Chapter 55 - Fifty-Three (1/2)
It was as if I was submerged on black goopy ink as my shadow propagates over my form and overtakes it, the blackness growing bigger and bigger, a mixture of solid and formless, parts of me stretching out over the walls, pillars, floor and ceilings as my face contrasted with my shadow parts, the white skull surface opening up to rows of sharp teeth's in a sinister grim, horns turning their sharp edges up, making my figure even bigger; if that was possible since I already took over the entire chamber with my body.
A low growl gurgles up my throat as my silver platinum eyes stared the creature down, my form taking shape of a nightmarish creature as I bring my black lips up to show teeth the size of an arm.
A deadly smile indeed.
”Any last words, Oak?” I growled more then said to him, a mischievous glint passing through my eyes as I let my murderous aura overcame me, the edged of my body turning into snaky shadowy limbs that contorted sideways as if eager for the hunt.
I got closer to him, my steps soundless as my figure went back and forth from being a shadow to a solid figure, the blackness of my fur seeming like it was made of black liquid ink being stirred in a constant movement.
Oak limbs seemed to shirk, the roots recoiling back until he was standing thin as a twig, a submissive stance far too different from the battle mode that the creature had before; but now it knew that had lost.
And I was eager to prove him that.
”No more tricks up your sleeve, twig?” I growl grows between my gigantic teeth, making the thing step back, only to find it surrounded by my gigantic Shadow Body.
He tries to sidestep me, but I kick hard the mountain of gold by the side, my claws digging deep on the metal, making it hit were he intended to go.
Now I was just playing with my food.
The creature starts to tremble, his leaves falling down as he tries to look even smaller, wintering away, his hands together at the front as he closes his eyes with a frown.
”Then burn.”
I open my mouth, being able to swallow him whole with one bite, however before I attack I hear Leo scream from somewhere behind me. ”Wait!”
I, however, had already started a fire deep in my belly, ready to strike; and intending too; the flames already licking the deeps of my throat when I see Shrum right up the creatures shoulder, saying:
”Mama, brotha! Mama, moma!”
Panicking I close by mouth shut, feeling the fire go up my throat and exploding in my mouth, making me a little dizzy as smoke comes out from my nose and ears.
And what the hell? Shrum wasn't even supposed to be here at all! Sneaky little bun!
I look behind as Leonel comes closer, not even a little afraid of the creature to give it my attention anymore, as Leo's eyes lock on mine. Once close his hand brushes against my side, as if testing my inky fur, making me shiver.
”He is trapped here as your magical creatures are to their owners. He means you no harm.”
I close my big mouth again as I see Shrum back to Leo's shoulder, my sharp silver eyes scanning the Oak creature down, who did not say anything. Frowning I look at it once more with my third eye, focusing in its energy and founding, surprisingly, in its green mass a ball of yellow light being squished down by many tiny chains, a type that I haven't seen before, but could recognize anywhere; a forced contract.
”Is that so? Since when?”
Oak, surprised by the question, turns his face up, confusion showing as much as his wood face would allow him to. Joining his fingers at the front the creature starts to speak:
”For far too long, Hound. Since this place was built, I guess, forced to stay in this place and protect its gold, generation after generation.”
So he… was a victim too? Like all the others I have freed before? From above I look down to the tiny creature, now resented from his fate being under my paws.
”Do you want to be free?”
Once more surprised he seemed to frown beyond all the freckles and wrinkles that the wood already had, and said:
”I'm not sure anymore, it has been so long that I don't even know what exists beyond this chambers…Plus my kind is bond to gold, like dragons and gnomes. Soon enough I would be trapped in this vicious cycle again.”
”Is that so? So you will give up before even trying?”
”…I…”
”Uhm. Then tell me: Do you wish to die here, in this place?” He seems to think, as I continue: ”Because I'll probably be your only chance of getting out of this place, or at least for a very, very long time. So I'll ask again: Do you want to be free?”
We stay still for a while, but no answer comes from him, leading me to snort fire out of my nostrils, walking further in the chamber.
”Suit yourself then.”
Leo follows close, taking the lead at one point to guide me through the chambers. We stop at yet another tall metal double door, but not tall enough for me to fit in.
But of course, before going back to my humanoid form, I stop in front of the place, beside Leonel, and lower my face right beside him.
”So… who is the little one now eh?” I say, a full sharp teeth smirk curving my black lips up.
He only raises one eyebrow, rolling his eyes afterward and snikering as a thundering laugh resonates from me, tunning down as I go back to my human form.
Ahh… I remember when I chose this evolution back then… How many times I played this same phrase over and over in my head, waiting to rub at his face… not that I chose this evolution for the line ”tall as mountains” one, of course, cough cough.
Sighting and nodding his head sideways, he ignores my still present smile, my fluffy tail wiggling back and forth as he goes to the door and open it up.
Another part of the treasure chamber unfolds… and a very tidy one at that. For what I could tell everything was separated in labels, the gold coins together in bags, separated from the golden/silver chains, jewels stored away in chests, as well as the golden jewelry and miscellaneous, a remarkable contrast from the others rooms.
”This is your part?”
”Yes.”
Figures.
”Hm… so you want me to take only this part?”
”Yes”
”Why not all the rest?”
”It would break the royal family, they would increase the taxes to make up for it, the people would suffer a lot, then it would lead to a civil war.”
Wow, he already thought so far ahead uhm, though I didn't intend to take all of it, just asked out of curiosity.