Clean, clean, clean; that was all Bella seemed to do these days. Although she and Cyrilo had suffered a nasty falling-out, her days at the Knight’s Sheath were far better than her time spent under Andromeda’s thumb. She hated working for the platinum-haired bitch, hated all of the cleaning and chores she was given. Andromeda seemed dead-set on grooming her to be a loyal and dutiful maid, and she and her peerage were quick to chastise her about her posture, manners, and everything else they deemed as subpar. The twins were especially obnoxious.
“The stupid whore can’t do anything right, can she, Aro?”
“All she knows how to do is spread her legs, Ora.”
“I still see dust, Aro. Chalk that up to another in the long line of failures in her life.”
“That’s why nobody loves her, Ora. Even Mistress Andromeda will get sick of her and toss her into the sun to burn.”
The two ghouls danced through the halls, leaping around Bella while mocking her, using their inhuman bodies to perform complex acrobatics and stay out of reach of Bella’s claws. “Just you wait. Soon, you won’t be able to prance and skip after I’ve ripped you limb from limb,” Bella snarled, struggling to keep her temper under control. As easy as it would be to slaughter the two foul-mouthed sprites, killing Andromeda’s peerage would earn grave consequences.
“Ooh, very scary, Aro,” one sister giggled.
“Very scary, indeed, Ora,” replied the other.
“If only her skill was as quick to rise as her anger, Aro.”
“Maybe then she wouldn’t be such an embarrassment, Ora.”
The two scampered off, leaving Bella to swallow her fury and return to her hated work. As a Profane, she could shrug off a stab through the heart without the slightest twitch of pain, and run and fight for days without rest—so long as she wasn’t exposed to sunlight, yet there was something about scrubbing floors that exhausted her and left her racked with aches and pains.
Thankfully, she had spent enough time on her knees at the Knight’s Sheath that even before becoming a Profane, she could kneel on gravel without feeling anything, so that was one part of her body that could withstand the work. Regardless, she did what she had to so she could be allowed to stay, all so that she could help her beloved Darling.
Her real mission was to prepare for the prince’s escape, and all of her cleaning was helping her memorize the layout of the manor and evaluate the numbers and strength of her Darling’s enemies. It was truly vast, built like a labyrinth, and capable of housing hundreds, even thousands, of Profane like herself. Though their ranks were far less than that, they were steadily growing. Andromeda kept a full staff of Profane servants and had numerous guests often passing through. In this house of the Profane, she should have felt at home, surrounded by her own kind, but all she wanted was to return to her Darling.
Each member of the Profane was superior to a regular human in every category, but those strong enough to be considered elite were few and far between. That said, Bella was seeing more and more ghouls with parasites attached, all being recruited and trained to fulfill the work of their masters. When one of them made a snide comment about her, she finally snapped and yanked out his spine like she was peeling a banana. Andromeda gave her a thorough shock session as punishment for that. It was actions like that that left Bella in the dark as to the Profane’s true objectives, with no one seeing fit to trust her with important information. However, she did have one source.
“Look at this,” said Duska, holding up the harkonen orb Noah had given her. She was speaking to Bella in the attic, specifically an area that received the least attention. It was midnight, three days since Noah last summoned her.
“What is it?” Bella asked.
“Master said he can use this to communicate with us, but—”
Bella snatched it out of her hands and pressed it tightly to her cheek. “Darling! Darling! Darling! Darling!” she cheered, causing Duska to sigh.
“Only he can initiate conversations, so he can’t hear us unless he’s activated it. Here, hold this chain with me and imbue it with your mana. This will tell him that it’s safe for us to talk, though there is no guarantee that he’ll see it and reach out to us.” Duska held out the locket, and Della wrapped the chain around her finger, with the two of them pouring in their mana, hoping it would reach Noah. “He can also send me a sign through my mark when he’s about to contact us.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you get a mark and I don’t?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him when we reach him.”
“Darling will want to talk to the prince, won’t he? I still haven’t met him. No one will tell me where he’s hidden.”
“Considering that you killed his father and you aren’t exactly friendly with the other Profane, can you blame them for keeping you in the dark? He’s no good to them, eaten. He’s in the northeast section of the mansion, the fifth room in the eighth corridor. However, Nell will be a problem.”
“Nell?”
“My sister succubus. She loves the prince the way you love Master, and wants to stay locked up in that room with him for the rest of eternity. Our trying to free him gets in the way of her romantic bastion.”
“So, I’ll kill her. Got it.”
“No! I may not like her, but she is still my kin. Besides, how do you think Andromeda will react?”
“Well, I need to meet the prince before I can save him.”
“Nell receives periodic mana transfusions from Helena because Lupin doesn’t have enough to support her. You’ll have to do it then. I’ll let you know when it happens. I also think—oh!” Duska put her hand on her mark. Normally, when Noah activated the mark to summon her, it was a continuous surge of stimulation, unceasing until she reached him. Instead, this was a steady pulse, like a heartbeat. “I think Master is about to reply!”
Bella was giddy with excitement, and the two stared at the orb. Nothing happened for the first few minutes, likely due to Noah giving Duska a chance to reach the orb if she hadn’t already. Then, a projection of Noah’s image merged from the orb, and he stood before them. He looked around, scanning his surroundings before saying or doing anything. While it was true that he was invulnerable to harm in this state, he liked to be cautious.
“It appears my timing was perfect. Bella, Duska, it’s good to see you.”
“Darling!” Bella cheered, trying to tackle Noah but passing right through the projection.
“Sorry, Bella, but this spell only works for communication. I can’t physically interact with you or anything. Since the two of you are together, and looking around, I can assume this is the Andromeda Estate.”
“That’s correct, Master.”
“Excellent. Well done, Duska.”
“Darling, what about me?” Bella whined.
“You too, Bella. Thank you for all the work you’ve put in. I doubt it’s been easy infiltrating the Profane. And let me just say that that maid outfit looks very good on you.”
Bella blushed and shook her tail in happiness. “My sweet Darling! You’re so good to me. The woman who runs this place has been an absolute slave driver! I’m not meant to do chores and housework for people like her! I’m supposed to do sexy, fun things for you, like breast fucking and ass-to-mouth! I should be on my back, not breaking it!”
“I’m sorry, Bella. You’ve been patient and loyal, and I’m thankful every day that I have you.”
Once again, Bella’s switch was flipped, and she went from miserable back to giddy. “Stop it! You’re making me blush!”
“So, Lupin is being held captive here somewhere. Once my friends and I arrive, we’ll bust him out.”
