Chapter 32.

  A Dark Soul

  Reina disappeared into the gloom beyond the blue door as Theodren stood rooted in the street. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention for reasons he could not immediately explain. He shook his head. Reina was in there now, and besides the Stablemasters cryptic warning, there was no reason to distrust the Blue Rose or the woman who ran it. Setting his jaw, Theodren followed after them into the dark tavern.

  Reina was sat in a high backed chair by a roaring fire, holding Theviana close to her bosom while her eyes wandered the room. Theodren could sense the unease in her soul as she fussed over the child. “I’ll have your stews ready in a moment dear!” came a voice from the back of the common room. The floor creaked beneath his boots with every step he made toward Reina. Sitting down in the chair across from her, he sent his vitae sprawling across the floor, searching for souls beyond the three he already knew about.

  Reina looked up at him. “You’re scared of this place.” Theodren sighed. “The stablemaster has me spooked. Did you hear any whispers from the old woman?” She scoffed. “She has a name Theodren.” He stared at her silently waiting for her answer. She relented, shoulders falling. “No, I wasn’t listening, not since the alley. You don’t know what it’s like.” Theodren nodded. For a moment his focus was lost in the dance of the flames in the hearth. For all his unease, there was little that soothed him quite like the crackle of a fire. The way the light danced, pushing darkness aside even if only for a moment. It was not unlike life itself in that way. A brief spark of energy that needed to be nurtured until it can sustain itself. Consuming fuel and air to survive and shine brightly, bringing warmth and light to those around it until it eventually burned out, returning to ashes and silence.

  Theodren’s brow furrowed as he stared deeper into the flames. It really was like his Vitae. almost as if on instinct he reached for the flame with his mind, probing. The energy within the blaze was there, just out of reach, if he could only…

  “Here we are! Two hearty bowls of stew for my road weary travelers.” Theodren returned to the present with a blink and a deep inhale as regained his awareness. Theodren looked up into the face of the innkeeper and almost flinched. The grin on her face was uncomfortably wide and toothy for a face as wrinkled as hers. Light from the fire danced across the topography of her face but not her eyes. Even as close as she was, Theodren could see no color to them, only darkness.

  “We are most grateful for your hospitality Madame Black, this stew smells delightful.” He managed. And indeed the steam coming off of the bowl smelled rich and savory, paired with a loaf of bread that was soft to the touch. Reina broke off a piece of her loaf, dipping it daintily into her stew, scooping bits of meat and vegetable into her mouth to sample the meal. Eyebrows climbing her head, she turned to the woman. “This is wonderful! The meat is so tender, what is it?

  The crone chuckled “Family secret I’m afraid deary, if everyone knew what makes my stew so special I’d go out of business!” Theodren ladeled a spoonful of the stew into his mouth, pausing to blow on it first. Leaning back in his chair, he pushed the stew this way and that with his tongue, searching with his vitae for anything that might harm him in the food. His last encounter with Poison had been an educational one and he was not willing to swallow anything that glowed a toxic black before his mind's eye. Deeming it safe, He allowed the bite to pass, warming his stomach as it settled. “Hearty indeed.” he grunted, reaching for his next bite.

  Madame Black grinned. “I could hold the child while you eat. I’m sure it would do you good to have your hands free even for just a moment.” She offered, holding her hands out for the child. Reina’s brows came together in sudden suspicion, the hand holding Theviana held her tighter to Reina’s chest. “Oh don’t worry deary, I’ve held many children in my day!” The old woman crooned. In truth Reina’s back and arms ached from carrying the child so close for so long. Surely just a moment of reprieve while she ate was no crime. Removing Theviana from the sling on her chest, she hesitantly handed the babe over to the woman who smiled all the wider.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  The relative calm of the inn was shattered the moment Madame Black’s hands touched the child. Theviana let out an ear piercing wail at the woman’s touch. The babe’s arms flailed and she kicked in protest. Reina snatched the child away, pulling Theviana back into her arms to soothe the screaming child. Theodren’s attention was pulled away from Reina and Theviana when he felt an almost atmospheric shift in the Vitae around him. He looked back at the innkeeper, where before was a matronly smile now seethed a vicious scowl of disgust. Sensing his eyes on her, the dark expression was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “Some children really can’t abide anyone but their mothers it seems.” she said with a sardonic chuckle.

  “Yes, she needs her mother.” murmured Reina as she rocked Theviana in her arms, soothing the hiccuping sobs that came from her tiny mouth. “I think I’ll get you both some tea.” she offered, turning around and shuffling off to the kitchen before either of them could refuse.

  Theodren looked back at Reina. “What was that?” he asked. “I don’t know, but I don’t like her, and neither does Thevi.” She hissed. Theodren nodded. Something was wrong with this place. He could not shake the sense that there was a danger here that he was not seeing. He pushed his Vitae out further. Probing deeper into the Inn than he could see with his eyes.

  Madame black re-emerged from the kitchen with two mugs on a tray. “My famous Blue Rose Tea! just the thing you poor dears need to relax after a long journey on the road.” She placed the cups down on the table in front of them. Black earthenware mugs filled with a milky blue tea that swirled lazily in the cup, topped with a blue rose just like the one above the door to the inn. “Now don’t waste a drop! and when you’re done I’ll take you up to your room.” She looked down at Theodren, whose eyes had not moved from her since she had returned from the kitchen. “Everything alright dear?” Theodren shook himself. “Ah, no, I was just wondering if the other guests would be joining us.” She chuckled. “I’m afraid we’re alone here dear, You’re the only guests I have in this place.” She said, walking away toward the stairs.

  “She’s lying.” Whispered Theodren. Reina leaned in closer to him. “How can you tell?” His eyes turned to the floor beneath their feet. “Our souls aren’t the only ones here.” Her brows shot up at that. “You can see them? Where?”

  He nodded. “There are eight of them, down in the basement and three aren’t moving.” She looked down at the bowl of stew. “Do you think Madame Black put something in the food?” Theodren shrugged his shoulders. “Or Maybe the tea.” he guessed, searching for anything still active within the brew. There within the tea was a sickly blue vitae swirling along with the current in the Tea. “Don’t drink it, there’s something alive in it, something from the rose.” He hissed, the souls in the basement worried him, he wanted to investigate but he would not endanger Reina or the baby to do it.

  Reina looked down into her mug. “Alive?” She dipped her finger into the drink, stirring it. Theodren watched as the lazy blue energy soaked into her finger, leaving the drink entirely. “That was…” Her eyes began to flutter, interrupting her sentence with sudden exhaustion. “Reina!” he hissed, grabbing her hand, shoving Vitae into her skin as quickly as he could before she passed out completely. Her eyes flew open. “Ow!” she snapped back to awareness, rubbing her hand where Theodren had touched her, a tiny red mark left behind by the heat of the Vitae flooding into her. “You fell asleep.” He whispered. She shuddered. “But did it work?” Theodren looked back down at her tea. No longer swimming with the sluggish blue energy he saw before, he nodded. “Should be.” She handed him the mug. “Here. Now let me do the other one.” Theodren nodded, placing a hand on hers, clearing the poison as quickly as she consumed it.

  Both mugs clear of poison, They drank it quickly, finishing just as the Madame landed on the last step. “Wonderful you finished your tea! Now if you’ll follow me, I’ve got a room all set for you two.” Theodren and Reina stood to follow her, single file up the narrow stairs. As Theodren stared into her vitae, he realized he had never seen a soul so black.