Melody Drac story:rewrite

* This is a new version of the previous story. input is appreciated*

Melody 2

The Air was Thick and Muggy. It had a sticky sweet smell to it.

Dawn was breaking but the Night clung to the Walls like a Lover.

Things with no name skittered away from the first rays of dawn, to spread there terror another time.

Somewhere a Dog barked, somewhere a Woman Screamed, somewhere something ancient stirred.

It was a normal Morning in the Town of Socket

Socket. It was a Town of last chances and lost souls. The final stop before the Wastelands.

No one came to Socket because they wanted to. They came because they had no where else to go. Some came to prove them selves, some to escape them selves. Some came to hide, others to seek. Some came because it was the last place on Earth any one would look for them.

Every Year they came to this harsh Town, some stayed, some kept going, many died.

This is the Story of One of those who chose to stay. Her name is Melody Drac.

To all appearances She was just a slip of a Girl, maybe Seven or Eight Years Old. Black Hair in Pigtails and a Dress more suited for Court life then the harsh environment of the Wasteland. It was when you looked in to her Deep Black eyes that you knew she was something else.

Ancient Prophesy’s spoke of a Time when the Dark Elder Gods would send forth their Chosen One to bring about the end of all things.
Melody Drac was that chosen One. She had been raised on an island by members of the Dark Gods Cult as they awaited the end of all Things
Yet when the Time of the Prophesy came, her Dark Elder God “Parents” changed their Minds. The World it seemed would go on.

Abandoned by her Cult and her Creators, the Child was left to fend for her self.
Immortal, trapped in the Body of a Child she had wandered the World since then. She had memories of Oceans, Boats, vast Forests and a terrible Green Fire.

Eventually she had come to Socket, seeking a purpose. A chance to do, well...

“Anything! Just give me something to do Mallik!”

“I have Dishes to be washed, a Floor to be swept and a Box of Horse Shoes to be taken to the Stables. You can do any of those Little Goddess.”

“Aug, that’s not what I meant old man. It's been so dull around hear lately and you always seem to have a bit of trouble that needs doing.”

“ I do not know what you mean, I am but a humble Blacksmith

She stamped her foot.

“Your no more Blacksmith then I am. I'm Bored!”

“Your always Bored Little Goddess, we had this same talk a Week ago.”

“Yes and you gave me something to do”

“If you mean the matter with the Hanged Man and the Missing River Pearls, I only suggested you might look in the hut of Ol' Mama Grim.”

“Yes, see that’s what I mean. That was exciting! I had to fight her pet Giant Snake, damn thing bit a hole in me the size of my Fist!”

“You seem fine to me?”

“I heal fast and bore quickly, I cant help it. Its how I was made. Come On Mallik, I know you have something. It's so bloody hot this season and no one wants to play with me.”

“Did you ever think maybe it's because they don't like the way you Play?”

“If you are referring to the Fire, it was put out. Eventually.”

“It burnt for Three days Melody!”

“I said eventually. Come on Blacksmith, I need something to do!”

“Fine, fine I did hear something just last Night.”

“Go on?”

“You know Qwelip?”

“That huge Guy who does some scavenging in the Waste? Yeah I know him?”

“He set out a Week ago to the Pale Temple on some Mission for Istavan.”

“So, seems like someone in this Town is always doing something for that Wizard.”
“That Wizard is One of the reason you have a place to sleep Girl and don't you forgot it! Anyway, Qwelip was supposed to be back Two days ago, but he's not.”

“I bet Istavan is Mad? I bet Istavan would reward me if I found out what happened to Qwelip .”

“I never said that, I just said he was missing.”

“Thanks Old Man.”

She was off to satisfy her curiosity and boredom. First stop was Qwelip's home, like many of the buildings in Socket it was a mishmash of materiel scavenged over the years from the waste. Stone, wood, iron, bone all placed together to create a home.. Melody knocked on the Wood Door Three times before she broke in, lock picking being One of the many skills She had acquired in her travels.

