The Carnival of the Damned

In the grip of unseen nightmares and hellish dreams, Rose tossed and turned in agonized torture. Try as she might, it proved impossible to escape from sleep's iron fetters. The darkness in her mind only intensified in it's pitch, the cut of her cheek stinging to further aid in her invisible agonies. Something was terribly amiss, and in the corners of her unconscious state she could feel it. Her mind was unraveling, thoughts frozen in a steep descent that could only slip into the abyss that was madness.

It was here that the dream came. A dark vision creeping like a thick fog to wrap around the legs and cling to the earthen floor before rapidly consuming it's chosen victim.

The mare whirled about in that darkness, neither sleeping nor waking as she stared into the grim void of her mind. Slowly a hollow voice began to resound nearby as two orbs of green flame made their presence known. A familiar haunting melody of a music box began to play in time with the strange entity's approach, echoing in the fathomless distance.

"Well, well... It seems we meet again, Miss Rose. Fate must have seen fit to bind you to me without my knowledge. Or perhaps it is better said that we share a common path in our destinies. Either way, it is more than coincidence that brings me to you this night." The green eyes glimmered, the rest of the unicorn becoming visible as the span between them decreased. She easily recognized the chill tone, as well as the sneer that seemed to accompany it at the other's arrival. Mortis.

"You..." She glared, immediately on her guard before the necromancer as she fought to stay above the influence of the music box.

"Once again you lack the means to escape from me. Even in the arms of unconscious thought you try to evade me, though I shall continue to pursue. Are you prepared to surrender yet, or will we keep playing this pointless game to the ends of time?" He tilted his head in a mocking question.

The dagger's mark upon her cheek stung all the more, and she moved a hoof to cover it. A difficult task. It felt as though her hooves were weighed down, slow to respond to her wishes. "Wh-what have you done? A normal scratch would have healed by now, especially with Apothecarium's care."

The unicorn clucked his tongue in mild disapproval, shaking his head in the fashion of a teacher scolding a student. "Tsk, tsk. Normal is the key to that statement, flower. Remember, you are not in a land considered to be normal by any stretch of the word. Especially when compared to your precious Everfree."

"Then what is it?" She backed away as best as her legs would allow, fearing the worst from the necromancer. "Poison? Is that it?! If I die, you lose your fount of blood. Will you risk that?"

Mortis chuckled. "Not all poison results in instantaneous death, my dear. Yet I wonder...what is the more wicked? Is it better to let a victim perish into the merciful numbness of the grave's embrace, or to watch them suffer in pain for an eternity? My particular brand of poison is mostly the latter. It will not kill, at least not quickly or in the conventional terms." He put a thoughtful hoof to his chin. "How can I best explain this...? Ah, picture this if you will." The stallion moved forward to approach Rose, the latter still struggling to gain control over her leaden hooves. "A healthy flower, beautiful and full of life, is placed in the same planter as a common weed. The flower may continue to thrive for some time, but not without suffering for it. You see, as the flower grows so too shall the other. A weed by nature will entangle it's roots with that of the blossom, drawing all sustenance as it slowly wraps itself about the base." He paced in an ever narrowing circle around her in example, chuckling as he continued his train of thought. "An agonized rose, the last of it's life being suffocated by an outside force. She may continue to exist in such pain both in waking and in slumber, yet soon enough the madness and thoughts of the end will completely ensnare the mind. Will you suffer for eternity or end it by your own hoof. These are the only options." He paused to let this sink in, grinning as he loomed closer. "Or...If the flower is wise, she may attempt to bargain with the weed in exchange for life. What would you say is the correct choice in this scenario?"

Regaining a bit of energy from the adrenaline of anger, she stepped away from the close proximity of the other and shook her head. A glare of disgust leveled at the other's proposition.

"B-Bargain? With the likes of you? Never-AH!" A small cry escaped from her while the words were still fresh on her tongue. Rose grit her teeth as the pain of her cheek continued to burn, scorching past the abrasion to flow through her veins in torture.

Mortis shrugged nonchalantly, moving away from the mare to become a dim shade in the distant blackness of her mind.

