A/N: Chapter of 11 of Mystical Eye of a Savage Hound. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except my own OC. Revenge of the Sword Clan's Hound belongs to the rightful owner.
Chapter 11: The Morgue Clan Triplets
Inside Camus' Room...
"This is not necessarily the first time I've had company in my room, but this is the first time I've invited someone not from my family in my room." Camus was explaining to me as she ushered me in, closing the door behind me once I entered and placed her hands behind her back. We had finished our meeting with Raspane and before I got dragged away by her eager daughter I handed over Hugo's envelope, barely getting a word out before I was pulled out by the seams of my uniform. "This is also the first time I'll be the primary host to a very important someone who'll be my guest."
"Since you're the daughter of the Morgue Clan, aren't I already your important guest?" I questioned rhetorically but she shook her head indignantly. I placed my luggage down and shrugged off my sword, putting them together before reaching up high and stretching out my slightly stiff muscles.
"There's definitely a difference! Like you could've been just a guest for any member of Morgue to watch over and babysit, but you're my very important guest." She placed heavily emphasis the word 'my', even drawling it out. "Which mean I am in charge of your every need, and you have to stick to me like a stinky parasite on a demonic creature. Wherever I go you go. Whatever I eat you eat."
"Wherever you sleep I sleep?" I looked over and smirked as she spluttered, her face turning a small shade of pink and I could guess the kinds of thoughts that were going through her head. She quickly made her way to her bed, grabbing a pillow and sitting down on the clean sheets, clutching the object tightly against her chest. "Easy, princess, don't go getting your panties in a twist. If you're that uncomfortable then I won't cross the line."
I turned around to observe the living quarters as she released a small breath of relief, or was it disappointment I couldn't tell. In the Baskervilles the children were only given the basics necessities like a bed and a washroom. Most of the walls were bricks and stones with no indications of windows to the outside, so we were encouraged to leave our chambers to enjoy the outside and not holed up in some asylum-like prison. Compared to that there were a lot of furniture around the room and windows that allowed the occupants to look outside. She had a couple of dressers for her many clothes while there was a walk-in closet that housed some more clothes. Linen curtains that were draped over the windows were slightly drawn closed, perhaps to filter out some of the sun's rays.
I made my way over to her large bathroom and peeked my head in for a look, eyes roaming over the pristine white-stoned counter top with two sinks. There were a couple of bottles along the counter, no doubt the girl's skincare products which explained her soft looks. There was a shower and a bathtub, both big enough to house two or more people. Everything was so clean and orderly, nothing looked out of place. There was a slight fragrant smell, nothing too strong and overbearing, in the air and my gaze shifted to the freshener plugged into the wall.
"Done snooping and sniffing around? Getting use to your territory for the next few weeks?" Camus teased from where she was perched on her bed, eyeing me as I walked back to her. She had opted to lay on her side, tucking her legs behind her while still hugging her pillow. "Or perhaps you were thinking of possible places of marking your territory without me knowing?"
"That thought never crossed my mind but since you said it," I casually leaned against one of her drawers, crossing one leg behind the other and folded my arms across my chest, turning my eyes to look at her. "I guess I will take the time to go a second round and mark my territory thoroughly. And maybe if you're interested I can take you on a tour once I finish."
"Don't say such a thing with a smile on your face, one might think you're insane or crazy in the head. If I suspect even a single drop of urine anywhere other than in the toilet. I'll make you wish you hadn't been born."
I wonder if I wish hard enough I'll be able to be reborn a second time...but I'm in a good spot in this life so it'd be such a waste to die at this point without succeeding in my revenge. "Never start a fight unless you're sure you can finish it, princess." I jest lightly before turning my head a bit to sniff at my uniform. My mouth turned down into a small frown at what my nose picked up and I said, "I hope you don't mind if I go freshen up, it's been a long day."