“Master, there is something you should know, something I just found out. Andromeda is going to host a Profane gathering soon, to celebrate their revival and toast to the anticipated return of Zyrga. When Somerset fell and the Profane kingdom was laid to waste, most of the survivors chose to go into the long sleep, hibernating for centuries until the world dropped its guard. Others waited until they lost the ability to produce venom, and had to hope that those left behind would find a cure to our extinction. They’ve been awoken by our recent rise in activities, and will now be looking to Ragar for leadership.”
“How many will be attending?”
“Hundreds, including several elites. Guests are already starting to arrive. I worry that it’ll be too crowded to get Lupin out.”
“That is a problem. Sneaking in and out shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for me, but if a fight starts, it could get bad. Then again, that could also be the best time to do it, when the Profane are all focused on their party and each other. Any chance you can get the orb to Lupin so we can talk face-to-face?”
“As I was telling Bella, the problem is getting around Nell. She rarely leaves the prince’s side, and she doesn’t want him to be free. She’ll go running to Andromeda the moment we threaten her fantasy. However, there are periods where he’s all alone.”
“How well would Lupin take it if we kill her, even to win him his freedom?”
“Not well. She may be a Profane, and keeping him captive, but it’s clear he still loves her from when she was human. Because of the mark you’ve given me, I’m able to go against my Profane allegiance, but she won’t hand him over, both out of love for him and loyalty to her race.”
“That reminds me, Darling, why didn’t you give me a mark like you did Duska? I want one too. I want the world to see me as your woman.” She bit her lip and rubbed below her stomach. “Right here, like hers, right where you deposit your seed.”
“I didn’t give you one because I knew the Profane would be suspicious of you. Duska was able to slip right back in among their ranks without anyone noticing it, right, Duska?”
“Yes, Master. No one has any reason to suspect my loyalty.”
“When this is over, I’ll give you a mark. I’ll just need to extract your venom to do it.”
Bella’s ears drooped. “I don’t have any. The skull dwarf said that I was made without a venom gland in exchange for my powers. Because I drank Profane venom, it spread throughout my body instead of going straight to my brain.”
“Skull dwarf?” Noah asked Duska.
“Curcio, the one who developed the parasites. Bella was at his lab for a while.”
“Well then, I’ll just have to find another gift for you, Bella, but that can wait. Right now, our focus is Lupin. We’ll have to either convert Nell to our side or incapacitate her when the time comes. Start probing the waters with her. See if there is a weakness we can exploit to make her join our cause, but don’t give her any reason to suspect you’re working against the Profane. If you see an opportunity to get me in the same room as Lupin without Nell or other Profane finding out, take it. However, it’ll have to be at midnight.”
“Understood, Master.”
“You’ve both done so much for me, and I’m proud of both of you.”
Noah reached out with his illusory hands, and though they couldn’t touch him, Bella and Duska both leaned in, as if to let him caress their cheeks.
“Darling,” said Bella, dreamily.
“Master,” Duska purred with the same longing.
“Thank you for all of your hard work. I’ll see you soon.” Then, he vanished in front of their eyes.
Days passed, with Bella and Duska waiting for the planets to align for them. Finally, the night came, and Nell left Lupin’s side so she could receive proper sustenance. It was late in the evening, and with her gone, they snuck into her and Lupin’s room. He was knocked out by Nell’s powder, not even hearing the door open and close. In the darkness, Duska held out the locket.
“You have the orb?” she asked.
Bella nodded and then opened her mouth, proceeding to swallow her hand and reach down into her throat up to the elbow. After a second, she pulled out the orb and wiped it off.
“You keep it in your throat?” Duska asked with grimace.
“More like I keep it close to my heart.”
“We have to wait until midnight,” said Duska, pulling out a small dwarven clock. Hopefully, it would go unnoticed from Andromeda’s collection until she could return it.
“How long does it take for Nell to come back?”
“Usually an hour or so.” Duska bit her lip. “We’ll be cutting it close.”
The two of them waited in the darkness, watching the minutes tick away, ever closer to midnight. Any moment, they expected Nell to return and open the door, or another Profane would suddenly appear to keep an eye on the prince and discover them. Either scenario would bring about the same questions, questions that would be hard to convincingly lie about. Finally, the time came, and both women grasped the chain of the locket and channeled their mana, causing it to open. They both continued to wait, hoping Noah would get their message, and after a few minutes, Duska shuddered in pleasure.
“I can feel it. He’s coming.”
Moments later, Noah’s clone was projected from the orb. As before, he took a moment to situate himself in his environment, ensuring that no one who might see or hear him was nearby. It was dark, but even in this illusory state, his senses were sharp. He recognized Lupin in the nearby bed, and Bella and Duska were behind him, with no other presences in the room.
“Master,” said Duska.
“Darling!” Bella exclaimed.
“Good work, girls,” he said, turning to them.
“Forgive me, Master, but I need to leave. Nell will surely be returning soon, but I can buy you some time.”
“Yes, thank you, Duska.”
Duska left the room, and Noah turned to Bella. “It’s good to see you. Now, I need you to wake up Lupin so I can speak to him. Have you and he met since you got here?”
“No, this is my first time seeing him.”
“Before he was taken, we were in Welindar, and he had just received word that his father was killed. It didn’t seem like he knew that it was you specifically who did it, or of our relationship, but that might have changed since he got here. If he hasn’t found out about you, then it would be best that that remains the status quo, at least until after we get him out of here. If you save his life, it may lessen his anger when he’s inevitably told the truth.”
Bella pouted in annoyance. “Hmph! I did that out of love, so you’d come back! Why doesn’t anyone get that?!”
“The intent was understandable, but the methodology was highly problematic. Anyway, wake him up.”
Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Nell was getting her mana replenished, though she was not fond of the method. She was lying on Helena’s bed, gasping and whimpering from her touch. The two succubi were naked and spooning, with Helena’s hands roaming her underling’s soft flesh. Both of them had retracted their wings so as not to get away. With one hand, Helena rubbed Nell’s modest breasts, small but sweet, with each tweak of her nipples making her writhe. With the other hand, she stroked Nell’s wet pussy, her fingers slipping and sliding within her, with Nell not wanting to admit how good it felt.
Compared to Nell, Helena was far more well-endowed, and Nell could not ignore the feel of their warmth and softness on the back of her head, which were equal in size. There was also a distinct height difference between them, making Nell feel like a mouse being batted around by a cat. Because Helena was so much taller, she could reach down and caress every inch of Nell’s body, all while she nibbled on Nell’s antennae feathers with her lips.
