Outcast- - Chapter VI

They were pacing a while now, through the caverns that connected the city to the rest of the Underdark. Everything was quiet, except for a silent dripping sound of water that appeared every now and then. They both knew those passages well, for it was wise for any drow to know as many ways to retreat as possible. She was invisible and wrapped in silence. It was yet another useful spell she knew. It was necessary because it was impossible to move around completely silent when you had an armour. On the other hand, he was visible and felt somewhat uneasy. And why wouldn’t he? She was invisible and impossible to hear. Yet her presence was noted only by his acute sense of smell. She was right beside him.

Why are you so stiff? It’s like you’re walking on needles. Loosen up.

That was easy for her to say, he thought as she sent him a telepathic message.

You can reply, you know?

Yes I do, milady. It’s just… Frustrating when you can’t see or hear the person you’re talking to. It’s mildly unsettling.

She laughed, knowing all to well that he won’t be able to hear it. This male showed some spirit, indeed. He was so uncommon for a drow that she wondered if he really was one. So many mixed up feelings inside one’s head… If she would have had all those, she would have gone insane by now. He was coping with them surprisingly well. She would keep watching him closely, no doubt about that.

I’m sorry you can’t see my pretty face, but this is necessary. I do not wish to be seen by anyone else. You only know where I am because I’m letting you to.

This could be true. She was such an impressive spell caster that he had no doubt whether she could perfectly camouflage herself or not. At times, he could swear that she was moving around him, behind him, before him… It was because of her smell. Yet again, it might have been just a stale current of air brushing past his ear. He wasn’t sure.

Thank you milady.

No problem, my dear Ernzz. No problem…

They were advancing fast, and soon they left empty tunnels for busy streets. He tried to play his part convincingly. He didn’t show by any means that he felt anyone’s presence. He kept walking normally, ignoring other drow and slaves alike. Her presence left undetected. Partially because these were common folk, inept at sorcery, unable to detect or even feel magic. She however, had to manoeuvre around the crowds or individuals, keeping Ernzz in sight and at the same time trying to avoid contact of any part of her body with anyone else. It wouldn’t be very convenient to bump into someone. It wouldn’t blow her cover, but she liked things to pass smoothly. And leaving others unaware of her presence. Until it were too late.

Are you there? He asked cautiously, having no way of knowing where she was in the jungle of people and slaves milling about. All the market smells crippled his ability to sense her.

Of course I am. Are you worried about me?

He could almost feel her inquisitive gaze upon him. He wasn’t worried about her. She could take very good care of herself, he knew that, but he didn’t want to lose her. It would be highly embarrassing to start insulting the matron openly without her to watch his back.

I’m not worried about you.

Yea. Sure.

He dared not contradict her. She probably read him well. He was always like that, wearing his heart on his sleeve. He was an open book; never trying too hard to mask his feelings. Although he wanted to, it never really worked out. He was just too transparent, and it was a fact that couldn’t be helped.  It was probably a genetic thing.  

They passed through the market and continued onwards, approaching his house by every step. Unwillingly, he felt his heart rushing. It was starting to pound painfully in his chest. He didn’t recognize this feeling, but he didn’t like it one bit. He didn’t like pain. Maybe only in combat, while the adrenalin rushed through all the veins in his body and while he was moving, slashing and ducking. But not now. Not here. Not with her around. He had to compose himself real soon, for if the matron was to notice his anxiety, and she had a sharp eye for those sorts of things, he would probably alert her to the fact that something was wrong. And he didn’t want her to notice a darn thing. A sly smile stretched across his lips. He wanted Arun to suffer. As much as possible and even more.

My, my… was all that she thought. That head of his was so interesting. She rarely found anyone worth her attention, and only drow that she held in slightest interest were him and Ryndar. Why not any females?

They were boring.

