Chapter 24 - PB&B

Poison Springs

Eris

I thought I could handle this.

And perhaps the situation at the “Gas Station,” hadn’t helped. Perhaps it had given me false confidence in my ability to—to flirt. Once was not difficult.

Yet maintaining it proved more challenging.

Especially while traversing this Screaming Bamboo Forest of Madness. The one designed to erode my perfect concentration like the drip, drip, drip of acid on stone. A slow, excruciating death by a million impossible questions.

Like why build this insane highway out of what was very clearly monkey crap? The many, many corpses made that obvious. Yet how many would it have taken to build it? Judging from the contents of their stomach, more than 100,000, surely? Except there weren’t enough corpses, were there? I had only counted… 10,929 impaled on the spike tubes along either side of the highway for some unknown but likely horrible reason. So, where were the rest? Why were entire villages vacant and missing their furry occupants?

Also, why was the Hollow – this Nyx – always playing with feces?

Once was unfortunate, twice was concerning, and the third time… well, that was a pattern. Perhaps he had a shit spirit? I had never seen one, but it seemed possible.

Although, that did nothing to explain why his highway looped back on itself for no conceivable reason. Which was fine because there were signs, right? The ones installed at the eight-way intersections? Because who wouldn’t want to see the thickest bamboo tube in the forest? Or the slipperiest monkey tunnel? Or the longest mud slide?

I’d barely agreed to head to this place called the “PB&B.”

And only because Horus insisted. In fact, he seemed intent on fully exploring this insane highway. His rationale? What if Nyx had created something dangerous?

Which was… somewhat reasonable.

Yet when we finally arrived at our destination—

Well, I was only faced with more questions. So many more questions.

A twist of my ring took in a thousand deranged details.

A building rested in the middle of a clearing in the screaming bamboo forest. One built entirely of—oh sweet Apollo. Really? He was calling it Poo-Crete®? And what was that little symbol? And why had he put that label on everything? The towering perimeter wall around the clearing. Also, the tower beside the gate with the glowing green sign that announced that this was, indeed, the PB&B. That was strange. Incomprehensible.

And almost to be expected really.

However, the design was new… at least, for Nyx.

The front façade of that sinister death cottage was shaped like a… like a heart. Also, it was painted blood red with cracks of glowing green spiderwebbing through the stained Poo-Crete®. It was also encircled by a small garden, several beds – which were also shaped like hearts – filled with gigantic, glowing, iridescent mushrooms taller than my waist. Which seemed to be a theme, because even the sign was—

Yes. Heart shaped.

The horrible overuse of red made a stark contrast with the massive glowing green lake that was nestled beside the cottage. The one that was softly boiling, bubbles of viscous poison popping and spraying the air with toxic emerald vapor. The same gas that was slowly liquefying the demon monkey corpses that had been tossed beneath the grove of crimson trees on the other side.

To make matters even worse, the vegetation appeared to be sucking up those remains, the blood traveling through the thick veins spiraling those trunks and filling the slightly pulsating fruit that hung from those branches. The “Farmer’s Market,” the sign beside it read.

Probably because of the stall out front, fresh fruit waiting to be sold to… someone.

Although, I suppose that answered my questions about the monkey corpses.

Not that it made me feel any better.

The “Farmer’s Market” also had convenient access via a path that ran along the shores of the poisonous springs, through the dense clouds of flesh-eating acid, and right past a miniature mountain of stone that had seemingly erupted from the ground in a jagged spike. The one with a mawing, dark cave carved into its base. Also, a set of stairs that spiraled up to—

What even was that way up there? A deck?

It seemed likely. Mostly because another extended from the base of the cave’s entrance, stretching out overtop the toxic springs and creating a circular rim or basin – almost like that poison had been carefully cordoned off for some inconceivable reason. And what was that behind it? It looked vaguely familiar, difficult to make out through the haze. Some sort of structure? With towels…

No, no… it couldn’t be.

Even Apex was curious now.

A flicker of his power was enough to reveal the burning outline of a sign beside the towel kiosk – one now visible through the haze. Incontrovertible proof.

“Poison Springs Bathing Area,” it said.

And below it, in smaller text:

“Please help maintain the poison springs’ natural ecosystem by staying within the assigned bathing area. Also, little murder fish may try to eat you if you leave. They’re nearly indestructible. Also, needle thin. Seriously, stay behind the wall.”

