Jack continued to type and work on his project to the side of the garden, while servants of the Holy Palace would glance at him, and then quickly go back to their task.
[Mmmmm... There doesn't seem to be a perfect way to wipe memories with a spell... How does Yoggi do it?] Jack thought to himself, as he typed some more on this project.
Much later Lucius came to his side, and spoke, "My lord, it's time. We have everything ready."
Jack looked up with his flaming eyes dancing ever so slowly, with a delighted voice he spoke, "Fantastic Lucius. Thank you again... Send for everyone to come."
"Do you want... The... Third... Consort to come?"
"I'll summon that one myself then."
"It would be best, thank you, my lord." Lucius nodded, as he turned to get everyone.
Jack reached out and mentally messaged Eris, [Eris.]
[Oh, my god... What is that you wish of your pet...?] Eris' seductive voice issued through the mental message filtering into Jack's mind.
Jack shook off the lusty sounding mental message, as he messaged back, [I want you to come to Emily's coming of age ceremony. We are holding it in the garden, where I summoned Joan last time.]
[Coming... Of age ceremony???] Eris asked baffled.
[Yes. So, I'd like you to be a part of your sister's ceremony.]
[Wait... If she's underage, how is she your second consort??? Do you like them young?] Eris asked out of sheer curiosity if that was the case... It might explain why he wasn't as into her as she expected him to be... Even if he was a skeleton, she had great confidence in her appearance.
[For... Reasons... Years ago she wasn't granted one until she married. While the actual black wedding hasn't been performed, I'm her husband, and I'm going to give her an adult body.]
[Isn't that special. Her husband gives her a wedding and a body... And here I am with only my ring.] Eris pouted.
[A ring forged with our blood... Even the other two do not have rings forged of my blood, and you're going to pout???]
[I want my owner to spoil me... When can your pet be spoiled?]
[I can promise nothing. Today is your Consort Sister's day. Consort Emily. I've already played with you earlier... Hehe, how does it feel to sit?] Jack asked in the end out of dark curiosity.
[MMMmmm, it reminds me of my god's love for his pet.] Eris messaged with a bit of happiness in her tone.
[Then... I will prepare you a seat. I want you to sit and watch. You can feel my love that way... Now get down here.]
[I'm on my way!] Eris said with a bit of impatience, and then Jack felt the connection break.
Jack shook his head, as he turned to see that Leslie had come. He held out his arms, as Leslie casually strolled into his embrace.
She looked up to Jack as she smiled, "Why do I feel like you missed me. It's only been half a day since we were together."
"MMMmmm, I can't change how I feel." Jack held on to that slim figure, while he rubbed her shoulders.
"Is Emily happy to come?"
"I... Don't know about that. She was in a... mood when I saw her. She seems to be working too hard with her Alchemy." Jack thought about how he felt at that time, and still couldn't put his finger on it.
Leslie's brows furrowed as she spoke, "I'll speak to her after the ceremony. It's usually the mother that help's the child become accustomed to the body, but I will play the part. I can also ask if anything concerns her."
"I don't know what I would do without you," Jack said from the bottom of his heart.
Leslie giggled, "I don't know either."
*******
The Third Elder was sitting with a Zombie undead, who was currently laughing. The Third Elder spoke, "Let me be clear... You are playing with more than just your unlife here. This concerns the unlife with all the undead under you."
The Clanhead of the Grimnight Clan's chuckle trailed off, "Doubtful. Unlike you, who ran to the Holy Witch King with his tail between his legs, have used my superior mind to find a path of survival for my Clan."
The Clanhead's decorative robes were in tatters, and it could be seen that he had not cleaned himself in many months. It was a far cry from the last time the Third Elder had seen him. He was only here upon his request to see him, he received yesterday.
The Third Elder shook his head, "You speak of the God-King. You must be a fool to not know that the game you play will end in him winning... I haven't seen him lose, yet, and I doubt a god loses a game."
The Clanhead sneered, "I have my path ready. I was already informed that supposed 'god-king' is going to spare me and my undead. My unlife is secure. What about you and your undead. Join me again. We will again take our place, as the Grimnight Clan and bring it to new heights in Deagoth!"
The Third Elder didn't think before responding, "No... Your leadership brought us here." The Third Elder rose from his seat to leave the run-down shack that was the current Clanhead's residence on the outskirts of the Zombie district made for those from Neolith.
