Chapter 7
Kikimora slowly walked down the hallway leading to the castle throne room. The silence was deafening, her footsteps were the only thing producing any kind of sound whatsoever.
Finally, after what had seemed like forever, she reached the large gate with two guards guarding it right in front of her.
The two guards nodded, and stepped aside.
The red devil-like witch opened gate, and she found the Emperor Belos sat in his throne proudly, his golden mask reflecting the light coming from the room's torches, and the Titan's heartbeats echoed through the throne room.
"My Lord." Kikimora bowed down and hung her head low.
"Kikimora, why are you here?" He demanded as she got up and faced him.
"I come to make my monthly report."
For a moment, his gaze doesn't waver from hers.
"Well, there's only one problem. I've already got that report." Belos said as he stretched his metallic gauntlet. The hand-like roots had ripped through the stone floor, splintering and snapping the floor like a pair of cavalry driven spears. The hands grabbed Kikimora's legs, effectively holding her in one place.
"Now, you're gonna tell me who you are, and give me one good reason... why I shouldn't squash you like a bug."
Fake Kikimora didn't give him an answer. Not a word, not a gesture, not anything. Instead, all she gave him was a performance of her unique trick as her body glowed with a bright darkness, one that changed everything about her character as she transformed, leaving only her eyes noticeable. It was over as soon as it began, taking no less than a single second before the figure changed in stature, shape, and size.
The Emperor looked dispassionately as he saw fake Kikimora become a fairly androgynous-looking tall man in maybe his late twenties or early thirties, he was slim with an grayish complexion, waist-length light, almost strawberry blonde hair, and huge black eyes. He was dressed in a collared beige long-sleeved shirt, maroon vest, dark solid, golden arm cuffs with black straps, brown pants, and dark maroon-and-khaki boots.
"I have many names. I play many roles. But most people call me Prikaza. It is an honour to meet you, Your Excellency." He gave an exaggerated bow. "And I guarantee you that I'm more use to us alive than dead."
Emperor Belos rose from his chair and stood in front of the man. "You broke into this castle and walked into my throne room. So, you're incredibly brave or extremely foolish."
"A better description of my character, probably, would be the world 'determined'." He replied very seriously.
"So what do you want, Prikaza? What made you come out here?" Belos hold his voice firm, looking the shape-shifter right in the eye.
"It's not what I want from you, but what you want from me, your Majesty." Prikaza smiled at the Emperor, the slightest hint of condescendence in his rather humble voice.
"I'm really not in the mood for a play your stupid games." Belos said in calm and emotionless voice. And then Prikaza felt his lung don't get air as though a huge, invisible hand was squeezing his neck, completely cut off his air, and the the Emperor laughed harder than ever. "If you want to live. You better tell me straight out: why are you here?"
Prikaza's eyes narrowed, then relaxed as he smile. There wasn't fear in her eyes.
'He doesn't fear death.' Belos thought, and as he raised his hand, the grip on Prikaza's neck lifted too.
Prikaza slowly took a deep breath, boldly met his eyes and then he said, "Look, your Majesty, I heard about your big plans. I know the real reason you want to capture the Owl Lady."
The Emperor glared at him, but didn't say anything.
"I am intrigued by the possibility of The Day of Unity. And I can be quite handy in reaching the goal. Especially for the some information I have. You definitely find this information a very useful." The shape-shifter grinned at the last sentence.
"What kind of information?" Belos slowly asked, his blue eyes glowing.
"My lord, have you ever heard of the Book of First Elders?" Prikaza replied with big smile on his face.
A/N: A comment is worth a hundred faves.