2 Lord of Fiends (1/2)
Chapter 2: Lord of Fiends
Nikolai turned to Nye and Miles, ”Welcome to the crypt of Lenault Ghestro. Perhaps the answers you seek, will be found here.”
”Why would a tomb of that heretic, have anything to do with my understandings of monsters?” Nye crossed her arms, Miles standing beside her, nodding in agreement.
”Why, don't you know of the tales? The ones the Rhyme gallivant around, preaching about with their slanderous tongues?” Nikolai looked to Nye.
”Of Course I know the old stories, however until now, I had only assumed he was a figure of fiction. What's your point?” Nye replied, keeping her eyes focused on the reaper.
”Lenault was a man with a gift to control the fiends, which would mean he would have to be able to communicate with them. Just a bit of speculation, but I'm implying that it is possible that you are a descendant of him.” Nikolai explained.
”That does pose a logical explanation if it is true. Even another possible reason why I never learned my last name. Any way that you can prove this?” Nye seemed intrigued.
”Wait a tic, I may be hearing a one sided conversation here, but I'm getting the idea this heretic might be your ancestor?” Miles was perplexed, tilting his head.
”That's exactly what the reaper is suggesting.” Nye looked over her shoulder to Miles.
”Oh man.” Miles scratched his head, as he was trying to keep up.
”Ahem. If I may. I am a descendant of fiends who worked under Lord Lenault. I was once told by them, if the heir to the Ghestro throne was to ever become known, to bring them here.” Nikolai explained further.
”So that must have been what you were discussing with the other reaper. So, what now?” Nye crossed her arms again.
”Indeed mistress. In order to see if this theory is correct, you'll have to perform the ritual.” Nikolai replied.
”And what happens if I turn out to be this heir?” Nye inquired, skeptically.
”It will become known, only if you succeed the trial.” Nikolai looked to the alter in front of the statue.
”Fair enough. What do I have to do?” Nye seemed to be growing bored.
Nikolai floated to the statue, where foreign writing was carved into a plaque. ”It reads, 'As my body lay fallen, I await my successor. Come to me, with blood in hand, coating a black feather. If you are mine, the world will be ours.' Does this make any sense?” he looked back to Nye.
”Blood in hand, coating a black feather... Hm. Sounds like two forms of DNA. Perhaps coming to 'me', implies the alter?” Nye stepped closer, were a rib cage was placed in front of the statue, like a dish.
”Yes! You must be correct. There is an inscription below the directions. You're to read it. If you can understand me, it shouldn't be a problem.” Nikolai was ecstatic.
”Shouldn't be too hard.” Nye said.
”This seems like such a good idea.” Miles pocketed his hands, speaking sarcastically.
Nye bit to her finger, letting blood flow to her palm. From her wings, she plucked a feather. Letting the wings retract into her back, she held out the feather in her blood. Her eyes then read from the carving.
”I invoke the foreboding darkness of the night. Come now and attend to me, Wherever you are, I appeal to thee. On the wings of words that fly, Whatever the distance, no matter the time, show yourself, before the end is nigh. ” Nye spoke, as she placed the bloody feather into the ribs at the alter.
Nye winced her eyes, a sudden pain surged through her right arm. From her wrist to her shoulder, a purple tattoo started to be burned into her flesh, spiraling around like a tentacle into an eye at the shoulder. It didn't stop there, the tentacle burned further, onto her chest.
”What the hell?” Nye stared to the tattoo on her right arm.
Miles was also inspecting in urgently. ”What?” He gasped, with a concerned whisper.
Nikolai floated over, looking to the mark as well. Nye looked around with a near angry expression. The tomb around them was beginning to fill with haze, as a ghostly apparition stepped from it.
”And so it begins.” Spoke an ominous male voice from the spirit behind them.
Mile's ears shot back as he growled to the man, whose face was shrouded from view. He kept close to Nye, whom looked to the man. Nikolai floated there, also observing the spirit. He came into view, but his body was practically see through, because he was a ghost. Getting a better look as he drew closer, they realized who he was.
”Lenault Ghestro, I presume?” Nye had one hand loosely placed on her sword.
”Clever girl, you hit the nail on the head, but please, call me Len.” Lenault replied, pocketing his hands, as he eerily crept closer.
”Why isn't he dead?” Miles inquired, with slight aggression to his tone.
”He's a ghost, a soul trapped from the afterlife.” Nye explained, keeping her eyes on the spirit.
”I do believe you had questions, no? I may be a dead man, but I do see everything.” Len spoke up, looking to Nye.
”If you already know, then explain.” Nye said sharply.
”Now now, why the rush?” Len chimed in, appearing beside Nye. ”You desire one simple little detail, when you can have so much more. Doesn't that intrigue you, my dear?”
”What are you on about? Your little ritual burned this into my arm already.” Nye showed her arm, glaring to the horned man.