Succubi fed on their victims by giving them erotic dreams or infuriating nightmares, with the resulting wave of emotion lighting up their minds like fireworks and causing powerful mana reactions. However, for Nell to receive mana from another succubus, she had to experience those reactions for herself in the real world. Only during the moments of intense pleasure could Nell’s body accept Helena’s mana transfusion. Helena wasn’t simply playing with Nell’s antennae for sexual pleasure; she was transferring her mana through them, feeding her. Though her pleasure was required, she did not enjoy it.
“Every time we do this, you get a little more responsive. Why must you resist moaning for me?”
“Please forgive me, Mistress. You have my loyalty and obedience, but Prince Lupin has my heart. To lie with anyone else and betray his trust is unthinkable. I can only do this with you because you sired me.”
Helena sat up and gripped Nell’s throat, but continued fingering her with building intensity. “You’re being quite ungrateful. I remind you that I only do this because you refuse to feed on anyone but him. I bestow my own mana, my very life force, onto you, all so you don’t starve to death, yet you act like it’s some big inconvenience that you must endure.”
“I’m sorry, Mistress,” Nell gasped, fighting both to breathe and to keep her voice steady against Helena’s touch. “I am eternally grateful for your mercy and charity. I simply want to be faithful to the man I love, even if I must be unfaithful to survive.”
Helena responded by deeply kissing Nell, swirling her tongue around the young succubus’s mouth for several moments. “I will admit that the reluctance in your eyes is quite arousing. You can pretend you’re faithful to the prince, but you’re no different than any other desperate girl whoring herself in order to get by. It’s clear you don’t share my love for the taste of women, but that makes it all the sweeter when you have to taste me.” She then moved on top of Nell and turned around, almost sitting on her face and forcing Nell to gaze at her pussy. “Go on, take care of your Mistress. It doesn’t matter who or what you prefer. That soft tongue of yours, and every inch of your body, belongs to me.”
Given that it was a direct order from Helena, Nell could not refuse, but she still had to coax herself to raise her head and suck on Helena’s wet slit. Helena panted in pleasure from Nell’s reluctant tongue flicks, feeling an extra spark of sadistic joy from the efforts of the unwilling. She dropped her weight onto Nell’s face, forcing her to eat her out at full force and intensity. Since Nell was shorter than her, Helena couldn’t go down on her for mutual cunnilingus, so she continued fingering her instead, targeting Nell’s G-spot.
After all of Helena’s caressing up to this point, Nell had reached the limit of what she could endure silently. She could feel an orgasm threatening to erupt like a volcano, all while she suffocated under Helena’s pussy. She licked her out fervently, putting aside her reluctance and hoping that diligent effort would be rewarded with a breath of fresh air. Nell soon climaxed, making her back arch and her legs spasm as euphoria swept through her, but her moans were smothered by Helena’s ass.
Helena soon experienced her own orgasm and made Nell drink her nectar. She dismounted, leaving Nell gasping for air, but Helena wasn’t done yet. She spread Nell’s legs and voraciously went down on her, forcing out the moans that Nell could no longer restrain.
“You taste so sweet,” Helena said between licks. “Clearly, I was right to turn you.” Her tongue was seasoned, and her technique well-honed after centuries of experience, all being utilized to draw another climax from Nell. The young woman’s choir-like moan answered her efforts, with Helena using that opportunity to pour her mana into Nell. “Well, now, I think that should hold you over for a while.”
“Thank you, Mistress,” Nell panted.
“By all means, do keep starving yourself for that pet of yours. It gives me more excuses to have my way with my adorable servant, not that I need them.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“You can leave now.”
Nell got out of bed and put on the dress she wore around the mansion. The Profane didn’t usually adhere to constructs like shame and modesty, but Nell was still adapting to her new instincts, and she held a lingering bashfulness from her time as a member of the church. Besides, as a rule of the house, everyone staying as a guest, subordinate, or comrade had to maintain a presentable appearance. Andromeda and her servants were perfectionists, and anyone staying under her roof had to adhere to her sense of order and aesthetic.
Nell left Helena’s room and wandered the halls of the estate, eager to return to Lupin’s side. She didn’t get far before she crossed paths with Duska, almost seeming like she was waiting for her. The two of them rarely spoke, and Duska had made it clear from the beginning that she loathed Nell. Nell averted her eyes, hoping that she could get by without insult.
“Do you really think he loves you?” Duska asked as Nell walked past her, causing her to stop.
“Excuse me?”
“Your pet, the prince. You keep him constantly sedated, bound by your powder, while you force yourself into his thoughts. Do you think he can love you despite that?”
“I know he loves me.”
“He’s forced to. He doesn’t have a choice.”
“That’s not true! He loved me before I became a Profane, and I’m sure he loves me now.”
“Would the Nell back then drug him and keep him captive?”
“That doesn’t matter! He must be kept safe for the sake of our race. It’s all part of the plan!”
“Exactly; that’s why he’s kept alive. He’s a prisoner, a tool, meant to be locked away until he’s useful to us. The little love nest you enjoy is just a privilege, allowed because your obsession can be utilized to keep him docile. As for love, how can you know it’s true when he has no choice?”
“Because all the time we spend connected, I can feel his love. I know my Profane existence disgusts him, but he will learn to love that too. All I want is to be with my beloved Lupin; for us to be together for the rest of our lives in the blissful seclusion of the dream world, free from all the burdens of this world that would infringe on our happiness. Why are you trying to ruin it for me?”
“Because you’re lying to yourself, and it’s painful to watch. If you’re going to do your duty, do it for the right reasons. What you haven’t isn’t love, so stop pretending. As long as he is kept prisoner, unable to leave, you can’t truly say he loves you. He never got the chance to choose you over anyone else. If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s meant to be.”
Duska’s questions were wearing Nell’s patience thin, and having her devotion questioned was replacing apprehension with indignation. “And who are you to talk to me about love?! Have you ever truly been in love with anyone?”
“I…” Duska paused, her mind flashing to Noah, the man she had originally despised and feared, but now served in all ways he demanded.
The way he had claimed dominion over her heart, bending her will and making her addicted to his touch, was far from traditional courtship and romance. Could her feelings for such a man truly be called love? She had said it to him before, those three words, but did she really understand the weight of their meaning? And did he really love her as his slave? Was she forced to love him just like Lupin was forced to love Nell?
Duska shook those doubts aside. Noah had been quick but thorough in engraving loyalty into her heart, and his grip on her could not be loosened so easily. Besides, none of this mattered and wasn’t worth thinking about. Her job was to keep Nell busy, not bear her heart out to Nell and get sucked into her own line of questioning.
