Caylin's Monsters - Ch. 22: Boiling Point

  • Caylin's Monsters

     

     

    Chapter 22: Boiling Point

     

     

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    Aela had said that Skjor was scouting ahead, but as we approached the fort, he was nowhere to be found.

     

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    He must have gone inside, I thought.  But did that mean he had already cleared out the perimeter?  Were there any Silver Hand still guarding the front entrance?

     

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    Aela and I cautiously approached the fort’s outer courtyard.  Our heightened senses were acutely aware of any shift in the air or minute sound that would indicate someone lying in wait for us.

     

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    When the wind shifted, those heightened senses proved their worth.  We could tell exactly where each of the guards was patrolling, and we were able to catch them unawares.

     

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    I was surprised by my own strength.  I was already becoming a capable warrior before, but now… it was as if I was an adult attacking a group of toddlers.  I could almost understand why the Silver Hand were so afraid of us.  If the wrong person had this power, they could truly become something horrible.

     

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    Given the fact that several Silver Hand remained in the courtyard when we arrived, it was more than likely Skjor wasn’t able to clear them out within the fort either.  Aela and I entered the fort poised for action.

     

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    Once we were inside, the Silver Hand’s true hatred of our kind became apparent.

     

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    As I stared at the decapitated werewolf heads set up as a warning, I began to understand why Aela and Skjor had such disdain for the Silver Hand.  This wasn’t the behavior of a group who was trying to protect Skyrim.  This was the behavior of thugs.

     

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    From down the hall, I could hear the sound of a struggle.  When I ran to see what was happening, I saw a werewolf standing over the bodies of two slain Silver Hand.

     

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    Was that Skjor?  I didn’t know.  I had never seen him in his beast form, so I didn’t know what he looked like as a wolf.

     

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    As we slowly approached, it became apparent that this wasn’t Skjor.  He wasn’t violent towards us, however.  He must have been able to sense that we too had the beast blood.

     

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    I tried to speak with him, but he couldn’t seem to understand.  Aela said there was no telling what the Silver Hand had done to him or how it had damaged his mind.

     

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    She also said that some who take the blood aren’t able to separate the animal from themselves and become feral.  So we let him be and continued on.

     

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    As we looked around the chamber, I came across another werewolf, but… he was already dead.

     

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    The Silver Hand had obviously tortured him severely before he died.  Then they just left him hanging from the wall to rot.  It was despicable.

     

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    My opinion of the Silver Hand was decreasing by the minute.  They seemed like little more than cruel savages, and it was starting to make me angry.

     

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    At the top of the steps, we came near another chamber.  The door was closed, but I was amazed at how much information I could acquire just from the scents and sounds coming from the room.  I could hear and smell four distinct individuals.

     

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    Once we entered the chamber, I didn’t give them time to react.  I was fast… much faster than before.

     

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    The anger that had begun to well-up inside me was manifested in the ferocity of my attacks.

     

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    I barely gave Aela an opportunity to participate.  So much adrenaline was pumping through my veins I hardly knew what I was doing.

     

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    Blow after blow, I was acting almost purely on instinct… Not the instincts I had known for the past seventeen years of my life.  No, these were the instincts of the beast… of the dangerous animal I had become only hours before.

     

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    After all the enemies were slain, I stood there, covered in blood, trembling with fury.

     

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    Aela noticed my anger.  “You need to calm down, Caylin,” she warned calmly.

     

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    I was trying to calm down, but my heart was racing and my teeth were clenched behind my lips.

     

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    “Our beast blood heightens our senses and our strength, but it also heightens our aggression,” she explained, “especially early on.  You have to learn to control it.  Otherwise you may end up doing something you regret…  Believe me.  I know.” I could hear the anguish in her voice.  She really did know.

     

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    Once I regained my composure, we continued to the upper floor of the chamber where we found more evidence of just how evil the Silver Hand could be.  Even Aela was too disturbed to look. Though she acted impenetrable, I could tell she was deeply affected.  She must have learned to distance herself from these horrors in order to remain calm and collected.

