Heart of a deadman. Part 1.

But... where are you? I would like to tell you something...

She's silent for a moment. Then replies with a soft voice.

Blasted lands.

Gharb felt worry for her for a second but held the thought.

Are you... alone there?

This is a special place to me. Yes, I'm alone.

Gharb checked his mail fast and rushed to the zeppelin, replying in his hearthstone.

I'll find you there.

Was it a laughter he heard as an answer? No... must be wind. Gharb didn't like hearthstone conversations. Fake voices, can't see the face.



He entered Blasted Lands. Ruined, scarred land... the beginning of Invasion. Gharb felt the presence of demons even though he couldn't have seen a single. Dried and cursed land reminded him Plaguelands but this one was just burnt and torn apart. No trees, no life... just an endless desert of destruction. A soft, happy human voice spoke through hearthstone...

It's so amazing inside this place!

Gharb's heart pounded. He frowned and spurred his horse.

I have a feeling I know where to find you...

A laughter was an answer.



He approached the edge of the crater. The Portal was at the center. Huge, mysterious, dangerous, seeding inner horror in everybody that dares to face it. Gharb noticed demons, dozens of them. They were standing like statues, neither blinking, nor moving. Yet they were breathing...

Guardians.

He took out his daggers and dipped blades in poison, examined his hat - just in case, and stealthed. He was just a tiny, pathetic creature comparing to the beasts and demons he bypassed. Huge, mighty they breathed with destruction and streamed hatred. Very careful, as far as possible Gharb avoided them and approached the Portal.

He has never came that close to the Portal. Gharb knew this place affects him somehow in a strange way and he tried to avoid this feeling. But now he had to face it. Gripping his daggers he made first steppes on the stone. Cold, smooth... perfectly crafted stone. A wind was blowing inside the Portal, sucking into it, magic made it even harder to resist.

Only when he approached the very entrance of the Portal he noticed a lying human figure. Gharb's heart pounded again.

Heresy...

He attached daggers to his belt, and silently kneeled beside her, waiting for her to open eyes and notice him. Gharb was watching her... human and at the same time - same Heresy. Changed body but the feeling is the same, he knew it. Among all the humans, all the beings, he could doubtlessly tell who is Heresy, without regarding the lookout.

Death scarred our bodies so hard that it doesn't matter anymore how do you look... - Gharb felt he was lieing to himself in this tought, something was wrong... - Damnit, why am I so nervous when she can see me?

He was looking at her, ready to wait for years but not to wake her up. He smiled in his thoughts. remembering.

...a moment of silence everybody needs from time to time...

Heresy opened her eyes, saw him and stood up. She was smiling and greeted Gharb warmly.

I can sleep here for eternity! I feel so... alive! Come here! Just take a look at the sky! Isn't this beautiful?

Gharb made a few steppes inside the Portal and turned around - the sky was different now. It was pierced with magic winds so strongly that even a usual human could see it. Azure, lightning cold steams of magic were hurling in the air, going through the body, piercing the mind...

Gharb gulped and closed his eyes, concentrating, trying to understand his feeling.

Terror. Yes, it was inside, this place was seeding terror... crawling in the mind, poisoning heart. It wasn't a usual terror, something bigger than fear, no. It was worse - it was attractive, it was driving away and posessing all Gharb's being.

Can't she feel it?... - Gharb shuddered a little and opened his eyes. Heresy was almost dancing. She was filled with energy, she was... electric. Laughing, smiling, dancing even in her words.

Cannot you feel that? Listen!

Gharb, puzzled with her behavior,looked around and tried to concentrate again, to understand her state and his own emotion. But no... he just knew this place is attractive, driving and at the same time horrible. He felt it and couldn't have helped that. He peered at Heresy eagerly.

She's mad... she's really mad and so.. honest. This place is her Sanctuary. It's divine.

Gharb felt like the smile of Heresy was spreading inside him, like some sort of a disease but a pleasant one. She was standing at the edge of the Portal now and was yelling curses at the demons. Yelling! Then she shooted an arrow in one of the demons - a dozen of them turned around the same moment and rushed to tear her apart! Gharb rushed to help but just a moment before a flaming sword ripped Heresy she dodged the swing and vanished. Demons, puzzled with her disappearance, returned to their posts. She was laughting. Gharb laughed in reply, amazed by her action.

Seriously... sometimes I doubt if you need to be protected or it's others which need a protection from you!

She laughed and smiled.

You do learn!

Gharb felt the adrenaline inside. It was weird - there were no adrenaline, but some kind of feeling always replaced it. All this place was feeling him with energy - he wasn't fond of it but had to admit this fact. Gharb grinned and took out daggers.

I want to try one. Alone.

Heresy nodded.

Three minutes later Gharb unstealthed and fell down, breathing hard. His armor was almost cut in half, daggers were damaged. He was laughing out loudly, bursting with almost uncontrollable energy. His eyes were glowing brighter than usual.

They are just a losers! They are afraid to fight one on one!! LOSERS!

Heresy came closer and without saying anything, just with a smile, gently bandaged Gharb's fresh wounds. He felt an inner gasp, a cry as she touched him. He breathed in and smiled, saying nothing.

They talked a lot. It was both a silly and complicated, serious and ironic talk... Gharb liked talking to Heresy. She knew how to listen and she had many things to say and to share with him. At anytime there was an interesting issue to discuss or remember. They were different yet Gharb felt a union.

Then he remembered she was tired and came here to rest. And he promised it won't take long. Heresy seemed to have similar thoughts.

So... what were you going to tell me?

Gharb's heart pounded.

I have no heart... silence!!, - he said to himself but smiled at Heresy.

It's... a very simple thing. Yet a bit complicated to explain...