Meridith groaned in agony. Her head throbbed violently, and her sinuses burned. She could feel something cold and squishy press against her cheeks.

“Hello,” a child-like voice rang in her ears, “Pretty lady.”

“What?” Meridith said.

She opened her eyes and stared into a pair of big, black eyes. Meridith stared at a creature with spongy egg-white flesh and a red, white dotted cap. Meridith jumped away from the creature, and stared at it in both fear and confusion. A mushroom. She was staring at a toddler sized mushroom in a shallow garden. It stared back at her with a vacant, dumbfounded expression.

The creature held out a mushroom, “Hungry?” it said.

Meridith took the mushroom, “We would advise against it,” Meridith turned to see Reviled lying on a rickety table being tended to by two skeletons. “The mushrooms she creates are highly poisonous, and hallucinogenic.”

“What…is it?” Meridith said watching the creature eat another mushroom.

“We’re…not sure,” Reviled said, “It was here when we arrived.”

“So, it’s your pet,” Meridith said stroking the mushroom’s cap, “Does it have a name?”

“Her original owner named her Cappy Mortoomb,” Reviled said, “Somewhat fitting considering how we found him.”

“My name’s Capcap,” Cappy said pulling herself out of the dirt. She waddled over a ramshackle desk.

“You can walk?” Reviled said trying to watch the creature.

Cappy looked down at her legs and gasped in awe, “I can walk!” she said. She jumped for joy and babbled incoherently. Suddenly, Cappy started to float upward and landed on top of the desk.

“When could you use magic?” Reviled said with an exasperated sigh.

Cappy’s dumb expression returned as she pulled open a book, “Magic?” she said. Her attention returned to the book, “Pretty pictures.”

“That’s…our spell book,” Reviled stared at the mushroom, “We weren’t aware she could read.”

Meridith rose and approached Reviled. The skeletons had disassembled its lower jaw and were cleaning the mandibles in a bucket of water. Bits of bone, flesh, and grey matter floated in the water.

“Taern?” Meridith said staring at the bucket.

“Parts of him,” Reviled said, “We were a bit hasty. He would have made an excellent addition to our collective.”

Meridith held herself, “I hope he suffered.”

Reviled’s metallic chuckle echoed through the room, “We made sure of that,”

“Good,” Meridith said with a sneer, “But I’m surprised you came for me.”

“Come here,” Reviled said. He gestured to a skeleton, and it disassembled its chest plate. Meridith couldn’t make sense of the mechanical components, but her eyes were drawn to the encaged crystal that sat in the center of Reviled’s chest. A handful of lights glistened in a sea of blood red. “You are a part of us, just like they are.”

She took a ragged breath, “Wh-which one is Laegyn?” a royal blue light grew brighter, and Meridith laid her hand on the gem. “I could free you.” she said under her breath.

“Only if you wish to destroy him,” Reviled said with a harsh chuckle. Meridith stared in horror and pulled back her hand. Another light, a sickly yellow, glowed brighter, “All to our creator’s design. Once we devour a soul it can’t be released. Only destroyed.”

“Why?”

A skeleton reassembled the chest plate, “He thought we would bring him unimaginable power,” it said, “But we turned it around.” The skeletons started to reassemble Reviled’s lower jaw.

Meridith stared at the skeletons, “How can they do that?” she said, “From what I understand, skeletons shouldn’t be able to do this.”

Reviled snapped its jaw open and closed multiple times, “Undead draw upon the knowledge of the summoner,” it said, “And we possess the knowledge of everyone we have devoured.”

“Which will make them more dangerous,”

“To some extent, yes,” Reviled said. It commanded the skeletons to stand against the wall. The magic disappeared and the skeletons fell to the floor. “As of now, we can only control five undead.”

Meridith covered her mouth, “Only five?” she said.

“We can create as many as we desire,” Reviled said with a growl, “But our control only extends to five,” It rose from the table. “In order for us to control more, we need to get stronger, and to get stronger we need more souls.”

“Then why not devour me?” Meridith said then turned to Cappy, “or her?”

