Extreme Content Warning:
-Child Abuse
-suicidal references
-language
-torture
-nudity
-gore
No one below 18 should be reading
There was a tiny, orange glowing box. Within it, a streak of yellow passed through A's skull. It broke through the frontal, a little to the left at an upwards angle, just above the eye, burning her brown skin and white bone. It went through the brain, scraping along the upper part of said brain and *just* through the parietal and her long, messy black hair.
She's dead right? Would be nice, but no.
It all became undone as fast as it was. A was not only alive, but she may as well have not been shot. The lack of reaction took forever to teach her, though here was such a waste.
Why did she have to be so much trouble?
The little gremlin was bound, naked, and covered in blood in her little lawn chair. The room was filled with armed children in leotards. Looming over them were my child Boa, in her green suit and constrictor themed mask, 6 members of the Twilight Elite, and many pawns. The Elite weren't snakes, instead they wore armour that resembled a green turtle, a purple chameleon, a blue Komodo dragon, an orange Iguana, a red crocodile, and yellow Gecko. The pawns were a bunch of grey suits with smiling masks.
I have to wonder if I had enough security? If only I rolled better.
"DZZ103 IV," Boa called out, placing one on the shoulder of the child that just fired, making them shiver. "You need to work on your aim and mood. Inaccuracy will get you killed. Remember that,"
The child nodded and scurried to the back.
"DZZ105 IV," Boa called out without even turning her head.
One of the children, a young girl with dark skin and purple eyes like A, jumped forward nervously, "Y-ye-,"
Boa placed her black, crystular claw over her mouth, "What did we talk about before?"
The child froze.
"That's right. We didn't, because Elite *don't talk*," she threatened, stepping behind the child. "Now, see that twat bound in the chair?"
The child nodded.
"Good, you know what to do,"
The child shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Emotion and arguing. That behavior will get you sent to re-education. Now shoot the twat. I might let this slide," she commented.
The child shakily raised the pistol. She could feel Boa staring at her, even if there were no holes in her mask.
She looked at A and her dead eyes. She pictured every wound that she received, each of which healed immediately. Justified violence is always the first step and prepares them emotionally for the real thing.
She took deep breaths, preparing for the shot.
"Do it, finish it, it'll be fun," Boa commented, placing her claw on her throat. "Or I'll kill you right here and you'll never see her again," {Reference to Castlevania season 4, episode 9}
"Oy," A called out, her voice like a raccoon playing the violin. "Moron, shoot me already,"
The room looked at her in a mixture of terror, anger, and malice.
A leaned forward, her bonds undone, "Let me guess, your moma was in debt, they had a lot of mouths to feed, and then these dullards showed up, gave you a 'job', and now your here, paying off that debt,"
The child nodded. A lit a cigarette, letting out purple smoke.
"Bet ya think she'll hurry back for ya, save ya from this shifty little cage?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking. "Do you think she would've sold ya to these knobs if she cared? Guess what kid, your moma doesn't love ya. She's out there, enjoying life with her real children, while ya suffer and get those sweet, sweet tiles,"
Tears fell down the girl's face, her eyes were angry.
"Listen loser lassy, ask your peers and they're just as thrown away as you are. All these suits in this room got bloody thrown away, and their parents ain't comin' for 'em, or you. Who would want another waste-,"
The child angrily shot A in the chest. Over and over and over.
"Good work," Boa applauded.
A smirked to herself.
"However, that shot was too emotional and took too long. You need to be re-educated-,"
"OY!" A cried out getting out of her chair.
All of the pawns and the six elites immediately were ready to make a move. I clapped loudly, like slamming two stones together.
"My children," I called out.
Everyone but A froze. There I was, amongst pawns.
Every one of the pawns and Elites kneeled, forcing the children with them. Only A nervously stood her ground.
"My child, I would like to remind you that when people join us, they're not just workers, they're family," I commented, looking at Boa and repeating the script. "If we only punish our family, that'll simply push them away. Let them have the rest of the day off. I need to chat with my *star pupil* for a bit, understood, my child?"
"Yes Lord Taipan," Boa responded.
One by one, everyone left the orange room, leaving only A and I.
"Sit down, my child," I ordered.
A obliged. I dropped two tiny, blue cubes on the floor. They expanded into a table and a chair.
I sat across from her, "How have you been, my child?"
"In a box," she responded, her eyes like a dagger kept in a freezer.
I tried for a chuckle, "I didn't ask 'where' my child. Where did I go wrong?"
"Why are you here?" she asked, taking in some smoke.
"I want to tell you a tale, my child?"
"Your not Fabula Loquitur," she scoffed.
