Pandora Adams

I had no idea that Azera had a father that was a Cheshire. At least, if I was understanding this right. It kind of hurt that he never told me about any of this. Even though the two were dancing, and were quiet throughout all of the third dance. They just stared at each other, until it finished. Madam Cheshire cleared her throat, "This is your win." It was much less intense compared to the second one, and now Azera only needed one more to leave.

He nodded before they teleported back to their starting positions. Azera let out a soft sigh, "Do we really need to do one more?"

Madam Cheshire nodded, squinting at him a little. "You should always see the game through, besides that was my recovery dance. I'm ready for at least another work dance now." She grinned a little more.

Azera slumped a little. "Of course, I really don't have a lot of time. Will you let me win this round? I'll answer any of your questions."

Madam Cheshire rolled her eyes, "You'd answer them anyway, at least if I were to give the promise to guide you to Rothchild's report."

Azera nodded, "So... how do I tell you what music to play?"

Madam Cheshire grinned, "You could name a song or a general emotion. Then snap your fingers a few times to set the rhythm."

Azera tilted his head, "Joy?" He snapped a few times. Which was extra impressive given he was wearing gauntlets. The fairies adjusted the music, and Azera nodded his head. "That's very impressive." The two began to dance. It was a kind of waltz, with a lot of hip movements. Azera was faster than his opponent, but the Madam moved with impossible fluid grace.

Azera hung his head low, as Madam Cheshire announced her victory. She tilted her head, "Why joy?"

Azera smirked, "I was trying to let you know it was nice to meet you, that this has been fun." The two teleported back to the starting spots, but I saw Azera left some metal there. It went inside Madam Cheshire and she immediately knew.

Madam Cheshire let out a soft chuckle, "So it has been." Blood seeped out of her mouth, as her skin shriveled. Zig zag whiskers came from her lips, as she shrank to the form of a large cat. She was maybe half Azera's height, her skin sagging and devoid of fur. She was struggling to breathe as she lay on her side. I wasn't even sure what happened.

Azera walked closer, kneeling next to the hurt Cheshire. "Why do Cheshire not look when they're happy?" He was starting to tear up.

Madam Cheshire grinned, "Why can we not see when we cry? I'm an old cat, I'm not afraid of dying." She wheezed, "We always feel so lonely, dancing with another... it made me happy. To die from such a dance, I can't complain. Can you do me one last thing? Then I'll guide you wherever you wish to go." Azera nodded, "Please show me what you knew of Rothchild."

Azera took a slow breath, before teleporting to the starting position. Azera wiped his eyes, before clapping his hands. He stomped his feet, as the fairies picked up the tune. It was elegant and full of passion. Each step was measured but seemed to move forward by leaps and bounds. Azera opened portals as he danced in the air itself. His momentum carried every forward, not once did he look back. His path crossing over other moves time and time again. Almost like he was chasing his own tail, but enjoying the chase regardless. Each time getting faster, but never truly reaching out for it.

Azera sailed upwards at the end as if shocked when he caught what he was chasing. He twirled, looking down at everything below him. He emerged from the floor once he reached his apex. He clapped and stomped again as if about to start again. He was sweating and panting, but only did a twirl and bowed.

Madam Cheshire gave him a soft look, "You really are his son then. I'm glad he found someone to call his own. Carry me, and I'll show you everything you ask. I can't help you escape, but for Rothchild, I shall try."

Azera tilted his head, as he knelt again. "You sound like you were more than just friends." He teased a little, gently lifting Madam Cheshire into his arms. She winced a little but nuzzled him. A bit of her black blood stained his chest.

Madam Cheshire closed her eyes, a single claw pointing in a direction. The barriers dropped, "His reports are this way. We were close friends, so very close. I was hurt deeply by his passing. Our meeting has finally brought the closure I wanted."

Azera gently rubbed the Cheshire's back, "Why are you so different from the other monsters? Dad... I mean, Rothchild, never told me why your kind kept smiling no matter what."

Madam Cheshire hummed, "Please, call him your father. The silly man was sharing secrets he shouldn't have, with a child any less from the sound of it. My name is Willchild, my father's name was William and I am his daughter."

Azera carried Willchild, following where her claw was pointing. He pursed his lips, almost not smiling. "William is the name of the one that murdered your pack, which gave birth to you?"

Willchild nodded, "That's correct, I led him to death after my birth and stole his name. As he stole everything else from me. The Mad god told me how to use my power, he told me my race. I was to decide everything else. I couldn't stop smiling, as I learned my purpose. We were made to spite and brood. Smiling in the face of our 'god' was our way of lashing out for the tragedy that made us. So many others hide in caves, but the best way to spite our creator was to live our lives. To enjoy every second of it."

