Dhaval & the Liches (complete)

    My father and Niran had met with Albion the Lich some time ago. My father had made agreements with Albion on my behalf that the lich would talk to Theodred. Theodred was another Lich and one who had been sealed away and recently released. If we could get Theodred and Albion on our side, perhaps we would have some chance against Sanguis.

    Niran gave me ancient texts and scrolls from his kingdom's personal and historical archives. They are histories of the Ruby Empire before it was even called such. They speak of Balafelamona as a terror, rather than the hero-founder of the Empire that is popular in stories these days. Balafelamona worked with Albion and Theodred, amassing power and wealth while she used blood magic to get her way. Apparently, it is her surviving texts that Sanguis has in his possession and taught him the powers he has now.

    Theodred and Albion are vital to everything we have now. Not only are they powerful and could provide a great offense to those of us still fighting for the Unified Nations, they would be a tremendous resource on how to deal with Sanguis and his magic. They had witnessed Balafelamona first hand, they knew her ways and tactics. Theodred was victim to her quest for power, sealing him away when he didn't agree to behave with her. If anything, Theodred could be my most important ally, but only if he agrees.

    Albion told my father that his brother was difficult in life and he doesn't think that years of being sealed away and held prisoner against his will is going to bode well for any sort of character reform. Albion had escaped from Balafelamona by secluding himself and hiding away. His own small domain was just between the Rakshasa Country and Niran's own kingdom. It was small, but it was wealthy due to the rich sapphire mines.

    As I am waiting for word from Albion, I am also waiting on Mila to arrive. Our marriage is still secret, as we both hold loyalties to our kingdoms and neither one of us feel it is fair to ask the other to abandon them. I am trying my hardest to appear casual as I wait for my wife, no need to make anyone suspicious. I am having the hardest time keeping my composure, during these hard times and dealing with Sanguis, Mila is my ultimate comfort. I love her beyond measure and I am not sure how I would survive without her support and unwavering strength. 

    Mila should have been here by now. I know she does not travel well in the heat, but it is becoming our cold season. I am growing worried and anxious, waiting on all these factors is fraying me. If it isn't one thing, it is another. I suppose keeping our marriage a secret is also a factor, but I can ignore that for the more clear and present dangers.

    "You're going to wear a dent into that floor." Himank is sitting behind my desk as I pace before it.

    I scoff and flop my arms out. "If Dad didn't, then how am I?"

    Himank shrugs and continues reading over the scrolls from Niran. "He walks lighter than you do. You stomp around with heavy soles like mom does."

    I grimace at him and my tail twitches behind me. I sigh and let my tail stiffen back up. I go to the window and look out over the kingdom. I remember vividly when I was a child how the Gnolls attacked us. I could see the fire and smoke from my windows. And now there is Bastat fresh on my brain. The senseless death and bloodshed, the unaccountable loss of life there will not be forgotten. Sanguis and his men will forever live in infamy as the horrors that haunted the Unified Nations. Hopefully, their story won't be skewed like Balafelamona's was.

    "Hmm," Himank remarks and my tail twitches. 

    I remove myself from the window and look back at him. "What is it?"

    "Apparently, Balafelamona, god what an awful name, well anyways, she set up a base here in the capital before there even was a capital."

    "Balafelamona was here? In Rakshasa Country?" I stride over to the desk and read over his shoulder.

    "Apparently she was shacked up with one of the head tribal leaders back then," Himank murmurs. "Actually, he was an Amit."

    My tail goes stiff and fluffs up. "Balafelamona was linked to one of our ancestors."

    Himank nods and his tail fidgets on the side of the chair. "Direct line too if I'm not mistaken. He'd be the first Amit if I can remember our family tree correctly."

    There's a knock on the door and Dhavya is standing there. "Dhaval." She stands in the doorway as if she's terrified. "Nicolai is here."

    I furrow my brow. "Nicolai?" I rise up slowly, feeling dread sink into my bones and bleed into my very soul.

    Dhavya nods. "It's urgent. You have to hurry."

    I race out the door and Himank stands so fast, the chair topples over. I race out, seeing Damini is clutching Nicolai in her arms as he breaks down. 

    "What's going on?" I command. "Where's Mila?"

    Nicolai takes a deep shuddering breath and I see tracks of tears down his fur. "They got her," he seethes. "On her way here, her caravan was attacked."

    My heart stops cold and yet I am filled with a white-hot rage. Himank grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. 

    "Where was the attack?" Himank takes the lead.

    Both Damini and Dhavya are comforting Nicolai as he sits on the floor. "The Desert Road," he wipes his face. "Just beyond the Reptilia border. It was an ambush, they knew she was coming."

    If it wasn't for Himank holding my hand, I might have collapsed, but he kept me on my feet. I am at a loss, I do not know what to do. My Mila has been taken by Sanguis and his men, just like Emmeline. Nadeem and his family have been hiding here with us to protect the other children while Ishmael has tried desperately to keep Culuweth together. 

