Lately, the members of the Hive had been a touch worried about Bonegrinder, more so than usual. There were days that the Anagari was full of energy and then there were times when he slept for nearly a week. Even Red, the flirty incubus, stated that this was no tiny matter. None of them had ever seen the formidable master so out of balance or exhausted before this year. Then all of the loyal monsters agreed to keep a close eye on the Anagari, taking turns, watching him while he slept. There was magic in the air, all around the shaman, and whisperings of an ancient, long lost language. All of them heard it. Yet, the one who seemed the least surprised of all was Hades.
"This is the fifth day he's slept." Blue sighed, having settled in beside the snake. He slept deeply on his coils, his face shielded partly by the tip of his tail. "Do you think he's sick?"
"I don't think he's sick, I think Bonegrinder is overwhelmed." White told her sister with a frown, hanging upside down in front of her sibling. "By his magic, this prophecy he keeps muttering about, Mother keeping him tasked with keeping an eye on Kaksa's host... he might host a deity, but his body is mortal. I think."
"Mortal, true, but the deity's soul keeps him alive despite the damage."
"... maybe we should boil him some poppies to keep him asleep longer."
"What?! White, why would you say that?"
"So he'd get more rest, so he won't be slithering the tunnels half-conscious at night, rambling in tongues we don't know, and glowing with magic like a firefly."
"You have a point, but I don't think drugging him is the way to go."
"Well, just sting his ass, and keep him knocked out."
"White! I'm not going to sting him!"
"No drugs, no stinging, and I'm assuming you're going to say no to stealing a mild sedative from the palace?"
"Why don't you just make one?"
"My shit's a lot stronger."
Hades tapped his ‘mace’ against the ground. In truth, it was a gigantic club. This chatter was getting under his skin. “We will do nothing to Bonegrinder. And him napping does not stop operations here. You squabble like children as soon as a parent turns his gaze away from you. If you wish to be preoccupied, be so with your tasks.”
"Kitty, we're worried about him, we're not squabbling." Blue shot him a dirty look. "This isn't like Bonegrinder."
"The Bonegrinder we know never gets tired or sleeps for ages like this." White crossed her arms, her eight eyes narrowing at the Lynel. "And our operations are just fine. We have plenty of product that is being made and moved."
“And what does all of you standing about accomplish!”
"Annoying you for one, so I consider that an accomplishment." Blue said dryly. "We're keeping watch on Bonegrinder. He's vulnerable like this and we're not leaving him alone."
"If you're so concerned about us standing around, then I must ask what you're doing." White asked. "Other than nagging us?"
“I’m Bonegrinder’s real protection. His friend. As his little children you have tasks that need completing.” Bonegrinder sniffed the air, irritated. He’d come to call her many names over the years. Harlot. Distraction. Tiny Shadow. Witch. Now in recent years he simply referred Leere as, “The Pesky Sage draws near. Deal with that if you wish a distraction.”
"Leere?" Blue and White exchanged confused glances. The woman hardly ever visited the underground catacombs since she met Sunny. In truth, it did hurt the sisters' feelings, since they were so fond of Leere. Those days of pleasure and leisure were such good times. "... fine. I'll go get here if you stay here with White."
“Very well. The rest of you, disperse.”
Leere herself was making her way through the catacombs of Hyrule and more into the territory marked by the Hive. It certainly been a while, but she still knew her way around. Navigating shadows was never a problem for her.
"It's been a very long time since you've been down here." Blue, as always, was sneaky just like her sister. While White had the silent steps, Blue was able to skitter faster. "I thought you had forgotten about us."
“Not at all Blue. Not at all.” Leere lightly smiled, giving her friend a nod of greetings. “How have you and your sister been?”
"We're both all right. Picked up a few new clients in a less shady manner; herbalists and doctors trying to help patients but unable to get the plants they need." Blue then asked, "If you've come to see Bonegrinder, it's... a bad time."
“I did. Is he in one of his trances again?”
"Not exactly." Blue figured there was no reason to hide the truth from Leere. She was a Sage and a friend of Bonegrinder's. She could be trusted. "He's... I don't know. I'd say sick, but I don't think that's the right word. He's exhausted from being a host. His body is mortal, but the deity within him keeps him alive. Lately, I believe Prama has been more active within Bonegrinder so..." The Echidnan ran a hand back through her dark hair. "We're worried."
Leere put a hand to her chin, thinking deeply on this development. “I fear enemies are collaborating and going to make a move soon. Perhaps I can coax the spirit within so that Bonegrinder can be rational once more.”
"You... are going to try to talk to Prama?" Blue sounded incredulous. "He rarely speaks to any of us. And if he does say anything, he's so bitter." She then rationalized. "Though I think I'd be pretty pissed off too if I was trapped in a body that wasn't my own."
“I’m good with spirits. Lead the way? I’ll let you hold my hand again.”
"Hrm, tempting, but I know you're mated now; monogamously." Blue plucked Leere off the ground and settled the woman on her exoskeleton.
~
"See? Look. I told you he glows sometimes." White insisted when she pointed to Bonegrinder's scales. "Look! He's predominantly black. How does a black Anagari suddenly get shiny, white, glowing scales?"
“Because of the spirit within. Now be quiet before I-“ Hades paused mid argument, looking to see that Blue had brought the witch here. “Ah. I see you brought the woman here. Excellent use of your time...”
“Sheer-Khan.” Leere ignored the sarcasm in his voice. “I can see indeed Bonegrinder is not his usual self.”
"I'm glad to see you, Leere, though will you please tell this pretty kitty that Bonegrinder has had this spirit within him for years on end and has never glowed?" White insisted. "Something wrong."
"He could just be dreaming again." Blue set Leere down close to Bonegrinder. "Or maybe shifting his magical energies?"
“Would you all give me a moment with Bonegrinder? Perhaps I can see what’s wrong with him.” Hades, surprisingly, nodded his head. “Everyone out. Letting the Sage examine Bonegrinder will finally show you that the old snake is not in mortal danger.”
"Once again, we know he's not in mortal danger, he's not mortal. In a sense." White retorted with a stubborn grumble. "We will wait outside, kitty cat."
Once Hades shoed the others out, Leere bent close to her friend’s head. Whispering softly, she spoke out to him with a hand on his cheek. “Am I speaking to Bonegrinder or am I speaking to Prama?”
"Leave me be, Shadow Sage, I am not in the mood to deal with you or those other detestable creations of my brother." Prama's voice flowed through Bonegrinder's lips, those eyes opening to be solid gold - no pupil, no snake-like slit, nothing. "Your snake sleeps and tries to heal inside the confines of his mind."
“Heal from what? Did you hurt him? Something else harm him?” Leere spoke softly to him.
"Long ago, he was unfortunate to come into contact with my brother before I awakened within him. His mind is damaged by the horror he suffered." Prama scoffed. "I would be foolish to attempt to harm this so-called body. It's bad enough I am trapped in one of my brother's created species, but also now, an insane one. He sleeps because I force him to. The mind is a fragile thing and he is holding on by threads."
“I need his assistance with a matter most important Prama. I had a terrible omen come to me. Something of great danger is rising in Malus. I must investigate the source of this omen.”
"Let me guess." Prama sounded most unenthused. "Demons? Hellspawn? Take your pick. Nothing good comes from Malus. Long ago, my brother created a portal to hell there where all the damned souls dwell." He said in most dry humor. "A 'dumping pit' as he called it."
Leere didn’t want to throw around an accusation without a belief in it. So she trusted on her gut when she spoke her next words carefully. “I saw a cruel being with leathery wings. He claimed he was your brother.”
"Even lesser demons like to parade as Dhakk just to scare those who know the stories." Prama did not sound too convinced. He repeated a rhyme of the old tricks to identify hell spawn. "They cannot hide their red eyes and there you see through their lie. Demon, hell spawn, or hellish tricks, know your magic to toss them to the pit."
“It was shadows. All shadows.” Leere clenched her fist, seeing this wouldn’t get her anywhere. “Please. I sense a calamity about to unfold. As a creator, you could help me stop it.”
"And why should I?" Prama sounded very... bitter. Just like the sisters warned Leere. "I have been trapped within this body for a millennia. The beings I created have forgotten me. No one believes an Anagari is the host of the Maker. My creations have fallen into ruin and the world is unbalanced. There is hate and evil running rampant where there used to be goodness and love. Without my full power, I am cut off, unable to connect to my beloved Kaksa. I don't even know what happened to her after Dhakk lashed out at us. Yet, when I look at the world, I fear she is gone."
"Because the world deserves better. It deserves kindness and generosity. I want to give that. And I think you do to. Help me do that."
"The world deserves better? Even when this world I created with Kaksa has forgotten us?" Prama still held contempt in his voice. "Give me a reason, woman of Malus, for even attempting this folly besides trying to appeal to my sense of compassion, for these mortal beings. Kindness and generosity for all? Even the ones who did such horrors to you? You truly expect me to believe that?"
"You don't stop being a good being just because the one's you love are gone. My father and mother are gone, but my resolve in fighting the evil of humanity to save the good has not dwindled. What would your Kaksa say to see your resolve to heal and bring life be crushed so?"
"I do not know what Kaksa would say. I have not heard her voice in so long." Prama sounded... sorrowful. "I often wonder if I will ever hear her again. I wonder if what those monsters in Omisha ramble about her return is true, or just a farce to keep me close. Either way..." He sighed, very tired. "I often enjoyed spreading my light to the corners of the world. I loved to see the smile on my creations' faces each time I gave them something new to use on this planet. I do not like to see pain or suffering... yet I feel without my full power, I am too weak to stop such madness."
"Then help me. Help me now. Either with your own hand or by giving Bonegrinder the control to free Malus." Leere held his hand, nodding softly. "Let me be your soldier for good."
"... Malus is not of my origin, Shadow Sage." Prama warned Leere. "I will be limited as to what I will be able to do while trapped in this host. Even Modoc, Bonegrinder as you call him, might not be able to protect you as he has before. While my brother and I are twins, we are opposites. I cannot control his creations and he cannot control mine."
"Then just get me there. I can fight any monster."
"You can fight any monster." Prama stated assuredly. "Yet... you have never faced a god."
"No. No, I haven't. But I've faced killers, rapists, undead, vile demons, savage monsters and other dimensional nightmares. What's a god to a non believer?" Leere smiled to reassure a literal god.
Once the portal was open, Black went through first to scout for any potential danger. After a few minutes, he gave the go ahead to come through. Oddly enough, the land was striking. It was full of life, unlike the opposite side of the mountains. There were trees and grass as far as the eye could see instead of a harsh and unforgiving desert or wasteland.
Hades was the next to go in, trotting about and keeping an eye out for danger. Finally, Leere walked in. The sun was bright, and the sky was blue. The air was more breathable than Omisha as well. She guessed they were still closer to the border than central Malus, because if she looked far enough, she could see mountains in the distance. The area they were in had many hills, with fields of grass and vibrant flowers around them. Taking a breath, she looked to Bonegrinder, honestly confused, but a little relieved. Finally, she settled on a little sarcasm. “Land of torment and lifeless death, eh?”
"Don't you start, you haven't seen the inner city." Bonegrinder poked her nose with his finger. "This old snake has a long time ago."
"The land has recovered in these areas, though I am skeptical of the areas closer to civilization." Black looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was adept at tracking and studying the lay of the earth since his job was to be as sneaky as possible. "It has remained untouched for quite some time."
“Well, let’s look around. Can’t find what we are looking for if we don’t start walking.”
"Don't wander off, stay close." Bonegrinder repeated to Leere. "You never know what could be watching. Or who could be watching."
Hades was on the lookout, when he suddenly heard a snap of the grass about 50ft away. In the distance, an insect creature ran out of the tall grass. Suddenly, a reptilian creature, a beast akin to a raptor, jumped on top of it. It tore the insect apart, using claws to tear off its shell, talons on its feet to hold it in place, and sharp teeth to tear into its flesh. As it was eating, it picked up on a sound Hades made repositioning himself. It appeared to have no eyes or nose, simply having two holes in the side of its head.
Leere was cautious, yet fascinated by the pale reptile. Still, she dared not move.
"Oh fucking hell, I forgot about those." Black whispered under his breath to the others. "Don't move. They hunt based off movement through the earth."
The Reptilmox looked around, focusing on the movement of Black speaking. When Black stopped talking, it slowly started to lose interest. Why put energy in finding more prey when it made a kill? Grabbing its meal, it dragged it back into the tall grass to devour.
Hades waited a little while, before feeling confident it was far enough away. “Everyone keep walking.”
"Watch your step." Black told the group as they slowly made their way through the tall grass.
"And your back." "If one of those saunters out again, we will do our best to avoid fighting it." Bonegrinder informed the others. "Draw less attention. However, if it detects you and comes at you... run."
As they walked through the tall grass, they found the first sign of civilization. It was a pointed road sign that read, “Go back to Heilogtum.”
Leere looked around their surroundings. The area still had beautiful grass lands, but was now mixing opening up into a valley pass.
"Now that... was put here recently. Look, the wood hasn't rotted a bit." Black looked at the sign. "It's obviously a warning... but for what?"
Hades looked around, and was the first to see the danger. A pack of the pale reptiles, all the size of him, were running around the valley corner. “Incoming! Hold your ground!”
Trouble was heading their way. If the group had to flee, Bonegrinder was not too worried about Hades. The Lynel was fast. Black could run for ages, yet, he could not surpass the speed of one of those damn reptiles. Leere was only human and there was no chance if the reptiles were too close. With a slight indication of his head, Bonegrinder motioned for Black to get on his coils. So the assassin grabbed Leere and held tight to the Anagari.
Leere was ready to fight if needed be, but being grabbed would be make it harder for her to help.
Splitting into pairs, the reptiles circled Bonegrinder and Hades respectively. Hades already started to run in the direction the sign pointed. As one of the reptiles jumped at him, he reared back, kicking it with the force of ten horses in the head. The creature was more disoriented then anything, fumbling about.
The pair chasing Bonegrinder made a jump at him, wanting to claw him and tiny figures apart.
Bonegrinder was trying to keep his magic use to a minimum. If the demons of Malus were anything like those he faced in the past, the fiends would sense it and try to find him. Though, just because he could use magic, didn't mean he could not use brute strength. He whacked one reptile in the head with his massive tail and coiled his body around the other's neck, snapping it.
