Arthur
brINGER.
“Quiet.”
brINGER HERE.
“Yes,” I spat through gritted teeth. “I know. Go to sleep.”
TWO DAYS FREE.
I stopped abruptly on the steps leading out of the tunnel. “Absolutely not. You refused to leave when I offered that deal.”
LEFT.
“Only after I forced my control over you. Now shut up and rest. I’ve got to think.”
YOU NEED brINGER.
The Beast’s last words rang through my thoughts before I felt him drift, closing our connection.
“Sire!”
“What!” I spun in a rage, my grating tone echoing behind me.
Piff shrank, curling in on himself and lowering his head. I hadn’t even noticed him appear in front of me. “Sorry to disturb you, Master, but the woman…she is bleeding, is she not?”
I glanced behind me as if I’d be able to see her. “Patch her up. We don’t need a frenzy on our hands. Goddess or no, they’d tear her apart if she got too close.”
“Goddess!” Piff shrieked, shrinking again as I gave him a withering look.
I nodded, softening my tone. “Of the Ravenfae, yes. I expect you to take care of her needs while she is here. She needn't be wandering down any dark corridors, do you understand?”
His black eyes bulged deep in their sockets as his gnarled hands covered his mouth. When he lowered them, I saw the grin that remained. “She’s the one,” he attempted to whisper, failing in the most irritating way. “A Goddess could save you! She can break the curse!”
“She cannot,” I said dismissively. “Not in the way you’re thinking, Piff.” I continued up the staircase, meeting the landing that led to the endless corridors of the Underrealm.
He followed, postponing my earlier command to stop her bleeding. “Oh, sire, do not be so hard on yourself! Any woman could love you and that Beast! All we need to do is—”
“She cannot!” My words echoed around us and I sighed heavily. “She cannot love me. Ever. Now go.”
“But—”
“Go, Piff. Or I’ll barricade you in the western corridor.”
“Master,” he clucked, “you need me too much for me to believe such empty threats.”
“One day I will be dead. I will not need you then, old friend.”
His strange laughter trickled behind me as he rushed down the stairs. “Even then, I shall need to dig your grave, sire!”
I chuckled, entering the marbled hall, muttering under my breath. “Sooner than you think.”