"Help yourself. Then after you're finish lets get something to eat, I don't believe you had a proper meal during your travels; snacks I know you had but that's all they are, just snacks. There shouldn't be too many magicians out and about at this hour and you're lucky today is our cheat day, so we should have a quiet meal." Camus' eyes sparkled as she thought about what delicacies would be served in the mess hall. "Then afterwards I can show you around because there's so much ground to cover."
"Eating a meal together? Don't you think what that will look like or imply to others?"
"As if they aren't aware of our betrothal agreement, and even if they aren't we can still chalk it up as friends eating meals with each other." She huffed as I walked to my luggage and gathered what I needed. "Remember what I told you, we stick through this together, doesn't matter what it is."
"Yup I heard you the first time, stuck together like a flea on a dog." I paused at the door and smiled back mischievously, "So you wanna shower with me too?"
"No!" Her response was immediate, high-pitched and squeaky. She cleared her throat and said, "I...I'm okay. I don't need a shower."
"Then you aren't doing your due diligence if you refuse."
"C-C-Can I get a mulligan this time?" She asked in a small voice, clearly flustered and nearly buried her face in her pillow from embarrassment. "O-Or at least, give me a pass and I'll do something else as a replacement. I-I won't back out a second time!" I watched her for a minute, thinking about what she's asking for and then I nodded.
"Alright, I'll give you a mulligan this time. That means I get to ask you for anything at anytime I wish, and you don't get to talk yourself out of it. Remember, no take backs!" Snickering to myself and thinking I got the best end of our deal I closed the door, shutting out whatever protest she may have made. I stripped out of my clothes and hopped into the shower, letting the water soak my body. Putting a dollop of shampoo in the palm of my hand I rubbed and scrubbed my hair and scalp until I deemed myself clean, then moved my hands down to lather up my body and wash every inch thoroughly.
Once the soapsuds disappeared and the liquid ran clear I turned off the water and walked out, grabbing one of the assorted towels to wipe my body. Thanks to my short hair I didn't have to spend too much time blow-drying and proceeded to comb the locks, making sure everything was in order. I put on the extra set of clothes while throwing the travel clothes in the laundry bin and walked out fully rejuvenated and refreshed.
"Wow, even the scruffiest mutt can groom itself to take on the appearance of a well-kept beast." Camus mused as she rouse herself from the bed, her fingers lightly brushing her skirt as she restless ambled towards the door. "Don't mind your dirty clothes I'll have our butlers handle it. I bet they'll be clean and folded by the time we'll get back. Let's go, I'm starving!"
"I thought you'd already eaten with the rest of the members in your age group." I looked at her questioningly as we exited her room and walked side-by-side. "Or if not with them then at least with the clan head and your uncle."
"I thought it'd be better if I wait a bit since I heard you were coming, much to Uncle's dismay but I was able to allude him. It'd be very good for the others to see us hanging out together and establishing a firm relationship between the clans." She carded a hand through her hair absentmindedly, refusing to meet my gaze. I never realized how childish she can be when she was younger, but I'm starting to like this side of her. When she was in her prime, Camus was so ruthless and unfriendly even when addressing other clans because everything was business with her just like how her mother had been. But now? She is very carefree and I hope she can retain it into her adulthood. "Besides...a meal no matter how disgusting it may be always tastes better when you share it with another."
"You assume I eat my meals alone?"
"If you're anything like me, a terrifying genius that has never shown up in over a hundred years, then you must've felt some void of loneliness from your peers. They start to distant themselves once they realize that you are on a whole different level from them, and then before you know it you end up with no one." She turned to glance my way but I had already turned my eyes forward. She didn't elaborate anymore because she knew that I understood what she was saying, because I had already experienced that sort of disconnect with those in my group.
