The portcullis clicked up, and I saw: / A man, a woman, and child, in chains, / being led to lie upon a table
In Part I, our captured lutist stood condemned before the Judge, bound in chains beneath the city’s black flags. Now the sentence bears him further, deeper into the city’s churning heart.
II. Nigredo (cont.)
Inching up on my feet on a cobblestone bridge I looked to a gathering, swelling fast: and on the opposite side of a moat— my kin Eyes welling, father looked away, and mother lifted her hands to pray My siblings, divided, held tears at bay Each choosing to grieve in their special way The fosse between us—a yawning expanse— was a rift cutting deep through the city’s keep My escorts then urged me callously as I staggered into a swallowing gloom, awaiting me deep Underground
A clinking and clanging greeted my ears I could not discern whence it came Its screeching song was—wrong Wafting itself to my ears, it stoked the flame of my kindling fears Rounding a corner, my heart beating fast, feeling that I had been judged by my past, a scene opened up right before my eyes of shadows, of toil, of chains, and of pains
Through a gate there shuffled stumbling, wispy shadows, undead. empty. The shadowy forms were toiling, heaving lead hammers too cumbersome for their build, Instead of protesting the evil work, I heard but stammers as they heaved at black levers— awful creaks, rust on rust metal grinding metal as they wrestled the cranks of metallic Stills: machines so enormous and built for a use so final, so bleak, so bold, Their infamy throughout the kingdom told At the opposite end of the chamber: red fog—rising up with an egg-rot reek, Burnished boilers spilled down to an oil-slick floor, off which torchlight reflected the muted forms of grey spectres milling near by the dozen Glancing back near the steel-barred door— the blank beings thronged a great oven The portcullis clicked up, and I saw: A man, a woman, and child, in chains— being led to lie upon a table One shadow, of many, then oozed its hands over frantic eyes, as black blood dripped down, dark liquor sips, etherizing them as an idle smile encroached upon their victim lips A sinuous tube with a cup on its end was brought to hover above One shadow nearby raised a tendril— the clanging and banging revived, as my back tensed and stomach dropped, Cacophony curdled my stomach, a knot Silver orbs were drawn out from their frames Three rapt souls floated up in a row Gently, softly, suicidally slow into the tube they proceeded to go Remaining there now on the table were spread three dark shadows lying in their stead I turned away, shuddered—horrified, and looking up at my guides, I found that two shadows were now at my side ...
Oohhh so good. Plot twist. Love your style!
This made my stomach churn and flop... It's excellent.