Savior of the Damned

September 21st

“Are you sure we can trust them, Phae?” Eldren asked, walking up to Phae as she leaned up against the railing.

“Would I really bring people back with me I didn’t trust?” she asked, eyes lighting up for a moment. It was almost like she was back for real. Eldren was glad she had come back, that she had weakened Aurelius, but he didn’t trust her company. They were quiet and brooding, and one of them had killed Demeter, too.

Eldren looked at the thick white scars on Phae’s neck and suppressed a shudder. “What even happened?” He asked as they stood on the deck of the airship. “The last I saw you . . .” he looked away and swallowed, feeling dizzy. Pinching himself didn’t help, so he must not be dreaming, but the pervasive feeling of unreality still dogged him.

Phae shook her head. “It’s been a lot. Let’s save it for when we get back to Harbor City, so I don’t have to tell it too many times.”

Eldren didn’t want to wait, but he understood. “No one has ever gotten out of his grasp. You’re a miracle worker, Phae.”

She leaned back against the wooden railing as her expression soured. “I certainly don’t feel like one.”

Eldren glanced over her shoulder at the scenery behind Phae. He didn’t know what to say. He had hoped Phae would get free. It had just seemed so impossible; so impossible that now that it was here, he didn’t know if he could trust her. She acted like Phae, and he had little doubt it was her. But knowing she had been captured and brought back made him uneasy. Will the same happen to me?

“I’m amazed you got not just you and Demeter out, but others as well.”

The small sparkle of life in her eyes died as Eldren looked at her. “I took more, but most of the others died, fighting for their freedom.”

Eldren made a face. “If my choice was an eternity of undead servitude versus death trying to escape . . .” he smiled at her poignant expression, though he knew without seeing his own face how bitter it was. “It’s just hard to see them like . . .”

“Like people?” She asked, a note of caution in her voice.

“Well, they are, it’s just—”

“They didn’t have a choice in their actions.”

“I don’t know if that’s going to fly with Temple is all I’m saying,” Eldren said.

“That’s what I’m worried about, too.”

Eldren glanced around and stepped a little closer. “Do you have a plan?”

Phae side eyed him. “That’s what I’m trying to come up with now,” she said. “I left them underneath for now because I know not everyone is happy to see us,” she said, looking around.

“You brought The Magus right?” Eldren asked. When Phae nodded, he exhaled and continued. “What about magical something to fight back with? Surely he knows easier ways to drop The Resurrected, and maybe Aurelius too.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.” She smiled at him, an expression he hadn’t realized how much he had missed until then.

“You should bring up how they helped us get at least one ’stone too,” Eldren added. “That was no small feat.”

“Not a bad idea.” Phae chewed on her lip for a second, looking thoughtful. “I’m going underneath to talk to Torin,” she said, taking off suddenly.

Eldren huffed and shook his head. It was going to take a bit to get back to Harbor, and he might as well get to know the people Phae brought back. Since she was talking to Torin, Eldren figured he could get to know Luca first.

Eldren found him sitting alone, with some paper and a few notes scribbled on it. He glanced at the tall elf that had come back with Phaedra. He knew Luca was The Alchemist—like Torin was The Magus—but Phaedra seemed to trust them. Eldren wanted to trust Phaedra’s judgement, but they had both helped cause Phaedra’s death, and Torin had been the one to kill Demeter. Eldren wanted to be pleased that Phaedra and Demeter were back, but did Phaedra have to bring some of the enemy with her?

“Can I help you?” Eldren asked as Luca paced in the hold.

“I’m thinking,” Luca said.

“Anything I can help with?” Eldren asked after a few moments, hoping to ease some of the tension. If Phaedra trusts them, maybe I should, as well. “We’ll be back at Harbor City soon.”

“It’s about that.” Luca cleared his throat, looking down. “I know they’re not going to just accept us, after all we’ve done. And I know it doesn’t matter that we didn’t have a choice.” Eldren looked at him as Luca paused. “But as an alchemist with unique insight into the inner workings of Aurelius’s methods, I might be able to help generate things to help fight them off.”

