Chapter 4: End of a deadline
Mini warning for this chapter: It features a bit of physical abuse. Now, onto the story!
It had been about a week since that meeting with Belos and Kikimora, which was actually nothing more than a simple routine briefing. But ever since, Hunter hadn't gotten... anything.
No mission, not another meeting, not even paperwork. And every time he tried to ask for an audience with the emperor, he only spoke with Kikimora, who said the same thing every single time:
"The emperor is very busy. If he ever requires your... service, he will contact you himself."
On the one hand this whole situation gave him more time to study wild magic and work with his staff, but on the other it made him feel useless. He was supposed to be the Golden Guard, the head of the emperor's coven, the emperor's right hand man! What was the point of all this, if he wasn't doing anything?
He failed his last mission, fine! But he could do better, he could be better!
And this could be his chance to prove it.
Belos had finally asked to see him.
"But, my lord-"
"Listen, Kikimora. I am handling this matter personally and unless I tell you so, you are not to interfere. If you are so interested in making yourself useful, then focus on your own duties and let me take care of mine. Did I make myself clear?" The emperor's voice was the same as always. Cold and imposing, yet calm. But the accelerated heartbeat behind it somehow made it sound louder and the order it carried felt more like a threat.
"Of course, my lord..." Kikimora replied lowering her head, her voice laced with a nearly untraceable embarassment.
Under different circumstances, Hunter would find this amusing, but instead it made him anxious.
What matter were they talking about? And why would Belos be so insistent that it was personal?
The first things that came to Hunter's mind was the construction of the portal and the Day of Unity. But Kikimora knew about those and, at least in some capacity, was involved, so it couldn't be any of them.
Perhaps it had to do with Belos' curse? Was it worsening now that he limited his... use of the palismen?
He really should have gotten there sooner...
...!
He didn't have the time to think of anything else, as the doors opened and he immediatelly straightened up, before they could tell he was listening in.
And the moment he walked inside his anxiety got worse.
The hearbeat abruptly returned to normal, while Kikimora and Belos kept their gazes on him. The one of the first was throwing daggers, but the one of the second... It was moments like this when Hunter was really missing his helmet. When he didn't really have to worry about things like discomfort or nervousness possibly showing...
But still, he made his way forward and knelt in front of the emperor. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, emperor Belos."
...!?
Hunter paused at the empty hallway, looking around warily.
The castle in all its vast emptiness could be a little unnerving at night, but tonight something felt really off. Halfway to the throne room he stopped at least three times, feeling he was being watched, only to see (of course) nothing.
This time though-
"Are you lost?" A little bootlicker was there... or rather, popped up from the left hallway.
"Are you stalking me now, Kikimora? Don't you have anything better to do?" He quickly asked, staring at her with annoyance.
"I'm just making my way to my quarters. As should you. Isn't it past your bedtime, child?" She asked back, a smug look in her eye and an obviously fake gentleness in her voice. She really enjoyed getting under people's skin...
"Actually, I have a private audience with the emperor. So, I really don't have time for this."
"Oh, you are right. You wouldn't want to keep him waiting. Again." Hunter was already making his way past her, but hearing this he stopped for a moment, his face turning red.
The temptation to bring out his staff and send her flying out the window was far too big, but... she did have a point (man, was that stinging...).
He couldn't keep Belos waiting again. He still couldn't believe his luck that he didn't comment on that when he arrived, but the chances of that happening again were probably not many. So, he just kept moving, gritting his teeth.
While Kikimora carried on as well, turning to the right. But her quarters were forward.
Hunter didn't even realize when he arrived in front of the throne room doors. For the rest of the way, his mind was stuck back in that last meeting and that conversation he overheard. Part of him was hoping that whatever the reason behind this audience was, it would be realated to that matter he was talking about with Kikimora. Maybe that was the reason he was so busy this whole time. Maybe he needed him for it, maybe he could help. Whatever the case though, this was his chance to make up for his last mission. He couldn't mess this up...
So, there was no point in stalling. He took a deep breath...
And opened the door.
He found the emperor with his back turned on him, staring at the heart above his throne. The moment he entered the heartbeat again abruptly returned to normal, and Belos let out a slow, pained breath. He must've had an outburst (even though Hunter couldn't see any goop around...).
"Emperor Belos? You wished to see me?" Hunter asked, after closing the door, his voice and face barely hiding his worry.
"...Yes. I did." Something felt off about Belos' answer. About his voice.
It took him by surprise, but he chose not to question it, as he made his way towards him. "Is there something wrong? Something you want me to take care of? A mission, maybe-?" And the surprise got bigger.
Belos cut him off... with a chuckle. "Must something be wrong for me to want to see my nephew?" His voice was gentle as he spoke and as he finished he turned to him, closing most of the remaining distance between them.
Hunter could only stare at him, unsure of what to say or what to think. "I... I don't understand..."
"I haven't really seen you in quite a while... I missed you, Hunter." Belos placed a hand on his shoulder, and Hunter could swear that he heard a smile behind his mask.
