Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 387 Black Magic

"I greet you, Vale King!"

The Vale King smiled, revealing a mouthful of pristine white teeth. "How is your hunt?'

"Excellent, I caught quite the fish," Tasha said, gliding an eye to Elena's terrified expression. Her lips perked into a devious grin. "My Lord, shall I prepare the young lady a pair of clothes to stay the night?"

Elena felt her face burn. She dared not look him in the eye. She made herself look small, not daring to raise her head in defiance.

"I haven't the strength to taste such an unripe fruit," The Vale King said, though his gaze appeared to strip her of all her pride. "Though I suppose I don't necessarily have to do much."

Tasha crawled forward, finding his cock beneath his trousers with her lips. With a single kiss, she had it hard. "My Lord appears to still be strong." she reached her hand up to lay down his trousers, but his hand stopped her.

"That'll be enough," Altair said, rubbing his temple. "Elena, you may leave."

The young girl scampered off her knees, closing the door on her way out, breathing a sigh of relief, but the terror in her chest did not seem to lessen now that she was out of his sight. She was trembling, biting back the tears streaming down her cheeks.

When she was gone, Altair sighed, confused about where the desire to torture others came from. He pulled himself away to avoid her mischief.

"We still have time, My Lord. Would you like to fuck me in the dirt? Mark here can watch., I'm sure he'd like it. Perhaps you can explore my other hole for the first time."

"Tasha..." Altair said, unsure if he should blush or not. It was awkward enough speaking before another gripping his cock, while he smiled towards the sky. The last thing he wanted to do was have sex in front of him or anyone else who wasn't a woman.

His cock betrayed him, twitching hard against the linen of his trousers.

"We need to focus. I have but a few Ninth Circle Cores with me. I don't suppose that'll be enough to activate the formation outside."

Reluctantly, Tasha pulled herself from her knees, brooding. "No..." Her voice was flat. "I'm using my blood. It should be powerful enough to activate the Formation. We don't have to use major resources—not when we have a renewable one."

Altair believed her, at least for now. He wasn't that knowledgeable about blood laws. That had been Reina's specialty, not his.

"Then I shall be watching," Altair said, glancing at Mark one last time.

"Can I keep him?' she asked in a pitiful voice as if she were talking about a stuffed bear.

"Do what you please," he said, making his way to his bed to rest.

***

"Devils, your Grace, are at the top of the food chain," Tasha said, looking down at the Trow. "When I awaken my sigil, I ought to be able to cast such a formation without prep, just like the angels."

That hadn't explained anything to Altair as he watched Isgar moan in a growing pool of his blood. He was alive, if just barely.

"Stand him up."

Nia and Aurora obeyed his will, pressing him to his knees as a single pillar of blood streamed from his lips. He looked up, unable to connect to his Mana, much less his body.

"Well damn," Altair said, looking At Tasha. " I was expecting a great battle. Not this."

Tasha couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Your Grace, royal devils were originally created to kill and corrupt angels. Killing a Trow is no different than asking a human to crush an ant with his boots. Give a Devil like me time, and we can take down just about anyone. If you like, I will destroy this realm. It'll only take about half the blood in my body, but..."

"That won't be necessary," Altair said hastily before he gave her any strange ideas. He turned to the Trow, fading quickly, and opened his hand as Tasha placed Gram in it.

The moment Isgar saw the Infernal Runes across the blade's spine, carrying his patron's aura, he knew. A bitter smile graced his lips as his consciousness began to slip in and out.

"Tell me. Who sent you after me? Enemies, though, we might be. I needn't tell you what it means to carry Muardral's blade. Give me a name."

"...Shadow...Tower...Gor...Gor...." As death came for him, Isgar relinquished himself to the reaper's embrace.

"Have any of you ever heard of the Shadow Tower?" Altair asked.

No one had.

"Master, we must be getting back," Aurora said. "I—"

Altair waved her off. "If you must go, then go, but do give Father and Uncle my regards. I should be seeing them in a few days. Before I head back to Inka."

"Of course, Your Grace," she said, opening the Dimensional Rift to the Serpents Outreach. Aurora shouted the names of all who needed to return, with Nia and Talia being the main contenders.

"Alyssa and Therion can sta. The rest will need to catch up on all the work they missed. Let's go!"

Waving off his Shadows, Altair glanced at Tasha and smiled. She was still brooding. Shaking his head, he had her wheel him back inside his room for the night.

"Isgars Corpse," Altair said languidly. "Destroy it... danger... even... in...death." muttering a few more words that were incomprehensible, he fell into a deep sleep.

Tasha bowed. "By your will, my Master.