Jack turned his hand to hold on to Verruca's and pulled it down into his lap. He held this large feminine hand with both of his, then turned his vision to look at Verruca.
Unknown to either Jack or Verruca, Leslie walked into the room. She was only wearing her white bath towel. At this moment, the door of Jack's quarters opened, with Leslie walking-in. Normally Verruca would have noticed this is her sharp senses but was completely enthralled by Jack. Leslie was shocked to see War Marshal. She was going to clear the floor, as it was clearly time to have a fit! However, the words she heard next caused her to pause in her tracks...
"I am sure I said a lot of things in the past, and now I can't remember them..." Jack said dully.
"...But what I do remember, most of all, is that I died." Jack nonchalantly just told of his mortality, like it happened to someone else.
A long pause came, with Verruca's gold tears still at the corner of her face, but now no longer spilling. Leslie squatted down and began to silently cry while listening to her love. This was what Leslie feared the most that day. They would exhume The Holy Witch King to find he died in his entombment.
"you... you died?... A true death?" Verruca sing-song voice was laced with traces of fear and shock.
"Yes. I died. I can't be sure if it was a true death, but it was death, none the less. You would think that as we are death, it would be a revolving door..."
Verruca's hand turned over and held both of Jack's, where she brought over her second hand to cover them both.
"As I died, it made me realize a lot of things. While I was no longer stressed from my work and I no longer cared for the world, I was laced with regret."
Verruca's tears started to stream again. "What regrets?!" Verruca asked a bit higher pitched than her usual voice.
"I had no women. I had never felt the love of a woman..." Jack calmly spoke but stopped before finishing his sentence.
At this moment, both Jack and Verruca noticed they were not alone. They both, at the same, looked over to Leslie who was squatted down sobbing. Jack and Verruca gently let go of each other's hands.
"Leslie." Jack with an even tone called to his consort.
Leslie still sobbing, shuddered. She stood, and walked over, with her head hung low. Her jet black hair covered her face, making it so he was unable to see her expression.
Jack scooched over on his evening tomb making room for Leslie to sit. He patted his padded stone bed, conveying his intent for her to sit down. Leslie followed and sat down. Jack was now sitting cross-legged with Leslie to his left and lower on the evening tomb was Verruca.
"Leslie, I'm not sure how much you heard, but I'll say it again."
"No. I heard. I heard you died like died died. Did you truly die?" Leslie asked in a low voice, again the same question asked by Verruca.
"Yes. I was truly gone. I am sure this is why a great deal of things have been forgotten, but what I remember is being alone. Truly alone." Jack said sadly. He reached out to both Leslie's and Verruca's hands.
Neither Leslie or Verruca resisted him from holding their hands.
"I made Leslie my consort because I no longer want to be alone. I am very selfish. I don't know a lot of things, and even my cultivation is gone, so I no longer have strength. I still wish to make you both happy, and in turn to make me happy."
Jack squeezed Leslie's hand.
"Mmmm." Leslie made a confirming sound.
"Verruca," Jack spoke.
Verruca's tears had long dried, when she noticed Leslie. She would only allow herself to show her emotions in front of Jack, no one else. She looked back to Jack from Leslie.
"I didn't know... But I know, now... I'm not going to cast you aside. I am very selfish. I wish to make you my consort, as well.
Jack wasn't into muscle chicks, but he really liked Verruca's upstanding personality; he even felt unnaturally close to her, as well. In Jack's opinion, it wasn't like he could do anything with her. He just wanted some companionship, and now, he had to try and salvage this situation. There was no world in which a woman wasn't going to be jealous. So he was trying his very best to have his cake and eat it too.
Verruca wiped her eyes, and stood up, leaving behind the hand of Jack. She walked to the door and didn't turn back, as she spoke. "...This is a lot to take in, for me. I feel that you, wanting to take me as your consort, is just out of pity... If you want me to be your consort or even concubine... You're going to have to work for it."
She opened the door and walked out. Leaving Jack shocked, and Leslie contemplating Verruca's words. For a while neither Leslie or Jack said anything. Finally, Jack broke the silence.
"Leslie," Jack called. Leslie looked over to Jack, taking in those golden wisp eyes.
"I want to tell you something. I don't think anyone knows about..." Jack said softly.
"What is it?" Leslie wondered what she was about to be told, many things came to mind.
"I want to tell you my name. My name is Jack."
Leslie's mouth actually hung open, looking at Jack. She knew that The Holy Witch King had to of had a name, but she never thought she would find out. It never, even, occurred to her when she accepted becoming his consort. She wasn't sure what to think. She was happy, and a little confused.
"Why tell me this?" She asked with a gentle tone.
"Because you're my consort, how could you not know your dead man's name?" Jack was quickly picking up the undead jargon they used.
Leslie reached out and pulled Jack to her; pressing her head to his. They looked into each other's eyes. Jack took in the amazing eyes of Leslie. He was amazed that while she was undead, her eyes looked so lively. How ironic. [The eyes are, said to be, windows to the soul. Maybe this is what the saying means.] Leslie was similarly lost, in the gold wisps Jack had for eyes. It was like staring into a warm fireplace, an illusionary feeling for an undead. The wisps were flaming and crackling, showing how much spirit they possessed.
"Are you mad at me?" Jack tentatively asked Leslie; again, Jack didn't have the best timing.
"Yes... No..." Leslie responded, while still starting at Jacks gold wisps.
After a short pause, "I want to be your consort. Your only consort. I want to possess your entire heart. I always have, but today I learned that not only now, but before, you had something with Verruca... And you kept this a secret from me. I'm not so much angry with you for having something with Verruca, as that you kept it a secret... from me."