As we walked towards the mess hall Camus had told me all sorts of stories ranging from the history of Morgue Clan to her first match against Adolf and how he feigned his loss just so she could experience her first win against him. I merely nodded my head to her words or make noises of affirmation to assure her that I was listening to her, but I never gave my own input and allowed her to talk my ears off. I don't know how to describe what it is that I'm feeling, but I felt at ease whenever I listen to the red-haired girl talk. My mind reasons that it's the first time I'm hanging out with someone who is the same age and gender as I, so I'm clinging onto this experience for I know that when I go back I will be surrounded by the opposite gender.
"Here we are! The cooks were gracious enough to keep the lines open because they're well aware of some magicians abusing their magic to nab snacks at uncanny hours of the day; we've since learned our lessons and the clan head extended the time of cutoff a little bit later, but then she strictly cuts off so we wouldn't ruin our appetite when dinner rolls around." The red-haired princess opened the door and all sorts of scents assaulted my nose and I stood still attempting to drink it all in. While Baskerville canteen only had the smell of hagis as our main source of consumption for our meals, minus the rewards safely tucked away in the food storage, this place had a whole assortment of food items that I have yet to be introduced to. I felt like I was about to experience a food coma.
Each station was properly labeled on what was being served, the ingredients in each meal printed and laminated on little note cards in case some of the members were allergic to something, and if someone wanted something heated they'll just chant a small fire spell. I didn't seem to see any beverage stations but I noticed some magicians take the empty cups and use a water spell. How convenient for them, but I realized that I couldn't do any of that.
"Thinking about how you're going to get a drink without knowing any spells? You should thank me for being here otherwise you'd make an absolute fool of yourself." Camus' teasing voice tickled my ear and I gave her a slight side-eye as she laughs at my response. "C'mon, you look like you're about to pass out just standing here."
I followed her lead and I was tempted to take some of everything, but the tray wasn't big enough to hold the weight even if I tried to cleaverly balance the plates. Of course I gently reminded myself that I had a lot of time to taste everything so I shouldn't be too greedy on my first day. Once we finished making our rounds we found an empty table close to the window, a table for two, and dug in. My tongue had been so trained to the taste of hagis that it couldn't handle any other flavors, it was so numb.
"You look a bit ill, is the food not to your liking?" Camus took notice as I currently chewed on what appeared to be a thick piece of pork shoulder. "I assure you everything here is world class."
"No there isn't anything wrong with the skills of your chefs. It's just how I was trained and raised to consume hagis every single day so I think my tongue can't differentiate between anything else."
"Hagis?"
"It's a nutritious, thick stew consisting of meat that came from various demonic creatures. Hugo always had it served to the hounds when they're babies so they got accustomed to it." I saw the way her face slightly paled at that knowledge, knew that a dainty girl like her would have a high standard palette. "Yeah I know, you wouldn't even think of eating something like demonic creatures, much less parts of them. So forgive me if I find the food you eat rather...abnormal."
"Well I can't really comment on what's normal or not because of how we were raised, so to each our own." She went about cutting her own piece of meat, chicken breast if I remember her reaching for, and dipped it in the accompanying sauce. Gently tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear she brought the morsel of food up to her lips and took a dainty bite. Very lady-like and with such elegance I couldn't possibly comprehend.
"Buzz~ Buzz~"
Oh no you don't...! I'll find a way to feed you later if you can behave yourself... I glared at my right wrist when I heard the familiar buzzing, willing that Beelzebub would be good and obey my orders. I cleared my throat briefly to catch Camus' attention and asked, "Ummm...you wouldn't know any place that like, oh I don't know, where food waste and scrap are thrown out? Or possibly an area where stray creatures are thrown for removal?"
"Speaking of these topics in front of my food, are you trying to make me lose my appetite and interest?" She grimaces and scrunches up her nose, prodding the small tomatoes that were on her plate back and forth with her fork. "Not a lot of creatures come around here, but there is a place where we dispose of them. The removal crew will use both earth and fire spells to contain the carcasses whilst they burn. The larger the carcass the longer it takes for it to be reduced to ashes, but also there aren't just a single creature so most of the burning begins before the sun rises."