Ruthless with no apparent reason, chaotic, stupid. Slaves to tradition and worshipping of Lolth. She didn’t despise the Spider Queen, far from it! She admired Lolth, her brutality and cunning. She admired her fiendish system and chaotic nature. Her power. But the drow were unworthy. Not all of course, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Lolth was only playing with them all. The whole drow race was one big toy army with whole of Underdark as her playground. The drow depended on her every whim. She wondered why they would submit to that fact, and were they even vaguely aware of it. They were pompous, believing they were the chosen race. Yeah, right. Chosen rothé. Poor slaves ready for slaughter. That was one of the reasons she didn’t worship Lolth.

Ernzz could see the slender tower of his house from a good distance. It seemed like an enchanted pike protruding from a dead beast’s rib cage. Yes, soon that beast, the Jhal’Xetre shall be dead. And he would be powerless to stop it. Although, now when he thought about it, he wasn’t really sure whether he would entirely mind.

The tall tower, once a stalagmite, now wonderfully sculpted, and glowing in faerie fire. Hues of light purple, blue and acid green were shimmering wonderfully. But something was wrong. The lights seemed to be exploding. Then it dawned to him.

The Hemmrett are destroying your house. And we’ve come to chop off the snake’s head. Now would be a good time to put an end to your regrets. Soon it will all be over.

She was right. The tower wasn’t as nearly as beautiful as before. It seemed to have crumbled a bit on the sides, where the missiles forced their ways through the defences. Spells flew everywhere, the battle cries and clashing of arms filled the air, deafening him. The battle still raged on. He couldn’t help but notice exactly how crippled his house’s defences were. Countless corpses lay gutted on the ground, already stained with the stench of death. Many of them were Jhal’Xetre, people he knew, even some males he could have called friends. He couldn’t help but notice how meaningless all of this was. So much death. And for what? A handful of magical trinkets, few surviving soldiers to fill in the ranks and some resources… Nothing absolutely worth dying for. But of course. The ambition was behind this. And the desired position was the only goal worth fighting for. He spat on that.

I’ll make you invisible for a few seconds. Get through the enemy ranks and head straight to meet the matron. They will let you. After all, you should be reporting the news of my death.

He stood still for a second and then spoke: Yes milady.

As they squeezed past the tired warriors, avoiding being involved in it in any way, they almost reached the stairway that lead to the house. Ernzz suddenly appeared beside his comrades.

“Where on earth have you been, Ernzz? We could have used your help! Everyone thought you dead!” He found himself scolded by a younger male. He was one of those rare friends he had. He seemed to have been worried about him. Ernzz couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

“I have to hurry and report to the matron mother.” He said, trying to sound normal.

“Yes. You do that. And please do hurry; we are in a bad position right now. We could use your help.” With that, he patted Ernzz on the shoulder and returned to the combat, leaving him to hurry up the stairs. To his disgust, even the stairs seemed to be littered with corpses. Most of them were shot with crossbow bolts, and others burnt beyond recognition by some sort of spell Ernzz didn’t recognize. It was obvious everyone was busy with the combat; there was no time to clean the place from all the bodies. The battle seemed… Slow. The warriors were worn out, and so were the wizards on both sides. Everything was slowed. He didn’t like it. It seemed as if both sides were losing. It seemed almost merciful to end Jhal’Xetre’s suffering. With renewed determination, he stepped into the matron’s chambers, paying no heed to the soldiers that stormed past him to join the battle that was raging outside. He also noticed a couple of informants that seemed to be filling the matron in on the action. She should fight, worthless trash. What kind of ruler would sit still witnessing the fall of his own house? Not a good one, he thought.

Arun was sitting in her black, spider shaped throne, agitated and listening to an every word of one of her cousin’s report. The battle was turning ugly for them. She was usually cold and composed, but now, she seemed nervous and jumpy. As soon as she noticed him, she dismissed the informant. Her eyes were vivid and wide. And he could swear he saw a glimpse of fear somewhere deep inside of them.

“Where the hell have you been? Didn’t I send you to get rid of that despicable assassin?”

He offered a slight bow as a sign of his apology.

