2 Lord of Fiends

Nikolai turned to Nye and Miles, "Welcome to the crypt of Lenault Ghestro. Perhaps the answers you seek, will be found here."

"Why would a tomb of that heretic, have anything to do with my understandings of monsters?" Nye crossed her arms, Miles standing beside her, nodding in agreement.

"Why, don't you know of the tales? The ones the Rhyme gallivant around, preaching about with their slanderous tongues?" Nikolai looked to Nye.

"Of Course I know the old stories, however until now, I had only assumed he was a figure of fiction. What's your point?" Nye replied, keeping her eyes focused on the reaper.

"Lenault was a man with a gift to control the fiends, which would mean he would have to be able to communicate with them. Just a bit of speculation, but I'm implying that it is possible that you are a descendant of him." Nikolai explained.

"That does pose a logical explanation if it is true. Even another possible reason why I never learned my last name. Any way that you can prove this?" Nye seemed intrigued.

"Wait a tic, I may be hearing a one sided conversation here, but I'm getting the idea this heretic might be your ancestor?" Miles was perplexed, tilting his head.

"That's exactly what the reaper is suggesting." Nye looked over her shoulder to Miles.

"Oh man." Miles scratched his head, as he was trying to keep up.

"Ahem. If I may. I am a descendant of fiends who worked under Lord Lenault. I was once told by them, if the heir to the Ghestro throne was to ever become known, to bring them here." Nikolai explained further.

"So that must have been what you were discussing with the other reaper. So, what now?" Nye crossed her arms again.

"Indeed mistress. In order to see if this theory is correct, you'll have to perform the ritual." Nikolai replied.

"And what happens if I turn out to be this heir?" Nye inquired, skeptically.

"It will become known, only if you succeed the trial." Nikolai looked to the alter in front of the statue.

"Fair enough. What do I have to do?" Nye seemed to be growing bored.

Nikolai floated to the statue, where foreign writing was carved into a plaque. "It reads, 'As my body lay fallen, I await my successor. Come to me, with blood in hand, coating a black feather. If you are mine, the world will be ours.' Does this make any sense?" he looked back to Nye.

"Blood in hand, coating a black feather... Hm. Sounds like two forms of DNA. Perhaps coming to 'me', implies the alter?" Nye stepped closer, were a rib cage was placed in front of the statue, like a dish.

"Yes! You must be correct. There is an inscription below the directions. You're to read it. If you can understand me, it shouldn't be a problem." Nikolai was ecstatic.

"Shouldn't be too hard." Nye said.

"This seems like such a good idea." Miles pocketed his hands, speaking sarcastically.

Nye bit to her finger, letting blood flow to her palm. From her wings, she plucked a feather. Letting the wings retract into her back, she held out the feather in her blood. Her eyes then read from the carving.

"I invoke the foreboding darkness of the night. Come now and attend to me, Wherever you are, I appeal to thee. On the wings of words that fly, Whatever the distance, no matter the time, show yourself, before the end is nigh. " Nye spoke, as she placed the bloody feather into the ribs at the alter.

Nye winced her eyes, a sudden pain surged through her right arm. From her wrist to her shoulder, a purple tattoo started to be burned into her flesh, spiraling around like a tentacle into an eye at the shoulder. It didn't stop there, the tentacle burned further, onto her chest.

"What the hell?" Nye stared to the tattoo on her right arm.

Miles was also inspecting in urgently. "What?" He gasped, with a concerned whisper.

Nikolai floated over, looking to the mark as well. Nye looked around with a near angry expression. The tomb around them was beginning to fill with haze, as a ghostly apparition stepped from it.

"And so it begins." Spoke an ominous male voice from the spirit behind them.

Mile's ears shot back as he growled to the man, whose face was shrouded from view. He kept close to Nye, whom looked to the man. Nikolai floated there, also observing the spirit. He came into view, but his body was practically see through, because he was a ghost. Getting a better look as he drew closer, they realized who he was.

"Lenault Ghestro, I presume?" Nye had one hand loosely placed on her sword.

"Clever girl, you hit the nail on the head, but please, call me Len." Lenault replied, pocketing his hands, as he eerily crept closer.

"Why isn't he dead?" Miles inquired, with slight aggression to his tone.

"He's a ghost, a soul trapped from the afterlife." Nye explained, keeping her eyes on the spirit.

