《Dishonor》Chapter 14: The Great Exile (Part 2)
Advertisement
The familiar city sights slipped by as I stayed lost in my reverie.
If only I could have spoken to Casia again. If only I could have persuaded her not to go through with the trial. I could have refused her silly bet. But really it didn’t start there. It went all the way back to trusting Reese when I was a Dishonored.
Or maybe it went back to thinking up silly plans for revenge. Where would Kevin have gotten explosives to blow up the castle? And if we had blown it up, what would’ve happened then? Would I have just played into the spies hands then as well? But why would they have stopped me then? It must not have been in their interests at that time. What were their real interests? Was it really just to control city decisions?
If the Wall was behind the Spies, then what did the Wall gain? What was their end game? Was it just to control decisions in the city? But the Wall could care less about what the City did? Or was that not the truth?
I felt the chair jerking and realized we were going up the stairs of the Revacks estate. I didn’t want to see those hateful Honored today. “I’m tired. Can I go straight to bed today?” I asked Dan as my chair wheeled through the threshold.
Dan stopped, and my chair also lurched to a stop. He turned and faced me, his brow furrowed in worry, “Are you ok? Is something wrong?”
Was he serious? I choked back a laugh and coughed instead. The absurdity of his question jolted me out of my stupor. “I’m fine. I’m just - tired.” I had no right to be tired. My sister just died for my convictions. But here I was, safe and sound in my Wall chair, benefactor of the very people who murdered my sister.
Advertisement
There was nothing I could do. No fighting them would bring Casia, Henry, Bryan, Kyle, Annie, or my father back. Fighting only brought more death. I should have realized that when Fire died in the village.
Dan kneeled down in front of me, “You are expressing body language that says you are not mentally healthy right now.” He reached out and gripped my hand, staring into my eyes with his strange flickering eyes.
I looked away, unable to stand looking into his eyes and saw a woman off to the side staring at us. “Can we talk about this back in the room? We are blocking the door right now.”
Dan held my hand for a second longer, and then let go. “Yes. We can discuss the subject of your health in the room assigned to you.” His words filled with that now familiar awkward formalness.
He stood up, drawing my eyes back to him. His very movement sometimes looked too stiff and at the same time too fluid and perfectly balanced. No wasted energy in his precise almost military turn as he led us back to the room.
As we entered the room, I felt warmer. For now this place was for Dan and I. It reminded me a touch of the fond memories I had from living with Jade in the tiny village cabin. Dan shut the door and then came back to kneel in front of me, “Now, what is it that has you exhibiting symptoms that have alerted me to your distress?”
What a strange way to ask what’s wrong, but I was too tired to protest his wording. I wished I could just sob into his shoulder, but I didn’t deserve that when it was my fault.
I looked into his eyes, flashing with those strange lights in his too perfect face. His scars and missing tooth were gone. All the imperfections smoothed away. Were guilt and grief smoothed away as well? “My sister died. I couldn’t do anything to save her. Of course I feel awful,” The words snapped out of my mouth.
Advertisement
He leaned back slightly, as if I had verbally hit him. I didn’t want to yell at him. I just wanted to scream, or cry, or not sit here uselessly in my chair.
He grabbed a pillow from the bed and pushed it at me.
“Huh, Why are you pushing a pillow at me?” I asked.
“Punch it. Scream at it,” He stated.
This probably wouldn’t help at all, but whatever. I punched the pillow, and punched it again, my fists weakly beating at it, and I realized I was crying. Tears of helpless anger. Tears of being too weak to even hurt a pillow, and I stuffed my face into it letting it eat my anger.
Arms wrapped around me, and I let got of the pillow and leaned into Dan letting him hold me as the anger and shame boiling in my gut slowly let off steam and calmed down to a simmer.
“Feel better?” He whispered next to my ear.
Did I? “Yes.” I felt empty. All that was left was the overwhelming desire to sleep. Sleep away the pain, the anger, the regret. Was being a cyborg similar to just letting all those tiring emotions sleep?
“Can I sleep now?” I asked, but leaned into him more, not wanting to think about the world outside the warmth of his embrace.
He let go of me, and slowly pulled back from me. “Would you like me to carry you to the bed?” He asked.
“Yes,” I responded, appreciating him asking.
He carefully lifted me up, and carried to me to the bed where he gently laid me down on it before stepping back.
“Stay with me,” I whispered, grabbing his hand. I didn’t want to be left alone with my own thoughts again.
“I’ll come sit next to you,” He said, pulling his hand away and then walking around the bed to come sit next to me. He held out his hand to me, and I gripped the cold metal fingers tightly.
“Do cyberpeople feel guilt? '' I asked him.