The Reptilmox left fighting Bonegrinder hissed viscously. Opening its mouth, a thick tongue shot out to try and snare Black of Bonegrinder from a distance.
Black reacted rather swiftly, reaching into his belt and pulling out his blade. He sliced off the tongue and pushed Leere down to avoid the appendage.
Able to at least cast magic, Leere pointed a hand out, and a necrotic ball of shadow energy shot out. Hitting the creature, it screamed, the flesh on its face boiling off.
As two more were about to engage, there was a loud rumbling in the east. With a bark between them, they ran off, ignoring the prospect of food, fear taking its place.
Bonegrinder only uttered three words.
"Don't let go."
With that, he took off as fast as he could slither, Hades following behind him.
Leere did as she was told. She couldn’t see it, but she could hear the rumbling and feel the earth shake. In a mountainside, there was a cave with a sign pointing towards it. In the cave, a thick fog filled all its walls and area. When Hades approached it, he was the only one to feel a terrible effect on his body. He noticed one of the monsters veer away from the cave as well. It most likely would bring physical harm to monster kind. “Bonegrinder. You must flee here without me.”
"What?!" Bonegrinder was almost inside the cave when Hades' statement caught him off guard. He gestured for Black to stay with Leere while he slithered back to Hades. "This is the only place we have to hide right now. He cannot in good conscience leave you here alone!"
“I-I can’t explain it. I can’t enter.”
"Then he will stay with you to fight while Black guards Leere."
“No we-!!!”
“Oh dear god.” Leere muttered breathlessly.
Coming into view was a massive colossus. A construct of stone, earth, energy and a thick reek of flesh for a body. Turning a skull face with skin dangling from its mouth, it laid eyes on the group. Colossi Mata had the form of a massive tiger with the head of a dragon and the horns of a bull. Raising a hand slowly, it came down on an unfortunate Reptilmox, crushing it with the scale of an ant. Slowly, it turned its attention to the group. Despite looking like something that crawled out of hell, the Colossi was of balance and pure neutrality; it killed any creature it saw, be it monster, animal, human or demon so it might not escape Malus. Hades knew this was a flight situation, not fight. “No! Go through the cave! Now!” Without another word he started to run off. “I will find you later!”
"Kit, get back here!!!" Bonegrinder used the nickname he gave to the Lynel years ago, imploring him to move into the cave for safety. He tried to lunge at Hades, but the Lynel was too quick. He was off into the tall grass and the Anagari was forced to retreat into the cave.
The massive colossi turned its attention away from the group and onto the Lynel. The last Bonegrinder saw was a gigantic beam of light shoot from its horns and engulf all sight between the snake and Hades as it tried to eradicate the monster.
Leere held Bonegrinder’s hand as they ventured through the deep fog. She could feel the anguish almost radiate off Bonegrinder. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
"... he should be fine. He's been in worse situations than this." Bonegrinder tried to stay positive.
"It's funny to think that this old snake has known Hades since he was a small kitten."
"An angry cat, you mean." Black snorted.
“If you say he’ll be alright, I believe you.” Leere had no idea how deep they’d have to walk through this fog. Best they keep going with hopes high.
~
The heart of Malus was pumping hard as the Cults of Inferos double checked all their modifications on the Great Tower. For years now, a breakthrough was made that could harness untold cosmic and necrotic energies. If the tower could be modified, it could be used as a conductor for something truly horrific. The residents of Inferos were either horrified beyond belief of what was soon to come, or they ultimately resided to the future.
One man was checking symbols on an obelisk put in place, when a figure floated behind him.
“Are we certain preparations are working?”
The architect lowered his book, looking over his shoulder to look into the eyes of a being of shadow. The form flickered like static, glowing intense eyes not shy of radiating a deep sense of dread and evil. Even the most devoted cultists didn’t like to stare too long into those eyes. Looking back at the beacon, the architect answered. “All the Obelisks are set, and the engraving are set to the runes that have been instructed all down the tower.”
The architect then rubbed his brow, looking up at a sizzling worm hole not too far above his head. Ever since the Gods showed up, they gave gifts of sealed away knowledge. Most didn’t complain at first when they opened a gateway to a dimension of pure energy to siphon from, but then came all the undead that couldn’t be outright controlled… and all the visions that brought paranoia, madness, and anger to those who were ‘weak minded’. “I must ask, but why do we wait to use the tower? Is the energy source above us not enough?”
The shadow leaned closer, whispering from rotten lips into the Mortuus’ ears. “We need a summon forth an organism that would be powerful enough to be a connection between the dimension and the tower. And one that my master can trust.”
“Where is this organism?”
“Sealed away in the flesh and soul of a Mortuus woman.”
The architect once again wiped his brow, feeling sweat drip down his cheek. “Wait. That Mortuus?”
“Yes.”
“But she does not reside in Malus, let alone Inferos.”
“That is why your God has taken the time to bring about her long-awaited return to this monument to sin. Here, her purpose will at last be achieved.” The shadow growled happily into the man’s ear as a new sinister and deeper tone left its lips. “I have awaited a long, long time for this.”
Sunny sat in silence for a while, miffed, but quiet as she gathered her thoughts. She was ready for work when Leere told her that she was having to go away. “I don’t like it.”
“I know.”
“What you want to do is dangerous.”
“It is.”
“Are you absolutely sure you have to do this? You said that being a sage would keep you in Hyrule. Can’t someone else do this?”
“No. I’m sorry. It has to be me.”
Sunny watched Joy play in living room, wincing at the thought of losing her wife. “What about our daughter?”
“I’m certain if I don’t go, you, our daughter, and so many others will be killed. I’ve foreseen this.”
Sunny pinched her forehead, sighing deeply. “Goddarn it.”
Leere gave her moment before holding her hand. “Sunny...”
“Don’t make a girl a promise if you know you can’t keep it.”
Leere smiled, waiting for her wife to look her in the eye. “You know me, when I make a promise.”
Sunny smiled back, yet her sadness was still there. “Well, we’ll be waiting.”
Standing up from the table, she looked to Joy. “Joy? Both your mommies are leaving for work. You’ll have Aunt Galaxia look after ya.”
“Ok. Love you both.” Joy ran up to hug both her mothers, with both women kneeling down to hug her back. Leere smiled, rubbing her daughter’s hair. “We love you too.”
As both moms walked out the door, they turned to each other, stole a kiss, and walked separate ways to their work. Now the only ones who knew Leere left was her wife. Heading back to the Hive, she stopped by a mail box, having a backup letter delivered to Zizi.
~
"Hades," The notorious assassin of the Hive, nicknamed 'Black' by Bonegrinder, appeared to the Lynel. He was rather curious why the summons. Usually, the Lynel avoided him, saying the scent of undeath was disgusting. "You called?"
“I did. I need someone who can protect and aid the shadow sage, as well as our leader when we venture to Malus.”
"... you do realize I am an assassin, not a guardian?" Black thought someone had rubbed the big cat's fur the wrong way to get him thinking such nonsense. "I will go if Bonegrinder requires me, though, I am a surprise he agreed to go to Malus."
“Only because of the girl. I don’t trust her. Another reason I’m asking you to go.” Hades rested a hand on his shoulder. “If you sense deception that could put Bonegrinder in grace mortal danger, I want you to execute her.”
"I will not hesitate to kill her if I sense ill will toward Bonegrinder." Black assured the Lynel. He had been with the Anagari almost as long as Blue and White. Bonegrinder had found him wandering a graveyard and managed to help him recover some of his memories. He felt he owed the Echidnan a great debt. "Or any other being. Including yourself."
“Your loyalty and lack of flare in order to work effectively is why I value you most in the Hive.”
"I am here to serve Bonegrinder. You may be his friend, but I am his assassin." Black stated with a stoic expression. "I owe him for helping me remember who I was, how I died, and if not for him, I would have been unable to get my revenge on those who wronged me. Now, since I am still here and trapped upon this earthly plane, I wish to be useful to him until the magic which keeps me this way runs out."
“That is all I and him ask of you Black. Now come, the witch approaches.” Leere navigated the Hive, this time escorted by Silver. To be honest, she wasn’t sure if she disliked him or Red more. Least Red was physically attractive.
But Red loved to talk. "You know, sweet thing, I could totally give you some tips on how to make that pretty wife of yours just squeal in bed." The incubus floated a few inches off the floor, puffing his long jade pipe. "You do know that if you do the Omishan alphabet with your tongue, then she'll be orgasming within seconds."
"Can you talk about anything other than sex?" Silver groaned as the incubus pestered Leere. "Like... maybe the weather for once?"
"The weather in the great down under is doing just fine." Red grinned. "Moist, warm, and ready."
"... remind me to never ask you that again."
Nope. Red was worse. “Please. Stop.” Leere rubbed her temple to clear a migraine.
"Leave the sage alone, Red, she does not require your lessons in nocturnal activities." Black told the incubus with an annoyed expression. "Go back to your whore houses."
"I just don't understand how she resists me and yet fell into the claws of those sisters." "I guess they're a better fuck than you." Silver snorted. "And how would she know? We haven't fucked yet!"
“Because they’d be better company before and after. Leave.”
"You're missing out, girlfriend, that's all I can say." Red then disappeared with a puff of smoke, leaving Black and Silver to waft it away out of the air.
Leere moved through the smoke to Bonegrinders chamber. She knew well enough it was by now.
The Anagari was rapidly puffing his own pipe from Red, angrily. Needless to say, the snake was very agitated. He had books thrown about, opened to various pages, and was cursing in Omishan.
“Bonegrinder? I’m ready if you are. Leere was decked out in her monster hunting robes, ready for cooler weather. She thought it best to open up to the serpent in a friendly mood.
"He is not going." The Anagari flicked his tail, taking a deep inhale of his pipe to calm his nerves. "Malus is a wasteland, nothing but death and decay and dangerous and demons---why did you agree to take her there, you idiot divinity?!"
A sudden shift of personality and glowing eyes revealed Prama once more. "I am Prama, the Maker, and those innocents inside of Malus deserve a chance to be free of the enemy---"
With a grunt, Bonegrinder returned. "And have you thought about what would happen to your precious prophecy, your beloved Kaksa's host, if you were to be caught?!"
"You mean if we were caught."
“You won’t be. We’ll be careful every step of the way.” Leere walked over, picking his books up. “You should keep better care of these.”
"He is researching how to expel this nuisance from his body."
"Your body? We share it, you overgrown sack of scales."
"He is not going!"
"Yes, you are!"
"You cannot make him!"
"Do you really want me to take over your body for the entire trip?"
"Don't you dare! You're such a pain in the ass!"
"The Shadow Sage requires our assistance and has made a good point. Kaksa would want us to continue to try to do good."
"Kaksa is the reason this whole mess started."
"You take that back!"
"Kiss his black scale-covered ass!"
The arguing was stopped when Leere took their hand. “Bonegrinder. Not only do I believe my own life is danger, but also my families and the people of Malus. I want my friend to be with me and have my back. Can I count on you?”
"Mother has warned you of Malus, he has warned you of Malus, and you still insist upon going?" The Anagari asked his friend. "What makes you so sure that he knows how to get in the country in the first place?"
“Because of your insistence of not going. You know.” Leere patted his hand, unable to be unswayed. “Please? For me?”
"Hrm... he does not like it when you beg him."
“I could go by myself you know. Take a lot longer. More danger too.”
"Now you are being a brat."
“Am I? I’m not the one throwing a fit with himself.” Leere shrugged. “Guess I better get going if I want to save those people.”
"Prama is not Bonegrinder and Bonegrinder is not Prama." The Anagari shook his finger at Leere. "Two souls, one body." He grumbled under his breath. "He does not like it that you did not speak to him first on this issue. Malus is a one-way ticket to hell on earth, Leere. He fears for your safety."
“And I my family Bonegrinder. This is me asking a friend to help me. Can I count on you?” Leere put her hands to her hips, waiting for her final answer.
"... he will go." Bonegrinder finally replied, not liking the fact that Leere was trapping him between a hard choice and an impossible task. "Though we will not stay but one day."
“Thank you. Then let’s be off.”
“Not without us.” Hades trotted over with Black, his hooves clipping silently. “We will accompany Bonegrinder for his safety.”
Leere didn’t expect a larger party. “Oh. I didn’t think this needed your attention.”
“Believe me, it does.”
"Hades, old friend, and Black, his trusted warrior, Malus is a country full of hellish monsters and those looking to steal your soul." Bonegrinder frowned. "He does not wish to put you two in harm's way."
"I have already departed this world once, Bonegrinder, I do not fear doing so again if it is to help you." Black stated. "You once helped me with no qualms. I am going to be by your side to look out for you when others fail to do so."
“And I am a monster among monsters. None can kill me so easily.”
"And you may be the last of your kind." Bonegrinder asked the Lynel. "Would you have this Anagari be responsible for the death of the last, great Lynel?"
“Don’t worry old friend, you won’t.” Sheer-Khan patted the snake on the shoulder. “But let us make this quick so that the woman’s quest does not delay us from our tasks here.”
"Hrm, are you using this as an excuse to get away from Red for a while? We both know the incubus would love to have a roll in the sheets with you." Bonegrinder chuckled, not passing up an opportunity to lightly tease his friend. "We must be able to stay together or at least know where the other is in case of danger." The Anagari plucked three of his scales. "Consume these and he will know where you are if he has to create portals to get us out of harm's way or if we are somehow separated."
They all took them, nodding. Leere gripped her shadow medallion, giving herself assurance. “When you’re ready.”
"He must warn you all. While creating portals is an easy task with the right magic, keeping them open is another. If he says we go through then, we go then. Not later. Are we all clear?" "Yes, Bonegrinder." Black replied.
“You need not ask twice.” Hades replied.
“I understand.” Leere said in turn.
"Stay together and do not wander off." Bonegrinder pricked Leere's and Hade's fingers and took a single hair from Black since he only had dead blood. Then he started working on the portal.
"This old snake will be very limited with his magic when we arrive. The last thing he wants is trouble. If we do not find what Leere seeks within a day, we are coming back."
Leere nodded in agreement. She wasn’t going to disagree with her friend. As the portal opened, she steeled herself for what would come ahead.