Azera stopped in front of the book that was being pointed at. "Wouldn't that mean you would scorn your killer? Every Cheshire smiles because of spite?"

Willchild let out a weak chuckle, "Feel free to read a few pages. This is the report you are looking for, and you know my talent by now. You should know that things can be interpreted in many different ways. Deep down, we know our creator wants us to be happy. That makes things complicated because we don't like being forced to do things. It becomes a paradox, and ultimately not smiling simply means you want to die. If you can't enjoy your life, then you can remember those that sacrificed themselves. You forgot your pack, who you should live on for."

Azera made the report disappear, "I think I get it. I'll read this once I make it out of here. Is there anything else I should take? Do you want to spite the king that left you all alone for so long?"

Willchild grinned, "Oh, I was there when he made it clear he liked hounds more than cats. There isn't a Cheshire alive in Eclipse that wouldn't spite him were they in my position. You are a bastard for filling me up with metal shards though. I can't even move too much or they will tear holes in poor little me. Tell you what, I'll meet you almost halfway, more in your favor though." The claw reappeared again, "I'm going to die anyway, might as well truly spite the king."

Azera gave a curt nod and followed where he was pointed towards. "I'll grab whatever you think I should, but they need to be close to each other. How long do you think we have before heralds make their way in?"

Willchild nodded, "No one knows this library better than me, the heralds need permission to enter. The real problem starts once the king shows up. Trust me, you want to be gone before that happens."

Azera nodded, the two remaining quiet until they came upon a few more books. Azera pocketed each of them, bending the space around them to make them smaller. He ground his teeth a little, "Do you think we could try and save a little girl from this castle?"

Willchild tilted her head, coughing up some blood from the movement. She looked Azera in the eyes, "There shouldn't be any little girls trapped in this castle."

Azera shook his head, "I have very compelling reasons to believe otherwise. You don't know where she is? She's probably about your size, has the shell of a colorful beetle that changes colors. Either that, or she's a small child dressed in very dark colors. Probably has multiple arms."

Willchild squinted, "I would ask if you were joking with me, but I can tell you aren't. Are you certain they aren't in the Hole? That's where the king usually puts the dangerous things."

Azera shook his head, gesturing at my bugs. "She's controlling the bugs that have been following me around." I marched them once to show that I was controlling the bugs. I didn't bite my tongue, so I guess it didn't count as a lie.

"I see, I doubt we have the time for a detour... for what it is worth, I apologize for denying your freedom." Ember wouldn't care, she's too cool to care. Willchild's words were met with stoic silence. The kind of silence only the coolest of the cool could do. Ember owns this castle, she knows she'll get out eventually. That's just how cool she is. Aw man, my eyes are leaking a little, happens to mommy sometimes too.

Azera gave a small nod, "I don't know how, and I don't know when, but one day you'll get out of here. Your mom doesn't strike me as someone that would just forget her daughter."

Willchild closed her eyes again, "I take it you know her? If she is important, I might know where a few books are."

"I think she's registered as Vespe, queen of the Vesp. There is another official name, Mimi. If any monsters recently got recognized as someone that could have rights, that should narrow it down to her as well." It was impressive that Azera knew exactly what to say. I guess the bounties were pretty useful for something.

Willchild let out a small groan, "That's the bug lady! I don't have anything helpful that hasn't already gone through multiple groups. If you wanted to incriminate her, I could have helped you, but I doubt you'd want that. I think I have the whole picture now, though. It happens from time to time. Hive minds might be lured to Eclipse, and then they lay an egg. Once a Queen is laid, the old one is exiled to die in the wild. The new Queen is raised to be helpful and sent to the Hole to make it more secure."

"Wait, so you're telling me that the King has just been tossing Hive minds into the Hole to make everything inside more secure?" Azera just tilted his head, no doubt wondering how the Raven got in and then got out. The answer was obvious, other Hive minds were just dumber than mommy.

Willchild took a slow breath, "That is what I implied, the first couple floors belong to giant scarabs. It gets worse the lower you go. Anyway, we're wasting time."

Azera nodded, his steps suddenly teleporting him further away. I sighed to myself since my bugs couldn't keep up with him. Thankfully a few ghosts were on his shoulders. He wasn't exactly teleporting, more like opening a portal with every step so he could carry Willchild. He just started speed walking though, and the majority of my bugs were left behind. I moved them into a nook, so uncle Berry could use them. I didn't have time to manage the scouts and have them find food.

Azera and Willchild made it out of the super-secret library. Turns out there were more than a few entrances since we were now in a tunnel instead of a stairway. The two made small talk, but both of them were tense. Willchild was projecting her eyes with space magic to peek around corners. Her claw was used to point the direction Azera needed to go.