“I’ve been alive for a long time, and I know what true love looks like, and what selfish obsession looks like.”
“Don’t pretend you like me or care about me.”
“You’re right, I don’t like you, but that doesn’t mean I want you to die.”
“Loving Lupin isn’t going to kill me.”
“It just might, if you continue to do it so foolishly.”
Nell stormed off without another word, but Duska continued after her. She had to keep the conversation going, to buy her master as much time as she could. While Nell was dealing with Helena and Duska, Bella was with the sleeping Lupin. She reached out and pinched his nose, preventing air from passing through. Though he was under the sedative effects of Nell’s powder, the inability to breathe forced him awake, and he sat up, panting and coughing.
“What’s going on?” he mumbled, disoriented and unable to see in the dark.
“Hello, Lupin.”
“Noah, is that you?”
Bella opened the curtains of the nearby window, letting some dim illumination enter the room so the prince could see Noah.
“I’m glad you’re alive and in one piece,” said Noah.
Lupin nearly stumbled out of bed and rushed over. “You don’t know what glad means!” He tried to hug Noah, but passed right through him.
“Sorry, but the time of your rescue hasn’t yet arrived. For now, I can only speak with you in this intangible form. However, my comrades and I are in Duravound, trying to get the king to listen to us. Once we get him to work with us against the Profane, we’ll come straight here.”
“Oh, thank the gods,” said Lupin. He sat back on the bed, dizzy from getting up too fast.
“Are you all right?” Noah asked.
“Yes, but I’ve been kept asleep almost constantly since I arrived here. I feel like a veal calf, forced to grow soft and weak for a tastier meal. I don’t even know how long I’ve been here.”
“Several months. I know about Nell. It’s unfortunate that she was turned.”
“She’s still in there, Noah. She’s been corrupted by the Profane, but her kindness and love are as strong as they’ve ever been. If anything, they’ve grown even more intense, frighteningly so. Please, there has to be some way I can save her, some way to take her with me without endangering others. You already have that other succubus on your side. Duska, I think her name was.”
“If I can extract Nell’s venom so she can’t turn anyone else, then I’ll allow her to live. That’s what I did to Duska, and used that venom to make a magical seal binding her to me. However, don’t expect anyone else to be so accommodating. No one else knows about my relationship with Duska, or Bella here. She’s another Profane that I’ve recruited to our side.”
“My Darling and I are soul mates, and after all the other Profane are dead, we’re going to be wed and live happily ever after,” Bella hummed joyfully.
Lupin kept his doubts silent. “Either way, I’m glad to see that you survived Welindar, Noah. But tell me, what has happened to Uther since then? Duska has only given me a few details.”
“When Shannon and I killed Kaisen, he used his remaining strength to turn all of Welindar’s citizens into fiends. They marched on Colbrand, carving a path of destruction across Uther. However, just when they were about to reach the city, Galvin called forth the power of the Wassengel to wipe them out. The king was dead, you were presumed dead, and Seraph was off training with Tarnas, so Galvin was made king, and his triumph over the fiends secured the people’s loyalty.
However, this was all a carefully orchestrated plan to get him on the throne. The Liege, the puppeteer behind the Pack and the Profane, was actually Ziradith Herald. For years, she cultivated the Profane into a powerful enemy that Uther could unite against, all to make Galvin king, while she manipulated him with mind-control magic, keeping his cruelty and madness contained. Eventually, though, Galvin broke free of her control and turned against her, and implemented his reign of terror. I’m sure you can imagine how well that went.
I helped Seraph regain his powers so he could usurp Galvin and claim the throne. Galvin turned to the Profane for help and nearly destroyed the city, but Seraph and Alexis Veres destroyed him. Immediately after, Colbrand was leveled by a dungeon crab. It was the mobile Profane base we had spent so much time and energy looking for. They unleashed their fiend army on the ravaged city, but with the help of Adwith Tarnas and the Wassengel, we managed to wipe them out and even kill their leader. It turns out Tarnas is related to the royal family, and, as such, can summon the Wassengel. Because of that, he’s been crowned king. Colbrand is in ruins, but it’s being rebuilt. And now, here we are.”
“Galvin, you fucking disgrace,” Lupin muttered. “I always held out hope that there was some shred of good in him, but it seems he was truly rotten to his core. But thank you. I’m sure Uther would have been in a far worse situation without you around, not even counting the way you helped Seraph. I’m sure things must have been awkward between you two.”
“Seraph has reflected on his past and now seeks to redeem himself and be a better person. When you meet him, I’m sure you’ll be proud of how far he’s come.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t kicked down the front doors of this place yet.”
“He doesn’t know you’re alive. As far as he and anyone else is concerned, you died in Welindar. I thought the same until Duska told me the truth, and I haven’t told it to anyone else. I’m sure you can imagine how people would react to me teaming up with the Profane in such a way, regardless of the end goal. However, I’ll find a way to leak your situation to my friends so we’ll come save you. But I need you to promise you’ll keep my secret, at least until after we get you out of here, when Bella and Duska can take some of the credit and prove their worth. Until then, they’ll only be seen as untrustworthy monsters, and I’ll be the traitor who colluded with them, understand?”
“Yes, of course. I trust your judgment, Noah.”
“Good. The Profane have completely taken over Handent, but once we get you back on the throne, Tarnas will be able to return to the front lines. Then the nations of Sylphtoria, Uther, and Vandheim will be able to work together and exterminate them. Until then—”
“Darling!” Bella suddenly exclaimed in a loud whisper with her rabbit ears twitching. Noah understood and cut the connection, with Bella swallowing the orb. Lupin was then shocked when she tackled him, knocking him back onto the bed while leering over him like a crazed lover.
“What’s going on in here?” Andromeda demanded, opening the door and seeing Bella on top of Lupin. “Bella, what are you doing?”
“You’ve been keeping fresh meat here all this time, and I can’t hold back anymore. I just wanted a little taste, maybe a small bite. There’s no way he needs all of his sweet, sweet blood. After all, it’s not like you feed me enough.”
Andromeda stormed over and grabbed Bella, throwing her across the room and slamming her into the wall. Bella landed on the floor, and Andromeda punished her with black lightning, though it was more annoying for Bella than painful.
“You do not come in here. You do not harm my property. You do only what you are told! Understand?!” She paused the lightning and stood over Bella. “I know I heard voices in this room. What were you saying?”
