Mimi

I finally made it to my new home. There was a minor annoyance when trying to leave the inner walls, and walk out. The main issue being that I did not have an escort. That was sorted out after explaining how the law was there to keep monsters from running around inside the city. Followed by the logic that as a monster not being escorted, it would be better for me to be outside the city. They couldn't exactly argue against that, but it was satisfying to hear the group trailing behind me talking to the guards as well. They said nothing important to each other, but without buildings to move about, it was much more clear they were following me. They used magic to conceal themselves from other observers, but to me it was a beacon in the night.

Now I stood here, looking at the large plain building. The walls were made of some kind of gray stone, arranged in a sort of hexagon versus a box. The top of the thing was a half dome, and none of it held any windows. The entire thing stood about 4.6 meters high (15ft), and clearly had magic on the inside. The temperature drop from inside the walls, to outside was noticeable. I felt a little chilled, and the building appeared to have warming crystals inside it. It was not cold enough to be a problem for my hive, but it was bothering the younger minds that never felt the cold before.

I walked around to the back of the building, to find a smaller building with raw materials inside of it. The memories I held, told me this was a shed. I enjoyed that they left me with stone and wood to use in my home. I looked at it, to find the frames lined with black curtains. After placing the wagon by the frame, I walked through the curtains. As I parted them, I felt magic running through the fabric. Taking a second to look at the curtains, I couldn't figure out what they did. Both were clearly connected through the roof some how, so it was likely they both did the same thing. My hive started to filter in behind me, with workers carrying what they could.

The space inside the house was rather wide, with everything open. One wall held a kitchen, another what I felt was a sleeping area, and the rest blank. There was one wall where other walls came out, and made a sort of box. I poked my head inside to find it was a bathroom, complete with a tub for bathing. The inside of this new home was comfortably warm, and I was able to turn a lever for water. It truly amazed me how versatile these magic crystals were. With the place checked out, I moved to a wall and tapped on it. Using my ears allowed me to see which parts were hollow. After finding a suitable spot, I bore a few holes along the walls for my hive to set up inside the walls. It would make me feel anxious if they were out in the open.

Walking to another empty space, I started tapping on the floor with my heel. I wanted to see if there was a good spot to potentially make a basement. Sadly as I tapped my heel, I found myself falling through the floor. It surprised me, but I picked myself up to find a tunnel. The tunnel continued under the floor, all the way into a hollowed out tree. The extra space was appreciated, and I now had a good way to escape if something were to happen inside my house. Sadly I couldn't use it for moving in and out, as I would have to break through the tree to properly use the tunnel. It was a good place for my hive to set a nest in the tree, and branch off to the others to gather what we need.

I moved back into my new home, a little annoyed about breaking the floor, but that was more due to bad luck than design. I took a breath to calm myself, since there was more to do and getting frustrated would only make me feel more tired. The priority was to move all of the hive off the wagon, and into the walls. Then they were to; slowly spread out, repair the floor, move along the tunnel, and colonize the tree properly. A busy hive is a happy hive after all. I grabbed most of the hive still covered by the sheets, and placed them near the spot where I bored into the wall. The rest of the move would take them maybe twenty minutes before the entire hive was no longer on the wagon.

I walked through the curtains again, to find the sun starting to peek over the outer walls. There was still a bit more to do before I could rest. Looking around, I saw so many trees that could bear fruit. There were already a few people in the distance starting to pick them, and I could hear the hollow ring of shackles. I could feel Entomancers nearby guiding bugs to the flowers on the trees, the sweet scent of nectar filling the air. It almost felt like the early days of Spring.

I enjoyed the simple feeling of my favorite season, and moved through the trees. I needed a way to get through the walls without being attacked. The groups following me, were still watching from afar, likely to see how I move between the walls. I took a moment to look at the shed, and an idea formed. Grabbing a few wooden boards, I moved towards the empty space between the wall and the trees. I could feel the one group doing that same backwards magic. The other three started to move towards the gate, as they realized what I was doing.

Stacking the boards against the wall I made a dark enough space to merge with the shadows. The sensation was like falling through water, before emerging on the other side. There were no colors, only dark pathways from where the shadows were cast. It was on instinct that I started to sniff the ambient air, only to find my nose could only detect the faint scent of death. I began to walk along these dark paths, understanding that the white was how I left. I could watch shadows flicker just beyond the long dark line of the wall. Torches moved by the guards inside. I chose the direction towards the gate, and merely walked along the door frame where the shadows created a bridge. Once on the other side, I walked back to where I started, but on the other side. The rising sun cast a long shadow to the buildings built along the wall.

