Chapter 42 : THERE ARE SHADOW PEOPLE, MOTHER! part 2

"Y-y-y-y-your joking, right...?" I stuttered.

"Ara, joking? Possibly." The female-voiced shadow laughed.

"D-d-do you have a...n-name?"

"Valerian, Valerinan Coulmine, at your service."

"Antonio...Antonio Von Graves."

"Lovely name, dearie."

"I'm...the pope, ma'am."

"Ara, so young?"

"Goddess chosen." tophat said.

"And you participated in a necromancy ritual?"

"Yes...It went wrong. We...didn't mix the blood sacrifices, causing whatever happened...to happen."

"Hmm. Well, come along, dearie. Let's get you some...clothes, and see if we have food. We don't eat sadly, no mouths." She said, extending her hand out to me.

Fighting back shivers I took hold of her hand and got up off the suddenly appearing marble floor.

Valerian gripped my hand and tugged me off into the distance.

"I'm sure we can find something. An old room, maybe one with a bathroom! I am sure you'd like a bath?" I nodded.

"Good. Well, exploring we go! Onward, people! To the baths!"

And Valerian marched, I slowly followed, and tophat laughed before he also started marching, albeit goofily.