Into the Darkness

some things are best left alone

Regna’s torch sputtered, flickering wildly before it faded to nothing, plunging the stone passage ahead into an inky darkness. 

“Shit,” she cursed. She thought she’d packed enough for the job, but apparently not. This place was deeper and more devious than she’d been told. She dropped her final spent torch to the ground, regripping the soft leather pommel of her blade as her furry companion chirped, burying itself deeper into the pack fastened to her back.

She cleared her mind, focusing on the task ahead. “It’s ok Fret. We’ve got this,” she whispered, but was far from certain that was true.

She stepped forward, her footsteps amplified in the darkness as her other senses made up for the shortfall. She sheathed her sword, spreading her arms out, her fingertips pressing against the walls of the narrow passageway. Her mind was still imprinted with the dim image of the passage, but the torchlight only went so far in this darkness and she soon reached the end of what she’d seen. Her fingertips slid across the cool rough surface of the stones, dragging across the cracks where something or someone had laid these stones and built this abomination long ago. 

When she’d told Durnan she intended to seek it, he’d laughed and suggested she find a hearty group of veterans to join her. But that was not how she worked. She always did her jobs solo, whether it was advisable or not. Still creeping along in the darkness she was starting to think that perhaps Durnan was right and she’d bitten off too much.

Why did she always have to venture out alone? It seemed that perhaps she’d be safer in numbers, but she always feared her place in the world, especially a world where others were decorated veterans—virtually all men. She wanted the same thing and wanted to do it on her own so others would see her skill and bravery. But what good is bravery if you’re dead? Still, the treasure she sought was too much to ignore. If she were to find it, she would finally be recognized as a true adventurer, perhaps the bards would even sing songs of her across the Seven Lands.

She pressed on, the darkness consuming her. “We’ll be ok,” she said reassuring Fret—and herself.

Her fingers slid along until the wall on her right disappeared. She spun, feeling the changing direction of the passage, careful not to lose her orientation.

They say this place is older than the gods themselves, and the thing that lives deep in its bowels can bend the will of any who brave the foolhardy venture into its midst. She mostly didn’t believe that—mostly. Still, the stories were convincing even if slightly unbelievable. Her mind wandered back to her last conversation about it with Durnan. He was warning her that things are not always as they appear, but the joke was on him. She couldn’t see anything, her field of vision plunged into a void of darkness. Her hand slid along the walls, which were getting damper with each step while the muffled whimpers of Fret spilled from her pack. She cracked a smile thinking about telling Durnan about the torch—

“Fu...” she started, unable to complete the curse as her front foot dropped, plunging into nothingness. Struggling, she lunged forward, her foot still finding no purchase. The pommel of her sword clanked against the wall as she spun her body back, trying to save herself from plunging deeper, knowing there was nothing good to come of that. Thinking quickly, she pulled a dagger from her waist, stabbing it deep into the soil behind her as her body was falling away. The blade was sharp, honed each night with care, and at this moment she was grateful for it as it bit deep into the ground. Both of her hands struggled to keep hold of it as the weight of her body finally caught. The blade held and she let out a deep breath.

Fret popped out of her pack bouncing off her shoulder, brushing up against her hands squeaking shrilly before falling into silence. 

“I know,” Regna said, grunting as she struggled to pull herself up. “A little help would be nice.”

There was no response this time from Fret, and Regna couldn't see anything. Her lack of vision almost cost her, that plus letting her mind wander in this place. She needed to focus. Hurling her body over the edge back onto level ground, she dangled her feet into wherever she’d almost fallen. 

“Well, this isn't going to work,” Regna huffed. "I can't see a thing."

Fret humphed from the darkness, and the next thing she knew it jumped onto her leg and up onto her shoulder.

“That’s right, back into your hiding place scaredy cat,” she mocked. But that's not where Fret went. The next thing she knew it leaped on top of her head, spreading its body flat like a stocking cap, extending down her forehead and covering her eyes. And then Fret squeaked happily, almost triumphantly. 

“What are you…” Regna’s voice trailed off as she turned her head looking around, but instead of darkness, she could actually see. “How’d you do that?” she asked in wonder.

Fret squeaked again, the same as before.

“Well shit, you could’ve told me that before we almost fell. What else can you do?”

Fret squeaked again, this time shaking its fur happily.

Looking below her feet, she first saw the spikes, then the skeletons of various sorts languishing on them, impaled, hidden by the darkness of this place. That was almost her fate as well, but she’d prepared for this place and was ready. With a laugh, she stood pulling her knife from the ground and stowing it back in its sheath. Turning her attention back to the pit, it wasn’t that wide and she could easily clear it now that she could see it. Taking a few steps back, she raced toward the pit's edge, leaping across it easily, her eyes now trained on the passage ahead. The easy part was behind her. Pulling her sword out, she spun it in her hand, testing its weight and letting out a deep sigh.