The fact that my bugs could not enter the shadows was one of the reasons I left without an escort. I also really needed them to finish moving the hive before I slept. I was pleased with how easy it was to move between spaces with Edna's ability. The entire area of the shadow cast by the wall was now an area I could move around freely. There were rectangular patches of white that flickered or moved, signifying people waking up in their homes. There were no details, and I could only guess at where the alleys were. It would be impossible to track someone, unless I was hiding in their specific shadow before hand. That, or by using scent to simply follow them. I could see a few figures in the distance, which meant I wasn't the only one using this method to move along the city.

I found a spot, where I believed an alley was. Taking a deep breath, I slowly poked my head out, to find I was in such. There did not seem to be any people around. I took a few seconds to poke at a wall, finding I would merely have bumped my head if I tried to rise from there. I was able to lift some garbage, but it was significantly harder than it should have been. It was likely that I could throw things to force my rise from the shadows, but it required a good deal of my strength to actually achieve.

I stepped quietly into the alley, and looked around. The groups were fanning around to look for me, so I climbed the closest building to wave at them. They wore helmets, and had emblems that did signify them as elites in training from what I understood. One of the waved back, as I moved back into the alley. It was better for me to not lose them, since their job is to follow me. They were not spying on me, but likely just reporting my movements. They were supposed to protect me if something happened. Now I understood the why of it, this was a training exercise for them. This helped to settle my nerves and parania a great deal.

I moved between the alleys, as people started to filter onto the streets. The elites in training following me, as I moved from alley to roof, to alley and back as needed. Soon I found the safe house. I moved through the alley on the otherwise unremarkable street. A single door hidden behind an illusion. I didn't need the Raven's beak pointing towards, to show me the magic that lit it up so well. I wondered briefly how many other safe houses followed this trick. I allowed the elites in training to watch as I moved through the illusion, and with some backwards magic they understood to stay outside. I realized the magic that specific one was using, had to do with precognition or seeing bits of the future. They were sending messages to their past selves this way.

It didn't matter, as I entered the dimly lit room. The safe house was just large enough for a couple beds, a bathroom, and a closet with some dried food stored in it. I could see there was a large bucket with a crystal purifier to keep the water fresh and clean. Robert gasped as I entered, but turned back to hold his wife's hand. She was a sickly looking girl with scars on her arms. One of her fingers were missing, and it was clear she had been suffering from the skull shakes for months now.

Robert gently cradled the woman's hand, her body more skin and bones than anything else. I was surprised she even had the strength to shudder even in her sleep. I had to slouch in the room, but Robert knew better than to say anything. I briefly looked at the almost empty coin pouch on the night stand, and realized he added a few silvers to it. Clearly he had been saving up before meeting me. "How long has she been like this?"

Robert looked at the woman's face, swallowing hard. "Two seasons now, I-I brought all the coin I saved, everything. Please... if you can just heal her then you'll never see me again. I swear."

I 'gently' grabbed Robert's shoulder, as he shook his head. I forced him to turn towards me, "Look at me Robert." He shook his head half crying, forcing me to grab him by the chin. His shoulder starting to bruise, "I said look at me." My voice was low and level, letting him know my displeasure. "We made an agreement, a life for a life. The coin you brought means nothing to me, it is currency I can get however I feel. You will serve me willingly, or I will leave your wife here to rot."

"B-but, I don't want to do this anymore." He was trying hard not to keep eye contact, to look anywhere but at me. I shook him a little, leaning closer to force him to look into my eyes. He closed his tight, "What terrible things will you have me do?" He was sniveling.

"We are starting a gang here Robert, you will be leading it on the front, while I guide you from the shadows. We will be known as the Wraiths. Your job will be to find me others like you. Those with family suffering disease, that are slowly dying or rotting from the inside. You will offer them the same deal I have given you. A life for a life Robert. You will bring them here after midnight, and you will provide them with food and drink until I get here. You know people, you know what they have done. Bring me people that will serve me, just like you."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Robert swallowed hard, "W-what's your goal? Why do you want people serving you?"

I smiled fully at him, my jaw unhinging to make it more unnatural. His eyes went wide, as I unfurled my wings. "I am a monster that eats other monsters Robert." He started shaking like a leaf again, but managed to keep his trousers from being stained again. I ran one of my lower hands over his chest, while the other held him by the back of his head. "Let me make this perfectly clear to you, I have eaten people before Robert. They taste bland, and boring. The Guard wants me to control the monster population, but it will only be a matter of time before they try to kill me. Think about it Robert, everything has a predator. Beasts fall before people, people fall before monsters, but what of the monsters?"

He took a shuddering breath, "T-there's a few monsters that eat other monsters."