“Nothing important, just sharing stories of Colbrand. Talking made me hungry,” Bella said with a dismissive side-eye. Her answer was far from convincing, and when she looked at Lupin, he seemed far more fearful of Andromeda than Bella, even though she had apparently just saved his life. Something was definitely going on between them, and she had a feeling it wasn’t romantic in nature. Whatever it was, she’d have to put a stop to it.
“And you, so helpless,” she hissed at Lupin in disgust. “A woman on top of you and you can do nothing but wait for another to save you.”
“Your poisoned tongue and hateful scowl scorch the trees but not my soul. Let cherubs fly and dragons wake, for under your wrath, I shall not break,” Lupin shot back, making Andromeda perk up in surprise.
“That’s… from The Elven Wright, Scene 4, Verse 7.” She stepped over to the bedside table and picked up a book with an amused smile. “You’ve been reading the works of Ladraeicus during your stay.”
“I grew up reading and watching his plays. He’s my favorite writer. Nell doesn’t give me many waking moments, but when she does let me read, it comforts me to dive back into those pages. It reminds me of home.”
“He’s my favorite as well,” Andromeda mused, flipping through the book. She then closed it and looked back down at Lupin. “How would you like some time out of your room?”
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Harrigan walked the halls of the Andromeda Manor with a cart before him, seemingly moving on its own as if propelled by a silent motor. He pushed it with his telekinesis, ensuring a flawlessly steady pace so as not to justle the dishes set upon it. He knew every inch of the carpet beneath his feet and the floorboards below, having spent ages maintaining them with utmost perfection. There were no bumps, creases, or lifts to upset the flawless movement of his cart, just as there weren’t any yesterday or the day before, or a hundred years ago, but he still scanned the floor before him with machinelike precision to ensure nothing would pose a problem.
He arrived at the main dining room, where Andromeda sat at one end of the table and Lupin sat at the other, trying to keep his nerve when caught in the glare of her merciless eyes. That said, she was not scowling, though she retained an icy bearing. Lupin had been invited to join her for dinner, but he had no choice in the matter. On one hand, it felt nice to finally leave his room and gain some information on the estate and the Profane that inhabited it, but he couldn’t help but feel like there was a dagger to his throat at all times. Fortunately, he had been given a medallion that protected him from the effects of the Cursed Earth. His hair and beard had been trimmed for the occasion, and he was wearing nice clothes.
On his right was a row of windows, made using the tinted glass that filtered out sunlight. He could see the mountains of Vandheim, but nothing gave him a hint as to his exact location. On his left was a large fireplace, likely used on rare occasions, as the Profane were not usually bothered by the cold. Above it was a painting taking up almost the entire wall, depicting an ancient battle on the slopes of a volcano, where elves in gilded armor battled ogres while clouds raged with plumes of fire and writhing lightning.
It was a beautiful piece, remarkable in its size and detail, displaying the brutality of war. Having been in countless battles, Lupin knew the sight of spraying blood and spilled entrails, the waving of hands in a plea for surrender before a swinging sword cut their cries short, the ugliness of a head separated from its body, and the expressions of fury on those doing the killing.
Near the wall, Bella waited in her maid outfit, forced to stand at attention like a proper subordinate. Just as Lupin was trying to keep his nerve, Bella was trying to hide her boredom. Beside Bella was Nell, her worried eyes always on Lupin. She knew the Profane were keeping him alive for an important reason, so they wouldn’t kill him, but if he offended Andromeda somehow, then there was no telling what horrors might be in store for him. In the basement of the mansion were torture chambers that saw frequent use, and she didn’t want to imagine Lupin suffering at the hands of her superiors for a slip of the tongue.
“Thank you again for accepting my invitation to dinner,” Andromeda said.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I was afraid my presence here had worn on your nerves,” Lupin replied, putting on the smile he had trained and mastered for social situations.
“You’ve been well-behaved as of late. Besides, so rarely do I get to have a good conversation with someone. The members of my peerage are loyal to a fault, but it is impossible to find true company among your subordinates. As a prince, you must understand this.”
“I do, unfortunately. You tell a joke to those around you, and they either remain silent because they believe you are being serious or they laugh themselves silly because they want you to like them. It’s a unique form of loneliness.”
“Exactly. I could speak with my kin, but although we share the same needs, rarely do we share the same interests. Few would appreciate the brilliant writings of Ladraeicus, seeing his work simply as something to use to wipe the viscera off their lips. I found myself wondering if a human might be a better conversation partner. It’s been so long since I’ve spoken to one, normally using them simply as a food source.” Lupin held his tongue, wondering if that was a threat.
The Profane butler brought his cart beside the table.
“Hello, Harrigan. What has the chef prepared for us today?” Andromeda asked.
“Mistress, I am exceptionally pleased to present you with this bountiful feast.” A covered tray floated off the cart and was set before her, and the lid was removed, revealing a bowl of steaming soup. “To start you off, a dwarven spinal fluid broth seasoned with pumpkin sage and cilantro.”
Lupin narrowly concealed his instinctive flinch. He knew that the Profane fed on people, but to hear her food prepared in such a way was almost frightening; the idea of such finely prepared cuisine from such hideous sources. It was evil wearing the mask of civility and sophistication.
“As always, Prince Lupin, since you are not a member of the Profane, your meal uses more common ingredients,” said Harrigan. “Enjoy your white bean and garlic.” Another bowl floated over to Lupin and was set before him.
“T-thank you once again for your consideration,” Lupin replied.
He brought his spoon to the bowl and paused. What if it wasn’t what Harrigan said it was? What if there was something mixed in? He had eaten everything they had sent up to his room, and it all tasted normal, but this felt more nefarious. He then realized that both Andromeda and Harrigan were glaring at him, with each moment of hesitation coming off as rude. He swallowed his doubts, and with it, the first spoonful.
“This is quite delicious. It’s a simple dish, but perfectly prepared. My compliments to your chef,” he said with light surprise.
“He has been preparing meals in this house for centuries. As expected, he is a master of cooking,” said Andromeda as she tasted her own soup. Seeing it pass her lips, knowing where it came from, robbed Lupin of his relief. “I’m sure it surprises you to see our cuisine prepared in such a way, or to find out we even have the concept of cuisine.”
“After seeing how the fiends in Handent eat, I will admit I had some… misconceptions,” said Lupin, continuing his imbibing.
“The fiends you met were mindless savages and bloodthirsty beasts, uncultured, undisciplined, and slaves to their brutish hunger. There is more to being a Profane than simple slaughter. There is room for art and sophistication in everything we do. It’s all just a matter of effort.”
