Inhuman - Chapter 4

A Fine Manor House With A Scenic View Of The Junw Mountains

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Chapter 4

Stillness quickly descended on the camp. Valary continued working on controlling her golem legs. After several clumsy attempts to stand, she finally crawled over to the closest tree and the trunk for support. Surprised at the strength of her new limbs, the woman carefully allowed the legs to take her weight. Finally, she used her back to slide up a tree trunk while she slowly stood for the first time.

Valary heard the familiar crack of a musket shot somewhere in the night. The woman stared into the darkness, but no other sound came. She worked on lifting her legs several times, then stumbled toward a nearby tree. After a moment to regain her focus, she worked her way to the next tree. Valary noticed her legs moved clumsily, but it is easier now. She even felt the texture of the ground beneath her golem feet. A few moments later, she reached the outskirts of the campfire light. While the woman rested against a trunk, she only heard her labored breaths. Still, the ability to walk renewed her hope for the first time in months. But the golem spell from Grym nagged at her brain as she wondered at his capabilities.

Just as she started back to the campfire, she noticed movement in the trees. Valary stopped, staring at the area. Eventually, the woman noticed Grym’s figure crouched down just beyond the range of the campfire lights. She stared, trying to determine the reason for his peculiar movements. When he glanced back, she nearly fell at the sight of his blood-covered face. Valary stumbled away and flopped on the ground. After catching her breath, she forced her legs under her body and rose. The woman carefully tottered back to the campfire. Her muddled mind was unsure what she could do. Finally, she came to the only conclusion.

I must forget it!

Valary sat close to the fire, wishing for her hands, and realizing she had no options. Her head hung as if she wanted to erase the image from her mind. The snap of a twig forced her to look up and fear filled the woman. Grym stepped next to Valary, and she looked away. In one hand, the man held his musket while in the other he held the grisly remains of a fox. The blood of the carcass dripped down on the ground next to Valary as she stared ahead. Valary shivered suddenly, then she jumped when the dead animal landed on the ground next to her.

“What are you shaking about?” His monotone voice sent another chill through her. “You have nothing to fear from me for the moment. Fresh kill will stop the urges for a while.”

He started to step away, then stopped.

“In my experiments, I’ve found that an inhuman can only stop the overwhelming desire for human flesh temporarily through various means. Still, a ghoul will eventually go mad if not fed to meet these unbearable cravings. My experiments proved the times and extents of necessary feedings,” he sighed and went quiet for a moment.

“Anyway, to keep this urge at bay the longest, I must gather a fresh kill. Even better, the more blood, the better for my cravings. Do you understand now?”

“I’m confused. Are you really an inhuman with magic? I don’t know how you can become a slave to a dark god.”

“That’s a foolish question after what you’ve witnessed,” Grym looked up at the star filled sky. “You should know that Peyra is a goddess of mischief and lust. To such an immortal, I’m simply a tool to meet her desires.”

He went quiet for a moment.

“No doubt she’ll watch over my path to ensure her slave never deviates from her goals. However, that doesn’t concern you. At the end of the day, an inhuman can never lose the desire for human flesh. I can only suppress it for a while, such as using those stubblefield cigarettes. I’ll do anything I can to stop the raging madness that fills me. But I will give you a fair warning. You will not like some of my methods to keep from eating human flesh. But, you should realize now that your world will soon turn dark for your revenge.”

Valary waited for a moment. She understood the implications of his words, but she realized that the man had no intention of telling her more.

“Where are we going?” Valary asked.

“To a fine manor house with a scenic view of the Junw Mountains. It is there where you’ll get your new body. After that, we’ll make further plans. You earn trust by doing your job.”

Grym crawled inside the tent.

