"How can I be wrong?" Kein questioned him. "Did you tell me a lie at some point in your story?"
"I did not," he said as he reached over and touched her cheek. "I would never lie to you."
Kein gasped slightly as images fell from the darkness like stars plummeting to the earth. These images whispered of his past and told a tale even he didn't know. The images startled her, but his touch flustered her even more, so Kein quickly stood up and headed for the door. Fear had kept her safe from such things in the past, but fear was silent because fear was a little curious.
"Ma chère, do not leave. I will tell you more of my tale."
"Not right now. There's someplace I need to be," she told him and then mumbled, "I need to be anyplace but here."
Kein rushed into the hallway, shut the door behind her, then leaned against it as she tried to clear her thoughts. Labaron had been truthful to her; he hadn't lied to her. She touched her cheek where his cold hand had touched her.
Controller spoke over the intercom, "I overheard you tell the vampire that you take a supplement."
"I do," Kein replied as she snapped out of her thoughts that were confusing and a little frightening, and then she questioned, "Why do you ask?"
He suggested, "Maybe you should request this supplement as a bonus."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess you don't have a Coach to tell you all of these things," Controller spoke, and then he explained, "A bonus is earned when you help a Coach attain a certain bet. The Coach doesn't have to be yours to attain it, so even though you are a contestant, you can still receive bonuses. I only need to know what the supplement's name is to place it in one of your bonus slots."
"How many bonus spots do I get?"
Controller answered, "Normally three."
"The supplement's called colloidal silver," she told him.
"I know of it," he said. "That supplement has no garlic in it."
"I never said it did," Kein stated. "I only said it was something like garlic since silver does agitate vampires." She waited for him to say something, and when he didn't, she said, "I would like the colloidal silver as soon as I earn this bonus."
Controller said, "You don't have a room yet, so I will send a chest in for you. Would you like it set up by your pillow?"
"I don't think Shukujo will appreciate me moving in, but I guess it can't be helped," she replied. "I'll only be here another five days, and then after that, I'll have won the Mortem, and I can leave."
"There is always the possibility that you'll die."
"No, I'm going to win. I can't stay here."
Some time later...
Kein spent the rest of her time after listening to the vampire's tale in Dr. Jekyll's lab. She had become curious about Dr. Frankenstein's monster or more like Kein told herself that was the reason for hiding out in the lab. She was looking over the mad scientist's creation, taking notes on what pieces were missing. Dr. Jekyll had again agreed in his not really paying attention way of loaning her a writing pad and pen. She set the pad and pen on the shelf behind the monster when she finished, and as tiredness seeped into her eyes again, she thought about everything that had happened to her that day. Only two days out of the seven had gone by, and Kein faced death so many times. She didn't know how she would survive another five.
The end of day chime rang on the grandfather clock within the lab that had a steampunk theme to it. It was positioned next to the cabinet in the first room. Kein pulled from her thoughts, grabbed the pad and pen, and headed for the Atlantian's room. He wasn't there, and he didn't appear when she called out, so she waited on the first dock, looking over the notes she wrote in the pad. Ten minutes later, bubbles rose from the depths of the dark water, and the Atlantian crawled out of the water with the clay vessel.
"Welcome back," Kein told him as she smiled.
"It is good to be back since it is you who greets me," he told her.
"Were you able to find the Waters of Life?"
"I was and it was unguarded for something as important sounding as its name. I filled the vessel full."
"Thank you. Was there anything else you were wanting me to find for you?" she asked him.
"I would actually like to give you something. You fulfilled my requirements on finding a book I have never read before, which in itself I would say was a very difficult assignment, and all I had to do was go for a long swim which I do every day."
"You don't have to give me anything. The Waters of Life are enough for the bargain we made."
He said, "Then allow me to give you something as a gift. You may take three books from my collection. It is very vast and extensive, so I probably own any book you could think of."
"Are your books underwater?"
"No, I keep all of them in the chests you see scattered about my domain," the Atlantian replied as he pointed to a few.
"I thought the chests would be bigger, but they're not big at all. By the way you talked, I thought you have thousands upon thousands of books, but those chests look like they barely hold five."
"I can understand your confusion about the chests. Each is connected to a portal where I store all of my books. I would not be able to carry them where I go unless I had such a portal. There is a disk on top of each chest, simply place your hand upon it, and think about the book you would like."
"I have no idea what books to request," she told him, and then she asked, "Can I think about it and request them at a later day?"
"You may, but I do suggest one book or more like a journal that you might be interested in," the Atlantian told her. "I have acquired one of Dr. Jekyll's journals. It is extensive on his experiments and also includes the account on how Mr. Hyde was created, but they also..." He paused, and then he said, "I should not give away anything. It will ruin the read."
"So no spoilers then?" Kein stated.
"Spoilers?"
"Telling someone the ending or giving away crucial points of a book and/or show to someone who hasn't read it or saw it yet, and it usually ruins it for the person."
"I see," the Atlantian replied. "Yes, no spoilers." He motioned for her as he said, "You may come down and retrieve the journal and the vessel."
