. She dropped everything and ran over to the woman. “Stand back, everyone – I know CPR!”
She grabbed for the poor woman, and could feel the force of invisible hands fighting for supremacy of the human. It was is she could feel the woman being snatched out of her arms literally, so she held on even more and at last she was freed.
Bringing the woman down to the ground and cradling her in her arms, Richelle could see her turning blue. She leaned over and did a light mouth to mouth. The woman suddenly let out a large whooping sound and breathed on her own again.
Rina was immediately at Richelle’s side as a nervous friend of the injured woman looked down on the them.
“Richelle, is she going to be OK? Should I call 911?” Rina asked, looking helpless and frantic.
“This is his fault!” The strange woman towering over them screamed.
Richelle slowly raised her eyes to the indignant friend and could see anger clearly in her eyes.
“Excuse me?” Rina asked, totally confused.
“Who is he?” Richelle questioned.
“What he? The woman was gagging on some food, I saw it and I…” Rina tried to protest, but was totally ignored.
“That pompous and arrogant bastard that lives up in Ravenloft.”
Richelle’s heart beat faster. It was a place she hadn’t heard mentioned in years. Now she had to know.
“Who?!” She cried out, pleading for a name.
“Sabin Duvert! If my friend dies at his hands, I’ll kill with my own!” She snarled.
Richelle just looked at her in disbelief. “Sabin Duvert? The millionaire? You must be mistaken!”
“The anju’s got him! This is his work! If the anju comes here, none of us are safe. I told them they should have killed Duvert when they had the chance years ago when he started going insane but no one would listen to me! Now it’s all starting again!”
Richelle handed the ailing woman over to Rina for a moment and stood up full height in front of the friend. The woman didn’t back down or move a muscle as she continued to glare at the waitress.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed, eyeing Richelle. “You’re one of them!”
Rina looked up at her friend and seemed shocked. “What is she talking about, Richelle?”
Richelle held her hand up to Rina to be quiet, and stood even more close to the woman in question.
“If I was, you wouldn’t survive to be talking to me right now, would you? I had nothing to do with this! So you better watch who you throw your accusations around! And, as far as Sabin Duvert goes – he’s eccentric but not possessed!”
As Richelle moved a little closer, the woman glanced down at Richelle’s arm momentarily. A look of shock came over her face and without another word spoken – she suddenly turned and ran off amongst the crowd of curious spectators.
Rina looked shook up. “What the hell was that all about? Richelle? The woman, she’s coming to!”
Richelle stood for a moment, staring off after the friend in disbelief and then knelt down next to the victim starting to open her eyes on the ground.
As she did, the woman reached out and touched her arm. Her hands were cold and her eyes were vacant. Being a bagest, she immediately recognized the signs. The woman was dying, within months, she’d be gone.
She bent down and took the woman out of Rina’s grasp and picked her up.
“I’m taking her to the doctor. Rina, call them and let them know I’m on my way!”
Without another word, Richelle walked out into the sunshine and towards her car. The woman’s grip weakened and she died on the way to the hospital.
It was then she knew she had to return to Ravenloft and visit the mysterious Sabin Duvert herself.

