Author's Note:Here it is, the second chapter, however I am pretty sure some of you will be disappointed by this one. It does have one scene that could be considered a lemon, but nothing like the previous one. This is purely for character personifications and setting the ground work for my next project.
As to the contest, the winner will be announced Monday the 30rd.
Without further ado, and taking place immediately after the previous one, chapter 2, Negations Have Ended:
Skins used: Traditional Karma, Gentleman Cho'Gath, Classic Kog'Maw, Classic Kha'Zix, Classic Kassadin, and Overlord Malzahar
Cho'Gath only shook his head as he smiled a small, monstrous smile at her. "I will have to politely decline, Madam." He replied, taking small steps so that she could easily keep up with him.
Despite his calm answer, it had been a forced answer for both her safety and stature. He was a Void born monster from a world outside of hers. Plus, she was an unwed woman, a virgin even from what she told him, and, while he did feel a warmth on the inside at her offer, he could not accept it. He wanted to accept it, to lay with this woman in bed, but did not and would not say why.
After all, now that he was a gentleman, he knew that to bed a woman solely for carnal pleasures was an act that could result from something unwanted.
He felt Karma's grip on his claw tighten and her other hand on his wrist. He turned his head and saw her smiling up at him. "You really are a gentleman, aren't you?" She asked with a hint of curiosity.
The Voidborn was about to speak, but then paused when he felt something underfoot. Curious, he looked down and raised his foot to find that he had stepped on a broken clay sculpture. He then turned his head to Karma, who had stopped as well, and saw her blush and look away. He chuckled lightly. "Do not worry. I never much liked that one anyway." He said reassuringly, and then began to walk once more.
He knew that the sculpture had not been knocked over earlier that night, which led him to believe that she really had walked her body all the way to his study. How she found it, with this being her first time in his manor, he did not know. Still, he found her ability quite remarkable.
He put his foot down past the broken pieces, planning to ignore it and let a voidling or servant clean it up later, and continued to lead the way to her room. Along the way, he noticed that there were other items either off balance, tilted, knocked over onto the floor, or broken from a fall. He did not mind, really, as they were all replicates of the originals. As much as he disliked it, the Institution did not allow him to keep priceless originals of famous artists, except for what he found in Icathia and only if the ones such as Ezreal did not claim them.
Karma slowly nodded her head, still not looking up at him. Instead, she just waited quietly for him to speak. She was relieved to know that she had not damaged anything important to him, but she was still ashamed that she had damaged something of his. All throughout the night, even to the dream, he had been a true gentleman to her; mostly.
"When did you develop that unconscious walking trick, and could you tell me more about it?" He asked with a curious tone in his voice. At this point, he was really trying to find out more about her as she had, in general, become an interest to him.
For lack of better wording, he thought of himself as in love with her, but he was not sure if it was the human feeling of love or simply another of his interests with the woman. However, that mind soothing spell of hers was… something else.
Karma turned her head to him before he began walking again, and she followed him, still holding his pincer claw and wrist. "That technique is… a secret." She said.
How would one go about explaining their ability to control themselves subconsciously? For Karma, it was possible because of her strength of will, but it was likely impossible for any other. Also, she did not know how far she could take that ability. She was not willing to take the tests and subject herself to find such limits.
If she went too far, she could end up causing more harm to herself and others just to find out about her questionable ability. Still, it had proved helpful in surviving, and that was all that mattered.
Cho'Gath nodded his head in understanding. "Very well then. However, I would like to request that you not do this again within my manor. There are certain rooms here that visitors… are not allowed to enter." He said.
Karma looked at him questioningly. What could these rooms be for?
"Such as the voidlings' holding rooms, the servants' quarters, and my personal quarters where I… well, that one's locked down." He added.
The first two sounded normal, but the third made Karma raise a questioning eyebrow toward him. "May I ask what is in this private room?" She asked.
The Voidborn was silent for a time, and then answered. "Now now my dear, you know very well that some of us have secrets we cannot tell others. I believe the term is a skeleton in the closet." He said.
Besides, how could he explain his otherworldly, Void-unique urges and pleasures? Devouring, feeding, gorging himself. There were many things he, as a Voidborn, enjoyed that others looked upon as horrible, monstrous, barbaric, and other things, but he reasoned that other people did the same when alone. After all, Noxus and Zaun were known for such things.
Karma was then silent as she followed him, but her mind began to wander as thoughts came to her mind.
Cho'Gath was a Voidborn from another world that was said to have once tried to conquer Runeterra, but they failed. Icathia had had some connection to the Void, but now it was just a lost city of ruins; how some people still managed to find it she would never know. What she had learned from her host was disturbing, but at the same time insightful and reassuring in a way. Still, she was curious about him and his secrets. After all, he had just changed sides. What if he was made another deal and turned against his word?
"Here we are." He said, drawing her out of her private thoughts.
She looked up and saw that they were in front of a room, the door wide open. She angled her head to see inside and saw that the covers of the bed were unfolded, her overcoat laid on the floor, and the rest of her accessories from the night leading toward the door. At its threshold, out of the way of door, were her shoes, only the tips of them visible to her.
