I do not own the Fate series and Tsukihime. The credit goes to Kinoko Nasu, Kagetsu Tohya, TYPE-MOON, and Aniplex. I only own the OCs. Please support the original works.
This chapter will contain Gore, excessive blood, and child experimentation. You have been warned. If you somehow ignored the warning from the title.
A laboratory surrounded by people in white coats. They were talking and writing down what happened through the mirror. Inside the small cubicle was a child tied down by metal restraints. A metal cap was placed on his head to monitor his brain activity.
However, he wasn't alone inside that isolated room. The room was barren aside from the chair, a desk in the far corner, and a table with bloodied torture devices. Inside was a man dressed in black with bloodied tools in his hands. He was cutting, ripping, and stabbing into the child.
The man paid no attention to the child and continued to do his job. The men from the other side of the mirror would tell the man in black to proceed or stop for the day.
The child's condition was in shambles. His eyes were red from crying, and his throat was sore from all the screaming. He could only give a barely audible groan whenever the pain spiked. The once clean room was stained purple from the blood that splatted and gushed whenever the man cut an artery.
As much as the child hated getting tortured like this. Some twisted part of him did respect this man for being good at this. To target parts of his body accurately and barely miss a vital area. This, in turn, was accompanied by blinding pain that almost made him pass out from the shock. As much as he couldn't hate them, he understood this was their job. At least he wasn't stuck with some sadist who got off on hurting children.
"I understand," the man dressed in black said before stooping. He gave the child a look, went to the desk in the corner of the room, and retrieved a syringe. Then he returned to the child and injected him with the strange fluid. After a couple of moments, the child looked as good as new. He was miraculously healed, and the wounds from the ordeal were gone.
"Looks like the shrinks are done analyzing you, boy," the man dressed in black said. "You should take this moment to rest and recuperate. You're going to need it."
As much as the boy wanted to speak, he was exhausted and weak, like the man said. The child could barely move a finger or find it in him to utter a single word beyond a groan.
The child closed his eyes and started to drift off.
However, the child understood what was happening and why it was being done to him. The people behind the glass were testing to see if extreme physical trauma done to a psychic could push their limits and awaken something in the brain.
The child couldn't blame them for studying the phenomenon. Psychics were an enigma in their own right, but if there was a way to forcibly enhance their potential without destroying themselves and others around them because of a 'trigger' in the psyche.
Effectively, a forced evolution through extreme stimuli.
Finding a trigger…
The man dressed in black took off his leather gloves and began knocking on the door. "Alright, let me out. I have to take a smoke break…"
The child toned the man out once he realized he wasn't a threat and went to sleep.
The men in white continued this a few more times to get something but gave up on the fact that using pain on the child wouldn't do anything besides gaining a tolerance to pain.
A couple of days passed since Mortem's last excursion to a singularity. So he's passed the time with his Servants and the various activities around Chaldea. If something was different from back home and here, it would be that there was always something to do, from sparring with the male in the simulator and outings with the female Heroic Spirits.
As for what Mortem's doing right now, he is lying on his bed, reading a book about gardening. What turned out as a hobby now instead of survival back home. Unlike now, there is a garden in Chaldea where he and a few others manage to produce food and other things the Servants wanted to add.
They just had to ask him or the people on duty for permission.
However, at the moment, there was a presence in his room as he was reading his book. Mortem knew who this entity was in his room.
"Kiyohime, what did I say about you stalking me in my room," the boy said without taking his eyes off the book. "If you want to talk to me, all you have to do is ask."
The berserker hiding in the closet quickly left and approached her Master. "Anchin, I apologize for stalking you, but I did it to make sure you were okay," her voice filled with concern. "It just seems you've been out of lately. You have been distancing yourself from me." Mortem stopped reading his book and turned to see a sad Dragon. "D-did I do something to you, Anchin? If I did, please tell me?"
Kiyohime looked like she was going to get scolded for saying that question. What did I do to her to make her feel like this? I know she is one of the less unstable Servants I'm contracted to, but she is still primed to one day snap if she gets upset. Let's see if I can get her to discuss what's on her mind.
Mortem closed his book and placed it on the nightstand beside his bed. He gestured for the woman to get in bed with him. She almost immediately took off her sandals and sat on the bed next to him.
"Now, you did nothing to me, Kiyohime. May I ask what more brought this question on?" Mortem wanted to be careful when approaching topics like this. She could tell lies from a mile away, and if he lied to her, things could get ugly for him.