Constricted Souls: Ch 2. A Deal with an Old Friend
Leere had gotten back from a funeral for a college. She blamed herself for her death. Damn woman was so intent on exploring the ruins of the jungle, Leere simply gave in, not going over certain safety procedures. It got her killed by the creature she so wanted to study.
To get her mind off the event, her mind turned to the Titanboa that claimed the life of her friend, studying snakes just like it. Like a switch that had not been flipped in years, certain gears of her memory started turning. A memory of a snake creature in the catacombs of Hyrule. Hyrule's catacombs held legends of lost treasures of knowledge. She had never gone and looked for them before, seeking knowledge from outside Hyrule. Maybe a trip closer to home was what she needed. Going to the basement, she went to the old library, which had been turned into a dungeon. Gearing up, she ran into one of Ralnor's spies. "You. I need to enter this specific room."
"I'm sorry, Princess Leere, but no one is allowed in here under Prince Ralnor's rules." The spy knew better than to miss off the prince. "I cannot let you through."
"I'm outside Prince Ralnor's jurisdiction. To be truthful, I was being pleasant in asking you first. Now I'm telling you. I'm entering this room."
"I'm sorry, but I have my orders."
Leere used her wallmaster to morph out of the wall, grabbing the spy. "You can tell Ralnor to come get me."
Before he could say a word or yell out an yelp, the wallmaster pulled the spy through the portal to Ralnor's office, and Leere opened the door to the dungeon. Ignoring whatever was inside, she made her way to the old corner that she faintly recalled. Using a spell, she applied a small bottle of acid, and expanded its contents, burning a hole. The hole was barely big enough for her. She knew this was most likely a bad idea, but she felt the wood beneath her and started to use her knife to pull out the screws. "And her we- GOOOOO!!!" The floor gave way, and she plummeted down into the catacombs once again. Landing on her feet, she rolled to save any damage to her. Memories were already coming back to her enough that she knew it wasn't a dream from her youth. Now, she'd be more prepared. Lighting a torch, she made her way deeper into the darkness. Hopefully she wouldn't be walking into a nightmare.
The catacombs had changed drastically since Leere made her trip down the rabbit hole all those years ago. Many of the dangerous sections had collapsed, like Bonegrinder predicted. There were even a few skeletons leftover from some of the Anagari's more unfortunate meals. However, in order to find her target, it would take a longer than last time. It would be a dark and gloomy pathway to her destination.
Leere was cautious as she walked forward into the darkness. Whispers of the dead spoke in her ear, telling her of danger was simply in the air.
“How astute to notice in a place like this...”
Shaking them off, the necromancer continued, tapping the staff on her back. If she needed her foldable scythe, it was available to her. As well as the dagger at her side.
Meanwhile, Bonegrinder was resting in his hammock, swinging back and forth while smoking his pipe. He was just about to doze off when one of his Hive members brought him back into the land of reality.
"Master, there is an intruder in the catacombs." Black Shadow informed the Anagari with an irritated sigh. "I thought you talked to the prince about this?"
"Another one of Ralnor's pets off his leash?" Bonegrinder set his pipe to the side. He would have to finish his choice of tobacco later. Getting up from his comfortable spot, he then asked, "Do tell, who is it?"
"I think, but I'm not sure... it's the adopted princess?"
"The blonde one?"
"No, the other one. Red eyes, dark hair, sort of pale."
Leere looked to her right in darkness. Something was watching her, she could feel it in her gut. But she didn’t feel an ill intent. Yet.
Grabbing a bouncy ball in her pocket to attract attack dogs away from her, she threw it into the dark.
Blue Haze and White Fog watched as the hounds followed the toy the girl threw, but the sisters stayed put on the wall. Unless Bonegrinder ordered it, the two of them could not kill someone. For some reason, the tiny female looked somewhat familiar. The two sisters whispered to each other, saying that Black Shadow had alerted their master and would wait for orders. Though for now, their task was to keep her away from the danger in the catacombs. This could actually be just an innocent in the catacombs... or perhaps was it an old stranger from the past?
Leere reached a wall with a sealed door. It had a sun on the door, no light leaking through. The Princess knew that long ago a Temple of Time had been created in Hyrule. Taking a notebook, she started to sketch the design of the door.
The message was relayed. Bring the adopted princess to the master, he had some questions for her. Though there was something a bit off about this small female. The magic swirling around her, the aura about her, it screamed danger. Not of pain or anguish, but the girl reeked of death. White Fog and Blue Haze agreed that the best way to go about this was to coax her to the place that their master wished for her to go.
"Pretty princess, pretty princess, won't you follow me?" White Fog whispered from the dark. "Our master, he wishes to see you."
"Says it is time for a greeting of old acquaintances." Blue Haze said softly. "Come with us."
Leere closed her book quickly and swung the torch around. “I am indeed Princess Leere. My presence is not meant to be dangerous. Do I speak to spirit, man, monster, or demon?”
"We are ancient."
"We are many."
"We are Echidnan."
"We hail from Omisha, of the Mother of all Monsters."
Blue Haze and White Fog spoke in a harmonious tone together, used to lure prey closer... wondering if it would work on Leere.
Leere squinted her eyes slowly. “Echidnan’s. A highly powerful breed of Chimera’s if I’m not mistaken?”
“We are more ancient than any chimera.”
“....Do you live here in this underground, faceless voices?”
"The catacombs are Bonegrinder's."
"Therefore, the catacombs are ours."
"He rules."
"We stand beside him."
"We are seen as monsters when humans are the ones who drove us from our home." White Fog was the first to emerge from the darkness, only the half which appeared human. "And we few survived."
"So we stay together, and look after one another." Blue Haze was next. "Survive together."
“Admirable.” Leere decided a fight would not be ideal for anyone. And the name Bonegrinder jogged her memories. “Take me to him.”
"Follow us, pretty princess." White Fog was tempted to squeal at how gorgeous the princess was. "So pretty, so young, and so cute~~~!"
"Sister, Bonegrinder has discussed this numerous times." Blue Haze reminded her sister. "You can't keep humans as a pet."
“I won’t tolerate talks of me being a pet.” Leere tapped her dagger, her murderous aura flashing to the sisters, like a cobra hissing forward with a warning. She continued to follow them deeper into the catacombs.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Black Shadow asked Bonegrinder with a hint of uneasiness in his voice. "This isn't some random straggler, this is the princess."
"What? Do you think this old snake is going to eat her?" Bonegrinder snickered at the man's anxiousness. "All will be well."
Leere entered the main room to Bonegrinder’s chambers. She appreciated the more lit lights.
“Hello. My name is Leere Dragmire. Princess of Hyrule.”
"... I think this is a bad idea." Sterling Silver snorted. "Miss Rich-and-Priss will have loads of guards looking for her."
"Will you just hush and let Bonegrinder do his thing?" Red Lover sat cross legged on a mountain of pillows. "He obviously has a plan or an idea or a thought in that head of his."
"Fine." Sterling Silver grumbled under his breath.
"We have brought the princess, master." Blue Haze scuttled up the way alongside her sister. "Unharmed, as ordered."
"Are you sure that I can't---" White Fog started again, but her sister shushed her.
"No! If you want a pet, get a cat."
Leere could see them now with extended lighting. A scorpion and spider woman lead her to this location. An orc was barking in a worried tongue. A man in a similar aura to Ghirahim in red sat on the pillows. These catacombs had transformed into a lair right under her nose. She gave a light bow of her head. “Bonegrinder... please say hello. It has been so long that I have forgotten your face.”
"This old snake was wondering if you would remember him." Bonegrinder chuckled. "After all, you were so little and did not want to let go of Bonegrinder's tail."
"Oh, come on!" Sterling Silver exclaimed. "You knew her but didn't tell us? Not cool."
"Hush before I summon my pretty kitty cat." Red Lover whapped Sterling Silver with his fan. "Just listen."
Leere’s red eyes locked with Bonegrinder’s. She suddenly felt her back tattoo loosen a little bit of blood. Her blood magic felt a connection to the serpents own magic body. She focused her mind to stop the bleeding. Was this a threat she wasn’t expecting? These connections usually ended with a Demon wanting to subjugate her body and soul to terrible tortures. Calming her mind, she hoped none of these monsters suddenly lusted to value her. They seemed of a higher moral compass on first glance. Playing a poker face she spoke smoothly. “I’m starting to remember now. Your scales were dazzling. Still are. I hope time has been kinder to you than it has to me. It’s easy to see you’ve been busy building something here.”
"Hmm... she smells different." Red Lover murmured under his breath.
"You are still tiny like you were then." Bonegrinder chuckled, though in Leere's defense, any creature compared to the massive snake was small. "Though last time, this one recalls you were simply lost. This time, my children tell me you were looking for something? Or were you just taking a trip down memory lane, tiny princess?"
“I am here indeed on business.”
"Information, tiny one?" Bonegrinder unwrapped his coils, slowly approaching Leere in all his giant glory. "What sorts of information? Bonegrinder sees all and knows all through his children, but nothing he offers is free."
Leere was surprised by his size. Had he gotten bigger? She gave him a stern nod. “Of course. I wouldn’t ask of you of anything for free. Even if you are taking free rent underground the castle.” Leere gave a light chuckle. “I’ve traveled across the world and learned much magic and knowledge myself. Not to mention finding some true treasure. Perhaps there is something we can learn from each other.”
"What is it that you wish to know, tiny princess?" Bonegrinder slithered around Leere in circles. "Information about someone? A spell? Ancient magic?"
“Ancient magic and texts. This underground was made up of old Hyrule. For instance, a temple linked to the sages and pray to the sacred realm was built here.”
"Oh, the temple!" Blue Haze knew what Leere was referring to, having exploration several portions of the catacombs. "The one with the strange door?"
"We could never figure out how to get in, so we just left it be." White Fog shrugged her shoulders. "We figured it was just a tomb of someone really important."
"The map of the old underground is no longer accurate since we have made several changes." Black Shadow scoffed. "It would be foolhardy to try to use one. You'd need a guide."
"Letting the likes of her explore the catacombs? Pst, that's a dumb idea." Sterling Silver grumbled under his breath. "She might bring more trouble."
"I'm more concerned about her leaking our little party to her siblings." Red Lover still did not seem at ease.
Sheer-Khan entered, drawn like a shark to the literal blood that had leaked from Leere. Settling he eyed her, the same as a lion on the savannah.
Leere eyed the others in the room. “And who are they, your cheer squad? The piggy seems to complain a lot.”
"You ought to watch your mouth, you disgusting human fil---"
"Silver." Bonegrinder's leering gaze only needed one word. "Hush."
"Grrr... fine."
"These are my children, my workers, my friends... they have many titles, but all answer to me." Bonegrinder then gestured to Sheer-Khan. "The last of his kind, the noble Khan, my most trusted friend."
Leere felt uneasy about how the Lynel was looking at her, even as he was simply sitting down. “Noted. I can most likely get that door open. All I ask is that you don’t defile any artifacts you can. And that I get first look. Is there anything you desire Bonegrinder?”
"Servitude?" Red Lover snickered. "On her knees?"
"An arm or a leg for a snack?" Silver had a grin on his face in his dark humor. "To save for later?"
"Have her give you that pretty weapon of hers." Black suggested. "Looks like good quality."
"Something she could steal from that snotty magician who always flirts with his clients?" Blue Haze did not like Vaati, and wanted him gone. He kept stealing her drug formulas off the market and more than once, she had to threaten him with bodily harm to get him to stop. "Or just set off a bomb in his office?"
"Dress up!" Everyone paused and looked at White Fog. "... what? She's pretty and I want to dress her up in cute clothes."
"While this old snake appreciates the suggestions, Bonegrinder knows what he wants." The Anagari stopped slithering and ran a single claw down Leere's back. "He wants a closer look at that sigil on your back."
Hades leaned his head closer. Bonegrinder must have sensed it too. This woman had a body that had a richness in blood and soul that was simply… attractive. In the most literal sense, like atom to atom. However, he didn’t know if he wanted to hold her or eat her.
Leere paused as he ran the claw. “My marking.... just to look?”
"That and perhaps a sample of your blood, tiny princess... you must know this old snake can sense the magic in you, of you, around you." Bonegrinder lifted his black claw. "That is Bonegrinder's price for information you seek. He will take you to this temple you wish to find. He knows where it is."
“I saw the door... I just didn’t want to be rude and intrude on your territory.” She turned to follow his gaze. “If I do this... we’ll do it alone?”
"Indeed, alone, tiny princess." Bonegrinder flicked the edge of his tail and held it up for her to shake. "Do we have a bargain?"
Leere felt danger from the others, danger from him, but the only one that had trust was Bonegrinder. Nodding, she shook his tail.
"Very well then." Bonegrinder then told Leere. "The temple door you found is a false one. It leads to nothing but traps. The real one is on a different level of tunnels."
“Yet, something tells me, you haven’t opened it. I think we could explore together. You’re the only one I trust to be delicate.”
“No, Bonegrinder has no reason to open the real door.” The Anagari shook his head. “He does not believe in disturbing graves.”
“Going through graves to change, disturb, and fix is a specialty of mine.” Leere gave a smile that was completely infectious. Hades was normally a level headed individual, but being around this woman was like gas dulling his senses.
“Necromancer.” Bonegrinder was impressed. “That is a rarity nowadays.”
“I’m the only one I know. Or at least the only one that isn’t morally evil.”
A necromancer. That made Hades uneasy. They were incredibly dangerous beings if left to their own devices. He’d have to speak to the others about this privately.
A spider came and whispered to the sisters that one of Ralnor’s spies had been at the border of the territory, asking for Leere to return to her brother.
“Master, the pretty prince wants his sister to return home, doesn’t want her nosing around down here.” Blue Haze told Bonegrinder. “Your excursion might have to wait until another time.”
Leere sighed. “I need to retrieve the key for the door, but I hope this doesn’t complicate things.” She patted Bonegrinder’s hand. “I’ll return soon. Thank you for agreeing to this… partnership.”
“When you desire to return, please do not use the path you used today.” Bonegrinder gestured to his Hive, all his beloved children as he called them. “One of them will come to fetch you from the secret passageways of the castle. You may pick whoever you desire to help you seek Bonegrinder.”
Leere pointed to the sister that insisted Leere was no pet. The only one she didn’t feel was too much of a threat. “She’ll do. To be frank, I don’t trust any of them, but she is the one who seems the most intelligent and most control of their urges. The rest of you feel like a dagger ready to stab in the back. Or a dog with rabies, give or take.”
