Chapter 15 - Alice Finds a New Father

“We need to get her out of here Melody. She is just a child.” Nina said.

“I’m aware of that but I don’t see how that’s possible Nina.” Melody commented.

“We should get one of these useless men to do something or cause a distraction.” Nina complained.

“Hush Nina. We are already well aware of your dislike of men. Now is not the time to sacrifice people, we must stick together.” Melody commented.

“What-what is that?!” One of the younger men spoke up in fear.

“I sense it too.” Nina trembled.

“I feel like someone just walked over my grave.” Melody commented.

“Look at those two goblins. They look like bad news.” Another man said.

Alice didn’t bother getting his name. She felt it too. A feeling that sent pleasure through her in anticipation. The adults were once again talking nonsense. She did not see two goblins. One looked human and had a shimmer around him.

‘What was it father called it? Glamour? Yes, that was it. The trick was fooling the adults but not me. Silly adults.’ Alice thought.

The adults seemed to start to calm down once the duo went into the big tent.

Melody pulled Alice into a hug. “Don’t worry sweetie. Those two bad goblins are gone now. Nothing to worry about.”

‘This lady clearly does not understand how much I want to play.’ Alice thought as she said. “I’m not scared.”

“Of course, you’re not. There is nothing to be scared of.” Melody said as she held Alice closer.

‘She sounds more like she is trying to convince herself. Why are these adults so weak.’ Alice thought.

Alice was giddy with excitement. She wanted to play.

Twenty or thirty minutes later, Alice wasn’t quite sure the exact time, two goblins and a man stepped out of the large tent. The three of them seemed friendly but Alice was still learning those cues.

“Gather around my Sleeping Willow clan! Hurry up, we do not have all day! Your chief wants to introduce you to our new master!” Jek’jon’s voice boomed across the clearing.

The various goblins began to head toward their chief. Alice did a quick count and found over a hundred goblins before she got bored, and all her attention shifted to the man behind the goblin chief.

“I AM SHADOWALKER, YOUR NEW LIEGE” A dark aura surrounded the man and washed over the clearing.

The goblins and the adults all dropped to their knees and wept. The feeling excited Alice like no other. She saw most of those around her weeping and soiling themselves.

‘Ah yes, I so enjoy it when they are scared so fully, they cannot control their bodily functions. That raw dark power reminds me so much of father. Perhaps he will be my new daddy.’ Alice thought in growing excitement.

“RELEASE THE HUMANS!” The man called Shadowalker commanded as he covered his nose and started casting some magic to make all the puddles disappear.

“Told you he would make over a hundred soil themselves. Pay up.” Gr’ex said as he laughed.

Jek’jon pulled out twenty pieces of silver and passed to Gr’ex. “Fine. You win, here you are.”

Gr’ex took and pocketed ten of the coins before handing the rest to Shadowalker.

“Hey! You cheated!” Jek’jon complained.

Shadowalker turned to Jek’jon. “No, you bet against me in doubting what I was capable of. Consider that a lesson.”

Gr’ex just laughed. “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! You only felt a trickle of his Dark Mantle. Having been on the receiving end I knew what to expect.”

“Dark Mantle?! That’s what that is. No wonder I felt so compelled to serve.” Jek’jon whispered.

Gr’ex clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Yep, I had that exact expression on my face when I found out. You were wise to pledge your clan to him.”

Jek’jon just nodded in agreement.

Shadowalker withdrew his aura as the goblins scrambled to release their human prisoners. He walked over to the slave pens with Gr’ex and Jek’jon by his side.

The moment Alice’s cage was opened she made a beeline for Shadowalker. She jumped up and slammed into him as she wrapped her arms around him. “Are you going to be my new daddy?”

“Uhhh...” Shadowalker stammered in shock as this little adorable girl had a Vice grip around him.

Melody approached cautiously. “Thank you, sir, for freeing us. Please forgive her. It is clear she has been through something terrible.”

Nina came up and peeled Alice off Shadowalker. “Come now, stay with us women. I will take care of you. Men have no idea how to raise a child.”

Anger flared in both Alice and Shadowalker. Alice spoke first, a pout on her face. “My daddy taught me everything I know!”

“I agree with the child! Fathers are critical in a child’s development! I loved being a dad! That kind of bitterness only comes from one who is hurt so I will let it go for now.” Shadowalker clamped down on his anger. Losing his family still hurts. To this day it was a wound that would not fully heal.