Ravenloft, Sabin Duvert’s Mansion, Daylight of the Next Day

Despite Richelle’s apprehension of traveling alone, she knew that she had no choice. Only she knew the history of this place and wouldn’t dare drag anyone else into the risk she was to face.
Sabin’s mansion was certainly imposing albeit beautiful as it sat atop the hills surrounding the famous cliffs of Ravenloft. It was a tall, monolith of sorts with marble limestone bricklayer walls, black-tiled roof and stained glass windows shutting out the light. The large, redwood door with it’s gold-covered knocker seemed rather showy as she reached to announce her presence.
He had the best view in the entire area, what money could bring could not buy him happiness. Most times he lived alone, or so Richelle thought as the door to the mansion opened and a little man stood before her on the stoop.
The gentleman was obviously the butler for Sabin as he looked her over and then neatly took his place to block her way. At least he wasn’t rude about it.
“May I help you, miss? Is there something you wish to speak to Mr. Duvert about?”
She smiled as best as she could, despite the circumstances.
“Ah yes, there is. I’d like to speak to Mr. Duvert about business from Gaia. It’s of a personal nature,” Richelle replied. She didn’t want to let on her true reason for being here but didn’t want to lie either.
“Business? I’m sorry he has no business today with anyone.”
This was proving to be a bit tricky.
“I’m an old friend of a friend.”
“Your name, please?” The man asked, rather dry in tone.
“Richelle Wynter.”
“I don’t recall any Ms. Wynter in Mr. Duvert’s company. I’m afraid you’ll have to…”
“I don’t believe it!” Screamed a voice in behind Richelle. It was a woman’s voice and one that caused her nearly to have a hernia on the spot.
There was no mistaking it.
“Is that you Richelle? Oh my God!!”
Richelle turned around to face her friend with a smile, it had been a long time…
Kamiki!
“Hey, girl! Long time no see!” Richelle greeted her and suddenly the two women broke into a hug.
The butler seemed a little put out and a tiny bit turned on by the feminine display.
“You two ladies know one another?” He asked, curiously.
“Oh let your guard down, Smithy – she’s like my sister practically, we did everything together!” Kamiki said, and suddenly Richelle was taken ten years into the past.
“Everything?”
“Smithy, are you turning kinky on me?” Kamiki chided and came up to stroke the old man under his chin. He seemed to turn to mush under her touch.
Kamiki was a remarkable woman in every respect. Half kitsune and half human, she betrayed the features of both sides of her physical makeup at one time. And the effect was never lost on any man’s path she crossed. Shorter than Richelle, she never the less had presence with her striking violet eyes and her long lavender hair that fell in smooth waves about her shoulders. Her ears were vixen, high above her head and ever alert to anything she should pick up with soft tuffs of silver fur and the tips marked by black spotting, she always adorned each with a myriad of different earring concoctions. Her tan body was voluptuous and muscular, she always did take good care of herself and as her long nails brushed Smithy’s chin, she at once was commanding and beautiful.
Richelle smiled and felt at ease suddenly, having someone familiar here seemed to take away the tension of the situation she’d felt only moments before. Watching her, she felt a sudden tug of the crimson tunic she’d chosen to wear that day. Looking down from where it was coming from, she saw a little boy looking up at her.
“Hi!” He chirped as he smiled at her. Somehow, considering the situation, he seemed remarkably out of place.
“Oh, he’s mine!” Kamiki replied as if reading Richelle’s mind. “Little darlin’, ain’t he?”
Richelle looked back at her friend in shock. “He’s – yours?”
“Yes, oh it has been a long time hasn’t it – God! Yeah, I have a kid now. Gavin, say hi to Richelle. She’s nearly your aunt!”
Richelle just blew threw her teeth and then turned to the young child. It was remarkable how much he resembled his mother, and a little something else. He had to be at least 10-12 years of age with the same silvery coat of fur not only in his fox-like ears but the mop of soft hair on his head. His eyes were unusual – his right eye was red and his left eye was blue. As he swished his silver tail impatiently around his little legs, she questioned who the father might be. Then, it became very apparent as his eyes took on a strange glow.
“So, would you like to stand here all day or are we going inside? Come on over here, Gavin!” Kamiki said, rather leisurely and the butler stepped aside without provocation.
Gavin ran over to his mother’s side and she took his hand in hers.
Kamiki sidled up to Richelle and grabbed her arm in hers.
“So, surprised I’m here?” She whispered.
“As a matter of fact, I am. Just a little too on the nose for my liking. How did you know I’d be here?” Richelle asked.
“I suppose you think I’m psychic now like you?”
Richelle gave Kamiki a side glance.
“As if! Your friend – Rina, is it – she told me you might need a hand. Seems I was right!”
Kamiki laughed, smugly as she released Richelle’s arm and walked ahead with her son down the hall.
Richelle steeled herself as she looked up at the immense doors at the end of it and stepped forward.

