Chapter 13
The Undying Has Awakened, Everlasting Be His Reign
Dimitri, the bright skinned echidna walked the busy streets of Echidnopolis without fright. It was after all his city. In his mind he envisioned the entire world his, but he would start small first. Passing the giant library he felt he was receiving new, pure oxygen in his muscles, making every step a meaningful one. The devious mind smiled at every passing echidna- most he recognized, and soon he would claim the hour of reclamation.
His disguise was as perfect as it was incredibly difficult to keep. The persona he took was of an old echidna by the name of Simon. An echidna that was in the Legion but that he had to kill recently in order to infiltrate the High Council of Echidnas with his own flesh, and he had to see it with his own eyes. To replicate the face of another was a trick the Dark One had taught Dimitri, along with many other immoral but advantageous activities.
Dimitri, the scum of Mobius, the very will of the Dark One. If he was given the chance again he would retake Mobius, and he would not make the same mistakes again. But to be given unholy life was received at a price, the price was his very soul. It was eaten away by the Dark One long ago, making this echidna feel nothing but oblivion in his heart and a black hole where his mind should be.
"How is Floren-Ca?" Darwin the aging Mitre asked before patting who he thought Simon was and closing the giant doors behind him.
"Better than ever Darwin." Dimitri smiled evilly behind the face of the deceased echidna. Both of them waited at the middle of the chamber until the floor beneath them took them up slowly but surely thirty feet up.
"I know things have been tough since you lost Lien-Da, but I hear you've adopted. Janice, no, Jane,-"
"Julie-Su." Dimitri corrected. "Floren-Ca and I are getting too old, she is our last." Dimitri hated this simple talk, he cursed the old Mitre in his mind.
"Tell me all about it." The Mitre chuckled and the two echidnas took their places upon the high thrones of the chamber. When Darwin sat he looked beyond his small glasses towards the rest of the elderly council and said, "Praise Enerjak."
The council answered with a mixture of coughing and they praised their god, and Dimitri along with them, cursed Enerjak under his breath. He began to play with his replicated, droopy, wrinkles.
"Federal government growing, good. Education and medicine, great job Loren-Se." Darwin started and pointed at a younger than he echidna. He went down the line of elders in the chamber, "Daniel, enlisting has doubled-good. Cheaper labor. More and more small businesses. A new, safer transporter system under development. Eighty percent of slums replaced with upward mobility offices and extra homes for the homeless. Hmm… is there anything this city can't do? I'd say we're done for the day." As the Mitre joked others laughed and Dimitri caught on after he was playing with his new face.
Darwin pushed his papers aside and leaned his body backwards against his chair, "Majority concerns first please."
"More scares of the Legion of Darkness resurfacing." Daniel, the youngest yet still old echidna spoke.
Dimitri simply stated, "Rumors will be rumors." His Simon voice could have used some work but it did the job well enough.
"I agree." Darwin concluded.
Jarvis, another old echidna spoke out, "The Acorn Council has sent a distress letter, calling us again to aid them in their struggles with the kingdoms surrounding them. They claim to have seen the Golden Hive cross their borders."
Darwin thought, "We may send supplies their way."
But before he could finish his thought Dimitri finished it for him, "But our policy is clear, we do not meddle or interfere with their wars."
"Before I forget, "Darwin began, "our date of independence from the kingdoms comes ever closer. Remind me again Simon, uh… his name alludes me."
Dimitri thought for a moment and then smiled, "Remington."
"Yes!" Darwin exclaimed, "Constable Remington, Head of Security will be patrolling with the parade. Loren-Se I need you to meet with the constable, from now till that happens. Preferably sooner. Ask him to stay the entire parade. We don't want another mishap like last year." Darwin chuckled.
"You know," Daniel started, "Wasn't Remington in the Legion at one point? Just out of curiosity." With this comment Dimitri looked towards the old echidna intently as if his comment had wronged him.
Darwin looked the echidna over, "Yes. And he fed us a considerable amount of information which led to their downfall. He remains loyal to Echidnopolis and to Enerjak."
"I meant no disrespect." Daniel commented.
"We know." Darwin calmed his voice, "The Legion has been a dark stain on this proud people's history. But no longer." The Mitre smiled warmly and continued his talk of running the city.
Dimitri thought of Remington and what plans he might have with Lien-Da. I must act fast, the evil echidna thought.
The stoic under-chamber of Knottingham became even darker and more soulless than was possible. The Dark One had indeed returned.
Lien-Da bowed her entire body into the mass that was forming into the ever unfamiliar hedgehog. She beheld the Dark One to be of a lighter color than she had remembered, a minted color. He formed with all the malignance of the world. He opened his piercing neon eyes and looked to his student. He spoke and he had a mouth this time to speak with, "Lien-Da… Grandmaster is it? How long has it been?"
