"Any shot I could turn down the meal?"

Ignore Alice's sadness I look to Piero, trying to gauge his attitude a bit better. In response, he flashes yet another playfully smile. Alice, somewhat confused decides to ignore me and walk towards Piero. Hmmm.There no doors anywhere on the walls around us?

The kids continue to play until he signals to follow along. Calmly they line up, all but Alice moving behind Piero. After doing a headcount another door appears. Just as old and mottled as the last it opens to reveal I large dining room.

"We have a guest so be on your best behavior. If I see even one of you bite the other meal privileges will be lost for the next two cycles."

Ignoring the kids clear yet silent protest Piero walks through the door, Alice to his right with a smug grin on her face. Even as the kids walk forward some still try to come to me. They don't have ears? I can't see much because of their good but at least they don't have human ears. Foxes huh...

"Hurry kids we don't want to end this cycle in the dining room right?"

Hearing Piero some of the kids go wide-eyed. Those that were interested in me immediately run to the nearest seat. Following along I take a seat nearest to what might be the kitchen. The chairs are small yet comfortable. Despite my size, it and the medium sized round table in front of me are sturdy enough to hold my weight.

Seeing everything in order Piero moves to the kitchen, making sure to close the door tightly. I dont see much of it but what I do see is surprisingly modern. The burning coals under a metal rack, the glow stones and lumoss lighting the area are placed neatly, and there's what looks like a gas stove. I'd like to see more but it feels too dangerous to look anymore right now.

"So mister Gerald are you here to kill dad too?"

Well now that's something you wouldn't expect to come from such an innocent face. I wonder how old this thing is? Cycles...maybe she appears and disappears? She's too different from the rest. The other kids, beyond the silence don't feel real in a tangible sense. I'll wait until one of them gets curious before testing anything.

"Hellooooo! Are you?"

Poking my leg she looks at me with a bit of annoyance. Small. Now that I take a closer look she reminds me of a doll. Her glassy eyes and silky golden hair accentuate her smooth pale white skin. Despite my curiosity I can't see anything beyond her face between the thick mittens, heavy blue and black coat, matching pants, and fluffy boots hiding most of her. She could pass as eleven but I could be wrong.

"Misterrrr!!!"

"Ah, sorry bout that lassie. I don't really feel like it. Can ya tell me why ya think that?"

"Because everyone else always tries to kill dad. Sometimes he'll let them read but then they get really angry and try to kill him. Oh! Do I need to read for you too? But then I can't play with the others. Umm. Can you read?"

Now that I think about it we've been communicating smoothly. At least verbally. I wonder if they speak the same language or there's some magic at work. Well find out when I see the library. Anger....maybe some kind of blasphemous text?

"You were quiet too long so the answer is no you can't read! Anyways what's it like out there? Any fun summer stories? What flavor snow do you like? What about the trees? I heard they're super big?"

By god it's like dealing with those church kids all over again. The bright eyes! The hopeful voice! The gathering of curios demons!

Stretching my arms out wide I put on a goofy grin. With exaggerated movements I look around, accidentally smacking Alice's face with my beard. She looks a little annoyed before moving into looking interested.

"Why the trees out there can fit ten men, about seven of me, and three mighty beast! Almost as tall as the sky they are. Real hard too. I remember even after decades of training my fist with em not even a scratch was left on the bark! Mighty oaks! Soft birches! Ancient yew! Trees of stone and sand with even trees made of starlight!"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Shuffle Shuffle

Hmm? More have started to gather? Fine with me! The more the merrier. As the kids look on with clear interest I see them try to speak. I can't hear them but Alice clearly can.

"He wants to know what the trees taste like."

"Well we can't eat the trees if we can't cut em can we? The fruits on the other hand. The hard shells of the packed dunes contain a sweet juice while the think membranes of the starlight pillars contain a spicy pulp. What fruits and trees do you have here kids?"

Again Stillness. All together they look to Alice, they're previously lively eyes now dulled. Their bodies become transparent for a split second before returning to their previous liveliness. Alice, as if nothing happened looks on with a smile.