"Hmmmm...I see." Guess I'll have to find a way to sneak out and let Beelzebub feed a bit...
We continued to eat our food in silence, Camus focusing on either her food or me, while I sometimes shift my gaze from the food to the window. The atmosphere was calm and serene, there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency with the Morgues even though they'll begin their training soon. After we finished eating we made our rounds around the important areas of the fortress: gardens, courtyard, library, classrooms, stables and training facilities.
"Come. This stairwell is one of many that leads to the top of the fortress, not a lot of people use this passage way so I decided to claim it as my own private getaway." Camus had guided me to a secluded area of the fortress and smiled. I followed her and looked up at the layers of staircases that I have yet to climb.. There must have been at least four or five levels before we made it to an iron door. There didn't seem to be a lock on the door and I knew I didn't have a key, but I watched as Camus placed her hand on the surface and a magic circle appeared. The numbers and symbols moved by themselves and then with a gentle push she was able to make the door move. She stepped out first and then I stepped out after. The gentle winds blew through both our hairs and I couldn't help but take the time to breathe in the crisp air.
"Wow...this is beyond anything I've ever seen." I whistled in amazement as Camus led me along the walls, looking at the vast stretch of land that was Morgue territory. We were so high up that any movement below were like ants to us, and if anyone wished to yell up to use they'd amplify their voice with magic. I asked Camus if there was a spell that can telepathically send one person's thoughts to another, she said I either watch too much nonsense or I had too much fluff between the ears. "Comparatively to Baskerville territory, you really won in terms of scenery."
"Naturally, we have to maintain our looks the same way you guys do."
"Beauty must not be all you have to maintain either." I stated casually and she caught on to what I was implying because her nostrils flared up.
"Excuse you, but the Morgue Clan are more than just a family of beauties! We got the brains as well!"
"And half of the beauty is the brain. You, my dear princess..." I leaned close and whispered softly, watching as she shivered at my close proximity. "...have yet to optimize both to bring out your charm."
"Wh-Wh-What does that mean?! I think I'm charming enough!" She shuffled away quickly with both hands covering the ear I just whispered into. The redness of her face had reached all the way to the hairline and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't you laugh at me! Explain yourself!"
"What do you mean you're charming enough? What confidence for a mere ten year old to have." I can't tell her that she peaked during her adult years, her inflated ego would go through the roof and I'll never be able to live it down... I mulled over my response as she just puffed out her cheeks as she does when she's upset. Shaking my head I held my hands up, "Sorry princess, I shouldn't have made fun of you."
"Well, as long as you're aware. Honestly, that is just cruel of you to –?!" Her voice died in her throat as a misstep sent her nearly toppling towards an opening between the two ridges of the wall. Everything seemed to slow down as I turned my head to her, watching her slowly falling off the ledge, our eyes meeting in horror. Then my legs moved, and my arms outreached to her. There was a minute or two of silence, nothing else stirred and nothing but our heavy breathing rang in our ears.
The red-haired princess was frozen stiff in my arms, eyes widening as she was pressed roughly against my front and the heels of her shoes digging into the ground to prevent her from falling forward. If I wasn't there she would've tumbled between the two open ridges over the edge and it was a long way down to the solid ground below. With a grunt I pulled her back and we tumbled to the ground, panting heavily.
"Oops. Looks like this little red bird was caught by a lone mutt." I breathed out and she all but rolled her eyes at what I said. We laid there for awhile to catch our breathes and once we had calmed down I released my hold on her. She got to her feet, patting down her skirt before turning to me and extended her hand.
"Thanks...for saving me again."
"Of course." I smiled and grasped her hand. We walked the rest of the way, mindful of our steps until we reached the end. By then the sun had set and it was dinner time.
That night...
