The Blood Egg (Chapter I)

Note: The associated image is from "The Chrysalis" prompt at ironage.media

“Woe to you who defy the will of Deshar.

Woe to you as the night draws nigh.

His brood shall enact his will beyond this star.

A sea of blood shall fill the skies.”

– The Final Portent of Desharnok the Incarnation

Deep was the pit beneath the earth. The men of science, in their cavernous camp, watched as the crane’s cable descended into that dark abyss. The project lead pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. The stare from his blue eyes was piercing, determined. Now was the day his theory was either proven true or false. Based on the ancient records, a relic from the Blood Rift lay somewhere in these depths. As with anything from that accursed realm, it would hold an evil power, but nonetheless a desired power. One which he would be able to use to advance his career and gain notoriety among his peers. Derrin Dalard, renowned expert on all things relating to the Blood Rift, they would call him. It was inevitable, of course, but this expedition would reveal whether that ambition would be realized sooner rather than later.

            “Derry, dear,” his benefactor called to him. The young woman watched the screen viewing the bottomless pit beneath the lowering platform. Sensually, she leaned over the desk in her fine silk dress. She pushed her red hair behind her long, pointed ear, privately enjoying the attention from the men around her. “How much further until they reach the bottom? It’s been ages since we sent those boys down.”

            Derrin approached the viewing station. True enough, there had yet to be any sign of the bottom. The light from the platform barely illuminated the smooth walls of the pit. It was a curiosity commonly reported from findings such as these.

            “Pits such as this are known for their great depths,” the researcher finally answered. “A demonstration of the power which that devil, Deshar, possessed before his imprisonment.”

            The noble’s daughter gave a bored sigh and looked back at the screen. Lazily, she pushed a button on the keyboard, changing the view from the endless abyss to the descending crew. It was a small team, only five men wearing white radiation suits. One of them was the sage required by law on this expedition. A fair boy from Arule as indicated by his pointed ears. His hair was long, and his features delicate. Not as imposing as the other men with him who were bred for war on various worlds.

This was especially true in the case of the youngest of the four. Like most from his cold world, he was tall, brawny, fair, his hair cut short. His blue gaze was sharp, focused on battle alone. The girl pressed her fingers to the screen, dragging them apart to zoom in on his face, her green eyes filled with longing.

            “He has a strong face,” she said. “Do you know if all men from Skallhrim are as handsome as he?”

            “Lady Velera,” Derrin started, wishing her leave. “Perhaps you would be more comfortable waiting in your chambers above. It will be a few hours yet until we have something concrete to report.”

            “Nonsense, Derry,” she smiled coyly. “I wish to witness just what it is that will bring us some level of renown. I couldn’t possibly take my leave before then.”

            “Of course, my lady. How very dedicated of you.” He turned away to hide his irritation.

Having to share fame with this cosseted girl piggybacking off his work simply by funding this venture agitated him. Her father gained his wealth by controlling shipyards in three systems. She simply benefitted from his success, attending social events, and enjoying herself on a sizable allowance. She had no love for the long hours he spent pouring over the ancient texts of the Sealing War. It wasn’t her who spent countless months calculating the trajectories of even a single relic spat out by the great devil’s might before the Blood Rift was sewn shut. Put simply, she was the only one willing to give him the funds he needed. He had barely said a word of his intentions before she agreed and gave him what he required. She just wanted a story to lord over her aristocratic friends. Derrin’s aim, however, was for a higher purpose. He wanted knowledge, desiring only access to those informative sources locked behind military censorship. It was only for the benefit of mankind that he sought such wisdom. As all men should, he thought.

            “Doctor Dalard,” a voice came in through the viewing station’s receiver. It was the sage’s voice.

            “My lady, zoom out, would you please?” His question sounded demanding as he sat at the station.

            Velera gave him a dirty look before complying. The researcher paid no mind to her offense.

            “This is Dalard. What is it?”

            “The pit floor has become visible,” the sage told him. “Do you have eyes on the relic?”

