There was a set of quiet knocks on the door.

Christoph, who’d taken his several hours of free time to panic and attempt to plan an escape, peered over one alchemy station through the scattered tools and papers. There were scrolls, books, devices, and even some broken glass all about the floor. He narrowed his eyes trying to mentally prepare himself for whatever creature might enter.

If it’s the goblin again, I could probably take him. Running isn’t going to be easy, but I feel I have an upper hand here. His tail slid over some papers and crumpled them into a corner beneath a table.

There was another set of quieted knocks. Then the door opened just a crack.

“M-m-master?” There was a female voice coming from the door. Or, at least it sounded female. Christoph was taken aback by the feminine voice, but he missed the way it clicked and hummed as it spoke.

“Yes?!” Christoph continued to duck down behind the station and waited for the face to peer around the corner. Across the room with the dull, magical lights, he could see a fair young maiden’s face poke through the opening between the doors. It was hard to make out all of her features, but she seemed human. That was good enough for him. “Enter.” His deep voice came across as more of a command than suggestion. This bashful young lady poked through horizontally—her face looking to the ceiling as if to avoid witnessing her master’s greatness.

“T-t-t-thank you, Sir.” The woman opened the door further as Christoph stood from behind his table.

Thank goodness. Another hu—

The thought was cut short as the woman’s face fell over her back so she could stare at the ceiling. Her mouth still moved as she clicked away and spoke, “I am honored to be in S-S-Sanctum Mortem!” Her body, bear and ashen, heaved as the back arched. Her feminine features fully on display as the human floated forth on a mass of shadows; her camouflaged skills unnecessary in the presence of her king.

Christoph had stood in the open, and he now regretted it as he watched the insect like creature enter through the doors. There were maybe ten legs on each side of the sectioned body to the beast. It was thin, but the armored exterior of the beast seemed thick—the black exoskeleton reflected the magical light in beams across the body. Its head rose in an arch as the neck pulled back. The mimicked head and body of the young human female contorted further as she fell so the eyes were pointed over the risen steps of the altar to look upon her master.

There were four mandibles that twitched beneath the false body of the human. Her eyes seemed to be functional, as well as her limbs. It was a fine trap to set. Christoph could see mounds of flesh swell as the creature breathed. Though, finding later that such a beast could disguise her human lure in finer clothes, this moment was shocking and rather lewd.

“Ahhhhh…” Christoph’s mouth fell open as he tried to balance himself between one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen and the hideous creature beneath it.

Her gorgeous blue eyes shined like sapphires from across the distance. Both cheeks were drawn in to give her a very petite and fragile persona. Her arms fell to either side as if she were praying for a welcoming embrace. Black hair fell from her like curled strands of ink. As if it meant to bow, the body of the female arched further; her hair almost sweeping the floor.

“My Lord-d-d-d.” The end of the word clicked softly into a quieted stillness. The upside-down face, peering over the steps between them, burned brightly at the sight of her ruler. “The f-factions have g-g-gathered to hear of your t-triumph.” The arms, or rather misshapen legs, that fell from the creature’s neck were hooked on the ends. These limbs, all six, moved in unison to make a type of curtsy that made the bug look rather ridiculous. Monsters acting with human decency and manners often seems a cruel joke rather than an attempt at pleasantries.

Then again, most humans acting with decency and manners often seems the cruelest joke.

“Indeed,” Christoph coughed a bit into his hand as to play off what she’d said as merely expected. Inside, Christoph was screaming. What factions?! There’s more?!

“If I may t-trouble you, my Lord.” The insectoid creature rose the human figure atop its head. “Might-t-t I inquire how you are f-feeling? It-t is my pleasure to stand in the presence of one who has defeated-d Death.” Christoph let the monster continue; afraid to interrupt. He just stared intently forward hoping to not make a mistake. “I do hope you are well and that there were no unforeseen effects-ts-ts of the ritual.” The creature bowed deeply.

Unforeseen? Christoph had a spark jump through his brain. He cleared his dragonkin throat and took a step forward. Just one step.

“I am well, though I must admit there was one effect I did not predict.” Keep calm. He thought to himself in an attempt to keep his tail stilled. It was flopping around behind him enough he pushed one leg back to pin it between a leg of the table and his foot. He winced a bit at the pressure. “Forgive your master,” he continued in a low growl, “but many things seem to have slipped my mind.” He waved one claw around his head as if to make it a joke.

“F-f-forgotten-n-n?!” The creature stood straight for a moment. Christoph rubbed his left wrist against the sword’s handle at his side.

Human features of the lure on the insect contorted into a bloated pout; like a toad croaking a defensive song toward a predator. Her body twitched and slithered as hooked arms and dangerous legs repositioned themselves. Mandibles clacked about in anticipation.