I breathed in and out through my nose, my fingers twisting harder and faster as I tried my best to suppress the desire to destroy it all in a glorious inferno of destruction…

“Hmm,” Horus hummed, eyeing our surroundings.

Ahh, yes. I needed to focus. To maintain the flirting.

As I said, it was difficult to concentrate.

“This looks like a good place to make camp for the night,” Horus said, brow furrowed as he stared at the cottage. “Although, the building seems small. Hopefully, there’s more than one bed. Otherwise, I guess we’d be forced to share.”

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Ba-bump. My fingers froze.

One bed? Share? Is that what he just said?

In that rather cute cottage nestled beside a glowing, emerald lake?

And, now that I considered it, didn’t those toxic gases look rather radiant as darkness loomed over the Outer Reaches? Surely we would both be immune to the acid, right? Perhaps we could even walk to that grove, Horus shielding me from the occasional pop and hiss of spraying acid, taking my hand in his as we—

“Just a joke,” Horus interjected with a booming chuckle. “I’m sure the Hollow made plenty of beds. He always makes so many. Too many even.”

Danae winced at that one, shook her head, and headed for the cabin.

Why was she so upset—

Ahh, right. Because Nyx murdered the rest of her unit. My thoughts were slow. Sluggish. Desperately trying to catch up – to process the madness around me. To avoid those pesky images of me and Horus that were now burned into my perfect memory—

“Are you okay? Perhaps you got a little ahead of yourself?” Apex taunted.

And now I could feel that fire bloom in my cheeks – accompanied by the familiar desire to flirt with Horus so hard right now. Yet I couldn’t. He needed to remain uninjured to answer my questions. Also, Danae insisted the flirting should be used sparingly. According to her, it wasn’t supposed to involve any collateral damage.

“Feels like I touched a sore spot. A mixture of rage and shame. Could you be… embarrassed, My Lady?” Apex mocked.

No! Of course not! Not exactly…

I was just getting into character. Yes, of course, playing a part. This subterfuge, this dance, this battle of wills between Horus and me. This was just a byproduct of the intensive flirting. Of too much sleep and the Hollow’s surprisingly delicious recipes. I had tricked myself into thinking I might even be enjoying—

Not that I got a chance to finish that thought.

Horus’ laughter must have summoned it – the creature that stepped out of that cave. The one beside the glowing emerald lake. The one with its own deck.

Two, technically.

The monster had six glowing green eyes. Rippling muscle and sleek, slicked back spines – each tip coated in glowing and far-to-familiar venom. Each smooth, swaying step promised a slow and excruciating death, its prey’s body frozen in place by its paralytic venom. Too much and it would devour your vessel from the inside out, slowly liquifying your flesh. This creature – no, this monster was capable of destroying entire cities by itself.

I’d only read accounts; seen pictures, but this had to be—

Toxifovos. A Divine beast. Only a step away from transcendence.

“Ahh, finally, a suitable opponent,” Horus grunted, his axe flaring white and floating at his side in an instant. “Stand back, My Lady. I shall handle this.”

“No,” I snapped, my fingers threading through his silken fur.

Horus looked at me in confusion.

“That creature is dangerous. Even for us.”

He didn’t look as though he believed me.

“Then should we… retreat?” There was regret in his voice. As though he wished to fight this monster. Surely, he could feel its overpowering nimbus – the energy clustered so dense and tight that it was like staring into the sun.

And yet, Horus looked excited – a fire that matched the one burning in my Core. The questions were already circling. My curiosity simmering. A divine beast – a class of its own – one I still aspired to. A rare opportunity for research. To test its limits and abilities. To see how well my own skills measured up… how far out of reach my goal might be.

Could I really take it? This monster? Alone, perhaps not.

My gaze shot to Horus. But together? Could we destroy it together?

“No,” I muttered – cold logic prevailing. That wasn’t an option either.

Just another dream – another fantasy.

“Are you sure?” Horus asked. “Think of what we could learn…”

As I met his eyes, I could see a blaze that matched my own. That was real.

Was this—was he flirting with me now? Not with his fists but with his words and expression? With his body language? All that thick muscle taut and tight and luxurious hair swaying in the tainted, toxic breeze. Tempting me with the promise of research?

And, more importantly, was it working?

That stray question brought my racing thoughts to a screeching halt.

Before I realized it, I took a single step back. The Toxifovos’ scales went rigid, standing on end and vibrating softly. I froze and even Horus stilled his breathing – the three of us locked in a deadly stalemate.

