BEAST'S SLAVE - CHAPTER 47
𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑻 𝑶𝑭 𝑫𝑼𝑻𝒀, 𝑹𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑾 𝑪𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑳.
This court was similar to the Grand High Court in all aspects except its name and location. Its appearance mirrored that of most courts within the fortress. The assembly convened here, with the grand lords settled in their seats and the high lords taking up their respective positions.
The meeting had been in progress for quite some time, with discussions revolving around taxes, crops, and hunts. Following these deliberations, Lord Jakal, the overseer of military affairs, stood to address the issue of the ferals terrorizing the mountainside of Urai.
“I am pleased to announce that my soldiers have finally captured and eliminated two of them. The mountainside is now free from the thr_@t of ferals. It is unfortunate that a family of four was lost before we could apprehend them, but I am relieved that the danger has passed,” Lord Jakal announced, his voice ringing with a mix of pride and regret.
Vladya observed Zaiper’s sudden interest at the mention of ferals and their elimination.
Zaiper had been bored to death by the court proceedings, but now his ears perked up, and he leaned forward. Vladya rolled his eyes.
Ottai shot Vladya a pleading look, and Vladya raised a placating hand in a gesture of surrender. Ottai visibly relaxed.
“Ferals are wild creatures that must be dealt with before they ki|| us all.” Zaiper praised, “I commend you, Lord Jakal, for ensuring the safety of the mountainside.”
The overseer of military affairs beamed, bowing low in acknowledgment. “It is my duty, Your Highness.”
“Indeed,” Zaiper purred, his smile returning. “Speaking of ferals… It is high time we discuss the mightiest among them. As I mentioned during the Harvest, it is time to peacefully send the grand king home. I believe most of you agreed with me then that it is the right course of action.”
However, this time, none of the heads Zaiper expected nodded in approval as they usually did. The silence that followed was discomfiting.
His smile vanished. “Surely, it is the right thing to do, is it not?”
Lord Daryl, the overseer of trade, rose to his feet. “With all due respect, Your Highness, I disagree. We all saw what happened in court that day. It was undeniably terrifying, yes, but…”
He shook his head, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. “It was also… extraordinary. Those were not the actions of a mindless creature.”
“I beg to differ, Daryl. Those were indeed the actions of a feral beast. You all saw how he lunged at me, did you not?” Zaiper’s voice was sharp. “Grand King Daemonikai did not recognize his own rulers. He would never have acted that way if he were in his right mind.”
Vladya let out a snort of derision.
Zaiper glared at him.
Vladya met his gaze, unfazed.
Zaiper was as much a jester as a spectacle. While Daemonikai might not have demanded outright submission from his rulers, he also did not tolerate outright defiance. And Zaiper had done just that.
“No one here claims his mind is unimpaired, Your Highness,” Lord Daryl clarified. “We merely suggest that something is… different. Perhaps we should not rush to eliminate the beast. After all, we have already waited five hundred years. A little more patience would not hurt.”
After Lord Daryl resumed his seat, the overseer of financial management stood to address the court. “I concur with Lord Daryl’s sentiments, and I also believe that the human boy taken by the beast should be brought to court for questioning. Why was he chosen? What is the meaning behind it all? Perhaps he holds the answers we seek.”
Before Zaiper could retort, Vladya’s voice sliced through the air, cool and collected. “The boy holds no answers. I have questioned him thoroughly. He is just as baffled as the rest of us.”
“The mystery remains, then,” the overseer pressed, his resolve growing. “We must tread carefully—”
“What has gotten into you all?” Zaiper’s voice boomed through the hall, his fury barely contained, “What happened during the Harvest was sheer luck. We narrowly escaped with our lives! Do you truly wish to gamble with your very existence? With the lives of your loved ones, should that beast break free once more?”
“As Lord Daryl mentioned,” Zaiper’s voice continued, impatiencely, “we have waited five hundred years. We have gambled with our lives and the lives of our people for far too long. The forbidden chambers may be fortified, but they cannot hold King Daemonikai’s beast. It could escape and wreak havoc at any moment! Any moment!”
His gaze raked across the assembled lords, piercing their composure. “And what if next time, luck isn’t on our side?”
An anxious murmur rippled through the court. The high lords exchanging furtive glances, weariness etched into their faces.
Vladya observed as usual in silence. Despite his blood boiling and the multitude of thoughts swirling within him, his demeanor betrayed no emotion.
For five centuries, this debate had raged on. Every lord in this court was well aware of his stance regarding the feral creature. Yet, Zaiper always managed to twist the narrative, suggesting Vladya was indifferent to the people’s welfare and motivated solely by selfish reasons to keep the beast alive. He was accused of valuing the memory of his deceased best friend over the very lives of his people.
Following Zaiper’s accusation two years prior, Vladya ceased defending the issue in court. Not because he cared about Zaiper and the high lords’ opinion of him, but because there was a sliver of doubt deep down.
Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a kernel of truth to Zaiper’s words. Perhaps, in his heart, Vladya did prioritize saving Daemonikai over the lives of his own people. And that thought was unsettling, for despite his outward detachment, Vladya genuinely cared for his people.
“The time has come to do what is necessary,” Zaiper declared, his voice carrying an air of finality. “We must ki|| the beast.”
Lord Ottai looked at Vladya with a mixture of pity and sorrow. Vladya ignored him.
A heavy silence fell upon the court. It was broken by the weary voice of Lord Henry, the overseer of domestic affairs and Merilyn’s bondmate. “”Even if we were to agree to this… drastic course of action, how do we accomplish it? Your previous attempts to ki|| the beast proved fruitless. Slaying an alpha zenith’s beast is nearly impossible without careful planning and execution.”
