Mimi

I slipped through the shadows, frustrated at Wyatt, and myself. I truly should have known better, but there was nothing that could change it now. The real question was if I understood exactly what he needed to do now, and how to work around the guards that might search for me. With a heavy sigh, I finally found the teleporter for the key. The building had been abandoned for some time, likely meant for an emergency in the Underground at one point. It really was a shame that it linked to a dead-zone.

Shaking my head, I moved inside the building itself. The key humming a little, a warning that something was very close to the other side. I needed to let off some steam, and this was another task to be done. I steadied myself on the platform, taking a few breathes to calm down. I couldn't let what happened interfere. This warehouse would be cleaned, and then my plans will continue to advance. I unlocked the teleporter, waiting to see if anything came through. Nothing did, which meant whatever was on the other side was not able to sense magic. That, or they were waiting for me to come to them.

I shook my head, I was letting my mind wonder too much lately. My body was swimming in hormones again, and it was starting to crave Richard's company. It was growing complacent, skewing my thoughts, I needed to control it better. That, or I needed a replacement. It might be a good way to gain strength, and there were elves that could be bought. They just needed blood like Alice or Midnight, while the body was the only important part. Still, I resolved to at least treat the individuals well. I would allow them to recover inside their own minds, and prepare them for a proper union.

I smiled at the thought, calmly contacting Douglas to get the new goal out to Robert. There were plenty of broken elves to be bought, and Scix was more than willing to test a few bodies himself. Lewis could check the blood, and it would hopefully help the Hive quite a bit. The minutes passed while I got others moving, while still nothing came out from the other side. With a deep breath, I finally decided to see what was waiting there.

My vision instantly changed to a room filled with strange brown fungus growing out of the walls from the cracks between the wooden boards. The room itself was filled with spores, that were burning my lungs and skin. I could feel it working through the chitin in a surprising turn of events. The damage was slow enough to not truly bother me, but I needed to remain alert. Looking around the room, I saw motes of spores floating on the air itself. The whole place stale and stagnant.

I stepped off the portal, locking it so none of the spores could leave. The question was if this was a threat or not. It could simply be an abandoned warehouse that was overtaken by magic fungi. There were myconids in the elf forests, with tribes that simply revolved many different beliefs. The real issue, would be if these were the monsterized versions. The prismoids were a much more real threat to the city as a whole. If they were confirmed, then they needed to be exterminated by contacting the Guard, and having specialized heralds destroy them.

Something that wasn't an option for me right now, and it would ruin some essential parts of my plans. I stepped off the platform, my body struggling for breath. A quick sting allowed my body to adapt to the spores, as healing spread through it. I felt the power of my talent working with the healing as the spores took root on my chitin and joints. It was odd to feel how the divine Aether was making it adapt to my needs, but at least I could breathe again, and the burning sensation left.

I walked out of the teleportation room, stepping into the open space of the warehouse itself. Oddly enough the teleportation room was on the ground floor, which didn't allow me to see the entire warehouse itself. The entire place was damp, with more motes of spores floating in every direction. I felt my escort die, falling from my wings one by one.

There was a giant fungi growing from the roof of the warehouse, down to the different railings while others grew on the stairs or even the walls. Some of it glowed, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat. The entire place was absolutely slimy, making me wonder how long this place had festered. I finally saw movement in the corner of the room. A humanoid torso glued to the wall, held in place by the surrounding fungus. What should have been lungs glowing a deep orange through the transparent torso. The bones black, while the head was simply a ball of countless tendrils folded on itself.

This place needed to be purged, and cleansed with fire. The reasonable thing to do, would be to alert the Guard through a connection. Though I really wanted to eat them, to see if I gained anything. I didn't want heralds down here, nor did I want Wyatt. If these breathers were the only real prismoids here, then it should be fine. I walked over to the mutated torso, watching with interest as the lungs continued to slowly fill with spores. A quick hand through the torso, and I managed to find the thing's heart. Its mouth erupted with a toxic cloud of orange spores that I blocked with my wings. I tore off the head, eating the multicolored tendrils with the black heart. It didn't even have time to scream.

I felt something inside me change, like a connection was established with the prismoids in the area. The spores becoming even less harmful to me, as my Symbiosis flared up. Something clicked, and my body spasmed as I saw figures suddenly exiting the rooms above. Others lumbering out of whatever room they had been inside on the ground floor. Not wanting to risk anything, I teleported to a nearby patrol of giants, waiting out the pain that burned my insides. Probably one of the least painful transformations I had, but a smile found itself on my lips. A simple breather caused me to evolve, which meant the other prismoids might do something even better.