She then felt Cho'Gath moving. When she turned her head to him, she saw that he was stepping out of her way. She looked up at him to find his snarl-like smile looking down at her, and she smiled back, no longer afraid of the otherwise terrifying sight. She noticed that he was not as tall as before, perhaps about ten feet from the sixteen she remembered from before she passed out during their dinner. "I take it this is my room?" She asked.
He nodded his head as he looked down at her, his body having decreased in size as his stomach digested the food from earlier and distributed the nutrients to the rest of his body. Yes, that was how his anatomy worked. The more he ate, the larger he became, but his metabolism was his to control, allowing him to grow or shrink to a maximum or minimum size. He could be as small as five feet tall, or as large as sixty feet tall. The proportions, however, changed with his size, but he was never what some would tall and fat.
With his free claw, he gestured toward the room. "You'd better go to bed. If I recall correctly, you said you had a meeting early tomorrow. Well, later this morning I suppose." He said.
She looked up at him, confused for a moment, and then looked down in shame. "Actually, I do not." She said in a low whisper.
His smile did not fade, but he did tilt his head in a questioning manner.
When he did not speak, she turned her head up to look at him, and saw that his head was tilted toward her. She took a deep breath from her nose, her chest puffing out through the jumpsuit, and then let it out slowly before speaking. "I only said that because I was afraid of entering when I first arrived." She said, and then looked back down, a blush of embarrassment on her face.
He caught sight of the tint of red on her face and straightened himself. "Do not worry. After all, I did not put my name on the letter because I knew you would not have come otherwise." He said. She looked up at him then, but her cheeks were still a slight red and she wore a frown. "I also thought that you would make that same excuse, and so I had a room, three in fact, set up for your stay here." He said.
Her eyes went wide for a moment, and then narrowed. "You set this all up so that I would have to walk away and refuse your invitation?" She questioned.
The Voidborn smiled down at her. "I may look like a monster from nightmares, but I am no monster or mindless killing maniac." He informed her. He then gently gave her a pat on the back with his now free claw as he smiled down at her. "Go back to sleep, and tomorrow, if you have no other plans, you may return for another meal here. Assuming you do not mind being in the company of other guests." He said.
Karma's expression changed to one of gratitude as she smiled, but then she frowned. "You are having other guests tomorrow?" She asked.
He nodded. "Yes. I invited my Void born comrades, Kha'Zix and Kog'Maw, to dine with me tomorrow, and I believe Malzahar is coming as well to speak of his cult." He replied, and then let out a sigh as he turned to look down the hall. "I am very much looking forward to another of our get together." He said.
For a moment, it seemed to her like Cho'Gath was acting as a father figure to the other two Void creatures. Then again, it was likely that he was as he had been in Runeterra longer than the other two and made further strives toward understanding it.
Also, she too was curious about these meetings he had mentioned. Malzahar was a given, but then he'd be more of a servant or herald to them.
Something told her that this would turn out to be another eventful evening.
With a smile and polite bow, Karma thanked him again for the dinner and for walking her to her room. After he had said good night as well, she watched him walk back toward his study, and then closed the door before walking toward the bathroom instead of the bed.
When she arrived to it, she discarded her jumpsuit, the crotch area of which was still covered in her sex juices, and stepped into the shower room. It was a seven foot tall glass container with a door and two bottles of unused washing and shampoo bottles, an orange loofah she could put on her hand like a glove, and the standard knobs and shower head, as well as a drain in the corner. She turned the water on and began to clean herself.
As she did, she paused when her right hand, holding the loofah, touched between her thighs, causing her to instinctively moan.
Cautiously and fearfully, with an inexperienced touch, she gently and slowly rubbed her sensitive womanhood with the wet, spongy glove, moaning and closing her eyes as she did. When she leaned back, her bare back touching the smooth glass wall, she opened her eyes wide and removed the loofah from her nether regions.
She let out a sigh and shook her head, reminding herself that she should not be doing such things, and returned to bathing herself, though she could not help but moan from time to time as she cleaned her more sensitive spots.
The experiences and feelings she remembered, though never really felt, were still fresh on her mind. To herself, she wandered if Cho'Gath, as well, was thinking of that…
The feeling of cooling water woke her from her trance, and she turned the hot water knob slightly, warming the water as it rained down on her. She then continued with her bathing ritual, washing the rest of her body and hair before turning off the water and opening the steam-covered shower door.
She shuddered slightly at the chill of the air outside of the small glass room, but then reached for one of the clean, dry towels. As she dried herself, she heard skittering, and then looked toward the sound, finding it at the door.
Curious, she wrapped the towel around her body and, careful not to slip, walked toward the door. She opened it and looked down to find a voidling, who then looked up at her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked as she crouched down toward it and wrapped her arms around her towel-covered legs. She ignored the feeling of the towel constraining her breasts, and merely waited for the tiny creature's response.
The voidling produced some sounds, like a squirrel's squeaking chattered, and pointed with its front left leg toward her jumpsuit.
Karma instantly blushed when she turned to it and saw a drop fall off from the crotch area. She then looked back to the creature and shook her head. "I won't leave it here, I promise." She said.
The voidling shook its head and pointed to her jumpsuit once more then the shower and finally the clean towels.