“I’ll cook the rest of that fox for your breakfast when the sun rises.”

~~~

The sun slowly fell behind the Junw mountains while Dennel Veil read the letter for the fourth time that afternoon. Each time, her beautiful smile nearly turned into a vulgar smirk when she read the signature line.

So, Erdem believes he has me as his next conquest. I think the hunter will soon realize that he’s nothing but my next steppingstone!

“My lady, you appear in good spirits.” Eostre’s voice interrupted Dennel’s thoughts.

The mistress glanced back as her maid placed the tray containing afternoon drinks up on the desk. The maid poured chocolate into a porcelain cup while Dennel looked on. She observed her demure servant dressed in a dark dress and white frock top. Aside from her dark eyes, the maid could nearly pass as Dennel’s sister with her blond hair, well-endowed body and oval face.

“Yes, changes are coming soon to our little world. I received a letter from the emperor’s son.”

“My, that’s excellent news,” the maid smiled as she handed her mistress the cup.

Unflinchingly loyal to her lover and mistress, Eostre took her position behind the desk as Dennel slid the letter back into her desk drawer. The maid smiled when she remembered coming to the grand house upon Dennel’s marriage to her second husband. She considered the estate as her first proper home.

Jupas was such a fool!

A smirk came to her lips as she gazed at her mistress with loving eyes. Proud and arrogant, Dennel sat at the desk like a goddess. Her full lips sipped on the warm chocolate while the woman considered her next steps.

“I’ll need to go to Haj City soon,” Dennel confided to her maid. “I’ll leave you to coordinate with the rest of the servants to arrange for the move.”

“Will you be leaving the Veil estate permanently?”

“No,” Dennel sat her cup down. “But you’ll be coming with me to Haj City, of course.”

“No matter who I chose to marry, this estate as a place to work on my more dangerous—well, as Jupas called them, experiments. We’re near a breakthrough; I can feel it.”

The woman sighed as she leaned back.

“While my second husband was a fool, he carried enough foresight to equip this house properly. My rural location gives me the privacy we need. Still, I must deal with the infuriating court politics soon.”

Dennel glanced up to see the maid staring at her. She smiled at the look in her lover’s eye. The mistress enjoyed the attention on her large breasts, enhanced by the low cut of her ruby dress.

“Unfortunately, this place remains too isolated for the intrigues of the emperor’s court.” Dennel reached out and took Eostre’s hand, placing it upon her shoulder. “It’s a perfect place for our time together, but we’ll need to be careful in the capital.”

“I’m so happy,” the maid squeezed tenderly on the woman’s shoulder. “By the way, what will you do about those involved in your activities below? There is no other who you can trust, is there?”

Dennel patted Eostre’s hand.

“I’ll take care of the problems before we go, since I didn’t expect the interest of the prince so quickly. I need to respond to this letter. Ensure that dinner tonight is light, for we have work to do.”

“I understand, mistress.”

Dennel watched her maid leave the room, musing about her lover’s smile as she closed the door.

It’s going to be a long night!

The mistress grinned lightly as she began her letter.

As the twin moons rose over the estate that night, a screeching cry of agony rang out. Then, silence filled the vast tunnel lined with thick stones. The underground corridor seemed to swallow the sound, but the oppressive atmosphere still haunted those inside a cell. Two prisoners waited for their expected turn as they often witnessed prisoners walking by, never to return.

The dust covered racks of various sized cocks and bottles sitting across from the cell provided the only diversion to their world. The forty-eight glass containers in all as the two worked on their math skills to relieve their boredom.

The girl suddenly tensed and began to sob when she heard the familiar footsteps coming closer. Her brother patted her slightly on the arm while steeling himself despite a dreading shiver filling him.

The light of a lantern gradually pierced the dark confines of the cell, showing two emaciated children dressed in rags cowering in the corner.

Eostre pulled a key from a waist pocket and unlocked the cell. Sliding the key back in her dress, the maid stepped inside; her impassive face unaffected by the stench coming from the moldy straw on the floor. Looking at the two prisoners for a moment, she reached down to grab the thin arm of the boy. As she wretched him to his feet, the boy’s sister grabbed on to him. Instantly, Eostre struck the girl with the back of her hand.

“Stop it!” The boy yelled out, only to receive a smack in his face from the furious maid.

“Fight me and I’ll kill that girl!”

The boy immediately quit resisting, and Eostre yanked him to the cell door. After she locked the sister in the cell, the maid picked up the lantern. She led the boy away while he glanced back at the cell. As they turned the corner to the main corridor, his sister ran back to the bars.

“It’ll be ok, brother. Stay strong!” She called out.

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