After so many years of searching and plotting, her goal was finally within reach. Literally.
With a little magic, the remaining glowing orange fluid was removed from the orb she had spent so long seeking, making it safe for her bare skin to touch. Unity Orbs were such a fascinating artefact, remaining at a consistent temperature, no matter the extreme environments in which they were hidden.
The Unity Orb of Vaeternus, the device by which the Moroi realm had remained merged with Outworld for millennia, had been kept hidden beneath the molten depths of a secret cave. She had discovered its location some time ago, but had only recently found the means by which to obtain it. She had manipulated the Saurian Syzoth, better known by his degrading, Shao Kahn-given nickname of 'Reptile', into attacking the Earthrealm cyber ninja Cyrax to prevent him from returning home, so she could offer him such an escape in return for his assistance in retrieving the orb.
Cyrax's cybernetic armour was impressive, requiring not much of her magic to survive the descent into the lava to claim the orb. She lamented that the late king had not worn such powerful armour during the invasion. Still, despite this incredible feat of Earthrealm technological advancement that only gave the vampiress a profound respect for the mortals of that realm, the venture had clearly taken a lot out of the cyber ninja, who remained on one knee, his breathing laboured, as he handed over the orb.
For the first time in centuries, she flashed a grateful smile, her long fangs on full display. "Thank you, Cyrax. Your contribution to the restoration of my realm will never be forgotten. And neither is your reward."
With a twist of her hand, the portal back to Earthrealm was open to him. In truth, she would not have had the power to open such a portal by herself, but the partial merger of Earthrealm into Outworld almost a decade ago had infused every Unity Orb in Outworld with some of Cyrax's homeworld's essence. This, combined with the Unity Orb's very nature as a bridge between realms, provided enough magic for even a relative novice such as herself to tap into to open the portal.
"Be well, Cyrax, Hero of Vaeternus."
Without a word, the gold-clad warrior pushed himself to his feet and made his exit. She had expected no thanks, of course. Theirs was a mutually beneficial arrangement that she had secretly manipulated him into, after all. And the knowledge that her scheming meant she did not deserve any thanks for her actions prevented her from feeling offended.
But none of that mattered now, for she had the Unity Orb, the key to her realm's restoration, in-hand. She lifted the cursed object high above her head and, with great glee, threw it down into the molten rock, shattering it into a million pieces.
By the time Reptile found the chamber soon after, both Nitara and any sign that she and Cyrax had ever been here were gone.
In the months following the restoration, much of the remaining Moroi population, long since scattered throughout the realms, had made its way home. There was an almost instinctual sense among all Vaeternians that their beloved realm had been restored at long last. Search parties were quickly arranged to seek out those that remained scattered and guide them home. Many of them had never even seen their realm, only ruins scattered across Outworld. And many of those that had seen it could barely recall, looking upon their home with eyes as fresh as their offspring's. It was a truly religious experience for many to finally see their people's home with their own eyes.
So grateful were they for her part in restoring the once great realm that Nitara was very quickly chosen to be the realm's new queen, in absence of the previous monarchs. Although uncertain about taking on such a responsibility, Nitara opted for a show of strength and determination to inspire her people further, and accepted the role in short order. Queen Nitara's reign was predicted to be long and fruitful.
Although it had been through manipulation, the roles that Cyrax and Reptile had played in the restoration of Vaeternus would not be forgotten. Once discussion of a grand statue of Nitara's likeness was suggested, she had insisted that her two 'compatriots' receive their own statues alongside hers. It was important for her people to remember that she had required the assistance of other realms to achieve her goal, lest they become yet another in a long list of arrogant races with egos inflated by the actions of but one of them.
Of course, such arrogance was not new to the Moroi. There were those among them that had willingly served Outworld, but they had been quickly dispatched and were barely worth a passing thought. They would soon be forgotten by the annals of history, which was far certainly a fitting fate for them after their disgraceful display. But there was one among those traitors whose name would never be forgotten: Valkaria.
Valkaria was the last queen of Vaeternus, ruling alongside her husband as the forces of Outworld claimed their tenth straight Mortal Kombat victory. After murdering her husband to gain Shao Kahn's favour, she had enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege until only recently, when she had mysteriously died around the time Shao Kahn invaded Earthrealm. Given the reports of his previous wife, Queen Sindel of Edenia, having returned and briefly served the emperor in his failed attempt at conquest, the implication brought a smug grin to the face of any Vaeternian who had a degree of self-respect.
Of course, not all were content with Nitara's appointment to the throne, which was to be expected. What was not expected, however, was their preferred choice of monarch: Valkaria. Hidden in secret subterranean chambers, a shadowy faction, a cult of sorts, began putting plans into place to bring about the return of their mighty queen, whose ambition and drive to see it achieved were an inspiration to them.
And soon, their chance to see her revived was upon them.
Skarlet awoke from yet another occurrence of that dream. For quite some time, her nights had been plagued with strange visions of a place that she did not knew, but still managed to stir feelings of nostalgia within her heart. Meat, in his limited capacity for speech, seemed to be trying to express a similar sentiment. Their shared nature as creations of the Flesh Pits was the only connection Skarlet could see being related to this incident. And with the blood-red sky and rain of blood that dominated every single instance of this dream, she could only imagine that this was, indeed, the connection. Eventually, she decided to investigate.
The compulsion to do so had been there since the start. It had started off weak, but had quickly grown into an almost irresistible pull towards whatever place the dream depicted. While hesitant to follow this compulsion that threatened her very sense of identity and free will, she knew this pull would never abate unless she did something about it.
With the Dragon King Onaga recently defeated, the village that had taken her in as its protector was now mostly safe from attack, now that Mileena, Skarlet and Meat's so-called 'sister' had taken the throne. Whether this was due to her focusing her efforts on securing her powerbase against her numerous rivals, or a personal decision to protect the home of her two 'siblings', Skarlet could not say. Regardless, she would be departing from the place she had called home these last few years for quite some time. She felt confident that the guards she had trained would be skilled enough to see to the village's defence while she was gone, so long as none of Outworld's more significant warriors showed up.
She had no earthly idea where she was going or how to get to this place, which meant that she needed to access Shao Kahn's library. As far as she knew, none of the usurpers that had risen in the late emperor's absence had destroyed his vast library. In fact, given how valuable all that knowledge was, it was a safe bet that it would have been preserved as best as possible. This ultimately proved true as Skarlet made her way to the palace that was now ruled over by Mileena.
Despite the seeming good terms on which she had last met Mileena, Skarlet was hesitant to trust her after her time serving Onaga. So famous a manipulator was he that Skarlet felt it reasonable to assume Mileena might have been negatively influenced by Onaga in some way. Plus, considering that Mileena had left the two's fellow Flesh Pits creation, Meat, in Skarlet's care to keep him hidden from that very same Dragon King for fear of what he might do to the unfinished wretch, the red-clad assassin was in no particular mood to test her theory.
