FHC B3 Chapter 64: In His Wake

Holy crap. She’s dead. Grim…

Ripper was the first one back to his feet. His form shifted and bones cracked filling the air. His fur receded and revealed the gruff, weathered old man underneath. He knelt beside Elizabeth’s corpse before reaching for her face. He gently pinched her eyeballs and pushed them back into socket. Next he grabbed her head and adjusted so that her head looked straight on her shoulders.

“You are an idiot,” he muttered.

There was a softness in his expression, almost forlorn but with a hint of a smile. It slipped as Elizabeth’s shift reverted. Once her cloak reappeared behind her back he stood up.

“Going soft, you old bastard” Elizabeth hacked.

I blinked and watched as a small crimson bead moved just underneath the surface of her skin. It swam from her chest and up her neck before returning to her heart. Another crack, and she heaved. 

She rolled onto all fours and spat black phlegm. It dripped down the sides of her mouth but she wiped it away and sat up. 

“Quinn? Krulg?”

Ripper snorted as the other two appeared. Their forms had also reverted. Quinn looked tired and Krulg… 

He looks like a beaten puppy. 

“Quit your mewling boy,” Ripper growled.

“We have defied the Prime. We’ve failed him. Our kin is-” Krulg started.

“Nothing,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Keep your mouth shut. We only barely survived his fury. Are you trying to restart it?”

“We deserve it!” Krulg shouted. His voice sounded desperate, almost ferverous and anguished. His expression shifted into a madman’s smile. Krulg moved closer to Elizabeth, splaying his arms.”What right do we have to invoke that chant? If he demands it, we should have accepted the Prime’s fury. Bathed in his flames of righteous wrath!”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but Ripper moved first. Faster than I could keep up with, the two blurred and Krulg was against the wall. Ripper slammed him against the rock and roared.

“You zealot! Silence before I tear that tongue from your mouth.”

Krulg glared ignoring the spittle coating his cheek. “You are alive by the Prime’s grace.”

“I’m alive because I survived being his chew toy for a century. More than you can claim, you broken mutt.”

“You-”

A howling gust erupted the conversation and blanketed their faces. They both turned and glared at Elizabeth who crossed her arms.

“Leave him alone, he followed our lead despite how he views the Prime,” she said. She pointed at Krulg as he started to squirm in Ripper’s grip. “And you. Even if we are nothing but abandoned toys to him, he would have regretted harming the tree. Souls far more precious than yours lies inside its roots, do you truly believe he would have been happy after burning it down?”

Ripper released him. He stood up, rubbing at his throat. 

“No,” Krulg spat, chewing on the word.

“Then what we’ve done is done. For the better of the pack. So quit your whining and focus.”

Someone cleared their throat and everyone turned to Quinn.

“What?” Elizabeth asked.

Quinn ignored the stares and remained nonplussed. “Before the interruption, this was a rite. What am I to do with Julius’ body?”

Elizabeth cursed and glanced to Ripper who shrugged. 

“I… Preserve him, and the other one. The last thing we need is another tantrum. We’ll bury them next month.”

Krulg glared but she waved him off. Quinn simply nodded and walked to the corner, producing black gems from her pockets.

As I stood up, Krulg growled and headed for the exit. He stepped over Arthur who remained plastered against the floor and clawed at the air. 

“Krulg,” Elizabeth shouted. He paused but didn’t turn. “I understand your eager, but tearing the Warren asunder in search of a culprit who may not be here will help no one. Don't start a fire after putting one out.”

Krulg continued walking and left without a word.

Ripper snorted and started to move as well. “If he misbehaves too much, remove his limbs. Stop over complicating things girl.”

“And where are you going?” Elizabeth asked.

“To rest. I can still feel the bastard’s flames inside my chest. It’ll take awhile to purge the mana. You should be doing the same, instead of worrying about me.”

“I haven’t worried about you in a long time.”

“Good,” he growled. 

With the second Grimm to leave, Arthur and Kimms finally stood up and began their own retreat.

Elizabeth watched them leave before turning to me. I paused, waiting but she shook her head and walked away toward the corner where Quinn was adjusting Illeth’s skeleton.

I examined the room, noting the smooth surface where Grim had stood. The ceiling above bore a hole that stretched past what I could see. 

So much power. And I’ve been speaking with that monster. Hah, you’re lesser than an ant to him, Cain. Damn.

Groaning from the side pulled my attention to Garret who stared at the ceiling. If Krulg looked like an abused puppy, Garret looked lost. His skin was pale, his hair disheveled. His clothes were between torn and singed strips hanging off his body. 

I shook my head to focus. 

Can’t help him now. Too much crap to deal with on my own. He can figure it out but first…

I spun around and saw Alice already in position. Ice crawled over her skin, leaving crystalized spikes in its way over her arms. She held them not akimbo but splayed and matched Devon’s gaze.

“You’re not leaving. Not this time,” she declared.

“What more do you need? I’ve done my duty, gave you information. What is it now, Alice?” Devon sighed.

She blinked and her eyes turned crimson. “Answers.”

“What makes you think I have answers to give you?”

To my left, I saw Astra move into position. I shifted to Devon’s side, not as close as Alice but close enough to hopefully block him if he tried to run.

Not that you’ll be able to. But Alice won’t stop, we have to try. 

“You know why,” Alice whispered.

“I know nothing. I’ve always known nothing,” Devon barked. 

“Liar.”

“Alice.”

“Liar,” she repeated. She stepped closer, nearly touching. Alice raised her hand and extended a claw toward Devon’s chest. “You’re a liar.”

Devon’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean.”

Astra’s chains flashed and I braced. Now or never, things were either about to go terribly wrong, or we would finally get an answer.

Alice tapped his chest. “You’re a liar, Devon. You’re Hjartalauss.”