…
14-11-1706
…
I got replies back from the letters I sent to Sara soul pieces. They said they all understood and they had special words for she who won't leave her fountain. I made sure to read their replies outside the dungeon. Should she wish to see them she will have to abandon her despair for an afternoon.
…
-----
“Thats not very nice.” I glower at Lea.
“O hello ghost, are you here for potions, thermal wear or perhaps a bit of cheer?”
My glower grows. She ignores me and keeps writing. I roll my eyes.
“Can I have my letters, please?”
She produced three envelopes. I eagerly snatched them and moved them elsewhere.
“Not going to read them?” She inquired.
“They're personal.” I mince my hands, “I wanted some privacy.”
She raises her eyebrow, “You have an entire dungeon to hide in. You're still here.”
“I just wanted to say I was sorry for being a prat.”
She waves me off.
-----
I had Lea send out letters warning them not to try to engage with Sarcea through mental messages. If she ever broke free but was recaptured it would be a big red flag that there were Vampires in the Queendom. I couldn't trust myself to succeed. It was cruel but what can you do? I opened the first letter.
Sara,
You're an idiot.
Barbain
I frown. I pick up the next sheet of parchment.
Sara
As Barbain wrote. You're an idiot. Let me expand on that. If you think we won't reach out to you on the off chance that it could endanger ourselves then you must have a dirt core for a brain because that is some dense shit. What if contact meant we could help you succeed? Ever think of that? Once again in love and loyalty, you're an idiot.
Sincerely,
Beatrice
I cringe. I guess I deserve that. A third sheet is present. It's a water painting of four Tibyder and a ghost. I smile. It's rather smudged and impossible to really tell who is who and I love it all the same. I form a facsimile of a fridge and stick the parchment to it. It's absurd but there is no better place.
I take a moment to breathe. No lungs. I take a moment to center myself. I opened the next.
Sweetie,
As much as you worry, we do too. You don't do well alone. You of all people should know that. Don't ask the impossible, or try the impossible. When you reach out, we will do what we can. Even if they are just words of comfort. I wish fervently that I could join you even now. But seeing what you wrote, concluding this war is paramount. I love you and believe in you. Try to think the same for yourself.
In Love,
Lady Cecelia Maxwell, Mom
It takes a while to find myself clear eyed. The next envelope was the thickest. I frown at that. Mags was never the longest of writers. The envelope itself says ‘To Jam’. I bark a laugh at that. I remove the first sheet.
Idiot
It was all it said. The second sheet.
Fool
Okay…third sheet.
Twit
Leave it to a Countess to waste parchment. Fourth sheet.
Prat
Fifth sheet.
Idiot
I checked to make sure I hadn't shuffled the first sheet back into the fold. Two sheets with ‘idiot’ on them. I sigh. Sixth sheet.
Red,
With you reading this I feel I have proven my point.
Daughter, martyrdom is what landed you into this mess. Continuing the same is ill advised. If you think I will not fight the entire Elf Empire to free you, much less answer a mental message. I feel you may need to review the first five pages of this letter. I will give you a moment to do so. Done? Good. I am doing what I can to free myself of my task. Wait for me, please. You are not alone in this. I love both of you dearly.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Mags
-----
…
15-11-1706
…
Sara finally left her fountain.
…
-----
“Sorry.”
She waves me off again. I float over to her. Behind her is her four tail fox. It looked the same as the one I ate…Violet ate in the woods two years ago. Well this one had extra core tails. It looked at me then turned its head away ignoring me.
“How come your ghost is just a fox?”
Lea looks behind her, “Why wouldn't I want a cute little fox familiar.”
“But isn't it you?”
“Your point? Unlike you, I didn't need a mouthpiece.” She huffs.
I squint at her. She is trying to distract me from something.
“You can't see out of it.”
“Of course I can.”
I float behind her and in front of her fox, “O, how many fingers am I holding up.”
She turns around on me and glares.
“Give ya a hint, it's one more than the attentions you have.”
“Fine, I don't have two minds or parallel minds.” She sighs.
“So is this little fox just in automatic mode then.”
She nods.
“Can totally try to etch you…you didn't exactly go through the normal route.”
She waves me off, “Yet, I am the only Vampire with a fox.”
I smile at that. “Have you tried using a tail with them?”
“Yes, I need only scoop him up and hug him while thinking which I want.”
“Thats adorable, so what are the forms like?”
She minces her hands. I look at her expectantly. She sighs, “They are still the same as before. I don't think I can change them till I earn some of my own.”
“Oh.”
“Speaking of, the arcane core never joined my soul after we separated. The other three, the moment I drank the blood, they joined my soul. The arcane just sits where my heart was. I think it's because I don't have the boon for it.”
“Well you're just going to have to grind that boon out yourself. Not like I can give you adventurer exp anymore.”
She frowns at me. I give her a toothy grin.
-----
…
16-11-1706
…
Ujan said there was a bit of unrest at the adventurer guild. Told me to expect a visit from the guild master.
…
-----
Peter was looking at Lea rather incensed. The staring match continued for a while. Finally the Croman speaks.
