Chapter 59:
Servants of Nomier
I can’t see. I can’t hear. Everything is black. What’s happening?
I step backwards. Water splashes at my feet. It reaches up to my shins. How? I was standing in mud just a moment ago, with King Tytius’s soldiers pinning my body in place.
Maybe it wasn’t a moment ago.
I bring my hand up to my face. My eyes begin to adjust to the darkness, barely able to make out my fingers. How is it nighttime?
A moon shines overhead, but constellations like the rose and teapot are absent. There are no stars at all. This is not the sky.
I twist around. Shimmering reflections extend endlessly in every direction – a vast plain of thin ocean, quiet as the dead other than the noise from my splashing steps. I’m alone.
My last memory is the Hunt Unit soldiers pinning my body in place. I was surrounded by King Tytius’s army. The pain from the beating is still present, the ache extending through my legs, arms and chest. Rahlite was burning, and my julite necklace was cold as ice.
I touch my chest – the pendant is gone. Tytius took it off my neck – the last thing I remember.
My dress collar is still torn to my shoulder, and my feet are bare. The soldiers took my boots.
My head doesn’t hurt like the first time I lost consciousness. Only my feet are wet, so I couldn’t have been lying down. I just appeared here. This isn’t Mephia, Versillia or Ceramaya.
A cold gust of wind makes my body shiver. My instincts are clawing to get out of this place. Something about it – the silence, the darkness – reeks of death.
I flinch at a loud bang. It sounded like one stone striking another. I whip around. There’s a bright white stone in the distance – the only thing raised above the water.
I walk towards the stone platform. It’s far, but it’s the only thing visible above the dark ocean, and it may be my way out of this place.
The water drags on my legs, quickly tiring my muscles. I push on, eager to get my feet out the cold.
A dark shadow bisects the white stone platform. I stop. Not a shadow – a figure.
It doesn’t move.
I continue forward, taking slow, quieter steps through the water.
The figure’s back is to me. Their narrow shoulders and thin arms are distinctly feminine. She stands still as a statue on top of the stone. The white platform resembles a king’s dais, raised just a few inches out the water, no larger than necessary to hold a throne.
“Hello?” I call.
The figure remains still. Her loose, dark robes wave in the wind, reminiscent of a scarecrow. Long black hair hangs over her shoulders, hiding her face. In her left hand is a rod tipped with a large diamond-shaped stone. That’s Nomier’s staff.
I hesitate, staying still for a long time. She doesn’t react to my presence, still turned away from me. Glancing around reveals nothing but black ocean. I steady my nerves. There’s only one direction to go.
I begin to close the distance, taking slow, measured steps through the water until we’re only twenty feet apart.
“Hello?” I call again.
No response. Another stone cracks. A pink flame burns at the center of the platform. It’s rahlite, burning on its own without any fuel.
The gust a wind tugs at the figure’s hair, pulling her loose strands as her frame remains rigid. The sight of her bare neck makes me freeze. Her skin is gray like a corpse. Half of her neck is severed, the massive cut revealing her spine. She must be dead. Her body must be propped up on a frame. No one could live like that.
After another long pause, I muster the courage to continue closer, circling around the stone dais. Another stone cracks in the fire. Her long black hair obscures her face from view. Her hand has turned gray, the tips of her fingers nothing but pointed bone, like it’s been decomposing for months. This was Nomier’s body, the being who tormented tens of thousands of people with her sorcery.
The wind releases her hair, and the sight of her face makes my spine stiffen. Her eyes are sunken in, gone, leaving only shadowy crevices. Her gray skin has tightened to the shape of her skull, much of it flaking off to reveal the bone underneath. Her lips and mouth have decayed, leaving her teeth bare.
Her head is tilted down towards the burning rahlite, as if she’s staring at it. There’s nothing propping her up – no rods holding her head straight or ties to keep her limbs in place. There’s something wrong. This shouldn’t be possible.
A stone cracks, making me flinch again. Her head turns – the dark holes where her eyes once were point right at me. She’s not dead.
I scream and scramble backwards. My feet catch on a stone, and I fall. The cold water consumes me, swallowing my body whole and pulling me down. I can’t breathe. My arms flail in panic. It’s so dark.
I open my eyes to bright daylight. The water is gone. King Tytius is standing before me, a look of abject horror written across his face, the julite necklace still gripped in his fingers. I’m back in the middle of the Versillian army. It’s like I never left.
My body is stiff from head to toe, pinned in place by men much stronger than I am. I glance at the ground. Bodies.
My stomach roils.
The Hunt Unit soldiers who were delivering the beating lie still on the ground, their eyes open but unmoving. They’re dead.
Frightened shouts and screams erupt all around. The Versillian army surrounding us breaks formation, many soldiers abandoning their positions and taking off.
I can’t move, but there aren’t any soldiers left gripping my body. I see their still forms on the ground from the corner of my eye. Every person within twenty feet of me is dead, everyone except Tytius.
His mouth hangs open in shock, his jaw trembling. The julite necklace slips from his hand, falling to the mud. Our connection forms. He immediately collapses, and the life leaves his eyes.