Smuggling the cloak-clad Meat inside was a challenge, but the alternative was leaving him alone somewhere, and his emotional state deteriorated when not around one of his 'sisters' for an extended period. As such, keeping him with her at all times was her only option. Once they were in the library, however, it was smooth sailing.
Skarlet had been to the library of the Kahn only a few times in the past. Although mostly kept in a secret chamber when not in active service, Skarlet had taken a few trips to the library for research purposes, be that to find new ways to kill her master's enemies, or to research what said enemies might be capable of, such as during her (failed) assignment to assassinate an Earthrealm cryomancer during the Outworld tournament a decade ago.
Few others had ever been permitted access, outside of the Kahn's 'daughters' and Shang Tsung. Even now, the vast chamber remained void of any life beyond the two homunculi. No doubt, Onaga and Mileena were just as reluctant to allow others access to their knowledge centre as their predecessor had been. That, or they were embarrassed by how empty the bookshelves had become since Skarlet had been here last.
Along with those originating in Edenia, most of the texts relating to Vaeternus were missing. This seemed to confirm Skarlet's long-held suspicions that all blood magic had its origins in the vampire realm, hence the written record of it having now presumably returned home - either a result of the split, or thieving moroi seeking to reclaim what was rightfully theirs. If the latter, her journey would be quite perilous.
There were a few tomes remaining, but none that she had not thumbed through in the past, and thus knew to hold little value to her at present. There was one time, however, that caught her eye. Its author was Shang Tsung.
Sorcerer, necromancer, alchemist, warrior, champion. Skarlet never expected to add 'author' to the long list of titles that described her creator, but then, if anyone could glean the secrets of a realm long since vanquished and a people long since scattered to the far corners of Outworld, who else but Shang Tsung could it be? His centuries of knowledge and research were evident in his words. He had begun with the now unaccounted-for texts, learning much through his innumerable experiments, such as Skarlet and Mileena.
The book largely focused on the discoveries he had made in his experiments with blood magic but, perfectionist that he was, he had included a rather thorough history of the realm, from its early years under the rule of by the Blood God Abakabb, through the rise of the realm's original king, on to the betrayal of Queen Valkaria and the merger with Outworld. Skarlet idly wondered if the texts the sorcerer cited here were currently in the process of being updated to detail the Moroi's post-merger history.
Flipping back to the early pages, Skarlet found what she was looking for: a page detailing the location of a portal between Outworld and Vaeternus. With any luck, the portal was still both accessible and active. Portals between realms automatically closed once Mortal Kombat was declared between them. As Outworld was currently in the post-cycle cooldown after Earthrealm's final victory a decade prior, it would be a full forty years before Outworld could challenge Vaeternus again. With any luck, that portal would be active once more.
After finding a few other hopeful methods of travel, Skarlet called for her 'brother' and the two departed the palace grounds. She kept Shang Tsung's writing with her. She told herself it was purely to use the sorcerer's vast knowledge to her advantage in this strange new realm, but a part of her found a strange comfort in her creator's words. She wasn't entirely sure which prospect concerned her more: that she was akin to a child needing the constant presence of a parental figure, or that he had programmed a need for his presence and commands within her similar to that seen in Mileena.
While she couldn't say for sure that her actions now were entirely her own, Skarlet forced herself to believe she controlled her own destiny, and that no one could take that away from her.
The portal was hidden away deep within an underground tunnel network, as tended to be the case with such things. Some believed that the Elder Gods themselves had placed them in such places so that only those truly ready for what lay in wait for them in other realms could find them. Meat clung close to Skarlet as they descended deeper into the dark tunnels. The occasional skittering of some unseen creature caused him to flinch, slowing their progress. Skarlet was annoyed by this, but she knew it was unfair to hold it against him. He had only known the depths of the Flesh Pits until a few months ago, so even a well-intentioned villager had often been enough to spook him.
She stopped for a moment, holding her torch low to illuminate her face as she pulled down her mask and gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile - her training to become her master's ultimate secret weapon had hardly included how to comfort others, after all. "Do not be afraid, Meat. If any creature in these caves is foolish enough to attack from the darkness, I will protect you. Trust in your big sister."
Although she herself did not view herself and Meat as siblings, she had quickly found that referring to them as such was the quickest way to calm Meat down when he was upset. As anticipated, his shivering mostly stopped after this. While likely that it was because he was easy to lead, Skarlet chose to believe she wasn't as bad at affecting a reassuring smile as she had thought. That skill could prove useful in this mysterious realm.
Within a circular frame carved into the wall in the deepest part of the cave network, the mystical crimson energies of the portal swirled hypnotically. She took Meat by the hand and gently pulled him after her as she stepped through the swirling red energy and into what was effectively their true homerealm.
Emerging in a similar cave network to that which they had just left, Skarlet and Meat ventured up through the tunnels until they could see light just over the current incline. Skarlet could feel a flow of blood above them growing stronger as they approached the light. From what little she could see in the still-limited light, it was a large group of bats hanging from the roof of the cave. Skarlet pointed them out to her companion and indicated for him to keep quiet. Bats were rare in Outworld, having largely been hunted for food by tarkatans. Skarlet had probably seen more during her brief time in Earthrealm than she ever had in Shao Kahn's domain.
As the light ahead approached, the forms of the bat became much clearer. Rather than the fear-inducing balls of black fur, these creatures were a deep blood red and appeared to be covered in some liquid substance. While she initially concluded that the creatures were coated in blood, it soon became apparent that they actually consisted entirely of the stuff. She had read about khiropterors, but they were said to be even more rare than their fleshy counterparts in Outworld. Skarlet wondered if there was something about Vaeternus' atmosphere that allow them to thrive, or even exist at all.
She had little time to ponder this, however, as the brightness at the mouth of the cave burned her retinas after such a long time in the dark. She shielded her eyes with one hand and brought one of Meat's up to shield his own eyes before taking the other and guiding him out of the cave. She had to wait a few moments for her eyes to adjust, but she couldn't say she was disappointed when they finally did.
The dreams truly could not do this realm justice. There was a kind of... colourlessness to them, leaving her conscious imagination to guess what it truly looked like. The sky, she had predicted, would be a deep crimson, similar to that seen during inter-realm invasions. Whether a side effect of the still-recent release from Outworld, brilliant deduction, a lucky cynical guess, or an innate knowledge of her... homerealm, Skarlet turned out to be correct. And this streak of accurate predictions continued.