            Derrin switched the view back to the underside of the platform. He sat there in silence, looking upon the object with great satisfaction. Directly below the platform was something large, round, and bright red. He sat in silence for a long moment, studying his prize. Whatever it was, it appeared to pulse with life. His heart even seemed to beat at the same rhythm.

            “Repeat. Doctor Dalard? Do you have eyes on the relic?” the sage asked again.

            “Affirmative,” the researcher said into the transmitter. “It is directly below you, as expected. Put your helmets on and attach them carefully to your suits until we can be sure the radiation will not be deadly. You will have to descend by rope ladder most likely.”

            “Understood, sir.”

            “So, this red orbish thing is what is to give us great fame?” Velera asked the doctor.

            “Indeed,” Derrin answered with a proud grin. “There can be no doubt that this is in fact a relic of the Blood Rift.”

            “What is the significance of this one?”

            “We will not know until further study is complete. For no known relic has been discovered to hold the same power. And that is the true fascination with all things pertaining to the daemonic realm.”

            Velera studied him for a moment.

            “This must be quite the object for you to look upon it so,” she commented.

            “It is quite the spectacle,” he began. “The wonder of a lifetime. In all these millennia, only two relics have been revealed to us. And now a third graces us with its presence. Truly, my lady, this is the most marvelous occasion you and I shall ever be party to. The gods have blessed us this very day. It should fill you with such excitement!”

            “What a woman would give to be seen the way you gaze upon that relic,” she sighed, daydreaming. “How joyous she would be to be longed for by that one accomplished man.”

            Derrin quit entertaining his benefactor. He was enveloped in thought and ambition. He pondered what sort of discoveries would be revealed by him as he investigated the object further. The endless possibilities of his research excited him beyond end.

            Finally, the platform stopped but twenty feet above the relic. The Skallhrimite was the first one down, the sage being last to leave the platform. Through the view of the young warrior, the researchers got a clearer look at the thing they sought.

            Shaped like an egg, it hovered perfectly upright from the ground. It was blood red covered in remnants of a black shell casing, likely what protected it upon entering the planet’s atmosphere and crashing deep beneath the earth. It was ten feet in height with a diameter of six feet. But inside the egg was what most intrigued the eager researcher. A large embryo, alien to all known lifeforms in the universe. Derrin then realized how special this relic truly was.

            “By Larn,” the Skallhrimite said. “From what hell has this thing come through?”

            “What a simplistic view of thought,” Derrin muttered to himself, despising the man of the frozen world. “Were a relic discovered on Skallhrim, those savages would not hesitate to destroy it!”

            “Would it be so wrong to destroy the thing?” Velera asked, concerned.

            “It most certainly would!” he exclaimed, exasperated. “They would rob us of valuable knowledge suspecting ‘outsiders’ of seeking to do them wrong. It’s no wonder they could only achieve greater space travel once the Empire conquered them.”

            “Well, I can’t say I much like the look of the relic either,” Velera admitted, standing straight, clutching her golden necklace. “Does it not give off a sinister aura?”

            “All things from the Blood Rift appear sinister, my lady,” the researcher told her. “But through careful study of the daemonic, we shall be that much closer to unlocking the secret natures of this galaxy both beautiful and foul.”

            “But why should we seek to uncover the secrets of what is foul?”

            “So that mankind shall obtain greater power and therefore everlasting peace.”

            She gave him a confused look but he elaborated no further. Instead, he turned from her, pressing a button to activate the transmitter.

            “I want the relic unspoiled upon your return,” Derrin told the crew. “If any harm should befall it, I will see you all hung by the neck. Do you understand?” He would have mostly addressed this to the young Skallhrimite had he been face-to-face with the descended crew.

            The five men responded with confirmation that they would bring it back unspoiled. The savage was hesitant with his confirmation, but it was no matter now. Soon Derrin would have the egg. Soon he would be able to study the daemon of Deshar that lay within. The powers of hell would soon be available to mankind, and access to greater knowledge would finally be his.