Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

instincts were
     directing her thoughts. Her abilities stretched out. Though they weren’t as strong
     without using a ritual to focus and amplify them, with Dax blocking the “noise” from
     the rest of the forest, it was easy to follow the trail Mitro had left. Her mind raced
     along the icy remnants of his wake, twisting and turning as the vampire had until
     Riley was very far from where she started.
    “That’s far enough, Riley. We have enough to go on.” His voice broke her concentration.
    That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She was getting closer to him. The trail had
     a different feel, like it was growing stronger. She wanted to know her abilities every
     bit as much as Dax did.
    “ Sivamet , you’ve given us a start, but it’s getting too dangerous.” There was a firm command
     this time.
    With a sigh, Riley let go of the trail and came back. Her body ached and her muscles
     felt as if they were hard knots, her legs like rubber. Dax was the only thing holding
     her up. “Why did you call me back? I was getting so close.”
    “You were getting tired. And Mitro might have been waiting for you. He has a gift
     for such things. He might have been able to strike at you in that form.”
    “I really don’t like him.” Her breathing was back to normal and her arms didn’t feel
     like lead weights.
    “I knew him before he turned vampire, and I didn’t like him then, either.” Dax stood
     and helped her to her feet.
    She shuddered as the noxious sensations radiated out from the village, but she stood
     her ground. As she processed the information, she realized there was more, that the
     rhythm and pulse of the surrounding area vibrated in opposite tune. She could feel
     the earth fighting to expel the blemish on the land.
    Holding hands, Riley and Dax walked together toward the village. They walked into
     three more traps, each of which Dax quickly dispatched, and then they broke through
     the forest into the cleared area of the village, and Riley found herself standing
     in the middle of the most horrifying sight she’d ever seen. Words failed her. The
     sheer number of bodies strewn across the ground defied belief.
    “Mitro must have visited the outlying areas during his first night and brought more
     villagers here,” Dax said. “I have never seen him work this fast before.”
    In the center of the village was a horrific altar of sorts. A wooden dais bore a crude
     throne fashioned from what looked like wood and human bones. Great black wings soared
     out on two sides, each covered in layers of black feathers. The wings were covered
     in blood that refused to dry in the humidity of the jungle. Like a macabre waterfall,
     blood continued to drip from the blood-soaked dais to the black ichor-covered ground
     below. Riley and Dax carefully circled the dais. Pinned like a crucified Jesus to
     the back of the bloody wings was Marty’s tortured body, naked except for the insects
     that were feeding or hatching in his open wounds. Bile rose in Riley’s throat. Most
     of Marty’s organs were hanging free outside his body; his back had somehow been fused
     with the dais, and it was his blood dripping down the front. As they approached, the
     bloody, disfigured face lolled to one side and a bubbling groan wept from his lips.
    “Oh, my God. Dax! Dax, do something! He’s alive. He’s still alive!”
    With a wave of his hand, Dax sent all the insects fleeing their feast. He stepped
     up to the dais and placed a hand just over the boy’s collarbone. Bloody eyelids fluttered.
     Haunted eyes rolled up to focus on Dax. How Marty was alive, let alone still conscious,
     Riley had no idea. Her heart was breaking as she looked at him, and tears streamed
     down her face.
    Dax held the contact for several minutes, clearly searching Marty’s mind for information
     he could use. When he was done, he turned his head just slightly toward her, not making
     eye contact. “Riley, look away.” It was the closest Dax had ever come to a plea, and
     she almost did as he asked. Instead, she squeezed the hand she still held. She knew
     what he was going to do, and she wouldn’t let him do it alone.
    In that instant all pain was gone, memories of horror were gone from his mind, so
     Marty only remembered happy moments in his life. Dax waved his hand, and Marty gave
     one last sigh before succumbing to his horrible wounds. Riley didn’t need to be told
     that there was nothing they could do. The boy was too far