She followed its pointing claw, and then realized what it was trying to tell her. She looked back to it, smiled, and shook her head. "Thank you, but I will take it." She said.
It squeaked at her, like it was trying to tell her something, and then turned around.
She was about to stop it, to ask how it got into her room, but then watched as it climbed up the wall, near the door, and took the knob in its two left legs. It turned the knob, and then opened the door, after a few slips, just enough to get out before leaving the room. Finally, she saw two of its legs once more grip the knob from the other side, and then pulled the door closed.
Karma only stared for a time, amazed by the creature's ingenuity and agility, and almost forgot that it had intruded into her room. She then recalled that she had not locked the door. Muttering under her breath, she rose and stepped toward the door, and then found that it was locked… but she did not lock it.
Finding a second bolt lock, she locked the door with that as well to make sure there were no more guests while she stayed in the unfamiliar mansion of the Terror of the Void.
With that done, she turned to the dresser and stared at it for several moments, and then walked toward it. When she opened the first and top of its four drawers, she found half of it with a single layer of bras and the other half with a single layer of panties. They were of standard design, but, upon feeling the material, she found that they were of high quality.
Once more, she wandered how Cho'Gath had come into the possession of such luxurious products. Even if the entirety of his art collection were replicas, they were very good replicas.
Turning her mind away from wonder, she began to dress herself in preparation to retire for the night. While she was still a little uneasy about staying in a mansion full of creatures from another world, she trusted that Cho'Gath would not harm her...
As she laid down in the bed and closed her eyes, she recalled that he could still pull her mind from her body and into his own.
(The Next Day)
Author's Note- Yeah, I did not want to go through the daily routine of waking, preparing for the day, and working said day. I do this every day anyway, and I am sure other people do as well, so I saw no reason to write about it.
Silently, Karma finished reading the last of the reports from Ionia before setting the papers down on her desk and stretching.
Despite only reading, writing, and speaking with her fellow Ionians throughout the day, she felt as though she had just fought a war, and by the pain in her muscles caused by the Institution's summoners, she may as well have.
As she stretched, cringing slightly at the popping of her arms and back, she looked toward her clock for the time, and then relaxed as she sighed happily. It was a quarter till seven, nearly the time she had been informed of Cho'Gath's dinner with his comrades of the Void.
She pushed herself out of her chair, stood, pushed it back up, and then began to prepare for the evening.
The morning before, around eight, she had been awoken by a knocking at her door, and then the sound of a yordle informing her that breakfast was ready. She had gotten up shortly after and was pleasantly surprised to find that a change of clothes were ready for her inside the closet. After dressing and as she left the room, she was greeted by an unknown yordle in a maid's uniform. She had asked if she enter to retrieve and have the dirty laundry washed, and then did so when Karma approved.
As the Ionian walked through the halls toward the dining room, or at least she hoped was the dining room, she noticed several other yordles and humans, all either dressed in butler or maid uniforms. The butlers wore either black or navy blue suits, while the maids wore black and white uniforms with skirts of different sizes. Oddly enough, they all seemed cheerful, or at least the ten or so she saw. She was sure there were more in other rooms however, and she also noticed that there was not a trace of any of the voidlings she had seen the night before.
After a time, she found the dining hall and was greeted by a well-dressed Cho'Gath in his gentleman's attire. Together, the two of them enjoyed a large breakfast ranging from biscuits and eggs to more exotic foods she had never heard of.
When she had had her fill, he informed her when the dinner would be and that he would see to it that her clothing was delivered to her room in the Institution. She thanked him for his hospitality before politely leaving the mansion to return to her day's work.
And now that the work portion of the day was over and she was looking forward to this evening. However, she was concerned about meeting Kha'Zix, Kog'Maw, and Malzahar. She found it odd that Cho'Gath would invite her to dine with him the same time he had invited those three. It almost seemed to her as though he intended to try and change their allegiance as well, but wanted her help to do so.
When she finished cleaning herself, she decided to dress in her traditional elder's garb, which had been delivered several hours ago by one of the maids under Cho'Gath's service.
After checking herself out in her mirror to ensure everything was in place, she went to her door and opened it. When she did, she froze at the sight of Kassadin, the Void Walker, standing several feet from her door.
She took in a calming breath before smiling and speaking. "Good evening Kassadin." She said politely.
He did not answer, but she could tell that he was staring right at her with those bright, yellow eyes of his.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, she spoke again. "Can I help you with something?" She asked with an uneasy tone. While she did not dislike the Void Walker, she also did not like him. To her, he was another champion within the League, but one with many secrets and plans.
He was silent for a time, and then stepped aside, turning his body sideways but not breaking eye contact with her. He extended his left hand toward the wall, and a purple, swirling portal appeared, revealing a dark, clouded world beyond. "I would like to speak with you." He said, and then slowly turned his head to the sides, as though searching for something. "In private." He added before meeting her eyes once more.
Karma's face became devoid of any expression as she looked from the portal and back to him. "May I ask what this is about?" She questioned.
After nearly a minute, he spoke. "I will tell you once we are inside." He replied.
"And where will this lead?" She asked.
"A place where no one may know of our meeting." He replied.
By the way he had been waiting for her, she knew that he would not be letting her through until she had spoken to him. And so, she stepped into the portal...
