Chapter 20
Veylor
She will be my undoing.
This female must have magik cast upon her.
Her very existence ignites a fury within me that surpasses anything I've ever felt for another being.
I am consumed by a fierce, unrelenting desire to cast her out from this home, to abandon her to the merciless chill of the outside world.
Let the relentless beasts lurking in the shadows hunt her down, tearing apart her frail, insignificant form with savage delight.
But then an overwhelming vision seizes me: I see myself charging into the chaos, snatching her from the jaws of destruction and dragging her back into my domain.
I meticulously repair her, piece by piece, breathing life back into her shattered form.
I mold her back into the fierce entity she once was, because I am addicted to that rebellious mouth that dares to defy me.
It’s infuriating.
And she belongs to Oryx.
Oryx belongs to me.
I will figure out what magik she is using to sway Oryx and my senses and get rid of her.
I had already secured an oath parchment with terms we could all agree upon, but Oryx's endless amendments drove me to the brink. His gaze lingered on her, igniting a burning jealousy that throbbed violently through my veins.
He didn't want me to touch her, to even look at her. How was I supposed to accomplish anything if I was forbidden from doing those very things? The thought of it was maddening, a suffocating restraint that threatened to consume me.
Fortunately, Vesper, as she prefers to be called—unlike the name I wanted to use, which was spawn of Lucifer—said that as long as I don't draw blood, cause bruises, or cast spells on her, everything would be just fine.
How could she possibly know what I was? Liches were a rarity, and the process of becoming one was fraught with complexity, even in this realm.
Her world barely contained any magikal beings, let alone a lich like me.
I felt a simmering anxiety mixed with a flicker of anger.
Had I been careless, or was there something more insidious at play?
Did she even know what I was or merely guessing?
She was a puzzle, especially with her white hair such as mine. She wasn’t a human and I was going to find out just what she truly is.
The single strand of hair I had found that was attached to the wall where I had pinned her was the perfect way to find out. I stuck it into an envelope and sent it off immediately to a friend of mine, Sylvaine.
Sylvaine is an expert in the intricate art of genetic magik.
This enchanting craft allows him to manipulate the very essence of life, tailoring the characteristics of future generations according to the desires of expectant parents.
His expertise comes at a steep price, reflecting the profound impact of his work.
For those seeking a child of a specific gender or with certain desired features, or even add to their genetic makeup, Sylvaine offers his services with precision.
However, these magikal blessings are bound by the rhythms of nature, and unfortunately he would not be able to help until the next full moon.
Asking him to even test the strand of hair I would have to wait several more weeks to find my answer for this siren, succubus or witch of some kind.
Three heavy knocks at the door let me know they have arrived. Those knocks were of course from Oryx. He strode in first, his chest puffed out. I have to say, he has more confidence than I normally saw from him. Usually, his shoulders are hunched over and his skull bowed before me.
Have I really made him feel that unworthy?
I schooled my face to that of indifference as I watched Vesper walk in.
Her hand is on Oryx’s body, tentatively as she enters.
She’s wearing different clothes that I had Benedict fetch for her at the nearest town.
Now that his lines were blended by a makeup that Vesper created, he could walk amongst the living like he had been alive all along.
Her clothing was a deep, rich brown, with a bodice that cinched her waist tightly, emphasizing her slender figure in a manner both plain and dutiful.
Her hair was intricately braided, cascading down her back like freshly fallen snow.
The short sleeves of her garment revealed the smoothness of her tanned arms, their sun-kissed hue glowing warmly in the light.
My cock stirred in my trousers when I saw her gaze at me. It was with indifference, much as my own gaze to her.
Why it stirred me was a mystery. I hated this woman but my body had different ideas.
“Remember the oath, my Lord.” Oryx reminded, and he gripped hold of Vesper. “She means everything to me.”
I hummed. “And I do not any longer, I understand.”
Oryx lifted his skull and shook his head. “No, that is not what I meant you mean—”
I waved my hand in dismissal. “No need, I don’t need explanations.”
“Manipulation.” Vesper stated. “You want him to have guilt, to crawl back to you. He does care for you, but your insistent undermined comments are not welcomed. It's unhealthy and uncalled for. State your feelings properly.”
I balled my hands up into fists. “You act as if you know feelings, when you just use Oryx as a shield.”
Vesper let out a derisive laugh. "No." She moved forward, distancing herself from him.
Oryx's eyes were fixed on her, as well as on me as I approached.
"I don’t need to use him as a cover, not with the oath binding us.
I'm challenging you because I know some psychology.
I'm not an expert, but I can recognize the warning signs. Now, tell him what you’re feeling. " She nodded in Oryx's direction.
His ears drooped, and his shoulders sagged, just as they always do when I focus my attention on him.
Bloody hell.
I lowered my voice to a gentle tone. "Oryx, I apologize if I seem upset. I'm truly sorry for not spending enough time with you. I've been caught up with work..."
Vesper sighed and looked down at her nails.
Anger thundered through my vessel.
“For you. I’ve been working for you, a surprise, and I have been wrapped up in it. I did not expect for you to find someone else and become infatuated with her. I will do my best to spend more time with you in the future.”