“Is she dead then? The bitch that killed my daughters?” Hatred was positively exploding from her voice.

“Yes, honoured matron. I managed to eliminate her. You have had your vengeance.”
She looked at him sharply, baring her teeth in hot, hissing anger.

“My vengeance? I am not nearly satisfied enough! If I had more time and the ability to leave this house, I would have dismantled her piece by piece, torn her limb by limb and leave her to bleed to death after feeding her to a mount lizard!”

Arguing was useless. She was a cold, calculated and cruel person, but the recent events seemed to have changed that fact. Her transformation was dumbfounding.

Shall you announce me, Ernzz, my dear?

His ears were filled with her melodious voice. It may have been telepathic, but it still felt like the real thing. He smiled as he looked the matron directly in the eye, savouring the moment.  

“Join the others outside. It’s time for me to join their ranks. I shall annihilate them. Filthy Hemmrett! If Mrell would dare show her ugly face, I’d crush it to a bloody pulp!” Her fists were clenching menacingly.

“I’m going.” He retorted. “But you’re not. You should stay here.”

“Are you forgetting yourself, Ernzz?” Her eyes narrowed. She had no time for his senseless babbling.

“I’m not forgetting myself. You’re the one that I want to forget.” He said almost inaudibly through a hiss, only to smirk next upon telling her the fate which awaits her, hidden and ready to draw her blood. “Meet your doom, Arun.”

“What…” She asked as the doors of her chamber slammed firmly shut.

Withdraw, Ernzz. Let me handle her. Sit back and enjoy. I’ll make it worth your while.

He could almost feel the smile that undoubtedly stretched across her smooth lips. He obeyed instantly and backed to the wall of the circular room.

As the matron was slowly realising that something was wrong, Myelyn appeared right in front of her with a smirk on her face. The matron’s face changed colours. It didn’t seem logical to Ernzz that she would choose to appear in front of Arun instead of behind her. That would have been so much quicker. Yet, somehow, it wouldn’t feel the same. He knew how much she enjoyed killing. And fighting. That was probably also why she was so good. She practiced tirelessly instead of relying on the element of surprise. That must have given her all the amazing qualities she possessed. He loved her style. She would always give her opponent a sporting chance, if only to toy with him. It must have been a rewarding feeling.  

“I greet you, honourable matron Arun Jhal’Xetre. You know why I have come. Let’s have fun.” Said Myelyn with her hands still placed upon her hips, a wide sneer on her pale face.

Matron mother’s teeth were bared in an enraged gesture. “Ernzz, you traitor! I shall have your head for this!” Screamed the matron as she drew her powerful whip.

Myelyn cackled in delight and muttered the words of a spell while at the same time backing and stretching away from the angry vipers that writhed in desire to sink their poisoned fangs into her flesh. In a screech, the vipers fell silent and limp from their mistress’s hand. Arun’s whip was now nothing more than an ordinary whip. Good for flaying, but not much more. Arun cursed menacingly and flailed the useless whip at the assassin. Myelyn smiled sweetly as she merely leaned backwards to avoid the matron’s toy whip.

“Half breed bitch!” Arun spat angrily, losing her temper by the second. She wanted to strangle the pesky vermin with her bare hands. She wished nothing more than to rip her throat out and squeeze her beating heart until it would pop in her hands. Her heart filled with anger and burning, vivid hatred, she called upon Lolth, summoning a swarm of spiders. They were barely an inch or a half in diameter, but Myelyn knew better than to judge them by their appearance. They were venomous and their touch and bite was paralyzing. This was about to become interesting. She levitated swiftly upwards and shot another spell. Fireball shot out from the palms of her hands and scorched a portion of the spiders. Others were already squirming and rushing over the blackened bodies of their own vile kind, clenching their sharp mandibles with a vicious red gleam in their hungry eyes. Myelyn however, had to pay attention to what Arun was doing. Without her whip she was slowed, but not crippled. She was chanting yet another spell granted to her by her chaotic goddess. The assassin thought of the quickest spell she knew. A split second before Arun managed to finish the incantation of her spell, a powerful sound and crackling of blinding yellow-white lightning struck the middle of the room, scorching the top of matron’s shoulder and her left ear. She winced in pain and started another spell.

