Book 3: Chapter 28
Tiffany
I took the cloak off.
“Intruder!” They hissed.
“No, my children do not disrespect one of them!” He yelled. “Mistress they don’t know!”
Now that I stood, they were only about as tall as me, though quite a few were taller.
“I only came for my staff… but I will be your leader should you allow it.” I said Firmly.
I reached my hand out and the staff zipped into it. They kneeled. They looked terrified. He cawed, and it stopped their running. Initially they looked like they were going to stampede out of here and run away, but he must have thought I’d kill them now that I had the staff.
“Don’t kill them.” Said their old leader, confirming my suspicion. They kneeled low and parted way for him as he damn near crawled. He hugged my leg and flinched when I pet his head. “They are young… they may be of use to you.”
“… What happened here?” I asked. “Please stand as well…. You are in no condition to be so bent over.” I could feel he had arthritis… They must age like mortals do, something the Beast Prince Detested…. It was likely why they were ‘rejected’…
“When I was a chick, the master made us… I do not even remember his name… They made us for war, but we were peaceful… We like pretty things and happy homes…. We age… Our bones are bird’s bones… ‘Too brittle and hollow for anything more than hard labor’ was what he said…. He gave us to the Witches… How cruel they were... How they beat us… How they used us for their ritch-u-alls… I think that’s what it was called.” He winced when I tried to console him… It made me feel bad, but I could see Alteer’s indifference turn to anger…. “We served and served. No matter how much we gave it was *never enough*. We thought the humans would help us… They were nice at first… Or at least we thought they were.”
“They subjugated you too, didn’t they?” I asked quietly.
…. They were the reason Alteer’s brother was felled, but I could not blame them… I could see the surprise on my father in law’s face… no one knew this, and likely they would have at least intervened. The parrot-dog people were experimental rejects, but they had a right to live in peace… And if they were servants, they should have been treated like it...
It made me feel bad for them… Especially since they were pretty cute… They were small, only about 4 feet tall on all 4’s and maybe about 5 to 6 leaned over standing like hunched over men…
But regardless… I was confronted with a folly caused by my people….
Yellow Diamond fell because they chose to become darker than their black blood… But in the old times they did what they had to for survival. They had no aid, nor help from anyone out here. They used the labor of these people, but they didn’t have to be cruel about it…
“Yes. They made us entertain them with tricks, and they sacrificed us to him…. They did this after they made us build it.” He pointed to the depiction of Arviel… Now that I knew who it was supposed to be, I saw the resemblance of him. “He does not help us, but he does not hurt us either… The Sun Staff gives me what I need to protect my people… I thought if we lived here and asked, he’d send us someone else to hold this power… I… I have outlived all my kind… but they only live about 100 dry seasons. I don’t know how many I have lived.”
So they did age like humans…. But the staff kept him going…
“Nobody sent me, nor did I know of your people…. but I am here. I will help.” I said firmly. “I rightly didn’t know your people even existed, but if I am to take the staff, I can’t leave you all to fend for yourselves. I will be your new leader. I will protect you.”
“What temple would you have them build?” He asked weakly. Standing took its toll, and he was now on all 4’s.
“Nothing if you chose it. I know it isn’t done yet, but my castle will be your home.” I said firmly. “Your people will be servants, but we do not mistreat our own. You will have protection, REAL protection. No slavery, no unfair torment, no chains… Any who wish to stay are free to.”
“You would do that?” He asked.
“I would.” I took both his ‘hands’ and held them. They were cracked and calloused…. I knew standing was important to them, and I let him have his dignity. “You have my word.”
He kind of just….. collapsed. There were gasps, but most weren’t surprised…
“Finally.” He said as if he were happy about this. “Thank you.” He said drawing his last breath…. He died in my arms. “Ah.”
The temple was silent as I still held his hands. No one said a word. They still kneeled, some mumbled for forgiveness or mercy, as if they’d disobeyed by running away to this abandoned place.…
He turned to dust, rapidly aging to however old he should be…
“What will you have us do… mistress?” Asked one.
“Nothing.” I said firmly. “This place is your home, and ironically, it isn’t too far from mine.” I said thinking out loud. “Alteer, do you think the basement floor could hold them all?” I asked. I knew it was ready. It had been drained, but there was no magic placed on it yet.
He stood. They gawked at him, many bowed to him as well, bowing and moving aside as he walked. “The floors have been cleaned… The torches will keep them warm.”
“Then it’s settled. Follow us.” I smiled.
“I’ll lead the way.” Said Alteer. They hissed like geese when he walked to the exit. They didn’t fully know if he was safe, and they huddled behind me.
“Alteer can be trusted. He is my father-in-law.” I said firmly.
“…Leader… what is that?” Asked one, honestly upset that I even looked at him.
“He’s the father of my mate.” I said and they nodded. They understood that.
“Then he is leader’s blood.” They all said among themselves.
“You have no wings leader… how will we follow you?” Asked one.
“Shh! We ask too much.” Hissed another.
“No you don’t. Alteer can fly. Would you mind lending me a ride?” I asked.
---Zayde----
I got word of the creatures that roamed the jungle, and that my wife tamed them. I wasn’t surprised. For her to be a dark witch, her red blood makes her much more caring than us… but honestly, she was always a compassionate person…. She killed many yes, we all did, but with her there was mercy. They died swift deaths with her.
I put my phone back in my pocket.
“Come on Boy. If you want to protect her like the Jekel you are, you’ll summon your fire from your belly.” I said to purposefully annoy Micael. The others activated their powers, and most could even fly on brooms about an hour. That meant they could get about 100 miles from here on a clear night, rest, and go again the next day.
“I want to be like you sir.” He said getting up. He charged me and I batted him away with a flick of my wrist. “I want to be a monster too.”
“I will personally give you a taste of my black blood should you summon at least a candle’s flick.” I said truthfully. “And if you’re able to take another form, all my beasts are coming with me.” I said to sweeten the pot.
He had encouragement now, his own. He, unlike the others, wanted to leave this place. I think it would do him good. With us, he would have a new country to start over, and a wife… Giving him my blood like that may even make him immortal…
If not I’m sure his girlfriend won’t mind turning him.
He stood there and I saw his hands glow. This was the most progress I’d seen from him today. Sonya, or rather Casey, was inside. She was a new vampire; the sun would take the meat off her bones. It won’t outright kill her, but that does hurt.
He exhaled. A small candle’s flick left his mouth.
“Welcome to the world of magic.” I said with a smile. “Partake of my blood. Drink behimoth’s blood… become a behemoth, pun intended.” I smiled, biting my wrist.
As I walked the birds on the castle grounds went wild. Even they realized what was going to happen to the flesh of this mortal.
“I don’t want to fail her again.” He mumbled. He drank.
“Then be mortal no more…. You already have a new name. Embrace the new life laid before you.” I said catching him before he passed out. “Take him to the basement. I see what I need. He may not gain a shape like mine, but I’ll at least make him a dragon.”
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