AN: There's a Point of View break down below, folks, and if you can guess who it belongs to, then you've earned your cookie. Your hint is three chapters back.
As always, folks, thank you for reading thus far. I know I say it ALL THE TIME, but I do mean it. So if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, let me know down below.
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The skeleton was now accompanying me wherever I went, not including the times I am with children. No. Instead, it would follow a few of the Undying who were nervous around it, even though it was not aggressive. This 'Child', as I began to call it, was dressed in a hooded, dark coloured robe. It's bony fingers were covered in an equally dark pair of gloves, and standard brown boots were on its feet. It ever had a solid white mask with slits for eyes, which caused many to squawk in fear when it turned towards them.
The torturer and pair of Undying that followed my person had become scarred from the torturous scenes they had witnessed of the butler. They had excused themselves the following day, stating they would be on holiday for a time. Of course, this concerned me, and had an insane assassin stalking each one. This was to insure they did not wag their tongues in wrong directions, which would only lead to disappointment on my part. Granted, the pair of Undying were the least of my concerns, as they were nothing more than loyal thralls. The torturer, on the other hand, was not a thrall. Perhaps it was a mistake, but at that time, I desired the company of a likeminded individual who did not try to please and praise my person all the time.
I did, however, receive regular reports via bird from the assassin tailing the torturer, though. These reports were interesting, yet oddly disturbing. It stated the man speaking with individuals behind a bakery, and that this language was not a common one spoken among humans. No, the assassin believed it to be what other humans refer to as a "Demonic Language". Truly, it was intriguing, so I sent two others to serve as back up for the first.
One of these individuals was my new favourite, after the female was removed. It was the scythe wielder, and had begun to use the name of Death, after I had explained to him of the 'Angel of Death' legends upon my first world. However, unlike the legends, where this angel would wear a faded and tattered black robe whilst wielding a large, black scythe, he chose to wear a pristine, white hooded robe. His hands and feet were covered with a dark material, while his face was covered by a similar mask the 'Child' wore, but was crimson instead. He truly was an odd one.
The 'Child' had been oddly staring at the scythe my new favourite human was wielding, and decided to procure one for it. Once it received it, however, its bones clicked and clacked with excitement, as it hugged the tool to its bony chest. Very strange, yes, but I did not think much of it.
On the other hand, there was an incident involving the children a few days after the first reports of the torturer's strange activities began to trickle in. One of the more pubescent children had tried to abuse a few of the more innocent children. We even found out this had been going on since they had joined the gaggle, but no one spoke up until one of them tried their advances on Puella. She ran, screaming down one of the castle's many hallways, which alerted the female Undying, who mobilised out in force.
They, in turn, alerted my person that she was found screaming in terror whilst running down the hall. I was angered by this, and began to move as a giant skeleton with the 'Child' clicking and clacking behind me. No, I did not become my kobold self, as I normally do when involved with the children, nor did I revert to my human form. Instead, I descended upon them as the residence's new "God", and I was in a terrible mood because of it.
*****
They dared to harm Puella. They actually tried to do what they did to Sonya and Shia. Luck was with her that day, as she was able to run from the human duo when they tried to rape her. Oh how I wish Father never brought them in with acceptance. It was a mistake, and their victims now had to endure new trauma after finding someplace safe.
I dare say they may never trust any males after this. Least of all me, their protector, and I would have ended it all, if it weren't for our sisters Lupa and Puella interceding when they did.
However, where Puella began to scream down the hallways, the entirety of the Undying had seemingly rushed out to protect her. I wish I could command such loyalty and respect as her adorable form does, but alas, I cannot. No, but her would-be rapists were quickly caught, and she was shivering with fear in my arms. The duo was dragged out in chains, and were subjected to the ire of the female Undying, especially those who love and care for our sister, Puella.
They did ultimately stop, but only once a call was placed for all to gather in the throne room. A room we, all of us, were forbidden to enter. The only acceptance to such a rule was to be invited inside, and all were there. From the lowest of servants, to the highest of dignitaries, we appeared before an empty throne. This throne was shrouded in a magick most foul, and many swore they could see a large pair of eyes glowing from within.
This shroud then lifted, once it was confirmed all were in attendance, and revealed a human-like girl sitting upon the throne, and two robed males on either side. The girl's skin was a pasty white, with a pair of blood rubies for eyes that seemed to glare at the world, whilst retaining some semblance of innocence to them. From my position in the room, I could not see the details of her face, nor the exacts of her garb. Others would later say she wore what seemed to be a copy of Puella's first dress, the one she wore to the ball the night before my birth. To their eyes, it seemed to accentuate her beauty to another plane of existence, especially when they said her hair had become like molten silver. Some would curse the "lucky bastard who would win her hand", from the look of things.
To the girl's left, stood a male with a haggard expression, and the same pasty, white skin as her, but wore a solid, hooded red robe. The male was holding a plain, brown staff with a glowing white orb securely placed upon the peak. It was RS, and he seemed to be as angry as LD, whose skin pallor was the same, but wore a solid white hooded robe. In his hands was a thin, red wand, with a small dark red orb secured firmly to its base. They turned their heads and bodies to the shroud of magicks behind them, and we watched as it receded in on itself.