“Hey! I’m not a dog, I’m a spider.” White Fog sulked at the tiny princess choosing her sister. “She’s a scorpion, she’s more stabby-stab and I’m more… bite.”
“Aw, sis, don’t worry, she might pick you next time.” Blue Haze scuttled forward on her legs over to Leere and Bonegrinder. “Name your place and time in the castle, sweetie. I’ll be there.”
Leere felt a little bad for the spider. “You aren’t the dog sweet little spider. Dogs like silver.”
She shook Blue Haze’s hand with a curtsy. “I can meet you at the stables secret door. Tomorrow morning.”
“I thin I like her.” Blue Haze snickered. “Very well… stables it is. Though I’ll be honest, let’s say the horses don’t like me too much. So I’ll be there, just won’t come out of the door.”
“That’s ok.” Leere chuckled. She gave a bow to Bonegrinder. “I’m glad you weren’t a dream.”
“Heh, Bonegrinder thought it best to let you think him a dream in order not to scare you later.” The Anagari then carefully picked up Leere with his tail and placed her on Blue Haze’s back. “She will take you to a safe exit point.”
“Don’t pull the hair, it’s easier if you just sit instead of stand.” Blue Haze told Leere as she shook a finger. “And no touching the tail.”
The Catacombs. Klinge had selected his weaponry carefully. He had chosen his plan with the upmost care. And if Bonegrinder really was immortal, then he had a contingency. Klinge went to the entrance of the labyrinth, taking low breaths. He would not fail himself, but more importantly, he would not fail his friends.
Kelly was getting increasingly bored, but also worried. "Tulilad. Hey..."
"Hrmmm... hey, sexy mama..." Tulilad was still feeling the effects of the drug that Morowa used to make him pass out cold. He looked over at Kelly, eyes still glazed over slightly. That lopsided grin was on his face as he winked at her. "You're absolutely beautiful... do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yeah... I do. It's you dummy." Kelly hated this. She told them not to touch him, yet the drug still lasted. "Can you just wake up fully? Please?"
"Really?" Tulilad looked surprised and then whistled. "Hot damn, I hit the jackpot. Have I... have I asked you to marry me yet? If I haven't, then I need to do that."
"Oh goddess, this is pure comedy gold, sister, are you listening?"
"Aw, I think it's rather sweet."
"That drug of yours really is something."
"I designed it to make someone pass out, I think I might have used a little too much."
“You did. And I told you I wanted time together to think about it. Tulilad. I don’t know.... When we make it out of here, I want us to get married. I love you.”
"I love you too, you sexy lady you... urgh... why am I tied up? I wanna kiss you and hug you and lick you all over---"
"Pfffttt, well he's not a shy thing anymore now, is he?"
"Maybe you can make more straightforward drugs with aphrodisiacs now."
“If I was closer I’d kiss you. If I wasn’t in chains I’d rock your five foot world.” Kelly ignored the chatty sisters. She had no clue if she’d die here. The Captain wanted every moment with Tulilad she could.
"You rock my world every single day, what are you talking about?" Tulilad mumbled in his drugged haze. "I mean just last night we did it... 3, 4... 7 times!"
"Whoa, now that's a man that can keep up with a woman." Morowa giggled. "7 times in one night?"
"It's how they use that dick, not necessarily how big it is... but size doesn't hurt." Negasi started laughing. "What do you think, Red?"
"Darling, darling, incubus like myself do everything, you know that." Red Lover took out his fan and waved air at his face like he was an innocent. "I'll never reveal my secrets."
"We're going to get out of here. I promise." Kelly smiled, but her mind was racing. Despite the 'care' these 'people' provided, the Captain was certain that their fate would be sealed soon enough.
Miranda herself was about to lose it, her mind playing tricks on her in the dark, the real monsters only amplifying her fear. "Monsters. Monsters everywhere. The catacombs have to be destroyed."
"Are you tormenting the captives, my pretty ladies?" Bonegrinder's voice asked from the dark, only the tip of his tail visible. "You know we need this safe and sound to bring the undead filth."
"Now why would I ever do that?" Red Lover played innocent. "I have no idea of what you speak of, Master."
"We all know you'd keep the man as a pet and the woman as a lover given the chance." Morowa rolled her eyes at Red Lover's attempt. "You're the worst of us all when it comes to that."
"I can't help it if they love me, it's in my nature." Red Lover shrugged his shoulders.
"You don't keep pets, Red, you know that's against Bonegrinder's rules. Too much attachment." Bonegrinder flicked his tail, not yet totally visible. "Do you intend to challenge this old snake over it?"
"Heavens, no... but can't a man fantasize?"
Miranda yelled out, gripping a piece of stone to hit anyone that got too close. Bonegrinder's appearance immediately made her hysterical. "GO AWAY YOU SERPENT! GO AWAY!"
Kelly struggled against her chains. This wasn't good. "Miranda! Calm down! I need you to calm down!"
"I don't think this one appreciates snakes, Master." Sterling Silver gestured to the hysterical elf. "Then again, no one really likes monsters."
"That and he threatened to eat her if she didn't behave." Red Lover reminded the blacksmith. "I don't think she liked that too much."
"Don't worry, sweetie, he's not going to eat you." Morowa patted Miranda's blanket covered form.
"Well, at least not right now." Negasi shrugged. "You've been good. Don't spoil it."
"Quit antagonizing the girl." Black Shadow ordered gruffly. "Master's here. He'll decide what he wants to do with her."
"You all are children," Bonegrinder finally slithered out of the shadows. What little light there was, reflected off his massive form. He dwarfed all the other monsters in the room by size. Though there was no mistaking it; the maliciousness rolled off the monster in waves. The insanity was obvious, as was the cruelty. "Though that is why Bonegrinder is here; to keep you all safe and well... but the ones who disobey, yes, yes... are such good snacks."
Miranda lashed out at Morowa, smashing her hand with the rock she had sneaked. Even in her state of lunacy, her skills to thief items for herself was masterful. "DIE YOU MONSTER!!!"
As soon as Miranda hit Morowa with the rock, Bonegrinder's movement was lightning fast. He had the elf hanging upside down by one leg, bringing her up to his leering face.
"That was very, very... naughty."
Miranda stared deep into his unnatural eyes. Gods. He was a demon. A literal demon torn from her night terrors. As these teeth gleamed, she started to whimper, hyperventilating. "N-no. N-not like this."
As Kelly was about to give up all hope, and the Dark Elf let her tears of agonizing terror stream down, a moblin staggered into the room, holding his severed hand close to his chest as blood leaked on the floor. "M-master! H-he's here! The undead is making his way through the catacombs! He's cutting down anyone who can't get out of his way in time."
"Naughty children will be eaten by the snake if they don't behave." Bonegrinder hissed at Miranda, very irate at the fact that she hit Morowa. "Didn't my precious children explain this to you?" When the moblin announced Klinge in the catacombs, the Anagari set Miranda down on the floor. "Very well... this old snake will deal with the undead. Make sure all the other entrances are sealed off and keep him from advancing onto those who are innocents and cannot fight."
"We're on it." Sterling Silver hopped up from his place.
"Do you need us with you?" Black Shadow asked. "We will fight for you."
"No... Bonegrinder can handle this."
Kelly thanked the goddesses for this change of news. "Tulilad. We're getting out of here. Just hold on a little longer."
~
Klinge had cut down one or two men, but most others had scattered. They were simply drones for Bonegrinder, either fleeing the best they could or leading him into a trap. Regardless, Klinge knew he'd face that monster soon. Perhaps more. Steadily, he continued deeper into the catacombs.
Bonegrinder waited in a section of the catacombs he knew Klinge would cross. It had an advantage for the snake monster with high ceilings and plenty of exits if needed be. Yet, another reason he chose this spot was because of the very weak floor. Underneath, there were only a few stable columns. He could easily squeeze through a hole and escape. The undead commander might not be so lucky. So, he waited...
Klinge took a few steps into the room. It was large, with many pillars to hide around. The darkness closed in, the air feeling more cold. The undead silently popped a single green magic motion into his mouth. A few breathes of the air, he relaxed his breathing. Who would make the first strike. Klinge felt the blade in his sheath. He didn't often have a need for sheath's, but for this special case, a weapon that was dangerous to Bonegrinder was also dangerous to him. He took another step, on guard the whole way. Another step, he felt the ground beneath him had an echo. There was a hollowness below him. Another step, he felt the grip of his sword...
"You know this snake is very old, but he still has decent hearing." Bonegrinder's taunting voice echoed from the open room. "If you're worried about the humans, don't be. They're still alive. Though it is high time that you and Bonegrinder talk and arrive to an understanding."
Klinge started to zero in on where the sound was coming from. "I'm old too. And you should know I truly only find respect for others in one way. So come out. And face me monster to monster."
"Hehehehe... did Bonegrinder give you the impression he is not here?" The Anagari was on the ceiling, the many coils resting on ledges. "Now, Commander... Klinge... yes, that is what my loyal Lynel called you. Shall we discuss?"
Klinge's eyes rested with a silent fury. "We shall."
Wiping around, Klinge took out his bow and fired his secret weapon towards Bonegrinder's location. Silver arrows. Hopefully Bonegrinder's ego would have him tank the first double shot. Silver always held an advantage over the forces of darkness when light was unavailable. Using light would kill Klinge outright, but silver could be safely contained. All he had to do was endure its poison and not have it be used against him.
Bonegrinder's coils were able to spread out quick enough to avoid the arrows.
"Tsk, arrows against a snake? Want to pin this snake down and chop off his head? No, no, that's too easy for a creature like you." The Anagari did not like the fact that the arrows were so deep into the foundation. "Are you going to bargain for your humans or not?"
“Here’s my first bargain. Release my people. Leave Hyrule. And I will allow all of you to live.”
"Not so much as a bargain as an order, commander." Bonegrinder chuckled darkly. "You could barely defeat my good and loyal Lynel. What makes you think you could get rid of all of us?"
Technically speaking, Klinge didn't defeat the Lynel. He was grateful that Bonegrinder, for all his horror, fought him alone. "Cut off the head of the snake, the body dies." Klinge ducked low and zipped around, firing two more arrows.
"Oh, you're really naive to believe that." Bonegrinder actually laughed, amused by the commander's harshness. "Whether the snake has its head or not, the body still moves. My precious children will still be here, still have their resources, still be a scourge upon the above world..." The Anagari decided enough was enough and wanted to get to the point. His tail slithered out of the darkness, catching Klinge's leg and lifted him upward. "If you don't want that to happen, then you better rethink your plan, commander. The only reason these criminals are not raiding the above world right now is simply because they fear this snake. So here's a bargain for you," He jerked Klinge so fast, so his coils were wrapped around his legs and arms. "Heheheh... the pretty prince was once in this position and bargained. Yet, this time, Bonegrinder offers you this... keep your people out of the way, and Bonegrinder will keep providing information to the pretty prince... can you behave, undead filth?"
Klinge smirked behind his helmet. He laid out his trap and Bonegrinder took it. Using the extra boost of magic from the potion, he transformed from his regular suit of armour to a specialized silver Iron Knuckle suit. He could endure in a silver suit for perhaps four, maybe five minutes. It held ancient Gerudo inscriptions of light, enchanting the outside of the armour to ward of darkness. With his coil wrapped around Klinge, it started to burn like the sun. "I reject your offer."
"...? Oh? It's burning." Bonegrinder could see the smoke from his scales, and the faint scent of burnt flesh. "Impressive tactic... but you see, there is one thing that you, commander, do not know." The Anagari waved his hand over the commander's helmet, the dark magic in his hand suddenly changing to light. It cracked and sparked in his hand wildly until the entire room was lit with white light. "We Echidnans have a certain... flexibility. Should Bonegrinder test it out on you?"
Damn it. Klinge was not prepared for this. Channeling upon his rage, he pushed against the coils enough to pry one hand free. He hoped for some sort of advantage by stabbing his silver short sword into Bonegrinder's face.
"Didn't you already try something like this?" Bonegrinder simply grinned at Klinge, not minding the sword lodged into his eye socket. "This proves you know very little of your opponent. Tsk, tsk, commander, what a blunder on your part. This old snake thought you were smarter than that."
"How about this?" Klinge let his final trick loose. His magic for teleporting weaponry was handy. It also stopped objects in motion in time until called upon again. Say for instance a stream of water moving, a fire flickering... or a bomb detonating. Klinge knew it was most likely suicide, but with the snap of his finger, he dropped a Goron Powder Keg bomb below the snake as he was lifted into the air. Klinge closed his one finger. "Zero."
With a massive explosion, the blast engulfed the two, the Kingpin taking most of the brunt. Klinge's silver armour saved him from catastrophic harm, especially from the fall the floor came undone beneath them. Debree came down around the undead as he coughed up blood. Klinge felt all his senses burn. How much time had passed in his haze? Did he fall unconscious? He honestly couldn’t tell. That had to do something. That had to ruin Bonegrinder's healing factor. The commander struggled to have his own pick him back up.
Klinge looked up at the at the floor he fell through. He had to find a way out. He had to go find where Kelly, Tulilad, and Miranda were. They needed him. No matter if that blast killed Bonegrinder or not, Klinge had to make sure he used the time to save his comrades. Slowly through all the pain, the Commander picked himself after he felt his muscle tissue connect in his legs, and started to climb out of the pit.
"And where..." Bonegrinder was damaged from the blast, yet not dead. His body was kept together by ancient shaman magic from the land of Omisha. There was no pain, no blood, not even a scratch on his unearthly form as the pieces simply stitched back together as if there was an invisible thread. Half of the monster's head was missing and he was still moving! Bonegrinder was in every sense a monster. How could one defeat a creature that could not be killed? What way was there to win? It seemed only Bonegrinder knew such a secret. "Do you think you're going so soon? How rude! Leaving in the middle of a conversation."
Klinge looked in awe and disbelief. Bonegrinder truly was immortal against Klinge. Snapping his arm back into place, Klinge stopped running from this. Boldly, he faced the monster that rose above him. "I can't kill you...." The undead removed the remainder of his helmet, as it was already blown off down the middle, missing its left side. His undead features were ugly compared to the snake, but it was clear here who was the real monster.