The home was empty, she spent a few moments searching it but found nothing that could tell her what the scavengers mission was or why he would be missing.

She remembered that Qwelip would always visit Rodgers shop for supply’s and such before heading out on his trips. She went there next, hoping the owner would be willing to help her.

Rodger was a thin man with long stringy hair and an equally unattractive beard. He had come to Socket fleeing an unhappy family life or some such Drama?No one knew for sure and it never paid to be too curious about the pasts of the Towns residents. He made his trade supplying any one foolish enough to enter the Waste with Mules, Food and what ever else the needed. His Mules always came back eventually, but not always with the person they had been sold to.

Rodger, like most of the residents of Socket found Melody unsettling. It was something about the way she never blinked or ate or reminded him of his family. He answered her questions quickly in the hopes she would leave.

“Qwelip's never been late more then an Hour. Two days late? Something bad must have happened to him I guess? To bad, he was a good customer.”

“He went to the Pale Temple?”

“That’s what he said.”

“He do anything or say anything strange before he left, maybe ask you for some unusual supply? Anything that could give me an idea what he was up to?”

“Not that I see it's any of your concern Girl but he did take a few extra coils of rope with him this time. Oh, and some Slave chains. Not sure what he would want with those things?”

That brought a frown to her face. Having been created so to speak to be a slave to the doom cult and her “Parents” Prophesy. The idea of Slavery, of someone being forced to do something against there will was One of the few things she hated in the world! She did not have happy memories of her time with the Cult, or at least she believed them to be her memory’s. She could never truly be sure what parts of her past were real and what were part of her “Parents” design?

“Looks like I will have to just find him my self and ask him, wont I?”

“Wait, you can't go out there by your self! You will need supplies, a guide, weapons!”

“No, I don't need any of that.”

“What are you talking about, your just a child?”

She just grimaced at Rodger , turned and walked away.

Melody did not have a Home in Socket, she really had no need for such things. She kept her few belongings in a Chest hidden near Mallik's blacksmith shop and when she slept it was usually on a roof so she could see the stars.

She left Socket about a Half an Hour latter,. All she brought with her was a Lantern, a few Matches,a hooded cloak and a few rations. Although she had no real need to Eat, drink or even Sleep she was able to do all Three and had developed a fondness for hard boiled eggs and sour candy recently. Her body was able to repair itself from almost any type of damage so she needed no armor. As for Weapons, well her birthright took care of that, she seldom needed anything more then a Blade to defend herself.

Depending on the Weather she guessed the walk to the Pale Temple would take her almost a day. There were no roads in the vast desolation of the waste lands, just a few cobblestones hear and there to remind you that this place was once the home of some lost civilization.

The waste was ancient and full of mysteries, no Two stories about its past were the same but One thing was for sure. It was a harsh, unforgiving place full of the worst horrors the world could spit up. It certainly was no place for a little girl, yet any threat that sensed her chose to avoid her. Perhaps the recognized her as one of there own?

About an hour in to her walk the winds started up, and got worse as time progressed. She was soon being buffeted by winds powerful enough to knock down a tree and the constant assault of the wind born sand was like millions of tiny knifes ripping at her.

It seemed this was as far as she would get as night began to fall and she soon found herself lost and looking for shelter.

It took her a bit but she was able to find the skeleton of some ancient building to hunker down and wait out the storm. She lit her lantern, slid against the corner of a wall and waited.

Soon she sensed she was not alone, something else had sought shelter in the ruins. She waited and watched as the creature approached her, she recognized it as a “Hell Hound”, a Hyena like creature that scavenged the bones of the dead. It was small, maybe no more then a pup. It seemed more curious about her then anything else and she was soon attempting to befriend it.

Eventually she closed her eyes and just sat listening to the sounds of the wind and her companion chewing on bones. She did not sleep, but she could often lose her self in her memories.

