The Storyteller was found tucked away in the grand library of the universe seated at their writing desk scribing away with their charting.
"Well, hello there." They greeted, "I am the Storyteller, —the original storyteller—. I am well known as The Owl of this library and the protector of all the stories in the universe. It is my duty to keep all the books that has ever come, or will come into existence, safely kept inside this domain. I don't know how you've managed to find yourself here, but I suppose that doesn't matter for now."
A new book drops from a transport tube and onto the tall golden book stand that was meant for the coming of new stories. The storyteller stops in the middle of their work and journeys over to the stand. The book flips open before the Owl can touch it and words begin to appear on each page.
"Ah ha! It would seem a new story is just under way and it appears to be one from your old world. I would gladly share the context of this book with you, but first I think it would be best if we read the history behind this story. Then perhaps we may find out what happened to you and how you came to be here with me at the center of the universe."
The Storyteller went to one of the older looking bookcases and pulled out a thick large dusty book. Having to hold it in one arm, they blew off the debris and cracked it open. They flipped through the pages until they stopped at the chapter they wanted and began to read aloud…
"Ahem."
"A diary written by a woman named Dr. Jonelle McKenna. She was the only witness who documented the destruction that occurred within her time period. These are her thoughts and findings within her final days.”...
Dr. McKENNA’S DIARY
Dear Diary, the world has spiraled down a shit hole. Being the last person left in the world who knows the truth about anything I feel it is somehow my responsibility to share what knowledge that I have within this diary and hope for the day that one of my kind finds it. If any of us are left. I don’t know if the contents of this book would be of any use to the one who reads it, but perhaps it would shed light as to why your life has turned out the way that it has. And to know that we were fools to think we could contain chaos, to control it. We were wrong. As for those who have suffered, those who have died, I am truly sorry. I don’t expect to be forgiven and once my story ends you will know that your life will never be as it once was; humanity will never go back to how it use to be ever again.
Many centuries ago, humans conquered over the world. During our anarchy, we were successfully able to keep the existence of the supernatural hidden from the rest of the world, but by mere chance there were those who witnessed their existence. Knowing many would not believe what they've seen, they chose to hide the truth within their arts—such as music and theater—in hopes that one day things would no longer appear as simple coincidence anymore. Their stories continued to be passed down throughout the ages. Sadly, as time went on, their stories started twisting and winding, changing with each storyteller. In each era the facts about creatures—like dwarves or trolls—were now further from the truth. Even the horrors who terrorized many villagers and slaughtered their loved ones were now found in love-sick romance novels: Lycans are told to be tamed of the beast that corrupts them. Witches are described as beautiful, kind and benevolent beings, rather than hideous and devious tricksters who take more than they give. Vampires falling insanely in love with feeble minded humans instead of treating them as cattle to the slaughter."
The Storyteller turns to the intruder as they rest on the edge of their desk.
"She’s right, you know? It really is...” They paused, “How would your kind put it? Bullshit. If I may be honest and rather blunt. To think that a cold-bloodthirsty devil would only want to suck faces with a human is absolutely absurd. Alas, it's just like humans to twist the truth while sweeping all the blood and gore under the rug. Their stories would turn out better if they could at least get the facts straight."
They flipped the page and continued on…
Dr. McKENNA’S DIARY
It has been this way for a long time, until one night on March 15, xx32. This was the day our closet of lies couldn't be kept shut any longer because those idiots created a rolling snowball's mess for everyone that not even their poorly devised explanations would be a enough to stop what came after."
They raised an eyebrow and peeked up from the pages.
“She is about to elaborate that statement. Do pay attention I believe this will be one hell of a history lesson for us."
As they continued to read along, they spoke in a more sophisticated manner.
Dr. McKENNA'S DIARY
Apparently, we as humans have never taken things like cures seriously, even though it is something that has been warned about throughout our history, within multiple cultures and religions. A false sense of security developed by our governments have blinded us from acknowledging this truth. About 50 years ago a family died tragically, a family of powerful witches. Their clan was admired for their magic arts and they specialized in such curses. They were placed under our protection. I was a chemist professor and 8th generation alchemist selected to be a part of a top-secret organization. It was called the MAGUS PROJECT. I was assigned to the research team to study and understand their abilities and way of life. To understand why they were different from us. We promised to keep them safe so they could go on and live normal lives without the hate from the rest of the world who would come to despise that which they don’t understand, but we failed to keep our promise and we failed to care. The last of their bloodline and only living survivor, a woman, cursed every leader of our nation. A curse that blindly allowed themselves to be corrupted by the seven deadliest sins that already plagues and poisoned the blood of our entire species. She enhanced our sins, then stole away choice and reason from us.
