Yup, no more political chapters after this. Fuuuck! it took me almost 26 hours to finish. Y'all better appreciate it, all 4000 words of it.
I'm counting this as two chapters.
Both the regular chapter and the bonus extra chapter I promised to Mr. Cuak for his review.
Everybody say 'Thank you Mr.Cuak!'
Enjoy!
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At the gates of the great hall of Castle Phenex, a magic circle appeared, and from it emerged two figures. A beautiful woman with soft almond eyes, framed by smile lines, and flowing brown hair, dressed in a ribbed breeze shirt and deceptively simple, pleated brown long skirt. Yet despite her simple appearance, she exuded an aura of elegance and sophistication. Holding her hand was a small boy with dark hair and navy shirt over khaki shorts.
"Lady Misla Bael." The butler greeted her with a bow, "Lord Phenex is expecting you in his chambers. Shall I take young master Sairaorg to play while you talk?"
"Yes." She replied curtly, "And bring the other kid along too. I would like to speak to Lord Phenex in private."
She crouched down to Sairaorg's level, and kissed his forehead.
"Sai, why don't you go play with Riser, while I meet Lord Phenex?"
"Okay mama. Will you come meet Riser too?" Sairaorg nodded and asked.
"In a little while, sweetie, in just a little while." She cupped his face and squished his cheek lovingly, before the butler led him away.
Lady Misla took a deep breath and focused. Then, she walked in.
"Lady Misla! Welcome, welcome. Please, have a seat." Lord Phenex greeted her with faux warmth as she stepped into the office.
"So, you do remember that I am a Bael?" She said scornfully.
"Who could ever forget, my lady?" Lord Phenex laughed, politely ignoring the implied threat in her words. He took a seat beside his wife, who had a small pouch of candied popcorn on her lap. She waved cheerfully, before popping a handful in her mouth.
Misla raised a questioning eyebrow at it and the other woman smiled.
"Don't mind me, Lady Misla. I'm just here to see this explode in my husband's face." She giggled, ignoring the distraught look from Lord Phenex.
That…somewhat pleased her, in an odd way.
Lord Phenex rolled his eyes and sat down, crossing his arms over the table.
"To what do we owe this pleasure, my lady?"
"You know damn well, Lord Phenex." Misla spoke.
"If you are referring to the incident last night let me assure you it was not noticed by our guards in time, and I am deeply sorry such an accident occurred under our watch. We have talked to the bullies' parents and they are willing to compensate you for any distress their children may have caused you and your son, as are we." He feigned ignorance and filled time, gauging her reaction. She knew as much, and her rage began to boil.
"While I'm grateful that you saw to your duties' as is only proper under guest rite, we both know that is not why I am here." She said, her blood rushing to her head, "Or perhaps do you take me for a fool, Lord Phenex?"
"I take you for a queen, my lady. And queens seldom have the caution of ordinary women, in matters such as these. I just decided to spare those families your rightful fury. A queen shouldn't have to deal with such minor matters, after all." A threat in return, cloaked in sophistry.
A beat passed in silence as they gauged each other, where she would have very much liked to gouge out his mocking eyes instead. Her grip on the armrest tightened.
"Then what do you have to say for yourself?" Misla pushed.
"Would you believe me, my lady, if I said it was not my idea." Lord Phenex explained, "It was entirely my son's independent imperative."
"Do you truly expect me to believe that your ten-year old son, did this, on his own?" She scoffed.
"You assume malice, my lady, where you would find but an innocent mistake, made in the heat of passion. He meant no ill by it, I assure you. Just a friend trying to help-"
"Is that what you call it? Help?" She interrupted, slamming her fist onto the table in anger, her voice dripping with indignity and condescension, "To turn my son, a Bael, into the pawn of the third son of a mere Marquis?"
"Would you have preferred the Queen Piece?" He tried to ease the tension, but to no avail.
"Have you no shame?! He is nine. NINE!" She accused, "And you dare try and fill his mind with delusions, you snake! To turn him against his own blood? To make him a puppet?! What gall you have!"
"Is that the folly you equate to me, my lady?" He spoke with an even tone, "My son is engaged, to be married, to the heiress of the Gremory clan. Their children will most likely inherit their mother, and by extension, their grandmother, Venelana Gremory nee Bael's trait, the Power of Destruction. If I did truly have designs upon the Bael throne, which I do not, would I not simply put one of them upon it? My own grandchildren, my flesh and blood. Why would I bother to pull such obvious strings when I have a much better alternative at hand. I am a patient man and our lives are long. What's another twenty years?"
"Oh, I have no doubt you will try that as well." She narrowed her eyes, "But I do not dare underestimate your chutzpah. That you would roost your eggs in more than one basket, I trust in your cunning at least as much."
Lord Phenex sighed, in mock defeat, "Very well my lady, what would you have me do?"