The pain subsided, as I stood up. I needed to move Pandora to Cheshire's warehouse now that Richard's week was over. It would be easier to just do it while they were all asleep. I decided to make it up to him by bringing him along on this hunt. His control over fire should allow him to be outright immune to the spores, and I needed someone to be able to purge the place without completely destroying the warehouse. Still it was strange, having a connection to the prismoids, one that was affected by such a small distance between them. I had to be in contact with the warehouse, but they were connected on some level.

Naturally it was nowhere near the connection I had with my Hive, but they could sense each other, and feel their current state. If I could have focused, I would have seen just how many there were in there. I felt hungry, licking my lips at the bountiful meal just a couple dead-zones away. Today was going to be much better than yesterday. With that thought, I dropped Pandora off in Cheshire's warehouse, before waiting for Richard to wake up.

Richard Adams

Gasping awake, I looked around the dimly lit room. Glad that Mimi got a couple dim light crystals to make it easier to see in here. I frowned to myself, seeing that Pandora was gone. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to her. WIth a deep breath, I sat up seeing the room was empty. My muscles ached a little from the bed that called my name. It really was a damn fine bed, and Mimi had plans to start selling them for gold in the near future.

Getting up, I walked to the door. At least I'll make some breakfast before having a talk with Mimi about this kind of shit. I reached for the handle to find it moving before I even touched it. Mimi opened the door with a small smile on her face. She was holding two plates of food, ducking under the frame while I stepped back. She pushed a plate to my chest, while I took it. A quick bite showed how much her cooking had improved. It almost tasted familiar somehow.

I closed the door behind her, while she sat on the bed. If I was reading her right, she had something she really wanted to do. I ate the food, thanking her for it. The way she carried herself was different again, it was strange just watching her change so often. I took a few steps, sitting by her side. Her wing gently wrapped around a shoulder, while we ate in silence. It was the little things, and slowly but surely I was getting through to her.

She finished her meal a few minutes before me, sliding her plate to the side with her foot. Her workers making sure to clean it, while a Giant picked up the dish to return it to the others. She was fidgeting with her hands, while I grinned. I ate a bit slower, savoring the last bites of my meal. She pouted a little, but didn't say a thing about it. Looking at my last bite, I finally spoke. "I'm mad at you."

Her eyes widened, before she tilted her head. I finished my meal, handing the plate to her, as she slid it away the same as before. With a small sigh, I fell back against her stomach. Her silver eyes looking down at me, a little worry hidden there as she took in everything. "You don't just kidnap our daughter, without letting me say goodbye at least."

Mimi raised a brow, "She's not gone, you can talk to her now if you wish." She cradled my head with her hands, moving it onto her lap. Her fingers running through my hair.

I shook my head a little, trying to think of a comparison she could understand. "It's like the King taking me into his castle and I can only talk to you with notes. There is more to a conversation than the words Mimi, how someone looks around, how they smile. I wanted to hug her at least one last time."

Mimi considered my words, and this was probably the hardest part for her to understand. She was everywhere, and I could talk to her bugs at anytime. To her, it was like she was standing in every room, a part of every conversation. I could see her going through the idea itself, imagining how it might be if I was away without her bugs to talk to. All she could get was a note, and even then she was probably thinking how the King might have read every single one of them. With a small nod, she looked away. "My apologies... would you like to see Pandora now? She's at Cheshire's warehouse, eating breakfast."

I shook my head, sitting up. "Not unless she really wants to see me. She takes after you, and probably feels like you did. You're letting her watch me through the bugs right?" I smiled at her, before getting back on my feet.

Mimi took a second, before she got up as well. "Of course, though I don't let her hear our conversations. I found something interesting, and it needs our attention however. I do not believe that the others can handle this, and our unique skill set should allow us to handle it without too many issues."

I tilted my head back, looking up at her. I smiled to myself, not missing that she didn't feed Pandora everything we were doing. Mimi cared what our little girl thought, or at the very least wanted her to come to her own conclusions about things. There was no need to point it out. "Oh? What about Carter? I thought you wanted to go into the Underneath and do some hunting, as well as getting bonded?"