Eldren looked at Luca, slack jawed. The elf was clearly uncomfortable, but he seemed genuine enough. “I mean, if you could at least show me what you’re thinking, I’d be happy to pass your findings on,” he said. “Phaedra picks up people everyone else has discarded, so if she thinks highly enough of you to bring you back with her . . .” Eldren shrugged, shoulders feeling tight as he did so. “I can’t say it’ll go over well, at least not at first, but she’s always stuck up for the underdog.” He felt his mouth twist into a wistful smile as he thought about how they became friends. Maybe they’re not so different from me.

“You sound like you know from experience,” Luca said.

“That’s how we met and became friends. I would have died if it wasn’t for her. Phae’s always been like that. She got us all out of hell, all the while saying, ‘oh it was Demeter, I just helped a little.’” Eldren rolled his eyes, and Luca snorted.

“That sounds like something she’d say.” It was Luca’s turn to sigh. “We were all convinced that she’d wash up like everyone else. Not even Torin managed to break free.” A look of regret crossed his face for a moment, an expression of longing there and gone so fast Eldren wasn’t sure what to think.

Eldren stifled a laugh. “That sounds like the Phae I know.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not an alchemist so much as an engineer, but if you can at least walk me through your plan, I can pass the message on in case no one listens to you.”

“I can do that,” he said. “I know you’re taking an enormous risk on us, so it’s the least I can do.”

***

Eldren sighed as Merethyl came up to stand with him on the deck. “I thought you’d be happier to get her back,” she said, leaning against the railing, much as Phae had.

“I thought so too.”

Merethyl hummed. “There are a lot of questions people are going to ask.” She touched her throat. “No one’s going to buy she survived that,” the elf pointed out.

Eldren ran his hands through his hair. “I know. Same with Torin’s scar. I just don’t know what to do.”

“Have them wear hoods into Harbor City for now. Maybe later they can switch it out for a linen scarf or something. But hoods will help distract from their wounds while also hopefully hiding their arrival from prying eyes. Just in case they need to leave.”

Eldren eyed her, mind working overtime. The thought of Phae having to flee had crossed his mind, but he was hoping Temple wouldn’t turn them away. “You don’t seem worried,” he said, noting Merethyl’s peaceful expression.

“Realistically, if only a few Resurrected can fell Sanctuary, we wouldn’t have even made it this far.”

That was something Eldren hadn’t considered. “What if—”

“They’re looking for insider information?” Merethyl laughed. “It’s a different tactic he’s never used. No, Aurelius has come too far to change now. He’s never been one for subterfuge, no reason to start now with so much of the world cowering under his thumb.” She exhaled slowly. “No, I’m not worried about being betrayed. I’m more concerned that someone is going to recognize one of them or draw attention to their scars. Because while only Phaedra and Torin have visible ones, they’re the kind that people don’t survive.”

Eldren thought about that. “I’m worried about that too,” he said. “What do we do then?”

“Radio to Temple, we’re making a stop for repairs. It would give us a chance to ditch anything that could be interesting about them and find them something else to wear and give us a bit of cover.”

Eldren was surprised at the cunning. “You’ve thought about this.”

Merethyl pointed. “Your head has been in the clouds this whole time. I knew one of us had to consider the idea that maybe they’d get free, and what we’d do if that was the case.” She gently punched Eldren in the shoulder, surprising him with the familiarity of it all. “And I figured since she was your friend, and not mine, that maybe I should come up with at least something to suggest.”

He looked at her and smiled. “You’ve saved my hide so many times through this, I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s no big deal. They sent me to do just this. I’d be an awful godling if I didn’t look out for other people.” She turned her head to watch the passing scenery. “I know our only chance is trusting them, but if we couldn’t trust them, we’d already be dead. Might as well give them the benefit of the doubt.”

Eldren ducked away and walked to the captain’s quarters to rap on the door. Simone appeared, smiling at him. “What can I do for you?”

“We need to make a stop at the nearest town.”

“Oh? What for?”

He set his mouth in a hard line. “We need to get some cloaks, and some clothes. Maybe syou can radio in that we need repairs.”

Simone understood, that was clear as day. “That makes sense. Okay, I’ll radio the flight change in so we can do that.” With that, she stepped back and shut the door.

Eldren stepped away from the door and went to find Phae. She was with Torin, their heads together, talking quietly until she looked at him. “We’re making a stop for cloaks and things like that,” he said. “Just in case.”

“Want me to go with?”

“About that,” Eldren started. “Since we need to cover up your scars, as well as Torin’s,” he said, gesturing to his own throat, “it’s for the best if you don’t.”