“Is she really not going to join us?”
“She is watching, Peter. Just get on with what you want to say.”
He grouses, “This everything undead turn needs to stop, it ruins many of the collections we were doing before. You sold a great deal of heated clothing to suddenly remove the only reason to enter that frozen wasteland.”
I frown at that. I wish I could just change that.
“‘Fraid the dungeon found a theme Peter, I suggest that you instead figure out what undead monster you like to be added.”
“This is not a joking matter, Leacea.”
Lea got incredibly quiet at his words. Here I thought my presence made things cold.
“Peter, I suggest you forget that name ever existed. It is not in jest that I tell you that for the foreseeable future, the dungeon can only produce undead monsters.” Lea eyes glow a bit red.
The guild master rears back, “I will return with some suggestions then.”
He leaves rather quickly. I appear near Lea.
“I thought I was going to have to hide a body.”
She gives me an annoyed look.
-----
…
17-11-1706
…
I am still upset that bird brain went and used my old name. I have no desire to ever be called by it for as long as I live. And for all the Larks after as well. Infuriating.
…
-----
“Lea seems really upset.”
I smile at Delores, “She had to deal with a poorly mannered customer yesterday.”
“They must be getting bold now that she doesn't [Identify] as a monster.” Delores comments.
Lea barks a laugh, “I suspect he won't make the same mistake twice.”
I form some letters between us. Make sure to tell Sir Ujan to visit with some wine on your way out.
She giggles and nods. I ask a question, “You never said who Jasmine was betrothed to.”
“I did, you just mentally check out after a bit in the conversation.” She admonishes.
“Oh.”
She stares at me.
“Sorry.”
She nods, “It's Jeremy Sdrea.”
Huh, guess I got dumped. Or executed. One of those two. Delores spoke up when I didn't respond.
“Not actually jealous are you?”
Before I can deny the absurdity, it's Lea who chimes in, “Pretty sure you had a better shot at her heart then that boy ever did.”
Delores blushes as I give an annoyed look at my shopkeeper.
-----
…
18-11-1706
…
Ujan came to me with joy in his hands. I am not sure how he knew but I am grateful he was there. Now I just need him to stop calling me by my title. Stuffy ole knight but at least his ridges are wonderful.
…
-----
“Gross.”
“Ah, to be young and stupid.” Lea tosses out at me.
I frown. “Should we compare total ages? I'm certain I have you beat.”
“And yet you are still in the sex is gross phase, such a pity.”
I mince my hands, "It's not why I think that.”
She looks at me, her eyes widened. “Sorry, I spoke without thinking. I know a lot of the lives you have taken had terrible things in them. Were there any positive ones?”
“I don't generally eat good people, Lea.”
“I meant relationship wise.”
My nose wrinkles at that, “Annoyingly, Anvar and Yancea were very much a love that was eternal. He gave everything for her and she did the same for him. Just kinda ended up in murder and slavery.”
“So you were on both sides of the bedroom for—”
“I don't want to talk about it.” I cut her off as quickly as I could.
“Apologies, apologies. Were they the only two?”
“[Lady] Minthan and her consort were devoted. Can you believe the bitch up north negotiated with the [Lady] to be birthed as Elves for her and her consort? For my head.”
“Yes.”
Oh, stupid question, I suppose.
“Do you still have their Tapestries or did she have you surrender them?”
“I still have them. Wait, she said she planned to kill me after the three princesses were born. Put me through some rebirths if my Tapestry survived.”
“Likely caveated the same for the couple.”
Gross.
“I know you have Yancea, who are the other two princesses you ate?”
I frown, “Sencea and Vanessa…Vancea if you want her bullshit name.”
Lea eyes widened, she whispers, “You have the two original princesses.” I nod. “No wonder she didn't risk shattering your soul.”
I wince, “Would she have risked it for a different set?”
She shrugs, “Other than those two, no one but the individuals themselves knows exactly what their crime was. Like there are rumors and everything. But those two, every Elf knows why they are princesses. It's why being a princess or prince is a punishment and not an honor.”
I sigh.
-----
…
19-11-1706
…
Sara spotted a carriage heading into the plains. She says there is an enormous soul approaching. Ujan, if you're reading this because I've not returned. Thank you for being with me when I was in need.
-----
“Did you seriously just death flag yourself?”
“I don't understand.” Lea gives me a look.
I roll my eyes, “You wrote a line in your diary just in case you die, thus narratively you are guaranteeing that it must be read in the saddest way possible.”
“Nothing wrong with putting together a last set of words for those you have feelings for, just in case.” She huffs.
“What, unable to say love there, Lea?”
She gives me an annoyed look, “I think I liked Lich Sara better.”
I returned an annoyed look, then shrugged, “Might get your wish, if we kill them, they are going to be too big of a soul tether not to go Lich mode.”
“Could always eat their soul.” Lea says off hand.
I give her my most incredulous look possible, “That big of a soul has a real chance of just replacing my personality, Lea. I would be insane to try.”
“I mean, depending on who it is. It could be an improvement.”
I give a very annoyed look at Lea.