And then only saw darkness.
(Enter complete darkness. Sorry, but there will be no visual aids in this. This section will just be the two speaking, mostly.)
"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked, only seeing a faint glow of light from the portal.
There was a sound, and then the light vanished. "I've heard that you visited the Terror of the Void last night and left earlier this morning." He said.
She turned, careful with her footing in the complete darkness, and hoped she was facing him. "Cho'Gath invited me to a late night dinner and I stayed the night at his home." She explained. "How did you know I was there?" She asked.
"One of the summoners informed me of your entering and leaving, as did a few of the guards. I would like to know what the two of you did that has caused him to... change." He said.
She raised an eyebrow questioningly. Cho'Gath was acting differently? "What do you mean?" She asked.
"He has ordered the vision wards removed from his mansion, saying that tonight was a special night and that he would not have the Institution's eyes watching him. In addition, voidlings have been seen meeting with Kha'Zix, Kog'Maw, and Malzahar." He said, and then went silent. When he spoke again, his voice had changed direction and came from her right. "The summoners had asked that I infiltrate his mansion and find out what was happening, but I thought it a better idea to speak with you first." He said.
"So you want to know why I was at Cho'Gath's mansion last night and what we spoke of?" She asked.
"Yes." He replied.
There was silence for a few seconds, and then she spoke. "Has Cho'Gath removed the wards before?" She asked.
"To my knowledge, no." He answered.
"What about contacting Malzahar and the other Void born creatures?" She asked.
"Again, not to my knowledge." He replied.
She nodded to herself as she thought this over. While there was the possibility of deception, she knew that Kassadin was deathly devoted to his fight against the Void. Still, she would not tell him everything she had spoken to the Voidborn about, such as their new partnership and what it inquired, even if neither of them had said what they would hold from others.
"All that happen last night was that he invited me to dinner, and then he offered me a room for the night." She said. "Speaking of which, he invited me to another one tonight around this time." She added.
After what seemed like several minutes in the world of darkness, an eerie purple light showed. At first, she had to squint as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and then she saw Kassadin's outlined figure near it. "Be very careful Karma. Those of the Void are not to be trusted." He warned her.
She turned her head from the portal to him, but was still unable to make out really any of his features aside from most of his outline. "I will, though I would like to ask a favor of you." She said.
She saw him move slightly, straightening she guessed. "What kind of favor?" He asked.
By the time she arrived at the mansion, it was dark. She had been informed by a message from the one who delivered her clothing that the dinner would be at seven thirty, and it was nearly that time now.
As she walked through the short path, Karma noticed that there were more guards and summoners than before, as well as a certain champion. Some of them she had seen the previous night, and others she had not. She could tell that most of them were curious as to why she would return to the home of the Terror of the Void.
As far as she knew, no one but Kassadin knew why she was there, and she hoped he'd keep that secret as she had requested. Of course, she would not tell him everything that happened, such as the experience with the wine and what the two of them agreed on, but she did tell the Void Walker why she was there.
When she reached the door to the mansion, she was met by a large, three foot tall voidling at the door. She stopped in front of her and watched it as it watched her, tilting its head curiously at her for a second, and then tapped on the door. A few seconds later, it opened, and Malzahar appeared.
He was dressed in a set of cloth armor, which she recognized as one his more spectacular outfits. He wore a pair of thin metal shoulder pads and a thin metal chest plate, an elaborately decorated helmet that showed only his eyes, a belt with a large yellow gem that resembled an eye on it, and the rest of his attire was a mix of purple, black, and yellow designs. At his right hip hung the dagger that he always carried with him, though its home was just as ornament as the rest of his clothing.
The two champions stood there, watching one another for a second, and then Malzahar turned around, leaving the door opened for her, and began walking without a word.
Understandably suspicious, Karma cautiously stepped inside of the mansion and closed the door behind her. She then scanned the room with her eyes, finding it mostly empty save for the Void's prophet as he moved toward another room. She had guessed that the human and yordle servants would be absent from the mansion, but she did not see a single voidling.
Slowly and cautiously, she began walking in the direction she had seen Malzahar going. As she did, she was able to hear, but not see, the skittering of voidlings. From her visit the previous night, she recognized it as the larger ones, but with a few smaller ones mixed in as well.
Finally, by following the sounds of skittering and glimpses of Malzahar, she arrived in a large room with a collection of books, chairs, two coat and hat racks, and a large table full of food and drinks.
Had she not been invited to his home yesterday she would have been surprised by the large variety of dishes ranging from whole cooked animals to bite sized pieces of raw and cooked meats to fruit and vegetables either cut or left whole. All of the food was arranged in such a way that it looked like a masterpiece, and the smells given off by the mix of raw and cooked foods, each complimenting the other in terms of smell, color, and size, forced her to swallow back the building saliva.
She did not think she was this hungry, but it appeared the display of food before her even forced her stomach to growl.
She looked away from the food when she heard her name called, and then locked her eyes with those of Cho'Gath. "Welcome back Elder Karma, and may I say you look beautiful this evening. Come come, have a seat and help yourself." He said.