They each finished their soup, and the next course was set before them. Harrigan lifted the cover off of Andromeda’s plate, revealing a neatly arranged pyramid of blackened orbs. “To whet your appetite, an arrangement of charred eyeballs prepared with honey and ginger.” A wine bottle then floated over, and its cork was removed without a single hand holding it. An empty wineglass hovered beneath it and was filled with its scarlet brew. “And for your evening beverage, Mistress, Purin wine, aged with she-elf blood.”
Once again, Lupin had to fight to keep his composure and focus his gaze on the plate and wineglass set before him. The wine he received was white, and his appetizer was seasoned mushrooms.
“The fact of the matter is that normal food does not sustain us,” said Andromeda as she elegantly skewered an eyeball with her fork, causing it to ooze its inner juices. A sip of wine reddened her lips, and she smiled as she savored the taste of the gelatinous sphere.
“Things like fruits and vegetables can even make us sick as they sit in our stomachs like garbage. That said, we can still appreciate them for seasoning and texture. Under normal circumstances, I have no love for bread, but apply a liver puree, and I’ll eat my weight in crackers, just for the added crunch. For me to eat a tomato would be like you subsisting on parchment, yet there are certain dishes that cannot be served without them.” She paused to eat another eyeball. “Tell me, do you think me to be evil for that which I consume?”
Lupin mulled over his answer. It was clear Andromeda was trying to test his nerve. Did she want him to show courage and rebuke her, or princely manners and agree with her? He watched her consume a third sphere and spoke.
“With all that I have seen and experienced, the concept of evil has lost much of its meaning for me. That said, according to my faith, the act of cannibalism corrupts the soul. Though you may be a member of the Profane and, therefore, no longer human, what you do can undoubtedly be considered cannibalism, whether you feed on humans, dwarves, elves, beastmen, or other such beings. It would be pointless for me to lecture you in detail, as well as rude for a guest to do so to their most gracious host, so I will simply say I do not approve and leave it at that.”
As Lupin answered her, Andromeda finished her dish, dabbing her lips with a napkin. “Disapproval without resentment, as I understand it?” she then asked.
“As a human, that which you would normally consider a food source, to have received such care within your estate and then voice resentment, would be unforgivably uncouth. Though I remain a prisoner, your kindness and consideration have not gone unappreciated, madam.”
A small breath was amusement was Andromeda’s response, while Harrigan cleared his throat. “As always, My Lady, white meat for the first main course.” Her plate was removed, and a second covered platter was placed before her. The lid was then removed, revealing a glazed layer of meat. “Calf from a woman of the eagle tribe with diced onions and melona sauce.” A covered plate was presented to Lupin, revealing a turkey leg and a cut of breast meat. “And for the prince, wild turkey on a bed of greens, seasoned to perfection.”
“Ah, excellent,” said Andromeda, cutting into her meal. “To enjoy a wide and diverse array of dishes and meals, creativity is required to turn the human body—along with elves, dwarves, beastmen, and other sentient races—into a culinary cabinet of ingredients.”
At this point, Lupin was starting to feel nauseous from watching her eat, but the turkey smelled too good to resist. With the first bite, he sighed in bliss.
“How do you procure your… sustenance, if I may ask?”
“Oh, we Profane have grown quite fat thanks to the slave trade. It’s so convenient to have the freshest specimens delivered to our front door by the very races we feed upon. And, of course, we learned quite a while ago how to generate wealth so we can pay our eager slavers. All races can be served up for the right price. The world is full of mortals eager to commodify and condemn each other to any manner of gruesome fate, and scores of wretched souls who can be snatched up and never go missing. I wonder if the dwarves of Vandheim know how few of their exiled brethren are actually allowed to go free?”
“If I may inquire, can you not simply feed on animals?” he then asked.
“While they do taste similar and offer sustenance to the lower ranks, they are not suitable for us in the upper echelon. You see, it needs to be something with a soul. That is what truly nourishes us. That is where true flavor lies. Our prey has to feel fear beyond its own life or the life of its offspring. It has to fear that which comes after death, to fear the future, and fear for the world that will continue on without it. And what tells apart those who fear from those who don’t? Art. Look to your left.”
Lupin glanced at the painting once more.
“This painting depicts the Battle of Usuul, though it would be more apt to call it a massacre. Elves are seen slaughtering a fledgling nation of ogres, halting their development, and condemning their race to the fringes of life and civility. The elves have long been seen as a higher race, refined and elegant, yet they butchered men, women, and children so they could have the sunlight to themselves rather than share this world with beings they deemed inferior. They burned the ogres’ homes, temples, and monuments to their ancestors, all to deny the others of their kind their own heritage and culture, and ensure the dream of an ogre kingdom would never rise again.
Look beyond their polished armor and pristine blades, and you see who the true savages and monsters are. They’d make wonderful Profane, wouldn’t they? This moment of horror was beautifully immortalized by a dwarven artist. Every detail you see, every act of cruelty and cowardice being performed, does he paint them exactly as he remembers them, or as he imagines them to be? Does he paint it as a victory for the noble elves over their beastly enemies, or a loss for their souls as they indulge in cruelty? Either way, he chose to depict it in breathtaking magnificence, recognizing both aspects of this scene.
Could a pig or a cow produce such beauty? How could they, when they do not understand beauty at all? An animal accepts the savagery of nature and feels nothing but fear for its own life and the pain of the flesh. It could not look at this scene and feel heartache or satisfaction. Art is our response to the world, the end result of reality passing through the distorting lens of the soul like sunlight through stained glass. It requires the ability to discern what is and what is not, to convey the truth through deception, and to twist reality so that it can be understood by others.
The dwarf who painted that masterpiece was one of the finest delicacies I’ve ever enjoyed. I savored every bite, and through the flavor of his flesh and blood, I could taste the world as he perceived it, and thus, the world around me was made more beautiful. My most cherished art pieces in this manor were enjoyed while dining on the brilliant minds that birthed them.”
“It’s a matter of choice,” said Lupin as he sipped his wine.
“Excuse me?”
“You must feed on those capable of choosing to join or reject the Profane. That’s what it all comes down to. You can corrupt plants and animals, but they cannot truly embrace it, as they have no concept of good or evil. They have no understanding of the gods, so they can not actively turn away from them and accept the Profane. Only people can do that.”
“That’s exactly right. Well said. That is also what separates the weaker Profane from the elite. One of the best ways to ensure strong peerage is to bestow power on the willing. Those who are turned against their will are naturally weaker than those who knowingly desired and accepted the power given to them. Harrigan, why did you choose to become a Profane?”