Ordinary doctors and researcher didn’t understand when a patient came in with strange symptoms. The study of their blood showed drastic changes in their DNA. A virus perhaps? It was something they'd never seen before or knew how to treat, but the results showed a change in the mind causing some to act similar to an animal with rabies on steroids. While those with milder symptoms functioned normal but claimed they were being controlled by the voice in their heads. And it was spreading at an uncontrollable rate. By then we knew something was wrong, but by the time we realized it, it was too far gone to contain it. We tried to tell them, to warn them before things got out of hand, but no one would listen to us. Far too late when we realized it spread to our government officials first. We still couldn’t explain to the public they were under the curse of a witch, only that this phenomenon was indeed a virus. Since it spreads from person to person like a virus. We called it MANIA.
The effects manifested itself in waves and the course of countries fell into madness. The first wave was Envy: When jealousy takes roots inside a person, people can become very unpredictable and things get very tricky, very quickly. Boundaries are crossed with little to no hesitation. One’s own thoughts can even start to falsify one's own mind until they slip slowly into insanity. Much like all great evils it starts out small like a seed, but over time it grows and becomes twisted with one's own selfishness and ego. It pulsates like a living organism creating a life of its own, a mind of its own. Placing the next wave in effect, Pride: As always, a dispute began as leaders from across the globe arguing amongst each other. They fought over land and resource, and when they couldn't get what they wanted they took without asking.
I know this seems as something that happens all the time, but there is no better way to explain this to you. Things became much worse over time. It was as if their minds were unreachable to reason. They were unable to be negotiated with. There was no room for compromise. Many started experiencing insomnia. The curse was in full effect when their eyes turned blood-shot-red and crazed in frenzy. Soon after that the voices started.
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Their action left many of the unafflicted confused on how to deal with these situations…while others became inspired by them. Which then was the start of the next wave, Wrath: They decided to, once again, start global wars against their neighbors to resolve their disagreements. The started killing each other and bombing the homes of the innocent in their own and other countries. This brought forth the fourth wave, Greed: In order to fund such chaos they turned to their people for financial support. The cost-of-living sky rocketed so exponentially to the point where citizens fumed and demolished the street shouting their demands. Riots broke out, the burning of buildings and homes, food supplies became a shortage, population decreased, crimes increased. As these terrible things began to stir, in hopes to prevent many more acts of civil war, this was the cause of three waves that hit simultaneously, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth: The rich hoarded their assets and refuse to lift a finger as the world began to spiral and plummet. They completely divided themselves from the poor and built an economy for themselves. This caused the greatest uproar in all the history of mankind and it shattered the bound shared by man.
It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Unfortunately, humans are the only ones who suffers from this curse. The only thing I can say is that she had enough—I mean really had enough—and decided it was best for someone else to take charge, so she chose someone from the underground."
They flipped to the next page and then frowned.
“As it would seem I won't be to discuss with you what happens next. Sadly, the writer did not discuss this matter in further detail.”
The flipped the book over to show the intruder a page inside with only one sentence scratched on it in dark ink and it said…
“The devils came from the shadows.”
They returned to the diary to finish what they could of the story.
Dr. McKENNA'S DIARY
Once negotiations were over and promises were made, Those from the underground planned to take on the humans’ chaos as their opportunity to rise up above the surface. They too had grown weary of living in secret tucked away from society and, for obvious reasons, the sun. If there was ever a chance for the perfect opportunity to break the peace treaty between Daywalkers and Nightcrawlers, now would be it. Especially since humans have gone mad and made it very clear we can't be trusted with the task of ruling and maintaining world order properly. The countless years tormented with animal feeding and self-restraining, finally, bore its fruit and they attacked us the moment we were most vulnerable. They weren’t able to overthrow us easily, but that only encouraged them to try. It was like a siege of starving lions, really. She used her magic to hide the sun’s rays behind thick clouds. That’s when they crawled up from under the earth, out from their dark prison and began ripping the innocent apart.
They had been sleeping right beneath our feet and a few pipes and concrete wasn’t enough to stop them. In our neighborhoods, busy streets, even school districts, they came for us. They were plastered on every channel, website and, news article. People started calling them the Sleeping Army of the Living Dead. The objective was to devour most men, women and children alike, while the remaining survivors would be colonized. Many other supernaturals also took advantage of the Vampire Revolution and brought forth armies of their own. The Lycans claimed half the west and all of the northern Himalayan mountains for their homes. The Merfolk reclaimed control over the seas and slaughtered sailors and their crew as they sank their ships. None was spared that was caught sailing upon their waters. The nymphs, who remained isolated in the rain forests, the rocky mountains, and any jungle region that they were caring for, finally awoke the giants that slept beneath the earth from their three-thousand-year slumber. Causing random earthquakes and tsunamis across the world. Some of the mountains crumbled to dust and new lands were shifted into creation, while the citizens who lived there were crushed beneath it all.