"I do believe you had questions, no? I may be a dead man, but I do see everything." Len spoke up, looking to Nye.

"If you already know, then explain." Nye said sharply.

"Now now, why the rush?" Len chimed in, appearing beside Nye. "You desire one simple little detail, when you can have so much more. Doesn't that intrigue you, my dear?"

"What are you on about? Your little ritual burned this into my arm already." Nye showed her arm, glaring to the horned man.

"Ah that, yes. The understanding of monsters, the blood and feather, now the mark, and even summoning your's truly. It's as Nikolai had guessed, you are of my bloodline. Princess of the Amygdala, Nyghtmare Ghestro." Len smirked.

"Nyghtmare Ghestro?" Miles mumbled, as he glanced to Nye.

"I see, that's all I needed to know. What would you have me do? Go proclaim who I am? Title or not, Amygdala are forbidden to do much of anything, because of YOU." Nye crossed her arms, her tone was a bit hostile.

"I never claimed that I wasn't at fault. I can explain anything you wish to hear, but know this, I do have plans for you, my dear." Len replied sinisterly, rhyming his words.

"That so? Then enlighten me. I want to know everything." Nye replied sternly.

"Very well. Ask away, and I'll answer." Len replied, sitting to his shrine.

"Why did you start the war?" Nye inquired.

"That's what everyone wants to know, but no one does. It's a long story, so I'll give you the short version. True to the tales, there was a brief time of peace before the war. However, I didn't initially start it, I just brought it to them. I had a sister, not by blood, but I treated her like one. She was a fiend, and she pissed off someone important. One day, they locked her away, not long before she was taken to the gallows. I could go on about how I wanted to save my sister, and attempted murder on the king of Rhyme because of it, but that would be a lie. After they took her, my wife was forced to watch not only our children, but also my sister's. I only married her to pass on my genetics to keep our line pure blood Amygdala. The woman was rather irritating to say the least, I couldn't stand her. The reason why I started a war, was because of another woman I was having an affair with. She was a Rhyme, the princess to be exact, and her father, the king, didn't like it. I was thrown from their kingdom, but I wasn't gonna have it. I gathered my army, and went in. It didn't go as I planned, as you can see." Len explained, his gaze focused to the mural by his grave of him and his wife. "At least they made it out."

"Just when I was about to feel sorry for you." Nye crossed her arms, looking sharply to Len.

"Fair enough, but I did keep the bloodline going, as I expect you to do as well. Next inquiry?" Len looked off, unamused.

"Basically, you want me to take the throne, to keep our bloodline alive. What's in this for me?" Nye raised a brow.

"I want our name to rule the world. In the process, you can make whatever choices you desire. Take down the Rhyme, reek havoc, change things for our favor, start a brothel, even reclaim our freedom. whether you kill people or help them, that's your call. I do however think it's imperative to build an army, for you to take the throne, and to not let our kind die out." Len grinned with a chilling expression, as he intertwined his fingers.

"And how do you expect me to do this?" Nye looked to him skeptically.

"You're my great grand daughter, cleverness runs in the family. You'll think of something. I do have something you'll be needing of course." Len got up, walking across the chamber to a piece in the wall, resembling an eye. Nye followed, looking to it.

"That sword you have isn't going to be very reliable. See this here? Take it. This is your rite of passing." Len motioned to the eye.

Nye extended her hand, digging her nails behind the metal surrounding the eye. It took a bit of force, but an odd ring popped out. Nye held it, looking to the designs of the teeth holding the eye to the ring. "How is a ring, going to help me, better than my sword?" Nye asked, her tone harsh.

"It's not just any ordinary ring. Place it on. In doing this, you accept responsibility as Queen of Fiends." Len insisted.

"How is being Queen going to benefit me?" Nye inquired, she was still not taken with the idea as of yet.

"Power. If you persuade others to join you, that leaves them to your bidding. You won't be forsaken to a life of solitude any longer, even if it's forbidden. There are power in numbers." Len smirked, devilishly. "Why do you suppose they even came up with that rule in the first place?"

"..." Nye was listening.

Len leaned his arm onto Nye's shoulder. "Think about it, the power to take control of the world. To put an end this way of life. There are endless possibilities, you just need to put your mind towards it." Len leaned off, looking to her. "There is one detail you need to know first. Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"Reincarnation? Like past lives and being reborn? Sure, why not?" Nye looked to Len, oddly.

