“Because I have the upper hand in this negotiation, and in the superiority of force,” Lilith’s honesty was stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and she explained it to a child. “I could have this room flooded in shadow so swiftly that only you and Zeke could hope to respond before the others were stilled. I could have dozens of my personal arachnid guard here in seconds after that to subdue and take you captive, and I could spend delicious weeks carving my way into the minds of your Knights until they beg to serve me.”
Maebe’s body went rigid with fury, her fists clenched, and if I hadn’t been so worried about my brother, I’d have been excited to see her wipe the floor with this uppity bitch’s face, but Lilith wasn’t done.
“Or I could make it look like a poorly disguised trick to fool you so that you would agree to what I really wanted with there being minimal risk to me, my throne, my people, and to any sort of relations we might have in the future.” Lilith blinked at Maebe, who visibly calmed herself, which was so unlike her. “I hadn’t expected this to work so smoothly, but then again, I hadn’t seen all of the attack on your party to plan for this.”
“And what is in the vial?” Maebe’s voice was carefully neutral.
“A Vampire Lord’s blood,” Lilith responded with a grin. “A group of adventurers had been traveling in my realm and come across one on the surface. I think they meant to make a home in the Great Below, or at least a lair, but my people found them first.”
“And it’s not the same as the line we will be hunting?” Muu wondered loudly with Fainnir held firmly in front of him.
“Not to my knowledge, but I am not certain.” Lilith stepped back to her spot and glanced at Maebe. “This certainly played better into my hand than I had expected.”
Maebe eyed her steadily, not saying anything, content to just watch her until Lilith sighed heavily. “My people are seen as evil; we embrace it because the blood of the spider courses through our very beings. We are seen as evil—never stupid or incapable. But is it truly so bad that we take care of ourselves first and foremost? That we take what we want because we are strong enough, or brave enough to do so? Our peoples are not that different, Maebe.”
“Were it because o’ brav’ry tha’ ye attacked an’ killed me pa’s clan?!” Fainnir had finally snapped, tears of impotent rage poured from his eyes as he stared at the queen in outrage. “Were it purely fer sport tha’ ye slew me kin under Djurn Forge? When ye left dozens o’ me brothers an’ sisters o’ the Way litterin’ the bowels of the earth as ye fled like cowards?!”
Lilith blinked at the young dwarf, and I sighed, prepping myself for a fight. I felt my friends around me stiffening and preparing themselves as well, even as Fainnir strained against Muu’s grasp in futility.
“Yes, and stupidity on my general’s part, which she paid for with her life.” Fainnir was so shocked by her answer that he stood there with his mouth agape. “We had heard tapping, mining above us for centuries and never paid it any mind. To be honest, we had thought it the deep dwarves or some other burrowing creatures that we could enslave and use to our own ends. Imagine our surprise when my incursion force bursts into a city full of some of the fiercest fighters to ever thwart my people? They killed several of my driders, did you know that?”
Lilith snapped her fingers three times, and one of the hulking spider-drow warriors known as a drider hauled in a whirlwind of curses and hatred. A female dwarf who could only be Gerty. She moved too much to get a good look at her, but her fighting spirit was enough to cement that thought in my mind.
Fainnir swore under his breath and strained harder against Muu’s grasp, to the point where we were likely to have to knock him unconscious to get him to calm down.
“This was the one who led the attack against my people, killing scores of them.” Lilith walked over and tapped the stout woman on the head, and she stilled, as if in a trance. “Not once have I ever harmed a hair on her head without provocation, do you know why?”
“Why?” Fainnir sobbed, his voice hoarse as he fought.
“Respect.” Lilith pointed at Fainnir, almost making him stop in his tracks. “She was a worthy opponent, and not only did she successfully lead her warriors against mine, but she fought on the front lines. What I wouldn’t give to have a hundred drow just like her. Her ferocious tenacity and willingness to destroy in blind obedience to her people was so inspiring that I had to have her brought back here so that I could meet her.”
