The creaking of hinges made Elis return to his immediate reality. A cross old man shuffled into view, holding a wooden tray with something that vaguely resembled food. That same grumpy old man slid the tray under the crude bars without saying a word to Elis, and the plate slid on the dirt to come to a stop.
Elis sat up and investigated the plate infront of him. It looked like a thick, lumpy paste grayish in colour, with occasional chunks of something identifiable. A sour smell was issuing from the plate that could make his stomach turn on him. He probed at it with his finger; he picked up a glop of the mush. It jiggled, then fell back onto the plate.
"Well, this is appetizing," he muttered sarcastically. His stomach growled loudly, betraying him. With a resigned sigh, he picked up a handful and shoved it into his mouth. The taste was as bad as the smell, bland with a strange, bitter aftertaste, but he had no other option. He chewed slowly, forcing himself to swallow.
As Elis forced down the last bite, he became aware of Fa and Fu whispering to each other in their corner of the dungeon. They were huddled with the other oldies, their voices low but animated, occasionally casting glances his way. It was clear they were plotting their next barrage of questions.
Elis leaned back into the wall; his hands which were tied behind him were now free, and his hunger now was somewhat satiated. He could catch snippets of their conversation.
"What should we ask next?"
"I've heard things. maybe he's seen one before?"
"Do you think it's true? What Lord says about them?
Finally, Fa stepped forward, his expression eager but cautious. "We've been thinking," she began, glancing back at her group for approval, "about the outside world. You've been there, haven't you?"
Elis raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
Fu joined him, the excitement was evident in his voice. "Have you seen one of the demons? The ones Lord told us about? The… what are they called…" He snapped her fingers as if trying to recall the word.
"Women," another elder supplied, his tone hushed as though merely saying the word as it was dangerous.
Elis paused in his thought process. His jaw tightened with his tension. He could feel them gazing at him, watching in suspense. Fa and Fu leaned closer.
"Do they look as frightening as the Lord says?" Fu asked. "Do they actually possess powers? What are they like?
Elis smiled softly, but the memory that flashed through his mind made him immediately forget his amusement. He saw her face, Luna. The moment he crossed paths with her, he had experienced an inexplicable pull to help her despite his unwillingness. Her presence was at once unsettling and compelling; it left a mark on him that he couldn't quite shake and made him do things against his will.
He swallowed hard, masking his reaction. "Women…" he began, his tone measured. "They do have powers, yes. But they don't look as wild or monstrous as you'd think." He smirked faintly, adding, "Most of them look just like us, though some… some can be truly terrifying."
The oldies murmured among themselves, nodding as if Elis had just confirmed their suspicions. Fa's eyes were wide with curiosity. "Do they… cast spells? Control minds?" he asked.
"Some do," Elis said with a shrug of his shoulders. "But not all of them. The scary ones… they don't need magic to make you fear them." He stopped then, thinking again of Luna and muttering to himself. "Sometimes, it's what they make you feel that's the most dangerous."
The group nodded solemnly, taking in every word as if it were gospel. Elis leaned back against the wall again, watching their reactions. He knew he had to keep them talking, keep their focus away from any suspicions they might harbor about him.
"Anything else you're curious about?" he asked, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Or should I get back to enjoying your five-star cuisine?"
Fa and Fu exchanged a look, already planning their next round of questions.
Elis leaned back against the mud wall, his mind racing as he planned his next move. Fa and Fu had used their magic to free his hands before offering him food, but only after he had convinced them he wasn't dangerous.
Now that he had his freedom, he knew he needed to press forward and meet their mysterious lord again. These oldies, so odd and naive that they seemed, were his best shot at getting what he wanted. He straightened up, looking Fa and Fu straight in the eye with a stern face. "Listen," he said, voice low but firm. "I've entertained your questions. Now I need something from you. Take me to your lord. I have questions, and I need answers."
Fa and Fu exchanged nervous glances. Their excitement from before dissipated a little and gave way to apprehension. "But…" Fa stuttered, "the lord doesn't like to be disturbed unless "
"Unless it's important," Elis interrupted. "And trust me, this is important."
Fu scratched his chin, looking unsure. "We can't just take you there. Rufus will—"
"Rufus will do nothing if you play this right," Elis said, his tone sharp. "You said I'm not dangerous, didn't you? Then prove it. Help me."
The two whispered among themselves, their voices too low for Elis to catch. Finally, they nodded, though reluctantly.
"Fine," Fa said, "but you'd better not make us regret this."
---
Elsewhere, the lord sat on his throne, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp and calculating. Rufus stood nearby, his face a mask of barely contained frustration.
"My lord," Rufus said, his tone strained, "I don't understand why you're entertaining this. guest. He's a stranger, and we've fed him as if he's one of us. It's..."
"Unnecessary?" the lord interjected with a faint smile. "Perhaps. But you see, Rufus, there's more to this than you realize." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "This guest of ours, he reminds me of someone. Someone I once knew. But…" He trailed off, his expression hardening. "He doesn't look the same anymore. And that raises questions I must answer."
Rufus furrowed his brow, clearly perplexed. "My lord, if you will pardon me, you speak in riddles."
"Do I?" The lord's smile spread, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps. Or perhaps you simply need to listen more carefully."
Rufus opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it. Instead, he gave a curt nod, waiting for his next order.
"Here's what I need from you," the lord continued, his tone firm. "It's nightfall, and those old fools, Fa, Fu, and their little group are likely still lingering around our guest. Go to them. Send them to their quarters. I want no one near him when I meet him. Do you understand?"
Rufus bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord."
Good." The lord's eyes glazed over, as if his brain had elsewhere to go. "And Rufus. hurry. Every minute counts."
---
The storm raged on outside as tension brewed inside the walls of the Ross estate. A figure paced within a lavishly decorated room, their anger palpable.
"So, she's already joined," the person spoke, their voice dripping in venom. "Luna… You just couldn't stay away, could you?
They halted, fists clenched, and their knuckles turned white as they proclaimed, "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
The flickering candlelight danced upon the walls, creating long shadows like flames moving to a rhythm with the person's simmering rage.