Taking in the view in front of her, Sera commented in awe.
"The cavern will thrum with life and energy. The crystals embedded in the walls glow brightly, illuminating bustling streets lined with vibrant, flourishing trees and plants.
“The waterfall's soothing cascade fed into clear canals that crisscross the town, providing fresh water and a touch of serene beauty.
“Elegant houses, fully renovated, will stand proudly alongside newly constructed buildings that seamlessly blend ancient architecture with modern comforts.
“The central castle, majestic and imposing, serves as a beacon of strength and unity.
“People moving about with purpose and joy, their laughter and chatter echoing through the cavern. Markets thrive, filled with the rich aromas of spices and the colorful displays of goods.
“No matter how many times I see this, it is breathtaking.”
Elizabeth, who stood beside Sera, had her mouth slightly open, unable to speak.
A few moments later, she looked at the city and then at Sera, whose eyes were sparkling. She glanced back and forth between them.
Finally, she said, “Is it not all rocks, moss, and dilapidated structures? What nonsense are you spouting?”
“I am looking at the city when it has completed its renovation,” Sera replied without taking her eyes off the view.
Listening to her, Elizabeth’s face twitched, and she gave a deep sigh. “Right….I can’t keep up with you.”
Elizabeth started to silently move along the serpentine path toward the castle, with Sera following behind.
Seeing that she is not willing to comment any further, Sera grinned from ear to ear, “What? Don't you find it amazing?”
“I don't think so. I've visited the clans of other demon kin; theirs are much better. Although it is spacious here, it's only rocks and trees, houses and a dilapidated castle,” Elizabeth commented.
“That’s because our matriarchs started developing this place only two centuries ago. It's still incomplete, and the development stopped due to a lack of skilled personnel like artifact makers, formation masters, master craftsmen, and magic architects.
“You should know how hard it is to find people with those skills, especially among demon kin, even with usage of contracts. Those that are available are bloodsuckers—greedy pigs,” Sera complained in frustration.
Reaching the ground, Sera and Elizabeth started to move towards the grand castle at the center passing through the dilapidated structures.
The entire underground town seemed to have been left in the midst of a grand renovation. Scaffolding clung to the sides of buildings, and rotting timbers laid on the ground which were supposed to replace those that had decayed over the centuries.
“There’s a lack of funds too, and we can’t just show this to anyone,” Sera continued. “On the other hand, other clans have inherited their wealth and hideouts from their ancestors, while we are just starting to develop ours now.”
“I just hope that we don’t ever need a reason to use this,” Elizabeth said.
“Well, it is already in use,” Sera smiled.
“Huh? But I don’t see anyone living here,” Elizabeth replied, puzzled.
“This desolate underground town was discovered by our matriarchs during their journeys in their younger days and is currently being developed as a hideout for our hive in case of emergency.
“The heads of all the clans in the hive are collecting treasures, knowledge, and various records the members of their clans find scattered across the kingdom and sending them here for storage.
“Basically, other than the people, our hive’s secrets and treasures are stored here.”
“Not to mention, the grimoire of our race is also safeguarded here,” Sera added.
“They’re still nothing compared to other demonic clans. This place is slowly developing into our roots. But it will take centuries. I may not see its completion in my lifetime. What’s the point of doing this?” Elizabeth expressed her lack of expectations for the endeavor.
“We had to start our hive’s development at some point. We revere our current matriarchs for this very reason—their foresight and planning for the future have brought together all the clans of our race to develop into what it is today,” Sera explained.
“Also, if my sister Eli says it like that, then what about me? I might not even live up to the age of 80,” Sera replied with a wry smile.
“Can’t the matriarchs do something about your dead artifact?” Elizabeth inquired.
“They already attempted to. They sacrificed their precious life force and performed an elaborate ritual to destroy the artifact, but it proved futile. It did not even leave a scratch on it.
“I wonder how powerful the artifact I inherited was when it was intact, that even the matriarchs couldn’t damage it, even though it’s long broken,” Sera shook her head.
“I feel bad that they had to expend their vitality in vain for my sake.”
“It’s unfortunate that I’m unable to contribute to the hive’s development due to my limitations. I hope that my proposal will aid in the hive’s advancement. It will be my way of giving back for all they’ve done for me.”
“Oh! Are you one of those heroes who work for the sake of others?” Elizabeth asked teasingly.
“Haha, I just don’t want to be indebted to anyone.”
“Haha, I thought so too. So, what exactly are you proposing?”
“Huhu,” Sera chuckled.