"You fool yourself thinking your dark magic makes you beyond redemption, undead commander, but this old snake... eheheheheheh... has done far worse with the deadly strings of dark and light." Bonegrinder was laughing more like a maniac as his long body slithered closer and closer to Klinge. "Don't you see, commander? Bonegrinder was been around for so long, he remembers, yes, he remembers, he remembers it all, through lifetimes of bloodshed, over and over and over, these pathetic humans can never get along for long!" The rumors preceded the monster's reputation of not only being fearsome, but also insane. "Voices and faces and the noise, the screaming never stops. You think 700 years is a lifetime of horror? Woe is you, commander, who has seen only one of Bonegrinder's. Shall he show you what all he remembers?"
With a single black nail, the Anagari dug it into Klinge's forehead. The flashbacks started. The fighting where he lost Cipher. Ganondorf as Xanatos, the two of them as kids playing innocently. The lifetimes before that, where Ganondorf and Zelda were at constant war. There was so much death, fire, and blood. The faces and bodies piled up higher and higher as the years flooded the commander's mine. In one lifetime, there was Link, approaching the snake, having just defeated Ganondorf. He was weakened, covered in blood, and a sad, desolate look was in his eyes.
"Tell me, the snake who sees all... does it ever end? I'm so tired... so tired of fighting. I just want to sleep and forget."
Once the visions finished tormenting the commander, Bonegrinder was there, raised on his coils, his laughter unable to stop as his clawed hands hid his face partly, those red eyes looking wild. "We are the Anagari, we live forever until the end of the world, for time has no meaning to us! No meaning, no meaning, it's all one big blur! One big red smear of blood and death... don't you see now, commander? Time has no effect on Bonegrinder... he will be here long, so long after you waste away! HA HA HA! Monsters, they call us monsters... hehehehe..."
Klinge’s yellow tainted eyes locked with Bonegrinder's red eyes. For a moment of terrifying union ship, Klinge found a sickening companionship. It was nothing but death and carnage. It never ended. Never grew old like they did. For a single moment, Klinge almost let himself go into the insanity....
With a light smile though, he saw how he could make it out of this void of madness alive. "I understand you Bonegrinder.... if this were any other time, if you had found me years ago.... I'd have accepted the escape of death from this never ending cycle. This psychotic cycle of misery of death. Only you had the misfortune of finding me now. I can't kill something like you, not with my power, but I can make you bargain with me fairly, because I can do one thing." Klinge's pupils widened as he looked insanity in the eyes. "I can take away your family all over again."
"Hehehehe, you are a hellspawn who rebuilds its flesh over and over until time eventually takes you, burns you all away." Bonegrinder traced a single claw down the side of Klinge's cheek. "Though Bonegrinder knows they all will die and he will be here. Their deaths does not concern him, but while they are here, yes, yes, his precious children, they will be cared for... but who's to say that Bonegrinder will not go after the ones you care for, commander?" He chuckled. "The tiny queen, the children of the king and queen, the two captains, the little elf, and... perhaps that sweet babe. What was she called again? Right, right... 'Unruly Ukuri'."
"Because, like me, you would not be able to stomach their loss. Those you hold close. Make a home for. Your mind would snap and the last of your soul would truly be gone. You know this. And if you threatened them... forces far grander than I would end you..." Klinge could think of three woman capable of doing the task. Not to mention Ganon's true fury. "Listen to my terms, or with my final breath, I destroy all their lives... all the monsters and freaks you gather to call a family... and everything you created to find meaning in your life."
"Hehehe, you think they won't fight? Ooooh, that's right, you haven't seen my precious children, have you?" Bonegrinder flicked his tail in delight. "An introduction then! They're always listening... aren't you, sneaky White Fog?"
"As if we were going to let you take on this brat by yourself." The spider lady hung upside down from the ceiling, her frame as large as the Anagari's, but was still too small compared to him. "He boasts like a kid."
"And my beautiful Blue Haze?"
"I told you he'd sense we were here." The scorpion-lady appeared next from a tunnel, her multiple legs skittering across the floor.
"Rather him know than be in need of help, sweet thing." Red Lover simply walked out into the light beside of Hades. "Isn't that right, pussy cat?"
"I still vote you should off them all just to send a message to that palace brat." Sterling Silver huffed as he crossed his arms, standing beside the Lynel. "It wouldn't even be a fight, it'd be a glorious slaughter."
"You're too eager for bloodshed, Silver. We do as our master commands." Black Shadow appeared beside of Blue Haze. "We take care of each other."
Sheer-Khan watched the fight intently from start to finish. More so, he listened to the spirit and philosophy of Bonegrinder and Klinge. He had his own thoughts on the matter, his eyes glowing in the dark. His glow held a similar aura and shine to his Master and the Darknut. So in a sense, he felt a kinship with both. The other lackeys words insulted his ears, his growl indicating his frustration. "You insult Bonegrinder with your words, as well as Klinge."
Klinge tilted his head over, blinking in surprise at the monster... standing up for him? His silver armour vanished, leaving the undead in light chainmail, as his body couldn't take the poison the silver gave him.
"Whatever, pussy cat, you have your thoughts, we have our own." Red Lover fanned himself once more. "And it was their idea, not mine."
"You see, what Hyrule lacks, and what we have, commander... is unity." Bonegrinder slithered over to his brood. "The Hylians hate your Gerudo king and despise his Lorleidian queen. Without a unity... it will easily collapse. Now, Klinge, as you can see... the answer is very obvious here."
"Yeah, you can do shit about us. The only reason Beongrinder hasn't obliterated you---"
"Hush, Silver."
"... grr... fine, Black, fine."
"Bonegrinder and his precious ones are not going anywhere. He will gladly keep supplying the pretty prince with information that has plots against the crown. However, you and yours will need to leave the catacombs."
"I want to hear his bargain." Sheer-Khan crossed his arms.
"As you wish, my loyal friend... commander? Be so kind to repeat your words."
Klinge nodded. "In return for me not immediately not blowing land above our heads and crushing us all, and having no retaliation from those chosen by the gods, I will end my campaign against you. I can't... stop this." Klinge felt some of his spirit leave him by admitting defeat, but he had to swallow his pride in order to protect those close to him. "In exchange, you follow a few 'guidelines'. Free my companions. The damage you've done to them might be irreversible, but you can free them now. Second. Cease your whispers so loudly in my castle. I will not have you spread more nightmares to the children and staff. I can't stop you from speaking with Ralnor, but you have to do so more discreetly. Third, take your business outside of the capital. If there is to be unity, there must be peace and safety for all in the heart of Hyrule. Castle town has to be off limits. There are plenty of other towns and settlements to set up business. Kakariko Village, Hateno Village, Tarrey Town, and Lurelin Village. That last one is a tropical port for the love of Din. Do this, and I will make sure better security is put in place so that unwanted trespasser never enter the catacombs again." Klinge heaved up some blood, looking back up at Bonegrinder with his eyes growing more and more bloodshot.
Sheer-Khan nodded to his master. "He held far more honour by coming alone to fight you. As well as creativity." Turning to his companions, he growled. "A war with Hyrule, would be apocalyptic for us. Our society will survive and prosper for eons if we remain in the shadows. And you dishonour his warrior pride with throwing petty insults like children."
"Your threats don't scare us, commander, we've been through hell and back. The likes of one filthy undead will never frighten us." Silver snorted. "You'll never be able to stop us."
"Hush, you're making pussycat mad." Red whacked Silver with his fan. "Behave."
"You want to protect your little pets, understandable." Bonegrinder thought over Klinge's words. The commander wanted his friends back, he could do that. He wanted him to stop slithering around the castle, but he would not do that. Whispering more so quietly was doable, but it was so much fun seeing the maids jump. The third, however, was not within his power. "You want us gone, commander, yet as you know, there are no catacombs in those cities. Just here, where my precious ones can live safely. We will stay, yet our business as you put it will cause no harm to the citizens here. They will never know we are present. We live in the darkness and we stay in the darkness."
Sheer-Khan growled and grabbed Silver by the neck, squeezing enough to shut him up for the rest of the groups mercy. "Your tongue has disgusted our ears long enough for today. One undead can't stop us. It is everyone else who can."
Klinge barely nodded to Bonegrinder. "Just... as long.... as I don't hear anyone complain about a terror whispering in my town or my castle... I promise that I will keep those from coming down on you, if you stay away from us..."
"Very well... do you wish to collect your pets now?" Bonegrinder gestured for Klinge to follow him. "Blue might have drugged the short male a little too much, so do not be surprised if he's a little... loose tongued."
Silver was a dirty fighter and slammed his metal clad fist into the side of Sheer-Khan's fist, growling at the Lynel.
"You don't tell me what to do... 'pussycat'." Silver shoved at the Lynel to get out of his way and followed after the huge snake with the rest of the Echidnans.
Sheer-Khan smacked Silver like an older sibling upside the head as he walked by for acting like a brat. The monsters let Klinge drag himself bloody to find the three by himself, but not too far behind. "I-I'm here."
Miranda didn't sense the monsters, but was terrified to see Klinge's face. "NO! Not any more! I can't take this anymore!"
Realizing her terror at his features, Klinge placed a helmet to hide his head. "Miranda. Calm down. I'm going to take you to safety."
Kelly let relief wash over her. "You did it. I knew you'd do it."
Walking over to her, Klinge released her and Tulilad from their chains. "Can both of you walk?"
"See? Your precious pets are unharmed, like Bonegrinder said. Though that one..." The snake gestured to Miranda with a frown. "Will be a problem. Ralnor warned her not to pursue the catacombs and she did listen. If she talks, it will cause trouble for us all."
Klinge held Miranda close enough so she didn't hear Bonegrinder. The commander simply nodded in bitter sadness. Would he have to kill her? She was only 18 years of age...
Kelly slapped Tulilad awake. Her fear was getting to her more deeply now. Klinge didn't kill Bonegrinder. So why were they allowed to leave? "Come on you handsome man, we're leaving."
"Oooh, why did you slap me?" Tulilad sulked at Kelly, and then wriggled his eyebrows at her. It was obvious he was still a little goofy from the drug. "Rough and dirty... I like it, I can do that."
"Blue and White will show you out of the catacombs," Bonegrinder motioned for Morowa and Negasi to show their captives and the undead commander the quickest way to the surface. "Though, you will find a way to keep her quiet, commander."
Klinge looked to Bonegrinder, his eyes burning with a silent anger. Cradling Miranda, he held her close enough to keep her sight and hearing closed off. "I hope to never see you again."
"Oh, commander, you will not see Bonegrinder, but he will see you." The old snake laughed as the scorpion and spider sisters led him down the dark tunnel with his subordinates in tow. "He has eyes everywhere."
As Morowa and Negasi escorted Klinge, Tulilad, Kelly, and Miranda through the catacombs, the two massive Echidnans halted at a ladder leading up to a busy street.
"Ta, ta, sharky lady." Negasi giggled as she patted Kelly's head and then scuttled back into the shadows.
"Give him a day and he'll be back to normal, but he'll have a raging headache." Morowa told the half breed with a chuckle. "Farewell for now."
Then the sisters were gone.
At the castle, Kelly kept a very good poker face as men approached and asked where in the blazes she and Tulilad had been. She wanted nothing more than to sleep and think about her life choices.
Klinge saw Ralnor, Zarazu, and Covarog start to approach from the end of the hall when Miranda started to freak out. She held Klinge by the arms, shaking in panic. "Klinge! We have to tell them! We have to tell everyone. About Bonegrinder, about Ralnor, about all the monsters. The horrible, terrible monsters! They're in the dark Klinge! We have to stop them! W-w-we can find a way! We can find some sort of spell or or or, bring the land mass down on top of them! We can help find justice against those fiends! Yes, yes, yes we can! You and me!"
"Miranda... I couldn't kill them all. And you aren't well."
"What? No. No I'm just scared."
Klinge felt something in his heart actually break. Physically, he cared little about himself. He didn't care if he died or lived. But this emotional connection he was about to sever was something he cherished. This poor girl he thought he could mold, turned mad because he taught her to do the right thing, and to follow him into darkness. "Miranda. The Prince isn't evil."
"YES! YES HE IS! He allied himself with monsters! He was ok with letting me die! Klinge, there are monsters! MONSTERS IN THE WALLS! W-WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT!"
"Good gracious, Klinge, what is wrong with her?" Covarog was the first to speak. The small elf's shrieking about monsters and his brother the king feel uneasy. He glanced at Klinge and then to the two captain guards. "What is going on?"
"It seems the girl is obviously mentally disturbed." Ralnor said bluntly, his stoic face not even batting an eye. "She is either hallucinating or having delusions due to trauma of some sort."
"Is everyone unharmed at least? Do you need to see a doctor?" Zarazu asked them with worry on her features. "You were gone for so long, we were all concerned."
"I'm the doctor of love!!!" Tulilad proclaimed as he leaned against Kelly.
"... has he been drinking?" Covarog asked Klinge, never having seen Tulilad act like so.
"I think he's bee drugged, I do not smell alcohol." Ralnor stated plainly.
Kelly placed her hand over Tulilad's face. She kept up the lie for Klinge, never realizing until now just how bad a man Ralnor grew up into. And to think he was such a good kid. "A crime syndicate wanted to blackmail you my monarchs by sending assassins to kidnap myself and the King of Love here. They took Miranda and... did things to her. I can't imagine why anyone would want to bring ill light on her. I'm sorry for our failure, but Klinge was able to rescue us after a major struggle."
Miranda started to break down further, tears streaming down her face and she pounded her fists on Klinge's chest. "You have to believe me. W-why are you defending him? There are monsters, there are. I-I'm n-not crazy. I'm just scared. I want to go h-home."
Klinge held Miranda like she was his child, slowly petting her back. "I'm so sorry Miranda. I'm going to make sure you get help. Everything will be ok."
"I'll take Tulilad to the medical bay to get treatment." Zarazu offered and then looked at Kelly. "Will you help me get him there?"
"I expect a full report on this criminal gang you have here, Klinge." Covarog was none the wiser about what was happening. Evidently Ralnor kept him in the dark about the entire operation with Bonegrinder. He trusted his brother, despite knowing that sometimes Ralnor could be a bit cruel. "I don't want anything like this happening again. From now on, guards, captains, anyone of military rank will always be in pairs and reporting their stationed location. We will have a complete registry of who is stationed where every day."