“Ok, Fret. Let’s do this.”

She moved down the passage, following its bends, the floor becoming more damp with each step. Turning a final bend, the narrow passage opened into an immense underground cavern, and even with Fret’s help, she couldn't see its end. Her foot splashed into water sending rings cascading outward, now realizing that the floor of this cavern held a great subterranean lake—just like the stories, which meant it was true. All of it, whether she was ready for it or not. 

She leaned forward glaring into the darkness, her eyes seeking any signs of an island, finding none. But the stories were clear, there was an island—there had to be an island.

"It is there, you just can't see it," a familiar voice said from behind as she spun, her blade at the ready.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she said astonished, if not slightly irritated. "I told you I didn't need any help."

"Well, how was I to go and let you have all the fun?" Durnan said smiling, holding a torch to light his way. "Anyway, another set of hands might come in handy in this place."

"I don't need another set of hands. I've got this."

"You mean like that pit you almost fell into back there?" he said drawing his finger across his throat with a smirk.

She scoffed, lowering her sword, and turning away without a word.

"Yeah, I saw that," he added. "But Fret—like, what the hell is that?" he said stepping to her side and taking a wary look at the creature now adorning her head.

"None of your business," she answered peering out into the darkness. "If there's an island out there, why can't I see it?"

"Trust me, it's there," he said as he leaned forward looking into the distance. "The darkness, it's unnatural. Can't you feel it?"

"Of course, I can," she said lying. "Like I said, I don't need your help."

"Ok princess," he said smugly.

"Fuck you, Durnan."

"Whoa, calm it down, sister. I only followed you because I made a promise to Mother that I'd keep you safe." As he finished, Fret peeled away from Regna's head leaping forward toward the water, but instead of splashing down unceremoniously, it sat suspended just above the surface of the water.

"Quit messing around, Fret. We don't have time for that right now," Regna said, her irritation with Durnan spilling over.

Fret puffed up, shaking out its fur, squeaking calmly.

"It's trying to tell you, but you won't listen—like always," Durnan said.

"Trying to tell me what?" Regna asked impatiently.

"That there's a bridge—a hidden bridge." Durnan stepped forward kneeling at the water's edge pressing his hand upon the surface of the water. A pulse of eerie green light raced down his arm and out of his palm onto what appeared to be a translucent bridge just above the water's surface. He pressed harder, pushing out more of the green light and Regna watched as it spread out, marching fastidiously across the surface of the water revealing a bridge that spanned outward. Durnan stood, taking a step forward next to Fret, pointing into the distance where the spectral green light of the bridge disappeared into the darkness. "If we're gonna cross, let's do it. I'm quite certain my magic will not go unnoticed for long."

"Right then, let's go," she said stepping out ahead of them both. Fret leaped up as she passed by, climbing her back, coming to a rest atop her shoulder. "We need to hoof it across. You know the stories as well as I do."

Durnan nodded, falling in behind her, double-stepping to keep her pace. "You know I don't want any part of this, right?"

"Whatever," Regna said dismissively. "You never were a good liar."

"Honest," he snapped back. "I really don't. You can have it and whatever glory or disdain comes from this folly—if we even make it out of here."

“What is it you seek?” a deep voice asked from somewhere.

Regna stopped, spinning back toward Durnan, her eyes darting from side to side, sword flashing, seeking out the owner of the voice. "Did you hear that?" she asked quietly.

"Hear wha—shit!" he cursed. "We need to go back, now! It's not too late," Durnan said back-pedaling. "We're no match for it."

"No! I'm not going back," Regna said defiantly.

"What is it you seek?" the voice said again, occupying only her mind.

Her shoulders flexed, taut with tension as she worked to steady the blade in her hand, uncertain if it could even injure such a creature. Still, she clung to her blade and the research she and Durnan had undertaken for years to learn of this place and this thing. “I seek the island in the lake,” she answered her voice quivering uncharacteristically, surprising her as scanned from side to side for any sign of the creature.

A chuckle reverberated across her mind. “No games from you. I can see what you ask is actually what you seek. Many try to fool me, lie to me.”

“Show yourself,” Regna said. “Let me see who speaks to me through thoughts.”

"No!" Durnan whispered tersely. "That is precisely what we do not want. We need to go, now. Stop playing games—this thing is ancient." He spun around as something broke the surface of the lake in the distance sending cascading rings of water outward.