This wasn’t easy for Myelyn, even though she didn’t expect it to be in the first place. She had to keep her mind on the levitation that kept her away from the spiders (not for long, however, because they were intelligent, climbing onto each other in heaps, trying to reach her) and as well from the enraged matron that was about to finish another spell. A huge ray of red light shot straight towards the assassin. There was no time to dodge. It hit her squarely into the chest, sending her flying into a black marble column, leaving her breathless and in considerable pain. That was supposed to kill her instantly, but as the matron soon realised, her spell didn’t do the job. Myelyn was alive and kicking. A smile even appeared on her lips as her eyes narrowed to nothing more than thin slits. Her ring did the job. The spell was too powerful to be reflected back, probably because there was divine will behind it, but the ring and the armour still prevented the spell from hurting her. As she slid onto the marble floor, she didn’t dwell there for too long, pulling a few ingredients from her pockets she muttered a spell and flew upwards.

As the matron could clearly see, Myelyn had her arms stretched out wide when something began to sprout out of her back. It was a pair of powerful, leathery black wings. They were huge. It was because Myelyn couldn’t afford to keep her mind on the levitation no longer, and besides, this was much faster. As they spread, she flew towards the matron in what Ernzz considered blinding speed, managed to draw her scimitar and plunge towards Arun. The matron managed to dodge it. Barely. In another flash of lightning, Myelyn swept the floor. The lightning kept ricocheting off the walls, killing every spider in the way and causing trouble for the matron that had to jump around like a child to avoid being hit.

“You filthy maggot! I shall make you suffer for all of this!” Matron howled angrily, staring daggers at her. Oh, if only looks could kill! Then Myelyn would be laying on the floor shattered into a million charred smithereens. But since the matron possessed no such power, Myelyn could only chuckle heartily.

“Well, then, catch me if you can. Arun Jhal’Xetre!” She exclaimed happily sending yet another crackling thunder towards the frustrated matron. Arun managed to shift quicker than the assassin had anticipated and avoided all damage since the lightning whizzed an inch from her chest, not even nicking her.

“You’re repeating yourself, half-breed!” She grinned in a mocking manner, clearly trying to put the assassin into her rightful place. Amongst the trash of the slave races, servants of the drow. For whom did she think she was? Insulting an honourable matron mother, a drow who was above her in every way.

The same sentiment was not shared by Myelyn.

“Why change habits when they’re so effective? Besides, why are you better than me? You’re shorter, uglier and less talented. You’re weak, Arun!” She smiled smugly as she disappeared out of sight, lashing at the matron from behind with the scimitar glowing faintly red in her clenched fist. The matron hissed and spat, all the while dodging the assassins blinding blows. Arun cracked her whip at Myelyn, two of the snakes scraping limply on her outstretched black wing. The snakes may have not been awake, but they were still poisonous.

Ernzz jerked upwards as he saw Myelyn wince in pain. Those wings sure were useful, but they could be damaged. And she would feel the pain. And the venom. He knew what it felt like. Being poisoned. Not just because she had poisoned him just the day earlier, but because Arun used to do it just for kicks. It was a horrible day. He remembered it still. That day from hell. His little sister was serving the matron as usual. As he entered this cursed room many years before…