As the words he heard set in, the boy couldn't help but give a small smile of his own, a warm feeling replacing his worry. Belos... His uncle... He really just wanted to see him? "...Really?"
"You're smiling... That's nice. I like to see you smile. You know, perhaps you losing your helmet was a good thing. I can see your face more often."
And from a smiling, Hunter abruptly had to fight to keep himself from flinching, as Belos moved his hand from his shoulder to his cheek (Thank Titan he didn't keep it there for more than a few seconds...). But as he withdrew it, he couldn't help but shudder a little.
Thankfully, the emperor didn't seem to notice, for he circled around him for a moment, before speaking again. "Although... your hair. It looks different. Did you do something to it?"
Hearing this, Hunter immediately started pushing his hair back. I thought I fixed it up before I left! "Oh! No, I didn't. I-it's just a little hard to keep it in check lately. I've been practising flying a lot the last few days."
"I see... And is that all you've been doing for the last few days?" The emperor's voice started getting colder, as he made his way to the throne.
"...Mainly. I just thought that since you didn't have a mission for me, I could use my time to hone my skills."
"And is that why you've been studying wild magic behind my back?"
Hunter's heart stopped beating for a moment, the color draining from his face, as Belos asked his question. All gentleness in his voice gone.
"Well?" Hardly a second passed and his arm formed into a goopy blade, which only missed Hunter for an inch and made him instictively kneel down. This was a warning shot. But the next one wouldn't be. "I asked you a question. Have you been studying wild magic behind my back?"
Hunter kept his gaze down, unable to speak, unable to even breathe normally. But he had to say something. The blade retreated. And it was only a matter of seconds before it came again. "I can explain-"
"I'm sure you can. So, why don't you start with this?"
He turned around at the sound of the doors opening. And inside walked Kikimora, with an almost sadistic glint in her eye and a staff in her hands. A staff with a red cardinal!
You little-! Forgetting everything for an instant, he stood up and started running towards her. Only to be stopped by a sudden pain on his left arm. And he could barely make out the blade moving away from him.
"Did you really think you could have kept this and I wouldn't know?" Belos inquired, sounding almost disgusted "Nothing happens in this castle without me knowing. I gave you more than enough time to do the right thing and hand it over to me, but instead you chose to betray me."
"No, that's not true!" Hunter finally turned to face the emperor, his voice dripping with desperation. "I only did it for you! I figured that if I could learn enough about wild magic I could maybe find a cure for your curse! I would never betray you! You're my family!"
"And what about the family we lost? How does that honor their memory? Your actions are treason not only against me, but against them too. And now you must pay for it." As he finished, Kikimora began making her way to the throne, while Hunter remained frozen, his eyes filled with horror.
"No. No, no, no! Please! I won't use that staff again, I'll burn every book and note in wild magic I have! I will bring you every single palisman on the Isles, just please don't do this to him!" With every plea, his voice was growing more distressed, but Belos ignored him.
Kikimora handed him the staff and he started breaking it. Slowly, painfully. That was what Belos wanted. To torture it. To torture Hunter. Who could only watch while the cardinal was chirping in agony, louder than the cracking wood.
"NO!"
...
...
...
...
Four seconds. Or maybe less.
And then everything, (even the heartbeat), stopped.
Belos was on his hands and knees on the floor, clutching his chest, his breathing pained.
While the cardinal immediately flew to Hunter.
Hunter...
He... He was holding his staff- He...
He blasted him. He blasted Belos...!
And he only seemed to realize that when his eyes drifted to this hands ever so slightly.
No... He immediately dropped it as if he had been burned, stumbling backwards before falling to his knees.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't- I don't know why- I'm sorry!" Hunter was crying out non-stop, his whole body trembling and his eyes filled with tears.
Kikimora was about to blast him back, once the shock was worn out, but she was stopped by Belos. Who was slowly making his way to the hysterical boy.
Hearing him coming closer, he lowered his head even more, bracing himself for whatever was to come. But instead all he got, was this:
"Shhh..." Belos had knelt to his level. He slowly reached out his hand, touching gently the scarred side of his face. He wiped away a tear with his thumb, making Hunter flinch.
But nonetheless, he calmed down a little, just as the heartbeat started echoeing louder and louder. And then he remembered...
The emperor is not a merciful man.
"Agh!" Hunter was only able to pull away at the last second, but even though it saved his face, the blow was landed on his shoulder.
And just as the blade reshaped into his arm, Belos went for another blow. But this time it didn't hit at all.
The cardinal reshaped the staff and pushed itself on Hunter, pushing him out of the way, before flying with him for the door.
...!
...!
"My... my liege?" Kikimora tried to approach Belos, but she quickly stopped, as an earsplitting shriek tore itself from his throat.
And she could only stare in terror as the emperor's body contorted into one of a monster.
And that is all for now! I hope you liked this one as well! I gotta go now and I will see you all hopefully next week! Please leave a review and stay safe. :)