Chapter 13- Nischelis And His Methods of Madness

Nischelis was doing quite an impressive job when it came to keeping his plans to destroy Isikan a secret.

The others, including Tarnechis, were trying their hardest to keep their mouths shut about asking.

The day that Nischelis would reveal his evil plans with his family finally came. The Compound, as their forest home came to be called, was buzzing. When he was ready to spill everything, he called them together in the grand hall, which was really a wooded space with a fire pit in the center of it.

Nusqial was thrilled. The "Big Secret," as he kept calling it, was finally about to be told. And he wanted to be the first to know.

But he wasn't the first one in the hall. Aschinal and Kolachin both arrived first. And of course, Aschinal had questions about this particular meeting. "What's this about?"

"When everyone else gets here, I will tell you," Nischelis assured him.

"I'm here," Tarnechis said. "I honestly can't wait to hear this."

"Neither can I," Junquian said, walking into the hall. "Where's everyone else?"

"Still hunting," Kolachin replied. "I heard Nischi calling from a mile away—and came back so I could hear everything."

Irinis and Nusqial finally arrived. Nischelis gave a small sigh of relief and began talking.

"I know that I've been secretive about my plans to destroy Isikan. I do apologize to you, my dear brothers. I just wanted to make sure that everything was in place and nothing was left out, detailwise."

Junquian was in awe. "That's our Nischi, always being organized."

"I agree," Kolachin said. "Anyway, the Big Secret."

"The Big Secret?" Nischelis teased. "Okay, you want details? Got it."

Tarnechis began grumbling. "I'm going to get a fire started. It's getting a bit cold."

"You do that. Is there any food left?" Nischelis asked.

Kolachin pointed to a grove of trees. "You'll find about a dozen mortal women. Knock yourself out, Grand Opportunist."

Nischelis snarled at Tarnechis, then turned to look at Kolachin. "My pleasure."

"Bring one for me," Tarnechis called after him.

"And us as well," Irinis and Nusqial shouted after him.

Kolachin looked at Nusqial. "Another one? I'm full. Eating like that for the past few days has done nothing but bring on indigestion."

Nusqial smiled. "What can I say? I'm a growing demon who needs to eat more."

"Well, then," Kolachin murmured. "At least you're eating, little demon."

Nischelis finally returned to the grand hall, followed by four very frightened young women. "Dinner is served...again. Take your pick, but leave this one to me. Where'd Jinqui go?"

"He couldn't catch up with you because you're so fast. He went to get himself another meal," Tarnechis replied, picking the tall redhead that stood the farthest from the other three. "I'm going to have some fun with you."

Irinis glanced at the brunette that was left standing by herself. "Come here, sweetie. I just want to have some fun. I swear."

Kolachin snickered. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

Nusqial smiled. "I love blondes. This one's mine. Don't worry, I don't bite."

"Not yet, that is," Junquian snickered, dragging a woman of his own behind him. "And, oh, hell no. You're NOT about to tell us your plans without me being here."

Nischelis glared at him. "No. And why is it that you decide to get food when you heard me say I was getting some?"

"Because I was preoccupied with other things. And I never heard you say you were going back out for food," Junquian shot back. "I'm here, am I not? Sit down, girl."

"Whatever," Tarnechis growled at them, sinking his fangs into the redhead's neck. "Please continue, since we're all here now and most of us are eating at the moment."

"Anyway," Nischelis grumbled. "Lady Siraena told us to deliver a message to Isikan, which we did. But, she hadn't said whether we could hurt him or not. I hate the fact that we were so honest with her on that. We should have sent him on his way after the message, but Tanil and I got to thinking that we beat his ass a bit, and then there would be nothing. I know you're thinking we shouldn't have let him and the other three off easy, but we had a job to do. But it was Tanil's constant deciding as to whether we killed him or let him live was what got me. My plan is to take something of Isikan's and torment him with it until he breaks down and flat out loses it."

"I'm in," Kolachin said, smiling as he spoke. Apparently, the idea of tormenting Isikan was thrilling the hell out of him.

Junquian tore himself away from his victim long enough to agree with the plan. "Love the idea, but what does Isikan treasure the most? We don't know much about him to begin with."

Nischelis pondered the thought, then shook his head. "I thought about that, but there has to be something he values the most. We'll just have to find out."

Junquian sighed. "Why don't we bribe one of these foolish mortals into doing our dirty work? I honestly think he values those hemlock and belladonna laced arrows he shot into Lord Imniar and Lord Niarchos. And that bow he uses—the wood is not of these trees."

Nusqial suddenly hissed at his victim. "Stay still, woman. I don't want to have to clean blood off these pants."

Irinis laughed. "Since when did you become a fashion whore?"

"Since I found how to clean blood off these pants the hard way," Nusqial replied.

This was true. Two days before, when they first went hunting, Nusqial wound up in a power struggle with one of his victims. He managed to feed, but with the girl struggling and thrashing all over the place, blood somehow managed to get onto him. By the time that ended, poor Nusqial spent the rest of the evening washing bloodstains off him and his clothing. The whole ordeal made him decide that he was going to hunt fully clothed, but when it came to eating, the clothes were coming off.

"I remember that," Tarnechis snickered. "That was hilarious."

"What?" Nusqial was infuriated. "I wasn't laughing. That was horrifying."

"You stopped getting mad once Nischi stepped in," Irinis added.

"So true," Nusqial murmured. "But it was worth it. Her blood was just the way I like it: pure, innocent, and sweet. In fact, I would be much happier if I could always get that. Instead, we find this trash."

Aschinal hissed at him. "Be happy we even got food. We could've starved. And my two meals were quite delicious—a bit spicy, but good. Trust me, this was all worth it."

Irinis agreed. "Mine was good too."

Nusqial groaned. "The fight didn't stop until Nischi intervened, though."

"I only intervened when you looked as if you lost control of the situation," Nischelis said.

"And you broke her neck," Kolachin said. "That was interesting."

Tarnechis let out a sigh. "At least Nusi got a meal that day. Because of the fiasco, I had to suffer."

Nischelis burst out laughing. "Not until after the fiasco ended did you get a meal."

Everyone burst out laughing.

That is, until they realized that they hadn't finished about the plan.

"Back to the Big Secret," Kolachin said. "What are our roles in this plan?"

"Simple. Nusi will distract him, and Tanil will bring him down. Jinqui, Rini, Aschil, and I will watch from the sidelines," Nischelis explained. "You will begin the torture process, Kolachiki."

Kolachin smiled. "I love that idea. When do we start?"

Nischelis returned the smile. "As soon as possible. But, for tonight, let's feast and have fun. Tomorrow, Isikan gets his."

Tarnechis smirked. "I can't wait. This will be interesting."

"Me either," Irinis said, turning back to his victim. "Where do you think you're going, woman? Stay put."

"Neither can I," Nusqial said. "What about you, Jinqui?"

Junquian gave them the thumbs up, since he had a mouthful of blood and couldn't speak at the moment.

"Oh yeah," Nischelis murmured. "There will be blood. Lots of it."