"Good idea, brother." Ralnor then added. "And as far as orders go?"
"Orders will be followed without question. We do not want to get anyone mixed up in a mess like this again."
Kelly smiled, shaking her head. "I can take him just fine your highness. I think Commander Klinge needs your help more than I do."
Klinge felt the sting in Ralnor's words. The Prince wanted his brothers approval to hold complete order over the commander. All the undead could do was nod. "Of course Covarog."
"It's for the safety of all our soldiers and guards, Klinge." Covarog sighed heavily at the thought of having to impose this on the commander. "I am sorry, but I won't risk losing you or our best captains. I hope you understand."
"Perhaps it is time for Klinge to shift his focus more on protection rather than eroding away at the pests outside the castle, brother." Ralnor suggested as he placed a hand on Zarazu's shoulder. His aim was to keep Klinge near the palace as much as possible so he would not be interfering in the prince's dealings with lesser evils. The best way to do that was to plant an idea in his elder brother's head. "Your wife will need a constant protector once pregnant and you are not able to be with her at all hours of the day. It will be good for her to have someone watching her back, just in case."
"That... actually is not a bad idea." Covarog liked the sound of his wife having a guardian when he could not be there. "Klinge could still be commander of the soldiers, yet he does not have to deal with matters that our law enforcers can take care of outside the castle. It will be less stressful for him, and certainly take a great deal of worry off my shoulders as well."
"You and Zarazu are trying for a child," Ralnor just had to place the icing on the cake. "You and I both know, as well as Klinge does, that some of our... nobility... do not fancy a mixed heir on throne."
"Whoa, whoa, Klinge protecting me?" Zarazu had to interject. "I cannot ask him to do that, he has too much to do already! Besides, I can manage, I have all this time."
"We will lessen his duties then." Covarog was adamant about this. "Ralnor has a point, my love. Will you please consent to this? For me?"
"I..." Zarazu glanced at Klinge. "... all right. As long as Klinge agrees."
Klinge saw Ralnor's game, feeling his heart sink further now that his nephew was manipulating him, manipulating his family to hold advantage over the commander. Klinge's voice held a malice at first, "Ralnor. You-" The commander reeled in his hurt, taking a breath to calm himself. There was a distinct pain that the prince could pick up. Klinge had suffered so many personal kinds of defeat this day. And his nephew's actions was the straw that broke his spirit. "…I will. Zarazu will have my full attention. But first..." He looked down to Miranda, the girl having stopped talking, only able to cry quietly from exhaustion. "I'm getting her the help she needs. For if anything happens to her...I'll make sure I find any more collaborators of the syndicate that harmed her. And I will end them... Zarazu, will you help me take her to the Tarrey Hospital?" It was a far away asylum in Tarrey Town, a couple miles walk from the ocean, with beautiful scenery around. More so, it would take her far away from Bonegrinder and Ralnor.
"Of course." Zarazu then asked. "Would you like Ba'puu to fly us there? Or would it be better to take a horse? I don't want to startle the poor dear further."
"Yes, Tarrey Hospital has an excellent program there to help the girl get back to normal." Ralnor then spun on his heel. "Come, brother. We have a meeting with the Zoran royalty about a new shipping route to avoid damage to coral near the shore."
"Oh, shit, that's right." Covarog groaned in annoyance. "I'm sorry, love, we'll eat lunch after the meeting?"
"I'll wait on you." Zarazu smiled at her king. "But keep me waiting too long, and I'll eat all your dessert."
"You better not!" Covarog called as he chased after his brother.
Giggling quietly, the queen then turned to Klinge.
Klinge clearly was not well, his spirit needing its pieces to be picked back up. He shouted one last quip to Ralnor. "Prince... perhaps its best you get your office soundproofed. Wouldn't want your wordplay to continue to frighten the staff."
"Do not worry, commander... I'll frighten the poor maids no more." Ralnor chuckled with a sly smirk as he continued walking beside of his brother.
Klinge drooped his head, mumming under his breathe silently. "Did I make you this way? How did I fail you...”
"Hm? I didn't catch that, Klinge?" Zarazu thought he was saying something to her. "Did you say horses or Ba'puu?"
"Horses. I don't want to scare Miranda anymore then she needs to be. Can you take her? I need a moment to catch my breath."
"Yes, I can." Zarazu took the tiny elf from Klinge for a moment, absolutely shocked when the girl held onto her like she was a lifeline. "Shh, shh, it's okay. There's no monsters here, nothing will hurt you now." It would be good to distract her. "Let's talk about nice things now, perhaps a good story. There was once a cute, baby dragon who was so chubby, he had to waddle instead of walk when he followed his human..." She proceeded to tell the elf amusing tales of Ba'puu when he was a hatchling to keep her mind off any potential nightmares.
Klinge held himself against the wall, holding his hands to his head. The undead's breathing grew ragged as he felt his spirit decompose. His body couldn't make him cry. He would never feel tears again. But he knew the emotions. He knew the pain. He had lost outright against Bonegrinder. Had his mind toyed with. Miranda had been turned into a husk of her innocent self. Ralnor, the boy he thought he had been protecting, was just a different breed of monster. Klinge had truly and utterly failed.
~
Later in the evening, Ralnor was finishing a few documents for the Zoran royal family when he heard a familiar voice.
"Pretty prince, pretty prince, that commander of yours is rather infuriating... but does he keep his word?"
"Yes, he does, Bonegrinder," Ralnor placed the documents into a neat stack on the corner of his desk for tomorrow. "He shall not be troubling you anymore."
"Good, good..." The snake then asked the prince. "And what if the little elf talks?"
"She's at Tarrey Hospital if you want to sneak in there and eat her then." Ralnor frowned, not wishing to give the elf another thought. "She disobeyed my orders. Usually my spies are met with death if they think to disobey me or worse if I feel like it. Though if you wish to take care of the problem, I won't object."
"Cold and cruel as ever, pretty prince. Bonegrinder is curious as to what made you this way..."
"A monster told me long ago that it was absolutely vital to do whatever was necessary to ensure the future of the Gerudo, of Hyrule, and my family," Ralnor chuckled darkly as he leaned back in his chair. "I didn't understand then... but I do now." He closed his eyes as a crocodile smile spread its way across his feature. "Simply put, anyone who gets in my way, and I do mean anyone... has to die."
Klinge checked in on Miranda, who had apparently awaken. Finding her, he didn’t enter the room, simply hearing that she was a crying mess. The very young Dark Elf held onto Doctor Boveir. “Please don’t go! I don’t want to be left alone in the dark! I want my mother! Where’s my mother!!!”
"Miranda, calm down, it's not good for you to be so upset." Doctor Boveir was doing his best to soothe the poor girl. "I already told you that I won't blow out the candles, there's nothing to be afraid of. You're safe here."
“No! Monsters in the dark! Monsters! Please, please don’t go! I don’t want to be left alone. Please Mr. Boveir. P-please.” The tears streamed down her eyes as she refused to let go of him. Klinge crushed the door handle subconsciously and walked away. He brought her into this mess. He allowed her to be taken by that monster.
"I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here, okay?" Doctor Boveir assured the terrified elf. "Look, I'm here tonight, along with three other nurses, all right? There's no monsters in the dark. Look around." He gestured to the medical bay, lit by candle light. "Now, you have multiple broken bones and you need to rest from your healing session."
Miranda sniffed, slowly letting go. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She tucked herself into bed, the tears only making her more tired.
"Now, now, there's no need to apologize." Doctor Boveir patted Miranda's head. "We all get scared sometimes. It's normal. Close those eyes, and try to sleep. If you need me, I'll be right here." Once the elf appeared to have drifted off into an exhausted slumber, the doctor placed another blanket on the sheets to keep her warm.
Only Miranda wasn’t talking to him. She lied in bed, staying awake for a while listening a praying she didn’t hear anything.
Doctor Boveir was doing his usual rounds and checking on patients. The darkness hid most due to the lack of light. Though Bonegrinder had his way of moving around Hyrule castle without being seen.
"Tiny snack... little elf... if you do not behave, you will lose more than just your life." Bonegrinder's voice came from within the wall behind her bed. "Would you like for the monster to go after your mother? Your friends? Eat them while you watch? You were warned not to traverse into the catacombs, but you did not listen. Tsk, tsk, stupid little elf..."
Miranda grew bug eyed, holding the sheets close to her and over her head. “No! Please. I-I’m sorry! I never should have gone near you. Please don’t hurt me or my mother. I’ll do whatever you ask. Please, please go away. Please I’m sorry.”
"Do you think apologizing is enough for what you did?" Bonegrinder scoffed. "You have alerted the undead commander to not only Bonegrinder's presence but those of the others in the catacombs. All because of your insistence when the prince ordered you to let it go... silly elf, don't you see now that the pretty prince was trying to protect you? And here, you doubted him, went behind his back to the undead tool. If he comes after Bonegrinder, those in Bonegrinder's home... then you will be the first to die, you stupid girl." The snake threatened. "Warn your commander to stay put or you will meet more monsters who Bonegrinder will gladly share your flesh with."
“No! NO! PLEASE MR BONEGRINDER!!! IM SORRY!!!” Miranda started to frantically scream and cry again. “This silly, stupid elf is yours! Please just don’t hurt me or my mother! PLEASE!!! Oh god have mercy, PLEASE!!!!!”
Doctor Boveir heard Miranda's frantic cries and rushed over to the elf.
"Miranda, Miranda, calm down! It's was just a bad dream, you're here, you're safe!" The doctor motioned for the nurses to come over to the bed as well. "There's no... no bone-monster here! There's nothing here! It was just a nightmare, there's no such thing as monsters."
“HE’S IN THE WALLS!!! OH GOD IM SORRY!!! PLEASE! I HAVE TO TELL RALNOR AND KLINGE I WAS WRONG!!! HE’S GOING TO EAT ME!!! CANT YOU HEAR HIM?!?!” Miranda frantically pushed against the doctors.
"Doctor, she must be hallucinating from the pain or the medication."
"Administer a stronger sedative and have a volunteer sit with her." Doctor Boveir ordered. "The girl is troubled mentally. We need to keep an eye on her." He then said with a frown. "And I need to have a talk with Commander Klinge about what happened. We cannot help until we know."
“NO! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T LEAVE ME!” Miranda bit one of the doctors hands as she attempted to run away. “Mother! I have to see my mother!”
Seeing Klinge watching from the end of the hallway she screamed at him. “Please don’t go after him! PLEASE!!!”
Her cries of lunacy and panic practically woke the castle. Klinge was glad he was wearing a helmet, because he couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. “I’ll end him....”
"Oh good goddesses, someone sedate her, now!" Doctor Boveir had to pry the girl's mouth away from his hand and the nurse quickly gave her a shot to put her to sleep. Shaking his head, he was pissed that the girl was acting so erratic and speaking of monsters. What if she had some sort of poison in her system? What if it was a dangerous gas that she breathed? He had no answers and no idea how to treat her. "Commander Klinge!" Normally, Doctor Boveir was a calm guy and it took a lot to get him angry. "I want... no, I need some damn answers, right now! The girl is out of her mind! What happened?!"
Klinge stayed calm, a little bit of spite in his voice. “You can ask Prince Ralnor, though I’m sure he will simply tell you she’s insane. I think the King and Queen would love to know the truth as much as you.”
"... I don't have time for your mind games." The doctor dismissed Klinge's statement with a huff. "Speaking of monsters in the walls. It's bad enough the maids say the castle is haunted and now you're in on this prattle too. I don't know what this girl saw or what the devil happened when you two went into that tunnel of madness, and I have a feeling I'm not going to get a proper answer. Until she is completely better, both physically and mentally, she is not to return to her work. Is that clear?"
“And she won’t be better until I deal with her monster. You can tell the Prince, the King, and the Queen I no longer take their orders until the matter is dealt with. Now go take care of your patients doctor. Before you receive something far more strong than a bite from me.” Klinge wagged a finger of warning at the doctor before walking to Tulilaid and Kelly, who had arrived to investigate the commotion. “Captains. I have a special assignment for you.”
“Yes, Commander Klinge?”
Tulilad quickly brushed back his hair and tried to wipe off any lipstick evidence on his face that might have been left there by Kelly. Clearing his throat, he stood up straight and faced his superior. “What assignment?”
“….I need you to go on a grocery run. Cake needs a casing. Might be rats in the wall. The Queen wants to take a cruise ship out to sea.”
Kelly kept a straight face, with only a flinch of concern. This was special code used only for emergency situations. Klinge handed Tulilad as list. “I’m taking a holiday. Be good.”
Oh shit. Grocery run was a vital hush hush mission. The cake needing a casing was a VIP needing protection. Her eyes studied her surroundings. Rats meant a spy or something listening in. And the cruise ship meant taking a garrison to take someone far away from Hyrule for their own good. Klinge was really laying it on them. But it was the vacation that worried Kelly. It meant Klinge was going rogue on his own. Who knew how long. She and Tulilad had to get somewhere private and read the note.
~
The Undead filth was becoming a thorn in his side. The criminal heads, his ‘Hive’ as he called it, were bringing him multiple complaints. Evidently, this commander was declaring war on him and his brood for what happened. This was nothing new to the Anagari. Sooner or later, there would be a mistake. Then, he could take advantage of the situation. A man with revenge on his mind was liable to act irrationally. The second prince could not control the undead like a puppet, despite Bonegrinder’s insistence that he be kept on a leash. Still, it was not Ralnor’s fault that Klinge would not behave. The prince was too soft to use necromancy magic to keep the bag of rotted flesh under his thumb. So Bonegrinder waited patiently, listening and watching… until every person was in place.
As the Hive gathered, Sheer-Kahn trotted in. He was an old and ancient creature. With four hooves he walked with a clack of every step. His upper body had two powerful arms for carrying his weapons of choice, a massive sharpened club and a bow that shot arrows the size of small tortoises. His main was silvery white, with a grey body. He was a Lynel.
In times much older, he might have been King here. But Hyrule’s darkest corners now held creatures far more adaptive then him. As powerful as he was, not even he could move an immovable object. He took his place and waited patiently. Here, his code name was Hades. For if anyone sought death by angering his master, he’d send them to the Underworld.