Thinking he’d blown his cover yet again, the creature surprised him by falling back to the floor. “My apologies for presuming that-t-t this was such-ch a simple t-task! Master, please forgive me. I should-d-d have introduced-d myself upon arrival!”

“It’s fine.” He dragged it out as if they were familiar. Attempting to remain calm, he’d almost waved a claw at her as well. “No need to worry, but I could use some,” he tried to swallow back the knot in his throat, “help trying to regain all the information.”

Buy it, buy it, buy it. Christoph tried to will her to accept his bluffs.

“Of course!” The creature didn’t click at all this time, but a high-pitched dronish sound rang out for a few seconds. The woman’s hands reached up and held her cheeks. Her face spread into a wide downward smile as her sapphire eyes lit up in the darkness. “I would be honored to assist-t-t-t you!” She began to move.

It was terrifying to Christoph. Watching this creature skitter around the pillars to his right—ignoring the imprisoned corpse on the other side. The ten legs along the body kicked out and reached toward anything that was around. They pushed against the pillars, the steps, the floor, and even sometimes just swung wildly in hopes of contacting some surface. The natural armor clattered against itself as it wiggled across the floor.

Once she’d come close enough, the creature began to lift its upper body as it had across the room. For a moment, she stood nearly a meter or so above Christoph. He would have screamed, but the moment had him paralyzed. Even his tail remained still as the enormous bug rushed him.

Her human form bent backwards again as the creature angled herself to place the face just beneath Christoph’s—a sign of respect while still attempting to get closer.

“Just-t-t ask, and your servant will obey!” The breath of the false human was sweet. The dragonkin’s nostrils flared up with the aroma of the beauty in front of him. It was truly a perfect trap. He’d seen what it was connected to and now witnessed her arched as if her back would break, yet he felt enticed to reach forward and embrace her.

Luckily, undead do have resistances against the magics of charming, seducing, sleeping, mind controls, and others of the sort. The weakness came purely from the humanity that resided within the dragonkin—the soul of one boy who’d died and been revived. Christoph did dip slightly to get closer, but the creaks and clicks of the insect body snapped him back into the moment.

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“W-w-what’s your name?” He strained his neck as he tried to pull himself away while not seeming offensive.

“Corallan, my Lord.” The female, who still hung unnaturally backwards, smiled and shook her shoulders. The rest of her form moved as well. Christoph gulped back the surprised enjoyment to remind himself of the disgust.

“Corallan.” He confirmed and pursed his reptilian lips. “And what, may I ask, is your duty here?”

She looked surprised; the type of face one gives when someone hasn’t heard of a great adventurer’s name or the accomplishments of the proud. “My Master, I obey the will of my ruler-r-r.” The echoed letters were similar to a hiss. “Whatever you ask, I shall carry out-t-t.” There was another deep bow.

“Of course!” His voice boomed throughout the room. He chuckled slightly. “But, day to day, what are your tasks?” I have to figure out some more information or at least keep her interested. She might not eat me then.

“I am Captain-n of the South.” She grinned and continued. “My f-family and I guard the south face of the peaks-ks and assist-t with communications throughout-t the network.”

Network? “Indeed. And how far into the network does your family operate?” Trying to sound sophisticated, his low voice huffed between every few words.

“From the peaks-ks to the deepest forges in The Grave.” The twisted face of the fake woman grinned widely at the stretch of her family’s might. “We make sure information is quick-k and efficient-t. We also exterminate pests-ts-ts that enter without your permission.”

That last sentence sent a jolt of cold electricity up Christoph’s dead spine. She grinned with the pleasure of her post. The idea of slaughter, of war, was not a nightmare to her as it was to him.

“Great job.” He nodded toward that wide-eyed, grinning face. His one claw gave a quick and quiet thumbs up before dipping back down. “And the other factions?” He tried to change the subject, hoping her face would rest back into a more normal human-like grin; one that didn’t stretch from ear to ear.

“The other factions-s-s-s.” The ending hiss sounded a bit negative to Christoph. She pulled a bit away from her master to go over the details. “Bo’Ra’Set-t-t is the Bestial Star, Captain to the Northern Guard-d. His faction is responsible for your scouts-ts and hunting, my Lord-d-d.” Her hooked arms swung behind her to point toward the direction of the Captain’s domain.

“There is Sashro Malinga.” This name made the insect shiver and. “The magic user-r you raised to the position of Captain of the East Guard-d. His t-team is responsible for gathering information from the surrounding nations, dealing with the cities-s, and acquiring useful items for the Master’s horde-de.” The human face frowned slightly. “He has often-n trained personally with yourself in the dungeons, my Master.”