“Give her back,” Balmur whispered, tears in his eyes, his teeth gritted against the memories plaguing his mind.
“I will sweeten the deal, then.” Lilith pointed to the vial in my hands, then Gerty. “Both of these to you if you will kill the Vampire Lord and his minions. The vial is obviously a down payment, but the dwarf once the job is done. What say you?”
“Fine.” Balmur, James, Fainnir, and Muu barked in unison as if she was going to change her mind. And I couldn’t help feeling like she had been playing us here, too.
“What’s in it for you?” I asked, airing my suspicion.
Lilith smiled at me. “Brave Zeke, I get to sleep well, knowing that a scourge of my people is gone.” When I didn’t blink or give any sign that my question had been answered, she pouted and continued, “This creature has taken dozens of my drow, slaves, and even some of my driders as victims over the past several months with increasing rates of disappearance. That is part of why I scry on my patrols now, so I know that they will return.”
“This creature’s death will spell the end of his line and those he has turned with him. Those of his brood who are strong enough to sustain themselves after he is gone will be close to him. Once he is dead, they may try to flee, so it is crucial that they all be slain so that my people are safe.”
She eyed me, and I nodded once, somewhat satisfied. “And why are you giving her back?”
“The stubborn one?” Lilith snorted, definitely not queen-like, and pointed to Gerty. “She has grown to be boring. I respect her too much to harm her, but I cannot trust her not to try to kill me or some of my people if I allow her to leave on her own.”
“So really, we’re just doing you a bunch of favors.” Jaken frowned, then sighed and kicked on his surfer-like charm. “I’m okay with that.”
“Where do we go to try and kill this thing?” Bokaj motioned, his map now out in front of him.
“I will have a guide take you to the place where my patrols have been attacked most often.” Lilith stood next to her sacrifice, her fingers trailing down the black threads wrapped around it longingly.
“What was the deal with the kid down near the bottom of the cells?” Jaken asked slyly. “What did he do?”
“He was born.” The queen frowned; her fangs disappeared with the expression. “His matron mother thought him a worthy sacrifice to me as a guard, but he has not the will to kill. He is soft and worthless.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” I smiled, sensing Jaken’s motives. Lilith turned her gaze my way. “He’s small, seems young, and is likely a virgin, right?” She nodded slowly. “Seems like perfect vampire bait.”
“You would use a child of the drow as bait for the vampires?” Lilith’s voice was deadpan as she reiterated what I had said.
“You have him locked up, and you said it yourself; the lower they are on the stairs, the more likely they can prove to be of use to you and your people.” Jaken shrugged. “What better way to prove your worth than to assist the hunters in catching what stalks your family?”
“What’re ye sayin’?” Fainnir cried in disbelief. “He’s a wee lad with nae a hair on his chin! He’d die in a fight!”
Here’s hoping Fainnir is as righteous as I think, I thought.
“Then we would know where the enemy is, kid.” I shot an angry glare his way, shutting him up. “It’s a sacrifice that sometimes we have to make. If we go into this area like we’re hunting, it could tip off our prey. We need a reason to be there and something to lure them out, or they keep doin
g what they’re doing.”
“A guide and a lamb to the slaughter…” Lilith mused, her fingers tapping her chin. “Fine. I can approve of this. If he survives this, then he may prove useful. If not, then it is of no consequence so long as the goal is accomplished. But be warned—should you fail and these drow die without success, any of the survivors of your group are mine, and do not think of leaving. If you do, my people will hunt for you, possibly starting at this dwarven city you seem to hold dear.”
QUEST ALERT
Drowning in vampires – Queen Lilith has given you a quest to kill the Vampire Lord as well as his strongest minions plaguing her people here in the Great Below. A guide (to be determined) and the bait will be provided to aid in your success.
Reward: Vial of Vampire Lord blood (received) and possession of the dwarf who led the attack on the drow in Djurn Forge.
