Member-only story
The Assassin’s Sacrifice: 5
(This story was originally published in Plasma Frequency Magazine, Issue 11.)
Part 1 is here.
Part 2 is here.
Part 3 is here.
Part 4 is here.
The scene reminded Heider of stories he had heard, and he knew that he had entered into a wing of the Red Sultan’s vast subterranean complex. The histories said that it had been destroyed in the Six Sultans War, but clearly some parts of it had survived.
The echoes of a man’s voice became audible, and grew louder as Heider moved forward. He had never before heard the language the man was using. The voice itself was deep, but melodic, and reminiscent of prayer. The source of the words soon became apparent.
At the end of the tunnel was a sprawling chamber with a domed ceiling. At the center of the chamber was an altar, upon which lay the boy. Heider thought at first that the altar was made of the same red brick as the walls, but soon realized that it was not stone at all–it was a mound of raw musculature, throbbing like a giant, deformed heart.
Crouched on its heels a few feet from the altar was the waithawa, arms wrapped around its legs and head tucked down into its knees like a sleeping bird. Three humanoid figures stood around the altar, their unclothed flesh white as lotus and…