I nodded a little, "Yes, there are. They shall all fall before me. We both stand to gain from this relationship Robert. To put it another way, I want you to serve me so things become easier in the future. You," I tapped his chest at this, "need me to save your wife. With how she is right now, she won't make it through the season. Do you really think you can gather enough coin without any help? You sold out your group Robert. How suspicious does that make you, to be the only one walking around. It'll be worse once they get out of jail. They'll see you scrambling around trying to make coin. You even had their coin purse when you bought your way back into the Underground. You will die without me Robert, then your wife will die."

Robert finally stopped shaking, as he considered what I told him. Then he laughed a little, as I pulled away. "You... you planned this from the start didn't you? You knew I needed coin to go back down, that's why you tossed the boss' pouch at me. It... it was marked wasn't it?" It really wasn't, but he didn't need to know that. I merely nodded. He watched me, then looked down at me feet. "I... I could tell the Guard you are a monster."

"The Guard that already know, and have Elites trailing me even now? You could run out of the room screaming, but they have been following me all night. They might ask you about me when you leave this room. I wasn't joking about hanging you by your wife's intestines if you betray me Robert. The elite will slow me down, but I only need to break through them and leave this place. Then your wife will die painfully since I will make sure she can feel every bit of it. You might kick and claw to save yourself, but that would just hurt your wife more. Having eaten your kind before, I know just how much you can take." I reached for his shoulder, showing him the bruise I left.

He nodded slowly, "I... I was wrong before. You're not as terrifying as the Raven, you're much worse. The Raven moved with a kind of passion that touched others... you... You move with a sort of sick logic that terrifies me in ways he never could. The Raven hated it deep down when he hurt others, what about you?" He couldn't look at me anymore.

I pressed two of my hands together, "I have things that are important to me. Just as you love your wife Robert, I love my hive. Just as you were willing to let a noble elf be raped and sold into slavery, I am willing to kill. I truly would prefer to be nice, but as long as there is a threat I must make moves accordingly to respond. You people have the illusion that your morals will save you. Truth is, they will not as you well know. If someone tries to befriend me, I will do the same in return. If they move against me, I will crush them and potentially make an example out of them. Regardless I will make plans for the future."

Robert swallowed hard one last time, "W-what about those under you? Will you protect my wife, and myself?"

I tilted my head towards him as if he asked the dumbest question. "My hive serves me Robert. I have other people already working under me." Richard and Wyatt technically count, and I wasn't sure about Oswald. "To me, those same people will be protected, and I will potentially die for them if it means the overall health of my hive is ensured. I am growing tired of this banter however, make your decision."

Robert looked me up and down, before looking at his wife. "Why the Wraiths? What's our motto?"

I let out a soft sigh, "We are ghosts Robert. We are not to be seen, and we are not to be found. We move without touching anything, but the only thing people find to show that we passed are the bodies. In this case, mostly monsters." I regretted not bringing the coin with me, having left it on the wagon instead. "All our coin will be shared, and if you need some you only need to ask and explain why you need it. This is why I need people that will be loyal. People that can be trusted. I know this will be hard to find in the Underground, but not impossible. How loyal will you be, after I save your wife Robert?"

He looked back at me, his eyes filled with determination for the first time. "You want us both to work for you, don't you? I will be loyal, as long as you keep my wife safe. If she gets into trouble, I want you to save her. I know I'm useless in a fight because I can't use magic. I know I don't have a talent worth a damn, but if you can promise me that I will do what you want."

I smiled at him without unhinging my jaw, becoming less monstrous to him. "I accept your terms Robert, keep her here for a few days and spend time catching her up. I will have a part of my hive filter into your home as you move back and forth. Your first task is to leave this room and explain to the Elite that I am a true daughter of Bo'chi. You are converting on the spot because I have saved your wife." I flicked my ears, able to hear the elite in training creeping closer. "After that, you will run with this coin to buy all the food for your wife that you can. She will be starving because of how I will heal her. The rations in here, will not be enough. Do this for me, and I will have her in perfect health."

Robert nodded, grabbing the coin purse, "Heal her first." I grabbed the dried food from the closet, and stung the woman.

She gasped, her body spasming because it didn't have much to work with energy wise. I forced food down her throat, torn into tiny pieces by my lower arms. I grabbed the bucket, and gave her a few seconds to drink. Her body kicked into overdrive as she looked around in a very confused fashion. She was no longer shaking, and managed a soft smile at Robert. "Fucking damn Robert, thought for sure you'd just leave me in a ditch somewhere."

Robert grinned, as tears started rolling down his face. He slammed the door open, "BO'CHI IS THE WAY!" The coin purse clenched tightly in his fist. One of the elites in training jumped back, but stopped Robert to ask him some questions. The door was closed, as the woman turned to look at me.

