Hi guys, here is another chapter! oh, we're so close to the end. I'm thinking there's only going to be about 5 more chapters!
Just a warning, this chapter is quiet graphic, so if that bothers you read the first six paragraphs and then skip to the last 3 paragraphs of the chapter.
Happy Reading :)
XXX
Chapter 10: Eren
Holding my gold blades in hand, I set out in search of the final beast. The DayGlass hanging from a heavy chain around my neck, the sand slowly slipping to a neat pile on the bottom. Seeing myself in the Mirrors, I feel feral, like I am a beast myself.
I stalk through the long hallways with deliberate stealth, trying to go in as straight a line as possible. The other three beast were considerably easy to find, they were loud and impatient. Making noise and tearing down walls without a shred of concern of how easy it was to find them on their rampages. If the dreadful feeling in my gut told me anything; it was that this fight, this monster, would not be so easily found or overcome.
Turning into a new hallway, a cold draft blows over me, fierce and smelling of death. My eyes tighten at this new development and my jaw clenches. I push through the hard wind and follow it to its origin. It leads me to a large circular space, with nothing in it. I steadily walk forward, throwing glances over my shoulder, not wanting to be caught unaware. When I reach the center of the room, I wait, prowling and feeling like a hunted animal. I am not prey.
I bare my teeth at the empty air, and feel the sudden appearance of a looming figure to my right and whirl around to face it.
The beast floats a good three feet off the ground, two large dual-colored wings beating at its back. It's body it flesh toned, with a normal human head and slim torso. The beast hips narrow into a cutthroat blade, which he raises towards his head and single glass eye. The beast then flips head over heels in rapid succession, his momentum increasing the deadliness of his blade-like tail.
I raise my swords, crossing them as a guard against the beast's onslaught, each hit rebounds through my body and nearly crushes me with it's sheer force. On the third hit, it stops and bares its full weight onto my blades, I grit my teeth and force myself to push back; throwing the beast off and immediately taking the offensive.
I rush towards the great beast, bringing both blades acrossed his unguarded abdomen. I feel the flesh break and blue blood spill from the wound, but it does not phase the beast. At my attack, it lashes back and whips me a crossed the face with a large hand. I roll and skid backwards,one of my swords ripped from my hands, feeling the burns from the smooth ground cut into my face and shoulders.
I open my eyes to find the beast gliding towards me, its figure looms over me, filling my vision. The beast's face is but a few feet above me and I can make out the unmistakable gold dust and simmering powered in its eye. Its eye holds the final riddle.
A cold, rancid draft washes over me as the thing lets out a guttural roar, and its serrated tail rises above my head.
My disgust at seeing my own death upon me, curls my lips as I snarl at the beast. I grip my single sword and fit it between my neck and the beast tail in the last moment, my hand gripping the narrow end of the blade, stings as a new wound opens next to the previous one and blood spills from my fingers, onto my bare chest.
I push against the beast, and feel a calm rage seep through my veins. Gritting my teeth at what might be my death, but still seeing only one option out of my predicament. I let my blade slip from the beast's razor and as the tail lowers on my neck, my blade raises higher.
In a swift jerk of my sword, I cut the beast's tail from his body. The heavy member falls, and impales the ground mere inches from my neck. Bluish blood rains from the remains of the beast's lower extremity, covering me in a warm stickiness.
The beast crashes to the ground, presumably dead; but just to make sure, I gave it the same death blow it would've given me. I pick up its severed head it my hands and dig my fingers into the flesh surrounding the jewel, feeling it rip apart and cover yet more of my body with blood. I grasp the jewel firmly in my head and pull, swallowing my bile as I felt the tug and snap of whatever held the jewel to the beast's head.
I throw the jewel to the ground and am satisfied by the explosion of glass and gold dust. I bend down to reach the small piece of paper, unfurling it in my hands, and reading the swirling text.
Head high, Eyes straight, This is now my fate.
Pretty crowns and gorgeous dresses, A new Queen just full of messes.
What have I become?
I sit down, not mind the blood pooling around me, and contemplate this finale riddle. Looking at the DayGlass, which surprisingly wasn't a hindrance during the fight, I know I only have a few hours left before my final day.
I feel my gut gnawing at me, telling me the answer and it's so sure that it won't even think of other possibilities. This final riddle says it's a new queen, so this person only just became part of the royal family, which makes them a Nobel, and if that's true, that means the first riddle is referring to her countenance over adversity. She has grace and poise and does not stumble, which means she can be nothing but Elegant. By following this pattern, the second riddle means that she is someone people can count on, and put their trust in, which means she's Reliable. As for the third riddle, it's rather odd. This characteristic is fragile and heavy, meaning it can be a burden. Being oneself can be a burden, and if she's a queen that can mean that she's not always allowed to be herself; but being a queen can be extraordinary. Does that mean the third word is Eccentric? I hope so, but it feels right, almost too right. If I go by the order I received the poems, that means….
His name is Eren.