“Sheer-Kahn… my loyal friend, my trusted warrior.” Bonegrinder motioned for the Lynel to come into his personal chambers. He had the deeper sections of the catacombs suited for living. No one under his command wanted anything more than they needed. Every need and want was catered to within reasonable request. One thing was for sure, Bonegrinder took care of those who were loyal to him. Certain areas were nothing short of luxurious, despite being underground. The Anagari took a slow inhale of his pipe and let the smoke float out of his nostrils. “The undead filth has been a thorn in our garden for quite some time now, hasn’t he?”
Sheer-Kahn nodded. “More so now that he has discovered your presence. He’s always taken care to destroy the criminal element that has been created by you, even if only unintentional and previously unknown to your presence, simply because it is ‘the right thing to do’. Now he’s targeting the infrastructure himself.”
“He doesn’t realize that what we do effects not just our brood, but those under us, those we take care of, the rejects no one wants.” Bonegrinder’s underground empire was ran to benefit some of Hyrule’s most unfortunate. Those who had nowhere else to go, came to the Hive for a home. However, Bonegrinder ran the underground organization like a tight ship. There was no room for error. A threat to him was threat to all under his command. If Klinge wanted to play dirty, then he could do so as well. “This old snake won’t have the others suffering because of it. The three he keeps close to him… the half breed, the kid elf, and the small guard. We need to bring them here.”
“They are in the heart of the castle. That could prove to be difficult.” Sheer-Kahn took a bow. “But nothing is below me. What would you have me do?”
“If the little elf is taken… the others will follow.” Bonegrinder slithered up to Sheer-Kahn, his claws holding up the Lynel’s chin. “You are strength and might incarnate, trusted friend. Nothing you put your mind to will ever fail. Though it is not unnecessary to ask for help when it is needed.” He then gestured to the figures in the dark. “Morowa and Negasi will accompany you if you wish it?”
Sheer-Kahn thought it over. Klinge needed to be distracted and taken away from the castle. Hades’ existence could not be made publicly known to the general population, so he couldn’t enter the castle, but he could take Klinge’s attention away. “Will you listen to my plan my friend?”
“Of course.” Bonegrinder offered the Lynel a pipe while he listened. When he was done explaining, Bonegrinder smiled wildly in content.
Ralnor had not seen much of Leere lately. Then again, he had not seen her the entire week. Where was she? He wondered if she left again...
A messenger hawk cawed loudly suddenly, flying into the palace very angrily, squawking at the prince.
"Who put a firecracker on your tail feathers?" Ralnor huffed at the bird as he took the message. Reading over the note’s symbol, the prince sighed heavily, a dark cloud forming over his head. "That... stupid snake..."
The note was simply two words written in blood. "Meet me." Signed from a 'Pluto'.
Ralnor wondered what was going on now for the lynel to message him of all the Hive members. So, the prince went to their usual meeting spot to wait for Hades.
At the edge of the catacombs, Sheer-Khan galloped into view, glaring down at the prince. His main was stained with red wine and he smelled of something Blue had concocted. "About time. If you had not shown in ten more minutes, you would have never seen your sister again."
"If that snake has hurt her, I'll flood the tunnels with gas and light it aflame." Ralnor growled. "What is it?"
"It's her that's the issue."
"...? What?" Ralnor gestured for Hades to be more specific, rolling his wrist. "Well, spit it out?"
"Watch your tongue Gerudo." Sheer-Khan was not in any mood to be pleasant. Usually he played in delicate conversation with the prince, but all his patience had been diminished. "She’s been nothing but trouble since arriving. The first thing they did was summon a demon from her body. It destroyed a wing of the catacombs, some sort of infection still left over. After that she seduced White, Blue, and finally Bonegrinder himself. I thought she'd leave after getting what she wanted in the temple she came for, but after entering, she refuses to leave. At this moment, she's drunk off her ass, having the sisters and friend join her. Bonegrinder insists its no issue, but he's gone soft on her. I and the rest of the hive are on overtime. Blue is behind on making her supplies. You need to go into that mess and pull your horrible sister out. Before I do by my jaw line."
"... so you're telling me that my sister has been partying with those two insects for nearly a whole week?" Ralnor could understand why Hades wanted her out of the catacombs. When Leere partied, it did not stop for days. "... take me to her. I'll bring her home."
"They’re arachnids. She's a bad influence on Bonegrinder as well."
As they walked down, they found Bonegrinder listening peacefully to the music Leere was singing. She had just finished shredding a guitar solo. "FUCK YEAH!!!"
With a grin she slammed more of Ralnor's wine down, followed by pouring the rest of the bottle of a very, very drunk Blue and White's breasts. “To my greatest fans! Give me some sugar babies~”
"... oh sweet goddesses, I think I went temporarily blind there for a moment." Ralnor felt bile rise in his throat at the sight of his sister dancing naked while enticing the sisters into more fun.
"Pretty prince? What are you doing here?" Bonegrinder asked Ralnor as Leere continued to make out with Blue and White. "He didn't think you liked to watch."
"I'm here to collect my sister due to Hades informing me of her bad influences as well as your business suffering because of it." Ralnor grumbled under his breath. "If you suffer, I suffer, I'm simply watching out for the both of us." Walking over to Leere, he threw his cloak around her shoulders. "Come home now, sis, time to go home." With that, he threw Leere over his shoulder and went in the direction of the exit.
"Hey, hey, hey, what the fuck?!" She elbowed Ralnor in the eye, being dropped to the floor. Drunkenly about to fight, she paused seeing her brother. "Oh, hey bro. W-w-what's uuuuup? I'm in the middle of a *burp* concert."
"OW! Leere, stop fidgeting!!!" Ralnor did not mean to drop her, but the blow to his head hurt. "No, you're going home." He attempted to pick her back up over his shoulder.
Leere kneed him in the stomach, apparently a master of drunk kung-fu. "Fuck off Ralnor. I'm not going back. I-I'm where I belong now."
"Ooof!" Ralnor stumbled in his steps but did not let go, clamping his arms over her legs and keeping a good grip around her waist. "You're coming home, Leere." His voice was stern. "We've all been worried about you. Do you think it's a good thing to just suddenly disappear? Mama and Papa have been worried sick! Covarog has been looking for you in the towns! You even missed Tebanam, and he was only here for a couple of days! What is wrong with you? You're coming home, and that is that!"
"Fuck OFF!" Leere used her magic to summon some hands to grab Ralnor by the ankles and trip him. As they tumbled, she got up to drink more wine. "I-I'm a curse to my friends. Fucking dying all the time. My only friends are monsters, because they can't die being linked to me. Aaaaaand guess what. It's only a matter of time before I hurt my family. And I’ll k-k-kill myself before that happens. So why don't you go back to Mama and Papa. You're j-j-j-just a prince. A p-p-pussy ass prince. You can't even take a woman half your size. Oh shit... bottles empty. Fuck it. It's your wine. I’m gonna get some more and party even harder. Biiiiiiitch."
"Damn it, Leere!" Ralnor had to fight to get the skeletal hands off of him, kicking the bones apart. "Do you think we give a shit?! We're your family, we love you! We don't give a second thought about curses!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her slightly. "Look at what all we have survived in these past few years! Hyrule was attacked, we almost lost our family, the castle in ruins, history lost, and we had to rebuild! But we had each other and pulled through! Do you think that you're the only one who's had it tough?! Get that pathetic nonsense out of your head and come home, right fucking now!!!"
Leere felt her anger rise, smashing the wine bottle in her drunk defiance. "I've had it tougher than ANY OF YOU! FUCK! YOU! RALNOR!" She pushed him back, something deep in her bleeding and hurt. She didn't even notice the tears started to well up. "You ever been raped? You ever watch birth parents been torn apart by that bastard Klinge? You ever find out that said parents wanted you to be a human sacrifice? You ever, in all your spoiled, privileged life, have to deal with the things I've had to see?" She gave a small insane chuckle to herself, bugged eyed. "So what, you were possessed briefly? Sounds like FUN! I have something I can't even describe as a demon living inside my body. I attract evil. I've lost friends to abominations of darkness and hell because they associated themselves with me. Carlos would never have died to the Beacon had I not encouraged his work. Silvia would never been devoured by the snake had I just said no to helping her exploration. And that's just two examples! You think Teb would find Shadow temples? You think your precious wife could stumble upon a cursed jewel that gives you night terrors, than makes those night terrors real!? I am a fucked up person to be around! And than, the cherry on the fucking cake! I w-w-was stupid enough to go into the temple of time. I think I saw my future. When I die, all of you are going down shortly after! I won't allow that. I'm a fucking monster, so I'm staying with the rest of the monsters. So tell me again how tough you have it! TELL ME AGAIN YOU DUMB-hic-BASTARD!" Leere stumbled back onto a chair, rubbing her eyes to not cry. "It doesn't matter that you love me. I'm dangerous. S-s-so get the fuck out of here…"
Ralnor let Leere have her tirade. There was obvious anger in his eyes, but his expression was tired. For the first time in his life, the secondborn prince threw up his hands. He released a frustrated sigh and then shook his head.
"I'm tired of fighting you, Leere. I'm tired of you leaving and coming back." Ralnor knew how she truly felt, so now he was going to tell her exactly what she needed. "Sometimes, when you leave, we wonder if you're ever coming back. You call yourself a princess of Hyrule, but you're not. You're really just a wandering nomad, looking for answers that will never satisfy you in the first place." He scoffed. "If you want to stay with the damn monsters, then go ahead! I won't stop you. Evidently, you trust an ancient snake you met just a few days ago more than you do your own brother." He then turned to leave, but stopped and looked at Hades. "Bonegrinder got her this way, he can fix it his damn self."
Hades growled. "No. She's already messed up operations enough. Club her on the head and take her if you have to. Or I'll just kill her now."
Leere looked down at the bottle, sniffing to herself. Ralnor’s words had cut deep into her psyche. "I-I... I don't know what I'm doing. I'm not good to anyone. I mess up things here or on the surface. I pretend to be princess when it suits me. But I'm not. I'm not like Rinku. I'm not like you Ralnor. I almost got Bonegrinder trapped seeing his own family. Than I persuaded him into fucking me, drinking all his wine, and smoking his drugs to try and not feel so pained.... And than you said it yourself. You wonder if I'm dead.... Leere looked up from the bottle, almost in a haze. "I feel dead. On the inside. It gets worse every die. Did you know I was named 'Emptiness'? How funny is that? You think I'm empty on the inside?” Leere was tired. So tired of just wandering.
"Tiny princess," Bonegrinder's voice interjected in the argument. "It is time for you to go home with your brother. You need to get some help, my porcelain doll." He fixed the cloak around her shoulders. "Sometimes, the deep, pit in one's soul feels like it can never be filled. It keeps taking and taking, bottomless. Though what you have to do, is keep faith in those around you. If not for this snake's children, he would be aimless. You must not give up, Leere... everyone will have their day in the sunlight."
"What help? What possible help?"
"... okay, for once, just listen to the old snake, Leere. Come with me. We're going to see a doctor and get you some help." Ralnor stated firmly. "Now."
She looked up to Ralnor, her head killing her. "I'm a terrible sister Ralnor. I don't... I'm not as good as Orana or Kanisa. What doctor can analyze me?"
"A psychiatrist... but first, Doctor Boveir. Now let's go, right now."
Leere nodded, shaking her head. "O-ok. Can I have my clothes. Or do you want to carry me again..."
"Go with your brother, tiny princess." Bonegrinder urged her. "He will be able to get you aid that you need, more so than you know. Put your faith in family, yes? This Anagari will be here if you need him too. You've had your fun... now you need to get better."
"Are you going to kick me again?"
"....No….”
"I don't hit women unless I have to, and I'm not going to hit you. Don't kick me again or I'll drop you on purpose this time." Ralnor hefted Leere onto his back, piggyback style. "We'll get you some new clothes. Yours smell like ass."
"Bonegrinder will come and check in on the tiny princess later, pretty prince."
Constricted Souls: Ch 5. A Slither through the Underground
Blue and White were exhausted and sleeping peacefully as Leere started to wake. She found herself in the coils of Bonegrinder, who was also resting peacefully.
Leere looked around, startled at where she was in the dark. The darkness made her uneasy at the best of times. Her body was warm and dazed. As the princess’ eyes adjusted she saw the arachnid twins sleeping peacefully. Feeling her body, she found Bonegrinder wrapped around her like a blanket. She simply rested with her eyes open in the dark as she pulled the snake close.
“Hrmm… go back to sleep, tiny princess.” Bonegrinder felt Leere moving and slightly shifted his coils, thinking he was holding her too closely for her comfort. “After you, Blue, and White going at it for four hours, you need rest.”
Leere pulled him back, her high no longer around. Without the warmth of his body, she felt a shallow coldness. “Did we have sex too? I can’t remember.”
“No, tiny princess, no, you were simply too tired. Do not worry, Bonegrinder received plenty of amusement just from watching the glorious show.” The Anagari used his tail to tug a fur blanket over Leere’s pale body. “He is glad you had fun with the sisters. Tell him, tiny princess, do you feel sated?”
“...I’m sorry. I think I took advantage of you and the twins. I feel cold...”
"Bonegrinder thinks the twins are never going to complain about such a thing." He chuckled at Leere, using his coils and placing them over her body along with the fur, careful not to crush her. "Better?"
"I don't know. After you removed a single sigil... I feel off balance." She crawled to look him in the eye. "Promise me you won't remove any more."
"Would you rather Bonegrinder put it back?" The Anagari asked as she told him how she felt. "He only tried to help you, tiny princess. He would never do an innocent harm."
"I don't want you to remove any more in case something worse happens."
"You worry about this old snake. Tell him why?" Bonegrinder asked of Leere. "You know he will be just fine, regardless of what happens to him."
"Because no one is invincible. I don't want another friend to die because of me..."
"Bonegrinder will be fine, Leere, you see, he cannot die, not yet. There is still too many who depend on him, who he must care for." The old snake assured the princess. "His magic is old and ancient, but he is bound to this earth until he has finished what he is set out to do. Believe him, tiny princess, he has no use for lies."
Leere placed a finger to his mouth to silence his lips. "I never said you are a liar. Just... if you are as old as you say you are, than you have the wisdom to know I'm right. But maybe you are correct, however, I’m still not at ease. Promise me. Promise that we are done with the magic bounded to me."