Oryx’s ears flipped up and his skull rose in surprise. If I had my heart within my chest I’m sure it would have fluttered with excitement for the first time in decades.
“Preferably without her.” I nodded to Vesper.
His ears sunk again.
“Some time alone for you two to strengthen a relationship would be good.” Vesper petted the side or Oryx’s face. “I will be around. I can read somewhere, find something to do.”
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye as she murmured into his ear. He snuggled against her cheek, and I turned my gaze elsewhere.
She must have had hidden intentions. Was there someone she loved that she wished to resurrect? Bringing someone back to life from her world was nearly impossible; the Under Shadows existed in this realm, not on Earth. I could never...
But she might not know that.
Before I present that to her, I think I should have a little fun with her.
I cleared my throat. “Are you ready to get started? I don’t have all day.”
Rather than immediately asking her to demonstrate the technique of needling and threading the skin, I first guided her down the dimly lit hallway.
The corridor is lined with cobwebs that cling to the corners, casting eerie shadows in the sparse lighting.
I instructed her to maneuver the cumbersome metal cart down the narrow passage, its wheels squeaking in protest against the worn stone floor.
She huffed in annoyance, her breath puffing as we reached the end. With a subtle gesture, I waved my hand toward the storage room.
“I’m supposed to help you sew skin together, not be your servant.”
I raised my finger. “Ah, but that wasn’t specified was it? All the parchment said was you were to assist me until I have mastered your art.”
She swore under her breath and I waved my hand over the door.
The gears unlocked and the door opened to reveal a room full of body parts.
The parts were a wide array of colors, sizes, male, female, vampire, incubus, succubus, witch, goblin, the list went on.
The room was large but I knew exactly what parts I needed.
She stood there in silence until I snapped my fingers for her to follow.
“How do they not rot?” She accidentally bumped into me with the cart and I turned to glare at her.
“Magik, how else? How do you keep the bodies you sew from not rotting away while you work on them on Earth?” I picked through the fae parts I needed. This one was a female torso and I slung it onto the table.
Vesper gasped as blood leaked from the body but she didn’t dart away from disgust.
Surprising.
“Formaldehydes, and other types of chemicals. Scientific stuff, none of your magik, curses or spells. Wow, this doesn’t even stink.” She leaned forward and gave it a whiff. “Fascinating.”
And she thought magik was below her? Seriously? I rolled my eyes and pulled arms, hands and feet to add to the collection.
“And why would you sew pieces of bodies together in your world exactly?” I faked interest.
Vesper gazed around the room. “So some people could pay respects to the vessel, before they were buried, as closure.”
Fascinating.
I guess we have something similar here, but we don’t reconstruct vessels for that purpose.
If you die from magik, they allow everyone to see the magik seared into your chest as a warning to others not to engage with magik users.
If you get half-eaten by a bear, you learn not to go hunting for animals bigger than yourself.
Death was a learning tool.
Except I was bringing my mistakes back.
Underneath the table was a white sheet, she grabbed it and gently blanketed it over the body.
“What are you doing?” I slung a matching thigh onto the table.
She lifted her lip in disgust. At me!
“Giving the body, I mean vessel, respect. It may not have a spirit in it yet, but it will.” She crossed her arms. “Would the spirit be okay with knowing you slung their boobs around the lab for all to see?”
I paused, taken aback by her audacity. "You dare to lecture me on respect for the vessels? These are merely tools, waiting to be imbued with life once more. Besides, who are you to speak of spirits and their feelings? You know nothing of our world and its intricacies."
Vesper stood her ground, her eyes meeting mine with a steadfast gaze. "I may not know much about your world, but I do know about respect. Respect for the living and respect for the dead. And if you want my help, you'll need to show a little more of it."
I scoffed, turning away from her to gather more parts. "You are here to assist me, not to dictate how I handle my craft. But if it will make you more cooperative, I will endeavor to be more... considerate."
She watched me closely as I laid out the remaining parts with more care, ensuring that each one was handled with a modicum of respect. "Good," she said, her voice softening slightly. "Now, what exactly are we doing with these parts?"
"We are going to create a vessel and with your help, have their seams…
seamless," I explained, stepping back to survey the collection of limbs and organs.
"A vessel that will house a spirit, brought back from the Under Shadows.
It is a complex process, one that requires precision and skill.
With your help, they will look like any other living person. "
Vesper nodded, her curiosity piqued. "And why is this so important? Why bring people back, especially if it was their time? You can’t cheat death when fate has decided."
I turned from her and leaned against the metal shelving that housed the body parts. He wasn’t supposed to die, he died by accident. Many people died on my account and I was giving them their second chance if they wanted it.
"You will teach me your art," I said, turning to face her and ignoring her question. "You will show me how to stitch these parts together, how to make them whole again. And in return, I will share with you the secrets of my magik, the power that binds the spirit to the flesh."
She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "And what makes you think I want to learn your magik?"
I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a low growl. "Because, Vesper, you are not just here to help me. You have your own reasons, your own desires. And I intend to find out what they are."