I can't exactly say how long the headache lasted for, but it had decreased as quickly as it had appeared. The once orange filter my eyes once viewed had faded, as did the room around me into nothing but complete darkness. The feeling of frostbite nipping at my scales did not change however. That alone gave me more than enough indication to figure out what, or rather who had caused this drastic change of the world around me.
"Well shit". I couldn't help but hiss in annoyance. I can only imagine what it is that this monster is planning to do now.
"... So, you deem it wise to give up your shield and trade it for the blood soaked blade do you"…?
Oh give me a break already.
"…No longer does the purpose of justice persuade you to turn from what others will see as a selfish and foul act… And thus the weaker and more deluded you become"…
"…I am aware of your… new found hostility towards an enemy that remains judgmental of your character… This… sensation that overtakes you! It is unique, at least coming from you… Putting it simply, you wish to take me from this land and snuff out what remaining existence I keep ahold on this world… This is very pleasing to hear"-
"Oh just shut the hell up".
For once it seemed my rude attitude worked as the mèngyǎn decided to just keep its big mouth shut. Given that it didn't continue, I decided to do so myself.
"You've got a lot of nerve showing your face to me! So you'd better have a damn good reason for being here"!
I could notice the - eyes had slightly narrowed. I guess being the manipulating bitch it was it was used to getting its own way. Kind of reminds me of a spoiled brat.
"… Sealing your doom when I claim the advantage is very unwise… but this new act of yours does serve purpose"…
"Get to the point already"!
"…Your friends mind offers little creativity compared to yours… All I simply preferred was to reside in a more familiar area"…
…
"… I sense you have questions that desperately require answers… If it satisfies you, ask away"…
How does… yeah, right. Inside my own mind, it knows anything I'm thinking.
"Alright then, fine. I do have some things I want to know. One thing being why the hell you were in my girlfriends head for so long"!?
"… After the incident with the dreamstone… a fool would see it wise not to retreat, but not if that fool is but a creature that can't be detected by mortal eyes"…
"So what, you never left"?
"… I felt it necessary to try and figure out your next step… and while my… that other immortal searched your head for me, I fled to the next best location"…
"Didn't seem to work since that other thing's protecting Viper now, did it"?
"…Time was not on my side… nor did I need it to be… I only needed enough time to plan… Those two homeless drunks did the trick"…
Wait, what? Did she…? Is she referring to Jerry and the Goat?!
"…The two that came to you that night… with a mission to slaughter themselves…? Allow me to fill in the blanks… They were pathetic, drunk, homeless… You think that they mattered to anyone? You believe that they were anything beyond the personalities I gave them…"?
"You… made up Jerry's name then"? My voice trying not to crack and snarl.
"…You didn't find it odd that a second being from your own country would just come to visit you by the sake of coincidence…"?
"Then why give the name in the first place"?!
"Similarities… I simply supply similarities, you feel a unique attachment, and I tear it from you slowly as I shall do to everyone you know of including your little girlfriend"…
I snapped. A sudden feeling came over me boosted with adrenaline as I without thinking charged and tried to lash out. That bastard had it coming! Would have had it not retaliated as it raised its hand and stopped me in motion, like a movie on the t.v. that had just been paused. Just an inch away too from her face. So damn close. Had I any control over my jaws I probably would have tried biting her face off.
"… Ask your next question… I would advise you make it quick… we are running out of time"…
Whatever force I felt surrounding my face just vanished. I could turn my head and speak but those were my limits. As much as I would have loved to have just insult and curse at her, my questions I felt were more important. I mentally calmed myself and asked my next question. Revenge will have to come later.
"What do you know of a group known as the silent blade"?
"…Them…? Mere children armed with tools beyond their comprehension"…
"Don't bullshit me! They said they had dealt with your kind before"!
"…A mere lie… If what they claim to be true, they would not live to tell of it, misguided fool… Now then…"
There was no way to prepare as I dropped onto the black floor. Whatever was keeping me in place for that short time had completely vanished. I looked up, nearly backing up as the mèngyǎn towered over me. Its teeth sharp as knives, half hidden in its owners rotten mouth.
"…Before I fare thee farewell… Go… ask your last… it will be your last before the end…"
The end…?
"…Yes… two simple words you will understand when we meet once more time… for the last time… Now ask, before your opportunity is lost..."
Alright. Fine. If that's your game I might as well play it. However I promise that I will be the one who will walk away, not you.