A terrified shriek filled the corridor. As soon as he heard it, he ran. That was a shriek he knew very well. “Yabel! Yabel!” He screamed as he entered the grand circular hall. His little sister lay cramped on the floor as the matron flayed at her again. The screams had already faded. Not because his aunt stopped flaying, but because the venom had already kicked in. Yabel was on the floor half conscious, trembling and shivering from the poison that was already destroying her from inside. “Yabel!” He screamed again as he slipped on the floor and onto his knees, collapsing near his baby sister. He took her shivering, cold body into his arms and shook her gently, worried sick. “Yabel! Wake up! Please! Yabel!” But instead of hearing her response, it came from the matron. As he lifted his scared, but determined gaze only thing in his entire view was Arun. Towering him like a huge, malevolent spider about to devour its helpless, juicy sweet prey, she was smiling. The weight of that content smile felt as if a ton of lead was placed upon his shoulders. He couldn’t keep looking at her. Not only did she flay his sister for no reason again, she was smiling at the prospect of killing her. No, not just killing her, but torturing her as well. In front of him. The two despised children of her deceased sister.

“Awww… So worried about your sister… Why didn’t I see it sooner?”

“Don’t kill her! What has she done to you?” He lifted his gaze to look directly into her blood thirsty eyes. He saw no pity, no mercy, nothing. Only wretched, horrid amusement. Every fibre of his being was screaming against her. He felt defiant. Bitterness was eating him away, his every atom. She lifted her scourge to flay at her again, grinning wickedly. The pain she was inflicting upon her sister’s offspring gave her enormous pleasure.

“Leave her alone! What has she done to you?” He pleaded. Anger burning in him vividly, he gritted his teeth, feeling unusual warmth in his eyes. He felt his aunt’s whip crack near his head, deliberately barely missing him.

“Remember your place insolent male! I shall do with her as I please. Yes…” She pondered, licking her lips greedily. “Yes… That is the word. Beg me. Beg me for your sister’s life.” She was gloating so openly it sickened him. He felt a rush of nausea as his stomach leaped. It felt like it was stuck in his throat. Begging was bad. Very bad for a drow. It was not only shameful and humiliating; it was a sign of weakness and helplessness. It was a feeling that was the drow’s worst fear and shame. A feeling one was never ever supposed to feel. But as always, more acceptable for males. He never understood it. The pain. The suffering. Female, ruthless domination. Torture. He didn’t understand it. There was no point in it. And he was starting to hate it. A feeling common for all drow. His throat was tight. He didn’t want to beg. He wanted to defy his aunt.

Noticing his foolish hesitation, his little rebellion, she slowly found her satisfaction slipping away. And she wanted it back. “I said you should beg. BEG!” She yelled so loud, it vibrated in his eardrums threatening to pierce them. His sister was almost completely silent.

“BEG! BEG FOR HER WORTHLESS LIFE!” She screamed loudly as the echo multiplied her voice into more faint copies. Ernzz hated each and every one. Tears were dancing in his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out but a non articulated squeal.

“BEG!!!” She screamed so hard that her voice snapped. She flailed her scourge at him, all of the vipers biting hungrily through his black skin. He yelped in excruciating pain. As he raised his head again in the last futile effort, he saw the vipers still soaked in his sister’s blood bite into his tender flesh. He managed to utter looking directly at Arun’s eyes; his own filled with tears that blurred his vision. “Wh…Why are you doing this?” He didn’t understand. That was the only thing he wanted. The only thing he ever wanted. And something he would probably never achieve. Arun’s eyes narrowed dangerously. This little wimp of a male was still defying her. She would kill him, if only to satisfy her pride.

Ernzz remembered how he squeezed his little sister then. Their two weak bodies together in a death cramp. He remembered how the matron lashed out her whip again, to finish both of them off.

Even now, he was disgusted with himself. He placed his back completely over Yabel to protect her, suffering greatly as the vipers bit into his neck and all across his back. He was willing to die protecting his sister, even though he knew she was doomed anyway. And it wasn’t out of defiance.

“I beg you… Save my sister…I beg you…Honoured Matron…”
That was the only thing he said before passing out.

He gritted his teeth. It hurt him still. Arun’s malevolence and her whip. She healed both of them, for one purpose only. For the purpose of pleasure and continued torture. He hated Arun. It was the strongest emotion that he had ever felt, and his only desire was to see her die.