She climbed down the first ladder, and then paused at the second as she glanced at the five-foot dock.
He questioned her, "Why do you hesitate?"
"My fear of drowning," Kein replied.
"If I held your hand while you were down here, would that help your fear?"
"I think it won't help my fear," Kein told him. "I'm still afraid that you'll drown me."
The Atlantian laughed, and then he said, "Your honest, and you say the most unexpected things."
"Please don't take offense. I want to trust you. I want to trust all of you, but..."
"We are within the three hours that follow the witching hour. I cannot harm a Resident within this time."
"I understand that, and I understand that I'm not a Resident."
The Atlantian told her, "I have a feeling if luck remains on your side, you will soon become one, but I will tell you that the three hours also protect you."
"I feel really bad asking, and I know it's rude of me to ask, but do you mind going back into the water?"
A bright expression crossed his face as he told her, "Mi cha, you are just like my beloved sister. She was also very afraid, but I could usually soothe her fears." The Atlantian continued to look at her as if he saw someone else standing there, and then he said, "For this one time, I will do as you request."
He jumped into the water, then resurfaced, and swam backwards some distance away from the dock. Kein slowly climbed down to the five-foot dock, she made her way to the next dock, then to the vessel, made sure its lid was secure, and she picked up the vessel. She walked over to the chest, set the vessel nearly half her size down, and while keeping her eye on the Atlantian, she placed her palm on the disk and thought about Dr. Jekyll's journal. While she was there, another book came to mind, so she requested it,
and the chest had it, so she took both books. She placed the red leather journal and the book in her backpack, picked up the vessel that was thankfully lighter than it should be with water in it, and she headed back to the top dock.
"I noticed you took two books," the Atlantian said as he pulled himself back on the lower dock, and then he asked, "What other book did you request?"
Kein reached the dock that was five feet off the water, turned, and stated, "You like games, so I'll make it a guessing game. Every time we meet you get one question and one guess or would you prefer that I just tell you?"
"I will play. Have you read this book before?"
"I have, but not in a long time. It's one of my favorite books," she replied.
"You give away quite a bit in your answers," he told her. "But to utilize your answers, I will need to become more acquainted with you, so you need to survive."
"I know on both points, and I do plan on surviving. I plan on winning the Mortem. I just need to make it through these next five days."
"Make sure you do. There are a lot of games I wish to play with you and many many more I wish to teach you."
"Till our next game then," she said and then added before she left, "Thank you again for the Waters of Life."
Kein went out into the hallway and entered King Ammon's tomb, carrying the clay vessel with great care so not to drop it.
"I'm here," she called out as she set the large vessel down. "I have the Waters of Life."
King Ammon arrived, floating to her in his sarcophagus, and then he left the safety of his crypt and moved to her.
"I thought we spoke on this earlier," he began. "I said we should meet by my barge and you agreed."
Her voice betrayed the anger brewing inside her as she said, "We did agree to that the last time I was here, but at that time I didn't know that you stole something from me."
"I stole nothing from you."
"I was told that you stole some of my pain," Kein said, and then she asked, "Is this true? Did you steal from me?"
"How did you find out? I will place a curse on the one who..."
"Does it matter who?" she questioned. "It doesn't change the fact that you stole from me. You wanted me to trust you, but how am I supposed to trust you now?"
"I needed to feed. I need to regain my strength. There is something I must do that acquires a lot of power. The process does not hurt you, I made sure of it."
"You never asked," Kein yelled at him. "You just took. If I had taken something from you without your permission, like say I took something that held a cherished memory of your daughter, what would you have done to me?"
His answer was immediate and fierce, "I would have had my scarab beetles eat you alive!"
"Right!" she shouted back. "You would have gotten angry, and gone a little overboard with your retribution, but still... You would have gotten very angry with me." She pointed to herself and asked, "How's that any different than how I feel?"
"There is no difference," he replied as he discerned the grievous act he perpetrated against her.
"Okay, now that you have hurt me, and you know that you were wrong to do so, what are you supposed to say to me?" Kein asked as she tried to read his reaction, and he seemed to be at a loss, so she questioned, "Don't know? I'll give you a hint. You're supposed to say." She sounded it out for him as she spoke, "I... am... sor... ry... I... am... sor... ry..." Kein realized he wasn't getting it, so she just told him, "I'm sorry. You're supposed to say I'm sorry."
"I am sorry," he replied.
Kein eyed him as if she was still upset with him, but she couldn't hold the pretense of outrage for long and gave in, letting go of her harsh feelings towards him, and she said, "Fine. I accept your apology." She took a deep breath and realized how tired she was, but the day or she should say night was far from over, and so she inquired, "You said the process doesn't hurt me, so why didn't you just ask?"
"I did not think you would consent. It is pain... Most people do not want to share their pain."
"I'll be honest, I don't know if I would have agreed, but now we'll never know. This does set things back between us. I sensed a kindness about you, and I wanted to believe that you would help me, that we could help one another, but now I don't know."
"Will you withhold the Waters of Life from me?"