I could hear the elites in training trying to calm Robert down, as he lied to them about the miracle I just performed. I could respect that on some level he just needed the euphoria to really sell it. He was a smart man, so I didn't have to worry about him telling them anything important right now. Especially since I was alone with his wife right now. The woman coughed a little, as I handed her some more rations. "So... what's all this about love?" Her voice was soothing and welcoming. Clearly meant for a certain kind of job. Judging by her assets, it was likely she was a whore in one of the brothels. Her curly hair matted from being in the bed so much, but Robert clearly took care of it.

I looked at her holding more food for the still famished woman. "Just eat, Robert will be back with more food, then we can work on getting your strength back. I'll have to answer some questions soon myself more than likely. Just know that you are safe, and incredibly lucky." I would need to look into the skull shakes more, to really understand it. Robert himself finally broke away, to complete his task. The group outside hesitated for a moment, before leaving me alone.

Even through the door, I could sense that same backwards magic. This meant they probably already knew what might happen if they entered, and the responses I would give. I kept my attention focused on the door, before being tapped on the shoulder by the woman. "Excuse me, miss?" She gestured at me, when I turned towards her.

"Alice." I saw her smiling back at me warmly, welcoming me.

She smiled, "My name is Eris, it is a pleasure to meet you love. What exactly is going on? I understand that you healed me, and that Robert said something about the new church for monsters?"

"I said earlier, that your husband will explain it all to you. I am your employer for the foreseeable future, and you are under my protection. Robert is pretending to be the boss, and will be working as a bouncer while you ply your trade. You'll be here resting for a few days, before going to the underground. Now please just eat." I could feel my body growing more tired, and knowing I would need to explain the same things to Robert just wasted time."

Thankfully Eris knew to be quiet, and ate her meal. Robert entered through the door with a literal sack of fresh food. I stung Eris one more time, so she could get a more healthy figure, and some proper meat on her bones. Robert was especially happy about this, and agreed with my plan. The plan was simple enough; Robert would find people in the underground during the day for the next few days. Eris would ply her trade at night for coin, while Robert would provide her protection and a means to escape. I would have a new hive established in the safe house, that would protect them and slowly migrate on Robert to the Underground. Robert himself was to appear as the boss and mastermind behind everything, while I was the tamed monster that would allow his gang to grow.

The smaller details were figured out, and it was decided; that the best course of action was to keep Robert operating on the top, while slowly using the people he brought into the gang for information and moving along the Underground. Robert was only to bring two pairs into the gang a day at most, and we only needed twenty going forward. Our goal was to leave as little a footprint as possible, while slowly tapping into sources of coin. There was no rush on who we got, but I made certain Robert understood I wanted loyalty above all else. I did not care for the magic, or the talents they might possess. It was just easier to control weaker people, and the hive would do most of the fighting if needed. After all, why not let people believe Mal was making a move and starting a new gang through Robert?

With everything handled, I finally made it back to my home. The sun was high enough for breakfast with Richard and Oswald, but my body really needed actual rest. I let it collapse on the floor, while filtering into the hive. With my many other bodies, I started to clean every inch of my main body. Only moving some of my control over to make the body move as needed. It was the most relaxing thing I did since coming to Eclipse. I was the workers, the breeders, the warriors, and moving through all my other kin to potentially awaken their personalities.

My body would be complete unconscious for the next four hours or so. During that time, I was better able to refine the bodies of the future generations for the coming days. For the first time since coming to Eclipse, I could pick and chose how my castes would change, instead of making new bodies for specific individuals. I could finally just focus on the hive for a brief few hours. I took stock of the Hearty termites, and observed the white ones. Bringing a few out of the hive, I injured one of the workers I was controlling and watched as the wounds were healed. I used part of my body to confirm this was magic.

There was something in the White termite that allowed all of their offspring the ability to heal. Which meant it would be possible to replicate that in a new caste going forward. It was quite possible that magic could be gained through genetic traits, while also branching off into new mutations. The fact that most of my hive had the potential to do mind magic meant that such was gained through Alice and Mimi. The fact that only the newer generations had this potential, meant that ability came from these white termites. I doubted that the termites in question could do fire magic of any kind. Which meant that I ate something somewhere that allowed this to happen. Yet, none of my newer generations could heal.

Questions flowed through my mind, as I set about ordering the Breeders to produce more. We had enough food stored to run tests until my body was fully rested. The sense of nostalgia washing over me, as I remembered doing this exact same thing so long ago. It was automatic to a point, that new useful castes were created, but offspring would not be sacrificed for the sake of studying. Now, I had to temper the previous system. I needed to make it work so that new traits would wash over one caste at a time, instead of the entire hive. So much to do, but at least my body was finally resting properly.