Book 3: Chapter 6
Zayde
I let her fall asleep in our bed…. She hadn’t slept yet, and I kind of kept her up because I can’t lie… I was excited. I hadn’t had any sleep yet, but as her future husband, it wouldn’t be right to put the work on her…. Her job was to be sated and content. My job was to provide… How I missed it. I still rubbed my left hand from time to time, thinking I had on my wedding ring, yet my hand was still ringless….
From the day I drew breath, I knew my purpose. I knew my mission… I remember the Horned One’s words. As I put on a black suit with a red tie, ready to do what needed to be done next.
He didn’t let me see her, nor touch her when we were both in the spirit world. I can’t count how many times I’d asked, being denied… I guess this was why. She didn’t look exactly the same…. Nor did she remember me.
She didn’t remember her children or brothers, and I wouldn’t remind her. For her to be born like this, it had to at least be partly her choice, that she knew spells, yet, in such a young body there’s some stuff she wouldn’t know.
“Tanzaa, Aptherraam, hear the words of your master.” I said firmly. They bowed, appearing from floor 28, the demi-realm I didn’t get a chance to show her the portal to the Dark Courtyard all floors shared, but that was where they mated.
They were together again, rebound to each other, and to both of us, though the loyalty of a demon lies with their original master.
“Master…. It is good to feel flesh again.” Said Aptherraam…. So he remembered….
“Good.” I said firmly. I was actually happy about this. His cat form hadn’t progressed into a mighty lion… not until he became the giant moose-badger hybrid the master seemed so excited about.. Right now he was about the same height as me, being the sun of Zahrraam’Zeh, lastborn of the First Demon…. Grandfather’s demon.
He now had a mortal human shape, but not a shifted one. Not yet. At this moment, he reminded me of his grandfather in facial features, fierce and harsh, like a seasoned warrior. However, since he was so young, he had no heft to his muscles… She likely coddled him. He was thin and pale as a piece of parchment…. He knew how to hide his moose horns though. The wrack was impressive, but he would attract so much attention where I intended on taking him.
He’d gain that when we were married proper, but for now I landed him a suit, while Tanzaa put on the red dress and black leggings I bought just for this, well... for general outings. She still looked the same as the last life, being tall and lean, having thin black hair that faded to red. She was now birthed from father’s demon this time around… so it did make her stronger. But all that was to be worked on or thought about Later.
A Sacrifice was needed now for the marriage ceremony.
A Gift to the Horned One, but also, I needed part of the ritual. That tradition never changed… The only thing that did was now since the Master was being offered seasoned food, he seemed to almost prefer it over raw, fresh, or still screaming victims.
“Follow me.” I said being followed.
We went to the first floor, and my head servant, Mr. Cornwall, was awake. It was now 6am, and the late dawn made me yawn. I hated daytime…
“Your highness your car is prepared.” Said Mr. Cornwall with a bow.
“Perfect. When my wife wakes, prepare breakfast. I should be back by noon.” I said taking the keys to my black Dacia Sandero. It was one of the most popular cars in the country, so it would blend in just fine.
I preferred nonmagical servants, ones who never had any magic, but I made sure there was accommodation for them. Stairs, heavy books, and anything else that could be an inconvenience were enchanted.
I did such a good job, that there was a bit of a waitlist for anyone who wanted to transfer.
I saw my older brother Andrei in the courtyard with his she demon. She was agile and quick, being a female goat. Her black fir was rough and shaggy, while my brother didn’t care about such things. His wife watched.
They’d been together since before the Fall of Yellow Diamond… Gayle wasn’t originally from here, being born in Spain, but they’d been married about since the end of the war when the King of Halves single handedly slayed the entire coven.… So their love was deep.
Though unlike me and ‘Tiffany’, there was no deep love. They loved each other well enough, but it was more of a mortal love than the pseudo mate bond...
Gayle waved, and I waved back. It got the attention of Andrei. He hailed me to stop, and when he ran to me, he put both hands on my shoulders. He was 6’8, yet physically, I was stronger.
“Brother! You look so serious!” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m going out to fetch ingredients.”
“I’d offer to come, but I’m All the Way in the 9th tower.” He pretended like he didn’t like it.
