Boundless Hunger

The girl in light armor climbed to the last step of the stairs and breathed on her folded palms. Rubbing her numb hands, she walked out onto the stone bridge. On this bridge, once part of the great Anor Londo, an icy wind always blew, chilling to the bones. It was good that there was a bonfire nearby, it would have been possible to warm up at least a little. But Annette walked past, clutching her blue fingers into the strap of the thick leather bag that went over her shoulder. The girl raised her head, looking at the majestic stone staircase that she had to overcome. How high he climbed! To a height of three thousand steps? Or even higher? Annette boldly walked forward. Step by step, one after another. So she rose and stood in front of the iron gates, which were guarded by two silver knights. They, already knowing the guest, nodded their heads to her and opened the gate. The girl went inside. Although the hall was dark, it was not as cold inside as outside. Black columns supported the high ceiling, and three deacons of the depths stood at the end of a wide and low staircase. Annette never liked them — they read prayers in low, hoarse voices, all blackened and dried up. And their looks is ready to tear the soul out of the chest with an invisible, ghostly hand. The girl walked past them, trying to avoid their creepy eyes. Opening the door, she looked into the bright hall, illuminated by moonlight through the huge windows. At the very end, at the altar, huddled together a large black slime, crowned by the skinny body of a young man with snow-white hair. In the still space his quiet, silken voice could be heard, reverently reading a prayer. Aldrich fell silent. Annette’s heart trembled — she loved watching the Saint so much when he prayed, she could spend hours looking at his body. Human, turning into an incomprehensible, formless consistency. Looking at him, a delight flared up in her soul, the reason for which Annette could not explain. But seeing how Aldrich stopped praying and began to slowly turn towards her, the girl’s heart jumped faster, and the cold became even less noticeable. “Dear Annette! — both joy and surprise were heard in the Saint’s voice. — You’ve been gone for so long!” Annette walked into the hall, putting her hands behind her back with a smile. Aldrich unexpectedly quickly crawled closer to her and his voice became more stern: “How many readings of prayers have you missed?” “Your Holiness! — the girl said in confusion. Such a sharp reduction in distance and change in tone warned her. — Your Holiness, I will offer prayers of repentance!..” “Or?” — Aldrich asked with more intrigue, clasping his skinny palms. “Or I will ask the prayers of Your Holiness for my forgiveness.” — Annette answered, sadly lowering her eyes. The gentle touch of the Saint’s finger on the girl’s chin made her gasp quietly and raise her head. “I always pray for you, silly. — Aldrich laughed and pulled back. — However, let me ask why you came.” Annette lowered her head again, trying to hide the blush that had appeared. She reached into the bag that was hanging over her shoulder, but suddenly stopped. “Your Holiness!.. I brought you something. Today, for the glory of your name, I killed three people who dared to set foot on your borders, intending to do you harm.” — she said. The Saint slightly tilted his head to the side, wanting to listen to the continuation. “Your deacons will bring them to you later. But I… — the girl’s head began to feel slightly dizzy from the excessively rapid heartbeat. — I cut out their livers and brought them to you…” Annette watched more than once how Aldrich, tearing victims into pieces, first of all tore out the liver from the corpses and blissfully ate it first. The girl immediately realized that this organ was the most delicious morsel for the Saint. And now, having told him about the offering, taking out the livers and handing them to him, she was scared. She, one might say, admitted to him that she had been secretly watching him. What will the Saint do now? Will he attack her? Will he sink his teeth into her body, tearing out a good piece of flesh?.. Aldrich carefully picked up the bloody organs. “I… I’m very touched. — said the Saint, clearly in some kind of stupor. But a satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face. — I’ve said it more than once, and I’ll repeat it again. You are one of those few followers whom I really appreciate!” Annette smiled and sighed with relief. And only then she realize that Aldrich had never told her anything like that! “Y-your Holiness… — she said modestly, wiping her hands with a handkerchief. — You never said… “Yes, never to you. — The Saint laughed lightly again. — But I have repeatedly made you an example to other servants!” Aldrich began to eat the livers with pleasure, turning from a prayerful youth into a cannibal monster. And Annette, completely red with embarrassment, looked at him and thought that he, he — the Saint of the Depths, he is proud of her! Delight and admiration echoed in her soul. The two deacons had just arrived and brought those three corpses that Annette had left to bleed. The saint continued his meal without doubt or hesitation. And Annette looked at Aldrich without taking her eyes off him, and didn’t know why, when all people think that, especially this kind of devouring human flesh, is disgusting, she can look at it for hours? She doesn’t feel disgusted by it. Is it her? What if she sees another person eating his own kind? Trying to imagine it as real as possible, Annette winced. No, it’s disgusting. Looking up at Aldrich again, her cheeks became hotter than ever. “How magnificent he is…” — Annette whispered barely audibly, pressing her frozen palms to her