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Chapter 10: The Calm After the Storm
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Archibald stopped at an empty cabin in the woods. He was spent from continuously running, in his beast form, all night. He looked around and surmised that no living person was nearby. He swung open the cabin door, and a barren room welcomed them. There was a cot on one side, and a table and a chair on the other side. Other than those, there were no furniture in sight.
He let Selene down. Her eyes were still puffy but her gaze still had the sharpness he was familiar with for a while now. He transformed back to his human form. His head wound already healed completely.
“We’ll stay here until morning,” he announced. “Take a rest on the cot there while I keep watch.” He closed the door and made his way to the table. He dragged a finger on it, and felt the thick dust of disuse. He looked at the cot and it looked as abandoned as everything in the room. He looked for something to brush off the dust on the bed, but there were no personal items anyw
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“Akeldamo,” his follower kneeled before him. “I offer thee this offering of living flesh and blood as sacrifice.” He stood and led a confused young man towards him. “Please accept my offer and bless me with your knowledge.” Massimo waved the man away. “Come here,” he beckoned his follower. He walked towards him, eyes on the ground. Then he kneeled in front of him, closed his eyes and opened his mouth wide. “I accept your gift. In return, receive this bounty.” Massimo pricked his forefinger with his sharp nail and let a drop of his blood fall into his follower’s agape mouth. The follower slowly closed his mouth, savoring his blood. “Be gone and return to your duties,” he ordered him. “As you wish, Akeldamo,” he vowed, before quickly walking out of his way. “As for you,” he pointed at the befuddled man, wearing dirty rags as a covering. “Come closer.” The man slowly walked towards him. His eyes were darting on and about, trying to make sense of his surroundings
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