“Hey, why the secrecy? Tell me.”
“Nope, it will be a surprise.”
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
“You are leaving me hanging after arousing me. You are too devious.”
“Hahaha”
The duo soon reached the castle while bantering with each other.
Their light-hearted banter faded into a contemplative silence. The castle loomed before them, a shadowy silhouette against the dimly lit underground expanse. The structure, once grand and imposing, now stood in a state of disrepair. Its stone walls were cracked and weathered, draped with creeping vines and moss that seemed to obscure its former glory. Dark, empty windows staring out like hollow eyes, while the once-majestic turrets were now reduced to crumbling stubs.
The entrance they approached was an archway, barely discernible in the gloom. As they stepped through, they were greeted by an oppressive darkness, the air thick with the musty scent of age and neglect. The interior was dimly illuminated by sporadic, flickering torches and gems that cast eerie shadows dancing across the walls. The stone floors, covered in a thick layer of dust, echoed with each step they took. The grand halls, with their high, vaulted ceilings and faded tapestries, felt both majestic and forlorn, as though the castle itself mourned its lost splendor.
They made their way through the labyrinthine corridors, until they arrived at the assembly hall.
The hall was a vast, cavernous space, its high ceiling supported by ancient, towering columns. The atmosphere was heavy with the murmur of voices, as various clans gathered in earnest discussion. The hall was dimly lit, with only a few braziers offering weak, flickering light that struggled against the encroaching darkness. The room was filled with an air of tense anticipation and the palpable sense of history, as the clans deliberated on matters of great importance.
As Sera and Elizabeth approached the entrance of the assembly hall, they noticed a solitary maid who stood watch with her eyes closed.
She was clad in the maid’s dress code of the hive. Though she appeared to be in her sixties, with a face lined by years of experience and toil, her posture remained upright and her presence exuded an air of quiet strength.
“Hello, Chief Maid” Sera greeted as they drew near.
The chief maid responded with a warm and gentle smile. She is the wet nurse who would take care of Sera at ravencrest.
Despite her advanced years, she moved with a surprising grace and strength. With a practiced motion, she approached the large, imposing door that led into the assembly hall.
It was a door that seemed too heavy and solid for someone of her age and stature to handle, yet she pushed it open effortlessly and gestured for them to enter.
----------------------------------------
Copyright © [August] [2024] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
The assembly hall, hewn entirely from stone, exuded an air of ancient grandeur. It was a vast, cavernous space dominated by a tall elevation at the far end. There, seated with a commanding view of the entire hall, were the five matriarchs of the hive. Their presence was imposing, and authoritative.
Below the elevation, on either side of the hall, 10 wide stone chairs were arranged in orderly rows. Of which 17 are occupied while 3 remain vacant.
The majority of those gathered were women, who made up nearly 80% of the assembly, while the remaining 20% were men.
The gathering represented 69 clans within the hive each having approximately 100 families under them.
Among these, 17 were main clans. Heads of these families occupied the stone chairs, with only two clans led by men. The rest were presided over by formidable and exotic women.
The family heads sat with their spouses or children beside and behind them.
Rest of the 69 clan representatives and their people remained standing, filling up the entire hall.
Despite the dim, reddish lighting that bathed the hall in an eerie glow, the vibrancy of the gathering was palpable. The scent of women and flowers permeated the air, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Everyone present, both men and women, were strikingly attractive, their revealing attire showcasing their beauty and adding to the hall's sensual allure.
For any man or woman, this scene might have seemed like an erotic and exotic paradisiacal vision.
The hall, though moderately lit, was dominated by shadows, with flickering torches casting reddish hues that added to the eerie ambiance. Discussions filled the air, with voices echoing off the stone walls, creating a hum of deliberation and debate.
As soon as Seraphina and Elizabeth entered the castle, silence descended at once. The buzz of conversations ceased, and all eyes turned toward the newcomers.
Walking through the hall, under the scrutinizing gazes of the assembly, Seraphina held her head high. Elizabeth followed closely.
At the front, near the altar on the right side, Ravenna, Seraphina's mother, was seated. Ravenna’s presence was imposing, her bearing regal and authoritative.
To her left stood 2 of her wives, Selene, who seemed to be in her late teens, a cold beauty, with porcelain skin and long, flowing icy blue hair that cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Her eyes were a striking shade of icy blue, framed by long, dark lashes that accentuated her delicate features. Her slender form was draped in a dress of deep blue that shimmered with every movement, enhancing her elegance.
