MIKE POV
It's been some time since Viper had headed on up to see the Soothsayer. What the two of them could possibly be talking about was beginning to bite at me, making me nervous. Maybe I should have gone up with her when I had the chance.
Anyway maybe I ought to step outside for a brief moment. All this standing around is making me feel like a statue collecting dust. Heck, it's not like I'm needed at the moment, so why not just take the time to relax.
Giving into the urge I opened the tower door, leaving them open as I moved past them, and slithered outside and instantly I was met with the hot shining sun outside, bringing a small smile to my face and, for a brief moment, making me forget about my troubles. Shame that the large defensive wall blocks the view of most of the city outside. Well, the fresh air is enough for me.
It doesn't take much longer before I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. Probably the Soothsayer herself or someone I've yet to meet. A couple of minutes later and I found that I was right. Coming down the last set of stairs was the Soothsayer. And by her side was Viper. She looked a little... upset I suppose would be the best word for it. It was like almost all of the emotion had been sucked out of her. Not to mention her slow decent down the remaining stairs as even the Soothsayer passed and beat her to the ground floor. However while the Soothsayer calmly waited right at the bottom of the stairs, Viper continued slithering forwards until she was a short distance away from me. I met her halfway and slithered back inside the palace.
"Viper... are you okay"? I asked the question, despite knowing the painfully obvious answer.
"... Mike... I... I think there's something I need to talk to you about"...
"What's going on"? I turned to the Soothsayer with a hint of worry. "What happened to her"?
"It's not what has happened to her python. It's what is happening to her that is the problem". She replied with a serious look.
"I don't understand".
"Python... this will not be easy for you to accept. However it is imperitive that you know".
"Know what"? I half asked, half demanded as I grew more worried with each passing second. Whatever was wrong with Viper, it was bad, I got that! The longer the wait the more I begin to panic on the inside. But then... the second the Soothsayer told me. My fear tripled.
"A powerful spirit has infected her mind. A very dangerous curse that few people have come across. If it continues to linger, then I'm afraid that it will be but a matter of time before her mind becomes corrupted, and your greatest ally turns against you and seeks to destroy you".
"What"?
That was it. That was all I was able to say, at a barely audible tone too. Every other part of my body and mind had frozen as I tried desperatley to believe the opposite of the Soothsayers words. However the looks given from both beings before me was all that proved me wrong. If someone were to poke me right now I could have sworn that I'd fall over like a brick. If I was understanding correctly, the demon, and blow me if you can't tell which demon it is, had somehow gotten inside Vipers mind like it had mine and was trying to turn her against me?
"How... how can you tell"? I finally asked the Soothsayer after what felt like an eternity.
"Even the darkest of secrets reveal themselves in time Python".
In other words, I know the answer but I can't be bothered to tell you anyway.
"But there still remains crucial information that you need to know".
Right now, I'm not sure I can take anymore of this information without suffering a heart attack.
"Like what"? I braced myself for the worst.
"A second presence lies within her head".
"Second presence? You mean another demon"?!
"I'm afraid I can't be certain. But where you now expect the worst to come, perhaps it would be wiser to take comfort in knowing that this other being means no harm".
"And how do you know that"?
"Because I have spoken with it, not so long ago. It communicates through Viper, and has mentioned that it has spoken to you too".
"To me"? I scoffed. "Forgive my brashness Soothsayer, but I'm pretty certain I'd know if some weird second demon thing has been talking to me".
"Apparently you don't it seems".
"Pardon"?
Now it was Vipers turn to speak up.
"There was one incident where it may have been possible. Remember back at Jinzhou prizon"?
Jinzhou Prison... VIPER POV
"Viper"!
I jumped at the sudden shout and turned back round to Mike. He looked rather confused. I'm not sure why either. Had he seen something while I was at the balconey staring at the city below? Hard to say since his confused face was staring directly at me, as though I had just gone and done something strange in front of him.
"Mike"?