To start with, it seemed to be raining at that moment. As predicted, the rain was blood, rather than water. While such a phenomenon had been discussed in Shang Tsung's tome, even he had been uncertain as to the specifics of it. Was it the natural state of weather in this realm, a normal weather condition, or a special version that existed alongside regular water rain? Either way, she opened up her top and removed her mask to allow the glorious red liquid to patter across her exposed flesh, absorbing its power directly into herself.
Right away, this blood felt different. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation, but it was certainly different from what she was used to when absorbing blood. Perhaps it was because this blood belonged to the realm and not a person. Or, perhaps this was the blood of Abakabb himself flowing after some mysterious demise. Regardless, this blood made her feel rejuvenated in a way she had not in years. Whatever the source of this blood, she would partake for as long as she was here.
Beside her, Meat waited patiently. Evidently, blood absorption was not an ability the unfinished creation possessed. This once more raised the question of what exactly the sorcerer had had planned for him, but Skarlet would prefer not to find out. Freedom of choice was something she had come to truly value since leaving Shao Kahn's service, and she would not risk costing Meat his own by exposing him to the sorcerer's wicked designs.
Once she'd had her fill, Skarlet closed her top and fixed her mask back over her face. She once again took her 'brother's' hand and guided him towards what looked to be a town not far from where they currently stood. The architecture was decidedly dissimilar to that seen in Outworld - more what the Earthrealmers might call 'gothic'. The town was placed at the base of a large mountain, against which a massive castle was built, which only became apparent once the two moved closer and saw the structure from an angle where it was no longer masked by the mountain's silhouette.
Little had been written of Vaeternus' royalty, beyond that Valkaria had betrayed her husband for Shao Kahn. As such, Skarlet could only wonder if this was the castle of the realm's ruler, or that of some lesser lord. This raised the more pressing issue: Who was the realm's new ruler, now that Valkaria was dead? Could it be the one responsible for the realm's restoration? It seemed likely that they would at least be considered for the position.
It took some time for the two to reach the town, and Skarlet was cautious as they approached. She had no idea how the moroi might respond to the presence of an outsider - especially one from Outworld. She and Meat hid behind some worn-down shack at the edge of town and simply observed. Only this close was it clear that there were non-moroi in the town. She had been under the impression that Vaeternus was one of the least racially-diverse realms, consisting entirely of moroi. Was it possible that there were other races in the realm?
Or, could these people be Outworlders that had been displaced by the unmerging? Many Edenians had remained in Outworld after the unmerging, prompting a decade-long campaign to take them home headed by Jade. Skarlet had even secretly assisted one or two groups of them to get home in the past. Though she hadn't heard of any Outworlders being taken along into Edenia in the unmerging, she supposed it was possible, as those taken often seemed arbitrary. Another possibility was that these people had simply entered through the portal, as she and Meat had.
Regardless of their origins, one other question was raised by their presence: how did the Moroi view them? From what she could see, they were all working, transporting goods and animals around the town. While it was possible they were all simply employed here, there was also the possibility that they were used as slave labour, under duress or, perhaps, even the influence of the rare hypnotic powers of the moroi. Skarlet had accompanied Valkaria on a number of missions in the past and seen first-hand how powerful an influence that ability could be. If she was seen, would she be targeted for such a fate? For now, she opted to remain hidden.
She guided Meat around the backs of a few of the buildings and continued to observe. She was careful to keep her distance from the vampires, all of whom seemed to perk up from her scent if she grew too close. From the way the moroi addressed the non-moroi, there did not seem to be a master/slave dynamic present, nor any open hostility. That seemed to rule out the slavery explanation, emboldening her enough to walk in the open.
Everywhere she went, she felt eyes on her. It was possible that she simply stood out due to her bright red garb, or her status as a stranger in a small town, but it was also possible that the winged denizens of this place really could identify her as a blood golem from scent alone. That, or the constantly bleeding Meat was attracting their attention. She pulled him a little closer as they proceeded down the blood-soaked streets.
Despite this constant observation, Skarlet and Meat eventually came upon an inn of some sort. A sign out front, written in the Moroi language that Skarlet was surprised to find she could innately read, declared that Outworld currency was accepted. Shao Kahn's standard policy was to melt down the currency of conquered realms to forge into weapons for his next conquest, thereby leaving the conquered that were unwilling to serve in his armies destitute. From this, Skarlet concluded that the current ruler had not yet re-established the realm's old currency and was allowing their people to continue using the old one. As she took Meat inside, Skarlet idly wondered if the old exchange rate would be restored, or if perhaps a new currency directly equivalent to Outworld's was to be established.
Affording a room for a few days was no issue for Skarlet. Although poor themselves, Skarlet had been paid for her services by the villagers back in Outworld. And with little to spend it on before Meat's arrival, Skarlet had simply stockpiled the money. She had brought some with her, just in case, and this had proven to be a smart move. For now, she decided to let Meat rest before they continued their exploration. She, however, remained vigilant, ready to defend herself and her 'brother' should any moroi be foolish enough to attempt anything.
No such attack came, fortunately. Theirs was a peaceful 'night'. Skarlet took Meat downstairs at dusk and found the other guests eating what looked to be a heavily meat-based breakfast. Skarlet noted the way Meat was staring hungrily at the slabs of flesh being consumed by the moroi guests. She couldn't help but smile as she made an order for him. Her smile grew wider as she watched him eagerly consume the flesh of whatever creature had been served to them. He didn't seem to much care what it was, as long as it was red and bloody. Skarlet ordered only a wineglass of blood for herself. Somehow, this was exactly the kind of diet she had expected for the Moroi.
Meat's ability to constantly produce blood, although useful when Skarlet felt parched, was not without its limits. Without meat to consume himself, he would begin to dry out. Until now, he had managed to get by by consuming the flesh of those that attacked the village in Outworld. After a while, 'Ruby's' reputation had begun to reduce the number of attackers, which had led to Meat's food supply running low, even with the blood magic she had used to slow the decay of the piled-up bodies in her house. Happy to have some blood for herself and some flesh for Meat again, Skarlet's eyes roamed the room, taking in the other guests and gauging how much of a threat they might be to the duo.
Of course, some of the guests were not Moroi, but they did seem to be partaking in the same cuisine as their winged counterparts. Skarlet wondered if these people really were native to this realm. Or, they could be half-breeds with less overt vampiric traits. Further research was certainly required.
Venturing outside, she found that the rain had stopped. Not a constant fixture. Interesting, if a little disappointing. Skarlet still felt the eyes on her, but with less scrutiny. There was still caution there, of course, but it was reduced. She continued to take in the atmosphere as the town seemed to come more alive at night. The number of not-moroi out seemed to have gone down, while the number of moroi only rose. They truly were nocturnal creatures. Not that day and night had felt all that different thus far, although that could have been from the rain darkening the sky. After all, the sky now was a deeper crimson than it had been during what she supposed was the day.