Beside Selene stood Lyra, another wife of Ravenna, who also appeared to be in her late teens. Lyra’s appearance was in stark contrast to Selene’s. She had a vibrant, fiery aura, with auburn hair that curled softly around her face and fell in loose waves to her shoulders. Her eyes were a warm, golden brown, sparkling with intelligence and mischief. Lyra's dress was a rich, emerald green, complementing her sun-kissed skin and highlighting her youthful, lively spirit.
To Ravenna’s right stood her other wives, Aiden, Isolde, and Lila, silently observing the proceedings.
“Why is she here?” Ravenna muttered to herself.
Once they were near the altar at a respectful distance, Elizabeth announced, “Matriarchs, I have brought Seraphina Obscurtus under your orders.”
“Stand aside,” replied a hoarse and ancient voice from among the old women.
Elizabeth moved to one of the seats on the left side of the altar, where her clan head and her father, one of the only two men among the clan heads of the 17 major clans who led the clans in the gathering, was seated and stood beside him.
Her father, Lord Theudas, seemed to be in his late teens, yet he exuded an aura of maturity and wisdom beyond his years. He was exceptionally handsome and charismatic, with chiseled features, piercing gray eyes, and gray hair. His presence is reassuring. Behind him stood his wives.
“Matriarchs, Seraphina Obscurtus is here following your summons.” Seraphina gracefully bowed, lifting her gown slightly in a gesture of respect.
Above the altar sat five old ancient witches, seemingly in their 90s. Their hair is entirely silver and appears like metallic wires, their skin wrinkled and sagging, and they wore luxurious gowns that clung to their withered and hunchback forms. Saliva drips out of their mouths from time to time.
Despite their opulent attire, they exuded an unsettling aura. The old matriarchs bore grotesque appearances, their sunken eyes and sharp features twisted into expressions that might cause disgust to well up in anyone who laid eyes on them. Their presence was so eerie and foreboding that they could easily make children cry in fear.
Though it seemed as if they might kick the bucket at any moment, their hoarse voices retained a surprising strength, and their eyes still held a flicker of life. These five sisters, known collectively as the Shadow Flames, were:
1. Hecate Shadowflame.
2. Delilah Shadowflame.
3. Salome Shadowflame.
4. Circe Shadowflame.
5. Jezebel Shadowflame.
In the dimly lit assembly hall, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Everyone present was silently listening to the conversation between the matriarchs and Seraphina, their attention unwavering. The stone walls of the hall seemed to absorb the murmurs and whispers, creating an almost oppressive silence that amplified every word exchanged.
“Seraphina Obscuritus,” Hecate, the eldest of the five sisters who sat at the center, stated in a commanding voice.
“We heard that you refused to go through your adulthood initiation ceremony.”
“Yes,” Seraphina responded.
“Why?”
“I did not feel like it.” Seraphina replied sincerely, despite the seemingly rude wording.
“Is it about feelings?” The members around began to murmur.
“It is such a joyous ceremony, why would she refuse it?”
“Hmmm,” Delilah, seated to Hecate's right, interjected. “We received a request from two of your mothers to enlist you to become the hive's breeding sow.”
“What...” The shock rippled through the assembly.
“Really, they requested Sera to be one?”
Instantly, a buzz of whispers filled the hall, the stone walls amplifying the noise.
Ravenna, seated in her place, furrowed her brows and turned to her left to look at her wives standing beside her.
“Silence!” Jezebel, seated to the far left, barked, her voice cutting through the din like a whip. The hall fell silent again, all eyes on the matriarchs.
Sera calmly turned to look at the two women who stood beside Ravenna who were also seriously staring back at Sera while ignoring Ravenna’s gaze.
“Breeding sow? Mother, what is a breeding sow?” asked Elizabeth to one of her mothers, who stood beside Theudas.
“A breeding sow is a special status in the hive.
“As the name suggests, their sole job is to get f*cked by all the hive members, men, women, family heads, maids and whoever wishes to f*ck her, and whoever she wishes to f*ck in order to get pregnant and give birth to children.
“No one is allowed to refuse their invitation to sex. And they will not refuse anyone’s invitation either.”
“…” Elizabeth looked shocked hearing her mothers explanation.
“Of course, not everyone is given this status.” Theudas interjected.
“As you already know, it is very hard for the women of our race to get pregnant. And our bloodline purity is getting thin. Thus only those with high bloodline purity are qualified for this job.”
“That’s, that’s ….”
----------------------------------------
Copyright © [August] [2024] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher at [[email protected]].