Karma nodded her head slowly, and then straightened herself. She looked over the room and smiled in greeting to each of the others. Cho'Gath sat at the head of the table furthest from her, Kog'Maw sat in a high chair to the Voidborn's left, Malzahar sat next to the Mouth of the Abyss, and Kha'Zix sat at the other end of the table across from Cho'Gath.
From Cho'Gath, she received a nod of his head and his snarling smile. From Kog'Maw, who was devouring a roasted pig (a boar actually by the tusks) by tearing it apart with his mouth, she received a greasy wave with his left arm, dripping a little of the grease onto the floor. From Kha'Zix, she received an evil look and only a glance. Finally, from Malzahar, she did not receive any response from the mage.
She sat to Cho'Gath's right, leaving her in front of Kog'Maw and next to her host and an empty chair. When she did sit down, she turned her head toward a low, threatening growling sound to her right, and saw Kha'Zix staring at her with a glare.
"Kha'Zix, there is no need to think of Elder Karma as a threat." She heard Cho'Gath say. "She is merely here as a guest." He added.
She glanced to her host, and then straightened herself in her chair before looking forward, toward her plate. When she did, she saw a number of small voidlings, about a third the sizes of the ones she had seen last night.
Before she could say or do anything else, she heard Kha'Zix speak. "Why invite this woman?" He asked his host. From the corner of her eye, she saw the Voidreaver gesturing with his left claw toward her.
Cho'Gath waved his left claw dismissively. "Because she has done a great deal of good to improve and better the people and settlements of this land." He replied.
The Voidreaver produced a buzzing-like sound. "Improved and bettered for the good of none." He retorted.
The Terror of the Void's eyes turned hard as he looked at his fellow Void born creature. "Kha'Zix, I ask that you show respect to MY guests, or I will lose respect for you." He said, his voice turning eerie, more... echoing like before his voice became more refined.
The Voidreaver's buzzing stopped and he snapped at the food on his plate, engulfing and devouring it angrily.
Cautiously, Karma glanced from Cho'Gath to Kha'Zix, and then to her plate, which was now full of the food she had requested. Now that things had settled down, and she hoped things would stay that way, she slowly began eating.
As she did, she glanced to the others at the table, finding Kog'Maw eating with great zealous and Malzahar taking his time as he ate slowly. Kha'Zix continued to glare angrily at Karma as he ate, but did not for more than a second or two. Finally, Cho'Gath returned to his meal, his plate nearly as full as Kog'Maw's, but held more of a variety of meats and plants.
For a few minutes, the dinner proceeded in silence, each person or monster eating their own food that was served by the small voidlings, or it did until Malzahar spoke. "Madam." He said, causing Karma to turn to him. "Would you care to leave for a time? I must discuss something with our host and Kog'Maw... something Void related." He said, adding the last part.
Karma titled her head toward him. "I take it that means business with your cult?" She questioned curiously. She knew about the cult's existence, but not its workings or organization. She hoped that it was as easily identifiable as Elise's.
The prophet nodded his head. "Even if you are interested in joining our cause, tonight is not the time for such an initiation." He said.
"Actually," Cho'Gath said, bringing both of their attentions, and that of Kha'Zix's, to him. "I have spoken to Elder Karma last night of our cause, and she has agreed to join us." He said. Before any of them could another word, he added. "However, our cause has... changed."
Karma was surprised by this as she had thought that she had only changed his allegiance, but now he was saying she had joined their cause.
Malzahar, needless to say, appeared confused, despite the majority of his face being covered, while Kha'Zix showed more attention toward the topic.
Cho'Gath turned to Kog'Maw. "My friend, would you pause for a minute or two." He asked.
Kow'Maw looked up from his feast, most of which was eaten with only about an eighth of what use to be a whole pig remaining, and sucked his lips into his mouth. A second later, he pulled them out, now clean of grease, and appeared to smile. "Okay." He said.
Nodding, Cho'Gath then turned to the rest of those present, making sure he had their attention, and then spoke. "As you all know, or partly know," he said, glancing at Karma for a moment. "We have all been preparing for the Voidborn, my comrades within the Void, to free themselves into this world, but, as we have found out, there will be opposition." He said.
Malzahar waved his hand dismissively. "The cult is equip and in training. All we need is to know when and where." He said.
Kha'Zix snickered at this, but did not speak.
The Terror of the Void nodded before he continued. "Yes, about that..." The prophet and Voidreaver looked at him seriously. "I believe we should change our allegiance to that of this world." He said.
Karma felt her heart skip a beat at the words, and then another at the eerie silence.
And then Kha'Zix roared a terrible roar as he rose to his feet, his scythe-like claws stabbing through the hard wood of the table. "HAVE YOU GONE MAD!?" He roared.
Malzahar, though visibly upset by this, only blinked his eyes in disbelief. "Lord Cho'Gath, surely you mean something else by that?" He questioned, turning his eyes in all directions. "I... I mean... That would ruin all of our carefully laid plans. All of the preparations and... and..." He said, stumbling over his words.
Kog'Maw, however, frowned and lowered his arms in a disappointed manner. "Koggy no get piles of meat?" He asked sadly.
