Chương 76: 76 - Painful Touches (3.5k words)
Muir's POV
The cubs were busy devouring their dinner, their furry bellies bulging like balloons, not noticing the tension in the air.
I pushed Mitchell's hand away, "I'll always be here for her, even if she doesn't need me anymore." I rushed toward her again, my eyes darting between the scorpion on her head and her covered face. "Where are Vick and Curtis?"
"Left them in the water hole near the tiger tribe," she answered.
"Does it hurt?" I asked, my hands trembling a bit, my face scrunched up in pain at the sight. I wanted to touch her legs, but I didn't dare to. They looked dead and lifeless, like the bones the cubs played with.
"It's manageable." She leaned against one crutch and placed the scorpion baby on my head, "I won't stay here for long. Just wanted to see the cubs before I leave."
The scorpion baby climbed off my head, landed on the ground, and trotted toward Mitchell.
Mitchell picked it up and placed it on his shoulder, his eyes cold as he glared at her, "You've seen them now. Leave."
"Well, I guess I'm leaving then," she said.
Much to everyone's surprise, she turned around and hobbled away.
I followed her, "Let me carry you. Don't tire yourself."
She paused and allowed me to piggyback her out of the oasis. I ensured her hands tightened their hold on my shoulders before shifting into my eagle form.
Skaris told me she would visit us today, and I had difficulty believing it until he revealed what she planned to do. It was my decision if I wanted to cooperate or not.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
We flew for a couple of hours and soon arrived at Flame City. Tall walls and watchtowers surrounded the city, all made of stone in a shade of withered yellow.
Nobody stood guard at the entrance. Everyone was entertained by a match inside a combat pit at the lowest level.
"Kill him, kill him!"
"Break his legs, break his legs!"
The audience roared as they watched the fight. The area was covered in blood, bones, and ripped flesh. It was a brutal fight to the death with no rules or limitations.
I quickly landed inside the tallest building ─ a castle with many secret passageways. I took her into one of the hidden corridors, and after a short walk, we appeared in the underground labyrinth, a black maze full of twists and turns.
Anyone unfamiliar with this place would easily get lost and caught by the patrolling scorpions.
I've been observing St. Zachary's patterns and habits, knowing he wouldn't be here at this time of the day, but it was better to be careful than sorry.
I opened the doors at the end of the path to see if the room was empty. After ensuring it was safe, I brought her inside the ice cellar, which was the most beautiful part of the underground maze.
The light in the cellar was blue and soft. The walls and floor were made of ice, and there was a platform with a sleeping female lying on top of a bed of ice flowers and gems.
Her strawberry blonde hair, shoulder-length with two small braids at the sides, framed her freckled face beautifully.
I approached the bed and knelt, offering my knee as a seat for Yaya.
Without hesitation, she removed her burka and took the female's hand. Her eyes glowed a fierce red, and sharp fangs emerged from her mouth. She bit into the woman's wrist, sinking her teeth deep.
It was my first time seeing Yaya so close to her original appearance. It was a beautiful sight that caused my heart to squeeze. I could watch her forever without growing tired of it. If only she didn't always ruin the moment with her slingshot.
Yaya aimed and shot, hitting the ice bead on the female's forehead. It made a soft clunk as it landed on the pillow by her side.
The female's breathing became erratic, her eyes snapping wide open as she awoke from her eternal slumber. She stared at the ceiling for a moment before rising from the bed. Then, she knelt before us ─ no, before Yaya, who still rested in my arms.
"Master," she mumbled.
Yaya leaned against me leisurely, exuding an effortless cool. In an icy, authoritative voice, she commanded, "Your name is Chris, St. Zachary's mate. You have no desire for wealth, power, or status. Your sole purpose in life is to love and make St. Zachary hate his strong body and seek a stripless vessel."
She continued to pass on her intentions, "Every time you look at him, your eyes will water, and you will act pitiful. Every time you speak, your words will sound frail and helpless. Every time any male approaches you, you will cower in fear and hide. You will fear their touch will be too strong, and it will cause you pain. Only when St. Zachary appears in a stripless beast-man's body will you be able to be happy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, master."