    "It is not wise to move yet, but-" I can barely breathe as I try to collect my thoughts.

    "Women," a deep voice scoffs from behind me. "If they aren't in trouble, they are finding a way to create it."

    I turn and look up, seeing a hovering figure behind me alight with green. He's perched on a statue in the hallway, posed as if waiting to be painted. Behind him, I see another figure glowing a vibrant blue.

    "The Liches," I whisper.

    The green one floats down from his spot and is suddenly up in my face. He grabs hold of my cheeks with his strange, bony hands and tilts my head this way and that.

    "By the powers that be," he murmurs. "You look like his exact copy!" He turns and lifts me up, shaking me before Albion. "Take a look! Doesn't he look like that idiot, Amit, from back in the day?"

    Albion scoffs. "Theodred, set him down! That is the king of all nations right now. Show him some dignity and set him down!"

    "A kitten is a kitten," Theodred snorts before he sets me back on my feet.

    I am overwhelmed. I am not sure which direction my mind is going in. I'm spinning and spiraling out of control and I wobble forward before I am grabbed by the collar of my tunic.

    "It seems King Kitten is out of his wits," Theodred murmurs.

    "He just found out the Czarina of the Polar has been kidnapped. You showing up was simply the final straw," Himank snaps.

    "I suspect it is because of this new blood mage that's tearing around the Empire." Theodred releases me and Himank puts his arms around me. "The very reason I was summoned from my comfort and lovely new bride."

    Albion sighs. "We all have brides we would rather be with, brother. But this is urgent. Apparently, this new blood mage has connections to 'you know who'."

    Theodred stiffens and his eyes spit firing sparks of green and yellow. "Does he now?" He seethes. "Well then, why didn't you say so sooner? I can go kill him now if that is what you would like?"

    "We can't-" I finally choke out. "Please, both of you," I swallow back a painful lump in my throat. "If we could go talk." I turn to Himank. "I'll show them to the council hall. If you'll go fetch Nadeem and Dad, I would greatly appreciate it."

    Himank nods and leaves immediately. I then turn to Nicolai and my sisters. "You can join in too, Nicolai, if you feel you can. I would like whatever information is gathered today to be shared with your parents."

    He and Damini whisper for a moment before they kiss. Nicolai then stands erect, towering even taller than Theodred. "I'll come, of course."

    "Oh my," Theodred chuckles. "They still grow them oversized in the Polar, don't they?" He points to Nicolai. "What did your mother feed you, boy? Smaller yet still massive babies?"

    "His sister is missing, be kind!" Damini snaps at him.

    "Please, ignore my brother," Albion sighs. "He thinks he's funny."

    "I do not think, I know what I am," Theodred scoffs at the insult.

    I sigh and my tail smoothes out. "Please, gentlemen, follow me." I lead them down the corridors. As we walk, Theodred wanders about the halls on his own, staring at statues and floating above us on the ceiling. 

    "Do not take his behavior as insult," Albion murmurs quietly to me. "I would say this is a symptom of him being cooped up for so long. Unfortunately, this is just how he's always been."

    "Do not apologize." I shake my head. "I understand unruly siblings."

    We walk into the council hall and Theodred takes my chair at the head. He sighs, patting the arms of the chair and leaning back. 

    "So what's your name, King Kitten? Are you an Amit too?" Theodred asks.

    I take the seat beside him. "My name is Dhaval. My father's name is Amit."

    "Not the same Amit?" Theodred murmurs. He then shakes his head and taps his finger to his chin. "No. No. There's no way. That Amit would be far too old to sire kittens in this day and age."

    I grimace a bit and Nicolai clears his throat. "What Amit are you talking about?"

    "The Amit," Theodred scoffs. "He was a sorcerer and ruled one of the Great Rakshasa Tribes. Never heard of him?"

    Nicolai's ears go flat on his head. "I just know the one," he grumbles.

    "It figures." Theodred sighs and reclines again. "Polars always did have more brawn than brain."

    "Shut up for five fucking minutes," Albion spits at his brother.

    "Ow, god, fine." Theodred snarls.

    Himank comes in with my father, mother, and Nadeem in tow. Theodred whistles and sits up. "I know I'm married, but that is a fine woman right there." He points to my mother.

    I slap his hand. "You will respect her!" I snarl at him. "Say what you will about me, call me kitten as much as you want, but my mother deserves honor!"

    Theodred tilts his head at me to such a strange angle, his neck pops and cracks. "My, my, my.  The Kitten does have claws." He corrects his crazily angled neck. "No offense to your lovely mother. I just had to make sure you weren't spineless."

    I do not break my glare on him.