Feeling slightly bloated even though I walked around the entire facility and even along the walls with Camus, the Morgue Clan had a whole buffet island filled with dessert items for dinner that I couldn't help but slightly indulge myself a bit more, I lay on the floor sprawled out with both hands placed softly over my stomach. The red-haired princess was currently in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I could hear the water from the sink running. True to her word my clothes that had been in the laundry bin were folded neatly on the bed and smelled very nice when we came back.
Maybe I should've showed a lot more restraint and because of my rash actions I now lay here with the consequences...ugh, that double-layered chocolate and strawberry cheesecake is definitely fighting with something else from earlier... I grimaced as my stomach made a concerned gurgling noise.
"Surely you're not thinking of sleeping like that and in those clothes." I turned my head to the side as the young genius of Morgue stepped out, dressed in a loose fitting rose-colored sleeveless nightgown that reached the top of her knees. She had her hair down so it flowed like a red river across her back, an almost splitting image of her mother.
"Don't be preposterous, I'll move myself in a second to get into something more appropriate. Feeling a bit uncomfortable so I'm resting." I mumbled to which she just made a 'tsk' noise with her tongue.
"I thought I told you to hold back from ravishing the desert table least you get a bellyache, but you were like a hunting dog, only a one track mind with your eyes set on the prize." She laughed as she got to her bed, patting and fluffing her pillow a bit before pulling back the blankets to get underneath the covers. "Well, I guess I can forgive you this time for not heeding my warning because I got to witness an unsightly dog eat like a slovenly pig."
"Oh no, now you've seen me at my worst. How could I ever hope to recover?" I stated in my most monotonous voice with a deadpan expression and she laughed. I gently rolled over and watched as my hostess busied herself setting up my bedding, namely a large enough sleeping bag with an equally large pillow. There was a mid-sized mattress placed at the foot of her bed, probably brought in the family's butler, so Camus moved the sleeping bag onto the mattress and opened the zippers enough for to me wiggle in. I kept my mouth closed as I watched her.
"You just going to lay there ogling me?"
"I wouldn't call this ogling, more like..." I paused for dramatics, then said, "...well just an appreciative look because you've done so much for me on your first day as a host. Nothing more nothing less."
"Uh huh yeah right. I feel like you pulled that lie right out of your butt." She gave me a glare and I raised both hands in surrender.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Were you expecting someone?" I asked after awhile once we shared looks and she shook her head as a no. We waited a couple of minutes before I hauled myself to my feet and went to the door, turning the handle and pulling it open. What greeted me were three Morgue girls, all had the same orange-colored hair and similar facial features, but they were definitely distinguishable by the number of pigtails. "May I help you?"
"Who the hell are you, huh?! Hiding in our sister's room like some disgusting rat instead of staying in your own room?" The older one whirled on me immediately, her eyes flaring up as thought she pegged me as an enemy; another thought that crossed my mind was that she was jealous I was close to Camus. If the red-haired princess had a finches on me, then these triplets also had a couple of inches on me too. I must really be a late bloomer in comparison to these Morgue lasses. "Trying to get on our sister's good side only to ravish her later?"
"Ravish her!"
"Ravish her!"
"Oh so you got yourself three of these to deal with as well...these unwanted annoyances." I grumbled to which the red-haired princess just sighed in agreement, the pillow she had been holding on to now lay unattended as she stood by my side. I had a small inkling in the back of my brain that if the Baskerville Clan had the triplets, Hugo's Trident, then maybe the Morgue Clan had something similar. Unfortunately, my hunch was right on the money and doubly unfortunate that this is how I meet them, I don't even recall if I ever ran into them in my life but I wager that I didn't.
"Sis! We wanted to make sure you were okay and not taken advantage of!" The older one turned her attention to Camus, her eyes shimmering as though she was expecting to be praised for being so thoughtful. "It'd be bad for our family if you get stained by that dog."
"That dog!"
"That dog!"
"You three girls...my guest has been nothing but polite all day. Yes she's said and done a few things, to what you three are thinking, but she hasn't done anything without consulting me first." Camus assured them, but they kind of had a skeptical expression on their faces; seems like they already have some preconceive notion about the Baskervilles and whatever kind words the princess was willing to say about me flew right over their heads. How typical.
