011 - The Strange Tale of Griffin Shard - Chapter Four

Rufio read the words that had scrawled across the parchment. This was surely more madness spewing from the vile mouth of this Griffin Shard. God was almighty. He could not be killed and certainly not by whatever dark master Shard worshipped.

“It is true, Rufio. I do apologize for having to be the one to tell you. Your God is dead and mine has taken his place.

“I have endured your blasphemy far too long. This madness is over.” Rufio flung the quill from his hand. It stopped in mid air.

“I shall be the one to tell you when this madness is at its end, Rufio.”

Shard twitched his hand and the quill flew back towards Rufio. It pierced through the back of his hand and forced itself through until the tip burst from his palm.

Rufio howled in pain and grabbed his wrist.

“Keep writing, Rufio.”

Tears were streaming down Rufio’s face. The quill twitched and began mobbing across the parchment. Rufio wept in pain as the quill moved in his hand.

“The Father of Lies they call him. He has set his children on their paths. I have served him well and for my dedication I was rewarded with great power. There are others, some much older, some pre-human. There is even a woman out there who kills in the name of vengeance. She does not even realize that she is killing for him.” Shard laughs, “She has taken it upon herself to end the Holy Bloodline. Difficult work that is.”

My hunger took me all across this world. At last I settled here. My only regret is that I did not have better control over my…needs. I was discovered and here I lay now awaiting death to claim me. I have lived a hundred lives, Rufio, and to be honest, I am not quite ready for that to end.”

Rufio was in too much pain to respond.

Shard leaned forward and ripped the quill out of his hand. Rufio shrieked in pain.

“I have picked up many skills in my lifetime.” Shard grabbed Rufio’s hand and held it tightly between his palms. Rufio felt a searing heat spread over his hand. Shard released him and his hand was healed.

“I can give life just as quickly as I can take it away.” Shard leaned back in his bed, “There is another gift I possess. It is perhaps my greatest gift and the one that has proven to be the most useful in all my years.”

Rufio rubbed his hand, “Then perhaps you should get one last use of it before death comes to take you back to your master!”

“Why thank you for that permission, Mr. Rufio. You are a most accommodating man.”

Shard launched himself forward and locked his hands around Rufio’s head with a vice like grip. Rufio tried to push him off but this frail old man was too powerful.

“This shall not hurt a bit.” Shard hissed.

Rufio could not answer. The world seemed to melt away around him. His body shook once and he succumbed to the coming black.

* * *

His daughter was waiting for him when Rufio arrived home a short time later.

She smiled up at him lovingly and he patted her on the head. He returned her smile.

“You should be in bed.” He said.

“I wanted to wait for you.” Alouisa said.

“Very well, you’ve waited and I am home now. Off to bed. It will be morning quite soon.”

Alouisa ran to him and hugged him tightly, “I love you.”

“And I you.”

She walked towards the stairs, “Good night, Father.”

“Good night, Alicia.”

Alouisa paused at the stairs for a moment. Had he called her the wrong name? It was very late perhaps she was tired and misheard or perhaps he was tired and misspoke.

“Alouisa, off to bed!” Rufio called.

She nodded and trotted up stairs.

* * *
Griffin Shard awoke with a cough. He wiped a blob of blood from his lips and looked at it curiously. He heard something rustling next to him and turned to see a young man sitting in the chair next to his bed.

“Who are you?” Shard asked.

The young man, barely past being a boy, looked at him with fear in his eyes.

“I am not to speak to you.”

“Don’t be silly. I am a gentleman and you would be rude to decline speaking with me.”

Shard looked around the room.

“Why am I…” He looked down at his bed clothes, at his old wrinkled hands, “Dear God!”

The young man jumped from his chair and backed away from the bed.

“What has he done to me?” Shard screamed, “You! Boy! Help me! What has he done??!!”

“Pl-please sir. Calm yourself.”

“You do not understand. I am Reginald Rufio! He has stolen my body!”

There was a madness in his eyes that terrified the young man. This was his first shift watching the dying man and he had not been properly prepared for such an outburst.

“Please! Please help me!”

The young man fled.
Rufio howled in misery and flung back the blanket. His bare legs were brittle and riddled with sores. He attempted to move his legs but they would not budge.

“MY FAMILY! SHARD YOU BASTARD!”

The tears would not cease and his heart shattered. The old body could not take the stress of this pain. He screamed out the name of his wife and of his daughter and as these words passed his lips, the last breath of life passed with him.

* * *
Rufio stepped into the dark bedroom and began to undress. Inside, he himself knew his name. No one would ever know the truth. He tilted his head for a moment, almost sure he could hear some deep howl from a distance.

“Reginald?” His wife had awakened.

“Yes, my dear.” Rufio removed the remainder of his clothing and climbed into bed with his wife, “Good morning my love. I’ve missed you.”

He placed his hand on her face and kissed her.

“Oh yes. How I have missed you.”