“Our creator required aid from others, and so do we,” it said, “That’s why we didn’t devour you, and as for the fungus,” They watched Cappy dance on the desktop, humming a tune only she knew. “There is nothing to gain,” Reviled grabbed its spell book, “We’ll escort you to the surface.”

Reviled grabbed Cappy by her head as it left. “Wait, my mushrooms!” she said.

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Meridith fell in step behind it as she pocketed the mushroom. Sunlight peaked in through the water grates, but it did little to dismiss the surrounding darkness. However, the oppressiveness of the shadows was diminished by Cappy’s cheers. The little creature was shouting gleefully as it swung in Reviled’s hand. Meridith chuckled. Seeing the monster playfully swing the mushroom helped lift her mood.

Reviled stopped a few feet from the sewer gate, “We need to think about our next step,” it said, “We will send for you when we are ready.”

“T-thank you for saving me,”

“We told you already, you are a part of us,” Reviled said, “When you suffer, we suffer, and we hate suffering.”

Meridith nodded in understanding. She rushed towards the gate and disappeared beyond it. Reviled turned and stepped back into the shadows of the sewers. It looked forward to the day.

“Where we goin'?” Cappy said trying to look up at Reviled.

“We are going to meet-up with some friends,” Reviled said.

Cappy cheered. Reviled ignored the incessant, delightful cries that echoed through the tunnels. Shortly into the hunt Reviled struck something with its foot. A wererat corpse laid at its feet with multiple wounds covering its body. Reviled dropped Cappy. A trail of blood stained the stone walkway, and Reviled followed it to the remains of a battle. This is interesting. All evidence pointed to the wererats fighting each other.

“M-mo-monster,” Reviled turned to find a wererat leaning against the wall.

“What happened here?”

The rat coughed up blood, “I won’t…tell…you anything,”

“You will,” Reviled said opening its lower jaw. The wererat went glassy eyed as its tongue pierced the rat’s brain. Reviled dove into the rat’s memories.

“We won’t take this any longer!” a large wererat stood on a wooden dais. “Decker’s men continue to invade our territory, and now we have to deal with their monstrosity.” The crowd roared in anger, “What does my father do? Nothing!” the wererat drew its weapon, “I won’t let this stand. It’s my time to take the throne, but first, I must remove the stain on my family. My brother’s death will begin my ascent!”

Reviled left the memory. So, the sewer rats are fighting as well. It might be worth investigating this cursed wererat prince.

“What happened?” Cappy said pointing to the wererat.

“He was tired, so we gave him a goodnight kiss,” Reviled said.

“Aww” Cappy said. She reached into her cap and spread some spores onto the wall. Mushrooms instantly grew on the wall, and Cappy plucked. “Here ya go,” she said leaving a mushroom next to the corpse, “A tasty mushroom.”

“Let’s go,” Reviled said picking up Cappy, “We have more friends to meet.”

“Buh-bye friends!” Cappy waved to the corpses.

----------------------------------------

Meridith slammed the pewter mug onto the table. The tavern was filled with rambunctious patrons, and musicians played a jaunty tune. Unfortunately, this didn’t help her mood. These last couple of days did help with her nerves, but it also gave her plenty of time to think. Reviled was the cause of all her problems, and yet, it also saved her life. She had seen the monster show such cruelty and malice, but now she witnessed kindness. How could it act so…human?

Human.

“Ironic, isn’t it?” Meridith spoke into the table.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” The stool across from her scraped the floor. Meridith looked up to see a large man sit down. A handsome man, like the kind from a fairytale, with flowing golden hair and a bright smile, and an ego to go with it.

“When’d you get back, Gedran?”

“Two days ago,” Gedran said leaning towards her, “I had hoped to regale you about my adventures on the frontlines, but you weren’t there.”

“Well, that’s what happens when you’re fired,” Meridith said with a sharp sigh.

“I heard,” Gedran said with a light snicker, “It’s a shame Laegyn is no longer around. I’ll miss people trying to compare him to me.”