"Bonegrinder would not lead you astray, Leere, the magic that had evil latch onto you is no more." He held up his hand, using his own magic for emphasis. It was an odd sphere of purple and white, swirling and crackling. The magic formed into a shape of Leere and how evil used to be drawn to her. However, now, it was no more, no longer trying to dig the hooks into her. "You are safe."
He didn’t agree to the promise. She suddenly felt a wave flow up her spine and into her head. 'No you aren't.' A simple powerful voice spoke in her mind. Leere's red eyes widened as she looked at him. She was still cursed. Either spiritually or mentally. She always would be. "I don't feel safe."
Rising off the bed, she looked for her clothing. "Can you show me around? Turn on some lights?"
"Poor girl, you are in the presence of an ancient monster and still do not feel safe. He does not know what else to do to assure you that you are all right." Bonegrinder used his magic to light some of the torches in his chamber. He then used his long tail to gather her clothes and offered them to her. "If you are cold, he can provide something warmer. In the catacombs, it is never warm."
"Just my clothes please. And your company is all I ask for really." Leere finished putting on her clothing that Bonegrinder offered. Cold. She felt cold. "I want to see this Hive you've created down here."
"Very well, tiny princess. Come, Bonegrinder will show you who all he cares for and who all depends on him."
Leere gave the twins a kiss in their sleep, and followed Bonegrinder back into the rest of the catacombs. Leere felt her heart burn like frostbite. Power stolen from the monsters having infested in her. "So would you describe yourself as a Kingpin Bonegrinder?"
"Bonegrinder formed this for the people who needed a place to call home, who needed somewhere to go when no one else would have them." The Anagari told Leere as he picked her up and placed her on his back while he slithered. "Criminals were rampant and tried to harm some of the weak innocents. He sought to remedy that, and found himself in charge of the dangerous and the meek. Now, all live in harmony, knowing that his word is law. No one wants for anything, no one needs anything, all is provided, as long as all is obeyed. A tight ship, some may say, but as you can see," He gestured to the open areas of the catacombs, where children played freely and the elderly were cared for with a smile. There were stations full of food, places to mend clothing, a few areas for fresh bedding, and of course, the entrances to each Hive member's domain. "We take care of our own."
Leere got off Bonegrinder to view the living quarters up close. "Mother and Father wondered why the homeless population had naturally decreased with time... how do you manage all the supplies in such secrecy?"
"It is easy to manage with eyes and ears everywhere, when people want to keep a secret a secret." Bonegrinder told Leere as no one gave the monstrous Anagari a second glance. "All those who are able have a job to do, no one stays here for free. Even some of the elderly take turns sewing, serving, resting... the children go and learn under certain apprentices to have a better future. We ensure all are cared for, and everyone is happy to have what they need."
"Apprentices? What about school?" Leere felt she was almost hypocritical. As a kid and teenager herself, she didn't like it most of the time, but she excelled at her studies. Only sibling that really kept up to her, and even went above, was Ralnor. She was grateful for her education though.
"The old ones teach the young ones, and the young ones teach the old ones." Bonegrinder chuckled at Leere's questions. "If you wish to see the library we have on learning books, then you are more than welcome to do so."
"Library?"
"Library, bathing house, sleeping quarters, training ground, need Bonegrinder say more?" The Anagari listed the commodities the catacombs had. "With a little magic and engineering, we even have light."
"It's a shame you don't live in a castle instead. You almost sound like Dracula."
"Heheheh, Bonegrinder doesn't drain his victims of blood, that's White---HEY!" The Anagari felt several children climbing on his tail. "Off!"
"Ride, ride, ride!" The children chanted with giggles, not moving even when Bonegrinder shook his tail a little.
"Off, you little brats, Bonegrinder has work to do."
"Ride, ride, ride!"
"... fine. You get off when he gets to his chambers, understood?"
"Yay!!!"
Leere stared blankly at the kids, before she fully registered that a dozen little cubs had swarmed the giant snake man and forced him to allow them to ride him like a pony. It caused her to laugh rather unprofessionally.
"Hmph. Thinks Bonegrinder is like horse, just able to jump on him and ride to nowhere." The Anagari huffed under his breath, and then stopped at the entrance to his chambers. "Off! Go do your chores!"
"Aww, one more ride?"
"Bonegrinder said off, and he means off, the lot of you." He wriggled his tail up and down, the children still hanging on here and there. "Right now or no dessert tonight."
"Aww, okay!"
Once the children hopped off his tail, the Anagari slithered back into his quarters.
Leere passed one of the kids a chocolate bar from her secret pocket as he ran off. "You are quite the charmer Bonegrinder."
"Hrn... Bonegrinder has told those brats not to climb on him, he is not this so called 'playground' he keeps hearing about." The Anagari then deposited Leere on the soft pillows before slithering over to his shelf. He collected his pipe and some herbal leaves to smoke for a nice and calm demeanor. "Though they do not listen."
"Hey, you got an extra joint? I need something to calm my nerves."
"Then take this." Bonegrinder offered her his pipe. "Blue made it for this old snake."
Leere took a puff of the pipe, letting her lungs fill up before blowing out. "What's your purpose Bonegrinder? And why live in Hyrule?"
"He is seeking someone who he has yet to find." Bonegrinder balanced Leere on his coils. "Someone as old as him, but more so evil. His trail led him here. The Hive, however, was unexpected... but they needed him."
Leere nodded, her mind starting to slow down, yet stay focused on Bonegrinder. "Someone hurt you, didn't they."
"Hrm... that is a tale for another time, tiny princess." Bonegrinder did not want her to be upset over the past. There was nothing she could say or do to fix the sins of history. It was so long ago, memories he wished to forget. "You have many burdens on your mind. Bonegrinder is not going to add more to it."
Leere leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. In the darkness above her, she tried to imagine stars. "Why you call me tiny princess? Why do you call yourself in the third person Bonegrinder?"
"Because you are a tiny princess; delicate, porcelain, and sweet. Just like how princesses are in the old books." Bonegrinder spoke of how he saw Leere, not exactly of how she saw herself. "Bonegrinder is... Bonegrinder. No longer his old self, no longer someone who his old self would know. That one died with the past."
Leere looked back down at him, cracking an eyebrow up at him. "Excuse me? Ok, ok. How'd you describe Ralnor than?"
"... a pretty, bratty, gloomy prince."
"HA! But he's much more delicate than me!" Leere stood up, feeling a rant rise up in her. "I'm far from delicate. Or sweet. I carry myself properly because it gets you things from those who think they can manipulate you, when in turn you are pulling the strings all along. I have a PhD in Archaeology! People don't guess I'm a doctor when they look at me, but I am. It gives me clearance to go to any grave I want, and do what I want. Most don't understand what I do. I'm the hero that goes unspoken. Covarog thinks he's so great in saving the world. Gets a pretty wife on top of that. Fame and fortune. I get to live with nightmares and documentation that goes to a museum no one cares about."
"... so you assume no one cares about you, tiny princess?"
"Not the general public. And my family, they care, but they don't understand my pain. They can't comprehend... the things I've been through. So that's why, like Rinku, I leave for long periods of time." Leere took another hint of her pipe. "To be truthful Bonegrinder... what you are doing here, could be seen as dangerous. Gathering men, woman, and monsters of guilty nature. Yes, you control them, but like any rabid dog, they could get out of their cage at any time and bite out at the public."
"Maybe what you need to do, tiny princess, is find someone who you can share with, your pains, your truths, your fears, your nightmares... every part of you that you feel like you don't need to hide." Bonegrinder shook his head as Leere mentioned how dangerous his organization could be. "A rabid dog has no reason to bite the hand that feeds it, tiny princess... Bonegrinder has his ways."
"No. But it bites the kids who get too close to the fence." She leaned close, passing the pipe back. "Sheer-Khan doesn't like me. I've heard rumors that the orc wants to go to war. That's dangerous. And I have very distinct way of handling danger to this country and its people." Shaking her head, she sighed. "I'm just cautious. I'm sorry if I come across as rude, but if you see a threat to your family, to your well being and home, you take it out of the picture."
"Then, do you see this old snake as a threat to your family? Your home, tiny princess?"
"No. Not you. Not you individually." She looked around in the dark to hear if others were listening in. This drug was making her hyper aware of her surroundings. "I think if Ralnor saw you as a true threat he'd have asked me or Dad to do something about it. No. You are complicated, but you aren't evil."
"That's the thing, tiny princess, Ralnor does not realize that Bonegrinder means him no harm... he assumed that himself." Bonegrinder sighed as he shifted Leere slightly so he could reach and offer her more leaves for the pipe. "Though Bonegrinder saw an opportunity; one to keep the pretty prince's mouth shut and to keep a flow of information. However, you must not worry about the Lynel and the orc. Both are loyal to Bonegrinder, would not betray him."
"Good. Too be honest, they seem like total tight asses. And the orc screams 'bitch' energy."
"Heheheh, my loyal Lynel and orc are definitely uptight, but not assholes... most of the time." Bonegrinder patted Leere with the edge of his tail. "You must learn to trust others a little more, tiny princess. One day, you will meet your sunshine and be happy."
Leere took hold of his tail tip, and started to stroke it. The scales felt so warm in her hand. "This tiny princess is started to get annoyed, Boney. I wonder, is 'this' your 'happy bone'?"
"Annoyed? Perhaps he should call you porcelain doll instead?" Bonegrinder jested with a small grin, running a claw through her dark hair. "Ha! Far from it."
Leere gave a teasing purr as he put the claw through her hair. "I must be honest with you Bonegrinder. You make me more comfortable than any human man I know. Every time I've tried to open up, it has backfired in ways that leave me scarred. But you're different. Maybe a monster that’s bulletproof is the friend I need."
"Tiny porcelain doll... what you truly need is a sense of peace." Bonegrinder carefully chose his words. "Someone who doesn't run, who understands, who listens... someone who sees you for you. Bonegrinder will be a friend, a companion if you wish... but his heart has always belonged to another."
"Just call me Leere, seriously." She listened to his words, and felt the emptiness in her. "I never will. And I think I'll come to an understanding with that. Just... friends with benefits work for me. Something to numb the pain and have someone who understands."
"What if Bonegrinder told you that one day you will meet your sunshine, tiny Leere? Would you believe him? Or laugh at an old snake?"
"I doubt it." Leere scratched her head, shaking it once more. "I'm fine with living out my purpose as this world's dark silent protector until the day I die."
"Heheheh, you would be surprised, tiny Leere, at all Bonegrinder knows." He patted her back and then laid back on his pillows. "This old snake needs to rest, beautiful doll. Keep him company while he dreams?"
"What kind of company are you looking for?"
"Someone like you. Tiny, soft, and warm." Bonegrinder then took his pipe from her. "Careful, princess... that is addictive."
"So are you." She leaned beside the massive snake, two beings with complicated histories slithering up to each other. "You never answered my question on what types of friends you wanted to be."
"You said friends with benefits are usually the only kind that works for you." Bonegrinder snickered, loving to tease the princess. "Unless he is going senile, that is what he understood. However, if you are interested in love making, that will have to wait until another time." The huge snake waved his hands and the lights in his chambers extinguished, leaving only the glow of his eyes. "It is now nighttime and time to rest."
"Agreed. And their are more benefits than just love making." Her eyes glowed too as she nestled close under his chin. "When we wake we explore the temple. Deal?"
"Very well, porcelain doll." Bonegrinder closed his eyes and sighed softly. "One good thing about Anagaris, so he has been told... they are very good for keeping away nightmares."
"That's all I need right now."
~
Hades shook his head seeing the twins sleeping in their bed. He pointed them out to Sterling Silver with contempt. "Look at how she drained them. The witch is a danger."
"Hrm, I wouldn't complain if she wanted to drain me, she's a looker." Silver then snorted when Hades gave him a glare. "Look, I'm sure the twins know what they're doing. Not to mention, the girl is the size of a twig, we could easily snap her in half before she even tried anything... if she did want to try anything."
"Follow me." He took Silver to the battle that had taken earlier in the catacombs. The plasma burns still sizzled, their noses taking in a toxic smell. The Lyenl pointed to a pentagram that stained the concrete floor. It reeked of brimstone. "That was a gateway to hell. A powerful one that I can still feel the effects of. Wizards and Witches have always held advantage over most worries. She's a necromancer and a blood magic user. She is a threat Silver. Open your eyes."
"All right, all right, I believe you. Though what makes you think that Bonegrinder can't control her?" Silver shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, for fuck's sake, he's even got Red under his control, and Red is from hell."
"Because he's a demon. She is human. But worse, I believe she carries something not of hell in her."
"You know that unless we present solid proof, Bonegrinder will tan our asses."
"Mortuus are not as tame as Hylians. They are crafty. I worry that his sanity clouds his judgement." The Lynel paced around the pentagram. "He allows all these worms to fester around him. First the Prince, and now the Princess."
"Then what do you suggest we do? Bonegrinder is our friend, our master, the one who took care of us... well, me. I'm not about to go and do something behind his back." Silver knew better than what Hades was hinting. "If you want to do something to the Prince or the Princess, you are on your own. Bonegrinder has never led us astray."
"No... but his mind is becoming weary. I worry that he will snap before he can complete his destiny. And I won't let others poison his mind more than it has been by time already."
"All right, I'll admit Bonegrinder is a little off his rocker sometimes, but if he's as old as the rumors say he is, he's got some leeway to be a bit weird." Silver then asked. "Besides, what if he's doing this for a reason? You and I both know damn well that he has visions of the future."
"I can only hope he chooses right. And god forbid he doesn't lay with her like the Twins have."
"I doubt that will happen, Bonegrinder has... certain tastes." Silver tried not to make a face. "We will keep a close eye on her, and if we suspect any ill intent, we'll act. Agreed?"
"Agreed. Now go due your duties Silver. And wake the twins so they get to work. I have an appointment of my own to attend to."
"Very well, but remember; we do nothing unless she threatens him."
"I don't repeat myself twice. And I don't forget."
"You better not, pussycat, you're almost as old as he is."
"... You want to join the same position White and Blue are in?" He turned to the orc menacingly.
"Pffft, we all know that White and Blue would do any position for you, pussycat." Silver snickered. "Go do your chores, I'll go do mine."
Hades growled, thinking about tearing the orc a new one. He staved off those thoughts though. First, he had to take care of the mess in this room. He could make Silver beg later after all.