Cho'Gath shook his head at the little Void creature. "No, my friend, no piles of bodies of the brutally eviscerated defenders for you to feast upon during and after the war. However, I will see to it that Mundo's slaughterhouse has a constant supply of farm animals coming in." He said.
The Mouth of the Abyss brightened at that knowledge and clapped his hands together. "YAY! Koggy love cow and sheep and pig and go-"
"Voidborn! Explain this betrayal immediately!" Kha'Zix roared, causing Kog'Maw to shrink back and go quiet as he tried to hide his face from view.
Cho'Gath smiled his snarling smile at his Void born comrade. "Why of course." He said causally, and then leaned back in his chair. "My former arrangement with the rest of the Voidborn was quite flawed, as it did not account for the minds of the humans and yordles that inhabit this world. Eventually, it would have left me with a bit of land that would become empty of food, water, and labors, leaving me with effectively nothing. A terrible deal on my part, as the rest of my comrades would have free reign to do as they please." He said.
The Voidreaver hissed and made that buzzing sound of his toward Cho'Gath. "We all accepted the terms of our dealings when we entered this world... and swore on our lives that we would keep our ends." He said, brandishing his right claw toward the Voidborn. "Are you forfeiting your responsibilities, Voidborn?" He hissed.
Cho'Gath's smile grew, and then he straightened himself in his chair. Placing both arms on the table, he leaned toward the hunter of the Void. "Can you keep that threat? Hmm?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
The Voidreaver ceased his hissing and buzzing... and then turned his head toward Karma, slowly. Within his eyes burned a promise and need to kill... to feed... to punish.
As he leaned toward her, his legs and wings preparing to launch himself forward, Cho'Gath's voice, from before he began intriguing himself into the society of humans, sounded. "Think carefully about your actions parasite... For your death will be an eternal one." He said, his tone as serious as death itself.
Karma took in a deep breath, understandably nervous and on guard after Kha'Zix's threat and tone, and kept her eyes on the Voidreaver as he spoke.
Slowly, the insect-like creature settled into its seat once more, but stared hatefully at Karma as it spoke. "You will rue this day and remember it when the others come." He said in a low hiss.
Before Cho'Gath could speak again, Malzahar interrupted, drawing both of the creatures' attention. "Lord Cho'Gath, what of the cult? I thought you had said that they and I would live... under your protection." He said.
The Voidborn opened his mouth to speak, but paused when Kha'Zix hissed out a fit of laughter.
The prophet turned from one Void creature to the other, pausing on his host. "Lord?" He asked.
Cho'Gath shook his head. "Actually, you and the cult are, or will be, liabilities when the rest of our kind enters this world. Why, with your knowledge and mastery of our portals, not to mention the knowledge you have passed down to the cultists, you and they could pose a serious threat to us, even banish us back." He said causally. "In fact, I was to devour you as soon as the rift portal was opened to ensure it could not be closed." He added. "Something I was very much looking forward to before today."
Malzahar's eyes went wide at this information... and his tone blank. "Wh... what?" He whispered.
"Oh yes. The cult of the Void was to be the first blood spilled upon our conquest, but now it will be Void blood, not Runeterran, that will be spilled first. Assuming the troops are trained by the only ones who have seen the horrors within." He said. "Sadly, you will have to work with Kassadin to ensure this happens." He added.
By the way the prophet's mouth hung open, it was clear that his world had just been turned upside down. He had been promised that he and his cult would live under Cho'Gath's rule, safe from the other Void creatures.
They would serve their Void masters willing and completely... or at least he thought they would.
Now, he did not know what to think. All of this time, all of his past years, he had devoted to the service of the Void, to Cho'Gath, Kog'Maw and his father from within the Void, and keeping the cult maintained, but now... all of his warnings were suddenly directed toward him.
Each warning, each threat, every dark promise... every malefic vision was suddenly turned on him in that instant.
The weight was... crushing.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a clash, not quiet steel against steel but close, and turned to see Cho'Gath's arm blocking Kha'Zix's claw. "Now now. It is too early for bloodshed, and I will not allow it in front of my guests nor within my home." He said, and then his voice turned hard. "Stand down." He ordered.
Angrily but slowly, Kha'Zix took back his claw and jumped backwards, his wings fluttering slightly as he did until he landed several feet away. "You are a fool, Voidborn! When this world is taken, I will be the one to devour you and become what you have betrayed." He hissed, and then turned to leave.
Cho'Gath straightened and began to walk back to his seat. "Before you go." He said, pausing and turning around. Kha'Zix stopped as well and turned his head toward his former Void comrade. The two of them stared at each other for a very tense time. "If I hear or find out about anything that has happened with one of our fellow Champions of the League of Legends or Institution of War, I promise that I will find you... and whatever the summoners do to you will seem like tickling compared to what I will bring upon you." He said, his tone and voice dark, echo-like, and foreboding.
The Voidreaver's expression turned to one of fear for a moment, but only a moment, and then he stormed out of the mansion. A sharp, cleaving sound rang out once, followed by a crash of something onto the floor.
Cho'Gath let out a sigh before returning to his seat and sitting down. He put his head into his right claw and shook his head. "He's going to take time to convince..." He muttered.
"Umm... L- Lord Cho'Gath." Malzahar said.
