Bubbles pulsated all around her. The bck water impossible to see through, save for the burning orange light permeating the murky surface above. She pushed off the muddy ground below, her boots slipping in the muck. The surface just within arm’s reach. Was it enough? Did she take out the Bone Doctor? Was Rigor safe? Questions raced around her head until she broke the surface, gasping for air, frantically wiping her eyes clear to see what had transpired.

  Bits of flesh and bone rained down all around her, spshing across the bayou. She jerked back with fright when something nded next to her, spshing her face with water. She wiped away her eyes to see the head of one of the grotesque monsters floating next to her, a look of terror permanently pstered on its face. The thing slowly sank to the depths of the swamp. Azandrae then felt a strange sense of peace.

  All her hard work was for naught. She knew it somehow. This was almost over. She just had to find her mother and free her from this hell hole.

  Azandrae gnced around her to find her bearings. Fires raged here and there, lighting up the night-bound Basilica. A rge portion of the street sagged down into the swamp now. The lights of the chapel loomed over her, the entrance broken down and bent into the swamp, its doors blown off their hinges, and the lights all but snuffed out.

  Az began to swim as fast as she could, hoping her bst didn’t cause damage to the people inside. She couldn’t forgive herself if her mother was killed by her own actions. Dread filled her heart with each kick. She just prayed that her mother was safe.

  …

  Fires ravaged the remains of the Bone Snake. The Basilica des Bone was in ruins now. The city smashed to a pulp and blown to smithereens. Parts of the Basilica broke off into the swamp, sinking into the dark depths below to be cimed by those who inhabited the deeps. Whoever was left alive ran for the hills, leaving the Basilica to burn to ash.

  Monsters ran amok, their flesh burning as the fire took spread to the remains of the ruins of the Basilica. They tore at their limbs, ripping their skin, meandering about the ruins of the Basilica whit no guidance. They howled into the night, attacking each other, feasting upon the flesh of their kin. Without the guidance of their father, they were lost and without purpose.

  Out of the fmes, a bck-armored figure rose, an ominous bck executioner’s axe held tight in his hands. Blood pooled underneath him, climbing his legs and curdling around his chest wound. The rge snake fang was still pierced through his chest. A ring of fire burned at the remains of the Bone Snake, cutting Rigor off from the outside world. It was just him and one other left in the fmes.

  The sweet smell of death filled the air, delighting Rigor. He took in a deep whiff through his nose, spitting a wad of blood to the ground below. His white milky eyes settled on the only thing that moved around him.

  The Bone Doctor was crawling backwards, his leg mangled to a stringy pulp, and a chunk of rusted iron was deeply embedded in his chest. He pushed backwards, gncing back, looking for an escape. He turned back to the Death Knight gazing at him, wide eyed and full of fear. That menacing axe in his hands called to him. Death was here all along.

  Fmes cast shadows that danced across him. Instead of a smirk, terror found a home on his face. He held out a hand to stop the Death Knight, “Please, I have done nothing wrong. I am just a victim of this curse, just like everyone else. It took ahold of me, warping my mind. Spare me, and you’ll find yourself an ally!” He kept scooting backwards, leaving a green oozing blood trail. He franticly gnced back for an exit, or one of his children to help him. They had all gone.

  Rigor marched forward with a feeling of renewed strength. He puffed his chest out and grabbed ahold of the snake fang. He gripped it tight with one hand, gave it one solid tug, and ripped the thing from his chest. He grunted as blood gushed from the massive chest wound. The blood pooled around his chest moved in, repairing his body, bringing with it life and energy. Only a thick grey scar remained on his chest, the tainted blood of the monsters not enough to fully heal him.

  “Please, mercy for a poor soul! You can have anything you want. I will even reveal the power of Dambal to you, great magics of the swamp, all yours!” The Bone Doctor pushed off with his good leg, scooting back again.

  His pleas fell upon deaf ears. Rigor smmed the snake fang down onto the Bone Doctor’s good leg, straight through his thigh, and pinned him to the bone road below. The Bone Doctor screamed out in pain, bringing a hint of guilty joy to Rigor’s soul.

  The Death Knight rose his axe high, his milky white eyes set on the destruction of this heathen and his sacrilege ways.

  The Bone Doctor sneered. His pleas failed, now, he expected death, “Fuck you! Fuck your death! And fuck your god! I am a true God! You’ll all rot in the darkest depths of hell forever!”

  Rigor held no pity in his words, “You first.” He brought the axe down with all his might, all his anger filled that one swing. The bck axe gracefully cut through the air.