Jealousy? Christoph thought she sounded a bit reluctant to share that another Captain was permitted more time with the master than the rest. “Ah, yes. Please, continue.” He waved one claw in a circle.

“Of course-se.” Corallan forgot her displeasure and continued. “Jeseph, The Wall, is your Captain of the West-t Guard and leader to the troops-s that train to serve you, my Lord. Upon the peaks around us are few stretches-s of flat lands that his groups farm. With assistance-ce from Sashro, we were able to create farms within the tunnels of the dungeons-s as well.” She clicked a few times before continuing. “His teams do all they can to keep mouths fed and our domain secured.”

“Doesn’t each group secure the domain?” Christoph asked without fully grasping her meaning.

“Sire, threats from within are far more dangerous. There are those-se that challenge your rule. Punishment-t must be severe and swift. Jeseph’s-s resolve is undeniable.” Her tone for the man known as “The Wall” was saturated with respect. “None dishonor your great name, even in the quietest-t thoughts, should Jeseph deal your holy justice! He enacts-s your will and removes all hope your blessed-d visage would provide the offender.”

What?! Me beating someone would be better? This place is too much. He nodded along with her information as if he were fascinated. They’re crazy!

“Finally, my Lord-d, is the Underground. The faction of your servants that toil away in the mines, forges, and the menial tasks-s-s. They are your citizens to rule as you wish; reaching from the apex-x of the spires to the deepest reaches of The Grave!”

This last, deep bow dragged the woman’s beautiful hair across the floor. She smiled upward at the dragonkin wizard with a mad smile; prepared for the orders she might receive next. Be it for blood, embrace, or even both—she would follow the orders of her master. Christoph found this repulsive.

Even as he attempted to drag his attention from the bouncing mounds directly before him.

“And they are waiting for me?” Christoph pointed one dangerous claw innocently at the giant doors.

“Of course! For three days our Master has-s slept! A risen King of the Undead-d-d!” She clapped with those hooked, insect arms. They sounded more like metal than flesh.

“I-I’m not sure I can.” Christoph tried to play it off, but his voice was beginning to crack. His dry throat made his intimidating voice lose some of its force.

“Nonsense-se-se! My lord, forgive my words-s-s, but they await your magnificence!” The creature’s fake human eyes were wide with wonder. She was enthralled at her allowed time to speak and the proximity he had allowed her. “Please-se-se! I will keep your secret! I will aid-d-d you! Should any find out, I will accept any punishment-t-t!” Her throat, or rather the topside of this insect, bent as to reveal more of this supposedly vital area. Meant to be an offering of her life, Christoph could only try to hold back the shivers he got from seeing such a shapely, undressed figure being bent about atop a monster like a broken doll.

“I-I,” he tried to pull away, but Corallan was persistent.

“You are freshly reborn. Let your servants, your guardians, your loyal subjects-s-s bring the past back to you.” She had that wild look in her eyes again. Christoph imagined that would be the same look a man would see just before eternal darkness found him.

Christoph dropped his eyes to consider the situation. I need to escape. Maybe I can try to take some of this with me. Someone in the capital has to know how to get my body back. He looked over to the pillar at the far end of the room where only a slight bit of bone was visible from his angle.

Corallan noticed his movements.

“Shall I remove the corpse, my Master-r-r?” She sort of purred it as if it were a favor she’d want returned. “We cleared those you raised-d from the fields. Their rotten flesh has already been fed to my family; a gift most appreciated-d-d-d.”

From the fields? Christoph thought back to the night when dreams of glory turned to flame and ash. “From the hills?” He questioned with a bit of force signifying his interest.

“Oh, yes-s-s-s. You lit the night with the sun, and the humans fell.” Her grin peeled back the human face—the lips touching both sides of her head. “You decimated the vermin-n-n. Splendid work, my Lord-d-d!”

Christoph thought back to the night that the Heavens cast down balls of fire into the battle. He’d considered it the gods or the world simply coming to an end. He’d no idea that one man, one dragonkin wizard, had launched those mighty attacks.

This body… He looked down to his claws. This bastard was responsible.

The claws, willed by furious humanity, clenched tightly as a blackness began to seep over the room. Like the void opening a portal into this world, tendrils of darkness began to flip and swirl about; feeling for something to grab hold of and choke the life from. Gohdin, or rather Christoph, felt only rage was the proper response.

They’d fed my brother… to these… things? They fed him?! The darkness rose and the insectoid creature flinched backwards two or three steps. The fury was building as his claws shook with idle frustration. He’d considered the blade, but another thought slid into his mind, They wait for me. Factions. How many are there?

The growl of frustration and fury slowed into a calmed silence of the king. His eyes were narrowed and his shoulders slumped. There was more to see, and more faces to note before justice would be dealt.

“All glory to the King of the Undead-d-d!”