An Impatient Summons
All was still and silent in the Shrine, strangely so, as if nothing had happened. But the tense air in there told differently. The Serpentine Mother was livid and running out of patience.
She watched as he came to Her and knelt before Her. It did not please Her at all this time to see him kneel at Her Altar. And nor did his talk.
Echoes all around him, in the air, in his skull… whispers of Her discontent that were clear only to him. Only he knew the secrets behind Her speech in tongues.
Progress has been slow for too long now. Why is this?
And why do you speak to the Leader when it bears nothing of use? What have you learned?
You are growing soft… it vexes me…
There came a soft growl through the air, like a beast were showing it’s distrust and hunger. He felt Her eyes, somewhere, boring in to him expectantly.
The candles gave a flicker, casting shadows all around the bare walls that all seemed to take her shape before melting in to formless shades once more.
He felt sick, he stayed on his knees, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. He wasn’t moving, he was afraid to, he could feel The Mothers rage, he could feel her eyes, her power. He often loathed having been chosen for this task.
He listened to her and steadied himself. Ooze trickled down his mouth as it often did, uncontrollably during times of stress. He knew it was useless to have spoken to The Leader, but he needed to, he felt that need within him and he acted impulsively.
"I know now that my efforts in contacting the leader was futile..it wasted time. But our main downfall is that we do not know their location. We have captured scouts way out in the desert, they tell us nothing. We have sent patrols…those have either come back with nothing or not come back at all…" his hands trembled. He snarled in his head that The Thief had not contacted him, maybe she died in the heat.
"What more can I do sweet Mother??"
All fell silent. He felt nothing, heard nothing.
Without any warning, the dark pool cracked and clapped as the dark waters parted and roared upwards, showering droplets everywhere. With it came Her enraged roar.
And there She was, emerged from deep within the black pool in all Her gold and red glory saturated with night from the deep. She lunged and moved right to him, slamming Her talon-tipped hands down upon the edge of the pool where he knelt, Her pale face coming close to his own.
"You can try harder! I chose you and gave you purpose, why do you not fulfill it? Torture these scouts you find, show them pieces of their own rotten flesh until they break! Are you not fit enough to do your duty?" She screamed at him with in animalistic tones, Her eyes flashing sickly white and black blood spluttering from Her full lips, spraying over his face.
She glared in to his eyes a moment before She blinked. All at once, Her anger dissolved to be replaced with pained affection for him. She lowered Her head a touch with a sorrowful sigh.
"Why must you disappoint me so? You know how I hate to be resentful towards you... I hate to scream at you..." She told him quietly in softer tones that showed aching and Human tenderness.