“You complained Every Day about hating dealing with mortals. And no; you can’t come.” I said with a grin.
“Oh you’re no fun.” He grumbled.
Andrei kept his hair short and spiked. Other than that, we looked pretty similar. Well, that and the small mustache and beard around his mouth. His sideburns were shaved, while he was in training clothes. His magic was amazing to watch, holding the nickname of The Auditor.
I was the Fixer.
“I’m so happy for you. Mother said that all she needs is this list, and a New Moon.” Said Andrei. “See you later.” He handed me a small letter.
“See you.” I said leaving.
I needed to get some wild blue mushrooms, blood lilies, and one man, preferably a non-sinner. It also said I needed to get the cake ordered at the bakery, and tell them that the catering services will be needed next month.
Our familiars got in the car, sitting together in the back seat. I put my usual mannequin in the passenger side front seat.
I got that thing a while ago to help with being pulled over. It was less suspicious to have at least 3 people in the car, rather than 2 coming from the castle. It also made it easier to come in the day, since they thought we were vampires.
It was actually kind of funny. We were a 20-minute ride away, so for peace, I drove 40 more to make sure I got what I needed from Atto’s cabin… an actual vampire. He lived out at the edge of the forest alone, not wanting to move to Bucharest, the capital, where his people lived. This village is too small to accommodate That much supernatural life, but just one living here was fine enough.
I could already smell the live humans he had in his cellar. He kept I think 14, so that he could take a pint from one every two weeks…. They weren’t allowed to leave the magical barrier made, nor any who entered his territory. We arranged that because he knew the secret location to the Meat Market… the one he managed... the Only one in the country…. We only needed it for stuff like this, so not knowing was probably best.
That was a place where humans were treated and traded like cattle… Grisly yes, but needed. Without it, more free humans would be needed as prey. After all, some creatures had to have men’s meat…. Farmed men kept Free men safer.
And the Rule of King Xaxas, the Realm King made it regulated.
I shook my head. Ugh… Witches don’t partake in this… but it was the lesser of two evils. Without the Market, I’d have to kidnap a random townsperson or possibly get caught with a tourist… and that would make tension.
I pulled into his gravel driveway. Atto’s cottage looked boring and plain. About what you’d see at a bed and breakfast, though, it was only one story.
I got out, while our familiars stood behind me… He was a Vampire Lord, not a regular vampire… one from the old country, turned by Victor, the Vampire King.
“It’s unlocked.” Atto said gruffly.
He looked almost nothing like a vampire. He wasn’t thin and stringy. He was actually quite built, having a weight set outside. Despite how cold it was, he didn’t wear anything other than a simple white tank top and sweats… He had a bit of blood on it, so I was probably interrupting his breakfast.
“Youngest child of Alteer, what brings you hear. Another sacrifice for a ritual?” He grinned.
The human he had in his living room held their neck… They were his feeding companion for the day. This one was a male, one who looked pretty tired, but otherwise unharmed.
“Yes.” I bowed to show respect. “I come for untainted mortal. I heard you had some new stock.”
“I do. After all, the entrance to the Meat Market is under your feet, guarded by me of course.” He grinned. “So what do you plan on giving the Master? I have a tourist from Italy here. You could serve him up with pasta.” Atto chuckled. “To be fair though, the Britt would be better, since he’s such a problem.” He grumbled.
The joke was terrible, but I did at least smile at it… “I’ll take the Britt off your hands… But I’ll also pay for one more… a farmed one if you will. Another Tourist Will Be Trouble...” I said thinking out loud.
I would save at least one person if I was allowed… I know it would probably make a big fuss at home, and Atto already looked like he was going to say ‘no’, but they could be servants. It’d be better than being a meal….
“You ask too tall an order.” He said with crossed arms.
With the snap of his fingers, human guards, the townsfolk, brought a screaming man from out the basement…. So they knew… They knew more than I thought they were allowed to….
One was in Chief officer’s uniform, holding the town’s logo… The other was a farmer I often ordered the castle’s groceries from… Mr. Dovinick. The portly old man always wore a red cap… But today he wore a black one.
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