“I could kill her. I could use a new undead minion.” Gr’ex commented as he stepped up closer as his hand started to glow.

Melody quickly intervened. “I’m Melody and that’s Nina. She meant nothing by it. She’s just not a big fan of men. Please forgive her. We have all been through so much and all of our nerves are beyond frayed.”

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“That much is to be expected. I can forgive for now, but what I say goes. Stand down Gr’ex.” Shadowalker stated.

Alice liked how her new daddy carried himself. He shut that bad girl down and it is clear the goblins are smart enough to recognize his greatness.

“Sir...” Melody started but was interrupted by Shadowalker. “Call me Shadowalker.”

“Mr... Shadowalker. It appears as if these goblins follow your orders...”

Nina spoke up. “Are you the one who had them round us up and take us as slaves?! Just like a man!”

Alice debated if she could slit this bad lady’s throat and not get any of the blood spattered on her new daddy’s outfit. ‘Good for him to take you weak worthless adults in and feed you.’ Alice thought. She was about to take action when Shadowalker let his voice carry across the clearing so all the humans could hear.

“I only recently have taken over this tribe...”

“Clan.” Gr’ex interrupted.

Shadowalker turned to Gr’ex. “What’s the difference Gr’ex?”

“Well to start...” Gr’ex began to say until Shadowalker cut him off. “Doesn’t matter. Tell me later.” Before he turned his attention back to the humans in the clearing.

“I only recently took command of the goblin clan...” Shadowalker glanced back to Gr’ex who gave him a thumbs up.

Shadowalker continued. “As I was saying, this goblin clan is called the Sleeping Willow clan. They are not the only goblin clan in the area. In fact, if you are familiar with the area a clan known as Bone Marrow has taken over the local town. I am going to work to free this area and lay claim to it.”

“Of course, typical man.” Nina mumbled.

Melody and a few other survivors gave her a dirty look.

“If you are willing to follow my lead and work together, I can bring you back to my compound north of here. We have food and can provide temporary shelter until we deal with the other goblin clan. There is no free lunch. Everyone chips in got it?!” Shadowalker explained.

Everyone nodded along. Some people were still in shock and seemed to just agree to any option that would get them away from the goblins.

“Melody. Can you organize the survivors? I would like to get you all escorted back before nightfall.” Shadowalker asked.

Melody nodded. The older woman seemed reluctant to leave Alice but decided the man seemed to be protective of the little girl and did not want to anger their rescuer. “I’ll make it happen.”

“Thank you, Melody. Come see us in the chief’s tent when you are ready.”

Melody nodded once again before heading off to accomplish her task.

“Gr’ex, Jek’jon. Let’s talk logistics. We will want an escort and we should also do what we can to not alert the Bone Marrow clan. We can discuss in the tent.” Shadowalker said as he went to move only to realize Alice was still attached to him in a vice grip.

Seeing her opportunity to step in, Nina rushed forward. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“I don’t know.” Shadowalker said but Alice spoke up.

“It’s okay new daddy, I’ll go play with the lady while you are busy. I won’t be a bother to my new daddy. I will be helpful.”

Alice let go of Shadowalker but gave him a genuine smile. He ruffled her hair. “You are an adorable little one. Hmm, you kind of remind me of my daughter too. If you will be good and keep yourself entertained, then okay. I will see you later little one.”

“My name is Alice, but you can call me whatever you want.” Alice said.

Shadowalker ruffled her hair again. “Okay Alice. I will see you in a little bit when we are ready to leave.”

Nina took Alice by the hand and led her away. Shadowalker heard her ask the woman. “Do you want to play with me?”

“Cute little girl.” Shadowalker said before turning his attention to the goblins.

A few minutes later Nina was leading Alice further south. She moved quickly and practically dragged her along.

“Where are we going?” Alice asked.

Nina licked her lips. “I want to get us away from those people. I’ll take good care of you, don’t worry Alice. I’ll show you things only another woman can teach you.”

“Do you want to play with me?” Alice asked.

Nina turned to look at the little girl and could no longer hold back her urges to take the innocence of this little girl. Nina could no longer resist her hunger.

“Yes, I want to play with you Alice.” Nina said as she put her hand on the little girl’s stocking.

A blade flashed in Nina’s vision.