"Good," Yaya fed Chris a few clear crystals to purify the poison in her blood, "If someone touches you, don't wake up until I tell you to," she said, her commanding voice returning to normal.
After she had instructed Chris, I led her back into the corridor. The moment I did so, she vanished from my arms. "..."
On her way here, Yaya explained to me how her powers worked. Dead individuals like Chris would take a moment to turn, while healthy and strong ones like Curtis would take her days if he didn't resist.
Her father called them familiars, and Yaya called them parasites. The blood parasite she had sent into Chris's bloodstream was like a code. By linking itself directly with the brain, it could influence the host's thoughts and actions. She could create them from her own life source, body, and blood.
Many of her kind used to sacrifice their life source to create powerful familiars and adopt them as their kids. Under nobody's control, these familiar kids would gain an unmatched amount of power and abilities. Still, many side effects came with not having her kin's body, thus why they could only call themselves purebloods, and not origins.
I stared at my hands holding onto her a while ago. I thought her leg's condition would make her hate us because she would have to depend on us, and it would make her feel useless, but I was wrong.
No matter how humiliating, no matter how frustrating her situation was, she still held herself high.
Whenever she outstretched her arms in my direction, it was as if she was saying: Carry me, you peasant. And whenever she leaned back into me, it was as if she was saying: Thank you, slave.
I could feel her willpower, how she held on, how she kept her dignity, and how she didn't allow anyone to trample her.
I smiled helplessly. She had entrusted me with Chris, which meant she trusted me with St. Zachary's fate and, by extension, the Flame City's fate.
I didn't possess a strategic mind like Vick, or a cunning nature like Skaris, or great strength like Curtis, but I knew one thing:
I was an expert in the art of diplomacy and politics. I could find common interests and convince others to trust me with their problems and secrets. I could act like their ally, their friend, even their servants and slaves, if that was what it took to gain their trust.
I held the deep scar on the side of my torso, which I received from St. Zachary. A few more near-death matches with him was all I needed to advance again.
The ability to teleport Yaya to my side, to have her lean against my chest, was a reward I would do anything to receive.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
Mitchell's POV
"Don't give me that look," I responded to Bart's and Skaris's sulking faces with a scowl, "You'll thank me later."
They looked downcast, their shoulders slumped, and their lips pulled into a pout. They've been like this ever since she left, and no matter what I said, they couldn't seem to snap out of it.
Nobody expected her to leave without a fight, alright?!
"Suddenly, a female appears, and you all want to leave everything behind to chase after her," I scoffed, a little bitterness seeping through. I should have known better that the cubs didn't mean that much to them.
"You didn't have to chase her away," Skaris stood up and walked out of the oasis, "The cubs deserve to spend time with their mother."
"You have a lot of nerve to blame this on me," I said, offended, "Go, beg her to take you back, but don't expect me to welcome you with open arms if she abandons you again."
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
I didn't know the foul female's plans for visiting the desert, but after her disappearance, everything returned to normal.
Skaris went back to the Flame City for a power boost. Muir would show up every once in a while to check on the cubs, but that was about it. Bart was the only one who didn't leave the oasis.
Also...
My mother woke up.
She was terrified of father killing her again, not allowing him nor any other male to get close to her, which made our little family reunion a bit awkward. She was lovely, just like her father had described, but we could only talk to her from a distance. Otherwise, she would cry hysterically.
"It's strange. The Beast City got destroyed while the Flames City was bestowed with a miracle," I said, sitting on my throne. Supporting my chin with my hand, "Was it the Beast God? Why would he do that? We've been forsaken by him the moment he created us."
Muir's presence was a little unsettling as he approached my throne from the shadows, "Maybe he saw the nursery and was touched by your kindness. Maybe he wanted to reward your efforts. It's hard to say."
"Reward my efforts?" I scoffed. "I didn't build the nursery for him."
Muir's gaze wandered off to the side, a gentle smile forming on his face. We weren't even talking about her and he was already thinking about her. Fool!
"What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked, "Shouldn't you be by her side?"
"I can't return. I'm not strong enough yet," he said, his eyes returning to mine, "Fight me."
I raised a brow at his sudden request but didn't refuse. I leaped off the throne and attacked him, my pincer claws swiping at his neck.
