looking for heaven found the devil in me; anaxarete

[Rodrik]

The ancient giants reach up to the heavens, stretching out their hands for something, whether it was a god or curiosity it did not matter. These tree were gods themselves among the small and insignificant creatures that lived within them. A great power holds in them, and that is perhaps why Rodrik has come to love the Chamber. He has always looked upon the great pine forest with admiration, knowing that these trees have never seen defeat before (not even a fire or volcano could take them down). A familiar thick fog intertwines itself through the giants. There is a deep eeriness among the forest as it is ever but still. It is frightening place; the Chamber never ceases to leave a haunting feeling on someone that visits these trees. Rodrik had once feared the land itself, knowing the stories and what this kingdom held, but within time he had accepted the kingdom (or maybe it had accepted him and once made him a king). Now it welcomed him back for the monster he truly was – the devil himself. He listens in the stillness, the silence ever long today (but it is always so dreadfully quiet like this). The red demon lets his gaze cross over the fog, small glimpses of the trees and vegetation shift as the fog slowly moves. He gives a quick swift of his tail before moving forward through the mist. Rodrik flares his nostrils softly as he makes his way across the kingdom. It is the familiar scent that he moves towards and soon enough finds the dark dappled mare. Maybe it was even the essence of life itself – the strength of her old soul – that he found his way to her. It was a deep hunger that yearned within him. He craved to fill such a hunger that simply dictated his entire existence now. Rodrik simply needed to feed on the soul of another, but it was not easily obtained as it once had been. Then again, many things have changed since he has seen the magician. The red monster is simply not the same in mind and physique. Rodrik is strung together by bones and muscles now. Cartilage, ligaments and tendons are the only thing that hold the monster together. Rotted flesh hangs in strips and patches all over his body. There are few patches of his once bright chestnut coat scattered, but they are ragged and scuffed into one huge mess. “There are no fires here for you to put out,” he says with a malice grin and his eyes gleam with the familiar mischief in them (but his eyes are hollowed and lifeless now, hunger only fills his eyes). “It has been too long, Anaxarete.” He had been a king then, now he was something quite different.

Rodrik

angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become devils

character info: here | character reference: here | image © uribaani