"Listen up you scoundrel, just because you're betrothed to our sister via words out of mouth doesn't give you the right to have such a big head! You'll never be good enough for her, she's merely humoring you out of obligations to the family!" The older one then turned her head to continue speaking to me while the other two backed her up, all three of them seemingly enjoying watching me get slightly uncomfortable with their presence; in truth I was getting irritated because I had to deal with this sort of nonsense at home, I didn't expect to triple that amount.
"Good enough!
"Good enough!"
"Our sister is the brightest and the smartest, even the most beautiful out of all the sisters here second to her mother. She's the pride and joy of Morgue Clan, so if she has so much as a hair out of place, we'll put you in your place!"
"In your place!"
"In your place!"
"Oh my lord, please deal with them. I don't know how much more I can take without wanting to kill them on your doorstep." I whined to Camus, acting as though I was being ganged up by three nasty girls and put on the best puppy dog face I could muster.
"Fine fine, I'll handle this mess. Please don't look at me like that ever again, it's unbecoming of you." I must've looked weird to her because she pulled a facial expression one could only describe as a mixture of cringe and disgust. I too would be disgusted if I saw a combination of that. "Begging doesn't seem to be your forte either, so either work on improving that skill or don't bother doing it again in my presence."
I gave her my appreciation in the form of a small shoulder bump and turned on my heels, making my way to the bathroom with a change of clothes in hand. I could hear the girls' voices beyond the door, but chose not to indulge with whatever they were discussing, or in Camus' case trying to get her sisters to leave since it was bedtime. At first I was complaining about my bellyache but after meeting the female versions of the triplets I suddenly didn't feel so ill. Stripping out of my uniform I left my undershirt on and replaced the pants with another of lighter material.
When I came back out the red-haired princess was on her back on the bed, one arm resting over her eyes and a loud groan exited her mouth. I turned to look at the door to see that it was closed shut and locked, I didn't smell the other three anywhere so I knew they were gone. I sauntered over to the bed and waited patiently for Camus to look at me, it only took her about five to ten minutes before she turned her head and lifted her arm so I could see those bleary red eyes full of sleep.
"I hope you know that you owe me big time for driving my sisters away, they were very determined to stay here and keep an eye on you." She growls and rolls over slightly till she was laying on her side, looking at me fully.
"What did they ask in return?" I knew nothing was without cost so there must be something of value Camus gave to them.
"My time. More specifically time I can help them advance their knowledge and skills with upper level spells."
"Will you be okay?" One of her brows arched at the question and I elaborated a bit, "Spending time training them I mean. I'd think you'd want to spend your time training yourself."
"Bah, I think I'll be okay, losing a day or two to teach them things wouldn't be a huge detriment to me." She waved a hand absentmindedly before crawling to get underneath the covers. She drew it up till it covered half of her face, mumbling, "Besides I have a solid foundation of the basics, so sitting in the classes only serve as reminders."
"If you say so."
"Now get the lights and sleep. Tomorrow you'll be accompanying me to the classes."
"What? Not going to stay up and chat?"
"You think I want to indulge you with this sleepover talk?" As I moved to get the lights I heard her snort under her breath as if she thought the idea was ludicrous. The room soon became pitched dark and I shuffled my way to the sleeping bag, using my hands to feel around until I found the opening of the bag and slipped in. I carefully zipped it up all the way till it covered my shoulders, pulling the pillow till it was against my cheek; the material was incredibly soft, softer than the pillows given to us.
"It doesn't have to be today. But I'd love to experience what it's like to talk and gossip and perhaps braid each other hairs. " I whispered after settling down, not expecting a response but I wanted to say it anyway. I felt my eyelids droop and I pushed out the rest of the words before sleep claimed me. "Like a pair of normal girls."