Chapter 350 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 5 - The Birth of Moonshadow Coven (I) (2/2)
”Perhaps it's time I deal with her then, but not now. We have things to celebrate for now,” Rassa stated.
”Agreed,” Iah stated.
”Is everything prepared?”
Iah nodded as they stepped inside, ”Fifty Prisoners gathered from various places across the continent. All under the Allure”.
Rassa nodded, ”Good”.
He entered the main room. It was the largest meeting room they had. Usually there were several tables inside, but they'd all been removed for the time being. Instead, all that remained in the room almost the size of a city's plaza, was a plain but imposing chair on the far wall that was where Rassa's table was usually situated. He'd been somewhat annoyed when Ebony had insisted on such a design, especially seeing as the room's floor was designed with the Moonshadow symbol in mind. A crescent moon shape around the outside, at the widest part of which was where Rassa's table usually was, and the rest of the floor sunken down two steps. This lower part of the room was where Sel, Neva, Talo and Layton waited. All, even Sel, appearing somewhat nervous.
Rassa entered from where wide windows were spread along the top of the moon shape, the main entrance of the room situated opposite Rassa's chair. This was mainly why he hated the room. He disliked it's 'throne room' air. Rassa had no need for such things.
Rassa ignored the chair and smiled at his guests, ”Welcome”.
The four bowed their heads in greeting as Rassa approached, Ebony and Iah flanking him.
”You have come here on this night because you have been invited to join the Moonshadow Coven. A process that will inevitably involve you joining the Gluttony Path of Chaos. You have all been made aware of this, and would not have accepted the invitation if you hadn't known the risks, still, I feel I must stress the gravity of this choice one final time”.
Rassa paced along the line as he stared back and forth between them, ”On this path, you will receive many abilities that are unachievable in the paths of Order. Great Strength and Speed, Incredible Regeneration, Heightened Senses, stronger physical forms, and, upon the maturation and acceptance of your path, the mind-bending Allure, wings for flight, and varying degrees of control over Shadow and Blood Magic. These abilities are abundant, but they come at a cost”.
Rassa paused once more, ”Until the end of time, you will hunger for blood. This hunger will be insatiable. Over time you may learn to control it, to know when it is the hunger you feel and when you are truly starving. But this will take time, and you will come to be known by many as a Monster for mistakes that you will inevitably make. This path is one of Chaos, but like all things in this world, balance is essential to your survival”.
”It will be painful, excruciatingly so, and you will need to resolve your will more than once in the span of forever,” Rassa stated, ”So, in knowing all this, do you still wish to take this path?”
There was no hesitation in Sel's eyes as he stepped forward, ”I do”.
After a moment, Talo stepped forward to join him, ”I wouldn't have come had I wanted otherwise”.
Layton grinned as he stepped up beside Sel, ”A little Chaos never seemed so bad to me”.
Neva stepped forward last, ”I am more than willing to accept this offer from you, Lord Moonshadow”.
Rassa smirked at the term. People rarely called him such to his face, but it was growing more common. As if his existence had gone beyond a mere innovative businessman. Perhaps it was why Ebony had insisted on the 'throne room'.
”Very well,” Rassa stated, ”The process is quite taxing, so I may only turn one of you per night as I need time to recover, as will you. Ebony and Iah will aid you when I cannot. Are there any volunteers to go first?”
Sel went to step forward, but Neva placed a hand on his arm. He turned to her, then, upon meeting her gaze, nodded and stepped back.
”I will volunteer,” she said.
Rassa nodded, holding out his hand, ”Then come”.
”They have taken to naming you Goldmen in Lovolon, have they not?” asked Rassa.
Neva blushed, ”They have”.
Rassa smiled, ”It is nothing to be embarrassed of. Names are powerful things, and I see no shame in yours”.
Neva nodded, ”Thank you for saying so”.
Rassa's eyes took on a Crimson shade as she met his gaze, ”Whatever happens, Neva Goldmen, you must endure it. You have indicated your will and resolve, now, you must show me”.
Neva's gaze seemed terrified for a split second before she nodded, ”I'm ready”.
Rassa tilted her head to the side and swept her braid away, exposing her neck, ”So be it”.
Rassa opened his mouth, and sunk his fangs deep.
Rassa drank slowly, taking in each mouthful with care as Neva stilled and lost feeling in her body. He heard her screams plain as day, allowing her to release them as he drained her. It pained him that he could not relieve what he knew to be excruciating, but to do so would interfere with the change.
He lowered her to the ground with him, cradling her as he drank. Her screams became cries, then whimpers as she lost strength. Eventually, Rassa felt the instinct drawing him to finish her off. To take the last sip. He withdrew, l.i.c.k.i.n.g her neck then turning to bite his own wrist which he placed at her mouth. He allowed his own blood to drip down her throat, and after a moment, a slow, painful swallow came from Neva.
”That's it, keep going”.
He encouraged her, and she took a few more tentative swallows before he heard her m.o.a.n, and her arms sprung up to clutch his wrist to her mouth. She began to drink more gluttonously, and she appeared to become more desperate with every swallow until she suddenly pulled away.
Her mouth filled with blood and her lips and chin smeared with it, she looked at him in shock for a moment before her eyes rolled back into her head and she screamed once more.
She thrashed violently, rolling away from his l.a.p. Rassa watched on, a small smile on his lips as she endured the pain of her Life Lines burning into her skin. Of her body changing and evolving. He felt it too. He felt the connection between them snap into place as her wings burst from her back, tearing her skin and dress to shreds and leaving a bloody mess in the centre of the hall as she finally stilled. Her screams died, and she breathed heavily for a moment as her wings drooped, then her consciousness faded, and her wings vanished.
Rassa stood, removing his coat and walking over to her. He tore the rest of the dress away from her, there was not much left of it anyway, then dr.a.p.ed his coat over her and picked her up in his arms. She was much taller than Iah and Ebony who were both quite petite in stature, but she still appeared so fragile in his arms. Rassa equated her to a newborn babe as he crossed the room taking the stairs down to the room that she'd been given by Ebony. Ebony waited there now, ten of the Allured Prisoners kneeling silently in the corner. Ebony smiled as he walked in, helping him to pull back the covers on the bed and lie Neva down.
Rassa then stepped back with a sigh, ”She won't wake until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, probably in the evening. I shall be resting”.
Ebony nodded, then pointed to the Allured Prisoners, ”Half are for you”.
Rassa nodded, his eyes flashing at them. Five of them stood and plodded after Rassa.