The Mother of Monsters

Her dearest little companion Nephral was quick to return to her shoulders after she left Paraklytus’ laboratory. The feline landing on her shoulder without a sound and nestling against her cheek before wrapping his tail around her neck as he always did. He purred quietly as she stroked his fur, her fingers tickling against the strands. While the conversation had been light hearted, the topics were more serious than the three of them had let on. It was a difficult decision to make, specifically concerning which of her other two companions she should take with her.

Both were unflinchingly loyal, that wasn’t in doubt. She knew that both would reign themselves in if asked to in the moment, it was when they were out of sight that she had some hesitation. Sari still had not fully taken hold of her proclivities, her hunger for the kill had led to occasional trips out into the wilderness to find prey that wouldn’t upset Teyva. She often returned quickly, bloody, and without a single story to tell about her excursion. Surrounded by so many strangers who Teyva had little love for? She was bound to feel the itch.

Myranda on the other hand had a more personal problem. She loathed Bertrand and her beloved sister was in his grasp. She would do anything to help her break out and bring the mirthless son-of-a-bitch to an early grave. She was less patient than Sari as well. Sari could wait till dark and stalk her prey for hours or days if need be. Teyva frowned and crossed her arms. Myranda deserved closure, though, at least in some respect. The likelihood of them actually getting their hands on Bertrand was low. Frankly it would be better if they could get to Myranda’s sister without him even being present.

Teyva sighed and scratched behind Nephral’s ear again, eliciting a murr of pleasure from the little sphinx. “I’m thinking in circles.”

“Then perhaps you should stop thinking so hard,” Nephral pointed out. “Only a fool dwells on a question without the knowledge to answer it.”

“Then what would you do?” She asked, drifting through the vast corridor of Osan. It was quiet and blessedly empty, the night seeing most of the residents returning to their homes inside and outside the tower for a good night's sleep. Occasionally she would see an Akurai guard stationed here or there but a quick gesture informed them that she wanted to be left alone. 

“Speak with them, obviously,” Nephral grumbled, tilting his head to look up at her, “I have a feeling that the answer is simpler than you expect.”

She curled her lip, “You think so?” She said as she rounded another corner. She paused and looked at the passage ahead of her, glancing at one of the doors further up the way. It was just like the others, just how the resident preferred it. She hadn’t even realized she’d been walking this way, only mulling over her options as she meandered. She let out a sigh, I really should trust my instincts a bit more. She thought and made her way towards the door. A light rap was all it took for the sound of movement to respond and the door to open.

The pretty face of Sari Troud stared out at her, bags under her eyes and a perpetual scowl on her face. She stared at Teyva for a moment as if she didn’t recognize her before tilting her head and cracking a toothy grin, “Not exactly a good hour to come see me, highness,” She grunted, stepping back and gesturing for Teyva to enter, “Come on in anyway.”

“Feeling peckish?” Teyva asked as she dipped her head and slipped inside. The space was completely modified from how the rest of the residences in the city looked. She could have had her own laboratory built, Teyva was happy to do it, she had even made a space just for her at one point that Sari never used. Sari preferred privacy though and didn’t like it when people knew exactly where she worked. The result was a living room that had been converted entirely into an alchemy lab. Tables were set up along the walls that weren’t affixed with bookshelves. Part of a wall had been removed to one side and converted into a storage space for completed works. There was even a door that lead to what used to be a first floor bedroom that had been relabeled as ‘Reagents’.

It was the smell that really got to her, though, and she was thankful for her poison immunity. The air smelled positively toxic. She reached up to her throat to check on Nephral and found that the Sphinx had pre-empted her a bit, darting away before she’d come inside. Traitor.

“A bit,” Sari said, meandering back over to one of the lab tables where a basin was boiling with multicolored liquid. She held her hand over it and muttered something, a metal stirring ladle inside starting to move on its own.  Sari glanced over her shoulder at Teyva, “What can I do for you? Need someone dead?”

“That might be on the table,” Teyva said, squaring her shoulders a bit.

Sari blinked at her and then turned, her frown cracking into a genuine smile, “Oh? What’s on the menu?”

“Katal, an undercover visit,” Teyva said, only to have Sari throw her hand up.

“Nope, can’t do it,” Sari said, shaking her head.

Teyva’s eyebrows rose, “Huh? Why not?”

“You can change your appearance, I can’t,” Sari said, “Simple disguise will only do so much, Teyva, and I’ve been there a couple times to study, remember?”

Teyva frowned and looked down for a moment. Now that Sari mentioned it, she had been to Katal before a few times according to what she’d told her in the past. It had been so long ago she’d forgotten that little detail. There had been a small part of her that had hoped she would be able to pick Sari over Myranda, if only to save the priestess from the temptation of running off on her own. Yet that didn’t seem to be an option.

“Appreciate you askin’ me,” Sari said and turned to glance at her poisons, “But between that and working on medicine, yeah there’s medicine here don’t give me that look, I really shouldn’t be leaving. Besides, I got a niece now, a cute little thing. I wanna get better so I can baby sit.”

“Still working on an antipsychotic?” Teyva asked.

“Trying,” Sari said, rubbing the back of her neck, “Ain’t going great I’ll be honest,” She let out a weary sigh and leaned against the counter, “Stuff that sphinx of yours gives me is complicated to say the least, I’m getting it, but the tools to make it just don’t exist. I need to figure out how to do it with our world’s techniques, is what it is.”

Teyva smiled softly, “I’m just glad you’re trying. I’m sure your brother is happy.”

Sari flushed a little, “Yeah, he’s all cheeky about his bloodthirsty sister bein’ a softie,” She paused as Teyva looked like she was getting ready to see herself out, “Oh, ‘fore I forget, the fuck did you do? I got this funky panel of whatever poppin’ up every time I do somethin’.”

Teyva smirked, “Something I should have done a long time ago, apparently, Journey gave you access to your status so you should-”

“Ah, stats nonsense, got it, got it,” Sari interrupted with a knowing nod, as if it all made sense to her now. She even tilted her head and started waving her hands, exploring the menu now that she knew what it was.

Teyva scowled and felt the urge to stomp her foot, “Do all of you call it that?”

Sari tilted her head, confused, “Yeah?”

Teyva groaned and turned away, “Have a good night, Sari! Try to behave!”

“Sure sure,” Sari grunted dismissively and waved her hand to shoo her queen. 

Teyva snorted at the gesture and made her way out, Nephral darting towards her before veering away and landing on the ground to her left. She glanced down at him with a frown and he folded his wings apologetically, “The smell clings to you,” He said and took a side-step to the right, “I’m sure it will fade?”

The mighty queen of Osan shook her head as her animal companion avoided her and her poison-master shut the door behind her. Only I would manage to collect a group of companions that act like this. Seriously. What did I do to deserve this? She thought with a small chuckle. She shook her head and smiled. She wouldn’t have it any other way, though. A bunch of sycophants would give her nothing good. They were people who could talk back, have their own ideas, and didn’t shy from their opinions. She glanced back at the door and wished Sari a quiet good luck before stepping back down onto the street.

It’s time to go see the priestess, then.