The Voidborn raised his head and looked back the prophet. "Please, call me Cho'Gath. I will no longer be the lord of anything for a good, long while, and even then it will be more of a governor or something of that nature." He said.
The human nodded his head slowly. "Wh- what is to become of me...? And of the cult?" He asked timidly, though he seemed to have regained some of his composer... it did not look like a lot.
Cho'Gath shrugged. "That is for you to decide. What I would recommend is to break the news to them and try to work with Kassadin. If things go well, the two of you could be heroes, leaders of the armies that found and defeated the invaders of the Void." He explained.
The human tried to speak, but no words came forth. All he could do in his shell shocked state was mumble now and again.
After a minute or so of this, Karma spoke up. "I will make sure you and your followers are not harmed, and that there will be a place for you and them to think your lives over." She offered sincerely.
The prophet turned his head down to the floor. "Over... yes... it's all over..." He said.
Slowly, he rose from his chair, and began to stagger out of the room.
As he reached the doorway, he grabbed hold of its sides for support and spoke without facing them. "I... I will informed the cult... and tell them to seek you out Elder." He paused. "Thank you for the invitation." He said, and then began to walk out of the building.
When he was gone, Cho'Gath let out another sigh before turning to Karma. "Can prophets willingly kill themselves?" He asked.
Karma snapped her head to him, her eyes wide. "What?" She asked.
Cho'Gath gestured toward the way Malzahar had left. "Could he, if he had a mind to do so, commit, what was it called, suicide?" He asked.
Karma turned her head toward the way he gestured, and then looked back at him. "I... I do not know. Malzahar is the only prophet that I know of." She informed him. She thought of it for a moment, and then shook her head. "I assume that he would avoid such a course of action as that would make him partially blind, the same way one would cease an action that causes pain." She added.
The Voidborn nodded, and turned to Kog'Maw. "Kog'Maw, my friend, you and Master Malzahar have spent a considerable amount of time together. Would you know what his next course of action would be?" He asked.
The little Void creature tilted his head, appearing confused. "Malzy no spend much time with Koggy since pretty lady of scary armor guy go to home." He said.
(Theory crafting here. Make of it what you will, but I have my own thoughts and ideas of how and the order of when the Void-related champions joined the League/ Institution.)
Cho'Gath was confused by this for a moment, and then smiled. "Ah yes, Kassadin's daughter..." He began, but then frowned. "Oh, right... that little transaction could prove problematic." He said.
Karma frowned at her host. "What became of her?" She asked. She had heard about the incident and, while tragic, she was curious as to what happened to woman. Was it simply moving her into the Void, or was there something much darker?
The Terror of the Void let out a sigh. "Well, she is the reason Kha'Zix came into this world, through the help of Malzahar. It would take time to explain all of it, but she was a vessel for Kha'Zix." He explained.
The woman titled her head, unsure of what to make of this but having a question. "Is she alive?" She asked.
Cho'Gath nodded. "The process of, well, birthing, for lack of a better word, my comrade damaged her mental state. For now, she is in this place, recovering from the experience." He explained.
Karma raised an eyebrow and smiled at the Voidborn. "So you do care for others?" She asked.
He shrugged. "I only felt it was too tragic of a turn of events to allow the poor thing to suffer. Plus," he said, smiling a small, sad smile to himself. "Were Kassadin to return to the Void and, on the off chance he found out his daughter was not there and had re-entered Runeterra and did so himself, he would search for her here." He added.
Karma frowned at him. "Wouldn't this be a bad place to hide her though?" She asked.
He nodded his head before shaking it. "He would be upset, perhaps even furious, but I believe myself to be the only one who could help her. After all, Kog'Maw and Kha'Zix would be more interested in eating her, no offense my friend." He said, looking toward Kog'Maw.
"Koggy like crazy lady. She funny." The Mouth of the Abyss said. "Can Koggy eat again?" He asked with a hopeful and green saliva dripping smile.
Cho'Gath nodded his head. "You may." He said, and then turned back to Karma as his friend began to eat what remained of his roast pig. "The young lady has been recovering since Kha'Zix's... separation from her. Another time, when she is ready, I could introduce the two of you." He informed her.
She slowly nodded her head. While she did not fully understand, she assumed it must have been some kind of mental stress, but the thought of Kha'Zix having spawned from the woman, something she did not like to think about, kept her from asking any more of the Voidborn. "You called Kha'Zix a parasite." She began. "What did you mean?" She asked.
The Voidborn nodded his head and began to point out orders to his voidling servers, commanding them to fill his plate silently with his two top appendages. "I called him a parasite because that is what he was when he first entered this world. Unlike Kog'Maw and myself, he required aid to do so on his own." He said. Leaning back in his chair, he began to explain. "Malzahar was the first in a long time to have made contact with the Void. From his mental and magical connection, Kog'Maw, once far more powerful and intelligent when he was in the Void, crossed over into this world to find out more of the about this world, but the act caused him to deteriorate mentally and physically." He said.
He let out a sigh. "Inside the Void, he and his father were the only ones above me, and I was their highest ranked vassal." He glanced to Kog'Maw, who was eating happily and oblivious to the two and their conversation. "Now, I am his babysitter, rather than his bodyguard, and all I have left of who he once was are memories." He said sadly.