"Mind explaining what that was about"?
"What was what about"?
"What you were just talking about. One of red, one of green, forever alone".
One of red...? What? What was he going on about? I didn't say anything of the sort. Was he messing around with me? Couldn't be, he isn't the type to do that.
"I... didn't say that".
Mike looked ready to argue back. Before he could, the gorilla guard came back through the door with two large handfuls of supplies. Even with the minor interuption, Mike still passed on a worried glance at me, making me feel nervous. It's as though we don't have enough troubles already travelling to Gongmen.
Gongmen city MIKE POV
"I see. That does explain why you were speaking nonsense. But that still doesn't explain what those sentences meant. One of red, one of green, forever alone. Why the hell is it that everything mystical and mysterious has to talk in riddles, is it the code of the supernatural or something"?
I turned back to the Soothsayer again.
"Is there anything else that this mystery voice may have said to you Soothsayer? Anything that may explain why it's in Vipers head as well as another monster"?
"In a manner of speaking python, that mystery voice as you so call it, does not reside within Vipers cranium, nor does the demon you are more familiar with".
"You're not making any sense Soothsayer. How can it be talking from within Vipers head if it doesn't exist inside her head to even begin with?! I'm really starting to get lost". I spoke, becoming frustrated more and more.
"Viper explained to me about the last time you encountered your supernatural foe. How your minds were connected to those of your friends and fellow masters using the dream stone".
"Alright"... I nodded, listening carefully.
"The Mèngyǎn used this plan to its advantage and imprisoned you, making you go against what thoughts laid deep within your head. At least that is what your friend Viper has explained to me, is it not"?
"Yeah, that's all correct so far".
I gave a quick nod to Viper and continued.
"I remember several of my team mates fighting for their lives. Afterwards the Mèngyǎn set a large creature on me, of which I barely survived. The next thing I remember, several large beams of red light exploded out of nowhere, attacked the demon, and...".
At that moment, the pieces were finally starting to come together.
" ...Wait. Those beams of red lights. Are you telling me that those from were the mysterious voice"?
The Soothsayer nodded.
"... That aside, it still doesn't explain why it jumped into Vipers head".
"To persue that which escaped yours"...
I almost jumped at the rough voice which had come from nowhere. I turned to its source and found that the strange dark voice had come from Viper! Her face no longer held the worried look it once had, but instead had twisted into a more serious, darkened version of herself. And it didn't help that she was staring directly at me either.
"Viper"?
"Threat not skin walker, your friend is unharmed... Though as I continue to talk through her, she will remain oblivious to this conversation"...
Oh God, not another demon. What the hell does this one want?
"Who are you? What do you want from me"?
"I? I am the light that protects you from the haunting shadow that proves to be the thorn in your side... My intentions are only to serve purpose to the enemy of my enemy"...
"You mean the Mèngyǎn"?
The response I recieved was a growl of disgust.
"A suitable title for one so selfish...! She is naught but a disease, choosing to spread and poison the land in death and chaos, ready to undo and destroy all hope..."! A couple seconds passed before the ...thing composed itself and moved on. "But now that hope has been kindled because of your resistance to her trickery... Proof that a mortal can stand against one foolish enough to claim herself a God...".
"So if I'm so important, why affect Viper? Why not enter my head instead"?
"When I first entered your mind in attempt to drive the heathen from you, I was able to succeed... But the demon left a part of her behind, hoping to reclaim dominance... I gave chase but it eluded me and used the dream stone to jump from your mind to another... Had I not followed and offered assistance, the snakes mind would turn from light to dark, seeking a course of destruction upon you...".
I calmed down, only a little, after hearing what this... being had done for Viper. If I was understanding correctly, this thing had kept Viper from being affected by the Mèngyǎn. I turned to the Soothsayer and saw her nod her head in approval.
"You're protecting her"?
"As long as I remain close by, her mind remains pure, that I promise...".
"... Well... thank you. I guess".