"But my child, when they tale this tale I will be, they're so pretentious,"
"I hope that lot at least knows how to shut-,"
"(*quiet*)," I slit.
I placed three cards on the table: the black beast, the red four eyes, and the purple puppet. I took out my 120 sided die and placed it on the table.
"Let's play a game, my child,"
"we're a player short" she commented, hunching and narrowing her eyes.
"No, your a short player, my child," I teased.
I pointed at the Four Eyes, "Me,"
I pointed at the Puppet, "Tempestas Glacies,"
I pointed at the Black Beast, "Shadow Velvet Ursa,"
A's eyes bulged and she leaned forward, "Are ya bloody serious?"
"I never lie," I stated, holding my head high.
"You only omit the truth," She argued.
I tried for a chuckle, "These the players for-,"
Chapter XII
Fate of Three
"The rules are simple: draw a card and get a prerequisite scenario. The Three are given options based on their cards and roll the die to see what happens next. They keep rolling until one wins,"
"I'm familiar," A reminded, her arm on the table, her body turned to the side, her eyes sharp.
She made the room feel like a swarm of blades. A shame they all lacked aim proper.
She was right, unfortunately. A lot of people freestyle the game for this reason alone. Not that it matters how the story unfolds.
The Prerequisite cards are simple. I am currently on top. I control the deck, so what happens next is dependent upon me.
"I've entrapped Tempestas Glacies, it's yelling some nonsense that doesn't matter," I mocked, scratching a circle around its card.
"Does anything?"
"Of course not. With me, I hold a blade that can make any suitable host into a core at the drop of a hat. Tempestas will sook enter its Hollow Ream. And Ursa is healing up under a white shard after such troubles" I explained, writing into blank cards.
"You organised this whole situation, that's cheating at the game," A critiqued.
"That was mere fate, my child," I shrugged. "My opponents made poor rolls. Look at Tempestas. There were so many other options for it,"
I rolled the die.
"When the Corrupted Realm opened 6 months ago, it escaped. It could've gone to either Adlernest, the North, Daimyo, or Cavalier. RNM's Project Ringing Bells has stagnated in recent years. If it went there and begged, it could've gotten another chance(or they would've done away with it). Daimyo or Adlernest would be similar. It could've lived out its life as a warrior and sooner or latte,"
I rolled the die.
"It instead, went to the north. Could've joined a clan, but chose to start its own. If it bided its time, it could've become a great menace there,"
I rolled the die.
"Instead, it chose to attack Daimyo. An impulsive move that could've ended poorly,"
I rolled the die.
"However, the Overlords don't care about small-time Clans in the north. It caught a lucky break. It's impulsiveness paid off. But perhaps that was a mistake,"
I rolled the die.
"I approached it and instead of killing it, I gave it an offer: Shadow Velvet Ursa,"
"Isn't she your friend,"
"So was Jesus, but he rolled poorly, as did I, my child,"
She groaned, "Can't you list someone I know for once,"
"Admitting to my crimes in recent centuries would be a poor choice, don't you think, my child,"
"Like 'Muel'?" She asked.
"If you wish for Inola not to face consequences for you, you should respect your elders, my child," I threatened, keeping my tone normal, but slipping in a bit of poison for her
She went silent.
"Pay attention and I'll give you *both* an opportunity for freedom, my child" I stated.
She shook her head, "Inola wouldn't want that,"
"My child, they don't know what they want," I manipulated.
"Just me," she insisted.
"Just you then, my child," I 'conceded'.
Employees are so easy. I rolled the die.
"I gave Tempestas three options. Aries 21st, 2nd, or 3rd. If it chose the 21st, Daimyo would've sent reinforcements and the attack would've failed spectacularly, but it could've retreated. If it chose the 23rd, Cavalier and Daimyo don't get along, so the battle could've become a three way,"
"Ew," A commented.
"What did I say, my child?" I asked.
"Keep yapping,"
I tried at a chuckle, "Glad we're on the same page, my child. The 22nd would've been the worst choice, as a prolonged battle amidst the water would've disturbed the black. At best, a few ships get out alive, at worst, a gate is created, plunging the continent into a new 'business venture' for resources,"
"So you recommended the 22nd?" she accused, giving me side eye.