Moments later, inside the drawing room

Sabin Duvert was alerted to their presence like a hound on a scent, he stands in the corner of the large room, completely in black save for traces of ivory of his finely-pressed linen shirt and flashes of his long silvery hair.
The man was an enigma to most, but just as Kamiki had predicted, Richelle could sense his conflicting emotions the moment she stepped into the room.
He was a very tall gentleman, smartly dressed as always in a long formal black suit and tie. With his handsome, high cheekbone face and his light cobalt eyes that seemed to immediately hold Richelle in his sights. She had to admire the near silk of his waist-long silver hair that he swept over one shoulder in irritation. It made him almost seem older than he was.
For a moment, Richelle caught her breath. It was then that she noticed the long, claw like fingers that retracted quickly as he moved some of his hair moved away to expose the pointy tips of his ears. It was true – the anju had taken him over. His eyes shifted a bit and became slanted like a cat’s and then returned to normal.
Richelle felt immediate unease.
Kamiki felt no such worries as she swept into the room like the Queen of Sheba and walked right up to him.
“Sabin, how are you?” She asked, a tad formal but betraying her familiarity as the two kissed each other’s lips for a moment.
Suddenly, Gavin came running across the room and jumped into his father’s embrace as Sabin sat down in a large throne chair.
“Father!” He cried.
Sabin hissed a bit, but then relented to hug the boy after he saw the look of reproach on Kamiki’s face.
“Who’s this?” Sabin growled, almost ignoring her and returning his fervent gaze upon Richelle.
“This is my friend from Gaia. We’ve known each other for a long time. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Richelle Wynter!” Kamiki joked and turned to wink at her friend.
Richelle nearly choked on her words. “Not everyone knows me in Ravenloft, Kamiki.”
“Pah! As if – who hasn’t heard of you – the famous bagest…”
Now Richelle knew she was baiting Sabin and she didn’t like it. This was not how she wanted to broach the situation with Duvert.
“Bagest? Not the bagest that chased the anju out of Ravenloft?”
There was a slight hint of anger as his eyes slanted again and his brow deepened. She knew the anju was in him, even now. She almost feared for Kamiki, if she wasn’t sure the kitsune woman could readily protect herself.
“I was only a part of it, not the main one involved,” Richelle mumbled in somewhat embarrassment.
“You’re being too modest,” Kamiki continued to taunt. “You should tell us all your tales from the past, Richelle.”
Then a woman’s voice was heard from the side of the room.
“Kamiki, stop!”
From out of the shadows a lovely woman appeared in dark clothes similar to Sabin’s.
Her long, mahogany hair came down around her gentle shoulders. Her eyes were dark and her lashes seemed to go on forever. Her beauty was legendary in Ravenloft. It could only be one person – Samantha Blaire.
“How long did I know it was going to be before you came out to give me a lecture!” Cursed Kamiki and it was obvious to Richelle that there was a jealousy between the two women.
“I am his wife, I think I have some say in the matter!” Samantha challenged.
Richelle was shocked – his wife? Duvert had married? And Samantha? She came from a highly respected family, why would she spend her life devoted to a man who had since bottled himself up in his house and hardly see the light of day?
“I’ve just come here to let Gavin see his dad, is that a crime?” Kamiki commented.
“When you slept with my husband it was!”
“Enough!!” Shouted Sabin abruptly so much so that it scared everyone in the room. “I have nothing more to say – to any of you. Please leave me alone!”
“Sabin!” Cried Samantha, but he angrily brushed her aside as she reached for him.
Getting up from his chair, moving Gavin aside – he walked out of the room and slammed the door.
“This is your fault! And, who is she? Why are you here?! Why don’t you leave us alone?!” Samantha grumbled and then ran after her husband.
“Well, I think that went well!” Kamiki replied, not even slightly bothered by what just happened. “He does this every time we come here. You’d think he’d make a bit more effort on Gavin’s behalf. I don’t know what I ever saw in that man. He used to be decent once, if not a bit troubled. Now I feel I don’t even know him.”
Richelle was soaking in Kamiki’s words when Gavin went over to hug her instead.
“Do you want to play a game with me?” He asked.
Kamiki giggled and picked up Gavin instead. “No, hon, I think we’ll just go find our rooms. Richelle, are you staying the night? You could stay with me and Gavin, there’s plenty of room in the guest room upstairs.”
“Well, I guess that will be OK, we can probably catch up on things – after all, I didn’t come all the way out here for a polite chat with Mr. Duvert,” Richelle replied.
“Mr. Duvert!” Kamiki laughed. “You make him sound like a business executive!”
Both women laughed for a moment and then retired upstairs.