“I guess we are far enough away now, but that doesn’t give you the right to touch me.” Alice said with a wicked grin on her face.

Nina looked down as the pain finally registered to see she was missing the hand she had put on Alice’s leg.

“AHHHH!...” Nina began to scream but was silenced quickly as a giant hand big enough to grab her by the head and slammed Nina against a tree.

“Uhghhh...” Nina moaned.

“Yes. See I know they always want to moan with me but not like this I imagine. He, he, he. Meet my imaginary friend. Let’s play a game. It’s called fish. I cut your tendons while my friend collapses your voice box so you can’t scream.”

Alice sighed. “I do love when they scream but I don’t want anyone to interrupt our play time.”

Nina tried to get to her feet but wobbled. A giant hand wrapped around her throat and used its thumb to partially collapse her windpipe. Then in a flash Alice struck and Nina felt excruciating pain in her legs before she lost complete control of them, and they gave out from under her. Nina couldn’t help but twitch.

Alice clapped her hands. “Oh goodie, goodie. You already know how to play this game.”

Nina tried to scream to no avail, all that came out was a wheeze. She began to try to crawl away until she felt more pain in her right leg as Alice drove one of her blades right through the leg and into the ground, pinning her to the ground.

Alice sighed again as she looked at her imaginary friend. “Why do they always try to run just as we are having so much fun?”

Alice crouched down and used her other blade to lift Nina’s head by her chin. “You see, you were mean to my new daddy! I can’t allow that to go unpunished. I wouldn’t be a good girl if I didn’t take care of my new daddy. I’m going to use some extra runes that will add to extend the feelings of pain as I carve the symbols into your flesh.”

Nina was crying and had a look of utter horror on her face.

“Ahhh. That’s better. See, that’s what happens when you are a bad girl. Do not worry I will turn you into one of my minions so you can play with me forever... but first...” Alice began to carve into Nina’s flesh.

———-

Melody entered the chief’s hut. She bowed her head in the trio’s direction. She wasn’t sure why she did that but felt it was right. “Sir Shadowalker, the group of fifty are ready to depart. Some are older so we will have to go slow.”

Shadowalker nodded. “Very well. Let us depart. Jek’jon.”

Jek’jon took that as his cue and began ordering several goblin squads to form up. “Protect our new master at all costs. Your lives are nothing compared to his...”

Shadowalker interrupted. “Okay, hold up. I appreciate the sentiment but come on.”

Jek’jon just looked at him in confusion. The goblin chief turned to his friend for insight. Gr’ex spoke up. “He is pleased and wants you to continue.”

Shadowalker looked at Gr’ex incredulously. Gr’ex smiled. “Just roll with it, trust me, it’s our way.”

Shadowalker shook his head but kept quiet.

Jek’jon took that as his cue to continue. “You see our new master is pleased! Protect him and if you must protect the huemons too, but only if you have to. Make sure no Bone Marrow goblin stumbles upon them.”

“Wait where is Alice?” Melody asked.

“She was with that Nina lady. If she hurt her in any way, I’ll...” Shadowalker began before his words were cut off when he saw Alice skipping into the clearing holding her doll.

Melody ran up to the little girl. “Where is Nina?”

Alice’s smile dropped and was replaced with a frown. “That mean-lady tried to take me away from my new daddy. I told her I didn’t want to go and then I came back here like a good little girl.”

Melody hugged Alice. “I can’t believe she tried to take you. You poor thing.”

Shadowalker bent down. “Good riddance. She seemed like a problem anyway. Did she hurt you at all?”

“No, she pulled me really hard, but I got out of her grip.” Alice answered.

“You want to come live with me and my friends? I’ll do my best keep you safe.” Shadowalker said.

Alice’s face lit up and practical melted Shadowalker’s heart. He ruffled her hair. “You are too cute.”

Melody spoke up. “I can carry you Alice if you are ready to go.”

Alice looked at Melody before opening her arms up towards Shadowalker.

Shadowalker chuckled and said, “Sure I’ll carry you if that’s what you want.”

Alice’s smile got bigger, and she nodded her head before wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Looks like she has chosen who she wants to carry her. I can relieve you if you get tired.” Melody stated.

Shadowalker nodded. “I think I will be fine but thank you for the offer. Let’s get going, we have a lot of ground to cover before dark.”

With that they rejoined the group and started their trek back to the compound.