"Too long my lord." Lien-Da worshipped the evil entity-become-physical. "The color fits you, Dark One." She worried she had overstepped some boundaries, and the hedgehog heard her thoughts.
"There is no need for that." Mephiles referred to her thoughts, "Rise." At his command the girl rose and stood at attention. He admired his new self, "Yes, I must admit, the mint kind of grows on me."
Lien-Da made herself more comfortable, she distributed her weight by spreading her legs wider and smiled greatly and sincerely. The hedgehog studied the echidna as he walked around her. He looked at her with pleasure and wanting in his eyes. She noticed this and gave him a desirable glare. He stopped in front of her, he had finished studying every atom of her and even some memories.
"Lien-Da, you make me… a very satisfied leader. And to look you over is, pleasing." Mephiles smacked his lips lightly. "You are a stunning image of your father Simon."
She scoffed, "Simon." She looked down and apologized, "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn."
The hedgehog quickly dismissed the dejection and said, "No, love. Please let me indulge." Mephiles reached for behind her head, and found no quills. He stroked the back of her head as she spoke again.
"Simon is weak, I have renounced him as my father. I speak to him as if he were yet just another Legionnaire." She shrugged with one arm.
"Hm." Mephiles let her go and walked around her again, "Much has truly changed in my absence. I must need an advisor to answer my questions." He pointed at the echidna. "Although, I could just read your thoughts and get my answers there but… but that would take the fun out of it." He licked his lips at the thought of seeing Lien-Da undressed. He peeked around the lone stairwell that led to the castle.
"Whatever you need from me, I can give you. I am your servant my lord." Lien-Da spoke softly but full of intention. She tried sounding romantic but she had never been in a stable relationship before so this made it difficult.
Mephiles took her compliment and sped-walked to the echidna. When the hedgehog grabbed at the echidna's head to pull her closer to him, he dug his fingernails in her skin. It made her wince but she tried to remain calm and quickly found the attention pleasurable. He spoke, "Yes you are, you will do what I will." He licked her cheek before giving attention to her lips and mouth. After a few moments he stopped and looked at the heavily breathing echidna. He read her thoughts and could see that she wanted him, he saw that she had never been deflowered. He let her go and she controlled her breathing.
"Before I make you into a woman, you have something to ask me." Mephiles played with his puppet.
The kissing and the comment made Lien-Da lose focus for a moment, "I, yes. I offer myself to a lifetime of servitude. I only ask one thing from you."
Normally that pattern of words would enrage Mephiles but he stood his ground calmly, "You do not ask of me anything, I give my eternal blessing when I see fit."
"Yes, my lord." She bowed gracefully. But he raised her chin with his finger.
"I see why not." He gladly said. "You do know the charge?"
She nodded, "My soul." Lien-Da was either as mad as Dimitri or as soulless already.
"Then you must do one… last, thing for me." Mephiles neared her ear and whispered.
"Anything." Lien-Da trembled innocently.
Mephiles smiled and his words trickled in her ear, "Kill the Mitre, retake Echidnopolis."
"Gladly," She responded and directed to the shadows, "Gae-Na, get ready." Her right-hand woman hesitated leaving her sight but did so anyway.
Mephiles took ownership of Lien-Da in the under-chamber as Gae-Na passed a hidden snake she noticed, Mordred was leaning against the brick wall but Gae-Na ignored him and walked along.
Mordred Hood took a straighter path to the dungeon this time, fearing he was already caught. He alarmed the king when his torch reached his cell abruptly.
"My king," the snake whispered loudly, "The Dark One iss here, he hass returned!"
Ban rubbed his eyes and coughed. "Then our greatest fears… are realized." He coughed again.
"I warned the banditss long ago. Hopefully in time." The snake looked around, more spooked than he had been in years.
"Amelia… what about my daughter?" Ban urged.
"Ssafe, her journey hass taken her to Lionel, far away from here." The snake saw the king was pulling at his cloak near his chest.
"Good, I need you to bring her back." Ban coughed more.
"Back?! My king I would advisse against-"the snake was interrupted.
"Do it!" Ban yelled. "She'll be much safer here."
Mordred still did not see the logic behind it, "If I leave now the Legion will have my head, you know as well as I do my place iss with them. You said the swordss must be watched at all-"He was interrupted again.
"I know what I said! No… the swords must be reunited. I was wrong. Trust me Mordred, the great wizard told me so in my dreams." Ban coughed once more.
The snake paused, "Be that as it may, I…" He paused again and remembered his vows, and his love for the princess. "It will be done. For Amelia." The snake asked, "What will be done about Echidnopolis? You know as well as that that's the target."
"If the bandits arrive in time we march there. It would be deadly if they arrived later." Ban let the snake go and Mordred made all the necessary preparations before leaving his home.