    "Look," Theodred starts, "all you lovely people here. Oh, fuck, a Gnoll? Wow." He then shakes his head. "Anyways, if we're going against someone who thinks Balafelamona is the bee's knees, I'll join the opposite side of them. You don't have to do shit. I'll destroy and fuck up whatever it is they hold dear."

    I glance to my father in confusion and awe before I look back at Theodred. "Are you serious?" I scoff and shake my head. "I'm sorry, but after having known you for five seconds I am uncertain what is serious from you and what is something that will get a laugh."

    Theodred chuckles. "Look, King Kitten, here's the major scoop." He rises up and gets directly into my face. "Balafelamona used and abused Albion and me. She fooled us and manipulated us into becoming Lichs. But did she? No. She used us to see if that's what she wanted. Turns out she hated it. So my brother and I are stuck like this," he snarls angrily. "She sealed me away for centuries because I dared question her power. I tried to rise above it and she punished me for the slightest of insult against her. She ruined Albion, so he had to run away. She did every dirty trick in the book to assure she was the most powerful, most uncontested, ego-driven, megalomaniac in the entire Empire. So much so, she built an empire based on her." He sneers at me and laughs. "What do you call this place? The RUBY Empire." Theodred pulls away from me and looks around the table.

    "If this Sanguis Rex has even one of her damn texts, I will burn the world to the ground to make sure her name isn't uttered again." Theodred then laughs. "I would suspect the Line of Amit would want to keep it at bay just as much as me."

    "Why do you say that?" Amit, my father, asks. 

    "Don't you know anything?" Theodred cackles. "She used the first Amit just like us." He motions to Albion. "She used his power, his influence, his magic. Hell, she even had a brat with the idiot! The Line of Amit shares blood with that bitch."

    A silence falls over the room. My mother and father stare at one another in shock. Nadeem's eyes narrow and he looks down and away. Nicolai seems confused, but I can hear his stomach growling with nerves. Himnak swallows hard and reaches over, putting his hand on my back.

    "Sanguis took some of Dhaval's blood," my mother's voice breaks and cracks. "I thought it was because Dhaval had killed him once before, but...Oh my god-" She whispers.

    "If he shares blood with Balafelamona, he did not take it for himself then," Albion murmurs. "He took your son's blood with another intent in mind."

    I'm still silent from the sucker punch. I am not sure how to move or breathe. After today, I would not be surprised if I shut down entirely. 

    "If he's going to resurrect that horrid bitch, I'm going to fucking kill myself," Theodred snarls. "But I fucking can't!" He bursts into green flames and throws his chair out the window.

    "Calm yourself!" I roar at him. "You're here now and we need you! Both of you."

    "Why not get your own damn lich then while you're at it?" Theodred points a finger in my face. "Get your Amit and have him help you too, instead of getting us to do all the dirty work?"

    "What?" I whisper.

    Theodred stands back and takes a steadying breath. "Why do you think Balafelamona came to this litter box?" He laughs with a snarl. "She did to the first Amit what she did to my brother and me. She manipulated him and had him become a lich."

    My father slams his fists onto the table. "There are no liches here! Let alone one of my blood line! His crypt still stands to this day!"

    "Then where do you think he is?" Theodred smarts off to my father. "He probably locked himself away as penance. Anyone who bred with that bitch would do the same."

    "Are you saying that the first Amit is still alive? And here?" My mother gasps.

    "Why has he done nothing?" Nadeem speaks up.

    "Do you do anything when you sleep? No. I don't think so," Theodred mocks. 

    Nadeem scowls in Theodred's direction. "This is all new for us! Why can't you just behave like a normal person?"

    "Because I'm not, obviously!" Theodred points at himself. "Why not just go down to the crypt and ask Amit the First why he won't get off his lazy ass and do something?"

    "The crypts are sacred ground. Opening one is a strict taboo," my father whispers. 

    "Taboos are meant to be broken," Theodred snarls. "It's also fun as hell."

    Albion sighs and stands up. "It is a chance worth taking," he replies. "If Amit the First is a lich and can rise, he would be a highly valuable asset to your cause. Not only is he your ancestor, but he is a direct link to Balafelamona that we do not have. Not to mention, you share blood with both him and her. You have a power that Sanguis only wishes he could obtain."

    "Three liches is better than two, that's just math," Himank whispers to me.

    Theodred's arm stretches out and pats the top of Himank's head, smushing his ears and face. "This one, I like this one."

    I take in a deep breath and nod. "It is all insane," I whisper. "But right now, insanity is all around us." I glance at the faces around the table. "We have all been affected by it, some of us actively. Our families have been taken from us, our people slaughtered, our own kingdoms in ruins." I swallow and try to keep tears from my eyes. "Our loved ones are suffering. If opening a crypt is all we have to do to help them…" I take a breath. "Then it must be done."

