Book 3 Chapter 75
A/N: The Bull’s Beloved needs like FOUR more chapters before it’s featured, but I think it’s up if anyone wants a gander. Jerold and Noah finally get their book!
Tiffany
I gasped awake, in the ritual room… but not mine.
“What?” I said looking around, though here… The stone was white marble, with dramatic black streaks…. And in the center of the floor was … every Night Court god.
The 500 foot tall ceilings were carved in a language even I didn’t know… I couldn’t even understand the shapes of the letters… I couldn’t understand what sound the symbols would even make…. The Realm King must have made this place himself….
In the center was the Horned One’s but his family’s crests encircled his, with room for more if need be… That was kind of exciting to see, but I felt like I shouldn’t say anything. It might be a secret that the Realm King may have children soon. The Night Court acts and operates like a family; it's only natural that he’d want one.
I hope he does. I can tell he’ll do just fine.
But before I get swarmed with the island’s guards…. I should probably announce that I’m here…
If this is where I think it is, I will be welcome, but I’ll have to do it right.
I knew that marble, but there was no way I was in Phantom Coven…. Right?
The Night Father wouldn’t send me to his High Priest without announcing me… right?
That wasn’t a giant… centipede crawling down the stairs either right… clicking at me…. I could feel each pop through my body, since it was as wide as the grand carved stairs… he made his way past the wooden bleachers… all those eyes fixated on me.
My demons were nowhere to be seen, likely home to tell Zayde so he won’t go searching for me.
And I was likely about to be turned to a husk.
I’m *flesh!* I don’t exactly scent like a dark witch like the others.
/Let me take over./ said Theo. / I may not have a shape, but I have a voice!/
I trusted her.
She took over, and my skin became gray.
“Halt, sliver of General Kusare. I am blood of the Yoltier, sent by the old master to gain a true Tarteron form.”
I don’t know what that language was… I just sat and watched.
“The Master Holds No Fleshlings Liar.” He chittered….
As it crawled it became more monstrous… it’s face was that of a tarantula, the legs were longer than they should be… great wasp’s wings were folded on a shiny green exoskeleton… a long one that brandished a stinger. He chittered as he stepped…. His golden yellow eyes were serpentine as they glared… all 8….
“Aye. Tis why I show you my old self… My new self is of Heidi’s flesh.”
“I do not know this Heidi. I merely see a morsel.” He sounded as if he were smiling. “Smile? Why would I have need of such a *mortal* expression morsel?”
He got closer… about 15 feet away… and at least 200 feet long…. This was only one part of him. smaller versions were starting to skitter with inches of me, but if she freaked out, or stepped on one… Well firstly… It won’t smush unless you’re stronger than the Rotted One…
“Bones Crunch and Crackle, flesh Melts and Digests. Organs are my favorite… so Soft… tender.” He clicked as he spoke… venom leaked from his mandibles…
And secondly… it’ll piss him off…
“Summon my Fa-Grandfather in law. He-”
“Lies.” He hissed. “You cannot even tell me your bloodline.”
She summoned the staff! How did she?!
“Zayde Yoltier is my mate! With this staff I prove my lineage.” She tapped it on the ground, and a soft chime, along with red magic pulsed under the runes.
“Oh, that tastes good…. Welcome wife of a Yoltier. Next time, lead with that.” He shifted, and bowed, being about 8 feet tall…. “I am the Rotted One.” He gave a wicked smile, saying that part in English.
/The rest is up to you/ she said weakly in my mind… She sacrificed herself a bit for both our sakes… I have a good.... inner beast?
“I am Tiffany, my lord.” I bowed lower….. Why … why is he so muscular?
The man was built like a damn house, and with that devilishly handsome face, I know he tricks people into thinking he’s …. **not** …. *that.*
“You *wound* me.” He said with sarcasm, though he does not make facial expressions. He’s always stoic.
“Sorry.”
“You’re fine.” He said casually…. He carried a relaxed demeanor about himself that I couldn’t quite describe.
It was clear with his centurion ways that he was only ‘casual’ to an extent. He was likely leading me straight to my grandfather-in-law, and should Lord Gulteer find any fault in my words, or if it could not be confirmed fast enough that I was indeed nodded intruder, I had no doubt in my mind that he would probably kill me on the spot.
My heart kind of sank with every step… Being here without the courtesy of notification almost felt like being in trouble. But I didn’t really see any witches in particular. I saw a mix of every supernatural race, even ghouls. They held no rot, so I’m sure they had a steady supply of fresh meat and brains delivered with magic regularly.
Inside the palace of the Realm King, paintings of his wife littered the walls, along with his brothers, scenes of his first campaign. There were white marble statues everywhere, along with staff buffing the floors with machines. I could already almost see my face, but this is the palace of the King of the Literal Planet… there *won’t* be anything dirty or out of place.
The Rotted One said nothing, merely taking me to an office that once black wood doors opened, Gulteer was doing magic at his desk. His soul cauldron was being heated, and he stirred his simple wood staff as a damn stir stick.
His office was littered with knickknacks probably more ancient than I could imagine. With him being so old and so well-traveled, he managed to have his room completely made of Tarteron Granet. The rubies in the black stone glitter like tiny red diamonds, while the mat finish compliments the gunmetal gray sconces that lit the room with green light.
He customized this office as he saw fit, something likely encouraged by the masters. Expression and such is encouraged by both Light and Night, since it instills individuality… and I also assume a level of loyalty. Here, he serves a master by protecting his assets, and in return he’s rewarded with an office I wish I could plop in the tower!
That thing has enough firepower to kill a XIII….
“You’re late.” He grinned, though all his teeth were fangs…
“Ah, so she *is* one of yours.” He said with a nod. “She is blessed I asked first.”
I really was…. I don’t ‘remember’ him, but Theo does. His statement freaked her out, but she stoically supported me by being quiet, ‘standing’ tall and proud in there. Taking over took a lot out of her, but all she needs is a little energy. Just a bit.
I bowed. “I appreciate it.”
“I thank you as well, Lord Kusare, I’ll handle the rest.”
“No problem. I’ll go help the elves butcher their goats now.” He said as if I’d interrupted his favorite thing. It might be.
Him walking past me as I remained bowed… I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He does not *have* human emotions… melting me, and drinking my insides would have not meant anything to him…. Theo…. I saw her memories. She’d seen it. He likes using a spider venom, and wraps them in webs…. They liquify in those watertight bags….
“Grandfather, I seek a little guidance.”
“Now, come sit at my desk.” He said closing the door with magic, and one of his chairs scooped me up and slid across the room until it sent me to its master. He slid the cauldron to me with his staff, and without hesitation, I drank.
The souls tasted of chicken soup… the innocent were in here. Their energy is more condensed, but they’re so regulated that I know this took him a little bit to find enough to fill such a well maintained soul pot…
“Thank you.” I said as he reached across the table, and petted my head.
“Come on, let’s go get you a serpent.” He said gently.
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