Failure: Failure to kill the Vampire Lord and all of his strongest minions will result in loss of your freedom should you survive. Leaving the Great Below (unless in pursuit of the Vampire Lord) will cause the drow to hunt for you in the shadows, beginning in Djurn Forge.
This quest has already been accepted.
Oh, goody. And here I thought our word was our bond only. Cool. Awesome. Fuck.
But this was working out, and that was all that mattered. We just had to make sure that the kid would be safe long enough for us to give him the power of the Light Primordial and then get him to safety. And, you know, kill a powerful vampire. Maybe not in that order, but it was the general plan.
“It is nearing time.” Lilith nodded toward the leach on Yohsuke’s chest, the thing was massive now, Yoh’s body pale and looking almost lifeless.
Yoh, I don’t know if you can hear me, but if we’re going to save you, you have to drink this blood. I steeled myself above his head. It’s going to make you a vampire, you cool with that?
Lilith took the leech off of my friend’s body, the teeth having left perfect circular indents where they had latched into the skin. I reached out and took the thing into my hands and scorched it with Black Flames, the screech deafening, but the look of awe on Lilith’s face was worth it.
Nooooooooo—shut the fuck up and give me the blood already you wet-dog-smelling fuck! Yohsuke snickered at me as I unstoppered the vial and stuffed it into his fucking gullet, unceremoniously dumping the contents into his gob.
No, I wasn't hoping he drowned, I just hoped it tasted like piss. Fucking asshole.
The red liquid filtered into his mouth, his throat worked, then froze as his body fought swallowing.
“Nope. You need it to live, motherfucker—swallow.” I clamped my metallic hand around his mouth and jaws, careful not to block his nose, then his Adam’s apple bobbed, and it was gone.
The convulsions and shaking stopped, his body stilled, and his chest slowly stilled as well.
“Is he going to be okay?” Muu asked quietly.
“The change is different for every person, and we shall see how he adapts to his.” Lilith raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “It will likely take him more time to recover, and I can tell that all of you are tired. I will have lodging arranged for you so that you can rest and recover your faculties.”
She raised a hand, snapped three times, and a scantily clad male drow came through the door, his head bowed subserviently. “Yes, Highness.”
“Prepare the guest hall,” Lilith ordered dismissively, then added, “Have it done in half an hour. Go.”
The other drow fled from the room in great haste, and the door clicked shut behind him.
“Can you tell us anything about this Vampire Lord?” Bokaj motioned to James who took out his notebook and a quill.
“Only that I am not the one to ask.” Lilith smiled at him in return, before continuing, “From what I can scry, these creatures come from the area where you will be attempting to bait them and track from there, but I have yet to see any of the more powerful types of undead that I suspect to be responsible.”
“If you have known of this for months, as you say, why have you not done something about them sooner?” Maebe raised the question politely. “You could have sent any one of your priestesses, or powerful mages, to investigate the area.”
“Because when I did that very thing, they were the ones abducted.” Lilith waved her hand as if to perish the thought. “I sent two parties to search, and both failed. This way, I lose minimal assets and stand to gain the most. By the way, this important information you wished to share—what was it?”
Maebe collected herself before speaking, “I have plans to establish my presence in this realm, more so than as just a myth. I have already spoken with the high elves, and those of the kingdom of humanity.” Lilith’s eyes widened at the mention of the other races, but she stayed silent while the other royal explained more. “For too long, my people have grown stagnant in the Fae realm, constantly at war with the Seelie. Here in the Prime Realm, my power, my people, have a chance to flourish and grow. To become more in tune with those who could become more sympathetic to our cause.”
“And while you grow in strength here, your people gain much in the Fae realm as well,” Lilith completed the idea out loud. Maebe affirmed her guess with a simple nod. “And my people gain…what? A potential ally? If I were to accept some sort of treaty with you, allowing your people to be among my kind, what do you offer us?”