"I must warn you about this ring. When you put it on, you WILL begin to remember things from your past life. The first thing is going to hit hard." Len looked seriously to Nye.

"What might that be?" Nye inquired, curiously.

"You will relive how you died... Every touch, every pain, every emotion. It's a curse of the ring, and it will forever remind you of your past." Len explained very seriously. "Once you pass this part, you're golden."

"Always a catch." Nye sighed, and placed the ring on, looking to her hand.

Miles was surprised, and Nikolai was still unreadable. A sharp pain was felt in her head, causing Nye to hold to it. A vision of blood was scene through faded view, a faint glance at a dead boy in her arms. Emotions of sadness and anger were coursing, but it suddenly vanished. A sharp pain hit hard between her eyes, as blood trickled down.

Nye came back to reality, holding her face. She felt it, and it hurt deep. "That..."

"It's always hard to grasp it at first, but the more the memories come, the easier it will get. Now. Extend your hand, and grip the air. Imagine a blade, one that would make your foes tremble at your feet." Len looked slyly to the blond girl.

"...Very well." Nye was still shaken, doing as directed. Nothing happened, causing Nye to sharply look to Len.

"Now, channel your aura into it." Len instructed.

Nye obeyed, causing a purple glow to manifest into her palm. Her aura flowed from her feet like smoke, as an ominous wind blew around her from her heels. From the glow, a chaotic sword manifested to her palm. A chain outstretched, as her aura channeled into the chain, that floated behind her. Nye stared to the blade, as did the others.

"The sword of souls, the Wraith-edge. Much different then when it was mine, but it takes a different form for everyone who wields the ring." Len was pleased by this.

Nye released her grip, causing the sword to evaporate. "If you expect me to do this, I hope you have a location in mind. There are plenty of our kind who die every day from the Templar, there's no way I would be able to ensure safety in the open."

"I am aware. There is a place that the Rhyme will never find, and it will work perfectly. The caverns, it lays underground, protected by labyrinths and secret passageways. No one gets in or or out without being swarmed by monsters. Ones you will be able to control, just as I did, and my mother before me." Len explained, without concern.

"How do I find these caverns? I never even heard of them." Nye crossed her arms once again.

"It was a secret place my mother and her minions made to keep My sister and I safe, after fleeing from potential death. We lived there for some time, however we eventually abandoned it after establishing the kingdom." Len explained, looking to the mural. "There is a map behind there. Don't let anyone beside you look at it."

"Not even me?" Miles grumbled.

"What are you, her servant? pet? I doubt lover." Len provoked.

"What was that!?" Miles hissed.

Nye patted Mile's shoulder, calming him as she walked over to the painting. "Behind here?"

"That is correct." Len turned his attention back to Nye.

Nye found a an odd lock, using her ring to open it. The mural opened like a door, with a safe inside. There it held an old map. Nye took it without question.

"Remember, more allies the better. You may find some useful things still in the caverns left behind. Use them how you like. If you have more questions, you know where to find me." Len smirked, vanishing into thin air.

"Talk about a creep." Miles grumbled.

Nye reached to her side, taking the sword in the sheath. She held it out to Miles. "Here, you might need this."

Miles looked to it in surprise. "You're giving me this?"

"I got the ring now, so I don't need this." Nye insisted.

Miles took the blade. "Uh... thanks." He was still surprised by this.

"We better get looking for the caverns." Nye said as she turned to the door.

Nikolai floated over, looking to her. "If I may, would you allow me to join you mistress?"

"Aren't you needed here?" Nye looked to Nikolai.

"There are many reapers here, with so many we have little to do at times. I would be honored to serve you, if you would have me." Nikolai responded, humbly.

"Very well, let's go." Nye said, proceeding out the door.

"Why is it following us?" Miles inquired, muttering to Nye.

"He asked to join us." Nye stated.

"oh..." Miles glanced slightly to Nikolai, who floated after them.

As they traveled back out to the entrance of the cemetery, it was very late into the night. The sound of crickets and other wildlife sounds were heard around them. Nikolai vanished into Nye's shadow suddenly.

"So. Where to?" Miles looked to Nye.

She unfolded the map, opening it. "There seem to be many entrances to this place, that should make getting around pretty easy. Seems the closest one is actually not too far from here. Come on." Nye said, leading the way.