She froze for a second, not expecting such compliance so quickly.
She thought for a moment and replied.
"Remove my son from the peerage, discreetly and as compensation, offer your support to his claim."
"What claim might that be Lady Misla?" Lord Phenex spoke, the same mocking cheer in his damned eyes, "As far as I know, your son was ousted as heir, for having neither demonic power nor his clan trait."
"He has demonic power." She spoke, softer now. A little shame in her cracking voice.
"Yes, after using my son's only Mutation Piece. But once he is removed from the peerage, what is to say he won't return to the way he was? What sense would it make to support such a claim, not that it wouldn't then be antithetical to the entire reason for your visit."
He had pinched her right where it hurt. She had to admit that.
She had indeed come here, trying to strong-arm him into offering his support for the claim, as 'compensation', she would be a fool if she did not at least try.
But to be called out like this…it grated on her.
"There are other paths to power." She countered, and though she held hope in that fact, her argument was weak and they both knew it.
"Yes, like the one we used on him. The generosity, you looked down upon so derisively my lady." He said, "As for the other paths…which faction would support him gladly, to offer him access to their own power system, unchecked. Need I remind you of our reputation as a species amongst the rest of the supernatural world?"
She grit her teeth as he spoke, unable to refute his words.
"There are other houses, many would rally behind him-" She tried to argue.
"Lady Misla, you have sent missives to 18 of the 40 pillar clans. Pray tell, how many have returned with a response?"
He had spies on her. That wasn't surprising. But it was alarming how much he knew.
That shut her up. But not him. He continued.
"And your own clan, the Vapula. Has your brother replied to your missive?"
She lowered her head in shame, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within her. They both knew what the answer was.
"My lady, let us dispense with the games." He said finally, pulling out two sheets of paper. She looked back up.
"This is what we are willing to do." He pushed the papers towards her, "We will petition Lord Ajuka for the removal of Sairaorg Bael's Mutation Pawn, and we will send a formal letter of apology to the House of Bael, regretting our involvement and clarifying that we did not intend to instigate anything untoward."
The implication of his words wasn't lost on her and neither would it be on Zekram Bael.
Fear gripped her heart and before she could stop herself, she cried out.
"NO!"
"No?" Lord Phenex reiterated, but it was clear from his tone that she had been caught. Between a rock and a hard place, the bull's horns threatening to gore her whichever way she chose, all but the way he wanted her to go.
She had been trapped.
Bastard!
She and her son had been allowed to leave, to live in exile, only at the grace of Zekram Bael. He had held the leash of all those who wanted to deal with her and her son more…permanently. For he was in no mood for kin slaying that day. Because he saw something in her son. Because they were no threat to them. Whatever his reasons, he had let them live.
But if that letter reached him, he would no doubt get the message. If one clan could imagine to do such a thing, what was to stop another? At that point, they would no longer be just stains to be hidden, in his mind. They would be raised to a nuisance. And Zekram Bael does not tolerate nuisances. The Phenex clan would get a sternly worded letter, perhaps sanctions. But her and her dear Sai…
If he let go of the leash…
She shuddered to think of such a thing. Shaking all over from fear, her mind began to muddle.
Tears threatened to well up in her eyes, her breath hitched. She began hyperventilating.
So lost in her own mind was she that she did not even hear the door open behind her as a pair of footsteps echoed into the room.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Lord Phenex asked, in mock concern, signalling a servant to get her some water.
She drank a little as someone rubbed her back, bringing her back, if only partially to attention.
"Now, now, my lady, this is no matter to be so concerned about." He assured her, his tone softer now, yet more certain, as if it wasn't a request but a command, another hit to her pride.
"Here's what we will do. My son will apologise to you for his indiscretion. And we will all keep this a secret for the time being. And when the time comes…"
He didn't need to finish the sentence for her to know her worst fears had come true. And she was helpless to do anything in the face of them.
"This is for the better." Lord Phenex reassured.
She looked up and saw a ten year old boy with blonde hair standing before her.
The source of this whole problem. Of all her problems. Her mind maddened, the storm of emotion brewing in her gut transformed with the crackling of thunder. An unwise idea began to form in her mind.
"I am truly sorry, Lady Misla. I should have asked your permission before doing something like this." He bowed in apology, but his tone changed then, "But as his friend, I couldn't just stand by and watch him be bullied for his weakness. If I had to choose whether or not to do it, I would choose to do it again in a heartbeat."
"What?" She was shocked at his audacity.
"Riser!" Lord Phenex warned him, but he didn't listen.
"Did you know he was being bullied? That he fought himself half to death every time. That he struggled with the weight of the failure of his birth, of how much he has suffered. If you don't want him to join my peerage that is fine but don't rob him of his dream. He dreams of being strong enough to protect you. So no one would ever look down upon you. He dreams of glory, and I would grant him that.
