The Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Previous Instalments:
- The Imperium Chronicles: The Crete Disaster – Surviving the Imperium: Morgan’s Escape and Redemption
Coming From the Shadows
The Imperium Chronicles: Aftermath
Back Ground:
Since 1905; William Smythe has waged a secretive war against the Imperium – an organisation that operated from the shadows as a unifying voice of various Cultist groups, each seeking their own goals, but all serving one objective; the Discovery and Freedom of their Ancient Celestial Master – an being of Great Power.
A potential discover in Crete had eld to George Smythe – William’s father – leading his Cultists; the Cult of the Minotaur to seek out an Ancient Temple hidden within the depths a mountainous cave.
In 1905; William had chosen to betray his father; Geroge, George had made plans to sacrifice his own daughter; Lydia – it was a choice that left William feeling a profound sense of betrayal, if George was willing to kill his own children, who would be next if he was allowed to murder Lydia – William destroyed the Smythe Estate; nearly destroying his fathers influence within the Imperium and nearly crushing his Business Empire.
Since then; William organised and led his own war; building a network – similar to his Step-Mother; Cathryn, a woman who had been a long thorn in the side of the Imperium’s activities, only, William took it further.
At some point, his allies would acquire a Dreadnought – connections with Military support of their activities become more common, using the Dreadnought; William organised the first critical strike in 1908 against an Imperium facility along the Burmese Coast – it led to the British Army occupying the facility under the belief it was a local rebellion, but, it served a significant purpose – it revealed the Imperium’s inability to fight against Imperial might, its operatives lacking the training to fight effectively against trained military forces.
Fast forwarding to 1911; the discovery of an Ancient Temple led to William’s plan being put into action – he would make his act of rebellion known, he had acquired the support needed; and using the Dreadnought’s range, ordered the bombardment of the mountainside from the Port of Heraklion – the destruction was devasting, the Cult of the Minotaur had suffered greatly.
Introduction:
18th of December, 1911 A.D.
The Privately owned Dreadnought; a steel Leviathan, rested within the tranquil port of Heraklion; plumes of smoke where like a dark smudge against the azure sky as they billowed from the distant mountain peak – a testament of modern naval power.
The air crackled with the scent of burnt rock and something far more sinister; crowds nearby had begun staring towards the billowing clouds of smoke while aboard the Dreadnought; the crew scurried around, their movements precise and efficient as they prepared the ship for departure – their boots echoing from the decks from the rhythmic movement.
More men; grim-faced and weary from their recent fight finally began to trickle aboard the ship; a tall figure also emerged alongside them; William – he didn’t cast a second look back, his face was a mask of cold resolve, he was nothing like he had once been, the once-loyal son had long since disappeared.
As he boarded the Dreadnought he gave only a simple single command to leave; while he, clearly becoming more and more distracted by his thoughts separated from his crew and men, instead, making his way below to his cabin.
With a shudder; the steel Leviathan began to move – it pulled from the port to begin setting off on its journey to leave Crete, to leave behind a legacy of destruction.
Chapter 1:
The rhythmic thrum of the engines vibrated throughout the steel Leviathan; a constant, unsettling pulse that mirrored William’s inner-turmoil; he was sat alone within his cabin, a flickering lamplight casting dancing shadows – the sea outside churned, dark and a roiling expanse that echoed the internal storm, he tried to focus on the mission at hand, the dismantling of his father’s Cult and the Imperium, but…, a Ghost lingered, it refused to be silenced.
Cathryn – his Step-Mother; she had been a fierce Anti-Cultist, struggled and toiled for years, only to end up living as a Domestic-Slave to his father for 12-Years from the age of 17 to 22; she had been broken down, only after his fathers cruel decision to forcibly separate her from her twin daughters was she granted a chance to rebuild her life; and five-years following that, William had caused the destruction of his fathers Estate; in 1905, he had effectively liberated Lydia, Cathryn’s youngest twin-daughter – she was reunited with Cathryn by William’s actions.
Despite her fierce determination though; during those events at the Temple within that mountainous cave; William couldn’t believe she would be willing to still try and save him despite everything he had done; so, he sacrificed Cathryn for what her perceived to be a greater good.