Miles trailed after her. The two traveled back into town, where nearly no one was outside. Even the Templar seemed to be off duty. Nye led the way into a dark alleyway of the slums. The area was in shambles, but as they continued there was an odd building where the map was marked.

"In here?" Nye looked to it.

Nye and Miles entered through a broken wall, discovering a vacant house. It was entirely a mess, but there was a curious dresser there. Nye approached it, seeing a lock much like the one to the mural. She used her ring, and it opened. Inside was clothes hanging there, but behind them was a hole in the wall and ground, leading into a tunnel of some kind. Nye and Miles decided to enter, closing the dresser behind them.

Traveling through the vast tunnel system, it was dark, but they were able to see with their night vision. Nye looked to the map, following the paths. They encountered monsters, who snarled viciously, but the creatures did not attack. Instead they kept to themselves after Nye had drawn close enough. The beasts allowed them to continue, to Miles surprise.

"You really can control them." He mentioned.

"Seems like it, we should have no problem if they stay this way." Nye replied, as they continued their trek through the maze of the labyrinth.

Soon they came across a secret passageway, that they decided to take. The route continued, through the dankness of the tunnels. Eventually they reached an odd door.

"A door? Maybe this is it." Miles looked to Nye.

"Perhaps." Nye nodded, stepping up to the locked door.

Sure enough there was a lock like the others, and Nye inserted her ring, unlocking it. The door creaked open, as dirt tumbled slightly from the ceiling. They stepped inside, closing the door behind them once again.

Nikolai appeared beside them. "Allow me to get us some light." He said, floating off.

Nikolai had vanished from view, but around the halls were suddenly lit with electric torches, from a more futuristic society. Proceeding into this unknown cavern, they noticed it was much like an underground city. There were places that could be used for living, as well as stairs in places. In one place was a prison, decorated with nooses, skeletons hanging by their necks beside it. It all seemed usuable, even with the stalagmite hanging above them in places, and moss growing on the stoned wall of the buildings.

Nye looked to Miles, "Explore a bit. I'll be up top, looking around." she said.

"Alright." Miles nodded.

Bones came from Nye's back, being covered with skin, as black wings formed in place. Nye took off, flying to the highest building of the cavern. There she found two large chambers, one of which was a war room of sorts, with a large map covering the table. She was starting to notice how things were decorated around.

"(I wonder if Lenault's mother was planning to make this place their kingdom at one point?)" Nye thought, approaching the other chamber.

Inside was a room, seeming to have been a place of living. She explored it a little, finding a dresser inside. She opened it out of curiosity, noticing several clothes hanging. She looked though it, discovering an old outfit, perhaps belonging to Lenault's mother. She stepped behind a room divider, and changed into the outfit. Afterwards, Nye approached a mirror, looking to herself. She was wearing a black trench coat that trailed down her hips, with only a left sleeve. Her tattoo was exposed still. Her chest was covered with a red bandana with a print of a skull on it. She wore torn purple pants with belts, as well as steel toed boots. On her head was a purple bandana.

Spiders along the floor crawled beside her boots. Nye examined herself, but noticed a pair of goggles sitting on the dusty old bed from the mirror. A vague memory glimpsed in her mind, the goggles had been around another's neck once before, but who? She approached it, picking them up. Some data lines trailed on the lenses, making her tilt her head slightly.

"Interesting." She muttered, placing them on top of the bandana around her head.

"Nye?" Miles called, as he entered the chamber, looking to her.

She turned, looking to the Leashed. "Yes?"

"This place is huge... uh..What are you wearing?" Miles gawked slightly.

"Old family attire I assume. I figured it might be a bit more appropriate than what I was wearing." Nye explained.

"Whatever floats your boat... So uh. What now?" Miles inquired.

"Whatever the wind sends us, he did say 'endless possibilities' after all." Nye replied, looking to her black nail polish. "For now, get some rest. I have some things to take care of."

"Whatever you say." Miles shrugged, looking over to a couch of some sort. He approached it, laying down.

"I'm going out, so if you get hungry, eat something from my bag." Nye instructed. "You're free to do as you like."

"Nye... " Miles looked to her.

"Hm?" Nye looked to him in return.

"Thank you." Miles Smiled, speaking modestly.

Nye smirked to him. "Get some sleep for now. I'll be back."

"Okay." Miles agreed, closing his eyes.

Nye looked off, before heading out.