Muir dodged my attacks effortlessly and hit me in the face. He didn't hold back. I flew backward and landed on my back. I got up, rubbed the blood off my lips, and charged toward him again but stopped midway.
Muir coughed out a mouthful of blood as we both stared at the pincer pierced through his chest.
My father pulled the pincer out, causing Muir to drop to his knees.
I was frozen on the spot, not knowing what to do, as my father approached me with the pincer covered in blood. "Did you see that?" he asked, smiling proudly, "That's the kind of strength you'll have when you reach the fifth stage. Finish him off, son."
"But," I hesitated. Father was in a bad mood. Mother probably rejected his touch again.
"Now, Mitchell."
I swallowed hard and reluctantly walked over to Muir. He was still on his knees, his breathing irregular, and a puddle of blood was slowly forming beneath him.
"Hurry up," Father commanded.
I didn't move, "He's on our side. Why would we do this?"
"He suggested I take on a weaker body to appeal to Chris. Can you believe that?" Father laughed, "Don't tell me you have a conscience now. He challenged you, so it's a fight to death. You either win or die."
I looked at the bloody pincer and then at Muir. His face was covered in sweat, and his eyes were staring at me as if he was trying to say something, but no words came out of his mouth.
I gritted my teeth, and with a trembling hand, I attacked my father. He didn't even need to move. He easily grabbed my pincer and used it to fling me across the hall.
"What's the meaning of this?" Father asked, looking furious, "Did you take off your soul stone again?"
I stood up with a groan, "No wonder mother hates when you touch her."
Father's face changed colors, and in an instant, he was right before me, his pincer on my throat. "What did you say?"
"I said," I spoke, struggling to breathe, "If I were your mate, I would hate your touch too."
I've never seen him so angry before. Father pushed me down and stomped on my abdomen. He didn't stop when the floor cracked under my back. I couldn't breathe. Everything hurt, and my vision started to blur.
Muir suddenly appeared behind him, claws around Father's shoulders, pulling him off me. They began their fight again. Muir was doing better than before despite his fatal wound. And I noticed it was because the stripes on his face were gone.
Father needed a lot of effort to block his fast attacks, but he was still the winner. He knocked Muir out, his stinger piercing through the same wound he had inflicted before.
Muir's body convulsed for a moment, his face twisted in pain as Father injected him with his poison.
"Weakling," Father spat and turned around, his eyes cold as they landed on me. He kicked me in the face. My entire skull ached, and I could taste blood inside my nose and mouth.
"Let him go, or I'll cut myself!"
We all looked at the petite female standing by the entrance, a sharp, thin dagger in her hand.
"Mother," I mumbled.
Chris pushed the knife against her throat and drew blood.
Father took his foot off me and approached her slowly, "Love, how did you get here? And where did you get that dangerous thing?"
"Don't come near me," Mother shouted, "I mean it. I'm going to kill myself if you don't let them go."
"Alright," Father promised, taking a step forward.
"No! Stop! Don't come near me!" Mother cried, her arms shaking, and the knife was digging deeper and deeper into her skin.
"Okay, okay," Father said, "I won't move. Please calm down, love."
"No more killing," she repeated.
"Yes," Father nodded, his eyes glued to the dagger, "There will be no more killing. Just put down that knife and let me treat your injuries."
She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because," she sobbed, her voice breaking, "Because... I love you, I really do, but your touch hurts me, it hurts so much, I can't, I can't take it, I can't."
"Love, calm down, please. I promise I'll never hurt you again. Come here. Let me comfort you," he pleaded. She shook her head frantically in response.
"No," she screamed, eyes wide, "I don't want to be touched. Your touch hurts me. I can't."
"I won't hurt you, I promise." Father didn't listen. He approached her in two strides and snatched the dagger from her hand. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, "I love you, Chris."
Father's strength was too great for her fragile body. I could hear my mother's bones cracking, her limbs breaking.
"Father!" I tried to stop him, but it was too late. Mother shrieked in pain as she fell limp in his arms.
He was shaking, and I could see the shock on his face. It took him a moment to snap out of his daze.
"Love? Love, can you hear me?" There was no response. He turned her over, her blank eyes staring into nothing. "No," he gasped and held her tightly against his chest, crushing her body even more, "No, no, no."