My breathing halts. Tytius is dead. It wasn’t my will. I have no control.
I try reach for the julite necklace, but my body won’t listen. It remains frozen in place. I’m trapped.
The rahlite is burning, casting the sky orange. I feel my connection to the other Six, but one suffocating presence dominates the rest – Nomier.
Nomier killed Tytius. Nomier killed all of them.
My legs move on their own, twisting my frame around to face the way we came, back towards the regiment of armed Versillian soldiers. My left foot steps before the right, and I walk. My body is not my own. I’m her vessel.
“Ameh ameir oreshral,” a woman’s voice says. It’s loud, no longer a whisper.
The disordered Versillian line stands in my path, blocking my way forward. Nomier is taking me back to the Mephian Six. I can’t sense her physical body, only her mind. It’s fragmented between the seven of us. Once we all touch, she’ll be restored.
My legs continue forward, straight back the way we came. Though many of the soldiers have fled the formation after the death of their king, a hundred of the bravest still remain in my path, the first line of men only thirty feet away. Nomier is going to kill them. They need to run.
I shout, but my mouth doesn’t move, and no sound leaves my throat. I can’t do anything. Even my eyes remain set straight ahead. I’m a prisoner in my own body.
My feet continue forward with a slow, artificial gait. The Versillian Hunt Unit form the first line of men. They lower their halberds to point right at my frame. Please run. Please run. Please run.
My body takes another step. My connection forms to the closest two soldiers. Their minds shutdown, and they’re dead before their limp bodies hit the mud.
“She killed them!” a soldier shouts. Please run. Just run. Another step closer, and another two of the Hunt Unit fall. No.
“She slays with her mind!” The once solid line of men erupts into a panic retreat. All remaining sense of order disappears, and the Versillian army breaks into chaotic flight.
Three archers raise their bows, their arrows aimed at my frame. I feel my connection reach far out, and their minds disappear. Nomier kills without hesitation.
“Ameh ameir oreshral,” a voice says. It’s
my voice
. I’m speaking her words aloud.
The path ahead clears, the entire army rushing to get out of my way. My bare feet continue forward, treading deep into the mud. Soon the Versillian frontline is severed, revealing the Mephian army ahead.
The Mephian regiments are in disarray. Soldiers have scattered in all directions, running for the far ridges that surround the village. The battle is over, with all three nations in panicked retreat.
Ametha, Evelyn, Marco, and three elder men stand out in their purple-maroon gadins. Dozens of dead bodies lie around them – all clad in buckled leather tunics – their own soldiers. Nomier kills anyone who gets too close to her hosts.
Each of the Six take slow and measured steps like mine. We’re all converging to a center point. When we make physical contact, our connections will strengthen, and Nomier will be reborn. My body will no longer belong to me. Nomier’s reach will extend a thirty-day walk in every direction, and all these people will be trapped in Versil. Trevus will be trapped.
When Versil is formed, the borders between Mephian, Versillia and Ceramaya will become meaningless. The countries will disappear. All that will matter is who was fortunate enough to not be in the bounds of Versil. She’s going to enslave and torment tens of thousands of people. Lord Reger spoke of freeing my connection, that it didn’t serve me. He knew this whole time.
“Ameh ameir oreshral,” my voice speaks on its own.
Three Versillian horsemen appear at the edge of my vision. They’re charging with spears extended – aimed right for my torso. Even if they manage to end my life, the seventh piece of Nomier will just flee to a new host.
The horsemen cross within twenty feet of me, Nomier’s connection forms, and their horses immediately fall out from under them. The men go flying, with one landing at my feet face-down in the mud. They’re dead before hitting the ground.
Nomier forces my legs forward. A wave of nausea washes over me as my bare foot is planted on the dead man’s back.
Ceramayan javelins land at Evelyn’s feet, but none graze her skin. I felt Nomier connect to the soldiers as they threw them, snuffing out their lives before the weapons left their hands.
The seven of us are converging to the same central point. My right hand reaches out, and the Six do the same. In minutes we’ll make contact.
The Versillian, Mephian and Ceramayan soldiers have all abandoned trying to stop us, many retreating behind the ridges that surround the village. It won’t matter if they run or stay. Nomier will soon have everyone. Asarus was right. I should’ve stayed in that tower.
Ametha is straight ahead of me. Her shadowed eyes don’t move or react to the world, instead they stare straight forward, unfocused like that of a corpse. That’s what I look like.
A figure appears in my peripheral. Trevus! He walks to the center point, his gaze remaining firmly fixed on me. No. Just a few more steps, and he’ll be within the twenty-foot threshold. No. No. No. Run. I want to scream at him, but my voice won’t leave my throat. I have no control over my connection. Nomier will kill him in front of my eyes.
I put all my fight into stilling my legs, but they keep taking slow, drawn-out steps. My mind has no command over my body. I can’t stop it.
The image of Lord Reger raising his axe over Trevus’s head comes front of mind. His guards pinned my body in place. The same sickening feeling overtakes me now as it did then, but this time I’m completely helpless to save him.
All seven of us speak in unison – “Ameh ameir oreshral!” – Nomier’s words.