Karma looked down sadly at this and stared at her food for a time. "How and why did you come to this world?" She asked.
"When Kog'Maw did not send word of his safe travel to this world, Dad'Maw, not his real name, ordered me through the rift by any means necessary. As Kog'Maw and I were friends, I was already prepared to do so." He went silent for several seconds. "I found the rift that was once used to invade Runeterra and, through brutal force alone, I forced my way past those barriers and into this world, where I was then captured by the Institution's summoners and explorers." He said with a bit of malice in his voice.
"Was Kog'Maw's father ever informed of your capture and his son's... condition?" She asked, hesitate for a few seconds.
Cho'Gath nodded, and his voice returned to his normal, gentleman's tone. "Malzahar sent devoted cultists through to the Void with the purpose of delivering messages, but none of them returned. There was one... but that was not of our intentions." He said.
"Kha'Zix?" Karma asked.
He nodded. "He was supposed to only show her to my master, but he instead took her from the path. I do not know what he did to her, but I know what the results were." He said.
"So there is conflict with one another even in the Void?" She asked.
"We call them parasites. How he gained favor with Dad'Maw I will never know, but he is no friend of mine." He said angrily, growling slightly. After a few seconds, he stopped and adjusted himself in his seat before reaching out with a claw to begin eating. "Even now, he feeds off of hosts, taking what is theirs for himself and growing stronger. Unfortunately for him, this world does have warriors of greater strength than him, forcing him into the role of stalker and hunter." He added with a little more of a pleased tone.
Karma truly did not know what to make of this, but she guessed his fondness for those from the Void only extended to certain ones. If Kog'Maw was his friend in the Void and now his charge, and Kha'Zix was akin to something of a shifty slave, then that meant he really had turned against his friends and family.
If so, could she trust him to keep his word?
"Cho'Gath." She began, causing him to turn to her, but he did begin to eat. "Are you sure about this? Betraying those in the Void and fighting to protect Runeterra?" She asked.
The Terror of the Void finished chewing his bite and swallowed, and then leaned back in his chair. "While I was not unhappy with my status in the Void, I will admit that I had always sought a way to elevate my status and, well, own more than an army. Though Kog'Maw and I were and still are friends, his father promoting me to be his son's personal guard, there was always this piece of me that yearned for the position of leader rather than general and soldier." He said. He then turned his head away from her and stared forward, as though looking into something only he could see. "Honestly, Kog'Maw and a few of my concubines are the only ones I care even the slightest bit for. If the others were no longer able to intervene with my life, and I could acquire land and servants of my own, then that would be fine with me." He finished.
Karma smiled a small smile at this knowledge. Despite what little she knew about the Voidborn and his standing and ranking within the Void, she could understand his desire to live as he wished. In a way, it was much like Riven's story, only from a very different perspective. "If the Institution will allow it, I would be honored to give the two of you a tour of Ionia." She offered.
Cho'Gath chuckled happily at this. "That, Madam, would be superb." He said, and then gestured toward the table of food. "For now, let us enjoy the dinner... before Master Kog'Maw devours everything." He said lightheartedly.
Karma smiled and nodded at this. "Speaking of which, may I stay the night? Ionia is a big place, and the two of you need to know which areas are the most dangerous." She said.
"Ah yes, the Order of the Shadow and Miss Syndra's domain." He said.
As she prepared herself for bed, Karma made sure her room, the same as the previous night, was empty of voidlings and that her door was locked. When she was finished, she ran her fingers through her hair, soothing it out and removing her hairband, but stopped when she noticed something on her night stand.
It was an unlabeled glass bottle of red liquid held shut with a cork on it and a small wine glass next to it.
With only a red, velvet robe on, she walked toward the night stand, sat her hairband down, and picked up the bottle.
Curiously, she removed the cork and held the bottle under her nose.
She took a small whiff... and then let out a happy sigh.
She placed the bottle back down and finished preparing for bed, and then sat down on her bed.
She did not know why he had left the bottle for her, but she was not unhappy to once more enter mind of her new ally.
Atop the roof of the manor and staring out at the darkness, Kog'Maw scanned the scenery for anything out of the ordinary.
As he did, his head snapped upward, toward the sky.
For a time, he only stared, and then turned his head downward. "Oh no. Daddy no happy." He muttered quietly to himself.
He then slowly began to make his way down and back inside. "Koggy no want to fight Daddy." He said.
He paused... and looked up at the sky once more. "Gathy find other way. Invading really only way?" He asked to seemingly nothing.
After a period of silence, he frowned and slouched. "Koggy have to think. Koggy like people here." He said.
After another several seconds of silence, he spoke again. "Koggy not know what to do." He said, and then began to reenter the manor.
Author's Note:
Sorry if this one seems like it ends abruptly, but I will promise that this one will not end here. After all, there are three champions who must come to terms with what Cho'Gath has decided, and then there is how the Void and its horrors will play out.
Yes, I've decided to make this my overall tribute to LoL as well as my goodbye to making fan fictions about it solely, as I've started playing other games and I do indeed enjoy them enough to want to branch out.
So, I hope everyone will enjoy this story and know that others are coming, but they will not be only about LoL.