As for that ruthless bitch who now calls herself, Mother Ophelia, created a new coven of witches. They used their powers to manipulate human technology and turned it into a powerful weapon. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. After the vampires were victorious, they returned to the birth place of their origin in Romania and reclaimed the homeland that once belonged to a vampire who was one of the firsts of their kind to be a ruler over men. The Poenari Castle, once the home of Vlad the Impaler, but you may know him better as the infamous Count Dracula. There they built a great black iron wall that stretched for miles around all of Transylvania, after they reshaped it to be their motherland, they carved a monument of Dracula in his honor from raw obsidian and placed it in the center of town. They soon transformed all of Europe into the Great Empire of Moarte. Decades have passed since then and new societies were quickly formed. Beyond its iron gates are where the most uppity and well-established people resides. Nobilities, who only wear clothes cut from the finest of cloth and silk was something only the wealthiest ladies and lords could be seen in as they stroll along the cobblestones. Not all human inventions were allowed to remain, but not all of them were destroyed either. Things that polluted the earth, the air and her waters were either discarded or remodeled using magic core stones to suit the environment.—What can I say, devils can be environmentalists too.—In Moarte, luxury cars and carriages move down the roads through the market districts. The smell of human flesh baked into bread fills the air on every corner, while blood made into a sugar syrup drizzled over every sweet pastry that sat in the windows to attract wandering eyes.—as repulsive as these things are to us, they are delicious delicacies to them.—If you were to search past the ever-green pastures that settled large exquisite mansions you will find the heart of the empire, a palace built from white sand-lime bricks and Egyptian gold known as, The Ivory Palace.
If you, the person who is reading this, are a human like me who was born in this world long after the Gran Demolition and you’ve somehow happened to stumble upon my dairy, then it's safe to say I am long gone from this hell you now find yourself trapped in. I am sorry that this piece of history is not a heroic tale of adventure that could be told over a warm kindling fire, but your new reality. I can’t guarantee there will be a happy ending for someone like you. Dark secrets lie beneath the bricks of the Ivory Palace and everyone there cherishes the gems that glitters around their necks more than each other, yet they all share a deep seeded hatred that burros down within their hearts mangled with jealousy and envy against our species.
An ancient curse clearly hangs over them as well which is why they must use Mother Ophelia’s magic to keep the skies gray with thick clouds that tuck away the sun, nevertheless Moarte is still seen as glorious and triumphant more than any kingdom to this day. However, those who’ve chosen to remain outside the iron walls believe the angel of death lingers over the empire waiting patiently as she eagerly grips her scythe for the day she will claim the souls that cheated her—I pray that time will come sooner than later.—Those that are considered to be of a lesser species are made to suffer as slaves, beggars, and whores in the Muudy District. Humans who survived the war were placed in the H.I.V.E. to be used as nutritional resources. The Emperor’s temper makes him relentless and his Empress’s heart is as cold as her precious ‘Snow Diamond’. His lust for war clouds his better judgment—if he has any to start with—and it’s the reason peace has yet to come to his people. Although no one would dare to oppose his majesty nor speak ill of his name, less they wish a fate worse than death. Yet, the fact remains that he is still no better that us and like all tyrants before him he too shall met his end.
*Sigh*
“Humans have always lived divided in constant bickering over the most pointless things all because of their own selfishness and greed." They said with weary. “Then they blindly placed their faith in machines and abandoned God. This is why overthrowing them was much easier than the struggles once faced with their ancestors. When great kings commanded armies and honor held a sense of… purpose. Now the humans have lost their grip on the world and no longer stand at the top of the food chain. This record in time was recorded as the reset of history titled as, The Gran Demolition. And as it would appear our writer was able to witness the out come of it all."
A mournful expression fell over both the Owl and the intruder.
As the story finished and the Owl closed the book on their lap, they got up and returned it to its rightful place on the shelf. They crossed over to the bookstand and examined the craftsmanship of their newly received book's leathery cover. There was an embroider of two trees, one sat right-side up and the other faced downward connecting together by their root. The imagery was placed in the center of a golden ring.
"The story I am about to tell is a new one, not yet apart of your history books because it is just now being written as we speak. It begins without a human as the leading role because sadly your story is over, it would seem, it ended with your kind and their wicked deeds. But who knows maybe a hero will arise from the ashes of this cruel and damned world. Restoring hope to the forsaken within the Impenetrable Fortress of Moarte.”
They opened the new book and turned to the first page. The intruder gathered closer to the Owl as the words began to appear on the pages.
“Although, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. No matter the cause, history in these stories always finds a way to repeat itself time and time again. Despite the era or race, nor the rhyme or reason behind it all. This world of yours seems to be forever trapped in an endless loop of madness. Rather vexing if you ask me."