The Berserker looked at her Master with her hurt yellow eyes. She looked like she watched her husband commit something unspeakable and had slight fear and sadness. "You haven't been talking with me as much anymore, and I feel my status as the first wife is being challenged. Ever since those harlots have been talking to my Anchin more. I want to know if you still love me?" Kiyohime's obsessive nature showed when she looked downright scared, almost shedding tears when she asked that question.
Ahh, I see. It had something to do with that.
This wasn't the first time Mortem had a conversation similar to this one. This is something that all Servants do at some point. The stronger the bond and time you spend with them. The more they want to spend time with you, the more they invite him to training or talking. He remembers what could happen if Servants feel like they've been neglected or mistreated. In the worst cases, it could lead to his death and others. In the best cases, the Servants give you the cold shoulder or refuse to talk to him.
Mortem knew what this could lead to if not properly handled. He vividly recalls when Ereshkigal, in a fit of hysterics, caused a singularity with a holy grail inside Chaldea. Of course, he and Ritsuka fixed it, and when he asked the goddess of the underworld why she did it, she muttered, "...you weren't spending enough time with me." Her face became red with embarrassment while he gave her a head pat and promised to make more time for her.
The Master did something that made the dragon pause. He scoped her up and brought her to his chest, where she could feel his heartbeat overlap with a fainter one. It worked to ease her up and melt into the embrace of her Master (Husband). Soon, she purred with her tongue moving like a snake while her lower half shifted into one of a snake curling around Mortem's body. His presence eased her mind, body, and soul.
"Yes, Kiyohime, I do love you," he answered her truthfully. She didn't specify what type of love he felt for her because he didn't fully know himself. However, there was one thing felt for most in Chaldea: love in the sense of family and friends.
The cuddle session proved to be too much for the Master as he was lulled into slumber by the snuggle dragon who had him ensnared with her body.
Maybe I could get a few hours of sleep… I wonder what fairy knights are doing…
Quietly, the door in his room opened, and a woman with long purple hair entered and saw Mortem cuddling with Kiyohime. This woman had tiny sparks of purple lightning floating from her and a hint of ozone oozing. Yet when she looked at her Master's peaceful face, she reluctantly and quietly exited the room.
In a room in Chaldea that's been renovated and enchanted to suit the needs of whoever was the person to cast them, four people of different sizes sat in the room with a round table in the center.
A woman with white hair and a cold gaze but calculating gaze that spoke leagues about her icy charisma. This person was Morgan Le Fay, the leader of the fairy knights of the Britain Lostbelt.
"My knights were having this meeting today as a follow-up on reports from last week," Morgan said, reminding everyone sitting in the room. "This meeting consists of activities you wish to share and the state of our Master's."
The other three people in the room were fairy knights Tristan (Baobhan Sith), Gawain (Barghest), and Lancelot (Mélusine). Each was recalling what happened this past week.
"I've heard that Mortem had a sparing match with the Lancer Servant Scáthach recently," Barghest spoke. "They fought, and Mortem won."
"Oh," Tristan smiling sadistically at the mention of her Master fighting another Servant. "It seems like that small fry can handle himself. Too bad I wasn't there. I would've enjoyed watching him struggle."
Lancelot smiled. "My Master is strong, and I have no doubts about his strength. Though he has a problem with biting off more than he can chew and tends to be a magnet for trouble."
That was a statement they all could agree on regarding their Masters. Trouble seems to follow them, especially Mortem. He tends to get the worst of it despite his laid-back nature. One day, he's going get himself killed if he keeps up that behavior. That was one thing most Servants contracted to him can agree on. That could be why they are highly protective of him.
My husband, you genuinely don't know how much I worry for you… "Gawain," the witch's eyes meeting the black dog's. "How's Ritsuka been? You are the only one here that has a contract with her."
Ritsuka was only able to summon Fairy knight Gawain. Their bond was stronger than Mortem's, which makes sense from what Morgan heard about what happened in the Lostbelt. Mortem was the court Jester after Gawain went to find the Chaldean when they went into the Lostbelt. They only managed to find Mortem and held them at Camelot while he acted like the court Jester and gave them all wise advice even if most of the fey didn't pay attention or looked down on him. To everyone's surprise, he would do the impossible and entertain Bao for a short time without dying.
"Master's been okay the last time I've talked with her. However, she seems to have been distracted lately. I've talked to Mash about what could bother her, and she said that she and Mortem argued. So now they're taking a break to cool off," Barghest announced.
"What were they arguing about?" Morgan asked, intrigued about the topic.
"I don't know. Mash never told me the reason it was a personal subject."
That was eye-brow lifting as neither, for all their flaws and times being together, ever really had a falling out. At least for the time, they've been here and when they went to the Lostbelt. I was enough for the room to be momentarily silenced.
