Askeron

[nox74]

Waterdeep, the garden of a rich merchant family, midnight



"Is it you Melissa ?"
"Yes my love, who else ? But please hush !"
"I know, I know, your dad doesn't like people belonging to.."
"Don't you have anything better to do than complaining about something we had discuss over and over ?" said the young woman with a pleasant smile.
"Melissa, I just want you to know that I'm doing really good at the Arcane Academy, my mentor is very pleased, you'll see I'll be a famous wizard and I'm sure that enchanting artifacts, weapons and armor will make us rich !"
"I don't care about the money, Askeron, you know what really matters to me"
"Well you don't care, but your family would..."
"Would you waste all our time ? Tomorrow I'll have to wake up early my father has an important caravan departing and he wants me with him"
"Sssssh, steps.." Melissa suddenly turns, moves behind a roses bush cutting her finger with a splint "oh wait it's just the cat".
"Oh look I hate to get hurt, even in such a light way"
Askeron gently smiles as his fingertip touches Melissa, a glowing red light sparks for a second and the blood drop turns into a ruby.
"Askeron !" she screams and soon after she covered her mouth with her hand knowing that it came out really too loud.
*Noises from the mansion*
"Get away, get away ! hurry !"
"When you will back, Melissa, when ?"
"Next week, next week ! Move"
The light of more than a candle inside the mansion hinted the approaching of her father as a thoughtful Melissa tried to find a good excuse for all that noise.
"Just seven days" mumbled Askeron.
But a different fate was forged for them.
During the travel the caravan was attacked by a horde of marauding bugbears, mercenaries hired to protect the merchants were easily overcame, Melissa and her father were slained by the greedy monsters.
Askeron couldn't stand such a tragedy, consumed by the unbearable pain his mind slipped in the foggy realm of madness a blasphemous thought began to hammer his brain: to bring back Melissa to life thru the dark arts of necromancy.
He waited for the right opportunity to break into the Academy and steal every book which could have been useful to his task.
For an entire week, without touching food or water just pushed by the strength of his insane desire, Askeron practiced every sort of black ritual on dead rats. The outcome wasn't always successful, sometimes the rats just exploded or they were turned to dust, others were brought back to life just for a few minutes before quickly decaying into a bloody pulp.
His obsession grew stronger, so he decided that time was come for the last experiment.
"Tonight is the night".
So, eight days after her funeral, Askeron profaned her tomb during the night, only a silent full moon stood as a witness.
The corpse, even if overall in good state, started to show signs of corruption, but those "details" were out of reach for his twisted mind.
Once again Askeron caressed the beloved face, the once ruby lips. With his eyes full of tears and the grasp of despair on his heart he performed the black ritual, Melissa was brought back to life.
As she opened here eyes Askeron felt inebriated by his achievements, master of life and death that was how he felt, but now he had to face the unexpected.

"Melissa, it's me Askeron, my love we... " suddenly he stopped. Her expression was desperate, she wasn't able to talk, no matter how much she tried only some terrifying guttural sound came out of her mouth. An abomination, that was just what she become. Frantically, with desperate gestures she begged Askeron to leave her to the endless sleep.
"How you dare to challenge my will ? I brought you back to life !"
Melissa begged on her knees, with moans that could freeze the blood of the most courageous warrior, tearing herself apart.
"Hush !"
Blinded by wrath Askeron ignited his own hand setting on fire the once beautiful body of Melissa. Consumed by the flames the mortal spoils finally found peace.
Exactly in that moment, deep inside a mountain cave, a cheerful bugbear had his smile turned into a surprised grimace: the ruby he was wearing as a necklace had suddenly turned into
a drop of blood....