Ahh, right. My perfect memories supplied the answer – only seconds too late. This creature didn’t attack unless its quarry attempted to flee. Which meant we had time. A brief moment of peace. One I could perhaps use to study the beast and come up with a plan to—

Then Danae stepped out of the cottage and ruined everything.

She was holding a skewer and her mouth was absolutely covered in some red-colored sauce. “Have you two tried this yet?” she called out, munching away happily. “The Hollow’s recipes say this is called barbeque sauce—”

Danae cutoff as she saw our expressions and her head pivoted, soon taking in the full majesty of the Toxifovos. I could see its spines quiver faster, picking up speed until a low thrum filled the air – glowing green venom dripping down their glimmering, metallic length.

My brow furrowed. That glowing green venom looked familiar. Like it had been used to build the signs at the Gas Station and here at the PB&B. Which implied that this creature – no, this monster – had been helping Nyx? Maybe? Somehow?

That only raised even more impossible questions.

For example, had Nyx won this staring contest?

The perfect memory of that statue returned in a heartbeat…

Yet there was a more immediate and pressing problem.

One set of the monster’s eyes shifted to Danae and met her gaze, locking her into its trap. She was already recoiling, her foot rising to step back, moving gradually – as though the beast couldn’t see her if she just moved slowly enough.

Shouting a warning wouldn’t help – would only startle the creature.

Damn it. An impasse. Perhaps with Apex’s help I could distract it—

“Ahh, it looks like it’s question time again,” he purred, right on time. Apparently, with Danae otherwise occupied, we were back to regular blackmail.

Asshole. Why was he like this?

“Fine. What do you want to know?” I ground out.

“Ahh, simple. I want you to answer Nyx’s question – you know, the one he posed back in the gate. Do you think you and Horus would make a cute couple?”

That was my first mistake. I’d expected Apex to relent. Possibly even appreciate the severity of the situation. However, his question surprised me. Enough that I looked at Horus and realized my hand was still wound in his silken fur.

What happened next was instinct. A reflex. Automatic.

I took another step back.

Which was my second mistake, of course.

And the causal ball was already rolling. Apex was kind enough to enhance my perception; to ensure I witnessed it all with perfect clarity.

The monster went tense, launching a hailstorm of spines.

Danae ducked back into the safety of that strange cottage as Horus stepped forward, shoving me out of the way, his massive form hovering before me protectively… even as those spines raced through the air. They were moving fast. Too fast for me to react. They slammed into Horus’ impossible, impervious fur, his body shuddering from the impacts.

However, the joke was on the Toxifovos. I had seen him withstand the collapse of an entire keep; the blast of my furious power. Those spines couldn’t possibly pierce his—

Ba-Bump. Time seemed to stop.

Red droplets sprayed the ground, twining through Horus’ fur and soaking into those rich, strong fibers – staining that golden brown a bright red. Which was impossible.

What was that? Blood? But whose blood? It couldn’t be Horus’—?

Ba-Bump. My heart thudded, hard and painful.

That lurching pain was enough to bring Apex’s gifts to an end, time speeding back up to the painful present. Even as Horus let out a pained grunt, dropping to a knee. As more of those red droplets pitter pattered the ground like bloody rain. Too much. A dangerous amount. And if the spines had pierced his skin, then the venom—

Horus turned then and his glowing white irises met the confused inferno raging in mine. Twin fires that burned white-hot. As the monster prepared to launch another barrage, I saw resolve in Horus’ gaze, the tavros refusing to fall despite his injuries. He rose on trembling legs, taking my numb fingers in his and encircling me protectively.

“My… Lady,” he grunted.

His meaning was clear – his sacrifice was clear.

I tried to call on Apex then – on his power. To protect Horus. To stop this. To fix this. To empower Danae. To heal Horus. To do something… anything!

Yet my spirit didn’t answer. Of course, he didn’t.

I hadn’t answered his question, had I?

But there was still time – still a chance to fix this!

“Yes, yes… I do think we’d make a cute—"

—but it was too late. I was too late. Again.

I could only look on helplessly as a fresh wave of spines struck home, Horus’ body jerking with each impact. More crimson flowed and then he sank forward, striking the ground with a dull thud, those glowing white eyes still locked on mine. Blood pooled around him, thick and cloying, staining that impossible, perfect, impervious fur. Horus’ body seized, then went still, his breathing slowing, his pulse fading…

Ba-Bump. Ba-Bump. Ba—

Then there was only silence.