It was a brutal calculation to eliminate his father; he purposely stood on Cathryn’s hand while she had clung to that crater caused by the bombardment and subsequent collapse of the internal chamber, the Temple had been destroyed, chaos had been completely unleashed with the Dreadnoughts devastating firepower.
She had let go under the pressure of William’s foot as it threatened to break her fingers; he watched her fall – then, his memories clicked to Lydia’s response; her face was a picture of horror, contorted with rage and grief – that look now haunted him.
Then, the memory of the gunshot – the bullets whizzing past him, the raw, unadulterated scream that ripped from her throat, it now continued to echo in his mind – he’d seen her in her desperate desire to kill him.
He closed his eyes, pressing his fingers against his temples as if to physically push the memories away; they were relentless, a constant barrage of condemnation “It was necessary” he muttered, the words barely audible
“He had to die; she was collateral…, if she had helped him back up…, if he had survived…, no, I made the right choice; Cathryn had a choice, I told her to let him go or to fall with him” he argued with himself; trying to convince himself
The crew meanwhile worked absently of William’s inner-turmoil; going about their jobs with practised efficiency, they were all united in a common purpose; the eradication of the Imperium and its insidious control, to stop the return of their Dark Celestial Master.
Chapter 2:
December, 1911 A.D.
Mersin, Ottoman Empire
Days later; the steel Leviathan sliced through the waters of the Turkish Port of Mersin, it’s formidable present drawing curious glances from onlookers; the Ships arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed.
As William began to disembark; a man emerged from the throngs of dockworker, his face etched with concern “William” he greeted; extending his hand forwards “I’m Abdülaziz; we received word of your success in Crete; we’re grateful for your actions against George Smythe”
William shook his hand, his grip was firm, but fleeting “The temple is also destroyed, I believe though something did escape, but; Smythe at least, is dead”
Abdülaziz nodded slowly; his eyes scanning William’s face “But.., at what cost?”
Before William could respond; a second figure emerged, stepping from the shadows of the nearby warehouse; he was older, a weathered face and piercing gaze; this was Silas; a veteran Anti-Cultist, a man known for his insightful mind and unwavering resolve “Welcome William” Silas said, his voice a low rumble “I sense a storm brewing within you; shall we take a walk my friend?”
William hesitated but nodded; he needed to talk, to unburden himself, even if only to a seasoned warrior like Silas.
The two strolled along the bustling waterfront; a cacophony that created a massive different to the sombre mood between them; Silas listened to William as he recounted the events in Crete; his voice was flat, devoid of emotion as he described Cathryn’s fall and Lydia’s reaction
“I forced her to fall; to her death” he said “All to kil him; Lydia watched it unfold, she watched everything that happened, she will never forgive me for this, I have severed all chances of working with her in the future” William let out a long sigh “She was right to shoot at me”
Silas stopped walking as his gaze fixed on William “You made a difficult decision William; it will haunt you, there is no doubt; but this is a war we are fighting, the Cultists will show no hesitation, they wont show mercy; Smythe was a cancer that had to be excised, and unfortunately, sometimes those we don’t want to suffer, do suffer, it is a consequence of having little or no options” he observed William carefully “Are you certain she is dead?”
“I watched her fall; there was no way she would survive the drop within that crater, she is gone” William confirmed
Silas placed his hand gently onto William’s shoulder “It is hard, I know; but, we must adjust our strategy; if Lydia will no longer be an option to support us due to this, perhaps Elizabeth may still be an option; the older twin has proven skilled in manipulation, perhaps not as useful as Lydia’s raw skill in fighting, but, manipulation is as useful as anything else”
Chapter 3:
19th of December, 1911 A.D.
Crete
A few days earlier; back on the Island of Crete.
The sun had begun to rise; painting the sky in hues of pale gold and rose; within the modest little lodging house tucked away near the mountain, along the road towards Heraklion; Cathryn lay asleep in a small, sparely furnished room, her face pale; her brow furrowed in pain, her long, raven-dark hair, with some visible grey streaks was a mess scattered around her face and pillow; her silvery-grey eyes hidden behind her closed eyes – her body still reeling from the previous day, it had taken a heavy toll on her; while not visible, bruising had begun to darken her skin around her shoulder where she had severely torn the muscle when she had stopped her fall within the crater.
