Author's Note: Tiafell gets a new outfit in this chapter, so once the chapter is cleared for publication, I will update the picture on the series page to show him in his new clothes. Hopefully that will be approved by the time the chapter goes live.
With that, thank you and happy reading! Comments and feedback are welcome!
Chapter 13: Pep "Talk"
In the throne room of her castle, Trista was sitting on her throne, Cardexx was standing to her left with his arms crossed. To her right was another man, standing at an imposing seven and a half feet tall. He was a handsome man with his dark brown hair styled back and a goatee on his chin. He was wearing a dark grey dress suit with a black cape draped around him. His eyes glowed the same shade of red as Nadia's.
"It's time, return to us now!" Trista raised her staff and tapped the carpet with it, a red circle with various markings appeared on the floor in the middle of the room. The circle became a hole of darkness, distorted screams of all kinds could be heard from within. A pair of black hands grasped the edges, the figure that pulled itself out was Dred. He had only a single pair of arms, but the hand that was burned away during his recent battle had reformed. Black ribbon-like appendages flowed from his back which were absent during his battle in Gatharham. Once he was out of the opening and floating above the floor, the circle closed and disappeared.
"You failed, Dred, but at least it was entertaining!" Trista chuckled.
Dred balled his fists as he hovered in front of her. "If I had not been summoned by dullards that knew nothing of magic, Tiafell would be standing here with us right now! I was working with less than a third of my power!"
"Yes yes, we all know how powerful you truly are. The reason I allowed those bandits to summon you was so I could gauge how strong Tiafell is. How could I get an accurate estimate if I sent an opponent that would easily win?"
"You bitch, you were using me?? I, the former King of the Underworld, was your measuring stick??" Dred angrily gripped the armrests of her throne and leaned in until his face was inches away from hers. "I work with you, not for you! I am not some tool for you to use, unlike your lackies that would gladly give their lives just for you to blow a kiss their way!"
Trista's smile never left her face. "I am well aware of that, honey. I won't do it again if it will make you happy."
Dred let out a low growl. "It had better not.." he warned.
Trista's eyes turned yellow, the same shade as Dred's. "Fine, have it your way. As for Tiafell, he needs to toughen up before he will be of any use to us, but his present company will see to that. Now, onto the last topic of the night. Esteban, what have you to tell me about your project?"
The tall man spoke with a thick Hispanic accent as he addressed Trista. "My vampires have already slain most of the bandits, and they got good meals out of it. We even recruited a few of them into our ranks. My coven has grown larger to better serve you, My Lady."
"Excellent, you and your coven are quite punctual" Trista's black lips curled into a slight smile. "That will be all, this meeting is dismissed." she stated as she stood. Dred floated away to allow her room to do so. He turned and looked at Cardexx, his face forming what be a smirk if he had a mouth, then vanished. The middle-aged man's blood was boiling.
"Lady Trista, shall I join you in bed tonight, Bonita?" Esteban proposed. He took Trista's hand into his, kissed it, then began running his tongue up her arm.
"Esteban!!!" Cardexx shouted, ready to attack him.
The vampire lord stopped, pulling away. "Calm down, old timer, we don't want you having a heart attack on us." he let out shrill laughter.
"Thank you for the offer, but I would rather be alone tonight. Maybe some other time."
"Of course, My Lady. Pleasant dreams then." Esteban bowed, looking up to smirk at Cardexx before turning into white mist and vanishing.
"Cardexx, I can handle him on my own. There is no need for you to worry" Trista assured him.
"My apologies" he bowed slightly. "So, we're going to allow Tiafell to go free for the time being?"
"Yes. As I said, Tiafell is not strong enough to be useful to us right now, but that hot big-tittied witch will toughen him up for us. So, while we wait for that, we will strengthen our forces and continue to gather intelligence on the Capital City of Hargath, as well as our 'beloved' King. I look forward to sitting in his throne and using his corpse as my footstool some day."
"Understood. Good night, Lady Trista." Trista smiled at him lovingly and left the throne room. Cardexx went to his quarters and punched a wall with a shout, putting cracks along the surface. "He may have corrupted my daughter, but I will never allow him to take my son!!!" He angrily snarled. "And somehow, I will save you from him too, Trista."
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The next morning, everyone gathered in the house Samora and her children were staying in for breakfast. They were all wearing fresh clean outfits, except for Tiafell, who was still in his dirty and damaged clothes from the day before. He was quiet and had bags under his eyes, indicating that he did not get much sleep, if he slept at all.
"Good morning, Tee-Tee" Mirya greeted him with a warm smile, hoping to get a response from him. The elf merely raised his hand to show some form of acknowledgement.
"I can't get him to say anything" Nadia told her. "I think he's gotten worse."
Samora was cooking and was close to being finished. "Good morning! You are just in time, I'm almost done!" she sang. Everyone gathered at the table, sitting down.
"I have missed this" Cirris said.
"I have too!" Mirya sniffled, becoming slightly emotional. Tiafell's eyes were glued to the table, his body staying perfectly still. Samora looked at him for a moment, then began piling bacon, eggs, sausage, and small fried potato slices onto each plate. She used magic to levitate a plate onto the table in front of the youths, carrying one for herself as she joined them.
"Dig in!" the witch invited. Everyone, except for Tiafell, did as they were told. Nadia and Cirris were racing to see who could shovel the most into their mouths the fastest.