After a few turns at intersecting tunnels, I started to wonder what kind of system this was. We got our answer when we walked past a room of sleeping maids. It was a kind of underground bunker beneath the castle. A place for the maids to sleep, and probably the heralds to relax. My mind wandered while they traversed the dull gray corridors. Azera moved silently with each step, while Willchild kept watch.

Azera shuddered, "They all look similar, it's creepy." There were Harper spider nests in the room. We walked past another to find even more maids. None of them took off their clothes, all of them were sleeping. We continued past a third room, with even more maids. Azera paused, "Okay, how many are there?" He kept his voice quiet.

The air was getting warmer, a sudden sound made Azera jump. Willchild grunted a little, "They aren't human, we're where the Flesh-wood tree rests."

"Excuse me?" Azera looked right at the Cheshire he was holding. "The what?"

Willchild looked up at him, her breathing a bit more labored. "Flesh-wood, a wood-elf tree." The sound came again, it sounded like a heartbeat. "Last I checked, there were tens of thousands of maids sleeping down here. I wouldn't worry too much, since the tree doesn't recognize me as a threat. We should keep going, it is pretty creepy."

Azera didn't have to be told twice, as he quickly carried Willchild where he was being pointed. We saw the ceiling give way to pink flesh, sacs of flesh hanging off of it. The flesh stretched from the weight of some kind of pink sap. Even my bugs could see the butlers and maids growing inside the sacs. "Why are we going this way?" Azera suddenly asked, the whole thing probably too much for him. It kind of made me hungry though. What did the sap taste like?

Willchild let out a small sigh, "It's the quickest way out, and it gives us the most options. The heralds aren't allowed near the tree unless they were born from the tree. You can put up with some discomfort, while I'm here dying in your arms."

Azera rolled his eyes, "Of course, there would be heralds that came from this thing. I thought wood-elf trees were supposed to be pretty."

Willchild rolled her eyes, "It is pretty, see how it forms seamlessly with the stone? Its roots pushing away the structure and replacing it with itself? Do be mindful of what you say in its presence, it might hear us."

Azera took a slow breath, "The tree can hear us?"

Willchild gave a small nod, "More than that, it can even understand us. Now stop talking, or the elves will come."

Azera gave a nod, as they continued to walk. We rounded a corner and came face to upside-down face with a wood-elf. It was hanging there with huge almond-shaped eyes, that were purple. Its ears were much too long to call it a proper elf, probably as long as its forearms. The teeth were black, and its skull was misshapen in an alien way. Kind of like someone stretched it backward to make it longer. It had no hair and smiled at us. "Greetings, guardian of the library."

Azera froze, as Willchild nodded, "Greetings." She purred, nuzzling Azera a little.

The thing had no bones, and just tilted its whole body. "We are unfamiliar with this individual. Why are you bringing them through our tunnels?"

Willchild let out a small laugh, "This is my apprentice, and I felt it was time for them to familiarize themselves with some more of the castle. As for why they are carrying me, I am feeling extremely lethargic tonight."

The elf gave a whole-body nod before they merged into the roots. Purple spots still watching us. Azera just swallowed hard, as countless eyes were suddenly on us. Willchild gave Azera a quick tap, "Not a word, apprentice. These secrets die with us."

Azera just silently walked, while the wood-elves lost interest. A few were still watching us, as the throbbing became louder. Nothing was said even as we moved away from the flesh-covered tunnels. It was just silence as we moved back into pure stone tunnels, Azera's hands shaking a little as they walked. He leaned against the wall, "How many armies does the king have just laying dormant?"

Willchild hummed, "From the books I've read, at least ten. Before you ask why I'll just tell you that most of them can only be used once. The maids and butlers don't live long outside their tree, and the flesh elves might have a couple of weeks before they shrivel and die. If anything, they are meant to rebuild should everything fall apart."

Azera steadied himself, "What do you mean?"

Willchild let out a small sigh, "It is common knowledge that everyone wants Eclipse for themselves. Even if all the other kingdoms attacked together, it is unlikely Eclipse would fall. The issue is that they might attack again, and again. The armies that I know about can only be sustained for a year at most. Sustained conquests will eventually exhaust both resources and morale. Even with the Underground, people want to rise up and claim the throne."

"That might not be a problem if he didn't let his princess roam the Underground and cause chaos."

"I never said our king was perfect, just that he's paranoid enough to make enough measures to keep who he considers to be his people, safe." They walked, the mood souring a little. "Here we are." Willchild's claw pointed to a glyph set on the wall, "Press your palm against that and start running once the door opens. I'll do my best to help you escape."

Azera nodded, "Thank you, Willchild." The Cheshire just nodded her head, as the glyph activated. A door opened, leading to stairs that showed a moonlit courtyard. My ghosts held on, while Azera rushed into the open. The second we exited, an arrow almost struck Azera in the temple. A whistle sounded, followed by others. "Fuck."