Achilles once had to choose, in the Trojan war, between going into battle knowing for certain he would die a glorious death and his name immortalized. But if he walked away, he would live a long life and his name would be forgotten. If you had to choose for your son, which would you say was more befitting a Bael? What kind of man do you want him to grow up to be?"
"What kind of man?" She growled, fury threatening to spill from her mouth, "I want him to have the chance to grow up! To not die embroiled in one your father's games!"
"Lady Misla, forgive him he is but a child." Lord Phenex tried to reason with her but she was too far gone, "Riser! Shut up! And apologise."
"I refuse."
The whole room looked at the child in shock.
"I am trying to help him. Why are you so hellbent on refusing it!?" He added.
"Help him?!" She cackled, the thunderstorm of emotions in her gut burst out with fury, and she lost control of her faculties, as rage overtook her, her Vapula trait flaring, as her lion's sin of Pride ran amok. She lost sight of all surroundings, her vision narrowing onto the child. He was the problem.
"You're trying to steal my son away! You would have him die! Die in futile rebellion, risking his life while you dare not risk your own!"
They were trying to steal him, to kill him!
Her dear Sai-
Her Sai-
HER-
HOW DARE THEY?!
Yes, this was the solution, her cracked, muddled mind, drowned in rage whispered.
Her demonic power flared, roiling off of her in waves, and before she knew it, she had her hands on his neck, the boy hung in her grasp in mid-air, pinned to the wall.
She turned to Lord Phenex, a mad smile on her face.
"Let's see how you like risking your own son's life!"
"Lady Misla! You forget yourself! You forget your station!" He shouted, his face a scowl of concern and rage. His demonic power flared.
"I will damn well forget whatever I want! I am the Great Queen Bael! And you would do well to remember-"
A bag of popcorn dropped to the ground and a second aura flared to life.
"Let go of my son, BITCH!" Lady Rubela threw herself at Misla, but was blocked by a defensive spell wall.
Lord Phenex walked across the desk to her, his hands burning with flame.
"You were Great Queen Bael when your son was the heir. Now? We both know what you are, Lady Misla. So I recur. You forget your station." Lord Phenex reared his hand, readying a blow, "Give up my son, and we will forget this ever happened."
"Never!" She laughed, "You won't be able to stop-"
That's when she felt something change.
She heard the boy mutter something. What was it-
"The kid gloves are off."
Suddenly, the temperature of the room increased manifold, the golden seams on the wall mount behind him began to melt and the boy…the boy he…
Riser Phenex burst out with demonic power, vast as the ocean, radiant as the sun and crimson as the blood moon.
An oppressive aura that threatened to drown out her own. She gulped in shock, even as she was struck mute watching it unfold.
High Class…no, it was something more…
His wings flared to life, stretching twice the length of his body, each feather flickering like a different coloured tongue of flame. In his eyes swirled a flame of five colours, not of malice but something different…judgement. Eyes within eyes, that stared into the very depths of her soul.
He grabbed her wrist, where she had gripped his neck, with strength unbecoming of a child.
She burned with indignation. Even a child was looking down on her? A child?!
She doubled her power holding him.
"You think you can escape me that easily, boy? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right-?"
When something appeared on her hands, or rather on his. A bubbling crimson flame, tinged with an ominous darkness, its edges black as soot, swallowing like a starless night. It climbed up her arm like a thousand tiny spiders, eating through her demonic aura like candy. And then, they began to burn, slick like a grease fire sticking to her no matter how much demonic power she threw at them, until finally-
"EAAAaaghh!" She screamed in pain as she let go of the boy and fell to the ground, stumbling at first and then crawling, away, away from the boy away from those eyes, those flames. Her spirit crumbled, her pride shattered. All that was left was a pitiful woman, driven to madness once, now hurled to the utter despair of sanity. Tears streamed down her face, her hair strewn and singed, as she accepted her fate. She closed her eyes and let the defensive spells fall away.
And yet, the death blow she was expecting never came.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, to see the boy floating over her as he spoke.
"I am Riser Phenex and I do not wait to be granted issue."
[A/N : Issue being used here in the context of issuance of title deeds in land rights and such. He says this in response to her asking him 'what right does he have?'. He is basically saying 'I don't need your permission to do shit, bitch', just fancier.]
Seeing that he wasn't moving against her, she mustered up the embers of what was left of her courage to ask.
"Why?" She cried, hysterical now, "Why does everyone just take and take and take from me…from us? Haven't I given enough? Why? All I have is my son, please…If you're already so powerful, why do you want to steal him from me? What are you so desirous of that you would covet my only treasure…please…" She begged and the boy vanished his wings, landing softly on the floor before her. He pulled out a bottle of Phoenix Tears and gently poured it over her burnt hands before he spoke.