At least in till Bao's muffled giggling turned to laughter. Attracting everyone's attention. "Haha, I apologize, Mother, but I couldn't help it. To see that small fry get caught up on something as insignificant as this is hilarious. One that controls gods, outer beings, and other irredeemable Servants. To find out my Master has trouble with his fellow Master," Bao's giggling persisted.
"What makes you say that Baobhan Sith? Maybe it was something that had to do with them and them only. He'll tell us if it bothered him or let him know we are here to lend an ear," Mélusine said. "However, I won't allow you to bad month our Master in front of me," her voice oozing with venom and magical energy flaring.
Morgan knew for as much as this group of faerie Knights were a unit. They all had clashing personalities. Baobhan Sith, the nicest faerie of them all, had to become sadistic, uncaring, and ruthless. To be sure she won't get killed again by other faeries. Despite that mask of an unforgiving killer, she still has vulnerabilities, such as her Master and Morgan, who are essential to her.
Then we have Mélusine, who is extremely loyal to her Master and, like Morgan, confesses that she loves him much more than a Master-Servant relationship. Who, like much of the other Servants here, became love rivals.
But to see her two knights bickering among themselves over something like this. "Enough!" the former monarch yelled. "I understand that you two have clashing opinions. But right now isn't the time to be fighting among ourselves. Unless you want to give our Master more issues." she chided.
The Lancer and Archer huffed. Deciding it was not worth it.
"Oh, Barghest," Morgan wanted to change the subject. "How's this week's kitchen duty?"
"It's been great! I'm happy I get to do something else other than fight." The Saber was happy she was able to do something other than fight. So she asked Ritsuka if she could do something in Chaldea to help. Since most Servants usually have tasks other than accompanying their Masters in a singularity. "Ritsuka said there's always a need for more kitchen staff since there are always new Servants. Mortem agreed since it could give some of the staff a break."
That was something that Morgan hated to admit. She wasn't a cook like Barghest and often thought of how she would become a proper wife if she couldn't cook for her husband. She would sometimes even show up in the kitchen and ask for cooking lessons or ask her fellow knight to improve her culinary abilities.
The meeting went by with nothing of significant importance besides the occasional rumor. After a few more minutes, Barghast left to start preparing dinner, and Mélusine a few moments after. Baobhan Sith was going to leave but was stopped by her mother.
"Bao, wait."
"Hmm? What is it, mother?"
Morgan had no right way to bring this up. She knew that her daughter hated her third ascension because that was a version of her after she was dismembered.
"How are you feeling right now?"
Morgan had to be sure her daughter was mentally breaking down. Mortem did mention after feeding her some of his blood. She would suddenly turn into her third ascension and then embrace him, not as a lover but as someone trying to protect.
"Fine. Mother, is this about what happened with Lancelot?"
Morgan shook her head. "No. But rather, this is about your feeding time with Mortem."
It didn't take long before the pieces clicked with Bao. She knew where this was going. She dreaded mentioning that she needed to feed on her Master's blood. If she didn't feed on blood, she'd get sick and bedridden, making her useless for the day.
Mortem is a good Master because he fed her some of his blood when he found out the fairy was starving. Since then, he provided her blood every week since she wasn't the only blood-sucking Servant he was contracted to. She initially disliked his blood since it was purple and not human. However, it had an acquired taste that her fellow friend Carmilla mentioned. She would get some of his blood as well.
"Oh, is this about me blacking out while he feeds me?"
"Yes. I asked Mortem about the recent feedings. He said that you get emotional and revert to your third ascension."
"Oh…"
"Yes, you would hold on to him and cry. At the same time, you balled your eyes out. Often talking about me and him."
"..."
"I'm not saying that you should repress those feelings. We're not in Fairy Britain anymore. You can be vulnerable. I understand you are uncomfortable talking about this, Mortem, but you can talk to me about it."
Bao was still, but if you looked closely, she was shivering slightly. Her crimson hair hid her face.
"Baobhan Sith?" her voice soft, motherly, concerned.
"I don't understand my heart, mother. I have an urge to hurt him, but every time, the thought goes through my head. My heart hurts, and my body feels cold." her voice is flat.
"I see," Morgan went to confront her daughter, hugging her shivering body. "Embrace these new feelings because I'm sure you've smitten with our Master."
It took a moment for those words to sink in.
Her eyes shot open. "...What?!"
Hey, it's been a while; I've been busy. If you like my content, be sure to like and follow. Made some changes with the character sheets because it didn't make much sense.
