Chương 109: Pour Me
"Althea, Zisha, Come on inside! What brought the both of you here?"
Similar to the ordinary housings in Ykeyk, Khazan's dwelling was the standard greyish walls, seemingly made out of cement produced by insects.
Even though he harbored the important status of a scholar, the only extra consolation given to their caste was the gift of knowledge, that there is a larger world outside their hive kingdom, and sometimez, the opportunity to visit them to, since the scholar castes are the only ones allowed to be sent as diplomats. A luxury that the other castes will never be able to acquire in their entire life.
Having visited Khazan's home many times over, Althea made her way to the living room sofa, Yazmin following next to her.
"There's something I need to ask. It's about Melsa. Is there something about her mansion that you would like to tell me?" Althea nervously questioned. Unable to read Khazan's expression due to his face's helmet-like constitution, the silence that he retreated into was a clear indicator that something is. "I am begging you Khazan, if you're truly my friend then you will tell me."
"It's because I'm your friend that I don't want you to know. You need Selma's treatment."
"Hold on, what treatment?" The confused Yazmin asked.
"Never mind that." Althea brushed the Gorgon's inquiry, returning her focus to her insectoid friend. "Come on, Khazan. I need to know the truth!".
"I am sworn to our queen never to let this information out, but if there is someone who can stop this madness, it is you."
Resolved, Khazan was ready tell what kind of person Melsa was behind the mask. "Melsa is no ordinary alchemist. She is in league with our Queen to strengthen our warrior caste with her experiments. And in return, the Queen provides her with subjects. Subjects that are never heard from again. What's even more puzzling, is why Melsa has a battalion of beetle warriors under her command. Mere a small fraction of our forces, but one must wonder what she intends to do with them".
"See, I fucking told you that I'm telling the truth! We should have gone for her head last night!" Yazmin interjected.
"Ah, so Melsa is your target?"
"Wait, you know I'm an assassin!?"
Previously Althea, it was now Yazmin's turn to be surprised with how Khazan nonchalantly revealed that he was in the know of Yazmin's real profession.
"It is our job to think for the hive, we must be knowledgeable about the certain affairs outside our kingdom. I know the implications of a Warijan visiting a city, they are rarely for pleasure and most of the time for business, the dastard kind."
Yazmin chuckled, "Then why help me?"
"Because you are no threat to the Queen. Us insect folk keep to our hive, there's a hardly any reason for you to target any of us. And most of all...I was curious!" Khazan laughed, his mandibles opening wide. Such expressiveness among his kind were rare and found only on the scarabs, bred to become scholars.
The door suddenly opened, leading to an influx of 9 tiny scarabs, all differing in color. One of them who shared the same orange hue as their father, rushed to Khazan's side.
Khazan scooped the smaller one into his arms, "Did you enjoy the walk with your mother, little one?"
The little one nodded.
Meanwhile, their mother herded the rest.
"It seems we have visitors." Pelka said.
Standing, Althea's heartstrings were tugged at the sight of miniature scarabs scuttling around. It felt like she was intruding in their family time.
"We were just about to leave."
"Nonsense, Althea. Since you two are already here, you must join us for dinner." Pelka insisted.
Althea gazed at her companion, "What do you think?"
"Up to you." Yazmin answered.
As Althea pondered, a blue scarab appeared underneath her. The scarab raised its hands, gesturing for Althea to lift it up.
The scarab youngling nestled in its chest, seemingly tired from playing all day, it closed its eyes.
With Althea's entire attention on the youngling, a duo of scarabs chasing each other beelined near her feet. Youthful as they are, their chase got out of hand, one them accidentally hitting Althea's ankle with enough force to topple her.
A simple fall is not something Althea can't weather, but the youngling in her chest complicated things.
Althea closed her eyes, tightening her arms around the scarab to protect her from the impact while expecting the cold hard floor to bruise her back. What she didn't expect, was landing on something...soft.
Catching Althea's fall was Yazmin, cushioning Althea with Yazmin's protective embrace.
"What did I say about running all over the house! Get over here you two!"
The chastisement of Pelka was something that Yazmin and Althea failed to hear. Even as the youngling on Althea's chest scurried away, both of them remained entangled on the floor.
A tender hug from a Gorgon was something Althea didn't think she would experience in her entire life, making her stammer "I...You...Thank you."
That infamous lightning blade possessing a vulnerable and cute side to her was something Yazmin didn't expect. Especially after their history, Yazmin grinned, "You're welcome. If you want to remain in my embrace, just say so. I will happily oblige."
Khazan scratched his chitin, "I don't know how to phrase this better but, please, don't flirt in front of the children."
Absolutely embarrassed, Althea untangled herself from Yazmin.
+++
After a rowdy dinner with Khazan and Pelka's 9 children.
The couple were able to convince Yazmin and Althea to stay for the night. Even after learning the fact that there was only one guest room, Althea accepted since she cannot fathom returning to Melsa's place after knowing the truth.
Althea sat near the window, gazing at the night sky, pondering the gravity of the situation.
The twins that had shown her kindness, treating Althea like a sister, had a hidden side to them. A side far darker and sinister than what she could have imagined.
Khazan knocked before entering the room, laying a bottle of his strongest fruit liquor on the small table.
"I know you have a lot on your chest right now after learning the truth, Althea, this might help you sleep through the night. Pelka and I would like to join you but I have work tomorrow while Pelka is taking care of the kids. See you tomorrow, Althea, Zisha."
"Zisha is not my real name, it is Yazmin." The Gorgon laying on the bed confessed.
Khazan simply nodded at her confession, denoting that it is of little consequence since she knew the truth of her identity from the start but still appreciated the honesty.
As the door closed behind Khazan, Althea made her way to the table and opened up bottle.
"Yazmin, drink with me." Althea invited.
Then and there, the solemn tone Althea took made Yazmin want to join Althea in washing her sorrows by drinking, but not yet.
"I told you, I don't drink. Medusa forbids it."
"Come on, are you really going to let me drink this bottle all by myself?"
"Fine, I'll join you but on one condition, you'll tell me all about your 'treatment'."
A simple trade, Yazmin's piety towards their Goddess for Althea's secret.
"Sure, I'll tell you, but only after we hit half a bottle. Deal?"
Slithering to the seat in front of Althea, Yazmin pushed her cup forward...
"Pour me."
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