I couldn't watch this anymore. I rushed toward him and tried to pull him away, but his grip was tight.
"Chris, wake up, wake up," he whispered, stroking her face, "Look, our son is here. Mitchell is here, and so am I. Love, wake up. Let's live together as a family. I'll never kill anyone again."
"Stop, Father. Stop, you are hurting Mother," I pulled at his arm, and he finally released her.
She fell onto my arms like a lifeless doll, her body broken and her eyes devoid of light. I didn't feel sad, but I didn't feel happy either. My time with my mother was short, but she recognized me as her son and saved me. I was glad I could meet her, if only briefly.
"No, no. It can't be, it can't." Father snatched Mother away from me. The strength he was so proud of killed his mate. The power he bragged about, the same one he wanted me to possess, was the same one that destroyed our family. If he had been a bit weaker, she would have accepted his touch, and if he had listened to her desires, she would have lived.
I turned to Muir, "Can you stand up?'
Muir coughed up another mouthful of blood as he tried to stand up, his face contorted in pain. I walked up to him and helped him up.
"Let's go," I said, and without turning back, we left the throne room as Father continued to hug Mother.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
We met Skaris on the way out of the Flame City. He was inside the combat pit, fighting against a fourth striped bear beastman.
He won... barely. His injuries were severe, but it was nothing that couldn't be healed.
He leaped out of the pit, joining us. "Where to?" he asked, helping me to carry Muir.
"Anywhere. Anywhere far away from Father," I answered.
"Nursery?" Skaris asked.
It was too far away, and we were too injured. We would have to stay somewhere else first, until our wounds healed a bit.
"The underground mines," I said.
"Dear is nearby," Skaris said, "I can sense her."
"She is what?" I looked around. Sense her? How? Where?
Then, I spotted her. She was flying above the sand dunes on top of a peacock, and she wasn't alone. A group of peacocks was following her.
She raised her hand, signaling the peacocks to stop as she looked down on us.
Skaris waved his hands at her, smiling brightly, "Dear, over here."
"Are you injured?" she asked, gesturing to the peacocks to pick us up.
"No," I answered, latching onto the colorful bird.
"A little," Muir coughed as she offered him her hand and threw him over the peacock like a rag to check on his injuries.
"Yes," Skaris corrected. Receiving no special treatment from her, he could only heal his injuries naturally with his own abilities, "What are you doing here on your own, Dear? Where are Vick and Curtis?"
"Traveling in the desert drains a lot of energy, so they stayed back in the water hole to conserve it," she answered as we traveled through the desert without any clear destinations.
I noticed the peacocks carrying bags of water...a lot of them.
Don't tell me she was exploring the desert just for fun!
She would use her slingshot to shoot at the sand close to various plants and rocks to check if it was safe to land. She did this repeatedly until she was satisfied, and only then did she allow everyone to take a break.
She would then use the crutches to use the sandpit behind the rocks. She didn't ask for anyone's help and didn't seem to need it either.
I watched her closely as she tended to Muir's injuries. Her actions were mechanical like she was doing a mundane task rather than saving her mate's life. The way she dealt with his poison was bizarre, too. She let him suffer through the hallucinations and even the feverish deliriums to build up his immunity while dangling an emerald above his nose.
I had expected her to pick a fight with me, but she was quiet. Maybe because I was quiet too? After what happened to Father and Mother, I wasn't in the mood for a heated argument with anyone.
It went on for four days. She collected a mountain of plants and desert animals, storing them inside the peacocks' bags, and on the fifth day, she dropped us back in the Flame City.
"..."
Without saying anything, she flew away and took the peacocks with her.
"..."
I watched as Skaris waved his hand after her until her figure was gone.
"..."
Muir watched as she disappeared in the sky, his face full affection.
"..."
I looked at them both, "Snap out of it you two. She just abandoned you."
They shrugged and returned to the Flame City with foolish grins as if pumped up and ready to spill more blood.
I must have been infected by their enthusiasm, or I was going crazy because I was grinning too.
╔═══ Author's note ═══╗
YY's sisters aren't being controlled by her familiars like Chris. 👀
The blood she fed Vick had her life source in it.
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