Inhuman Chapter 4

A Fine Manor House With A Scenic View Of The Junw Mountains

Stillness quickly descended on the camp. Valary continued working on controlling her golem legs as she waited. After several clumsy attempts to stand, she finally crawled over to the closest tree and the trunk for support. Surprised at the strength of her new limbs, the woman carefully allowed the legs to take her weight. Finally, she slowly stood for the first time.

In the distance, Valary heard the familiar crack of a musket shot. The woman worked on lifting her legs several times, then stumbled toward a nearby tree. After a moment to regain her focus, she then worked her way to the next tree. Valary noticed her legs moved clumsily, but easier now. She even felt the texture of the ground beneath her golem feet. A few moments later, she reached the outskirts of the campfire light. While the woman rested, she only heard her labored breaths. Still, the ability to walk renewed her hope for the first time in months.

Just as she started back to the campfire, she noticed movement in the trees. Valary stopped, staring at the area. Eventually, the woman noticed Grym’s figure crouched down just beyond the range of the campfire lights. She stared, trying to determine the reason. He glanced back, and she nearly fell at what she had witnessed. Valary stumbled away and flopped on the ground. After catching her breath, she forced her legs under her body and rose. The woman carefully stepped back to the campfire, trying to decide what she could do. Finally, she came to the only conclusion.

I didn’t want to believe it!

Valary sat close to the fire, wishing for her hands, and realizing she had no options. Her head hung as she wanted to erase the image from her mind. The snap of a twig forced her to look up and fear filled the woman. Grym stepped next to Valary, and she looked away. In one hand, the man held his musket while in the other he held the remains of a fox. The blood of the carcass dripped down on the ground next to Valary as she stared ahead. Valary shivered suddenly, then she jumped when the dead animal landed on the ground next to her.

“What are you shaking about?” His voice came down to her in a monotone. “You have nothing to fear from me for the moment. Fresh kill will stop the urges for a while.”

The man stared at her.

“In my experiments, I’ve found that an inhuman can only stop the overwhelming desire for human flesh temporarily. To keep the urge at bay, I need a fresh kill; the bloodier the better. That’s what you witnessed.”

“I’m so confused. Are you really an inhuman with magic? I thought they were only slaves of a dark god.”

“That’s a foolish question after what you’ve witnessed,” Grym looked up at the star filled sky. “You should know that Peyra is a goddess of mischief and lust. To such an immortal, my soul resurrected into this body is simply a tool to meet her wants and desires.”

He went quiet for a moment.

“No doubt she’ll watch over my path. Be warned though, at the end of the day, an inhuman can never lose the desire for human flesh. I can only suppress it for a while. I’ll do anything I can to stop the raging madness that fills me. At times, you will not like my methods to keep from eating human flesh.”

Valary waited for a moment, then realized that the man had no intention of telling her more.

“Where are we going?”

“To a fine manor house with a scenic view of the Junw Mountains. It is there where you’ll get your new body. After that, we’ll make further plans.”

 Grym crawled inside the tent.

“I’ll cook the rest of that fox for your breakfast.”

~~~

The sun slowly fell behind the mountains as Dennel Veil read the letter for the fourth time that afternoon. Each time, her beautiful smile nearly turned into a vulgar smirk when she read the signature line.

So, Erdem believes he has me as his next conquest. I think the hunter will soon realize that he’s nothing but my next steppingstone!

“My lady, you appear in good spirits.” Eostre’s voice interrupted Dennel’s thoughts.

The mistress glanced back as her maid placed the tray containing afternoon drinks up on the desk. The maid poured chocolate into a porcelain cup while Dennel looked at the demure woman dressed in a dark dress and white frock top. Eostre came to the house after Dennel Veil married her second husband, Jupas. Aside from her dark eyes, the maid could nearly pass as Dennel’s sister with her blond hair, well-endowed body and oval face.

“Yes, changes are coming soon to our little world. I received a letter from the emperor’s son.”

“My, that’s excellent news,” the maid smiled as she handed her mistress the cup.

Unflinchingly loyal, Eostre took her position behind the desk as Dennel slid the letter back into her desk drawer. The mistress sat at the desk and sipped on the warm chocolate while thinking about her next steps.

“I’ll need to go to Haj City soon, I’m sure. You can have the servants arrange things for a move.”

“Will you be leaving the Veil estate permanently?” The maid showed no emotion in the question.

“No,” Dennel sat her cup down.

“I can foresee this estate as a place to work on my more dangerous, well, as I call them, experiments. While my second husband was a fool, he carried the foresight to equip this house properly for a rural location.”

The woman sighed as she leaned back. She glanced up to see the maid looking at her and she smiled. Dennel saw the look in her lover’s eye. The mistress enjoyed the attention on her large breasts, enhanced by the low cut of her dress.

“Unfortunately, it’s too isolated for keeping up with the intrigues of the emperor’s court.” Dennel reached out and took Eostre’s hand, placing it upon her shoulder. “It’s a perfect place for our time together, but we’ll need to be careful in the capital. You’ll be coming with me to Haj City, of course.”

“I’m so happy, my love!” the maid squeezed tenderly on the woman’s shoulder. “By the way, what will you do about those involved in your activities below? There is no other who you can trust, is there?”

Dennel patted Eostre’s hand.

“I’ll take care of the problems before we go. After all, I don’t expect to leave that soon. Now, I need to respond to the prince, so please leave me for a while. Ensure that dinner tonight is light, for we have work to do.”

“I understand, mistress.”

Eostre watched her maid leave the room, distracted slightly by the woman’s smile as she closed the door.

She expects to entertain me tonight after the experiments! The mistress grinned lightly as she began the letter.

As the twin moons of Konel rose over the mountains, a distant, screeching cry of agony rang out. However, the dust covered racks of bottles lining the thick stones of an underground corridor swallowed the sound. To those inside a cell tucked into a nearby tunnel, the screams came regularly after other prisoners left the other cells.

Sobbing started when the familiar footsteps came closer. The light of a lantern gradually pierced the dark confines of the cell, showing two emaciated children dressed in rags cowering in the corner.

Eostre pulled a key from a waist pocket and unlocked the cell. Sliding the key back in her dress, the maid stepped inside; her impassive face unaffected by the stench coming from the moldy straw on the floor. Looking at the two prisoners for a moment, she reached down to grab the thin arm of the boy. As she wretched him to his feet, the boy’s sister grabbed on to him. Instantly, Eostre struck the girl with the back of her hand.

“Stop it!” The boy yelled out, only to receive a smack in his face from the furious maid.

“Fight me and I’ll kill that girl!”

The boy immediately quit resisting, and Eostre yanked him to the cell door. After she locked the sister in the cell, the maid picked up the lantern, leading the boy away. As they turned the corner to the main corridor, the girl ran back to the bars.

“It’ll be ok, brother. Stay strong!” She called out.