Chapter 21 #3
“Yes, but why would this Kesbeel endeavor to look so, um…” Grotesque, macabre, hideous… I’m really struggling to come up with an appropriate yet sensitive term. “So spooky?”
“Spooky?” Abaddon repeats me, seeming confused by my word choice. Poor thing is entirely missing my attempt at being polite.
“Never mind that. A better question is, why would anyone want this in their house?”
Actually, you know what? That’s probably even more offensive. I should probably just shut up and drop it—
“Kesbeel is the only Power known to have taken a physical form, and his story has become a legend over the centuries since then. Though it is taboo, some angels place more importance on those higher spheres than they should.” His eyes turn from the statue to me, holding an emotion I can’t quite place.
“Our powers are an extension of the Almighty. Any angel, even those of a mythical nature, should not be treated as a god-like figure.”
“Apologies, Your Grace,” a locust says suddenly, having snuck up on us.
I think he might miss my flinch, at least, though.
I can’t imagine he saw it while bowing to Abaddon so deeply that his jagged head narrowly misses the planks of the floor.
“I’ve made a grievous error. I will remove the offensive material immediately. ”
My face flushes as I realize what I’ve done.
Thankfully, Abaddon responds quickly enough to save me from a blustering apology. “That won’t be necessary. I would not deny you the opportunity to gain a living from your hard work, even if it is for my kind’s less desirable customs.”
“You honor me, Your Grace.” The locust doesn’t rise or even lift its beady eyes from the floor.
“Please, allow me to gift you and your guest with any item in my possession. If it is a jewel, I will have it made into jewelry worthy of your gaze. If it is fabric, it will be fashioned into the finest dress. My hand is yours, my King.”
I clear my throat, but my voice still comes out small. “Thank you, but you really don’t have to do all that—”
“It is rude to deny a gift in our culture,” Abaddon says softly to me, placing a cautious hand on my arm.
Not only that, but he also slightly outstretches his wing, encompassing me in its shadow.
It’s an oddly intimate feeling that causes my face to burn even brighter. “Allow me to honor the locust, Kae.”
“Right. Of course.” I look back at the locust shopkeeper just as he rises from his kneeling. “I didn’t mean to insult you, sir.”
Shit, I haven’t actually confirmed the mandibles mean they’re male. I hope to hell I’m right. If not, I think I might go crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment after this little field trip…
“No offense is taken, Miss Kae.” He bows his head slightly.
I breathe out of my nose, a stifled sigh of relief, before smiling at the locust. Compared to the guards and soldiers that I’m used to seeing, this one is quite unusual looking.
As if adorned with their version of jewelry and makeup, his gold-plated head has a particularly elaborate crown of spikes, twists, and spirals.
His forehead stinger, likewise, is intricately carved and inlaid with small, colorful jewels.
Even his body is draped in a violet robe—a far cry from the extra plates of armor most locusts cover their torsos in.
“Is there anything in my possession that strikes your fancy?” he asks, making me realize they’re waiting on me.
“Okay, uh…” I have everything I need when it comes to food, clothing, and other necessities here.
Unless this locust can gift me with cell service, I really have everything I need.
Anything additional is pure luxury. Which, I guess, I can indulge in if they want to force my hand. “You said you have necklaces?”
“Yes, my Lady! Please, allow me to show you the best of my inventory,” the locust chatters, heading towards a display counter at the back of his stall.
I follow, watching from a careful distance, as he cracks it open and quickly rearranges some of the contents with muttered clicking noises.
His bedazzled head whips back in my direction just before he straightens, motioning me forward with a skeletal-thin hand.
It’s a new level of strange and bizarre to be beckoned by a fanciful locust in the same way my Italian grandmother used to insist I try a sample of her home-cooked dinner… Nevertheless, I comply.
Intricate, magnificent gemstones lay in the glass case, neatly arranged on little shelves of black velvet.
Some remind me of a cross between fire opal and diamond, glimmering so brightly that they seem to catch every ray of light in the universe.
Others are carved out of that pitch-black stone I saw moments ago, somehow even darker than the velvet surrounding it.
Abaddon picks up one of those little voids, so black that no light touches it to define its features, and shows it to me.
Oh, how hilarious.
It’s carved in the shape of a four-pointed star—as if I need a tangible reminder of my biblical parasite every time I look in the mirror. He really does love his overt symbolism.
“This would make a suitable piece for you,” he says, passing it to me to investigate. When it falls into my palm, the stone is cold enough to have a bite to it. “I think a collar with it as the centerpiece would adorn your neck nicely.”
“I’m sorry, a what now?” I cough on the hysterical laugh that threatens to bubble out of me. I must have seriously misheard him, because it sounded a lot like he just said my neck would look nice in—
“A collare?” Sure enough, he repeats the word, but with a slightly different pronunciation, his eyebrows scrunching in concentration. “The English word was taken from Latin, but it still means a short necklace, does it not? I don’t understand the confusion.”
“Jesus Christ.” Get a hold of yourself, Kae. It’s a pretty trinket, not a goddamn kink collar. He doesn’t even realize what he’s saying. “You mean a choker?”
“No, I don’t mean to choke you.”
“Oh dear God,” I mumble to myself, turning the other direction to hide my burning face. “That’s just what they’re called now, Abaddon.”
“A choker? What a vulgar term. Haz’Vil’Ah’Hil, you understand what I mean, do you not? Would you be able to make such a necklace?”
The locust clicks excitedly before responding. “Yes, my King! It would be the highest honor. What else shall I adorn it with for your esteemed guest?”
“What do you prefer, Kae?” Abaddon asks, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s talking about the variety of materials below me, which he must think I’m looking at. “Pick anything you would like to include. Rare Earth is a commodity for us here, given how rich Elohim is with them.”
I attempt to swallow the dryness in my throat, thumbing a dainty gold chain.
“In that case, let’s throw a smattering of diamonds on it, then.” Just for good measure. I might as well get paid in something of earthly value for all my time here.
“Excellent choice, Miss Kae. A very hard stone. Very durable. I will enjoy accenting the centerpiece stone with them.” More excited clicking. “And what shall I string the jewels upon? Do you like the gold chains, or would you prefer something with a higher melting point? Tungsten, perhaps?”
“Uh… sure? Tungsten?” I finally bring myself to turn around, just as Abaddon hands the stone over to the merchant.
“Spare no expense,” he says, “and have it brought to the castle when completed.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Abaddon nods once before heading out of the shop without another word, but I linger, hoping to pay my respects to the locust. I clearly don’t know what their customs are, but I feel the need to use my own culture’s manners, at least.
“Thank you, uh…” I shouldn’t even attempt whatever Abaddon called him. I’ll just butcher it beyond all recognition. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name.”
“Hil is plenty sufficient, Miss Kae,” the shopkeeper replies, bowing its head slightly. “It is my pleasure to serve the royal court.”
“Then I appreciate your earnest service, Hil,” I dip my head back at the locust, trying to emulate its seemingly respectful action, and slip out the curtain to join Abaddon.