”Ah that, yes. The understanding of monsters, the blood and feather, now the mark, and even summoning your's truly. It's as Nikolai had guessed, you are of my bloodline. Princess of the Amygdala, Nyghtmare Ghestro.” Len smirked.
”Nyghtmare Ghestro?” Miles mumbled, as he glanced to Nye.
”I see, that's all I needed to know. What would you have me do?Go proclaim who I am? Title or not, Amygdala are forbidden to do much of anything, because of YOU.” Nye crossed her arms, her tone was a bit hostile.
”I never claimed that I wasn't at fault. I can explain anything you wish to hear, but know this, I do have plans for you, my dear.” Len replied sinisterly, rhyming his words.
”That so? Then enlighten me. I want to know everything.” Nye replied sternly.
”Very well. Ask away, and I'll answer.” Len replied, sitting to his shrine.
”Why did you start the war?” Nye inquired.
”That's what everyone wants to know, but no one does. It's a long story, so I'll give you the short version. True to the tales, there was a brief time of peace before the war. However, I didn't initially start it, I just brought it to them. I had a sister, not by blood, but I treated her like one. She was a fiend, and she pissed off someone important. One day, they locked her away, not long before she was taken to the gallows. I could go on about how I wanted to save my sister, and attempted murder on the king of Rhyme because of it, but that would be a lie. After they took her, my wife was forced to watch not only our children, but also my sister's. I only married her to pass on my genetics to keep our line pure blood Amygdala.The woman was rather irritating to say the least, I couldn't stand her. The reason why I started a war, was because of another woman I was having an affair with.She was a Rhyme, the princess to be exact, and her father, the king, didn't like it. I was thrown from their kingdom, but I wasn't gonna have it. I gathered my army, and went in. It didn't go as I planned, as you can see.” Len explained, his gaze focused to the mural by his grave of him and his wife. ”At least they made it out.”
”Just when I was about to feel sorry for you.”Nye crossed her arms, looking sharply to Len.
”Fair enough, but I did keep the bloodline going, as I expect you to do as well. Next inquiry?” Len looked off, unamused.
”Basically, you want me to take the throne, to keep our bloodline alive. What's in this for me?” Nye raised a brow.
”I want our name to rule the world. In the process, you can make whatever choices you desire. Take down the Rhyme, reek havoc, change things for our favor, start a brothel, even reclaim our freedom. whether you kill people or help them, that's your call. I do however think it's imperative to build an army, for you to take the throne, and to not let our kind die out.” Len grinned with a chilling expression, as he intertwined his fingers.
”And how do you expect me to do this?” Nye looked to him skeptically.
”You're my great grand daughter, cleverness runs in the family. You'll think of something. I do have something you'll be needing of course.” Len got up, walking across the chamber to a piece in the wall, resembling an eye. Nye followed, looking to it.
”That sword you have isn't going to be very reliable. See this here? Take it. This is your rite of passing.” Len motioned to the eye.
Nye extended her hand, digging her nails behind the metal surrounding the eye. It took a bit of force, but an odd ring popped out. Nye held it, looking to the designs of the teeth holding the eye to the ring. ”How is a ring, going to help me, better than my sword?” Nye asked, her tone harsh.
”It's not just any ordinary ring. Place it on. In doing this, you accept responsibility as Queen of Fiends.” Len insisted.
”How is being Queen going to benefit me?” Nye inquired, she was still not taken with the idea as of yet.
”Power. If you persuade others to join you, that leaves them to your bidding. You won't be forsaken to a life of solitude any longer, even if it's forbidden. There are power in numbers.” Len smirked, devilishly. ”Why do you suppose they even came up with that rule in the first place?”
”...” Nye was listening.
Len leaned his arm onto Nye's shoulder. ”Think about it, the power to take control of the world. To put an end this way of life. There are endless possibilities, you just need to put your mind towards it.” Len leaned off, looking to her. ”There is one detail you need to know first. Do you believe in reincarnation?”
”Reincarnation? Like past lives and being reborn? Sure, why not?” Nye looked to Len, oddly.
”I must warn you about this ring. When you put it on, you WILL begin to remember things from your past life. The first thing is going to hit hard.” Len looked seriously to Nye.
”What might that be?” Nye inquired, curiously.
”You will relive how you died... Every touch, every pain, every emotion. It's a curse of the ring, and it will forever remind you of your past.” Len explained very seriously. ”Once you pass this part, you're golden.”
”Always a catch.” Nye sighed, and placed the ring on, looking to her hand.
Miles was surprised, and Nikolai was still unreadable. A sharp pain was felt in her head, causing Nye to hold to it. A vision of blood was scene through faded view, a faint glance at a dead boy in her arms. Emotions of sadness and anger were coursing, but it suddenly vanished. A sharp pain hit hard between her eyes, as blood trickled down.
Nye came back to reality, holding her face. She felt it, and it hurt deep. ”That...”