Huh. Never thought I'd ever have to offer my condolences to a spirit.
"But why did you bring me here? Unless I missed something, you showed me the image of the Soothsayer, but she hasn't been very useful to me. Uh... No offence madam"...
I tried ignoring the look on the Soothsayers suddenly stern face and continued.
"So, who are you really"?
"Now is not the time for personal requests skin walker... Even now your friends mind is vulnerable to deception, and without her guardian it will not be long until the Mèngyǎn realises this and strikes... Even speaking to you now is a great risk... I must depart at once before she gains the upper hand"...
"One more thing"? I tried rushing. "That whole one red one green forever alone nonsense that you mentioned, back when you were trying to speak with me back at Jinzhou. What does it mean"?
"The answer to your question lies to the north... a village you will find... head to the mountain west of it, and you will find a cave... along with the answers you desire... farewell"...
Whatever questions I had remaining, of which there were more than a few, they would have to wait as the... protector, I guess I'll be calling it that until I find a better name for it, had gone. Vanished back into Vipers head, allowing Viper herself to return to her own body. And just like last time, she did not remember a thing. For a second it looked as though she was going to fall over. Thankfully she didn't and just shook her head before looking back at me with confusion because, yeah, forgive me if I don't exactly look all that calm at the moment...
Viper looked at me, then to the Soothsayer, who in turn seemed to be looking at her in curiosity. Still, despite what I had just heard, in my mind, I gave a leap of joy. We were back on track!
"Um... why are you looking at me? Do I have something on my face"?
"It's a long story Viper. I'll explain it on the way".
"The way where"?
"To the village".
"What village"?
I opened my mouth to respond until I realised one thing. One teeny tiny issue that may possibly effect our progress. I never freaking asked for the name of the village or even its exact location!
...
"GOD DAMMIT"!
I mean, yeah I got the bit on where I was told to head north to the village, but I'm pretty sure there's like a gajillion effing villages north of here! How are we supposed to know which one the protector was talking about?!
"Oh that's fantastic, that's just great"! I spoke angrily, flailing my tail up into the air in frustration. "Oh, head north to the village, you're bound to find it peace o' cake. Yeah, Thanks a lot ya jerk"!
Whether the protector could actually hear my mockery of her I didn't know. And honestly I could care less. Now I found myself huffing and puffing as though I was about to go and suffer an asthma attack at any second. I was so caught up in my anger, I hadn't realised that someone had walked up behind me until they tapped me on the back of my neck. I turned round to find myself face to face with, to my surprise, the Soothsayer herself. I tried my best to calm down as I listened to what she wanted to say to me. Must have been some rather good news if she was smiling.
"Your frustration prevents you from seeing the answers to your problems, even when they lie before your very eyes python".
I raised an eye, not understanding what she was getting at. Not right away at least.
"Your intentions for coming to Gongmen were misguided, but not in vain dear. Why do you think you were sent here to begin with"?
"Wait. You mean you can still help us"?
The Soothsayer said nothing, but instead walked on over to the very back of the palace floor where a small blue vase laid on a round wooden column with pink flowers sprouting from it. She raised her hand onto it, and pushed it. Where I had expected for the vase to fall off, it instead tilted at a 45 degree angle. Next thing I knew, the floor around the column sunk into the ground, creating a soft rumble until ending with a loud thunk. A few seconds of silence passed and I looked to Viper who looked back at me. We then made our way over to the hole in the ground and looked inside. There was a staircase leading down into darkness.
"Okay". I spoke in awe. "Now that's really cool".
The Soothsayer said nothing, but instead descended down into the darkness, expecting us to follow. I looked back at Viper again.
"Well, we've come this far"... She smiled before following.
I managed to follow as well, eager to find out where this tunnel lead. The only problem was that I did not notice the figure by the doorway watching me.
Hey look, I finally updated :D
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I'll be working on the next one as soon as I can. Now we're starting to get deeper into the plot. Thanks for reading. Cheerio!