Mimi shook her head, "These goals might not be mutually exclusive to each other. The longer we wait on this however, the more likely we won't be able to do it. We can let Carter bind us later, and he'll enjoy another day or two of studying the ritual"

I let out a small sigh, "Damn shame we need a third party to do the thing. Though you said it is the only way to get a bond like what we want." Mimi nodded her head, knowing that neither of us wanted to be the 'tamed' in the bond. "Anyway, what exactly do you have planned?"

"I found Prismoids in an abandoned warehouse. I also left the teleporter key in said warehouse." My heart skipped a beat, the monster mushroom creatures were something on par with the youngest of Banshee. They were a huge threat if left unchecked, but Mimi continued. "Which is why I'd rather we deal with them. I'm gaining things from eating them. Only a breather, and my talent went off on the spores. I should be immune, and with your fire you should be able to burn any spores that touch you."

I let out a small sigh, as she looked at me with a small pleading look. She probably wasn't aware of it, but I could she felt this was growth on par with the Fiend she ate. Something to help her climb on the next level of strength. I bit back the no I wanted to say, pushing down the logical response of just informing the Guard to get a Herald to deal with it. I looked down, slowly shaking my head, "We'll try, but the second something goes wrong you need to get us out of there."

My world became dark, as she hugged me, her wings wrapping around me. "Thank you Richard. I will not do anything that will endanger ourselves. Let me know if anything strange happens to your body while we are there. Please take time to prepare yourself, get all the fire you can hold." I grabbed the explosives on my hip, the training still going well.

I held them out to her when she pulled away, "I need you to toss these in the hole. I'll get a torch or something and I can get the fire while we walk."

Mimi took the explosives before giving me her creepy grin. I felt a shiver run down my spine, as she put the things into her wings. I no longer felt them, raising a brow at her, not liking where this was going. "I can store things in my shadow now Richard. Go ahead and make your fire now, Gray and myself have tested a new method of transportation."

I swallowed hard, "Let's walk outside and I'll get a fire going. The bombs won't fall out if you teleport right? What kind of transportation are we talking about?"

That grin never left her, making me more nervous. The kind that let me know she was about to do something she knew I was going to hate. I just wasn't sure if it was the 'transportation' method, or if she was going to teleport and drop the bombs in front of me. I should be able to control them even if they did. Still I found myself backing up to the door. "We'll find out soon~"

"Fuck me. Mimi, what's the transportation?" She strolled past me, opening the door. "Mimi?" She held it open, as I slumped marching forward. I caught her saying that was the plan, just loud enough for me to hear. I shook my head, realizing one of my nights were going to be very painful. I walked outside, to the firepit in the back of the warehouse. A wall was built a week ago, giving me a place to burn things. A hole dug where Mimi had the explosive bugs gathered so I could make bombs or detonate them if I couldn't control them. Mimi stood over the hole, just in case her teleportation dropped the bombs.

I shrugged, making the fire with the powder and a spark from what I kept in my fingers. I let out a pained gasp as I let the flames lick my hands, willing them to travel along my arms. I let it circle my shoulders, wincing as I cut off the nerves with my flame. Baking them instantly with the heat and using my will to burn my arms from the inside out. More fire spread along my body fat, charring a few nerves, but allowing me to close wounds or store bits of fire where I could. It was a painful thing, but it allowed me to fix anything that didn't take off chunks of me.

A few minutes passed, when Gray teleported a little bit ahead of me. I swallowed hard, the man creeping me out. He wore a smiling white mask, probably carved out of bone. A hooded gray robe clinging to his body, while he waved at me. I waved back, but knew deep down that he and Mimi were terrifying together. Whenever they were involved in some new 'idea' it was bound to be disturbing at least.

Gray spread his hands, "I am here today, to see the success of our latest creation!" I pulled in the last bits of fire, remembering how he rambled about parasites a week ago. How he wanted to have a way to track the orphans Mimi saved, and that they would be perfect. Thankfully I managed to convince him that lice was a better option, even if they could only hear a single word. The kids could say it thrice and he'd know they needed his help. Decent guy, keeping the kids safe, but still fucking creepy.

I looked at Mimi, as she grinned, "He can control four bodies at a time now. We also found out that anything inside a body will teleport with it."

Gray laughed, "Indeed! Naturally one body can't fit a person inside, unless it's an infant. Two is hardly better, with maybe a child at best, or a whispering wolf as I tested. Fret not Richard, we wouldn't risk anyone in the Hive." I did pale a little, but really didn't like where this going. His words not inspiring confidence. "Three was the magic number! Allowing me to work with Scix in apprehending the bodies with much more ease, not to mention how many times I can teleport a single carrier!"

