With a final downward slash, Izzabelle slices through the chest of the final beast. Blood sprays across her face, and chest, as she fall to her knees. One of the beasts had bitten into her upper arm, where it connects to her left shoulder earlier. It had torn through the flesh, muscles, and tendons, ripping the arm from the socket. The effected arm now hung limply from her shoulder, held there by strips of flesh, tendons and sinew. The acidic saliva of the beasts still ate away at Izzabelle’s flesh and muscles. Hissing in pain she swears under her breath as she forces the acidic poison out of her body. Once done she activates her crimson vial, along with her Felblood healing. She screams as her arm is popped back into the socket. Going into stealth mode she slowly makes her way through the twisted labyrinth.
Izzabelle heats Sericon’s voice but she cannot see him. Still in stealth mode she moves as fast as she can, heading toward the sound of his voice. After a few minutes she comes to a dead-end. Turning around to head back all she sees is a wall with an old decrepit door, hanging out rusty hinges. From behind the door she can hear indistinguishable mumbles, and the sound of dripping water. As there’s no way to go other than through the door she pushes it open. What lies before her, is a long empty corridors, the iron walls are covered in rust, and muddy water seems to run down off of them, and pools out onto the floor. As far as Izzabelle can see, there’s no other doors, and the corridor seems to go on forever. Carefully placing one foot into the room, Izzabelle checks the sturdiness of the floor. Finding it solid she steps into the room. Izzabelle takes two steps when the door slams shut, the floor vanishes out from under her feet. She uses her Aranasi abilities to try and shoot webs to grab the walls. But there’s nothing there but a dark abyss, an abyss that quickly claims her mind.
Izzabelle’s eyes snap open, she looks around her, there’s something familiar about this place. She is laying in a bed, wearing an oversized shirt, and sleep shorts. It takes her a moment to realize that she isn’t alone. Panicking she reaches for her daggers but they aren’t there. Letting out a startled yelp, she backs up and falls off the side of the bed. Where was she, why was it familiar, where was Sericon, Master Isaik, Salkeen, Jericha. She is about to scream when a familiar face appears. “Are you okay Izzy, didn’t I warn you before drinking, that it was extremely potent.” Izzabelle looks up and blinks… “Ccccc Captain…” Izzabelle stutters looking up into Captain’s eyes. Holding his hands out he reaches for her. “Who else would be in his room, come lets get you up off the floor.” He says. Izzabelle shakes her head and backs away further, unsure what to think, or do. Captain looks down at her and sighs, “The alcohol might have been a little to much for you, did you have a bad dream?” He asks concern lacing his voice. Izzabelle looks up, and looks around, it’s Captain’s room, and he looks and sounds like Captain. She had drunken experimental alcohol, perhaps all of what happened, had only been a delusional dream. She carefully reaches out for Captains hands, as she does, he grabs hold of her and pulls her up onto the bed. He pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly against him.
Sobbing Izzabelle buries her face into his chest, “It was horrible I was turned into some awful looking monster.” She gasps out breathlessly. She feels Captain’s hands rubbing her back as he pulls her closer, and then pain. Stabbing, burning, horrific pain, she goes to speak but no sound comes forth. Blood bubbles out of her mouth and spilling down over her chin and neck. She collapses onto the bed… but there is no bed… or Captain… Instead she is looking into the hate filled eyes of the Gnome who raised her, the one whom, she had called Father for the better part of her life. Izzabelle chokes on more blood as he pulls his blades from her back. “Die you hideous monster” he shouts driving his blades down into her a second time. Izzabelle tries to roll out of the way, but blood loss has left her weak. She barely manages to get her Crimson Vial working before he rips his blades free… Still choking up blood she barely manages to speak… “Father…please…it’s… Izza…” The Gnome screams in rage and starts stabbing her multiple times. Puncturing through, flesh muscles, and organs. “You monster, you are no daughter of mine, you are a beast, that must be put down.” He grabs her by the hair and pulls her head up and forces her to look behind her. There scattered about the room, torn to pieces, and partially eaten, are the rest of her extended family. Izzabelle looks down at her bloated stomach, at the blood covering her body, and screams… everything vanishes and she finds herself sitting in Jericha’s estate in the ghostlands.
When Sericon rounds the corner he will find that Izzabelle is being, pulled down beneath the earth. Wrapped around the back of her head, is a familiar squid like creature that has thousands of tendrils buried into her brain.