Cherreads

Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: The Temple of Ash

Dawn burned across the capital as if trying to cleanse its sins with golden light

Ruvan walked through the silent streets. Shadows slithered after him, weaving around his bare feet. Blood stained his toes and dried against his ankles. Merchants huddled in broken stalls, eyes wide with terror as he passed. Some pressed trembling fingers to holy pendants. Others simply turned away, praying that if they could not see him, he would not see them

He saw them all

He saw their hidden greed. Their whispered prayers to gods of gold and flesh. Their hatred of nobles matched only by their terror of losing what little they had

But he did not come for them today

Ahead rose the Temple of Dawn. Its obsidian towers pierced the morning sky, gilded spires catching sunlight in dazzling brilliance. White marble stairs swept upward to massive bronze doors carved with a thousand god sigils. Priests in robes of red and gold clustered near the gates, chanting dawn hymns to greet the sun's return

He climbed the steps barefoot. Shadows trailed after him, slithering across each polished stone. Priests turned. Their chanting faltered. Fear rippled through them as they beheld the barefoot boy with blood drying upon pale skin and darkness swirling around his shoulders

One priest stepped forward, clutching a sun-shaped pendant to his chest

You have no place here, demon. This is hallowed ground

Ruvan tilted his head. Shadows curled around his feet, whispering with silent hunger

Hallowed

The word tasted like ash upon his tongue

He raised his hand. Shadows erupted from beneath the priests, black tendrils coiling around crimson robes. Screams shattered dawn silence as bodies were lifted into the air. Bones cracked beneath tightening darkness. Blood sprayed across obsidian doors, dripping down golden sigils

He pushed open the bronze gates. Their hinges groaned under silent shadows. Inside spread a vast sanctuary lit by hundreds of braziers. Marble pillars rose into vaulted ceilings painted with sun gods and angels. A choir of white-robed children sang dawn psalms, their clear voices trembling with terror as shadows slid across polished floors

He walked forward slowly. Each barefoot step echoed like a funeral bell. Shadows parted before him, revealing the High Priest kneeling at the altar. Golden robes pooled around him like molten sunlight. His hands trembled upon a tome of sacred verses

Ruvan stopped at the altar. The children's singing faltered into choked sobs. Shadows slithered around their ankles but did not touch them

He gazed down at the High Priest. The old man raised watery eyes, lips trembling with prayers that died upon his tongue

Please. This temple is sacred. Spare us. Spare these children. They are innocent

Ruvan crouched. Shadows rippled across his shoulders, silent and alive

Innocence is a lie you teach them to kneel

He reached out, placing bloodstained fingers upon the priest's forehead. Shadows pulsed down his arm, sinking into wrinkled flesh. The old man convulsed. Veins blackened beneath his skin. His eyes rolled back, mouth opening in a silent scream before his body fell limp across the sacred tome

Ruvan stood. He turned to the children. Tears streamed down pale cheeks. Their small hands clutched prayer books and sun pendants. Shadows slithered around them but left them untouched

Run

His voice was quiet but filled with something deeper than command. The children fled, robes trailing behind them like broken wings. Shadows parted before their flight

He turned back to the altar. Statues of radiant gods loomed above him, their gemstone eyes staring down in silent judgment. He stepped forward. Shadows gathered at his feet. He placed his palm upon the largest idol, a golden sun with a ruby core

Darkness pulsed from his hand. The ruby cracked. Golden rays split down the middle. With a sound like shattering bone, the entire statue collapsed. Dust billowed across the sanctuary. Braziers flickered and died. Shadows swallowed all remaining light

He stood among the ruin, shadows curling around his ankles, silent and watchful. Memory flickered behind his eyes. A boy forced to kneel upon cold marble, whipped until skin split from bone. A boy praying to silent gods until his voice bled dry. A boy forced to burn incense until smoke choked his lungs, all for forgiveness he never received

Mercy is for gods. And there are no gods here

He turned and walked down the sanctuary aisle. Shadows flowed after him like a silent tide. Marble cracked beneath his bare steps. Blood dripped from his fingertips, leaving black stains upon sacred verses etched into the floor

Outside, dawn burned hotter across palace walls. The city stirred with fearful whispers. Merchants packed wagons in silence. Guards stood trembling at towers, blades lowered. Peasants knelt in prayer to broken gods who would never answer

Ruvan stepped into the street. Shadows trailed behind him, spreading across cobblestones like an endless black river. He raised his gaze to the palace spires glittering in morning sun

Today I burn your gods

Tomorrow I claim your kings

And when nothing remains, I will become the darkness etched into your bloodlines for all eternity

He walked forward into the rising sun. Shadows rose behind him like silent mountains. The empire waited. And he would teach them fear

More Chapters