He stared at the wall of the room, “No, well, I can’t speak for the others, but in my experience I have not experienced guilt the way I remember feeling it as a human.
“I’m glad,” I leaned into his side. If I stayed empty I was fine. Empty and tired. Do not think past the feel of his chest rising and falling with his breaths. I wanted to be truly empty and free from my sins. I could at least be an unfeeling pawn of the Wall then.
Advertisement
- In Serial39 Chapters
Galataea Crystallim: Chronicles of the Lonely World
In the distant future humanity has spread out to the stars and colonized planets in various parts of the galaxy. On one planet, life is a strange event. Humans live alongside a race of crystalline beings capable of taking on the forms of strange and beautiful monster girls known as Crystallim. Their one desire.. to get closer to that special someone who they can truly connect with on an emotional and sexual level. Enjoy!Mature Content Warning: Designed as an alternative, and far more light and fun, concept than stories such as Nocturne and I Hate You Master. This story involves lots of erotic content and goofy humor. Please be advised.
8 146 - In Serial24 Chapters
The Undead Dungeon
What happens when a zombie lover became a dungeon? After a cliché "accident" befalls him, he signed a contract for a second chance. Follow Adam as he tries to be the very best like no one ever was To survive is his real test, to create zombies is his cause. Undead gotta create them all. Inspired by Stewart92 and the crazy penguins from Dungeon Writers Alliance!
8 167 - In Serial42 Chapters
Domain of Man
Isolation is terrible. To feel isolated with your fellow man around you is worse. What if you were dumped in some backwards cave somewhere, completely nude, maybe with your family, or even completely alone? The age of pioneers, heroes, generals, and geniuses is long gone. Humankind has become numb to the world around it because of how paltry everything else is compared to the glory of its history, the sheer volume of their accomplishments, and the sum of its innovations. You can interact with people across the world, travel miles in mere hours, and never prepare your own food or shelter, and it's all accessible to even the normalest of individuals. Artificial intelligence is within arms reach in devices and computers and even houses, and neural interfaces aren't exclusive to the rich and powerful at this point. Someone far in the distance took notice of Earth, saw the multitude of hairless apes swarming its surface. That one went down the checklist to see if humanity had, in fact, beaten the 'game' of Life. Sure enough, they had gone above and beyond the requirements, but nobody had been watching. 'Why might that be?', that one wondered. Protocol was protocol, though, no matter how strange the situation was. They pulled the lever, they flipped the switch. It's time for New Game +. ??? Don't be afraid to leave critique or share your support! I really appreciate any feedback you can give. In any case, I sincerely hope you enjoy the story! It's going to be a wild ride. HQ/Kindle-Grade cover art. Book Cover 2.0: "Heiroglyphs"
8 100 - In Serial23 Chapters
Midgard
Midgard, the currently hottest announced MMROPG for the virtuality capsule "Alpha 706" is due to be launched. Through unforseen circumstances Milo, a random male gamer, is thrown into the game and enjoys the pleasure of playing it 24/7. As "One" he tries to be the biggest and badest Player this game has ever seen. Airing every sunday. (currently on hold.)
8 162 - In Serial20 Chapters
The Noble House of Set
1000 years ago, 30 warriors each followers of different Gods were summoned on the world of Trinux . for the first time in years they decided to stop fighting each other and each took their respective paths of conquest with their descendants, bound to clash many years later. this story takes place on the house of Set, where Lord Geld and all his vassals awaited the birth of his Heir .