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All in attendance gasped at the reveal of a skeleton of a giant, monstrous creature. The bones of such a creature were almost as large as the throne room's ceiling was tall. The bones themselves ranged in thickness, from an adult male human's thigh, to double their waist. Whatever it was when it was alive, had probably terrorised half a world, as it had four arms, blackened claws for hands, monstrously clawed feet, and a long, bony tail. The main skull of the creature looked as though it were human, but was crossed with a drake of some sort, whilst still remaining its humanity a bit more than it should. However, what was truly frightening was not the frame of the skeleton itself, but that it was still very much alive and moving.
A few had passed out, as well as a couple of children, once they realised the crimson orbs within its sockets were staring in their general direction. The Undying, and much of the staff, on the other hand, were displaying a different sort of reaction. Instead of them running in fear, or attacking the creature, they, instead, knelt down and bowed their head. Who and what this creature was peaked my curiosity, but I could not speak as the orbs passed over my body for the briefest of moments.
"Bring them forward," something spoke, which shook the entirety of the castle with such force. It was the creature before us, we realised in horror, and watched as four four-armed Undying dragged six males from our group. The two we knew were the ones who tried to harm Puella, but the others we did not know was a part of their scheme.
They tried to fight against the chains, and one of them seemed to have almost freed himself, until something dropped from the ceiling, and on top of his body. This action killed the male, as it picked itself off the ground. This individual was the being called 'Child', and was as much of a mystery as the giant skeleton was. Especially when it was seen roaming the halls last night with a wickedly curved scythe in its grip.
The others stared at the pulp that was once their comrade, and soiled themselves as they stared at 'Child', who stared back from behind its mask. The younger children, thankfully, did not see what had happened. A few tried to ask what happened, but those who saw were frightened, so they decided to stay quiet. There was a commotion off to the side, as a rabbit-eared maid in a long dress rushed forward to retrieve a pair of kobold pups who had begun to waddle their way over to the bloody mess that was once a rapist's body. Perhaps they were just hungry, and had begun to whine and cry once they were retrieved before they were within a metre of the scene.
She apologised profusely, once she noticed most everyone's eyes upon her person, and could be seen hugging the pair closely, whilst burying her face in their fur. Within a few moments, everyone's attention had turned back towards the dais, where five guards stood with whips in their hands. Others began to strip the males of their tunics, and, once turned to face the audience with the four-armed Undying keeping their bodies secured, began to whip their backsides.
"For your crimes of rape against children," began RS, after he unfurled a scroll in front of him, "you are all sentenced to twenty lashes per child." He then began to list off eight names of girl-children, and two boy-children, within our group. Each began to cry once their names were spoken aloud, as they did not wish to be singled out, nor remember what had happened, but all began to comfort them. We had endured what they had gone through, and knew of the fear.
We watched as blood and flesh flew from their backsides, not knowing how long it lasted. However, it finally ended, and we were able to sigh with some relief in the knowledge. "Those of you with work still to do, may return to your duties," said RS, who was about to continue, until he whirled around and stared up at the skeleton.
"Children who have experienced the mating call, and those who have the urge to answer it, are to remain here," it rumbled, shaking the castle once more, "All others are to leave." We were confused by this, as a pair of Undying came to our group, and began to divide us into groups. It wasn't until Nox was singled out, did we realise the giant meant those who were beginning to become in heat, and the males who had the urge to respond to them. A few of the younglings were upset, but were promised we would return once the giant was done speaking with them.
Those who were not singled out, left, and once the doors shut behind them, a few Undying began to ply their spells to the doors and walls of the room. Once done, however, we began to tremble as the giant leapt from behind the throne, and in front of the bleeding five who harmed the younglings of our group. "You dare," it roared down upon them, its maw wide enough to swallow all five of them whole.
"You dare to harm MY Chosen's family? You dare to abuse the children saved by him and his, to satisfy your hunger for the pleasures of flesh?" The five were in a higher state of panic, and could see them all try to pass out from shock. However, a few among our group witnessed strange magicks emanating from the creature, and believed it was preventing them from doing so.
"Witness," it growled at our group, and I noticed our leader, Nox, was very afraid. If he was afraid of such a being, then what are we to do if it turned on us?
"Witness," it growled once more, "And know the price of such actions against my Chosen." Four clawed hands then gripped all five of them, raising them high above our heads. The thing then began to chant in an unknown language, until each was enshrouded in dark and foul magicks. Their silhouettes could be seen within, and all were writhing in twisted agonies, as crimson and emerald green coloured lightning arched around their bodies.
Silent whisperings of screams could be heard from within, as the magicks coursed through their bodies. This lasted for what seemed to be an eternity, until, at last, the giant dropped them onto the ground. However, once the shroud of dark and foul magicks receded from their persons, we became horrified at what we saw. Five, bone-white skeletons had taken their place. What is more, each had pinpoints of red in the center of each socket, and all began to whisper, "Master."
"Those who dare to harm my Chosen's people, will suffer and serve them for all time. This I do decree." With that, it vanished from sight, leaving us in a room of skeletons, Undying, and soiled clothing.