Chapter 11 - Offerings

The Moretti Castle - The Courtyard: King Kade

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The sharp raps of bat wings echoed off the stone walls in quick successions. I quite enjoyed the sounds. They weren't peaceful or harmonic but they held a strange natural beauty— beauty in anarchy.

"Sire, if I may," Greyson started. His dark eyes reminded me of a newborn bat, seeking light and finding none. But he was always keen to listen, his ears were his greatest weapon. He heard before he spoke, knowing before he acted.

I nodded and stood stagnant in anticipation of his next words.

"The murderer—I think the culprit is well aware that we have a patrol... This all feels too staged. A game of cat and mouse."

A smile threatened to stretch on my face, "Are you suggesting that the culprit is familiar with the kingdom, perhaps even the King himself?" I had drawn the very same conclusion nights ago. The patrols were in vain. The murders would continue until the murderer revealed themselves and their grand scheme.

Greyson was intelligent enough to share my sentiment, "Yes Sire. It is only a matter of time before another corpse makes an appearance." He spoke with conviction and I glanced at his vacant stare ahead.

Bat's are the nights perfect companions.

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Just as we suspected, another corpse was discovered. Then another, and another. All within a fortnight. The murderer was jesting with their power. I was beginning to understand why Alexander was suspicious of me in particular, I too enjoyed a game or two with my prey.

In this instance, even I was perturbed by how this strange character chose to kill its victims. Torture by knifeplay and scorching their flesh with fire.

Once again, we gathered around a body, inspecting the work of an artful killer. I almost felt jealous.

King Oliver, naïve and gentle—certainly looked disturbed by the sight, which was expected of his kind. His soft nature didn't bother me, in fact I was amused by it. He would never see as much horror as I had seen in his short lifetime.

He cleared his throat, probably choking down bile that threatened to rise, "Seems like the patrolling guard needs to be increased double-fold."

Beside me, Greyson scoffed under his breath. Humans behaved peculiarly in times of distress. It was ridiculous, but I understood. I had spent enough time in civilization to grasp their emotional responses to danger. Humans are meek creatures. I always admired their meekness.

"If your highness would allow it, I would like to further inspect the corpse for... Tracks that the killer might have left behind." Alexander requested pompously.

King Oliver looked at Alexander intently, eager for anything falling from his lips. Common of a King whose daughter was in courtship with the other. Pending nepotism at its finest.

He nodded frantically, "Of course, you are most welcome. All I ask is that you report any facts that are hitherto unknown directly to me."

Greyson shifted closer to me and whispered into my ear, "No doubt he intends to investigate whether you had part in this Sire." I was aware of Alexanders intentions, I chose to feign ignorance. My involvement in this would be a fools errand. There were other pressing matters at hand.

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A single wall in my chambers was now completely exposed, velvet laying discarded on the floor. The fae-folk inscriptions covered the wall from the top all the way down to where the marble floor began. Simply trailing my fingertips over the rough engravings sent shivers down my spine. Shivers of familiarity.

This was where all the answers to the murders and pending danger lied. While Alexander chased my tail to no end, I would find what truly mattered. It made me frantic, almost insane—knowing whatever answers this castle held would be the answers I had searched for almost centuries. Answers I sought out with a vengeance.

Greyson shuffling behind the door drew a sigh from me. I never understood his need for formality. He always behaved as if he was expected to be perfect. He knocked on the door and asked for permission to enter.

"You may." I called out, exasperated.

His stare was strong as always. I peered at him over my shoulder and found that instead of staring at the spectacle of the wall, he looked bashfully at my naked back. A sight I was sure he wasn't new to. Nonetheless, I brushed that fact aside and mused playfully.

"What's the matter Greyson?"

He visibly struggled to regain his senses and averted his eyes to the floor, "Nothing Sire. I mean, there is a matter but it isn't me."

I hummed, "Go on then, what is it?"

"Another body was found, one of the guards."

The report didn't faze me, I turned back to the wall. Patterns on the wall all flowed into one another. Each and every symbol had a meaning, a place in the bigger message of it all.

"Greyson, come closer." I commanded.

When he stood beside me, I took his hand in mine and raised it to the wall. Splaying his palm flatly onto the uneven surface. I shifted his hand with mine, tracing the inscriptions that tethered into one another.

He tensely let me lead him. "It all is connected Greyson. Torture and fire. Much like a ritual isn't it?"

His eyes widened and he looked at me, "Sacrifices?" I admired his sharpness.

"Offerings. Something required to obtain and maintain dark magic. You're familiar with those practices are you not?"

"Yes Sire. You insisted I learned about it when I was younger."

"The killing will continue until the user of the magic has obtained the power they require," I lifted my hand from his, "This magic user could very well be the entity threatening us all." I stepped back and glanced at Greyson, observing him.

Greyson looked startled. Like a child once again. My eyes traced his features.

"But you and I will be prepared won't we Greyson?"

He nodded meekly, "We will Sire."

I certainly hoped we would be.