    "Oooh, King Kitten is good with words." Theodred sarcastically claps his hands. "Monologues aren't going to save your people, child. You need to get off your ass and act before this new asshole shits on all your stuff."

    "I'm so sorry," Albion whispers.

    Theodred rises up again and smacks his palms to the table. "Where's this fucking crypt? I'll go wake up that piece of shit cat myself."

    "I'll show you," my father stands up.

    We go into the catacombs below the city. We travel from the underground passages of the castle, just beyond the dungeons. From there, we travel in the cold and dark, carrying with us torches. My father, the liches, and I go together. My father has the key to the crypt in his hands, it is something I have stared at since I was a child and never knew what it was. It is a tremendous sized ruby, shaped and formed into a large teardrop. It has always sat on my father's shelf, never touched and seemingly ignored. Now I understand why.

    We come to the end of the catacombs, where there is a massive door before us. My father steps forward, placing the ruby into the engraving on the door. He then bites the tip of his finger, puncturing it until it bleeds. He writes his name on the door with blood and the ruby begins to glow.

    "Fancy," Theodred murmurs.

    The glow from the ruby spreads and runs through the engravings and writings on the door. They flash brightly and the ruby turns into a massive opal. It glimmers and shines as the writing dulls. The door creaks and groans, opening slowly. We all stand in wait as silence returns to the catacombs. From within, I can hear breathing. 

    "Is he still sleeping?" Theodred whispers and Albion hits him.

    Footsteps are approaching, and we all stand back as the door opens further. I take a step forward as a glow comes from the door. Out steps a Rakshasa of great size. His stripes are so black they look like a void. They lap over the shimmering glow of opal and he has great wings on his back.

    "How come he has wings?" Theodred whines and Albion strikes him again.

    The great Rakshasa looks down at me and he places his massive paw on my head. "My son," he whispers, "why have I been summoned?"

    "Are you Amit the First?" All the air is squeezed from my lungs, yet somehow, I can still find a way to speak.

    He nods. "I am that. But the first of how many?" He chuckles. He then removes his paw and looks at me. "Surely I have not been woken from my slumber for a reunion." He then glances up and grimaces. "Oh. I see. Hello, Albion. Hello, Theodred."

    Theodred smirks and cracks his neck. "Oh, wow, you actually remember us."

    "You're not so forgettable, no matter how much I try." Amit the First looks back at me. "What troubles have come to our home, son?" He asks. "There must be a reason if these two have come to our lands."

    "A blood mage is following in the footsteps of Balafelamona," my voice cracks. "Please, we need you now."

    Amit the First takes a long, deep breath. "I have feared this for a long time. It is partly why I buried myself." He waves me into the crypt. "Come this way, my children. I have much to show you." He then glares at the Liches. "You two can stay out here."

    Albion hits Theodred before he can speak in anticipation.

    Amit the First leads my father and I into his crypt. Inside, there are scrolls and tomes piled high. "I kept everything about Balafelamona with me in fear that her ways be used again. Unfortunately, I must not have gathered everything."

    "This is remarkable." My father is breathless. "All these years, I had no clue about this. No idea at all!"

    "I meant it to be that way, my son," Amit the First replies. "I did not want anyone to know. I did not want to see the light of day again. It was my fault Balafelamona ran so out of control. I did what I did in the end to protect my son."

    "What did you do?" I turn and look up at him. "Are you the one who killed her in the end?"

    "I did," Amit the First whispers. "And I used our child to do it," he whimpers. "But I am happy to see my line has lived on." He touches both my father and I. "I am glad to see my son did not succumb to the darkness inside himself." He hugs us then lets us go. He turns back to his things and removes a box from the wall. He opens it up and he shakes his head. 

    "What is it?" My father asks.

    "Her own word," Amit the First whispers. "It's gone." He drops the empty box onto the ground. "That must be what this Sanguis Rex now owns." He kneels down on the ground and takes in a slow breath. "Blood magic must defeat blood magic, it is the only way. My son used himself to help destroy his mother. It took much of him to do it. That is partly why I sealed myself away. I never wanted to use my own child as a weapon, but Balafelamona knew this."

    "So does Sanguis," I murmur. "He has a daughter and if he knows that the Line of Amit is directly related to Balafelamona-"

    "Then he has been planning this for a long time." Amit the First looks up at me. "You've probably been pawns since you were children."

    "Demir," I whisper. "He was using Demir."

    Amit the First stands back up. "What do you need of me, my sons?" He asks. "I will do anything for you to end this threat. Use me as your weapon."

    "That sounds hot," Theodred says from outside.

    Amit the First rolls his eyes. "Us Liches are not all-powerful, but we hold great power. We cannot be controlled by blood magic, but we cannot control it either."

    "It's strategy," I say with a nod. "It's chess." I take in a deep breath. I think of Mila and my heart hurts. I then look up at Amit the First. "I know what we must do."

    "Then lead me."