"Lady Misla, I'm not trying to rob you of your son. I'm trying to help you."
She looked up at him, confused and afraid.
"How can I trust you? You hold all the power, and I have nothing…"
"If leverage is what you seek, and trust is what you desire, then let it be so. I will make a deal with you Lady Misla, devil to devil." The boy, Riser Phenex spoke.
A contract appeared between them and he stated.
"I, Riser Phenex, do hereby solemnly swear, upon pain of death-"
"Riser, don't!" Lord Phenex shouted, grabbing him by the shoulder. Riser looked into his father's eyes, with ironclad determination.
"Dad, trust me, just this once." He wasn't going to budge on this.
"Let him be." His mother knelt down beside him, and assured his father, "If he is so bent on it. Look at him. Nothing you say will convince him."
His father clenched his teeth in frustration and anger, pounding the ground to vent. The whole room shook from the blow.
"Fine." He muttered, "But you will not finalize anything without our agreement."
Riser nodded.
"I, Riser Phenex, solemnly swear, upon pain of death, to abide by the following terms, pending approval by my parents, Lord and Lady Phenex, and under the condition of absolute secrecy being maintained regarding Sairaorg Bael's admission or participation in my peerage to or by anyone that is not party to this contract,
1. I will help Sairaorg become stronger.
2. I will not lead him unwisely into an untimely death.
3. Seven years hence, from the time of the actuation of this contract, I will discreetly release Sairaorg Bael from my peerage and offer him my own, personal support, to a reasonable extent, in reclaiming the heirship to the throne of King Bael. He will not owe me or anyone related to me anything he has not himself promised for these services rendered.
4. For the aforementioned seven years that he is in my peerage, he will have my own personal protection, to a reasonable extent, in so far as he does not provoke malice or attack from anyone Ultimate Class or above, or their equivalent in power.
5. This contract may only be dissolved at the pleasure of Lady Misla Bael.
6. If at any point between now and the next seven years, Lady Misla finds me to have been less than genuine in my promises or actions, she may tear up the contract and extract it's toll as she pleases."
He turned to look at his parents who were reading the contract through and waited for them to finish reading the contract before he asked.
"Do you approve?"
Reluctantly, the both of them nodded their heads.
"I do not like this, but I approve." My mother said.
"I will approve of this under the condition that Riser Phenex never again make a contract which includes any condition or term or mention of the phrase 'upon pain of death' or any other term or condition or phrase that holds the same meaning or may lead to similar results as the aforementioned term." My father added after some consideration.
I nodded and turned back to Lady Misla Bael.
"Do you approve?"
"Yes." Misla Bael plucked the contract out of the air as it fell, and looked upon it with eyes wide as a hen's egg, feeling the contract's hold settle over all parties involved, "Do you realize what you have done? What you have given to me?" She asked, "What do you think will happen if I just show this contract to Lord Zekram? You know the contract doesn't stop me from just revealing it, right? Or if I tear it up right here right now?"
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(Riser POV)
"What do you think will happen if I just show this contract to Lord Zekram?You know the contract doesn't stop me from just revealing it, right? Or if I tear it up right here right now?"
I laughed and looked her in the eyes.
"Then Sairaorg will lose his only friend. And the contract will be rendered null."
Though that underlies the presumption that it will work in the first place, because the contract was rendered null the moment it actuated from the three loopholes hidden in it. Though she herself does not know it yet.
I have won.
"You are a vicious creature, boy. Vicious to others and even more so to yourself. Know this, I do not like you, and I never will. But this…" She rolled up the contract, and wiped her tears. "Very well, I will trust you."
She looked at me and then at my father.
"At least one you has some honour." She said, as she stood up, and my parents made to hold her, but I interjected.
"No, mom, dad. Let her go. Please."
They sighed, but ultimately eased up. There was nothing to be done now.
At the threshold now, she stopped, turned back, and looked me in the eyes.
"So young and yet so powerful…boy, what do you want?"
I grinned and looked back at her, my cardinal sin rearing its ugly head in all its glory as my eyes lit up and I answered.
"Everything."
Misla Bael laughed, like a woman mad, loud enough to be heard outside the warded room.
"Lord Phenex, you have sired a monster." She spat, "I pray you live to see the day this leviathan swallows the world whole in his greed."
My father scowled at her and then looked back at me as if calculating before he spoke.
"I only pray he lives long enough to become one such as who can do that."
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Okay, so I know you guys will say some parts of this are out of character for the parents, but I will explain next chapter. Wait for it.
Till then tell me what you thought of this chapter.
Donate your powerstones.
200 powerstones - 1 extra chapter
2000 collections - 1 extra chapter (I will write the 1000 collections chapter tomorrow, for a double release)
Thanks for reading.
See ya later, skaters.