Maebe must have paused in thought for a moment too long for Lilith’s liking, because she moved the thought in another direction. “If I were to accept this and go to war with the surface realm, would you support my cause? If I decided that the dwarves of Djurn Forge would be better suited toiling under my rule, would you send forces into the mountains?”
Fainnir made to shout something, but Balmur cast his dome spell around himself, Muu, Yohsuke, and Fainnir before the young dwarf could spout off at the mouth.
“While I like you, and find you fascinating, I need to think of my people.” Lilith raised her chin. “I welcome your people among my own should they wish to visit and lobby for succor or aid from time to time, but I can offer no more aid than neutrality.”
Maebe inclined her head in respect. “I thank you for your consideration. How long have you known of my designs, and how many of the Seelie are among you?”
Lilith smiled, her fangs flashing in the light of the room. “Several weeks, and only three. If it gives you any pleasure, I swear to you here and now that I had the same sort of discussion and findings with their envoy, though you coming personally means that I like you a little more.”
“I appreciate your honesty.” Maebe regarded more of her surroundings, steel seeping into her spine as she did. “Forgive me, but how long have you been, Queen?”
“A century or so,” Lilith replied as if the question meant little to her.
“Ah, so you mean to usher in a new era for your people as well.” Maebe nodded knowingly as Lilith turned her gaze on Maebe.
“My mother fell swiftly, as is the way of things, and I have seen my people through much, and will do so for much more—one hundred and fifty years really isn’t much by other elves’ standards, but it is a healthy amount to us.”
They both looked like they were about to delve into a likely brutal conversation, so I inserted myself into it, hoping to defuse the situation.
“Queen Lilith, your people are known for their near-perfect Darkvision, so good in fact that they can see better than almost all of the creatures below the ground.” She smiled at my flattery. “With that being the case, why do you have crystals that give off light as you do?”
She blinked, tapping her spidery legs on the ground in thought before explaining, “Those are crystals of condensed mana, highly volatile if misused, but capable of augmenting and permeating the area with magic. I understand that some among you are shadow users?”—I nodded, and so did Maebe—“Then I take it you felt more magic than normal inside the shadows here while working with them?”
“Yes, I had wondered about that, b
ut had attributed it to the more pure darkness.” I frowned in thought. Had that been it? The crystal above was augmenting the magic here with stronger mana? Or just more of it?
“Never forget, Zekiel, that the darkest shadows are always next to the light,” Lilith stated cryptically with a grin on her face.
That was fair. We needed to get our mitts on some of that crystal. If nothing more than as materials for items. I wondered how much we could make when there was a knock on the door.
The same drow as before entered the room with a low bow. “The rooms are ready, your Highness.”
“Wait outside.” Lilith watched the drow leave the room and motioned to the door. “I will have all of you brought food if you have need, and I swear to you that it will not be poisoned or of lesser quality in any way, shape, or form within my realm of understanding.”
“Thank you, we may be obliged to take it.” I nodded my head to her in deference, and she watched calmly as we left the room. As the door closed, leaving the Queen and her drider with Gerty alone, I watched the queen stalking toward the table and the figure still on it, then the door shut.
The drow servant bowed and silently brought us down the stairs. I watched for the drow boy again on our way down, but his back was very carefully turned to the bars.
We moved on in silence, leaving the area and heading to the right once we were back outside, a building growing from the silken threads as we crossed between the large-spider infested grounds.
This area had been left under guard, three hulking driders sporting spears watched us as we walked through them without so much as a grunt.
He led us to the rooms that they had prepared, and it had seemed that the staff had anticipated Lilith’s promise of food because there were plates of meats, breads, cheeses, and fruits on the small tables inside.
That night or was it day? We all slept as best as we could, as swiftly as we could.
Or rather, I would have loved to if Kayda hadn’t so lovingly reminded me of my promise to her little sister. I pulled out the crystal, hiding it in a ball of shadows in my hand, before summoning the grumpy lizard shit so she could stare at me balefully in the eyes.
Into the Darkness: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Axe Druid Book 4) Page 52