Skarlet felt a sense of ease fill the space around her as she and Meat continued their exploration of the town, finding a rather welcoming atmosphere (when compared to Outworld, at least) develop as she proved to mean no harm. She conversed with shopkeepers, explaining she was an Outworlder named Ruby, who had come across the portal while seeking shelter from tarkatans, alongside her cursed brother, Me'at. The moroi were surprisingly welcoming of an Outworlder, but she supposed her cover story earned her some sympathy from those who had also suffered under Outworld's hordes for millennia. Skarlet almost felt bad for deceiving them.
Their accents gave Skarlet a sense of... 'homeliness' seemed the right word. It was the same as Skarlet's. Shang Tsung's notes regarding Skarlet had observed that hers was the primary accent of the denizens of Vaeternus. This had certainly lined up with Valkaria's distinctive accent as well. But unlike when Valkaria spoke with it, these people made it sound more gentle, friendly. Meat seemed to respond in a similar manner to Skarlet, which eased her own concerns even more.
After a few hours, the sense of unease was mostly gone. 'Ruby and Me'at' continued to explore the town and learn more about it. The town was known as 'Grigesh', named for a legendary lord of Vaeternus' past, to whom the nearby castle had once belonged. The name had been mentioned in Shang Tsung's writing, but little was said of what he had actually accomplished. The town served as a place for returning moroi and fleeing outrealmers to rest.
The current queen, Nitara, had impressed on her people the importance of inter-realm co-operation, as it was only through the aid of an Earthrealmer and a Zaterran that she had been able to restore their realm. Skarlet was surprised to hear of Reptile's involvement, and had to wonder if he, like Mileena and herself, was seeking to forge his own identity separate from the will of the Kahns. Regardless, this town was a welcoming place for those fleeing the horrors of Outworld, but the people were always cautious around non-moroi, for fear that each one might herald the way into their home being discovered by Outworld forces.
While keeping her own story straight was easy enough, the exact nature of 'Me'at's curse' proved more of a struggle to keep hidden. She was asked about this subject a few times, including at an apothecary. She was able to be vague about it up until that point, but she was just about able to concoct a story about some ancient dragon magic employed by Onaga. That seemed plausible, yet difficult to research, should any good samaritan feel compelled to find a cure for the magical malady and bring her entire story into question.
By the time the black sun resurfaced beyond the horizon, Skarlet was exhausted from the exploration and conversation and concealment. She took Meat back to the inn, got him some food, then took him to their room to get some rest. Skarlet had heard mention of some nearby ruins that intrigued her. She would try to learn more once she was rested.
"I have been hearing reports of another Outworlder arriving in Grigesh and raising concern, Father Makarous."
"Yes, my queen. I have my people keeping a close eye on the situation. Something about her scent is concerning the moroi I have spoken to about her. With your leave, I will investigate the matter personally and assess whether or not she is a sign of future action on Outworld's part."
"Please do. The last thing we need right now is hostile Outworlders disrupting our fragile peace after so many years as part of that cursed realm. But unless she is an immediate threat, take no action yourself. Report back to me first and I will decide how best to proceed."
"As you wish. May Abakabb watch over our queen."
"And over our people."
After getting Meat some breakfast the following evening, Skarlet once more set out. She approached what she supposed was a stable of sorts. Rather than horses, though, this place dealt in large winged creatures that somewhat resembled bats, but with no skin or eyes, forearm-length fangs, and torsos long enough for three people to ride comfortably on the back of. While she hadn't visited the place the previous day, she had been told that this was her best option for transportation at current, as these creatures were bred specifically to transport goods, non-moroi and the occasional grievously wounded moroi over long distances. If anybody would know the location of the ruins she sought, the stablemaster seemed a safe bet.
And, indeed, she was. The pale, dark-haired woman turned to face Skarlet with a toothy grin between her ruby-red lips. Skarlet wondered if vampires painting their lips with blood was common practice, or simply something Valkaria chose to do - a habit that had rubbed off on Skarlet.
"Welcome," the stablemaster said in a deeper-than-average voice. "You are the stranger that has everyone talking, yes?"
"To my chagrin, yes."
The woman chuckled. "Yes, well, that is bound to happen, even in a place designed to accept newcomers to our realm. Your name is Ruby, yes?"
"It is," Skarlet responded, getting the uneasy suspicion that this woman didn't really believe that.
"I am Kemdara," the moroi said, moving her hands away from the reigns she was affixing to one of the creatures to bow.
"A pleasure," Skarlet replied with a bow of her own. Meat simply stood by and observed from under his cloak.
"I take it you have business elsewhere in Vaeternus?"
"I do. My brother and I are intrigued by the nearby ruins. They are the remains of a temple, I am told. We hope we might be able to find some clue to a solution to his ailment there."
"Truth be told, I do get a sense that you may find just such a solution there."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. In fact, I believe it would be in your best interest to go there as soon as you are able. I can even offer you one of my goregoyles to get you there." Kemdara's eyes were a striking blood red, much like those of Valkaria and Skarlet herself. Few other races were capable of this specific trait. Perhaps, that was why they struck Skarlet so strongly every time she saw them outside of a mirror.
"I would... appreciate that," Skarlet rasped, her ears turning slightly red at the realisation that she'd been staring. "How much will it cost?" she asked, reaching for her pouch.
Kemdara held up a hand to stop her. "We can discuss payment later. I trust your word. And trust is mutual."
"Y-Yes. It is."
"So glad we agree on that," the moroi said with a pleased smile, patting Skarlet on the cheek like a child. Skarlet and Meat clambered onto the goregoyle's back at Kemdara's suggestion, and they were off in short order.
The journey was a short one, thanks to the creature's impressive speed in the air. Once the winged beast had landed, its master climbed off of its back and offered Skarlet a hand. Although strangely reluctant, Skarlet still took the hand and accepted the moroi's help before the two helped Meat to the ground.
"This place was once a temple to the Blood God Abakabb," their guide explained, pointing to the remains of a statue.
All that seemed to have survived the war, the merger and the millennia since was roughly knee-high and looked to be either the hem of a gown or the tips of a mass of tentacles. Whatever it was supposed to be, Skarlet couldn't help but feel appalled by the state of the idol. She held no allegiance to the Blood God, so she supposed it was something in her nature as a being composed of his element that compelled such a sentiment.
"There should be a way inside just over here," Kemdara said, leading the two towards a nearby opening. "We are unlikely to find much in the way of treasures, but I doubt that is why you are here."