“Your brother speaks the truth, I am too ancient for your mind to even comprehend. You can put your blade away. It serves no purpose here—you cannot kill that which is forever reborn." Without pause, Regna found herself sheathing her sword, convinced of its futility in this place. After this brief pause, the voice continued. "It has been many years since someone visited me. Now, why do you seek the island?”

“I seek that which belongs to my people," she answered, her confidence returning. 

“Well that is a conundrum now, isn’t it? You claim it as your own, but I know it as mine. All on the island belongs to me.” As the words finished there was a bubbling of the water in the distance sending more distinct ripples across the surface of the lake, lapping onto the bride and soaking Regna's boots.

"We...need...to...go!" Durnan said tugging his sister's arm.

Regna turned to her brother, a sudden awareness washing over her and she nodded, turning to follow him. Between them and the passage they'd come from, a large shadow broke the surface of the water, shattering the bridge. The stones they'd just come across started to fall into the water, progressively working its way toward them.

"Quick run!" Durnan said letting loose of Regna's arm and turning to run toward the hidden island. Without hesitation, Regna turned following, but their pace could not match the pace of the bridge's failure. The stones splashed into the water behind them and she braced for the cold shock of the water. She stepped forward, but this time her foot found no purchase, and instead of splashing into the water she found herself floating above the lake's surface, shoulder to shoulder with Durnan. Looking up, she saw Fret, but not Fret. Above them was a majestic flying creature with iridescent wings, carrying them over the dark waters below, heading toward the hidden island.

A sudden roar echoed from the depths of the lake, causing rocks to fall from the cavern roof somewhere high above, splashing into the water around them as Fret swerved wildly to avoid them. The water below churned violently, and behind them, an enormous shadow rose to the surface awakened by their presence. 

“There is no escaping this place. Not now that you’ve disturbed my slumber," the voice echoed out in her mind.

Fret furiously flapped its wings, struggling under the weight of carrying them both, but it maintained just enough elevation to skim across the surface of the water. In the distance, the ghostly silhouette of an island finally came into view as the remaining spans of the bridge fell into the lake. Within moments they skidded to a stop on the island, Fret collapsing in exhaustion, once again Regna's furry little companion. Scooping him up, she glanced back to see an ominous shadow gliding through the water getting ever closer with each moment. Turning back to Durnan, he was slowly approaching a glowing pedestal at the center of the island, seemingly unconcerned about their perilous situation.

She sprinted forward, easily overtaking Durnan and grasping his arm, pulling him to a stop as she fished through her backpack with her free hand. "Look around you," she pleaded. "This place is a tomb! We need to go!" He paused heeding her words, glancing around. The island was littered with the skeletons of past adventurers who, like them, had made it this far, but no further. They did not retrieve the relic, they did not leave this place. It is this place they have stayed forever, their souls bound to it and to the shadow creature.

"But it's right there," Durnan pleaded. "We can get it!"

"We're dead if we do," she said tossing a small azure gem on the ground that swirled with an almost electrical light opening a portal to a tavern—Durnan's tavern. With all of her remaining strength, she grappled Durnan pulling him close. "I only allowed you to come along because I too made a promise to Mother that I'd keep you safe, which is a promise I intend to keep." With that, she leaped through the portal, dragging Durnan and Fret with her. Coming to rest on the warm wooden floor of Durnan's tavern, she let out a sigh of relief, collapsing with the release of adrenaline. "There, safe and sound. Just like I'd plann—"

Before she could finish a dark, slimy tendril shot through the portal taking hold of her leg. Durnan took her sword hacking wildly at it, but with little effect. Regna was pulled closer to the portal. She reached out, grasping onto anything that would slow her descent back into the darkness. Through the portal, the dark waters churned as the body of the shadow creature resolved to reveal a cacophony of eyes, all fixated on her with a malevolent gaze, as more tendrils sought out the portal.

"I see you Regna Duersan. You cannot visit my realm without—"

Suddenly the portal snapped closed. The voice quieted in her head and the limb of the creature was severed, splattering dark blood everywhere. 

Fret shook hard, spraying the blood that covered it onto Regna's face as it dropped an azure gem to the ground, squeaking in excitement.

Regna let her head drop to the floor with a hard thud, as she reached out patting Fret gently. "Good work, Fret. Good work." She turned to look at Durnan, but he was nowhere to be seen. He was gone, vanished it seemed. Looking to where the portal had been moments ago, Regna's blade lay on the floor.  It wasn't entirely clear to her what happened to Durnan—did he purposefully go back for the relic or was he captured by the creature?

Either way, she knew it only meant one thing. She'd have to go back down there, but this time she was going to take Durnan's advice. She'd need a hearty group of veterans if she was going to save her brother and reclaim the relic.

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