"You're Curete, aren't you?" Vanysa asked, "You were his lover… but then," the demoness gestured to the bloody pool which bubbled red like a fountain in any city square, "why do all that? Why not tell the truth?"
"Yes." Curete answered in a tiny voice and folded her hands into her lap, "Because that was the bargain. I was given life, but I am bound to this place, along with all his memories of what we once had. That is the way of the Mocking Stone. It will grant you your wishes, but never the way you think it will. I wished to keep it from harming anyone anymore, and it found a way for me to have my wish granted… to my ruin. My beloved wanted me to return to life, he wanted to forget the pain he endured, and he wanted to avenge our losses." She smirked a little and gestured to the bubbling blood. "This is not all mine… every time he kills, the pool grows deeper and more blood is added… and of course, he gets a little bit stronger."
"How long have you been here… what even are you? I thought you were a vampire at first, but you're not, are you?" Vanysa asked.
"I don't know how long it's been… I do feed on the blood that… that Inta sends to me. But no, I'm not a vampire. A vampire would have gone mad by now. I'm an Erinyes. The Mocking Stone says I am the Alecto. The fury of Anger and vengeance." She leaned forward and wings emerged from her body, her skin reddened and horns emerged from her head.
"And you…? You have the same smell." Curete said, and Vanysa stood, bowed politely with one hand bending in front of her waist.
"The Tisaphone. Fury of Murder." She answered Curete and gave a playful smile, "I never expected to see another like me."
"If you're here, there's only two possible reasons." Curete brought one talon up from her clenched fist, "You're here for the Mocking Stone." She raised a second finger, "Or you're here about Barintacha, or… Inta if he kept either name."
"Inta." Vanysa confirmed, then added, "But I wouldn't say no to bringing the Mocking Stone of a god back home to my master. He might even pat my head and tell me I did a great job for him." The demoness added, "It might even be a clue about the other Supreme Beings. So… both, definitely both. So What do I do to get the stone?"
"Go for a swim." Curete jerked her thumb toward the stone walled burbling pool of blood.
"I was expecting some kind of grand quest or-" Vanysa cocked her head to the right and scratched her horn.
Curete shook her head. "No, no nothing like that. The Mocking Stone was modeled after a weapon of the Other World. The Dagger of Paradox. It was carved by one of the gods of that place, but it didn't come out quite how he wanted it. So he traded it away to sate his lust for mortal flesh on his journey west. A handful of us went with him, but after he traded away the stone, he had a few regrets and set a handful of us to watch over the family who possessed it. I'm the last of that line, and though I intended only to watch… I loved him… I loved him with all my heart. And he forgot me… and it was my fault that he did. The Mocking Stone, mocks me still." Curete looked down at her feet.
"I was a fool. The stone craves to be used after so long alone. You're not the first to have come this way, monsters, occasional beastmen children, even a few humans up until what I suppose must have been hundreds of years ago… but who can say how long really? I haven't left this place, I've just killed those who entered, and fed their bodies to the resting place… if you go down and take the stone, I'm sure you'll see them, fellow demoness." Curete blinked back tears.
"Just tell me… my Inta… is he… is he happy? I have occasionally wished for the stone to show me things but… but the only times it does, are when the knowledge will be painful." Curete shivered, and Vanysa could not help but pity the woman.
"He works as a teacher now, in the Sorcerous Empire's magic academy, he teaches Sanguimancy. He fought in the last great war and distinguished himself by cunning in battle. As for happy, he has been romantically involved with Lady Entoma, a maid demon of the late Demon Emperor. I don't know him personally, but he is described as a content and amiable man of good temper and character, with a devotion to the education of his students. Does that make you feel better, or worse?" Vanysa asked, though she kept a greedy eye on the bubbling fountain of blood while she watched her host.
"Both and neither. You might as well be the stone itself… I wonder… how much has he really lost…?" Curete asked the rhetorical question, "At least he got the revenge he sought… he must have slain thousands of those creatures, after he was turned."
"I don't know, but there is a village there now that has some connection to him, even if they've forgotten it. The massacre must have been a sight to behold." Vanysa said with an admiring and respectful bow of her head.
"I see. Then is there anything else?" Curete asked, "Or will you take the stone?"
"After I've taken it, are you going to be able to leave here?" Vanysa asked.
"I can only go where the stone has gone until its true master has reclaimed it. He will never return so… I will be trapped in this cave until the end of time…" Curete answered.
"Then you can come with me, at least?" Vanysa asked and rose to her feet.
Curete stiffened in her chair, her wings shook as if angry or confused, "Yes… but why would you take me anywhere?"
"Wait right here." Vanysa said and approached the bubbling pool.
"Like I have a choice…" Curete mumbled.
"Right, sorry." Vanysa rolled her eyes at herself and dove head first into the thick, bloody fountain.