"Suit yourself, if that is your decision. Though I cannot help but wonder how much pain you are able to take?" A peal of dark laughter. "All in all, I do hope to be around to see you pass it's boundaries. A descent into madness is always a treat to witness, even more so for the one who has caused it in the first place." He turned back to face her once more, grinning as he dipped into a low bow of departure. "Though, if you do decide that your life is worth living after all, keep my offer in mind. I'll keep close by just in case. Know this: there is but one antidote to the toxin, and I have it. Oh, and pleasant dreams to you, Miss Rose."

With a sinister cackle, the unicorn vanished into the darkness of Rose's mind as another wave of pain swept through her. All through this the mesmeric song of the music box's kept a firm hold, furthering a slip into the shadows.

...

Eyes snapping open, Rose bolted upright in her chamber's bed. Her chest ached for breath as the venomous wound continued to sting without remorse. She moved to rise, getting to her hooves and stepping to examine the pained marking in a nearby mirror. The bandage from Apothecarium's care had slipped sometime during her fitful repose and the cut had become larger, forming an angry red scar beneath the left eye. A small trickle of blood continued to stream from the incision, and she was certain that the bed sheets bore stains from it.

The mare felt a twinge of guilt, remembering how the Lord Blood had fled upon the sight of the open gash. She couldn't face him like this, nor could she stand to watch him run from her again.

It was with a heavy heart that she realized her only hope lie in acceptance to the necromancer's deal. One that she would be loathe to make under any other circumstances. The constant pain of the poison continued, prompting her further in decision as she could not think with such an agonizing infliction. There was only one path from this point and it led directly to Mortis. Rose took a sharp breath to steady her resolve, tossing a cloak from the nearby dresser about her shoulders to ward of the unnatural chill that swept through her.

"Blood...please forgive me..."

...

"I swear to you, Apothecarium. Something was not right. The wound, there was a scent to it. Some strange lingering stench beneath the fragrance of her blood. Are you certain you did not see anything out of the ordinary when you were bandaging the infliction?" Ancient Blood searched the eyes of the physician in earnest as they slowly progressed to the door of Rose's chambers. The white unicorn shook his head.

"Upon my word, Lord. I saw nothing unusual to the injured area save perhaps signs of possible infection." They paused outside the room, Blood turning to fully face the other.

"You are positive? You would be prepared to stake your life on it?"

Such an inquiry caused Apothecarium to lower his head, eyes to the floor as he searched for a fitting response. "I-I mean...it is possible that I have missed something...but I was sure to administer medicine to the area in question. If infection was present, it would have been removed in short order."

The crimson unicorn glowered, turning his gaze to the chamber's entrance in sullen contemplation. "Very well. Continue to assist the guards in their search for the escaped prisoner as well as for the fleeing circus troupe. Too many circumstances have gone awry of late, and I will not stand for further incompetence on behalf of my kingdom. Do I make myself clear?" He waved a hoof in dismissal, and the servant bowed.

"Y-yes, sir. At once."

Blood watched him leave, taking a moment to compose himself before giving a soft tap to the door of the mare's room. "Miss Rose?" His voice softened from the previous tones of harshness, guilt plaguing him from the actions in the great hall. "Pardon my interruption. I wish for a word with you." The ensuing silence only furthered his remorse, and he let his formality slip to the concerned tones of a close acquaintance. "Rose...please allow me to speak frankly. The events in the great hall, for such you have my utmost apologies. I had allowed the thirst for blood to become much too great to handle. Even one such as I cannot control it for all eternity, and your blood...your blood in particular holds a lingering sweetness to it. I was not myself, and could not take such a chance. If something had happened to you, if I had gone so far as to cause you harm...especially after..." he cringed, eloquence failing him as painful remembrance payed in his mind's eye. "...please forgive me for such improper action." Drawing himself fully upright, he moved forward to open the door, slowly entering the midst of the chambers.

"Rose, I have kept my silence for far too long. I must tell you that I..." The words died away as soon as he became better accustomed to the room's lighting.

The single still flickering candle gave enough light to bring the room into dim shadows. A window stood open at the far wall, but the chamber itself was empty.

...