8 63 - In Serial589 Chapters
Thief of Time
[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] Book 1: The Legend of Tot Synopsis: Claud Primus, a self-declared master thief, has a simple goal. To live forever. It's a rather easy task, for miraculous objects called lifestones are able to extend one's lifespan. These lifestones are best found in the treasuries of nobles, lovely resorts that Claud pays a visit to every so often. Unfortunately, one of those nightly visits go awry, and Claud is forced to escape with just a single lifestone and a box in hand. Normally, that's when things die down. The guards yawn, the gates close, and the night continues. But this time, the night isn't that forgiving. A dozen schemes result in the murder of someone important, and with a convenient scapegoat — Claud — at hand, it doesn't take long for him to be framed as a heinous criminal, wanted for the indirect murder of someone high up...and it just gets worse from there. Book 2: The Moon Lords' Rise Synopsis: As ordered chaos sweeps across Licencia, Claud leaves for Julan Barony, intent on making some profits there. Accompanied by the erstwhile heiress of Julan, a fellow member of the Moon Lords, the two plot against the barony's wealth...as well as a promise to bring about its downfall. Meanwhile, back home, the Moon Lords have busied themselves with digesting their gains. Eyes, however, are beginning to turn to this proverbial fish in a small pond. The fishermen are coming. When they cast their hook, what will Dia and the others do? Book 3: Murders under the Moons Synopsis: In the sleepy town of Nachtville, where Claud and Lily are forced to stop at, a set of nasty murders occurs. Victims scream out in fright, before a spear falls from the sky to end their suffering. Cowed and cautious, the master thief and his partner slink in the shadows, their objective that of home... A new task, however, has fallen on Dia. With a trusty helper at her side, she has to set off towards Nachtville itself, to solve the mystery Claud had abandoned. Faced with an enemy whose sole skillset is geared towards killing, how will they succeed? And what dark secrets will they find? Book 4: In the Dark of the Moons Synopsis: The year has ended. The four months of the full moons will soon be followed by two months of the new moons. Duke Istrel's ascension is around the corner. Amidst this political upheaval, Count Nightfall, Licencia's strongest defender, has been called away. The Moon Lords' largest task yet — to protect Licencia in the absence of its ruler — has begun. And yet, trouble is unrelenting. A distinguished personage, one that Claud fears, has been found dead in the county, his brains dug out and his body disemboweled. The inquisitors of the White Church have been dispatched to investigate and apprehend the murderer...as well as the person behind this puppet. Tormented by a call to fight, Claud directs his eyes out of the city, looking for the puppetmaster. Skulking in the shadows, the master thief will soon confront his greatest foe yet. A foe just like him. Book 5: Moonlit Tides and Darkened Seas Synopsis: A new era has begun. For the privileged, the sands of time dribble away for every passing moment, counting down to the arrival of a entity of mythical proportions. The night now harbours shadows and fog, and operatives of the Moons and the Dark clash in shadow. Claud, as usual, is investigating a spate of nasty disappearances in the city, but little does he know what these disappearances truly mean. And yet, a tide is coming. When it finally breaks, what will he do? Book 6: Secrets in Shadow Synopsis: The person behind a strike that would enter the annals of history flees his home, bringing with him the person closest to his heart into a new land and into a new world. Having left Istrel for the first time in his life, the two of them attempt to settle down in foreign lands, only to be caught in the middle of hostilities between two mighty powers grappling for dominion. Yet, none of that has anything to do with him. Following his desires, Claud eventually makes his way to the fabled Celestia Ruins, a fragment of another world. Bearing witness to truths he cannot yet comprehend, he returns from his exploration, a small break away from the machinations of destiny. One thing, however, is for certain. Destiny will not wait for him. Book 7: Reddest Rage Synopsis: Destiny churns on, heedless of mortal machinations, and Claud watches as the battlegrounds between the Moons and the Dark are drawn up. With the forces of the great Dark occupying Lostfon, Claud comes to a startling realisation — that he may have very well be a murderer of heinous proportions. Grappling with that realisation, he struggles to prepare for his Second Tutorial... Back in Istrel, Dia finds herself confronted with a perennial truth. Even in a time of writhing destiny, the machinations between nobles never cease to end — and unfortunately for her, the group once known as the Moon Lords are forced into dealing with a petty squabble between two counts. What they didn't account for, however, was the startling discovery they would soon make... And the shadow of the Red God's Holy Son behind it all. Book 8: Darkness Descends Synopsis: Nightmares haunt the horizon as Claud sinks and awakens from a seeming dream. What was once illusory begins to play out before him, in a way he cannot imagine. Dia, forced to wield arms, begins and ends a battle that opens her eyes to the vast dangers that lurk in this sundered world. Under the banner of humanity and divinity, she beholds the silent, forgotten protectors of Orb...but there is no forgetting the battle between the divinities. The Dark descends, the Moons writhe, and the horns of war blow once more. But this is not their battle. Not yet. Book 9: Moons Muster Synopsis: As more and more events fall into place, Claud finds himself desperate. Not for himself, but for the person who has turned into his world. Armed with the knowledge of a certain future, he approaches the only person that could possibly help him in his time of need, trading information for a promise of help. With that as solace, he returns to the grim task of understanding and seeking, revisiting an ancient, shattered fragment of another world...unleashing changes that he never knew was possible. Back in Istrel, Dia and the others must now navigate around a familiar spirit, who seeks to investigate the death of his master's Bearer. With them as prime suspects, the Seekers of Life must move carefully...but the Coloured Gods are not the only divinities eyeing them closely. The Moons, bristling from repeated defeats, are looking for new recruits, and the Seekers of Life are prime cannon fodder. Above all, destiny marches on, the unfeeling clock a warning to all. The Trial of Aeons will soon arrive. Book 10: Destiny Divine Synopsis: ??? Release frequency: one every few days or something, I guess. (This work is also being serialised on Webnovel under the name Revile as a trial run)
8 706