“So that I might continue to serve you, my dear Lady, long after I would have perished had I remained a simple human. Unlike my former mortal flesh, my loyalty is unaging, but once you turned me, that was no longer an issue.”
“Meanwhile, the girl over there who keeps you company was turned against her will, meaning she’ll never reach her full potential. And you, Bella? Why did you become one of us?”
“I drank some venom by accident and became like this,” she sighed while rolling her eyes.
“A shame to think what you could have been, had you consumed that venom while knowing what it was and what it would have done to you. That said, you have a wellspring of negative emotions that made you supremely powerful. That’s how you were able to mow through the knights of Uther and murder the king.”
Lupin’s fork fell out of his hand and loudly clattered on his plate. He swerved his gaze to Bella, hoping that the words that entered his ears were false. Bella scoffed in annoyance, angered that Andromeda had spilled her secret. There was no denial in her bearing, but so too was there no remorse; no inkling of the suffering she had inflicted and the insult she offered simply by standing in Lupin’s presence. Her cavalier attitude was all the proof he needed, and it filled him with unbearable rage.
The evil beast that had killed his father was right in front of him, and he could do nothing about it. He could bolt from his chair with a knife in hand, but even if Andromeda didn’t fry him with black lightning or Harrigan didn’t slam him into the ground, there was nothing he could do to Bella. There was no organ he could stab, no artery he could slash, no mortal wound he could inflict that would end her life, or inflict the same level of pain upon her as she had done to him. He was too weak to do anything, a pain he had struggled with all his life.
What also burned him was the feeling of deep betrayal. There was no way Noah wasn’t aware of Bella’s crime. The man spoke to Lupin while standing right next to the Profane monster that ruined his life, as if none of it mattered. What he had said about wanting to keep Duska and Bella secret from the others, until they had an achievement they could use to soften the outrage, rang through Lupin’s mind with painful clarity. Noah wasn’t just manipulating his friends by keeping secrets; he meant to do the same to Lupin. He thought that if Bella saved Lupin’s life and helped get him back home, that would be enough to quell some of his anger and convince him to grant Bella a small measure of amnesty, but no merit could undo such a sin.
However, he had been trained to bury his emotions for political discussions and high-stakes situations. It took all of his strength, but he compartmentalized his rage and put it away, letting it smolder in the back of his mind. He turned his attention back to Andromeda, who had a small smirk on her scarlet lips. Did she really take so much pleasure in torturing him like this?
“Prince Lupin, are you well?” she asked mockingly.
Lupin took a deep breath, forcing down the flames of his rage trying to slip out. He drank some wine and took another bite of turkey, though both tasted like ashes in his mouth. “Tell me, Mistress Andromeda, why did you join the Profane? You must have had a good reason.”
“Because there is order in the Profane, and where there is order, there is elegance. Our race does not engage in civil war, nor do we fight each other over things like power, prestige, or personal differences. We may argue at times, perhaps flex our strength if disagreements truly become heated, but we are all bound by the instinct of the Profane, the instinct that drives us to spread our collective influence and cultivate our population so that we can take over this world.
It compels us to work together, to unite for a common goal and put aside our egos and differences, while the lower races do nothing but squabble and kill each other over the smallest issues. A Profane world is one without war, without borders or disputes, a world united. Surely, you must see the beauty in that.”
“You say you are without war, yet you bring death, destruction, and suffering wherever you go. The things your kind did in Handent, the things to continue to do, there is no beauty to be found, only horror.” Despite his best efforts, he could not keep the anger and spite out of his voice, but Andromeda seemed amused by his thinly veiled emotions.
“All great metamorphoses involve painful transitions. Flames burn down forests, but once the stagnant old growth has been cleared away, new life springs forth and flourishes. The Enochians fell so that the elves, dwarves, and other races could fill the vacuum, and now they, too, shall be inked over by the rise of the Profane. You can’t make an omelet without cracking a few eggs.”
“Easy to say when they’re not your eggs. You claim the will of the Profane compels you, but all that means is you’ve surrendered your free will to an evil influence.”
“I am far freer now than I was as a human, free from old age and death, free from the annoyances of the outside world. I can live out the eons surrounded by my beloved art and loyal servants.”
“Yet something tells me that if I were to cure you and return you to being a human, you would be glad of it, and refuse to be corrupted once again.”
Andromeda’s superior smirk broke, and a scowl of irritation momentarily crossed her face, with Harrigan gaining a tense aura. “Harrigan, I think I’m ready for the second main course.”
“Of course, Mistress. First, white meat, and then red.” A tray was placed in front of her and the lid removed, revealing a heart, raw and bloody. “Human heart, harvested less than an hour ago and served rare.”
“Ah, how brutish. Normally, I prefer my meat well-cooked and seasoned, but sometimes, the only way to truly experience the flavor of your dish is to eat it in its most natural state. Sometimes, those savage fiends have the right idea.”
Lupin watched with a suppressed grimace as Andromeda skewered the heart with her fork and lifted it up to her face. He should have been shocked when she dislocated her jaw, expanding her mouth to devour the muscly mass in a single bite, but all he could feel was fury and mourning for his father. After she chewed and swallowed, Andromeda wiped the blood from her lips before it could run down her chin.
“Oh, excuse me. I’ve displayed poor dining etiquette with such unrefined gluttony.”
“Think nothing of it,” Lupin muttered.
“And for you, Prince Lupin, in the same vein, bovine steak, served rare,” said Harrigan.
The slab of meat was placed before him, but he could no longer continue the act. “Forgive me, but I’m afraid I couldn’t eat another bite. Tantalizing as this fresh meat is, I simply don’t have any more room.”
“Quite understandable,” said Andromeda. “Harrigan, put that steak on ice so that the prince can enjoy it later. He needs time to rest and digest.”
“Of course, Mistress.”
“And Nell?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Escort the prince back to his room.”
“I will, ma’am.”
Lupin excused himself from the table, and Nell led him back to their room. The door was shut behind them, and they stood in silence, Lupin unable to look at her. She reached out and gently tugged on his shirt, leaning against him.
“I’m so sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t know. I was standing next to her, but I had no idea. I didn’t know she was the one who—”
“Enough. Just put me to sleep. Just a deep, dreamless sleep where I don’t have to think or feel anything. Please, Nell.”
“Of course, my love.”
The two got beneath the covers, Nell wrapping Lupin in her wings and holding him tight, the two of them sealed in darkness and warmth.
“Why am I so weak?” he asked as her powder began to do its work.
“Because you’re allowed to be, right here in this room. You don’t have to be strong around me. Be weak, be helpless, fall apart, and I’ll put you back together as many times as it takes. When you’re with me, you don’t have to think about anything. You don’t have to be anything. You don’t have to do anything, and yet I will always love you.”