My legs continue forward. Trevus takes a step towards me. He’s right on the edge. Please, Trevus. Please run. I can’t bear to watch you die. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Trevus raises his boot, then steps inside the twenty-foot threshold. He remains standing.
What?
Trevus takes another step closer. I don’t feel him like the others. Nomier’s connection isn’t forming. At Nepolis, he was just as vulnerable to my connection as everyone else. What’s happening?
He closes the distance between us. His strong arms wrap around me, his frame dominating my vision, and I’m engulfed in his warm embrace.
I see it – the thin silver chain around his neck. He’s wearing my julite pendant.
My legs keep moving, my feet mushing uselessly in the mud. Even with Nomier’s command over my body, my physical strength can’t contest his.
Trevus leans into my ear. “Jade is mine.” He rips his shirt open. The freezing julite pendant makes contact with my skin.
A searing pain tears through my neck. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. My vision blurs and both ears ring. My connection to the Six is severed.
My body goes limp, but Trevus keeps me upright. He presses the pendant against my chest, then hangs the chain over my neck.
He scoops up my legs and tucks my head against his arm, carrying me bridal-style. My muscles are exhausted, feeling as if they’ve been holding stiff for hours. At least they’re mine again.
Trevus glances behind him, and my gaze follows. The other Six lie limp in the mud. Their bodies are exhausted like mine, but at least they’re back in control.
I slowly twist my head, taking in the landscape. Every living man has fled, the armies retreating all the way back to the ridges. The battle is over, and an eerily silence has fallen. Both Versillians and Mephians have lost their leaders, and the Ceramayan queen has led her army to retreat.
Trevus, the Six and I are the only ones left in the village – at least the only ones alive. Soldier’s bodies are scattered about in the mud – both those who fell in battle and those brave enough to approach us when Nomier was in control.
I meet Trevus’s gaze. He’s alive. We’re both alive, and we’re free. I’m so grateful. He’s content, his features showing relief. I’m back in his arms. He looks at me like I’m a precious treasure.
With the little strength I have, I nudge my head against his chest. I want to forget about everything else for a moment – all the death, Tytius, Asarus, that thing inside me. I’m just happy to be with Trevus again.
I love him.
Author’s Note:
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I did writing it!
Well done to everyone who predicted that Asarus was Jade’s father! @yoonyati1231 @Princess162224 @Inconspicuous_A @CandyWest95 @TheGigl @FalcaWing @iceheartgoldsmile (comment here if I missed anyone).
And @Kittycatkilala predicted that Nomier ‘refused’ death, she split into seven pieces, and gathering those pieces will lead to her revival, which is detailed on the three missing pages, and that was the outcome Asarus was trying to stop. Dead accurate.
Brilliant
@rileysing why would someone want to bring back a monster like Nomier…
You are so talented. I can’t exactly describe the feelings I had while reading this chapter… just WOW. Bravo author 👏
You are so talented. I can’t exactly describe that feelings I had while reading this chapter… just WOW. Bravo author 👏
I figured from the matching color of their eyes 😁
This SHOULD be a movie. Period.
Awwww 🥰🥰
oops 😬 she killed both of her lover’s parents
I’m scared 😨
wow 😲… this wasn’t what I expected…Asarus is Jade’s father!!! That’s so messed up. What father would do that to his daughter 😭😭…and Trevus looked hot; literally gave off daddy vibes😂😂
I absolutely love this book 😍
@FalcaWing oh for sure…
this is a masterpiece!!!!
I agree, this would totaly be a awsome movie to watch. 🥰
smart man 🥰
that would scare the shit out of me
Absolutely awesome chapter!!
@Thegigl if anyone wants to kill em
It was epic! It needs to be movie/TV show lol
Wdym?
The connection to Nomier is severed?
Yes she is!
Yay!
Aw, so precious
You mean the necklace? You’re right he could have grabbed it while Nomier was focused on bringing the 7 together
This could have all been avoided with a simple conversation
Omg no!
Of course you would
Though the men were being dumb to rush her like that, especially front on
Yet no one bothered to explain this to her…
Wait, where is Asarus?
Where is Trevus?
Truly… the six don’t rule through fear
Okay so my question is then, is Nomier a real person or a spiritual force that possess people like this… I wonder what came first the magic or Nomier hmm
Good they are finally running from the obvious threat lmao
Aw, this is hard. Jade doesn’t want to kill them
Wait if Tytius is dead isn’t Trevus the king now?
Yay!
Poor Jade trying so hard to not feel guilt over all this death
Well I’ll be honest I wasn’t expecting that…
Oh he has the Julite in his hands
Why is he alive???
She now has the power of Nomier? Is she Nomier now?
Wait what, I really need to know what just happened
She was always immortal right… she couldn’t die even if they killed her so she’s just be decaying which is a horrifying thought
Her head turns… well thats a thing
Well thats a gross and scary image…
What? Wait Nomier did ‘die’ right… so it’s her old corpse or something
Something about this makes me think we don’t know everything about Nomier… like as though she was following someone else’s orders or something. Not sure why hmm
Nomier?
Nomier?
The mindspace of Nomier