A few hours before dawn the Hell Hound started growling at something. Her eyes flew open and she had her Blade in her hand. In the far end of the ruins a child like figure was slowly moving towards her camp. It had long finger nails and teeth and it rags were covered in dried blood.

“A ghoul!”

She moved quicker then someone of her size should, another gift of her origins. Within seconds she had relived the undead child of it's head.

Her canine companion was soon licking at the blood while she investigated the corpse. An undead in the waste was nothing new, but a child? That was interesting?

“Hum, I don’t recognize the child but the blue of it's shirt? I think I’ve seen that before? The tribes men at the White Palm oasis? I think, but that’s days from hear and in the opposite direction?”

The Hell Hound offered no opinion.

She took a hard boiled egg out of her pack and chewed on it as she awaited the dawn.

The weather was calm, almost nice. She could smell the crisp scents of Autumn on the wind,unfortunately winters in the waste were just as bad as summers.

Soon she and her new friend were in sight of the Pale Temple.

The stories go that the Pale Temple was once used as a base of operation's for a order of Holly Knights dedicated to fighting the evil in theses unhallowed lands, sadly like most things in the desolation that was just a story. No one actually knew what the Pale Temple was built for all those years ago? Now it was just another ruin in a land of ruins. An occasional place for Tomb Raiders to seek lost treasures and death.

The Pale Temple was shaped like a large white Dome with only One apparent entrance. The fact that it was still mostly intact was a credit to whoever had built it. As she grew closer Melody began to saw swarms of Fly's hovering over the entrance and within moments of steeping inside the Building the stench assaulted her nose. She was no stranger to things foul and dark but the stench was to much even for her. She backed up and attempted to exit when they fell on her.

Ghouls, dozens of them. Mostly children. Animated by dark magic these shambling undead were known for there speed,stench and there desire to feast on the flesh of the living. Within seconds Melody was bowled over by the mass of grabbing hands and chattering teeth, she herd the hell hound pup cry out and then nothing. Melody was far harder to harm then a normal human of her size but against so many foe's even she could not withstand the onslaught. Pain followed her in to oblivion.

She came to in darkness, pain flooded her awareness. She cried out! It took her a few moments after that for her to get over the sensation and take stock of her situation. She was laying on a stone slab, most likely a sarcophagus in a dark chamber that reeked of Death and Ghouls. Her clothing had been all but ripped from her body and she felt dozens of wounds on her small forum. She was pretty sure she was missing a finger or two and at least One Ear and she imagined she looked like so much carved meat. Thankfully she was a fast healer and even as she lay there she could sens her Body beginning to mend it self.

She cried out again as the pain rushed over her in waves. She took a deep foul smelling breath .

“Hello?”

In response she herd the chattering of Ghouls and the clanking of chains. Something moved in the darkness, something slow and heavy.

Foul stench assaulted her as a misshapen forum came in to view. He had once been huge, standing almost Seven feet tall and weighing at least 300 pounds. Now he was a shadow of his former self, folds of flesh hung from his corrupted body. Ugly in life he was far worse now in Un-Death. He smiled a fang filled smile, his breath was so foul she had to Vomit.

“Oh Qwelip, what have you done?”

“Done? What have I done Little girl? Why do you find my shape disturbing? Are you Scared!”

The thing that had once been Qwelip stuck it's face right in hers,she was not sure if she was in fact capable of feeling fear but the emotion that assaulted her at that moment was as close to Terror as she had ever been.
She knew that this thing could not truly harm her,that she would recover from any damage it caused her eventually yet having it this close to her did make her doubt. She knew she had to keep it distracted long enough for her to regain her strength.

“What are you?”

“What am I, not who? Interesting that you would Phrase it that way? Most would ask who. Very clever little girl.”

The thing paused, it gestured about the dark chamber to the many ghouls that now filled it.

“Do you not like my kingdom? Do you not marvel at my Army? Are you not impressed? Are you not Afraid? “

Grinning, it stuck it's face in hers. It's long claw tipped fingers tracing small wounds along her flesh. It peeled off a strip of her skin and swallowed it.