Myelyn spat angrily. She could feel the poison spread out from her wing. She flew up high with as much strength she could muster and muttered a quick spell. Her wings disappeared. Arun had already finished a spell of her own, a flaming whip placed firm in her hand. She flailed it, intending to wrap it tightly around the assassin’s neck, but Myelyn was faster. Feigning the injury, she let the matron believe that the poison entered her bloodstream, she dodged her whip clumsily. Pretending still, she muttered a potent spell. It required complicated finger patterns, perfectly pronounced words and an incredible power for visualisation of the effect. Just a few seconds later a head-splitting shriek echoed in Arun’s mind. Not only her mind, for the matron could feel her eardrums burst. Her ears were filled with blood which was starting to trickle down her neck. She could hear no longer. But now, it was even worse. She could hear the assassins dreaded voice echo indefinitely in her head.

You cannot hear anything now. Save for my wonderful voice. Lovely isn’t it?

The matron wanted to respond, but failed to hear her own reply. Ernzz could hear her words, spoken three times louder than her usual voice. Myelyn seemed uninjured again. Maybe she was faking it all along. The matron was putting up a good fight, but Myelyn seemed to have an advantage again.

Oh, I’m not done yet. I never fail at doing my job. And I do not intend to make you an exception.

Myelyn laughed as she noticed the matron’s reaction. It was amusing beyond any measure. But the matron wasn’t dead yet. That meant that she was still dangerous. The matron flailed again, with her two whips. The poisonous one missed her by several meters, but the other managed to wrap itself around her ankle, scorching through her boot and her skin. She jerked her leg out from the whip’s fiery grip. The matron was laughing much too loud. Myelyn flew upwards and in a forward flip she slashed at the matron, her scimitar gritting against the matron’s armour. As the matron tried to turn, Myelyn kicked her hard in the back. She dispelled the matron’s whip and ripped her armour off. But Arun wasn’t willing to die just yet. With her spell finished, Myelyn was slammed into the wall by an invisible force. She was sure that one or two of her ribs snapped. She fell onto the floor, but didn’t break eye contact with Arun. Then she began an incantation. Arun saw her, but couldn’t hear a word. The matron started a spell of her own, lashing it out a split second before Myelyn finished hers. A fireball slammed into Myelyn and dissipated a second later. Her spell finished successfully, she smiled. Arun began to choke as a huge shadowy hand squeezed her neck tightly, preventing the air from filling her lungs. Myelyn said out loud, knowing that her mental spell still worked on Arun.

“As I said before, my dear Arun, you’re weak. You’re slow.”

Arun gurgled angrily. “I..in Lolth’s…name…I sh..shall…”

“Oh, do shut up, Arun Jhal’Xetre. I do not understand what Lolth sees in you. You’re not fit to utter her name, let alone have her grant you powers.”

There was a vicious gleam in matron’s eyes. She tried to summon Lolth’s powers. But out of the sudden, her heart felt empty. Divine comfort, Lolth’s presence, it was all gone. She uttered a sincere prayer, a spell, but nothing happened. Myelyn saw this clearly. She started to cackle. Oh what irony! The one that Arun placed so many hopes in, her merciless goddess had left her to fend for herself. Or rather, to die.

“Lolth left you, didn’t she? Oh, my! Great matron mother Jhal’Xetre, left by Lolth at the time of her death! How very delightful!”

Ernzz couldn’t believe his ears, Arun abandoned by Lolth! That could mean only one thing. If the matron had lost the goddesses favour, it meant the imminent destruction of the house. It was the will of the Spider Queen, and that couldn’t be helped.

“Ernzz?” Myelyn called out happily.

He was astounded as he heard his name.

“Come here, my dear. You may have this honour.”

To this, Arun’s eyes widened in shock. What was the assassin planning to do?

“Come here, Ernzz! I know how much you love your aunt. I know how much she means to you. You may have this pleasure.”