She felt his tears dampen her feathers, but he had already fallen asleep.
----------
Lupin was awoken by a knock on the door and felt Nell unwrap him from her wings.
“I’ll see who it is,” she whispered as she got out of bed.
Lupin groggily watched as she got up to answer the door. The room was dark, with some faint moonlight passing through the window.
“Harrigan, what can I do for you?” Nell asked.
“Mistress Andromeda wants to go for a stroll through the gardens and requests the prince to accompany her.”
“What?” Lupin asked, sitting up and trying to shake away the lingering effects of Nell’s dust. “Say that again?”
“You will bathe and eat and make yourself presentable within the hour,” said Harrigan with a tray of food floating in front of him.
“Why don’t you just go with her? She has a whole mansion of cannibals who worship her, but insists on dragging me along on a leash.”
“Because you are the one she wants to have with her, and in this house, our Mistress gets whatever her heart desires. However, if being on a leash like a dog would be more agreeable to you, then by all means, we shall treat you like a dog. Shall I leave your food on the floor?”
Lupin glared at Harrigan, whose icy demeanor was unflinching. “Try not to take too much pleasure in this,” he muttered as he got out of bed.
Lupin ate his food quickly, and hot water and fresh clothes were prepared for him. Though he reviled the idea of being around Andromeda, the chance to go outside and breathe some fresh air was too good to pass up. Once he was ready, he followed Harrigan out of his room and through the mansion corridors. He could hear movement and conversations in the surrounding rooms and hallways, and several times, a ghoul would pass by him, glancing at him with eyes that glowed red with hunger.
“This place has certainly gotten livelier since I first arrived,” Lupin said.
“Night is when we are most active, and the number of guests is steadily increasing with each passing day. We’ve had to shore up our food supplies to keep everyone satiated.”
Another ghoul walked by them, going in the opposite direction. His bloodlust was clear for Lupin to see. “If you ask me, they seem anything but satiated.”
Lupin was brought to the main entrance of the mansion, though that was only his best guess. He had never actually seen this part of the estate. Andromeda was waiting for him there with a coy smile.
“Your Highness, how nice to see you again.”
“Mistress Andromeda,” he said with faux politeness, biting his tongue. It felt like just yesterday he had sat at her dinner table, watching her dine on people while feeling like there was a knife to his throat. Then there was the mention of Bella murdering his father, announced just to taunt and torment him.
“I imagine that after all this time cooped up in your room, some fresh air would do you some good. Come, join me in the gardens. I think you’ll appreciate it.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Andromeda aimed her hand at the great double doors and released bolts of black lightning from her fingertips. They acted like lassos, grabbing the handles of the doors and pulling the massive slabs of wood apart. A gust of wind forced its way through the opening and hit Lupin like a whiff of sweet perfume, making him unintentionally sigh in bliss. Andromeda was right about one thing: he did appreciate the fresh air.
The doors were opened, and she moved outside, with Lupin hesitantly following her. He stepped out onto the main patio outside the doors and sighed happily once more. The air was like honey in his throat, and the open sky made him feel like he could have sprouted wings and flown off over the horizon. It was only a partial moon, and cloudy, so he could not properly survey his surroundings, but he could see the mountains surrounding the estate and, below it, a vast field of gardens, with countless flowers sweetening the air.
“Come, this way,” said Andromeda, descending down a set of stone steps to the gardens below. Lupin followed her, feeling tempted to remove his shoes and feel the grass beneath his bare feet. They walked through the gardens, past carefully cultivated flowers, bushes, and trees. Even in the dark, Lupin could admire their beauty.
“This is a magnificent garden,” he said.
“You can thank Lemark, the groundskeeper. He is an artist, and the soil is his canvas. All these flowers and plants were specifically chosen because they do not close at night.”
“I didn’t know that the Profane had such respect for living things.”
“That is a stereotype I will forgive. What matters to me is beauty. If a flower catches my eye and warms my world, then I shall do all I can to make sure it grows. If something infused with Profane energy fills my heart with interest and vigor, then I collect it and fill my world with it.”
“From what I’ve seen, if the Profane have their way, then this world will be bereft of flowers. All life would be extinguished.”
“And yet I, as a Profane, have my way here, and you are surrounded by them. We share the same instincts and drives, but we are not a hive mind. We all have that which we think is beautiful, just as you and other mortals do.”
“Perhaps.”
They continued walking in silence for several moments.
“I feel I owe you an apology, Lupin,” said Andromeda, almost making him do a double take.
“Excuse me?”
“For our dinner several days ago. I imagine you must have felt like a mouse being toyed with by a cat.”
“That… is an apt metaphor.”
“I must admit, you did stir my sadistic instincts a bit. Watching you try to hold back your flop sweat was a special kind of entertainment. Some stereotypes about my kind are deserved. However, as I mentioned, I apologize for that. It’s been so long since I spent any real time among humans for reasons other than… you know. I had forgotten you don’t share our… you might say… Profane sense of humor? I want you to know that I hold no ill will towards you and have no personal desire to see you in any kind of pain. Though you are technically a prisoner here, you are also an honored guest, and I don’t want you to suffer in any way under my roof.”
“What you said about Bella, about how she killed my father, was that not meant to make me suffer?”
“I don’t trust Bella, and I don’t want her anywhere near you. I said that so that she wouldn’t dare stand before you again. Admittedly, I could have informed you in a better way. However, what I said to you before about having someone to truly converse with was genuine. You see yourself as an imprisoned prince, but I want you to understand that while you’re here, you don’t have to be. That is one freedom I can grant, the freedom to not be a prince, but to simply be Lupin.
Discard your worries, your obligations, your fears. You can do nothing about them, so cast them aside. Be lazy, be selfish. Your soul and heart have so many scars, but here, you can finally relax and let them heal. So please, let us continue to speak of flowers and the moon, of art and history, of all the things that make this world beautiful. Let us forget about Uther and the Profane, and simply share what makes us happy.”
Not for one second did Lupin believe her. This was obviously some kind of ploy to mess with his mind. Nell tried appealing to his heart and lust, but couldn’t make him submit willingly to the Profane, so now Andromeda was attempting to appeal to his humanity and change his view of the Profane. Did they really think switching out one honeypot for another would break his will? Regardless, if Andromeda was giving him an inch, then he’d use it for all it was worth. He’d learn about the mansion, about the Profane’s weaknesses, and when the time came, he’d break free. Lupin took a deep breath and affixed his façade.