I just covered my face with my hands, shaking my head. "Don't tell me..."

Gray spun, pointing both arms to one side as an abomination came into existence. A disgusting monstrosity of fused flesh, with six legs on the bottom. The heads were pointing inside, the arms mangled at the top and curved in a way that made me realize they were fused together to open like a mouth. I could see where the hips were molded together to make a sort of platform, while the fucking thing pulsed and walked towards me. I clenched my jaw, looking at the three vampire bodies that worked in unison to half walk, half gallop towards me. I could feel my sanity slipping away.

Gray held up a finger, "Now Richard, you are essential in testing everything we need. We already found this to be an effective means of transportation for goods, as well as living people we have taken in. Tell me, and be honest, what do you think?" I could almost hear the smile he probably had under his mask. He was like a teenager, and super excited about the potential this brought.

I swallowed hard, looking at the thing. If I met this in an alley, or street, I would fuck right off. I would run straight out of Eclipse, thinking the monster king took over somehow. Looking at Mimi, I saw her watching my every move, naturally trying to determine if I liked it or not. I took a breath, watching the gray mass of flesh and bone still moving towards me. It stopped a meter away, and I could hear its pulse. "I don't think a lot of people will want to use it bud. Not without something to hide the outside..."

Gray tilted his head, "I tried to paint it, but such things simply fall off. Ink and tattoos might linger through teleportation, but even clothes refuse to stay. The inside should be fine, so I'll make certain to do something there. Please crawl on top and enter, master Richard. Your insight is most helpful as always."

I steadied myself, crawling onto the thing, as the arms opened. It was dark inside, but I could see the mangled flesh with a layer of skin over it. I hopped in, as the arms closed. All light was gone, save for the dimly glowing eyes of the faces inside this terrible thing. Then one of them spoke, "I am concerned about the air, since we have to make a perfect seal."

I jumped, "Fucking don't do that!" I lit a small fire, looking at Gray, who frowned. The face distorted to look half melted with the other two.

"My apologies, I did not realize you thought I couldn't talk. How do you feel, master Richard?" He smiled a little, which just made it all the more scary inside.

I saw the arms open up above, "I feel fine, though I really don't think anyone would want to use this to travel. At least not while awake, as for the air, maybe try opening and closing your arms? Should be able to bring in air, though if your transporting goods that probably won't be an issue. Are we going to try teleporting?"

"We already have, and I do not understand why so many people might be adverse to this. It is very quick and easy to use, as you can see." A clawed hand came from the top, and I grabbed it. Gray helping me out of the thing. Sure enough we were in a dead-zone with Giants hanging around with a ring of fire.

Mimi teleported next to us, "The bombs aren't lost when I teleport, which means I should be able to carry things as well." She smiled warmly, "Did you have fun."

I sat on the arms that moved a bit to allow for proper seating, my legs hanging over the side. I took a deep breath of fresh air, focusing on an unassuming warehouse in the distance. There were no windows, and everything was boarded up. The people that left likely had a lot of time, so there probably wasn't anything valuable inside. "Honestly? This..." I gestured to it.

Gray chimed in, "Carrier, since it carries things and teleports them."

I nodded, "The carrier is terrifying, but extremely useful. You know who'd really be able to tell you what's wrong with it Gray?" He tilted his head at his name. "Robert, yeah Robert is perfect for this kind of thing. I think the lizardmen would love it if you showed it to them as well. I don't think they'd care about how 'unique' it is. If anything they might fight for the chance to be the first teleporting lizardman."

Gray rubbed the bottom of his mask, snapping his fingers. "Indeed! Roberta and the lizard folk may well be ideal for this! Yes, and it would make using them for jobs much easier as well. I am informing Douglas as we speak! Thank you again master Richard."

"Don't sweat it." I hopped off, Mimi catching me as Gray and the abomination teleported away. I let out a small sigh, when my feet touch the ground. "Mimi, why do you do this to me?"

She laughed a little, "He holds you in high regard, and wants you to test all his ideas. I find it endearing, and it pleases me that he's working so hard for the Hive. Did you know, he was a spider I found in the forest when I had to go outside with Wyatt."

I shook my head, "That explains so much... anyway are you certain this is the right place?"

Mimi nodded, "Yep, are you ready?"

I flexed my hands, a ring of fire traveling from my fists to my shoulders. Nodding in response, "You first."