Chapter 5: Maidwick Woods

January 18, 2598 | 2:38 a.m. Thursday early morning

Old decaying trees lay on amongst the new foliage as we entered Maidwick Woods. The woods seemed more like a forest with its denseness above. Even the moonlight struggled to penetrate through the thick mix of leaves and branches. If I am being honest, and I usually am, it was like entering another realm all together.

What little moonlight came through the canopy provided a soft whitish blue light. It was slightly foggy out, which made the area seem hauntingly ethereal. The elegance of it all is truly hard to put into great detail. I would say that it is one of those places you must see for yourself. From all the decaying trees, we could see the new life sprouting. Mushrooms, insects, even grass and flowers were growing from the the trees, given the climate was absolutely perfection.

I feel like we have been sauntering through here for hours. Mors believes it had only been about 30 minutes in total. Before I completely forget it about it.

Right before we entered the woods, I saw something. I wish it were not important to document. There were three people bound to poles, facing the woods. They were battered, bruised, bleeding, and stripped of all dignity. For a brief moment we paused, taking in their visage. Once it was all processed and the shock wore off, which was a brief moment, we rushed to the trio. Mors took their agony as I untied them. If their wounds had been worse, I would have used Verity.

Choosing not to use Verity actually brought about a dispute between Mors and I. He stated, and I quote, "what is the point in having a power such as yours if you are not willing to use it? Are you looking down on them for being human? Is this about revenge?!" End quote. As frustrating as it is for me, I understand. It isn't about what I could do. It was about the principle.

To put it simply, I refused to cross that line. I tried to explain. I attempted to explain that I would have used Verity if they would not have survived on their own. For some reason he has decided to still be angry with me for lack of using it. Does he not realized that he acts as if I had betrayed us all to the enemy for my refusal in using it. However, it is my choice in whether or not to use it. Either way this incident has put a rift between us.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way. Back to going through the woods in order to get caught up to the present. Even Mors was in awe to the point I believe he forgot he was angry with me.

Maidwick Woods: overgrown, decaying foliage, thriving ecosystem, and a few manmade structures.

The manmade structures seemed to be various types of vehicles, a few shacks, plus some cabins. There were plenty of old broken wood fences spread out among the overgrown pathways. If we hadn't notice the remains of the fence, we would have never known about the path.

Perhaps there were many more paths at one point, however this particular one happened to be the only path we found. It lead us to a strangely large cabin. One that could easily house about a hundred people comfortably.

Walking up on it, I could see that nature had reclaimed at least the outside of this cabin. Though I would say it is more of a lodge than a typical cabin. It was absolutely gorgeous to see it bathing in the light of the moon above. Almost like a paradise for the hopeless and downtrodden. It was a calming place at first glance. Mors seemed indifferent with it, meanwhile I felt a strong pull. It was like a magnetism of some sort that felt strange to feel. I could not help but move quickly to the entrance of the lodge.

Mors, even being angry, seemed to be rather worried. He rushed over to me, trying to make sure I didn't rush into a trap. Unfortunately I fought him, desperate to move forward. There was indeed a trap.

As I write this, I feel as if I am starving. Anyway. The trap.

I walked right into it, which is strange that I was affected by something so simplistic. Perhaps it is because I haven't been out among others in so very long. Maybe there is another aspect I have not thought of yet.

It felt strange as I was hit. A sharp pain hit me, more like pierced into me. The last thing I remember before waking up inside the lodge was Mors rushing to my side petrified of what he had seen.

"Of course I was worried, Omnia." Mors stood behind her while the pen hovered above the page, her hand holding it steady. "I may not appreciate you denying the use of your ability to heal people, but I don't want you to die. Sorina said it was lucky that you didn't have your heart pierced."

There was silence for a moment as she closed her journal. It was a fact that she was still healing from the trap. A semi-large hole could be seen through her jacket, the hoodie, and the shirt beneath the hoodie. The skin showing looked like it was an old scar. The blood that dried on Omnia's clothes was not red as her blood was once before when she had used Verity. Instead it was crystal blue, the same color as her eyes and tears.

Slowly she looked up at Mors, her eyes holding an exhausted look. "I'm fine, Mors." When she spoke her tone was emotionless, more so than her usual apathetic tone. "I'll need to feed soon with how much blood I lost." The was an audible sigh as she looked away briefly. "You must have questions about the color." Her gaze rested back on him as she saw him nod. "My blood wasn't always blue. Not until Nen turned me. Vampires with the bloodline to utilize Verity have blue eyes, along with blue bodily fluids. I usually have it hidden thanks to Verity. To make it crimson like typical human blood. That must have dissipated with the impalement earlier. Where is Sorina and the others?"

Without saying another word, Mors gestured over to a small group of people talking to one another. Four of them were recognizable from the photos she had seen from the plethora of articles she had read on the computer back at Plotbound. However, there were others that she didn't recognize. It was assumed that these were those who were part of the resistance, which Omnia found rather hopeful.