“Then, we plan, and we execute,” Zaiper drawled. “We begin with the Chalice. On the night of the Eclipse Moon, we perform the ritual to draw the beast out. We will all be weakened, yes, but so will the beast.”
The proposal was met with a chorus of disapproval. The ritual was dangerous. They would all be left exposed and defenseless to unforeseen complications that may arise during the elimination.
The trauma of the last Eclipse Moon was still fresh in their minds, and the people would undoubtedly resist any attempt to hasten its arrival. It was one thing to know the night of darkness and helplessness was coming; it was quite another to willingly summon it. Arguments erupted, swaying back and forth in a heated and protracted debate.
Zaiper, realizing he was losing ground, reluctantly conceded. “Very well. We will abandon the Eclipse Moon plan. Instead, we rely on the next best option. We shall use every weapon at our disposal to subdue the beast. Scented leaves from the forest of Abadin, daggers infused with dragonblood, iron shards, and firearms loaded with poisoned bullets. Combined, these will significantly weaken, if not outright ki||, the beast.”
Another wave of murmurs swept through the court. The overseer of military affairs rose to his feet once more, his voice heavy with doubt. “Are we truly to use such lethal poisons on the grand king? It seems… heartless, even for a noble cause.”
“I agree with Lord Jakal,” Grand Lord Ottai finally spoke, “We cannot go to such extremes. Not when it concerns King Daemonikai.”
“It is indeed a harsh measure,” Lord Zaiper admitted. “But we must make the tough decisions if we are to emerge from this battle alive. This is our best chance at success.”
The debate raged on, a maelstrom of conflicting opinions and anxieties swirling through the hall.
Vladya, however, remained silent. However, beneath his cold features, a tempest raged. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened, nails digging into his palms. The beast within him stirred closer to the surface, and not in the usual I-am-upset kind of way.
No, it was a dark rage. A deep, consuming black rage.
Vladya felt an overwhelming urge to shift and ki|| everyone in this court. The hunger for their blood so potent that he could almost taste it on his tongue.
He wanted to tear them limb from limb, starting with Zaiper. To challenge Zaiper to a duel, a fight to the death, and break every bone in his body. Then, Vladya would adorn Zaiper’s now vacant throne with Zaiper’s remains.
This rage was not normal. This was the abyss beckoning…a descent into feral madness. Vladya knew it well.
If he surrendered to this consuming darkness, there might be no coming back. He might not be able to shift back to his human form afterwards.”
Yet, even with this knowledge, Vladya did not fight the encroaching darkness. Instead, he let the rage fester, allowed it to consume him.
He. Would. ki||. Them. All.
His claws extended, sharp and gleaming. Fangs descended, eager for the taste of blood. Judging by the way the room took on a yellow tint and Ottai’s horrified gaze, Vladya’s eyes must have also changed color.
“I’ll be back,” Grand Lord Ottai announced as he stood. He strode across the podium, grasped Vladya’s arm, and steered him towards the back room.
Vladya could have resisted, but the unwavering resolve in Ottai’s eyes made it clear that his friend was prepared to use force if necessary.
Ottai shielded Vladya from the prying eyes of the court as they made their way to the backroom. Once there, he shoved Vladya against the wall, his voice tight with urgency.
“Vlad, control it,” he ordered, his eyes filled with a desperate fury.
Vladya’s fangs lengthened further, a menacing growl rumbling in his throat. “No.”
“Vladya, d@mn it! Reign it in!”
“I refuse.” Vladya’s voice was a guttural snarl. “I’ll ki|| them all. Bathe in their blood.” He flicked his tongue across a fang. Oh, he could taste it, alright.
“Stop this madness!” Ottai grabbed Vladya by the shoulders, shaking him. “You will lose what’s left of your sanity, you idiot!”
“Tell me, what are you going to do about it?” Vladya taunted with a smirk, a feral glint in his eyes. “You and I both know you are no match for me, Ottai. Even Zaiper would not dare challenge me directly. I will tear him apart and leave his bones for the vultures.”
“You may be right,” Ottai countered, his voice unwavering. “But don’t think we would not band together and fight you, Vladya. Don’t you dare think we will stand idly by and let your inner beast have its way.” His gaze met Vladya’s, unflinching.
“Then let’s dance, Ottai.” Vladya shrugged off the fourth ruler’s grip, a predatory smile curling his lips. “Why are you trying to stop me?” He turned back towards the court.
“No!” Ottai lunged, desperation fueling his strength. He slammed Vladya back against the wall. “For the love of all that’s holy, Vladya. Get ahold of yourself!”
Wrong move. In a blur of motion, Vladya’s claws flashed, leaving a deep gash in Ottai’s arm. Crimson blood welled up, staining the pristine white of his robes.
A wave of pure fury washed over Vladya’s face, his eyes now glowing bright yellow. “Leave. Me. Alone. Try to stop me again, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”
Ottai’s grip tightened, refusing to yield. “You’ll lose yourself to the beast, Vlad! I will NOT let that happen! I refuse to lose another friend!” His eyes filled with unshed tears, his voice was hoarse with desperation. “You will have to ki|| me first, but I will NOT let you go feral!”
Outside the backroom, Zaiper’s voice rang out with a decree. “The decision is made and now set in stone. In the forthright, we shall eliminate the feral beast.” His proclamation echoed, followed by the decisive strike of the royal gavel.
Vladya saw red.
The beast within him roared, demanding release.
Vladya gave in. His bones start to shift, his muscles began to contorting…
.
.