Later after supper was served, and everyone had gone to bed

Richelle opened her eyes and found she was in a place familiar to her. It was her house, the one she had grown up in with it’s thatched roof and it’s little balconies that looked out onto the valley and ocean just beyond. Her mother always loved to put flowers in the little eaves near the edge.
As she stepped out onto one of the balconies, she noticed looking down upon herself that she was a young girl again. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her – if he was a child – then…
“Richelle, are you up there?!” Came the familiar voice.
She was overjoyed as she looked down to see her older brother, Ryerson standing on the lawn in front of the house.
“I thought you wanted to go out to the beach today, Flufferhead!” He sweetly taunted.
She thought she’d never see him again. He had died when she was a barely 17, killed in a fight with the entity that she now faced alone.
But, to see him again sent joy into her heart.
His kind and handsome face, and his welcoming smile. And, the familiar line of tattoos along his cheek that he loved to say were kisses from the gods.
“Hang on, I’ll just grab my sweater and be right down!” She shouted.
She was excited as she ran back into her room to find her ivory cardigan wrapped around one of the chairs in front of her vanity mirror. From outside, she could still hear her brother but now he was singing a song she always remembered.
“This is the spell that we intone,
Flesh to flesh and bone to bone.
Sinew to sinew and vein to vein,
And each one shall be whole again.”
Just as she heard his deep voice chanting the words, the sound stopped and he went quiet.
“Ryerson?” She asked, wondering what was wrong. “Ryerson?”
She ran downstairs and stepped out the front door.
But, Ryerson was gone and in his place was the demon who she feared – because she knew her fear had brought him here.
“Richelle! Richelle! Richelle!” It replied, provoking her with its raspy voice.
“What do you want? What did you do with Ryerson? Where is he?!” She screamed, and clutched her hands to her chest. But, there was no one, she was alone.
“Didn’t you ever wonder why it was that your mother never bonded with you like he she did her dear Ryerson?” The anju snarled, it licked it’s lips at her lasciviously as it eyed her up and down. “How tasty you must be!”
She backed away, frightened and the anju grew in size with this sense.
“I’m not listening to you anymore – where is he! Stop talking to me in riddles!”
But the anju appeared undaunted. “Ryerson was the first was he not? The best. You only knew of him from what little of your childhood you had. You knew him more in spirit than in corporeal body!”
Richelle was losing her patience, she tried to leave but the wind swept up in front of her and slammed the front door of her house. She jumped back in time.
“Let me speak with you Richelle in a way that you will understand. When your mother lost him, she didn’t want to go on but she had to, for you were here. From that day forward she wished you to be plain, simple and unfinished – without promise. If her golden child was to be taken, she wanted nothing else. Not even you! She cursed you!”
“No!!” Screamed Richelle in horror.
“Who do you think cursed you to be what you are – a bagest in a human body!”
“NOO!!”
Suddenly Richelle charged for the anju, enraged but all she was left with was a cloud of smoke and a loud ring of smug laughter.
She fell to the ground in tears.