Omnia, moving slower than before, crept closer to the group near the rather large window with her fangs bared. Before she made it over, Valo stepped in her path followed by Sorina. "Somniare, please. You are not well enough to be around humans. You and I both know that."

A hiss escaped Omnia's lips as she stared at Valo. His scent didn't smell like the typical human's, more of that of an altered variation of some sort. Normally that would repulse her, however, in that moment she didn't care. The truth was she was starving, which led her to not care where her next meal came from. Of course Sorina knew all too well, making sure to put Valo behind her the moment she heard the hiss.

"Careful, Somniare. He is dear to me, and under my protection. We will find someone or something for you to feed from." Sorina looked Omnia up and down before hugging her tightly, whispering in her ear. "I thought you were going to die back there. It's a good thing you are harder to kill than other vampiric bloodlines. Where is Nen?"

Shoving her off, Omnia glared at Sorina as if she had said a curse word. "You don't get to say his name. Nen is dead, Sorina. He was killed. Now. I need to feed or I am going to kill everyone here."

"What happened to the little Somniare I once knew?" Sorina guided Omnia back to the couch, the one Omnia had been placed on before, out of fear and concern.

"How can you trust them?" The moment Omnia uttered her question Mors appeared at her side, his hand resting on her shoulder.

Kneeling down, Mors looked at Sorina then to Omnia. "Before anything else is asked or answered. You need to feed and feeding from me is your best option right now." He smiled at them both, trying hard to ease the tension that hung thickly in the air. "It's going to be alright. You found them, Omnia. Now rest for a little bit. Okay?"

January 18, 2598 | 3:19 p.m. Thursday afternoon

Mors was a life saver once more. I swear at this point I am going to owe him several hundred life debts. With that being said, Mors fed me, made sure that I got new clothing, as well as repairing my black jean jacket. Treva is just going to have to suffer the loss of that ill colored hoodie. Once everything was taken care of, I was sat down with the group.

Turns out that I was correct in my assumption. Valo was there as a plant. Gathering information. Meanwhile, Sorina was able to disappear before her body was "dealt" with. Lorcan happens to be a lycan, which implies the wounds were not going to last considering the wounds were not life threatening. Only way I found out about his species was his scent. Wet dog. Not being mean, his scent really smells like wet dog. Noe, however, did suffer losing an arm. She was able to be fitted with a prosthetic.

It was made by an engineer who had joined the resistance in the past couple of years. A defector from Andromeda's own regime. Can't say that I am surprised too much. The arms was rather impressive. Especially for the level of craftsmanship that was put into it even with a lack of technology.

When I asked Sorina why they all knew about her abilities, about her vampirism, she gave me a shrug. I was flabbergasted when she stated she told them within a year of knowing them. It was something about her wanting to make sure they utilized all their gifts. Which would include her vampiric bloodline.

Currently they are planning a massive attack. With the chaos of Mors being hunted they figured it would be the perfect moment to strike. Especially with the guards and resources being utilized to hunt him. While that was all grand, I didn't like what Sorina has suggested. She wants me to use Verity to help turn the tides. When I explained that using my ability to help could possibly kill me, Mors and Sorina understood. The others didn't, though I don't blame them. Magical things can be rather hard to wrap one's mind around. Even I don't understand Verity completely.

It took a little explaining on how Verity works before Lorcan, Noe, and Valo finally understood. Mors' anger from earlier even dissipated after learning more. It isn't that I want to hold back. It is more about keeping myself alive a little bit longer so no one else can use Verity. Abilities do not die. Especially an ability to Verity's extent. They simply pass to another. That is why Nen chose carefully.

Now. I do plan on helping. Documenting everything here for one. I am also able to help through other ways. I have fought in wars, in resistances, as well as many other situations that I do not care to repeat. The point being, I am not only useful for Verity's sake. I don't want to just sit back and do nothing. Not when I could give them another supernatural creature to help bolster their strength. Even Mors stated he would help. Though he did not truly have a choice in that matter. Because of Valo being released due to the kindness of Mors, he is now bound to helping unless he wants to be captured without reason.

According to Valo the prisons, if you can call them that, were inhumane at best. That is putting it mildly.

The prisons for "traitors" makes sure no one disobeys again. Apparently some go through various tortures, brainwashing, all the way to being put to death. They attempted to torture Valo, to brainwash him in to becoming a mole for Morganite. Remember when I stated he was an altered human? That has many contexts, dear Reader. In this particular context, Valo has had many alterations to his brain. Sorina stated that Valo had been experimented on in his youth in a facility.

