Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 412 : Honor

Small beads of rain fell overhead, slowly turning into a downpour that left her soaked, Her breeches sticking to what Tasha often called her sinuous hips and thighs. A small complement that would surely make her smile, but not today. Today, she wanted to feel sad.

She had taken too many lives, all rightfully taken, but some that were surely innocent. Regardless, she couldn't take the chance. Not when it concerned her Master. Were he to ever be slain, she shivered at the thought all that he worked for would be over. Her honor would be stained, and a life without honor is hardly a life worth living.

Honor? She wondered when she started caring about such things. Raven could still remember when words such as honor perturb her. She couldn't understand it. At least not then. She did now.

As the rain drummed across her matting hair, she reached for Zensu, the Fifth Form of Ethereal Grace. A slow, rich, and smooth pulse of something untouched and unsullied surged through her body, suffusing itself into her, caressing every crevice of her being. For a moment, she felt those sensations leave her: Pain, guilt, worry, even joy, and more, all seeming to lift themselves out of her.

There was only cold purpose now. Cold, icy reasoning, untethered by anything but her honor.

She was one with herself then, one with the Vale, spreading to fill that void where her emotions lay.

By the time she realized it, Raven had returned to the manor of House Nier. Coldy, she tugged at the reigns to Cloud, her master Warhorse; the young stallion stilled, allowing her time to get off, sliding into her shadow to be called either by its master or her again. It was the same for the other Forsaken behind her.

They were all young, lacking even the most basic knowledge she hadn't the time to instill in them; they needed to return to the World of Shadows, the Realm only Forsaken could enter within their Master, to begin their education. It would be there where they'd learn how to properly speak and develop skills that did not pertain to senseless killing.

After a while, once the last of the Forsaken had vanished, to the amazement of the guards—why were they so stunned— she made for her Master's ward. Through narrow corridors, the sound of trashing roared, and a strange, almost icy sensation snapped like a whip across her mind.

"Master!" The emotions that had left returned, and dread raced, shrouding her in cold sweat. She bounded forward, catching sight of the door where she had explicitly placed two Forsaken. They were both gone. She burst through the door, nearly tearing the thing off its hinges; her gaze snapped to Medusa and Iliana and the two Forsaken inside, watching her master, thrashing like a wild beast in chains.

It took only a moment to realize that the one who was trashing was not her true master but someone else, something else. His other self, the Vale King.

Spittle left his lips as he roared, "Release me this instant! Now! Release me or kill me!"

"I must say, a man like you ought to learn humility. If you come out and try to ruin all your other-self created, then that would be an issue for everyone involved, including the Abyssal Twins. I can't have that." Iliana was saying in an unbothered voice.

"He is me! Why would I destroy what he has created!" The Vale King demanded.

Raven moved closer, a scowl growing every present across her lips the closer she became. She would not have her Master caged like a dog. He deserves better than that. Even if this persona was not her Master but his other self, the Vale King, he was still her Master.

"I would agree," the Vale King laughed. He knelt before her, and a type of shame she never knew filled her. A lord was not meant to kneel before his guardian.

Lifting her head by her chin with one finger, a smile that seemed to touch his eyes reflected across her amethyst eyes.

"You've done right by me and my other half. A fine job you've accomplished. A fine job indeed." And the Vale King's smile turned slightly. How? She could not say. It seemed hungry.

"I might ask you to help warm my bed, but I don't think these two would allow it."

"Warm your bed?" Raven blinked. "I can get you a bed warmer or create a ward that'll do the same." They all blinked as if she was crazy. "What? Is there something on my face? Are you all hungry?"

Medusa attacked her, throwing her arms around her neck and rubbing against her cheek with a big, bright smile. She hadn't noticed it before, but even when Medusa moved, she was sinuous in every way that mattered. More than that, it was as if she didn't need to try.

"You are just too innocent! Don't you dare deflower such a maiden?"

"Why not? There is power in corruption," The Vale King replied. And Iliana nodded in agreement. "He is right."

'Monsters the both of you!" Medusa snapped, bearing her fangs like a snake defending her egg.

' Am an egg?' she wondered, smiling at the image of an egg with her colored hair and eyes that suddenly popped into her head. She giggled as it bounced up and down, waving at them.

"Well, if I'm not allowed to claim the girl, then what can I offer as a reward? I am not without my pride. The girl has learned to hunt. She must be rewarded." He said as if it were the most natural thing. "Perhaps I could create a blood ring. They would match her eyes.

The hearts of a hundred—"

Iliana bonked him on the head. "Always with the killing. Reign it in, boy. I've little patience for this type of talk. If you must kill thousands of people, at least make it have meaning."

The Vale King tsked, clutching his head. "Fine. I'll let Altair decide. Bloody bunch of bitches.' he said that last part under his breath, receiving another bonk on the head from Iliana.

Raven had not seen the woman smile so warmly before; she almost seemed happy. Raven didn't like the woman very much, but even she had to admit it. Iliana was a beauty beyond the stars themselves.

Scrubbing his head, he glared, then said in a softer voice, "If I promise not to kill anyone in this manner unless attacked, can I tour it? Surely that is reasonable. I am still Altair, you know. I am still Nox De Nier."