"No," Skarlet admitted before she could consider that as a potential explanation. In truth, she wasn't sure why she had sought these ruins in particular. Thinking objectively, the castle would likely have yielded better results for... whatever it was she was compelled to search for. The more thought she gave it, the more concern she had that she really wasn't sure what she was doing anymore. Was it her own will that had brought her to Vaeternus, or was it an external force pulling her in that direction?
"What are you here for then?" Kemdara asked after what Skarlet realised had been too long waiting for the outworlder to elaborate beyond a simple 'no'."
"I... am not sure," Skarlet again admitted before she could stop to think. Something about this place was evidently affecting her in a dangerous way. She needed to either get away from this place, or at least steer the conversation in a direction that would avoid her being asked something too incriminating that she might be unable to lie her way through.
"You seem confused, stranger," Kemdara said softly, placing a hand on Skarlet's forearm. Skarlet's eyes instinctively shot up to her addresser's face. "Perhaps we should go inside and see if we can calm you down."
Skarlet wasn't entirely sure that logic held up, but on the other hand, it made total sense, somehow. Her brain was on fire, overloaded from trying to make sense of what she was doing and why, making any suggestion of calming down seem like a good idea. She nodded and allowed herself to be guided inside by the hand. Meat followed right behind.
The interior was dark. It was pitch black at first, until Kemdara performed some sort of magic to light the nearby plinths with crimson flames, bathing the chamber in a bloody glow. The light revealed murals and carving depicting what looked to be major events from Vaeternus' history, though the low light and continued overheating of her brain made Skarlet unable to properly connect what little she could make out to anything she had read of the realm's history.
At the far end of the chamber, stood the remains of another statue, seeming to have been twice the size of the one outside, but depicting the same figure, if the base was anything to go by. Who was that again?
Kemdara placed her hand on a symbol, which Skarlet supposed was based on the Vaeternus Kamidogu, at the base of the altar on which the statue's remains stood.
"It will be much cooler down here," the moroi explained after turning to face Skarlet.
Skarlet was unsure what this meant, until the altar began scraping across the floor to move to the side. From the downward staircase exposed by the removal of the statue, Skarlet felt a blast of cool air that did seem to calm the flame burning on her head and clear her mind somewhat. She was grateful to Kemdara for this reprieve.
"If it is interest in our history that drives you, perhaps you will find what you seek down here."
Skarlet didn't even need to think twice before taking her first step down. She was certain that Vaeternus' history was why she was here. And the use of the word 'our' suggested a shared history to Skarlet, though the implication that Kemdara might know exactly what Skarlet was eluded her.
The staircase was roughly five storeys worth of descent, more braziers and plinths and simple candles lighting crimson as the trio descended deeper and deeper into the ruins. Eventually, Skarlet descended the final step, finding herself entering a large domed chamber. The first thing she noticed, naturally, was the sloshing at her feet. At first, she was uncertain if this liquid was blood, or simply water illuminated red by the flames. It proved thinner than the viscous pool in which she had been born, and her feet were still somewhat visible, both suggesting the latter. What was more notable than what this substance was was the fact that it was flowing. It moved towards the centre of the chamber, seemingly flowing into a large circular opening.
Skarlet's mind flooded with image the instant her eyes fell upon it. She instinctively knew exactly what this place was. She turned to check on Meat, who also seemed to have been stunned by the realisation. He took a step back. Skarlet reached out and gripped his hand. She hoped to comfort him, but her grip was too tight and he yanked it free.
"I see you two recognise what this place is," Kemdara said as she stepped past the two. "Then you really were borne of the Flesh Pits. They originated here, you know. They are a part of Moroi culture and Shao Kahn stole that culture from us and besmirched its name when he gave it to Shang Tsung for his experiments. Of course, both of those desecrators are now dead. That is why you were both drawn here. Blood golems and... whatever you are," she pointed at Meat, "are bound to the will of Vaeternus' monarch. It is inherent to the magics that created you."
"I do not understand," was all Skarlet could say, her mind once again dominated by an overpowering sensation; but this one was much, much colder - a dread feeling that made her reluctant to learn more, despite knowing she must. This was what she was here for, whether she wanted this or not.
"We didn't think you would. But, I am happy to explain." Despite the hell she was putting Skarlet through, Kemdara gave off an air of bearing no ill will. In fact, she genuinely seemed like she wanted to help Skarlet understand. "When Queen Valkaria surrendered Vaeternus to Shao Kahn millennia ago and allowed it to be merged into Outworld, the rules that governed the Flesh Pits creations were nullified. Vaeternus no longer existed as its own entity, and thus the magic binding them to Vaeternus' ruler, though she still lived as Empress of Outworld, no longer held true. That was presumably why she lowered her guard enough around you for you to be able to assassinate her, Skarlet."
It was Skarlet's turn to take a step back, bumping into Meat and knocking him off his feet.
"Yes, we know who you are. But I assure you, we hold no ill will toward you. Your actions were not within your ability to control. In absence of an official monarch of this realm, your will was instead bound to your creators. But now, with them gone and Vaeternus restored, your will is bound to that of the new queen, Nitara. It is she you are compelled to find and serve. That compulsion is what drew you here, to your true home. However, the compulsion that pulled you to this realm has been commandeered by a sect that wish to restore the old rule and overthrow Nitara. That compulsion is what drew you to these ruins, for this is where we operate."
"We?"
"Yes, we. We are the sect that wish to reinstate Queen Valkaria to her rightful place as Queen of Vaeternus. And you, Skarlet, will aid us in our plot." Before Skarlet could speak again, Kemdara continued. "You will not be held accountable for your actions by us, or our queen, I promise you. Once again, you had no choice when you were commanded to strike down your empress. She will be lenient and allow you to serve her, your rightful mistress, as her personal assassin."
"I have no interest in acting as an assassin anymore," Skarlet declared, her blood feeling as though it were literally boiling in her veins.
"I understand your desire to live for yourself, but for the good of your true homerealm, you must serve Queen Valkaria as we do."
"There is nothing I must do. That is, unless you refuse to let us leave."
"I am afraid I must insist you stay here until-" Kemdara's response was cut off as Skarlet reached out with her sanguimancy to halt the blood flow through the moroi's body.
Skarlet had been unsure if her powers would even work on creatures so heavily associated with blood, but the response was no slower than any other race she had brought to heel with this power. While this woman had attempted to recruit Skarlet into some... cult that worshiped a dead woman, she had seemed to genuinely believe that Skarlet joining them would be for her own good. Despite her attempt to take Skarlet's freedom from her, it was difficult for Skarlet to feel animosity toward her. But then, that could be the result of hypnotic compulsion from the vampiress, which would certainly explain the confusion Skarlet had been overwhelmed with since meeting her.
