Work Text:
I laid there dying in the street.
Coughing into my hand as I let out the last of my breath as both the disease and dehydration took hold. The mysterious disease I knew nothing of since I never had enough coin to afford a doctor. Not even my own family would accept the cost, simply leaving me to die saying I was nothing but a waste to the family name.
What a terrible way to go, to die not even knowing the name of your killer.
Terrible. Just terrible.
I cough and gaze upon the blood that coated my palm as I collapsed in the middle of the street, my head nearly cracking against the cold stone. I could not even muster a whimper before coughing up more blood where I lay. Tears flooded out, spilling the last of the water in my body as I begged silently for death to take me. The sound of wild dogs and rats filled the night as I closed my eyes, ready for a release from what felt like eternal suffering that I so desperately wanted to be over.
Then, she stood before me.
I gazed up at her, her golden robe clashing so brightly against the night sky it was as if she was from another world entirely. As if an angel had stood before me. She looked upon my disgusting form as I lay there, dying like an old dog. The ways her eyes squinted and gazed upon me I always knew what thought had come to her. Nothing more than a lowly piece of garbage upon her path. Something lesser. Something that had long since abandoned its value.
I heaved as the blood came pouring between my teeth. I panted and gagged as I touch my mouth, painting my hand a dark crimson. She only watched as I laid there. Those golden eyes remaining unchanged from that cold, distant gaze as she watched me cling to whatever life I had left.
She had reached for something in her robe as I silently watched, my breath labored and hoarse as she pulled out a canteen and offered it to me. My eyes widened.
I raised an apprehensive hand before snatching the canteen and drinking as much as I could, still lying there, letting out an exhausted sigh as I drank the last drop. I looked upon her, sitting just inches ahead of me as I tried to stand but collapsed before her once again.
“I can give you whatever you want, child, only if you listen to my tales, even for just a moment.” She said softly.
My eyes remained locked onto hers, never moving away from her own uneasy brilliant eyes as I let out a noise that could be seen as an agreement.
She smiled, “Good.”
“There was once a small, optimistic girl. A girl that did not know of the true horrors of the world just yet. Still clinging onto the innocence that all men once have, even for just a moment. She danced and played and enjoyed a life of bliss and glee. She had lived amongst a monster though, a destructive, evil monster that hurt her and others around her. Drinking and smoking and destroying the little she had. Constantly forbidding her from entering its study which she oh-so desperately wanted to explore. It’s near endless catacombs begging her to explore it. The monster left her with nothing to play with, nothing to do but weep and explore in secret. Eventually, after the monster went into a deep slumber. The little girl explored its study, gazing upon the thousands of books of creature's held. She searched and looked till she found a book in the deepest, darkest corner of its study. She opened the book and met her savior.”
She cupped her hands in joy as she spoke, “The king oh the wonderful, beautiful king. His beauty was nothing like the little girl had seen, she bucked to her knees and begged and cried to the king for any way to help her defeat the monster. The king said nothing, yet still bestowed upon her his gift. She was enlightened on what exactly to do.
Late into the night she took her tiny little hands and picked a blade from the kitchen and with labored breath, slide it across the monsters throat. She stabbed and stabbed into flesh till the monster resembled not even a fraction of what it was, nothing was left of it. The monster was slain, thanks to the king. Ah our beautiful king!”
She stood up and began to yell and screamed and cry tears of joy as she sung her words.
“He is our golden savior! Our golden oasis in this ruthless desert! He blessed us with
knowledge about oneself that even the deepest crevasses of one's own mind did not know
they held. Our golden king, our messiah. The savior humanity refuses to acknowledge. One
that has spread from each of our minds since the dawn of mankind’s birth from this world's
wretched womb.” She said in one fell swoop.
Breathing hastily in a wild manner, I scratched at my hand as she continued to catch her breath. Her yellow eyes giving off an intense glow, I could not control the feeling of unease that fell over me.
“Come to me, child. I will give you the knowledge you seek.”
My breath hitched
My tongue licking at my lips as my frail form lay lying in the street. The darkness of the world
melting away as the priestess walked to me cupping my head in her hands. Her golden glow
keeping away the dogs and rats that scurried these alleyways. Their nails clicking against
the brick road as they retreat into the dark not to make a meal of me yet.
“What is it you ask of me?” I said, not recognizing my own voice after not speaking for such a long time.
What use are words when men and women alike ignore your screams and pleads for survival, begging for even a scrap of food or a drop of water?
“I ask not for your soul nor faith.” She whispered to me, as if the world itself should not
know this accursed knowledge.
“I ask of you to gaze upon our king.” She said as her hand began to course through my hair.
“To come with me and to see his beautiful form. To see his beautiful kingdom of Carcosa, where the sun meets the warm golden sands.”
I paused for a moment, shocked at the simplicity of this request.
“Nothing more?” I asked.
“Nothing more” she said, her teeth shining a brilliant yellow gold.
I stumbled and picked myself up trying to gather my thoughts, I saw her standing before me. Her golden silk robes flowing like a sole radiant star against the darkness of the night. She extended a hand towards me, her hands near flawless and perfect and yet. I could not help but feel if I took her hand, I would be throwing my own life into something unimaginably awful, the weight of the action taking a toll on my mind.
I looked around me, seeing the litter and blood covering the streets and as I took a breath, I took her hand.