  The Bone Doctor could only emit fear as the axe came for him. He was afraid to die. What was next for him after this life? Was there an afterlife, or just an eternity of darkness? Being a god did not save him. He was terrified of what was to come.

  The axe sshed through his neck with ease, a small squish gurgled out as green blood oozed from the wound. Rigor grabbed the severed head. Snakes burst from the neck hole, racing away from the Death Knight, perishing in the fire as they tried to escape through the fmes that encircled them.

  Rigor held the head high, shouting into the night, “Death has come to this nd!” He let out a scream of triumph, shaking the head about for all to see. He pashed his axe against his chest, his roar echoing far and wide across the bayou, deep into the mountains and beyond. The Southern Star above him, once so bright, had now vanished into the bck night sky, a void left where light once shone.

  …

  Water rushed from her clothes as she climbed the topple bone chapel doors, her hands struggling to find grip with all the swampy grime caked across her body. Her muscles ached now. She was tired. It was a long night, hell, a long day, with everything that had happened. When she awoke yesterday morning, she would have never imagined that her day would go this way, but it was almost over. Just a little more to go and she could rest.

  Az plopped down over the edge, her soaking wet body heavy with exhaustion. Her chest heaved up and down as she took some bored breaths. She felt a bit weak now.

  Her eyes scanned the ceiling of the chapel. The night sky was visible through the newly built skylight, courtesy of the Bone Snake. The stars flickered and shined, only one star was missing. The brightest one of all was gone, vanished.

  She let a smile creep onto her face. It must be an omen. Rigor must have finished the job. The world could sleep a little safer now that the Bone Doctor and his ckey Copperhead were gone. They would cause no more trouble in these parts.

  She turned and staggered to her feet, looking around the chapel. Thick clouds of dust swirled about as she scanned the dark room. Whimpering could be heard from the side of the room.

  Dusty pews held her weight as she cautiously moved forward, keeping her eyes on the images in the dark. The women cried out as a figure approached them, pushing themselves further against the wall, all but one woman, who stood when the figure came close enough for her to see.

  “Az? Is that ya? Mah baby!”

  “Mom!” Azandrae rushed forward, grasping her mother in a sweet embrace, never letting her arms drop, “I thought I lost ya!” Tears began to stream down her cheeks.

  Calypso held her tightly, her eyes watering just the same, “Me too. I’m so gd ya alright. I was just happy ya were able to escape the raid. I just hoped ya found somewhere to belong, but never in a million years would I think ya would come here.” Calypso pushed her back slightly, “Stupid of ya, but I still love ya the same.” She squeezed Az tighter now, not letting her go for several minutes, letting her daughter cry in her arms.

  Calypso looked around at the other women chained up with her, “Now’s not the time for sweet goodbyes. We need to get out of here.”

  Az wiped her tears away, smearing swamp grime across her face. A rigid scar across her eye stopped her. The scar that was gone had reappeared. She didn’t have time to think about that now, she needed to get everyone out.

  “Alright, just hold tight.” She fuddled around with her gear, hoping some of it was still in her pockets. She unchained the women and left the chapel, holding tight to her mother’s hand, never letting go.

  Fires raged about the Basilica, burning anything that could catch alight. Rigor was nowhere to be seen. Az hoped he was fine and on his way to finish his mission. She ushered the group of women out into the streets, dodging fmes, and meandering creatures alike.

  Dead bodies of monsters and Bck Guards littered the street in front of them. Calypso carefully examined the bodies as she passed, her lips uttering, “Samdei?” She was missing some crucial information here.

  Azandre’s feet felt heavy as she began to lumber through. The main gates were just ahead, then they would all have their freedom. Her vision was beginning to blur as they neared the gate. Her chest heavy as her limbs now.

  Bck lines slowly coursed across her skin, spiderwebbing out into ever inch. Calypso looked down at her struggling daughter. Something wasn’t right. She threw her daughter’s arm around her shoulder and carried her weight as they left the gates. She couldn’t help but think of what her daughter went through to get here, and how she caused so much damage to the Basilica. It was a story they could share over some fresh hot tea.

  At the back of her mind, something was eating away at her. Death was starting to take hold of her daughter. The young Baptiste must have invoked the name of Samdei. If the stories of old were true, then Death would soon invoke the name of her baby.

  A new day was dawning. The night sky was turning a lighter blue as pinks and purples rolled in to usher a new morning. Calypso held tight to her daughter as they trudged off into the dawn lit swamp.

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