     

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    I, however, had not learned this lesson.  Looking at this poor woman… I shuddered at the thought of what they did to her.  There was no indication that she was even a werewolf. They beat her, tortured her… maybe even took advantage of her before they finally killed her.

     

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    Farkas had said my empathy was a strength, but now I wasn’t sure.  The fury it stirred up as I looked at this woman…  Could I really learn to control it?

     

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    We continued through various corridors until we finally arrived at what had to be the inner sanctum of the fort.  “We’re getting close now,” Aela whispered.  “Be careful.”

     

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    “Their leader is a tricky one,” she continued.  “They call him ‘The Skinner’.  I don’t think I need to tell you why.”

     

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    Aela’s voice turned grave, “He’s stronger than he appears, so don’t underestimate him.  We need to use our heads in this fight.”

     

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    “Acting rashly can get you killed no matter how strong you think you are,” she continued.  I heard her words, but the meaning was lost on me.  All my senses and thoughts were focused on one thing: I was going to rip this monster apart and make him suffer for what he had done here.

     

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    “Let’s go,” Aela whispered, and I immediately kicked the door open.

     

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    Though startled by our sudden intrusion, The Skinner’s lackeys were quick to respond.  The closest to the door rushed at me, weapon in hand.

     

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    Her attacks were pathetic, and I easily knocked her back with a bash from my shield.  But before I could deal the killing blow, The Skinner ran up beside her.

     

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    I quickly put some distance between us, backing further into the chamber.  Aela was occupied with a couple of archers, but I was sure I was more than a match for these two.

     

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    I was ten times stronger than before, I thought.  The adrenaline was pumping again, and I felt more powerful than ever.

     

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    I braced myself as The Skinner lifted his huge monstrosity of a mace in preparation to attack.

     

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    In the moment before his mace descended, the reality of what Aela had said became clear.  He really was strong.  I could almost smell it on him.  I had underestimated him just like Aela had warned, but it was too late.

     

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    My shield buckled under the force of his blow, and I felt the cold, silver spikes of his weapon tearing through the left side of my face.  Hot blood splashed the ground, and I collapsed.

     

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    They must have thought I was dead because they turned their attention to Aela.

     

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    I managed to get to my hands and knees, but the pain was excruciating.  My body was trembling with fury.

     

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    I understood now why Aela had warned about silver weapons.  My face was burning like someone was holding it over an open flame.

     

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    I was so angry at myself.  How could I have been so careless?  Now Aela was up against four opponents on her own.  I had to get up and help her.

     

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    I tried to stand, but I could barely move.  My body was shaking so violently that I had to clench my teeth just to keep them from chattering.

     

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    I knew I had to calm down if I was going to help Aela, but my body wouldn’t respond.  As I struggled to control my fury, I heard what I can only describe as a growl coming from my mouth.  It was quiet but full of rage.

     

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    Aela was fending off their attacks, but they definitely had the upper hand, especially with The Skinner there.

     

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    Then my head began pounding.  With every beat of my heart, fresh pain surged through my temples, and blood flowed from the wounds on my face.

     

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    Aela was in trouble, but all I could think about was my pain and anger.  “Why can’t I control this!?” I shouted in my head.  “Aela needs my help, NOW!”  I was almost foaming at the mouth I was so livid.

     

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    Aela was an amazing warrior, but I could sense her strength was waning.  I knew she couldn’t transform, either.  She had turned in order to give me the beast blood, and she said it took up to a day to recover enough strength to turn again.  It wouldn’t be long before she made a mistake that would leave her open to a killing blow.

     

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    The knowledge that Aela would die because I couldn’t get my anger under control somehow amplified my rage even further.  My head was on fire, and my heart was racing.  I felt like I would explode with all this pent up fury.

     

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    Then suddenly, as my rage reached a new peak, something snapped inside me, and I felt myself slipping…

     

     

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