Jack's couldn't make sense of this, he could understand if she was jealous, but keeping a secret? Why did that matter, when at the time they weren't an item?
"Ummm... Jack...., My love." Leslie wasn't used to using her love's name, "I don't want any more secrets between us. Even if it is the most horrible thing to say, even if you want to tell me you no longer want me, even if you want to take a hundred wives... Please share it with me. I'm not saying I am going to be happy with your telling me. I'm not saying I will agree to everything you say, but it will make me happy."
Jack didn't know if he could always tell the truth. He was never a liar, to begin with..., But everyone had a few secrets. Jack thought for a few moments and figured that if he had a secret he would never breathe it, anything else he would tell Leslie.
"Leslie... There are some things that I have to keep to myself. No one can know about them. These secrets concern my life and the kingdom, and I am unsure how much I have forgotten. I will apologize for this, in advance." Jack spoke to her.
"Mmmmmm." Leslie let out a soft coo.
"Let's take a nap. I am so, very tired." Jack said wearily.
Leslie wasn't sure she was still in the mood for... that, but she noticed that Jack laid down in his evening tomb. He extending his right arm. It was very bony, to prop ones head upon...
Lost for a moment, Leslie laid down beside Jack and took one of his many pillows. She laid it over his arm and rested her head looking to Jack.
"Today has been very hard, but I'm glad your here with me," Jack spoke to Leslie, as his vision went dark again.
Undead had a difficult time feeling temperature. Unless it was part of the two extremes, blazing heat or frigid cold, they didn't really feel it. However, undead were giving some solace, as emotions influenced the feelings of the soul, and it was this feeling that brought warmth to Leslie.
Soon, she too drifted off. Undead did not sleep, as much as become dormant. They had the quirky ability to go into a suspended state. This is what Undead did for the sanity. Undead could go years without sleep, and never be bothered by the lack. It depended mostly on the Undead, in question.
*******
Within the Holy Palace resided The Holy Witch King, his throne, his court, and his priests. It now, too, contained his consort. Deep within the Faithful's Sanctum, the private meeting chamber for The Holy Witch King and his priests. While this chamber was named for and after The Holy Witch King, it was used mostly by the Grand Minister.
"Do we have any more information on the Merge for the South Eastern Undead Trading Company?" Grand Minister Lucius asked his counsel.
In this lightly lit domed room, this room contained a modest throne at the head of the room, and below, with plenty of room, contained a long table. This long table had 8 seats facing the throne, while the exit of the room was to the chair's backs.
"Yes. We all strongly agree that this was orchestrated by Marquis Mark." Archbishop Edward replied. Everyone in attendance to this meeting, besides Grand Minister Lucius, were Archbishops, but also Official's of Unlife. If Officials had multiple Titles, they would take the Title with the highest honor as their name.
Archbishop Edward was a short and rotund zombie, however like many of the Archbishops his skull and bony hands were stripped of any flesh and were pure ivory. The Archbishops during their services used Holy water, and so their hands became skeletal. This was exactly like Leslie's hands. Interestingly, the Archbishops also formed a habit of washing their faces with the Holy water, which also caused them to become skulls.
"Marquis Mark, again..." Archbishop Ava spoke through gritted teeth. Archbishop Ava was one of two female Archbishops. While many of the living loathed the thought of female priest, the undead wouldn't discriminate. The first Holy Witch King appointed the first female priest, and later the first female Archbishop. At that time, the saying "We are all made of bone" became popular in the Faith.
Archbishop Ava was a tall and slim skeleton. She wore a gold crest of Deagoth around her neck. "Don't We have enough information to throw that silly sack of bones in the abyss?" Archbishop Ava was one of the more aggressive members of the council.
"We have to have hard evidence if We wish to deal with Marquis Mark, and that Heathen knows it." Archbishop Lukas lazily said. Archbishop Lukas was a normal skeleton with a normal hue of bone white. Archbishop Lukas was odd for an Archbishop. He had strong faith but was known to be one of the more laid back clergymen.
"We all know Marquis Mark is the mastermind, but getting anything hard on him is a problem." Archbishop Edward explained the obvious. The remaining Archbishops inwardly groaned. This had to be the 200th time this discussion came up.
"This time is different. We don't need hard evidence with his Grace's return." Grand Minister Lucius said piously. "Everyone knows how his Grace address Marquis Mark, previously in court." A rattling of noggins resounded from the Archbishops. They all seen clearly that The Holy Witch King was not in a good mood. Even when he announced his Consort, he was not happy. This could only mean he knew!
"While Marquis Mark is the mastermind, what are We to do with the rest of the House of Undeath...? It's not like We can just get rid of all those corrupt clansmen." Archbishop Murphy spoke up. Archbishop Murphy was a funny undead. He was as normal, as a normal undead skeleton could be. This was what was so funny! Almost every undead had something that made them easy to recognize. In this case, it was how normal Archbishop Murphy was. He had an average height, average bone color, average voice, and he had a level attitude. The only outstanding aspect of Murphy was how Rigid his morals were and his outstanding cultivation.
"Why not... I say The Holy Witch King disposes of all of them, and appoint better clansmen to their Offices!" Archbishop Ava argued for the cleansing of the whole House of Undeath!
"I am sure with his Grace's foul disposition since his re-awakening; he already has a plan. We must wait for it to fall into place. He will let us know what he needs when the time comes. Have faith." Grand Minister Lucius calmly said and quailed the remaining members, before they railed into righteous anger.
"On other news, Archbishop Ava how is the spread of the faith among the populace surrounding your City, Salily?" Grand Minister Lucius changed the topic. While changed, this was their biggest priority! The spread of their faith, Faith of Holy Deagoth.