In the next room; Morgan – Morgan had saved her after discovering her climbing out from the crater when he had gone to investigate the explosions he had witnessed, unaware of what had caused them or what had even happened – but, he remembered Cathryn, and she remembered him.
Their history; stretched back to 1909 in Lombardy – he had saved Cathryn from the Italian Cult of the Wolf – despite their age different, Cathryn at the time being in her mid-to-later thirties, while Morgan was only in his mid-twenties, he had been enamoured by her beauty and fierce-spirit, and he had managed to break down Cathryn’s emotional barriers with declarations of what he thought of her and a claim to abandon the Imperium for her – it had worked, led to an intimate moment, but, his upbringing would override his initial feelings – when she had displayed confusion and emotional vulnerability after their sexual interaction, all of his educational training had kicked in.
He had taken advantage of her; began to manipulate her – tried to turn her passively dependent on him, Cathryn’s past as a domestic-slave, her emotional vulnerabilities and confused state allowed him to easily erode her will, return her back to a submissive role – if it hadn’t been for Lydia; he would have succeeded in his original goal – but, his encounter with George near Saint-Maurice allowed for Cathryn’s escape with her twin daughters and adopted daughter; even Morgan’s own sister – Morgan suffered the consequences of George’s possessive anger, tortured in an Imperium prison.
It had changed Morgan.
Now at 28, with Cathryn at 38; he had once again come to her rescue after discovering her – though he had changed significantly from their last interaction; while harder and more ruthless; his own time within an Imperium prison also made him more empathetic; to discover the woman he really did have feelings for in such a vulnerable state once again, it allowed for a softer side to come forwards.
Now, as she rested; Morgan quietly moved around with purpose; the scent of frying onions and herbs drifted from the small stove; it created a comforting aroma that wafted through the air, he was meticulous in his meal preparation – a simple breakfast, his movement precise and deliberate.
He glanced towards the window a moment; captivated by the tranquillity of the unfolding morning scene before him, a smile curving his lips.
His attention returned back to the task at hand; he wanted to ensure Cathryn received nourishment to aid in her recovery – as he finished, a soft groan echoed from the bedroom, it drew his attention; Cathryn was awake.
Morgan paused, his hand hovered over the plate of food; he felt a surge of conflicting emotions; relief and anxiety; though, there was also a deep regret; taking a deep breath he steeled himself before moving and gently knocking on the door “Cathryn?” he said, his voice soft – slowly he opened the door.
Cathryn lay propped against the pillows, her eyes were wide with a mix of wariness and confusion; she looked at Morgan, her expression was clear – she didn’t know what to make of him, she recognised he wasn’t the same, but their history dictated she needed to be careful of him
The tension was thick; neither of them spoke for a moment, simply watched one another carefully.
Morgan then turned; he disappeared momentarily and then came back with a plate of food; approaching and placing it down on the bedside table, he hesitated, then turned to leave again “Morgan?” Cathryn’s voice was weak; but firm, he stopped to look at her, her eyes softened “Would…, you join me?” she asked; her voice barely a whisper
Morgan watched her carefully; slowly, he nodded; his own expression was of surprise; he was expecting anger, resentment; perhaps even fear – he had not expected an invitation.
He thought for a moment; he weighed the options; he could refuse, retreat back into the shadows and allow her to recover in peace; but, at the same time – he still wanted to be near her, there was a desire for redemption; he was compelled to accept “If you’re sure” he said; his voice hesitant, but Cathryn nodded
Disappearing again; he returned with his own plate; he gently sat himself down on the edge of the bed; he was careful to not disturb her – the two ate in silence, the only sounds were of the gentle clinking of forks against the plates; though Cathryn finally broke the silence “This…, is good” she said, her tone hinting at genuine surprise “You’re good at cooking” she let a slight smile gently curve her lips for a moment
A faint smile also flickered across Morgan’s face “Thank you” he said; his voice softer than usual; he was relieved and gratified to see her appreciation – he wanted to make sure she was well taken care of, and knowing his efforts made her feel somewhat better was more reward than any victory
The silence would return; though it felt different – it was a silence filled with a fragile understanding, a tentative bridge across a chasm of their past, and as the sun climbed, casting a warm glow; a new promise was building – he didn’t know what to expect next, but, he wanted to atone at the very least.
Written By: Westley H.
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