Whatever the case, Skarlet could not bring herself to murder the woman, even in self-defence. And so, rather than fill her lungs with her own blood and drown her in it, Skarlet cut off blood flow to her brain, hoping the lack of oxygen would render her unconscious before any real damage was done. As she held her in place, Skarlet backed onto the stairs, taking the now standing Meat by the hand and pulling him after her.
However, their escape was cut off as Skarlet once again backed into someone, but with Meat in front of her, she knew it could only be another member of this cult. She gripped her tantō and thrust it into her own stomach, transforming that part of herself into blood and parting it at the last moment, allowing the blade to slip harmlessly through her body and into the stomach of the person behind her.
The moroi howled for only a second before Skarlet whirled around and slashed his throat open. The blood sprayed all over her and she absorbed as much of the stuff as she could to strengthen herself. Vampire blood was rare for Skarlet, with most having come as a reward from the late vampire queen for successful missions. Only she had rewarded her for her successes back then. Success was expected by Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung, but Valkaria had actively incentivised it. She could see now how that contrast might inspire a group to take up arms in her name long after she was dead, and against the will of the general populace.
Unfortunately, the concentration required to perform the feat Skarlet just had had required a break in her grip over Kemdara. Little damage had been done to her body, so she had mostly recovered by now. She was a little sluggish, so she would have no chance of reaching Skarlet to retaliate before the golem could use her powers on her again. It was fortunate for Kemdara, then, that the now dead moroi littering the steps was not the only one that had been lying in wait for the eventuality of Skarlet rejecting their offer.
Two more flew into the chamber from unseen enclosures high in the walls. These, however, were not the ones she needed to be wary of. Another large male kicked her from behind, sending her sprawling across the ground, separated from Meat. The other two newcomers each held out a hand to cast their own sanguimancy on Skarlet. Although trained by Shang Tsung and Valkaria to resist such techniques to make her more effective against enemy moroi (ironically, in the latter's case), Skarlet sensed that these two were adepts in the art, making it difficult to resist their hold over her form. She attempted to maintain her flesh form, but their hold was too great and she was forced into blood form, making it nigh impossible to resist their hold on her.
As she continued to struggle, Kemdara approached her from the front, her crimson eyes fixing her with an intense stare as the redness bled into the whites of her eyes, turning them red as well. Even compared to Valkaria's training to resist such techniques, this was intense. Skarlet was very quickly transfixed and her struggles ceased entirely as her body switch back to flesh form.
It was at this point that a sixth moroi entered the chamber. This one was older, more ancient, possibly older than even Valkaria and her first husband had been. He approached Skarlet, biting down hard on the tip of his right thumb to draw blood. After Kemdara had opened Skarlet's top to expose her stomach, the older moroi ran his bloody thumb over Skarlet's abdomen, and painted an arcane symbol of ancient Vaeternian origin. Once it was complete, he held his other hand over the symbol, his fingertips very lightly touching her skin at the five points of the central star. The symbol flashed brightly for an instant before settling into a dull red glow.
"That seal will not last long on a blood golem," the holy man warned. "Get her to the ritual site. Now."
The larger moroi nodded, having just finished pummelling Meat into the ground. He flew over, grabbing Skarlet under his arms, and carried her down into the central pit.
"Are you alright?" the priest asked Kemdara, a concerned hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, Father Makarous," she said, waving off his concern. "All that matters is the ritual."
"And your instrumental part in it will not go unrewarded, I assure you. Come. Let us join the others."
"What of the meat puppet?" she indicated towards what remained of Meat near the stairway.
"Leave it. An unfinished creature like that is barely worth noting." With that, the priest flew into the pit to join his companions. After sparing one last glance towards the twitching mass of flesh, Kemdara did the same.
The ritual was ancient. It had originated in Outworld, ironically. Long before Shao Kahn's conquest, knowledge of the ritual had found its way into Vaeternus and been practiced and tweaked and refined until it was more Vaeternian in origin than of Outworld. The ritual suited the Vaeternians more, thanks to their ability to more easily acquire the central piece required to proceed.
The purpose of the ritual was to transfuse a soul into a body. Although intended to revive the dead, it could also work with an artificial body, a dead body without significant damage, or even a living host. In the latter case, there were two specific criteria that needed to be met for it to work. Unlike the more advanced version employed by necromancers in other realms, this variant of the ritual required the subject to willingly allow the intruding soul to overtake their consciousness. This was difficult to achieve in most cases, as even the most devout followers might be unwilling on some deep level to allow their own consciousness to be supplanted. In that cast, the ritual would fail, and could risk serious harm to both souls.
This was where Skarlet came in. As a blood golem - a creature bound to the will of Vaeternus' monarch, which was technically still Valkaria at the time of her creation - a deep part of her subconscious mind would willingly accept Valkaria's soul into her body. As for her conscious mind, that was easy enough to suppress and subvert. Although Kemdara was quite skilled at this art, she had only taken the key task of using her power to manipulate Skarlet in the more powerful Father Makarous' place to keep the priest out of harm's way, for he was the key to performing the ritual.
His earlier spell had put Skarlet into a sort of mystical coma, but her ability to absorb blood made it work as only a short-term pacification technique. Rather, his own vampiric abilities would be needed to keep her compliant during the ritual itself and ensure her cooperation.
For multiple hours, Skarlet lay on her back in the centre of an arcane symbol painted in blood as Father Makarous maintained his attempts to break her will enough for her to accept her role as Valkaria's vessel, only taking a handful of short breaks while the other moroi kept Skarlet from escaping via their sanguimancy.
"Wh-Why?" Skarlet struggled to say as the effects of Father Makarous' power began to wear off during one such break. "Wh-Why do you want to reive Valkaria? She betrayed your people to Shao Kahn."
"Is that how you view her?" Kemdara asked, opting to explain in Father Makarous' place so he could rest. "Had she not, more of our people would have died in pointless conflict with Shao Kahn. Her decision ended the conflict quickly and decisively, and allowed a moroi to become his empress. From her position at the top, she could temper Shao Kahn's wrath toward our people and reduce casualties further."
"And you question my view of the matter," Skarlet chuckled weakly. "You do not know the woman as I do."
"I doubt you can speak objectively of her, being a pawn for her and her emperor as you are." For the first time since meeting her, the friendly tone was absent from Kemdara's voice. Skarlet might have pondered if it had all been an act up to now if she thought it might help her out of this predicament. Instead, she remained silent until the holy man finished his break.
Each break from here, Skarlet offered less and less violent attempts to escape, eventually lying dormant until Father Makarous was ready to continue.
Finally, after a long struggle, Father Makarous asked Skarlet for the seventeenth time, "Do you accept your role as Queen Valkaria's vessel?"
And Skarlet whispered, "Yes."