That facility, you may ask, was actually mine. Though I am sure it was unpleasant, it's nice to see that something good was being done with what happened out of those facilities. Without those alterations to his brain, all of this may have gone wrong. He attempted to play crazy even though he was void of most of his emotions. Apparently it worked, keeping him safe from more attempts of them altering his mind on their own. Mors agrees with me when I stated that the craziness could have long term effects. Such as emotional scarring.

"Of course I agree." The pen slammed down onto the journal as Omnia spun around glaring directly at Mors, who was the one who spoke; per usual.

Sucking in air, she exhaled to let out all frustration. "Give me one reason not to rip out your spinal cord."

Mors gave her a bright smile, as if trying to turn the mood around. Alas, he failed spectacularly. "You love my companion, Omnia. How could you ever do something so grotesque?"

"I said a good reason. That is not a good reason, Mors." Pinching the bridge of her nose, she leaned forward, her elbow holding her up on the table. She took another deep breath. "I am trying to document. However, you continue to interrupt me every single time I turn around. Mind you. I do not mind answering your questions. IF those questions are PRUDENT to the entry I am writing on. Stating the obvious is not prudent to anything I am writing done. Why don't you go fight the lycan? Or assist with practice for the humans out back. Can you even fight?"

There was an audible wince as he listened to her harsh verbal assault. "Omnia. Do you really think that little of me? Do you truly think I am annoying, that I am frustrating? Would you even care if I was taken away?"

Before she could even reply, she watched as he vanished from her view. Most people with an ounce of empathy would go after him. They would go explain their side, they would even apologize to the one they harmed. However, she was not someone who remembered empathy. Apathetically she turned her gaze back to her journal with a roll of her eyes.

January 18, 2598 | 3:31 p.m. Thursday afternoon

I think I would miss him if something happened. Right? Would you, Reader? Sorina is suggesting I go after him, though I don't think I could find him even if I wanted to. Not that I don't. It's not my fault that he took it so personally.

No amount of sighing can stop Sorina from telling me that I should care more about his feelings. My focus is not on Mors. It's not. It should be on documenting what is presently happening in the world around me. It's annoying when people want to divert my focus from one thing to something utterly mundane. Makes me laugh.

If Mors wants to talk, then we will have a conversation whenever he decides to stop_

Before the sentence could be finished, the pen was torn from Omnia's hand midsentence. "What are you doing?!" Once more she spun around, half expecting to find Mors standing there. Alas there was no Mors. Instead a tall, muscular, brown haired man with a beautifully deep brown complexion stood behind her.

His gaze was intense, with his golden eyes staring down at Omnia with scrutiny. "We need that creature's assistance. I do not care if you are friends or foes to each other. As far as I am concerned, you two are lovers having a lovers quarrel." The moment he saw her lips part to protest he growled lowly. His voice more menacing and deep than the regular velvety voice he had spoken with. "I may not understand vampires or whatever the hell he is, but you will not fight me on this. I do not care what happened to you. I care about saving this world from more years of Andromeda Morganite. My pack is dead. Noe's family is dead. Sorina lost everyone but Valo. Valo gave up his sanity. You lost what? A little peace and quiet to write in? You are not here to document. We need your strength. Document when you should be sleeping for all I care." Lorcan leaned down more, making sure there were only inches between them as he spoke in a hushed angry tone. "Go find Mors."

Omnia rarely ran for anyone in her life. Granted if she needed to get somewhere fast she would run, yet she wouldn't run to anyone unless it was someone she needed to protect. Mors wasn't someone she thought she had to protect. Yet there she was. Running in the Maidwick Woods to find the violet eyed man of agony. Several questions swam in her mind as she ran. Am I in the wrong? Is Lorcan correct? I don't understand what I did wrong. I don't. Her thoughts did not rest until she finally saw him.

There, beneath a weeping willow next to a stream, was Mors. A thick fog seemed to cling to the stream as she got closer to the willow. She could see that he had his knees pulled to his chest. Tears stung her eyes, the crystal blue liquid trailing down her ice cold cheeks. Moving slowly Omnia's throat began to feel like she had been screaming for hours. Her eyes felt as if she had cried for centuries on end. The agony of being rejected stung her heart. It was unnatural. Almost like an aura of pure agony, which only got worse the closer she got to him.

"Leave!" His image was contorted once more. It was the same form she had seen in the alley when they were traveling to Plotbound. Mors' true form.

Despite his command for her to leave, Omnia kept moving closer. "No. I messed up. Let me stay. Let me make it better."

Omnia wasn't sure where to wrap her arms around him, though she made the attempt. She hugged him tightly in hopes to provide some sort of comfort. "Please. Leave." His voice was shaky as it was obvious he was feeling every ounce of agony he was putting out. It was as if he was allowing it to flow through him, then out into the world around him. As she hugged him, her body began to shake from the aura. "Omnia. Don't." Tears fell rapidly from his eyes as his boney arms wrap around her small frame. "Don't. Leave."