Suddenly, Richelle awoke in her bed to realize it was all simply a nightmare. Kamiki was sound asleep on the pillow near her, unaware anything was wrong. But, she was so upset, she needed to talk to someone. The anju had tried to get to her, if he could get to her – he could get to any of them.
She nudged her friend with her hand.
“Kamiki! Kamiki, wake up!!”
“Mmmm…wha? What’s going on, let me sleep – it’s the middle of the night!” She murmured and tried to turn back over to hug her son behind her.
But, Richelle wouldn’t give up so easy. “Kamiki! Come on! I just saw the anju!”
Kamiki eyes opened now and she tried to struggle up. Her senses alert.
“What? Where?” She asked.
“In my dreams, he was there – he took Ryerson from me!”
Kamiki reached over and held her friend in her arms. “Oh honey, it was just a nightmare. You can’t let the past get to you like this.”
Richelle gently pushed her away. “No, Kamiki, this was more than that. You already know he’s here – he’s trying to get to me. He’s trying to get to all of us!”
Kamiki tried to hold on to her, but it did little good – she jumped across the bed and started for the door. As she did, she accidentally woke up little Gavin when she bounced on his side. Richelle grabbed her surge sword from her purse and it sprung to life.
“Mom!!” Gavin cried in confusion as he opened his eyes.
“It’s OK, go back to sleep! Richelle, get back here – where are you going?!” Kamiki hissed.
Richelle had long gone from the room by the time she uttered those words.
Kamiki huffed in disgust and shook her head. “Gavin, mom will be right back – you just stay here. Promise me, now!”
“Alright mom!” Gavin said quietly and turned to go back to sleep.
How nice it must be she thought to be innocent like that.

Down the hallway into Sabin Duvert’s room

Richelle didn’t knock or announce her presence as she abruptly opened the door and came into the room. There was Sabin, looming in the corner as if sensing what she was planning to do. His teeth were bared to reveal fangs piercing his full, bottom lip and his eyes became slanted and red with rage.
His wife, Samantha was blissfully unaware as she slept on in his bed.
“I was wondering when you’d come! Richelle! Richelle! Richelle! I consumed him with just one bite and he was so tasty!” Sabin replied, but it soon became apparent that it was no longer Sabin talking but the anju who possessed him. “Your brother Ryerson, he fought nice and neat but was no match for me!”
“Mmmm…what? What is it, Sabin?” Samantha murmured as she turned over in her sleep to see Richelle and then Kamiki at her door.
As soon as her eyes fell upon Kamiki, the jealousy poured into her and then something unusual happened…
There all along Samantha Blaire Duvert’s body were ruin tattoos that Richelle hadn’t noticed before. She gasped, she’d seen them before – on her brother. And more importantly – on her own body.
Samantha’s tattoos began to glow with a white electricity that illuminated her porcelain skin. It was her ire and jealousy, Richelle knew only too well – that caused such a reaction.
Sabin in his anju form began to spit and snarl in a rather bizarre manner and backed away from his bed. It was almost as if – he feared his wife.
“Oh my God!” Breathed Richelle.
“What?” Kamiki asked.
Then, as if he were standing right beside her – she could hear her brother’s voice in her ear.
“This is the spell that we intone,
Flesh to flesh and bone to bone.
Sinew to sinew and vein to vein,
And each one shall be whole again.”
“It has to be! Kamiki – the ruin tattoos on Samantha’s body, they are scaring the anju – I know what the words in the tattooing mean. It’s a wicca chant! It’s a chant of protection against harm taught to the bagest at a young age. That’s why it can’t defeat the bagest and that’s why Sabin is frightened right now of her. She must have bagest in her blood as well. Grab him!”
Kamiki didn’t need to be told twice as she started to emit a familiar whirl and electricity all of her own, as her kitsune instincts of battle took hold. Lunging across the room, she grabbed onto Sabin’s arm as Richelle starting to mount in size as her bagest side took over, grabbed for his other arm.
“NOOO!” Samantha cried and tried to jump from bed. “You’re hurting him!”
Richelle shouted back at her. “Stay where you are, this isn’t your husband right now! The anju has taken hold of him!! We’re trying to save his life!!”
She stumbled backwards and ran to the safety of her bed, nearly hiding under the blankets. She looked stunned and frightened for the safety of Sabin now, but helpless to do anything.
Sabin became infuriated, writhing in a struggle with both women in their animalistic forms as Richelle chanted the words again from the spell.
“This is the spell that we intone,
Flesh to flesh and bone to bone.
Sinew to sinew and vein to vein,
And each one shall be whole again.”
Sabin suddenly collapsed on the floor and both women caught him, they thought it was over until a large, dark mass rose from the body of the poor human male host lying below it. Richelle moved Sabin aside carefully and challenged the anju.
The room seemed to admit a strange hum as the anju was building strength, though he seemed to be wounded by the side that Richelle was holding on to – he was however able to free himself momentarily from Kamiki’s steely grasp. Picking her up like a rag doll – he threw her clear across the room so that she hit the wall, falling in a crumpled heap.
He was not about to go quietly.
Richelle’s anger grew and as it did, so did her bagest form – until she was nearly as large in size and mass as the anju itself. She appeared to all that witnessed it like an immense black wolf with swollen red eyes and teeth as long as a man’s leg. Drool came from her mouth as the anju stood before her daring her into a battle to the death.
Running straight for the anju, she skirted his striking blow and jumped onto it’s back. The anju screamed out in pain and surprise, as Richelle sunk her teeth deep into it’s neck. She held on as the anju continued to fight her off, shaking his head from side to side and waving his arms frantically.
She looked up momentarily at Kamiki, who watched trying to find someway to help. As Kamiki saw her staring deeply into her eyes, she suddenly knew what to do.
The anju’s gaping mouth was wide open as Kamiki gathered a fireball emitted from Richelle’s discarded sword. Gathering it up in her hands, she carefully took aim and with all her force – threw it across the room.
With deadly accuracy, Richelle bit down harder and the anju’s mouth screamed again in pain only to open his incisors to the fireball that sank deep between his lips. The light inside of him was something the anju couldn’t fight.
A terrible screech shook the building as Richelle rolled free and covered her head.
A massive explosion ripped the anju in two and shards of black goop covered everything in the room as the demon was disintegrated before their very eyes in a vortex of darkness.
The room was pitch black for a moment and then the natural light returned.
Wearily, all the survivors slowly sat up to look around them. Richelle reverted to her human form as did Kamiki. But, what was most surprising was Sabin, who slowly sat up and rubbed his aching head.
“What? Where am I?” He asked.
Samantha ran over to him, she recognized her husband’s true voice – gentle and soothing – a sound she hadn’t heard for a very long time.
“Sabin? Is it really you?” She cried, as she frantically tried to steady his hands and wrapped her arms around him. Samantha noticed it immediately – his hands – they were normal and so were his ears. And, there was only love for her in his eyes.
“Samantha? Oh my God, Samantha!” He cried and they held each other close.