Meridith sneered, “Don’t you mean the other way round?” she said.

“And yet, I’m still here.”

“If you’re going to taunt me then just leave!” Meridith said standing up.

Gedran resigned, “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’m not here to fight. I saw you over here and I wanted to make sure you were doing well?”

“I’m fine,”

“No, you’re not,” Gedran said, “You wouldn’t be three pints in if you were.”

“I’m…just scared,” Meridith said wiping away tears, “Nighttime isn’t safe anymore.”

Gedran offered his hand, “Then let me walk you home,”

“Fine,” Meridith said, “I could use some company.”

Meridith stood up, and Gedran offered his arm. She took his arm and followed him out. It would have felt like that night with Laegyn, but Gedran wouldn’t stop talking about himself. The man overflowed with narcissism. He would turn the conversation around to talk about his exploits against the Wight King, and it started to get on Meridith’s nerves. She sighed in relief when she came to her door.

“Goodnight Gedran,” Meridith said opening her door.

“How about I stay the night?” Gedran said pushing himself against her, “I don’t think you should be alone tonight.”

Meridith into the house, “Thank you, but no,” she said.

“Don’t be so cold,” Gedran said blocking the door, “I’m trying to help.”

“I said no,” Meridith said with a sneer, “Now please leave,”

Gedran stepped inside, “And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll scream,” she said, “Now lea-!”

Gedran forcefully kissed her. Meridith desperately tried to push him off but couldn’t, and she gasped in shock when Gedran picked her up. Meridith tried to punch Gedran in the face, but the darkness made it difficult. Meridith’s mind wouldn’t stop reeling, and memories of the other night rose from the darkness. Taern’s hand on her chest. The thief’s stench. The fear that gripped her heart. Her weakness. She silently cursed her own weakness as she laid there on the table. Meridith balled her hands and felt them brush against something soft. Cappy’s mushroom.

“Wait Gedran,” Meridith said trying to keep the hatred from her voice, “Let’s try something more…pleasurable?”

“What do you have in mind?”

Meridith tried to change her tone, “This table is hard and uncomfortable,” she said, “Let’s take this to the bed.”

“Very well,” Gedran said pushing off her.

Meridith suppressed a shiver as she sidled up to him. “We can also try this,” she said trying to press the mushroom to his lips but hit his cheek instead.

“What is it?”

“It will help with our stamina,” she said, “It’s not like we need to sleep tonight, right?”

Meridith heard Gedran bite and chew the mushroom from her hand, and a devilish smile came to her lips when he swallowed. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her, but then stumbled and fell to the floor.

“W-what?” Gedran said.

Meridith lit a candle and looked to find Gedran drooling on the ground.

“Why couldn’t it have been you?” Meridith said glaring down at Gedran, “Laegyn was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die, but you do,” She kicked him hard in the face, “You should’ve suffered,” She kicked again, her foot coming back red, “Like he suffered,” Teeth skittered across the floor, “Like I suffered!” She stared into Gedran’s ruined face, “But it would be a shame to waste such talent. Reviled Legion.”

Two beady red eyes shone in the darkness, and a rat stepped into the light, “We are here,”

Meridith kneeled, “Forgive me for calling you so suddenly,” she said, “But I have someone here who might be of use.”

“Who is he?”

“He is one of the guild’s top adventurers,” she said, “He is a highly skilled fighter, although not as skilled as Laegyn.”

“Why is he here?” Reviled said as the rat slowly appraised Gedran, “And what happened to his face?”

Meridith let out a growl, “He tried to force himself on me,” she said, “But I tricked him into eating one of Cappy’s mushrooms. I decided to make him suffer for his foolishness.”

“We are on our way,” Reviled said, she could hear the approval in his voice, “Also, we have decided our next course of action. We are going to bring the wererats into the fold.”

“Is there anything you need of me?”

“I need you to gather any information you can on the Rat King and his sons.”

“I’ll stop by the guild tomorrow,” Meridith said with a dark smile, “I’ll have Gedran outside waiting for you. I don’t want to waste time cleaning up the blood.”