Phae’s face fell a little. “Can’t argue with that. How about you take Demeter instead?”

Eldren hesitated. “I’ll go find her.” Phae smiled her most dazzling smile and went back to talking to Torin as Eldren went off to find Demeter. Torin was hard to get a read on, but he seemed close enough to Phae that Eldren wasn’t too worried about him. Especially not as he was getting to know Luca. He had to admit that Phae was onto something when she brought the others back with her.

Demeter was sitting by herself, looking lost in thought, as Eldren came up. Unlike Phae, she had kept her clothes, the robes she wore all around Temple surrounding her in neat folds as she sat. “We’re going to land at the nearest ’dock to grab some items. Clothing, cloaks, things like that.”

Demeter’s expression was distant and far away. “And my sister sent you to take me?”

“Figured it would be easier getting everything back to the ’ship.”

“I’ll help.” Despite the words, she stayed seated.

Eldren cleared his throat. “I’ll come get you when we’re ready.”

“Sounds good.”

***

Down off the airship and into the market, the trio made their way. There was no Temple here, but the town had made do well enough it was more prosperous than Eldren expected. Though that made sense, as airdocks, much like wet docks, allowed for more trade and with places farther away. It amazed him to see so much of humanity bustling about, apparently unconcerned with the threat they were all dealing with. After the lifetime he’d had under Temple’s roof, it took him by surprise that, despite it all, humanity had found a way to keep going forward.

“Demeter’s gone,” Merethyl said, interrupting Eldren’s musing. “Want me to go look for her while you pick up everything we need?”

Damn it. “No, I’ll go look for her.”

Merethyl shot him a look of sympathy as he handed over what he was holding. “Okay. Give me the list and I’ll meet you back at the ’ship.”

“Did you see where she went?” he asked as they exchanged things. Merethyl pointed, and he jogged off. He didn’t know everything about the magic that bound Demeter, but it made him reluctant to trust any of them. Not many knew much, and what they did know told them remarkably little about any of it. The zombies, ghouls, and vampires Aurelius spawned were bad enough, but the Resurrected were an entirely different thing.

He looked around as he went, trying to find the statuesque blond, but she wasn’t in the crowd. Reaching the end of town, Eldren headed towards the woods. Farms lay in the other direction from what he had seen from the ’ship, but he didn’t think she’d go that way as there weren’t as many places to hide. In the woods, it should be easier to track her.

He found fresh footprints and headed off, following them through the maze of trees. With a sinking feeling, he approached the graveyard and saw Demeter standing in front of the gates. “You wandered off,” he said, being careful to keep some distance between themselves as alarm bells went off in his head.

“Sorry, I guess I got lost in thought and wandered away,” she said, turning back to him to give Eldren her most dazzling smile, an echo of the one Phae had given him earlier. That smile was the thing that told you they were sisters, and its familiarity reassured him somewhat.

“Let’s go back to town,” he said. “We don’t want to dally too long.”

Demeter looked behind her at the walled graveyard. Trees everywhere that would help disperse the necromantic energy if someone tried to raise them. “You’re right,” she said, turning back to face him.

***

“Phae, I need to talk to you,” Eldren said as he passed out the clothes, shoes, and cloaks to the three Resurrected. Torin huffed as he grabbed his bundle and wandered off, Luca right behind. That left Eldren and Phae, who didn’t look too bothered.

“What do you need?”

Eldren looked around. “Demeter wandered off to the graveyard.”

Phaedra turned her back and started stripping, causing Eldren to turn his back as well. “It makes sense. We’re still all disoriented from everything, and the dead call to us like nothing else. She also never went out of the fortress, so she’s just new to dealing with it.” Eldren didn’t say anything, not sure how to process that information. The idea of sensing the dead made his skin crawl. “All done,” she said. Eldren turned around to see her dressed in the clothes Merethyl had picked. It was a simple pair of pants and button-down shirt, nothing fancy, but seeing her out of the dreaded uniform made his shoulders a bit lighter. “I’ll wear the cloak when we dock, but since we’re all in it together, I don’t see the point in hiding who I am now.”

“Merethyl also picked up some linen scarves for you and Torin, so you can ditch the cloak too once we’ve gotten you back for good.”

“That was a good idea. I didn’t think of that.”

“Phae?”

“Yeah?”

Eldren swallowed. “Be careful.”