"Okay, sure. Cause you know, there has been one other thing on my mind that made no sense when I first heard it. Something my dear sweet Viper said. What was it again, hmmm… Ah yes. She said, Two stand apart. One of red and one of green. Together in death yet forever alone".
A slip of the tongue I expected to be the coming and lazy answer. Instead I received a different reaction. Almost as if I had struck it, the mèngyǎn flinched, looking confused before its dark face twisted into a dark snarl.
"… Her riddles be damned and her immortality stripped from her flesh…! A question that shall remain unanswered to you…"!
Whoa. Did I just unintentionally hit a nerve? Good.
"What? Did I say something upsetting"? I pressed on mockingly. Of course, I pushed my limits as the next thing I knew was that a large paw slammed into the back of my neck and picked me up. My body thrashing as a thumb pressed against my windpipe.
"… And here I came, wanting nothing more than to say goodbye… and now you dare to mock that which is superior to you in every way…"!
Not in a position to reply, I continued to struggle using my tail to try and pry her thumb off my throat. I might as well have been moving a large boulder as it wouldn't budge! Everything was growing darker with every second. Whether it could actually kill me inside of my head like this or not, it was sure as hell giving its best shot.
"…With these parting words, understand that death is only the beginning for you…"!
The next thing I was able to register in the last few seconds was the - lifting its paw up with me still being held in it before being slammed into the ground with enough force to break what I think was half my bones. A extreme pain I felt for a mere half second before a flash invaded my vision and before I knew it, I was back. Just… still on the floor, on my own. Getting over what had just occurred, I raised my head. Slowly as I was still worried that I may have still received multiple broken bones. Of course, I felt nothing. I sighed in relieve before immediately planning my next move with the information I had just received.
Everything that has happened, from the moment I tried to learn more about the mèngyǎn, I instantly knew that all signs pointed to one place. The one place where that thing would wallow in pride.
Talios. Why do I think that? Well, after reading the scroll back in the Room of Knowledge, you know the one I had to try and recover from that cobra, I read that Talios was actually an abandoned city. I then thought back to another scroll I had read long before that. The tale of Kèxīng and Jiùshìzhǔ. The one about the city terrorized by a vengeful spirit? Sounds like a big coincidence when you think about it. Scary demon that made others kill themselves in gruesome ways, in ways I bet were similar to Jerry and the goat. The two that came to the Jade palace that were given false identities by the -. Link it all together, the things that the mèngyǎn has willingly and forcefully shown me. The scrolls, the two brutal deaths, even its final words, death is only the beginning! The same words that had been mentioned in The tale of Kèxīng and Jiùshìzhǔ! Everything pointed directly to Talios!
When we meet one more time, for the last time it said. I think I have it! That's where it plans to finish it all! In the city it has caused grief and pain in. The mèngyǎn is challenging me to fight on its terms in it's own territory! All this time the answer has been right under my snout and it's only now I've been so stupid! I now know how to end this!
….
…
…
Oh, but Viper… yeah, that's a problem. It's always been the problem hasn't it? I don't know what it is she'll say when I tell her. IF I tell her. She could react in any way, most likely negative. Wouldn't be the first time.
As much as I don't want to admit it, she'll just get in the way. Matter of fact, she's never let me do things my way has she? No, she always wants in on everything I try to do and accomplish. I… don't think I can count on her. I need someone else. I need… soldiers.
I suppose… I could to refrain from throwing up a second time, right? I already know what it's like to use it…
Do it...!
Yes…
A grin of pleasure crept across my face.
Do it...!
For once, I'm going to do things my way. No second opinion, no questioning sidekicks, just me!
No second thoughts enter my head as I act at once, grabbing the marbles laying them down on the floor and crushed them all in one go. Well except for one. And if this thing homes in on the nearest twin marble…
Do it...!
"Well, here's hoping this works".
No hesitation stayed my tail as the marble was crushed. A tingling sensation washed across my body. The last thing I could here was the door opening to the room. Gee, what are the chances of that? Well, whoever it was, was too late. I just hope I know what I'm doing...
…
…
…
Worry not python… for I am your sword… I am your shield… I am that which delivers the vengeance that drives us both… We are pain… we are death… together, we shall wipe her from her frail existence once and for all…
././././././././.
Finally, another chapter done with! Okay I'm going to speed the story up a bit because clearly things are going nowhere. Basically we're entering the last third of the story where things will begin to wrap up and come to a conclusion. But until then, thanks for reading guys. Hope you enjoy reading this story and I will see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!