Later on, after everyone had recovered

Richelle was sitting at the dining room table, talking over everything that had just happened with an obvious sigh of relief, when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
She turned to look up at Sabin Duvert, standing over her. But, now she no longer dreaded his presence. Instead, he greeted her with a warm smile.
“Richelle, I have to apologize for everything and how I’ve been to you. I owe you my life, my dear.”
He held out his arms to her. She grinned and stood up to wander into his embrace. He held her for a long time and then she kissed his cheek.
“I’m just happy it’s over and you have your wife back again!” She answered him.
Samantha came up from behind Sabin and the two women hugged as well.
Then Kamiki wandered over and put out her arms for Samantha.
Though Samantha seemed a bit hesitant at first, she shrugged, giving in to the moment to hug Kamiki too. As did Sabin.
“So where is my son, Gavin, my sweet boy?” Sabin asked, looking around him.
“He’s asleep upstairs,” Kamiki replied, dryly and shook her head. “Can you believe it, he slept through the whole thing!”
“That’s my boy!” Sabin laughed. “That child of ours could sleep through a tornado!”
“I think he just did!” Kamiki said.
“Well, I would like to ask if it would be possible to let him stay with me and Samantha a few days? I think maybe you should go get some rest, young lady. I think you deserve it!”
“Now there’s an idea! Richelle – think you’d have some room at your place in Gaia for a few days?” She asked.
“Hmm…there goes my sleep for the rest of the week!” Richelle snarled.
Everyone laughed as Kamiki smacked her arm and then gave her hug.