“I'm afraid Qwelip is gone and I have taken it's place. I waited a long time for someone strong enough to contain my power and he was perfect. I know not what he sought to find in my realm,all he found was me!”

“He was sent to find something in this place by the Lord of our town and he will not be happy when Qwelip does not return!”

“What of you little girl? Will any one be upset when you don't come back. Will you be missed when you take your place in my army?”

“Army,there nothing but children! Where did you get them? What do you think these things will accomplish?”

“ Children? That's no way to talk about your new family. As for Where they came from? Some came from Socket, others from White Palm. Still more from Scion and Bradly. There are many pocket of life in this waste land if you know where to look. Did you not know that?”

As a matter of fact, she did not. She had been lead to believe that Socket was the only speck of civilization in the waste.

“Ah I see you did not, perhaps the people of Socket did not want you to know. Keep you to themselves yes. Greedy humans!”

The thing laughed, it was a noise like tumbling rocks! It made her shiver.

“As for what I plan to do with these children? You will soon know. Enough about me. What is a little girl doing in my kingdom by herself looking for this skin I wear? Who is he to you that you would risk your life in this place? A friend? A father? A Lover?”

“No, he was nothing. Just someone I knew. I was looking for him for the reward.”

“By yourself? A mere snip of a thing you are!”

“ism not so little There is more to me then you can know beast.”

“You certainly do not talk like a child. You held your self well against my children with nothing more then a knife, and even now I see your wounds are healing. Who are you, tell me before I kill you?”

Melody had wasted enough time,she felt her full strength return.

“Who I am is not the question you should be asking beast! You should be asking yourself the same question that I asked you. What am I?”

The beast drew a long blood covered blade from its sheathe and pointed it at her.

“Very well child, I'll play your game. What then are you?”

Melody smiled and closed her eyes. Reaching deep inside herself to the powers of her birthright.

“I am the great green fire!”

With that she let it go.
Birthed to bring about the end of the world,yet abandoned and forgotten by the powers that created her. She had been left with only a fraction of the destructive energies that were to be her weapon against all creation.
She had first discovered the great green fire that burnt inside her by accident. An accident that had burnt for Two days and left her fleeing the only home she had known.
In the years that followed she had mastered her birthright and now it responded to her like a well trained pet. Eager to do her biding,to bring about destruction. It was the power that caused city’s to burn.

The thing that had once been Qwelip had never stood a chance.

She watched as the Ghouls and there master burnt, screaming. They ran but the fire followed them,everything it touched turning to pale green ash in seconds. Wood,stone,iron, flesh! It all fell before the might of the green fire.
Melody stood up in the center of her creation and watched as it did it's work. She felt sorry for the children but then they had stopped being children when the spirit had changed them. She took no joy from the power, it was a tool nothing more.

She let it burn for a bit,assuring her self hat no aspect of the Ghoul army or it's dark master remained. Then she called it back to her and reabsorbed it.

Gingerly she walked out of the fallen temple and took stock of her situation. Over the years she had discovered other more practical uses for the fire besides destruction. With a wave of her hand's she replaced her tattered clothing with a new dress.

She was happy to see the hell hound pup was unharmed and was happily devouring the crispy corpses of the ghouls. She snapped her fingers and it came bouncing to her side. She smiled and petted it, a friend for her journey would be nice.
She pondered the dark specters words, that there were other pockets of civilization out here besides Socket? She wondered what they were like,where the old road beneath her feet would take her? To Scion? To Bradly or perhaps even to her beloved ocean? Oh to sail again she thought. To feel the see beneath her. She had no reason to return to Socket and the fact she had been misled did not sit comfortably with her.

“Time for something new” She said to her self and with smile began to walk.

They would speak of the fire at the pale temple for a day or Two and then forgot it. If any one ever wondered what became of Qwelip or the strange little girl who went to find him, they did nothing about it. It was just another story that haunted the nights in Socket.