"No, I'm not that angry," she replied. "Just please, in the future ask if you want something and just don't take it." She motioned to the clay vessel she had set in the sand and said, "The waters are yours."
"What do you want in return for them?" King Ammon asked.
"I'm still a little angry with you, so I don't think there's anything I want or need from you," Kein replied, then she pretended to storm out when she noticed Thirteen by her feet, so she picked him up and discovered a small letter tucked between his bunny-ear antennas. Kein removed the letter and read it over, and then she sighed and muttered to herself, "You would pick now to finally ask something from me." She turned back around and faced the mummy, telling him, "It would seem I do have something to request of you."
"Anything, and I will grant it if it is within my power."
"Hear my request first. I don't know what I'm asking for, so I won't hold you to your promise," she said and then spoke, "I would like the Blight Stinger."
"I do have it. Why do you want it?" King Ammon questioned.
"It's for Shukujo."
"If I give you this, will it help you in some way?"
"I believe it will," she replied. "Shukujo has refused to ask anything of me before now. I would like to fulfill her first request as I have done for all of you or almost all of you."
King Ammon lifted his bony hand, and a metal amulet in the shape of a scorpion with a large red gem in its centered appeared in his palm.
"Take it, and with this gesture, I hope one day you can forgive me."
Kein took the amulet, and the metal was cold, but the red gem felt warm to the touch and also familiar. She examined the gem and saw that something was inside it.
"Is that the stinger? It's so huge."
"It is," he replied. "It is also only the tip of the stinger."
"Thank you," she said and headed for the door, carrying the Stinger Blight in one hand and Thirteen in the other.
King Ammon watched as she left and felt something he hadn't felt in a very long time. He experienced regret and wished he could take back his actions. The human was so much like his daughter, even the way she got angry and quickly let it go.
Kein made her way to Shukujo's lair and found the Kumovon waiting on her as she entered.
"I have the Blight Stinger," she said. "What is it for?"
Shukujo questioned her, "Do I need to tell you before you will give it to me?"
"No," Kein answered, then gave the amulet to Thirteen, and Thirteen took it to Shukujo. "Will you tell me what's it for?" she asked after Shukujo had it in her possession.
"I have acquired a pest and haven't been able to get rid of it. The Blight Stinger will help me dispose of the unwanted vermin."
"You should have asked me sooner. I might have been able to get rid of this pest for you."
"You really are a baka."
Kein said, "I wish you wouldn't belittle me."
"I wish you were dead, but we can't always have what we wish," Shukujo told her, and then she ordered, "Now leave. I have things to do."
Kein stared at her for a few seconds, then turned, and headed for the door as she said over her shoulder, "You're welcomed."
Shukujo called after her and asked, "Do you believe I should thank you?"
She turned back around and asked her, "Was it something you could have gotten on your own?"
"I suppose not."
"Are you thankful that I got it for you?"
"I suppose so."
"Don't you think you should thank me then?" Kein asked.
"I suppose so," Shukujo replied, then cleared her throat, and said, "Thank you, baka. Thank you for the means to eliminate my pest.
"
"You're welcome," Kein spoke, and then she asked, "It wasn't so hard now, was it?"
"No, and I seemed to get a little wicked pleasure out of it."
Kein wasn't sure what she meant by that, but she also didn't question it, so she left the room, stood in the hallway, and wondered aloud, "Where exactly did she want me to go?"
She thought about the other Residents and decided on which would be the next safest room and decided on Dr. Jekyll's lab. He, for the most part, left her alone, and she could investigate Dr. Frankenstein's monster a little further or more like curl up behind the shelf where the good doctor couldn't see her and try and sleep. Kein had at one point looked at all the clear glass jars, but couldn't figure out what the clear liquid was in each, and she decided at this point not to remove the lid and smell the substance. She started for his door when she heard a child crying, and it was coming from the part of the hallway she had never explored. Kein thought it might be the werewolf pup. She hadn't seen him at all that day.
"Hello," she called out as she headed into the darkness in the direction of the sound.
An hour later...
Shukujo's lair...
"You can wake up now," Shukujo told Kein whom she had through deceptive devices captured her and brought deep within her lair where she strung her up by her wrists so that the tips of her shoes barely touched the floor.
The unconscious Kein never stirred, so Shukujo moved over to her, reached down, and smacked her several times on the cheek.
"Idiot henchman... Green Serpent should have used someone a little more careful and not in such a hurry to capture the human. I believe whatever he knocked her out with, he used too much on her," Shukujo snapped as the Kumo'usagi listened. "She'll probably be out another half hour. I guess I can try out the Blight Stinger and see if it will ward off her curse, but first..."
Shukujo lifted herself from the huge spider's head and slid down his body to the floor. Kumovons had humanoid forms and would join themselves to a Kumo'uma to give themselves added strength and speed. She was a head taller than Kein and still wore the red silk Kimono with white flying cranes and gold highlights that flowed down to her ankles. She also wore the Blight Stinger around her neck.
Monster of Monsters #1 Part Two: Mortem's Contestant Page 12