He noticed the way in which she pronounced the latter. Pleasure. Indeed it would be pleasurable to kill Arun. And he was looking forward to it. He leaped swiftly, and in a second he was behind the matron. This was a moment he had been fantasizing about for most of his miserable life. The memories of Arun’s atrocities flooded his mind. Now was the time to make her pay for every mean look, every word, and every whiplash. Adrenalin rushing through his veins, he said through a hiss:  “Let her go. I want her to squeal. I want her to struggle. To scream as I kill her.” The look in his eye was a murderous one, vicious and filled with the purest form of hatred.

Myelyn smiled. Ernzz had it in him. The murderous rage. She liked it. And she intended to let him have his fun. “As you wish, Ernzz dearest.” As she snapped her fingers, the hand that held Arun, vanished. She tried to break free, but Ernzz slammed his fist into her stomach. Arun slumped and coughed out blood. Myelyn was satisfied. The boy had so much potential… But she wouldn’t have liked him if that were his sole quality. He was perfect just the way he was. And strangely attractive. She felt her skin burn as he bared his teeth and took the matron’s whip as she crawled across the floor. He lashed out her own whip at her. The vipers scratched their mistress lazily. Arun yelled in pain.

“Get up you bitch!” Ernzz spat as he slammed his foot hard into her ribs. He could feel them cracking underneath. Arun couldn’t suppress a painful howl. Ernzz saw that Arun was unable to move, so he pulled her up to her knees, so she could kneel on the cold, black floor. He pulled her hair backwards, ripping some of it off and screamed into her face: “Does it hurt?! DOES IT HURT YOU?! I hope it does! So you can suffer as I suffered, as Yabel suffered!” Despite his anger, the emotions he was forced to hold inside for so long resurfaced, and his eyes started to water, blurring his vision. Without bothering to wipe them off, he spat: “Oh, don’t worry. Your poison won’t kill you. I will.”

With that, he took his long knife and traced it between her eyes slowly, down her nose and lips, trying to take his time, but unable to because of his burning hatred. She bled. “Don’t worry, Arun. I won’t blind you. I want you to see everything I do to you.” The anger he felt was unleashed now, but it was also being replaced by cold, calculated cruelty. She deserved everything she got. And ten times more. She would now pay for every whiplash, for every tear that he and his sister had shed. He placed the tip of his long knife just above her bear chest. He didn’t aim for the heart. He didn’t stab. Instead, he let its sharp tip slide into her rib cage. Inch, by inch, he could feel her agonizing twitching. She started coughing out blood. It only made her mutilate her torso further, but she had to expulse the blood accumulated in her lungs somehow. How delicious, Myelyn thought, she was about to suffocate in her own blood. As she was desperately trying to draw another breath, he slit her throat and opened her eyes wide with his thumbs.

“I will be the last thing you’ll see, Arun. Remember it well. For in the Abyss, I will come again to kill your very soul. This I promise.”
Myelyn had no idea what was happening inside the matron’s head. Desperation? Humiliation? Shame? Most probably. Horror that struck at the instant when she had lost Lolth’s favour? Probably that last one. The matron gurgled one last time and then fell silent forever. Her eyes were still open, as if not understanding her own death, and seeking tirelessly for Ernzz. He didn’t want to think of her at all. She was dead, and serves her right. He only regretted the fact he hadn’t had the opportunity to torture her longer. For hours and days until she herself would beg for merciful death. And he would have laughed at her then, not allowing it and continuing his vengeance…

The kill may have not been the most gracious one that she had ever seen, but it had a certain style. One to her liking, anyway. Ernzz stood up, wiped his long knife into a cloth he pulled out of his piwafwi, and then threw it near the matron’s corpse. He wanted to have nothing more with the cursed matron. This story was over. At least for now and Myelyn was relieved. Now, Ernzz would become an even better companion, without the dreadful aunt dangling around his neck like a rock.

But this wasn’t a time for talking or thinking. They both had a mess to clean.

A very big mess.