As he stood at the door to leave, the Third Elder decided to leave some words, "A few things... Emory... You best not refer to the God-King as his former title, lease the faithful zombie's here do not flay you... Least you become a skeleton undead in the most painful ways. If the faithful are more forgiving.'
The Clanhead snorted at his name being called and heard nothing.
"Lastly... I have a bad feeling for you and your part of the clan. You should speak to the God-King when you get a chance... And beg... Like I told you so long ago... beg for your clan members, if not for your own... I will not come to see you again, Emory... Goodbye, Emory."
With that, the Third Elder left the slums and returned to his residence provided by the God-King, and his undead clan members. It was like night and day, how the members of the Third Elder were treated compared to those of the Clanhead's.
[Forget it. Once I stabilize my power, as the First Consorts-in-law... I will rise up, and suppress you. Your part of the clan will return to me, in the end. heh!] Emory Grimnight, Clanhead of the Grimnight clan thought to himself, left in his miserable shack.
*******
Emily was escorted by the handmaiden's of Jade into the back of the Holy Palace. At first, she wasn't very excited, but now thinking about how she was going to finally get a body... She became so much happier. She thought about how Jack treated her this morning, and that warm feeling rose inside her. It wasn't like High Alchemist Raleigh said... Her beloved did indeed love her... Emily wondered why he would say that the God-King didn't have time for her.
The thoughts in her mind swirled, as they quickly died down, in the face of the small tomb in front of her.
She looked to Jack who was standing in his full regalia. This time his full regalia was all in gold. Unknown to her was that Jack had conjured his armor from the Light itself. She felt more love, as she saw how imposing he looked, as she thought that he was her dead man.
She turned and looked out to the audience. She looked out to see that Leslie was sitting on the left, and Eris sitting on the right.
[Why is the Vampire shifting in her seat with such a face...???] Emily wasn't the only one to notice the odd behavior of Eris.
In the audience, she could also see Lucius, a large Undead Zombie as tall as Jack laughing with two ladies beside him. She would later learn his name to be Crag. Lots of clergies were in the audience as well. It seemed that the people with Crag were behind Leslie, and the clergy sat behind Eris. Emily wondered if she should have sent her servants that came with her so long ago back... Maybe she should have kept them for this day, but she never thought this day would truly come...
Not saying anymore, the handmaidens helped Emily into the tomb, as she slipped from the view of everyone.
Jack floated over and with a wave of his hand, the tomb that was covered's led slide open. It fell to the ground with a loud dull thud. The audience could not see inside the tomb, but they all knew that inside was the new consort's body.
Jack spoke from memory, "Today We come to witness the rebirth of a youngling to that of an adult lady!" His voice rolled through the audience, as all became quite before the God-King, even Crag became silent, as he put his hand on to the leg of both of his wives, who in turn back silent.
"We will bring forth her soul from her old vessel to her new vessel. Remember that it is not the vessel that indicates adulthood, but the ceremony itself. Those that were adults before will now be peers, those that remain as children will need to learn from their older sister."
Jack felt funny reciting the rites but pressed on...
"I, the God-King of Deagoth as the master of ceremonies, have the pleasure of transferring the soul of this Daughter of Neolith, Second Consort of I, into her new vessel. Watch the blossom of a new lady.
Jack recited his holy hymn as provided by tux to extract Emily's soul. The Cherubs were produced and flew to the tomb containing Emily. Emily had long ago shut off her sight, as she waited for the process to begin. She would be lying to say she wasn't feeling anxious.
At this moment with a cue from Lucius, large pyre's that were set with a multitude of lit candles were set aflame. Soft smoke of burnt offerings rolled out and covered the area in an illusionary atmosphere. All the undead present took deep breaths or took in the smoke through their bones. They gave a collective shudder... Age dust... Dust that was only used for coming of age ceremonies. It had a calming effect and allowed those to generally improve their mood.
This smoke rolled into Emily's tomb, and she took it into herself calming her greatly, as the cherubs over her began their work.
After a few moments, Jack felt something was wrong...
[Why isn't her soul dislodging???]
It seemed that the two Cherubs were not able to remove the soul that dwelled deep inside of Emily, as Jack mentally furrowed his brows.