cheeks. “What did you say?” — Aldrich asked with his mouth almost full and turning his blood-smeared face towards her. “Me?.. Oh no, I didn’t say anything!” — the girl immediately came to her senses, beginning to feel a slight thrill of fear. The Saint continued to examine her for several seconds, after which he swallowed a piece of flesh and continued his meal. Annette was afraid to compare herself with Aldrich even in her thoughts, but more than once she told herself that they were similar. He is possessed by boundless hunger, and she is possessed by boundless craving for him. If the Saint periodically satisfies his hunger, but Annette… Alas, she cannot satisfy her “hunger” in that way. She is only content with those minutes when she is in the same room with him. “Annette? Why are you looking at me like that?..” — the Saint’s voice, full of awkward misunderstanding, tore the girl out of her thoughts. The only reminder of the three corpses was a few large, bloody puddles and Aldrich’s face and hands covered in blood. “Oh, Your Holiness… I beg you to forgive me my insolence, but… — Annette took a handkerchief from her pocket and took a step towards Aldrich. – Y-you… May I?..” The Saint bent over to the girl, leaning his skinny hands on the floor. The depths of the girl’s heart howled again that he had allowed her to do something intentional. Annette approached Aldrich and raised her hand with a sinking heart. The girl knew very well that the Saint was still hungry. Will he bite her hand off?.. Annette began to carefully wipe the blood from Aldrich’s cheeks, thereby feeling a slight satisfaction of her hunger. “How many will you kill for me?” — the Saint suddenly asked, causing the girl to shudder. A sad thought flashed through her head — is Aldrich sending her to her post? “I… I will kill as many as you want. — Annette answered timidly and submissively, removing the handkerchief from his, now clean, face. — You’re still hungry. I’ll go to the post.” “Yes, I’m hungry. But your post will have to wait for now.” Aldrich’s words surprised the girl a little, but she nodded her head and remained standing in place. “You need to pray at least a little by yourself.” — Aldrich almost whispered. “Yes, Your Holiness.” — the girl answered and walked up to the altar. Kneeling down, she folded her hands and closed her eyes. Annette could not concentrate on prayer — the Saint of the Depths did not leave her thoughts and she only thought about him. Behind her, the squelching of black slimy thing could be heard for some time, but after the quiet slam of the closing doors, they were no longer audible. Annette instantly turned around — there was no one in the hall. Aldrich gone? But why? Won’t he pray with her?.. Although, more likely, only he will pray, and she will think about him. Annette sighed. This, of course, had a big disadvantage — she can’t pray with concentration. And Aldrich’s devoted servants should, and in plenty! “If I don’t say my prayers, he will begin to be disappointed in me.” — the girl whispered. Perhaps the Saint left on purpose so she could concentrate alone? Annette sighed and closed her eyes again, turning towards the altar. The girl shuddered and woke up. A hand on her shoulder woke her. Quickly sitting up, she saw black slime in front of her. Annette gasped and lifted her head, staring at the Saint’s face. “Dear Annette, you fell asleep. — Aldrich said. — You shouldn’t sleep on a stone floor. You can catch a cold.” And this is instead of a reproach for unfocused prayer? “Sorry, Your Holiness. — Annette sighed doomedly. — It wasn’t in my thoughts…” The Saint laughed and lay down on the floor. The black clot of slime spread, almost completely turning into a homogeneous puddle. “What was on your mind then?” — Aldrich asked, taking off his helmet crown and putting it aside. The girl caught her breath. That white hair, those big, blue eyes… Annette found herself staying silent long enough and looking at the Saint. She can no longer suffer from hunger. She must be satisfied. And if not, then there is no point in even living. “Your Holiness.” — Annette said, trying to be as firm as possible. The follower’s determination apparently interested Aldrich, he even sat down and looked at the girl with interest. “Your Holiness. — Annette repeated, starting to approach the Saint. — I was hungry for a very long time. And you know this feeling well. But I couldn’t satisfy this hunger. No matter what I try, nothing helps… Even what I thought could, even that couldn’t help me.” The girl came very close to Aldrich, looking into his enchanting eyes. “I want to try the last thing left. If Your Holiness does not approve of this, then I agree for you to eat me and satisfy your hunger…” Annette took another step. There was almost no distance left between them. The girl leaned forward and touched Aldrich’s lips with hers. Cold hands immediately grabbed Annette, she was pierced by horror and the realization of imminent death. But all this was just as instantly overwhelmed by a wave of rising happiness — the Saint hugged her to himself and returned the kiss with pleasure. Black slime enveloped her legs, and one of the hands ran its thin fingers through her black hair. The air ran out, they pulled away, but Aldrich didn’t allow it for long. Now he himself, with greed and hunger, as if trying to satisfy it, pressed his lips into hers. These seconds of intimate contact made both their heads spin. “I just ate. — whispered the Saint, in a short break between kisses. — But you kindled a new hunger in me!..” “I will always be ready to satisfy any of your hungers!” — the girl answered. “My dear Annette!.. — said Aldrich, hugging the follower closer to him. — I will satisfy yours in the same way as well!..”