I rolled the die, "My child, I recommended the 23rd. An optimal choice for Tempestas i think. It then had to choose between its insecurities about its ego or to listen to those around it. There are cycles where the ladder has happened, but the fuel of the Aeternum is strong,"
I rolled the die, "It chose insecurity, ignoring my recommendations and doing the 22nd,"
I moved over the Black Beast and rolled, "Ursa meanwhile, awakened at the same time. She chose to stay in one place instead of leave or give herself to the Aeternum or just kill herself(thank goodness),"
I rolled, "She got involved in the battles instead of staying quiet, bringing attention to herself, including Tempestas. It's a shame for her that old habits die hard,"
Rolled, "When all fell apart, she could've chosen revenge, stayed and helped Moma, maybe even marry Lena, give herself over to the Great Grey Owl in hopes of saving Ana. Lots of decisions, but she chose to leave,"
Rolled, "She got involved in the battle instead of hiding below,"
Rolled, "She intimidated her enemies with a black strike, solid choice. Very efficient,"
I returned to myself and Tempestas, "I manipulated Tempestas into escalating the conflict, Tempestas took the bait. Ursa could've escaped or turned herself in, but she rolled poorly and got involved again. Tempestas could've won in their duel, but-,"
"Wait…what are you doing during this battle?" A asked, raising an eyebrow and leaning forwards on the edge of her seat.
"my child, I left the battlefield,"
"Did you roll that?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes and raising a finger. "You cheated,"
"I'm not allowed to meet Ursa in person, that's a prerequisite rule, my child,"
"Okay, but you could roll to break it, and you know the outcomes of each choice,"
"You, my child, of all sheep, should know that the best gamblers have their own tricks to get ahead," I remarked.
"You don't care about being a hypocrite, why should I?" A grit, her messy hair overshadowing part of her face.
"Because you do, my child,"
"May i continue now, my child," i ordered.
I rolled the die.
"Ursa came out on top. It didn't matter if she did. Tempestas could've won if Ursa's fear overcame her, but it still would've been devoured because I-,"
Rolled, "killed a lot of people, feeding the black and entrapping everyone. Tempestas wouldn't have been able to escape. Ever since it decided on the 22nd, its fate was sealed. And after that, roll, roll, roll. Many bad choices were made, and now we're here,"
I placed three written cards on the table, "Tempestas can choose to grow like a monk(A) or an Aeternum(B) and escape, or remain stagnant and be trapped(C). I can make my vessel a core(A), try to make a weak core out of Corrupted Beasts(B), make Tempestas's prison a core(C), or go about my merry way(D). Ursa can either go save Tempestas(A) or decide its too much trouble and escape(B),"
"She's gonna save it. She's supposed to be a hero," A stated.
"My child, Ursa's a smart woman, and Tempestas, her enemy and betrayer, is out from her sight. Out of sight, out of mind, and not worth the *trouble*,"
"That's hypocritical. She would save it if it were in sight, but out and she'll ignore it," She criticised, standing up in disbelief. "The woman who saved Jadeite's slaves, helped the Corazonians migrate, fed the poor of Cavalier, and attempted a revolution in Zvezdy wouldn't turn her bloody back on the suffering,"
"Time inflicts the greatest wounds, my child,"
"I'm placing my bet,"
"There are 24 possible-,"
"I bet, you'll make Tempestas's prison a core, that Tempestas will follow the path of the Aeternum, and that Ursa will save it," she stated, placing cigarettes on the table like currency.
I stood up, looking down on her. Her 121.92 centimetres was nothing compared to my 219.456.
I felt her pulse burst. She correctly sat down.
I cracked my own vessel's neck, the corrupted was always difficult on them, "I bet, I will go about my merry way, Ursa will escape, and Tempestas will wallow in self pity. It's a pathetic sheep after all,"
"How are we we-?" she asked, letting out smoke and crushing a cigarette.
"Whoever gets the most right wins?"
"And to clarify-?"
"My child, if you win, you get your freedom, otherwise, you have to kill someone for me. If its a draw, nothing happens,"
"S-secret terms?" she coughed out.
"You know me so well. Depending on the terms, you'll get an opportunity for freedom,"
"Sounds like a bad deal. You don't know how things'll play out like ya want govna," she responded, trying to regain her confidence.
My child," I stated, showing the die. "I'll know, for I am the one that controls chaos,"
"You make the terms,"
"Speak authoritatively and present limited terms, you have people in your pocket,"
"You are the worst,"
"Let's roll,"
I rolled the die, letting it fly upon the table.
It bounced.
---
My vessel walked off, stabbing itself with the black and red blade, right between the stomach and chest. Black and red flames began to rapidly spread throughout its body.
---
It bounced again.
---
Ursa groaned. Her cloth had regrown entirely. She flipped her scarf over her shoulders and turned her back on Tempestas.
---
It landed upon the table.
---
Tempestas's ice-y tomb began to crack.
"Thank you for the distraction, Serpens Pontis, but I'm taking back this tale," Fabula insisted in their voice like a glass prism reflecting light into a rainbow.
To Be Continued...…