Father Makarous soon began the ritual in earnest, almost allowing his excitement to make him rush. He calmed himself down, thanks to pushing from Kemdara. He needed to perform this ritual perfectly, lest they lose their chance at restoring their queen for good. There were many components to the ritual: a wholly willing host, blood of the transfused soul, four sanguimancers, a soul stone, and a half dozen others. With every piece finally in place, the ritual was performed.
Through the soul stone, a soul was summoned forth from the Netherrealm and channelled into the now 'willing' body of Skarlet. The success of the ritual was proved by the sharp intake of breath that came from Skarlet's body, followed by the opening of her eyes, which briefly sported bright green irises, before settling back into Skarlet's natural red. After a short while of motionless silence all around, Skarlet slowly sat up from her lying position and looked down at her hands. She flexed her fingers, as if to confirm that these were, in fact, the fingers she now controlled.
"So pale... Disgusting."
"Queen Valkaria?" the eldest of the gathered moroi questioned, stepping slightly closer as he did so.
"Makarous?" Skarlet responded, meeting his eyes. The pitch of her voice was a little deeper than it had been before the ritual. "You've aged horribly."
Makarous chuckled. "Not an unfair assessment, my queen. We have much to catch you up on."
"Such as why I am in the body of this pale... thing? Fetch me a mirror."
Ready for such a command, Kemdara fetched one for her queen, but Makarous place a hand on her forearm to keep her from presenting it for the moment. "Highness, you must know something before you see for yourself."
"Just give me the damn mirror," Valkaria demanded, her intense glare being instantly recognisable to Makarous, even performed with a stranger's eyes. Makarous indicated with his head for Kemdara to do so.
As she took the mirror, Makarous quickly performed damage control. "I assure you, she was the ideal choice, my queen."
"A blood golem was the ideal choice? And the one responsible for my assassination, no less." The stunned silence that followed suggested that her loyal subjects might not have known Skarlet was involved in their queen's demise. That, or they had gone through with the ritual despite knowing that and were fearful of her retribution. Instead, a wicked grin spread across Skarlet's blood-red lips as Valkaria realised the irony. "Actually, this body is perfect. This wretched creature drove a blade into my heart. Now, her body shall facilitate my resurrection. And my ascension. And then, she will do my bidding as I dispatch her to destroy Shao Kahn and that whore Sindel, that I might at long last lay claim to their thrones. But first, I must reclaim my throne."
"Your Majesty," a messenger greeted as he entered a courtyard of of Castle Vuratoka. Even now, approaching a year since she had been convinced to take the throne, it still felt unnatural for Nitara to be called that. Even so, she stood taller and asked the messenger to proceed. "An envoy claiming to represent Mileena Kahnum of Outworld has arrived seeking an emergency audience with you."
"Have they been vetted?"
"Father Makarous is with her. He insists she is a friend."
"Father Makarous?" No doubt, this was the mystery woman from Grigesh. "Send them up to the throneroom. I will meet them there."
"At once, Majesty."
"Father Makarous. This envoy is the woman from Grigesh, I take it?"
"It is, Highness. Her name is Skarlet. She has urgent need to meet with you."
"What matter could be so urgent that an Outworlder needs Vaeternus' help?"
Skarlet herself stepped forward and bowed. "As Father Makarous said, Your Highness, I am Skarlet of Outworld. Mileena Kahnum faces threats from a dozen would-be usurpers and seeks an alliance with Vaeternus to secure her rule over Outworld."
"And what reason would Vaeternus have to join forces with the realm that dominated us for millennia?"
"The Empress has no cause to oppose Vaeternus. She spent all of her life until now under the thumbs of Shao Kahn, Shinnok, and Onaga. She sympathises with your plight and would have gladly left you to rebuild, were it not for her sudden need of allies. She offers you Outworld's protection, in return for your assistance against those who, upon claiming the Outworld throne, would no doubt set their sights on a realm as, at current, weak as yours."
"And just who are these enemies?"
"Many of Outworld's races were not content with rule being decided by birthright. The Tarkata are divided on the issue, the Shokan believe one of theirs should rule, the Centaurs oppose any of Shao Kahn's lineage, and there are even those from other realms that seek to stoke the flames of discord for their own devious ends. Outworld's political landscape is a powderkeg right now, and the only realm we can hope to rely on for aid is yours."
"Not Seido?"
"They are still embroiled in their civil war. Taking a side in that is too much of a risk at this juncture."
"And attempting to ally with a former enemy is less so?"
"Vaeternus is Shao Kahn's enemy-"
"And Mileena is Shao Kahn's daughter."
"She is his daughter, not he himself."
"That means precious little to the people of Vaeternus, so soon after our liberation. I suggest you seek aid elsewhere. Vaeternus has no interest in getting involved with Outworld or its rulers again."
"Are you so sure?"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you so sure that it not the will of your people? Is it not merely the desire of yourself and those who follow you? Can you truly say that there are none among the Moroi that would sooner see Outworld raised to the ground and its rulers strung up in the streets for what they have done to them?"
Nitara motioned for the hidden guards to enter and surround this so-called envoy. "You are no envoy. Nor an Outworlder. Who are you, really?"
"Surprisingly perceptive, Highness, but who I am is of no consequence, for you and yours will not live long enough for it to matter to you. But then again, the look on your face will be delicious when I tell you, so why not? People of Vaeternus! Your true queen has returned to liberate you from this usurper and lead you to glorious vengeance against those who oppressed you for so long."
Nitara's eyes grew wide with recognition. "Valkaria?"
Valkaria grinned wickedly at the delectable cracking in Nitara's voice. "The one and only. So, now that that mystery is solved, the only remaining question is, whom do you stand with? Queen Valkaria, who worked tirelessly to keep our people safe from Shao Kahn's wrath, or the usurper who refuses to take the revenge we are all owed for what Outworld has taken from us?"
As transparent as Nitara thought Valkaria was, it seemed there were those among Nitara's allies that were being swayed to her side.
"Are you really going to listen to this witch!?" Nitara screeched. "She murdered our king, her own husband, to retain her position of privilege! She slew untold numbers of our people in Shao Kahn's name. She doesn't give a damn about the Moroi. She only wants her position of rule back!"
"And what is it that you want, Nitara? Hm? To serve the desires of the Moroi at large, or to rule over them as an unquestioned monarch who holds the fates of all Moroi in the palm of her hand? Are you truly the queen Vaeternus needs right now?"
Something about Valkaria's words was starting strike a chord with Nitara, even though she knew every word was chosen to demonise Nitara and make Valkaria sound preferable. Nitara looked over Valkaria's entourage and noticed the traitor, Father Makarous, quietly chanting something. He was using some kind of magic to make Valkaria's words more convincing!