"Dinner is ready! Sit down and get ready!"

Immediately the children pun back to their seats, the pitter patter of their small boots returning a small amount of energy to the room. Alice, before returning to her seat looks to me and stretches her arms wide while silently mouthing, small.

Before I can respond the door loudly opens, Piero following with several shining red plates floating behind him. With every step closer the kids visibly get more excited. With a now emotionless face he walks towards me, only two plates accompanying his side as he sits. The plates are pretty big, enough to feed me a filling enough meal.

"I'm quite proud of my cooking. Don't worry you won't get trapped or anything and if you do? Well, I wonder how you would escape. I'm curious. Ah, I'm sorry making meals for the foxes and Alice is always tiring. Ignore my sour mood and enjoy."

The food, at the very least doesn't look that bad. There's nothing but meat though. Sausages andddd liver maybe? Some kind of organs. They're too small to be human. That might be part of a heart? I wonder what the meats from.

Piero, looking somewhat tired looks at me with clear curiosity. His meal is the same as mine. With a bored expression he rest his head against a hand while using his claws as utensils. Ah, the kids don't have any either! Hmmm, I don't see any claws on them though. Just a bunch of fat fingered messes being made. Wow that kid just swallowed 5 sausages at once!

Wait. Alice has utensils. Somethings not right with her, that much is obvious but what's happening? I think I'll take up her offer to read for me.

"Gerald. The foods getting cold."

Shit. I really do have to eat it don't I? First I look at the hole in my leather armor, then the food, then the armor again. Yup, if I'm dead I might well go down with grace. Hmm? Just as I make up my a blood read fork and knife appear next to the plate.

"Can't believe it took you so long to think of me Piero. What happened to manners?"

"Forgive me. My head is a bit hazy so I may have been a tad forgetful. Now come! Enjoy the meal. I made it from one of the many beast beyond the walls."

As he talks I start with the sausages.

Crunch

The skin...it's perfect! Firm yet breaks easily, exposing the tender meat before blending it's strong flavor with an even more flagrant meal! What about the heart? It's chewy yet soft. Some spots are juicer than others yet it's amazing as a whole. With fork and knife in hand I enjoy one of the best meals of my life. While not quite as good as the churches many meals it comes to a solid third! Wait. Beast beyond the wall?

"Shhh. Don't speak with your mouth full. Even guest's must maintain proper manners."

I can't speak. Even when clearly weakened he's absolute. So the meal passes. Children makes a mess and try to make noises only to leave the clanking of cutlery. The sound of food being chewed comes from only three.

Just as we finish the plates and cutlery begin to float back into the kitchen, the door opening and closing on its own. Some of the children rub their bellies while others move to Piero. Even without words I know when a kids asking for me. Hmm. They're much healthier than Alice? Some of them are even fat.

I let out a slight glare at Piero. Ignoring me he opens yet another magic door, this time leading back into the garden. The children somewhat tired gather at the benches inside the gazebo. Some sit on the while the floor while others lean against the statue. Those that managed to land a spot on the benches smugly look at the rest.

Then they talk. Still no words but even so I can see the peace. Some drool while others point at the others stomach. Maybe their arguing? Even so that same innocent smile doesn't leave their face. Slowly they calm down, their bodies becoming more and more ethereal as they grow stiller.

"And so ends yet another cycle. Would you be so kind as to stay Alice dear? I wish to rest in the garden. Be careful when dealing with her Gerard. Id rather not have to kill you just yet."

As he sits, he rest his head against one of the supporting pillars. His skin is even paler, his eyes a bit duller. With both hands he opens and closes his pocket watch. As his eyes shut right the children start to float. Their hoods fall and their bodies shrink, revealing golden puffy fox ears.

"Come on mister. You were supposed to see the library right?"

Whoosh!

A strong wind hits, knocking down her hood. Her hair is a messy gold, a pair of human ears hidden behind her long locks. Her neck, at least what might be a neck is similar to a dolls. A clear ball like joint connects her head to her neck and her head to her chest.

"Are you okay mister?"

....what in the hell is is this spire?