Collar
The priest quickly rushed toward the castle. The ornament of the church in gold embossing was prominently displayed on the side of the carriage he wad riding in. Lord Archibald's men were leading the way clearing the streets of any peasants that were in the way. As the carriage reached ther gates of the palace ther priest could here lord Archibald's men arguing with the palace guards.
The warriors under lord Archibald's command were his personal guard. He trusted them with his life, so he made sure that they were completely loyal to him and no one else. The priest helped him in this regard as he placed a master servant spell upon all of them. What Archibald didn't know was that his guards were actually the priest loyal slaves. He used them to spy on Archibald to ensure he stayed the course and didn't switch his loyalties once again. He was once King Hakinim's best friend. Archibald was there only person who truly accepted him when he first appeared in court after his parents lost their life.
It took the priest a long time to slowly corrupt Archibald, but because Archibald was originally a very pious person he spent a lot of time at church. It was during one of his confessions that the priest found his chance. Apparently Archibald was feeling very troubled over his infatuation for a certain lady in waiting. His physical urges were slowly taking over his rational mind. He knew there was no way he could get his hands on the woman he loved, so he began taking his wants out on the maids and peasant staff. He admitted to raping many women over the last couple weeks. He was riddled with guilt over his actions. The priest used his guilt to coerce him into giving in to his most base desires and gaining his confidence in the process. The priest used his connection with Archibald to gain access to the royal court. But contrary to his plans the king refused to acknowledge his existence, let alone get close to him. After consulting his master about this hiccup in their plan, his master decided that they would just use Archibald to overthrow the king. But with Archibald's life in jeopardy this would once again throw their plans astray.
The palace guards were tired of being disrespected but Lord Archibald's personal guard. They were known to trampse around the palace as if they owned the place. Their biggest aggravation was that all the atrocities they committed have been overlooked because Lord Archibald was so close to the king.
"Out of the way before I take your pathetic life!!" the captain of Lord Archibald's guard yelled in one of the palace guard's face.
His spit splashing all over the palace guard's face. Right as the guard was pulling his sword off his waist the Chamberlain appeared inside of the gates yelling for everyone to stop.
---
**The Priest's Gambit**
The priest's robes billowed like storm clouds as he and Stephan marched toward the castle. The possessed acolyte moved with unnatural fluidity, his once-human eyes now voids speckled with crimson embers.
"You understand the collar's purpose," Stephan hissed, his voice layered with the guttural growl of the Abyss. "The godling's power is raw, untamed. Strike when he is distracted by the girl."
The priest nodded, fingers brushing the iron coffer at his belt—a twin to the one that had mutilated Archibald. This collar, though, thrummed with darker runes, forged in the Abyssal fires of his master's prison.
"And the duke's daughter?" the priest asked.
"Collateral," Stephan replied. "If she dies, the duke's rage will destabilize the king. Chaos serves our ends."
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**The Throne Room: Aftermath**
In the castle, chaos reigned. Guards dragged Lord Archibald's limp body toward the infirmary, his shattered arm dangling like a broken doll's. Janice stood frozen, her hand pressed to her healed cheek, as Jerry faced the trembling guards. King Hakinem loomed above on the dais, his knuckles white on the throne's armrests.
"Enough!" the king roared. "Seize that *thing*!"
The guards surged forward—and froze as Jerry turned. His eyes glowed faintly, a white light bleeding into the air like mist.
"You would cage a god?" Jerry's voice resonated, shaking the chandeliers.
Janice gasped. *God?* The word echoed in her mind, threading through the visions of their shared life—*their* life, the one her soul ached for.
---
**The Priest Arrives**
The throne room doors burst open. The priest strode in, Stephan slinking behind.
"Your Grace," the priest bowed mockingly to the king. "I've come to… purify this disturbance."
King Hakinem's jaw tightened. He knew the priest's true master, the shadow that had long poisoned his court. "Do what you must," he muttered.
The priest's gaze locked on Jerry. "Ah, the godling. How… *small* you are."
Stephan circled behind Janice, his fingers elongating into clawed shadows.
---
**The Collar's Whisper**
Jerry stepped between Janice and the priest. "Leave. Now."
The priest snapped open the coffer. The collar writhed, its runes screaming. "You'll bow to a higher power."
He hurled the collar. It spiraled through the air, snapping toward Jerry's throat—but Janice lunged, her body moving on instinct.
*Sizzle.*
The collar clamped around *her* neck.
"No!" Jerry roared.
Janice collapsed, choking as the runes seared her skin. Visions exploded in her mind: the Abyss, a chained titan with fiery eyes, and a voice—*"Mine."*
---
**Archibald's Rebirth**
In the infirmary, Archibald's mangled body twitched. Black veins pulsed where Jerry had crushed his bones. The wound at his throat—the priest's cursed bite—glistened.
A guard leaned in to check his pulse.
*Snap.*
Archibald's talons impaled the guard's chest. Magic—raw, scarlet—flooded into him, healing his wounds, bloating his flesh into a grotesque parody of a man.
"Hungry," he rasped, lurching toward the throne room.
---
**Divine Fire**
Jerri knelt over Janice, his hands blazing white. The collar resisted, its Abyssal magic devouring his light.
"Fight it," he pleaded.
Janice's eyes flew open—one human, one void-black. "Jerry… it's *eating* me—"
Stephan struck, shadows lashing like whips. Jerry flung out a hand, and a shield of light repelled the blow. The clash shattered windows, raining glass.
The priest chanted, summoning tendrils of Abyssal rot. "You cannot win, godling. She belongs to the Abyss now!"
---
**The King's Choice**
King Hakinem watched, trembling. *This* was the cost of his compromises: a corrupted court, a friend turned monster, a god bleeding light on his floor.
He stood. "Guards! Aid the god!"
The priest snarled. "You fool! Your throne is ash without my master!"
"Then let it burn," the king said, drawing his sword.
---
**Archibald's Hunger**
The doors exploded. Archibald lurched in, his form a shifting mass of talons and teeth. He fixated on the priest—the source of his torment.
"Yessss," Archibald hissed, lunging.
The priest screamed as talons pierced his ribs. Magic—holy and Abyssal—surged into Archibald, fueling his metamorphosis. Stephan dissolved into smoke, fleeing as his master's tether frayed.
---
**The Collar Shattered**
Jerry poured his soul into the light, burning the collar's runes to ash. Janice gasped, free, as the metal crumbled.
"You're safe," Jerry whispered.
"Not yet," she said, nodding at Archibald.
The creature loomed, dripping with the priest's blood. Its hollow eyes met Jerry's.
"Huuuungry," it rasped.
Jerry raised a hand, light gathering—but Janice stopped him.
"Wait," she said softly. "He's… *changing*."
Archibald's form shuddered, the Abyssal rot receding. For a heartbeat, his human eyes flickered—grief-stricken, repentant. Then he fled into the night, a howl trailing behind.
---
Whispers of Dawn
The king knelt before Jerry. "I owe you my kingdom."
"Keep it," Jerry said, helping Janice stand. "We're leaving."
As they walked into the dawn, Janice whispered, "Who *are* you?"
Jerry smiled sadly. "A man who loved a woman named Lisa. And maybe… a god who loves you."
Behind them, the castle smoldered. In the shadows, Archibald watched, his new hunger gnawing a different path—one even the Abyss could not foresee.
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