Never leaving her dual kama far from hand, Nitara grabbed one of them and threw it directly into Makarous' chest, striking him down and putting an end to his magic. But the damage was done. Most of those present we already swayed enough that when Valkaria declared Nitara a traitor who struck down a holy man, they were hers. A few of Nitara's retinue remained loyal and were quick to defend Nitara as the turncoats attacked. The magic affecting their minds seemed to make them less effective warriors as the loyalists held the upper hand, in spite of the enemy's numbers.
Even so, it was clear that Valkaria had the true upper hand as more guards entered to assist her against Nitara. But seeing more loyalists enter emboldened Nitara to fight, rather than flee. The battle in the throneroom was brief and fittingly bloody for a vampire civil war. Nitara faced Valkaria herself and it soon became clear that this Skarlet, if that was her real name, was a blood golem. This was evidently what had resulted in the unease surrounding her arrival in Vaeternus, and it made her a difficult opponent to fight.
Despite being a moroi, Valkaria was adept at manipulating the blood golem's body and abilities. Valkaria was able to transform segments of her body into living blood to evade Nitara's attacks. Nitara knew some basic sanguimancy, but Valkaria, even without any training in Skarlet's body, was adept in the art; in addition to blood magic, which Nitara was a little more skilled with, but still not a match for Valkaria. But with that body's abilities, fighting physically was even less of an option than trying to match her other skills.
As her numbers began to dwindle, it became clear to Nitara and those who remained by her side that she could not win this fight as she was now. As such, a few of them led her out through one of the secret escape routes while the remainder of her allies stayed behind to hold off Valkaria's forces.
By the time the sun rose that morning, Valkaria was once more, after nine-and-a-half millennia, Queen of Vaeternus.
A few weeks later, Kemdara stood outside the door into the Flesh Pits in the lower levels of Castle Vuratoka. After the death of Makarous, Kemdara had been assigned his old position, now a high priestess in Valkaria's inner circle. After all, it had been she who had manipulated Skarlet to make her into a vessel for Valkaria, with which she could reclaim her throne.
But with that now accomplished, Valkaria had no further need of a vessel. What she needed was a new body all her own. That was why she had come to the very original Flesh Pits: to construct a body, as Shang Tsung had created Skarlet and Mileena. But instead of a fresh soul, Valkaria would be having her own soul transferred over into it.
When the door finally opened, Kemdara was stunned into silence as Skarlet emerged from the chamber, followed closely behind by a strikingly beautiful woman. She towered over the golem, even without the high heels of her leather boots. Her skin, as Kemdara had surmised from her reaction to finding herself in the pale body of Skarlet, was darker, which was a relatively rare trait among the typically rather pale Moroi. The final feature that instantly struck Kemdara was her hair - ebony and cut to just below her jawline, with red streaks at the tips.
The other occultists that had performed the ritual followed soon after their queen and were quickly dismissed, leaving their queen alone with Kemdara and Skarlet.
"How do I look?" Valkaria teased, letting her robe open enough to give a tease of her well-defined muscles. She looked like she could crush a man's skull with any part of her body.
"You look..." Words completely eluded Kemdara, which seemed to amuse her queen immensely.
"From the looks of it, I have done quite a marvellous job."
With the pressure alleviated by Valkaria's calm tone, Kemdara found her words. "If I may ask, Highness... is this body similar to your old one?"
"Identical in every way, my dear. Well, save for the shorter hair. Long hair was always Shao Kahn's preference. Shorter is mine. What do you think, Skarlet?"
"A perfect likeness, my queen," Skarlet responded with a hint of adoration in her voice.
"Excellent. Now then, I must retrieve some clothes and bask in my true return to my throne. You two are dismissed. Do as you please until I summon you later tonight." With that, Queen Valkaria, in her true splendour, departed, leaving Kemdara and Skarlet alone in the antechamber.
"I... would like to apologise to you, Skarlet," Kemdara said, turning her attention towards the blood golem. "Although it was for the good of our realm, I do regret having to manipulate and control you as I did."
"As you said, it was for the good of our realm," Skarlet said simply. "I would have done the same."
'You would not,' Kemdara almost said, but bit her lip to stop herself. Instead, she said, "I appreciate you saying so." Were it to go her way, Kemdara would have had Skarlet released and sent home, but not only could she then become a threat to Valkaria, but Valkaria herself wanted to keep Skarlet around as her personal assassin, so Skarlet was here to stay, regardless of Kemdara's desire.
And her first target was sure to be Nitara.
Since fleeing the castle, Nitara had joined up with an underground faction and fled back to Outworld. There, her supporters spread out to find other moroi that had not yet returned to Vaeternus to drum up further support for a coup. As more and more allies were found, Nitara began making plans to seek an alliance with Sindel. There was little doubt in Nitara's mind that the Edenian queen would be a target of Valkaria's wrath. Valkaria's jealousy of Sindel's place in Shao Kahn's heart was well known by the time of her death, so their mutual enemy would give Edenia little choice but to back Nitara in this conflict, hopefully bringing her Earthrealm allies along with her.
Word soon reached Nitara of how the situation back home had deteriorated. It seemed that the body Valkaria had possessed was, in fact, a blood golem. She had forged a new body for herself and now commanded the golem as her personal assassin to hunt down the key figures of Nitara's loyalists remaining in Vaeternus. Said loyalists had earned something of a reprieve, however, as a woman in white had suddenly appeared and begun slaying their people left and right with the legendary sword Datusha. The Bane of the Moroi was last seen being taken into the Netherrealm by Kahil Grigesh to atone for his actions while the had sword tainted his mind. The loyalists had gone back underground to evade the slaughter, leaving Valkaria's group to face the brunt of it. Despite their allegiance, Nitara still felt remorse for the continued losses of so many of her people. If only she had the power to topple Valkaria and return her wretched soul to the Netherrealm, and save her people from this invader.
That was when scouts placed in Outworld began reporting some sort of alliance of various factions gathering under the revived Shao Kahn and Onaga, as well as the fallen Elder God Shinnok. They reported rumours of some sort of battle set to take place in Edenia over some sort of godly power.
If Nitara could claim that power, become a God of Blood, she could surely destroy Valkaria and the interloper herself. That should inspire the turncoats' loyalty. And if not, perhaps she would gain the power to dominate their minds and force submission. The Moroi had suffered too long for her to allow this discordant fighting to continue. If she must resort to a dictatorship to keep her people safe, then so be it.
But however things turned out, Nitara swore that she would kill Valkaria with her own two hands.
Good to have something that actually makes use of Nitara and tries to give her some character, eh?
I'm currently undecided on Meat's fate. I considered having him show up to spy on Kemdara while she waited for Valkaria's new body, only for her to spot him and shoo him off before Valkaria emerges. We'll have to see if I have any good ideas for him in the future.