"Run, I'll focus on defense." Willchild explained, "Don't lose your nerve now."

Azera smirked as he ran, more arrows going towards him, but portals were opened to send them away. Heralds were quickly approaching, while Azera walked into a portal and started to fall. He used the momentum to fling himself further away. "I'm sorry for any jostling you'll experience."

Willchild groaned but managed to keep the arrows from getting close. A few of them seemed to loop in the air, coming back for a second pass. The heralds stated that the thief had a hostage. They couldn't just take Azera down, and yet more were coming. "We need to hurry and lose them. These are just the recruits."

Azera tsked, "Just the recruits are good enough to take out the Kingdom of Fire's best assassins. How do you think we should lose them?" Azera turned in the air, as a few arrows almost grazed him. "Was that on purpose?"

Willchild coughed, "No, they're using null rune arrows. I can't block those."

Azera rolled his eyes, "Of course," we were sailing over the courtyard, while the heralds said a talent was confirmed. They quickly spoke with each other suggesting that his Azera's talent held the ability to stop null magic. Willchild flicked her ears at Nosk venom being applied to the next batch while suppressing fire was still to be thrown at Azera.

"Drop me," Willchild stated.

"What!?" Azera's eyes went wide, as he went through the next portal. "You'll die if they don't catch you, if they do you'll tell them everything."

Willchild clawed his arms, drawing blood as arrows started coming towards Azera. Willchild moved spitting out blood and coughing, "I said drop me! Don't look back!"

Azera ground his teeth, dropping the Cheshire. She changed as she fell a few of my ghosts on her, just in case she felt like saying something. Heralds moved to catch her while Azera teleported lower to the ground, a few of the arrows following him. Willchild used her magic to look human again, as the heralds confirmed her as the librarian. More heralds came only to be pushed back by portals from Willchild. They were confused, a few of the heralds unaffected thanks to their armor. The command was given to restrain and heal the hostage.

Others continued past Willchild, but she did her best to hold back the dozens chasing after Azera. She started her dance, the metal still inside her body shredding her insides. Azera wouldn't be able to pull them out until she was dead, still her dance was beautiful. I just didn't understand why she would do something like this. The heralds pressed closer, as arrows grazed her, her form shifting as the magic was disrupted. Azera didn't turn around, even as Willchild died for him. Her final words were, "A debt repaid, Rothchild."

Azera made it outside the castle walls, into the living area of the higher nobles. Teleporting through solid walls offered a huge lead, even as the arrows were left behind. Azera was panting, his nose bleeding from using too much magic and pushing his focus so hard. It might even be soul burn from his talent, but he stumbled and leaned against the wall in a noble's backyard. Azera wiped his face, "Damn it..."

There was something I was missing here, I couldn't understand why he was upset over a Cheshire he just met. She chose how she wanted to die, and her sacrifice was necessary. Willchild was being restrained, but we couldn't have her telling secrets. At least her death would be painless, so I had the ghosts that stayed on her, give her a single sting once the dance was over. It was a shame we couldn't eat her later.

Azera scratched his head, still upset to the point his eyes were tearing up. He pushed off the wall, before being slammed against it by something invisible. His eyes went wide, as a knife was stabbed into his abdomen. Azera teleported away, leaving my bugs behind. The invisible herald pointed with his blood-covered hands. The ghosts that were left behind clung to any with a scent. They knew where Azera was going, and I needed to get a flock to meet him. This was going from bad to worse.

I was so glad I had that one flocker and his buddies. I quickly got them involved with others and set them towards the innermost walls. Azera would pop up somewhere, and he'd get away if he had a distraction. Sadly the hawks knew better now since large groups meant they'd be losing a part of their memory, but dozens of flockers weren't too hard to control. I just hoped it would be enough.

The invisible heralds kept managing to find Azera, but he was moving closer to the wall. It was crazy that he checked the points, just in case anyone else made it. I guess he didn't believe Ember when she said they were dead, but now wasn't the time to be mad. Azera was pressing his hand against the stab wound, and looking extra pale. I immediately let everyone connected to the Hive know I needed help! My mission was in jeopardy.

I gave them all the information I had, bombarding my aunties and uncles as I started to cry. I screamed to Mark, as Azera coughed up blood with his eyes rolling into the back of his head. There was nothing we could do as the heralds were getting closer. Azera caught himself while my ghosts crawled under the armor of those invisible heralds. A few sleepy stings and it was enough of a distraction to let Azera get to the other side of the wall. He was in an alley as my flockers descended close by.

Azera's teeth were red with blood as he grunted, that same smile plastered on his face. It would take the heralds some time to get to a gate and start looking again. Silver moved bugs into the sewer, and aunty Argus and her team appeared immediately in the sewers closest to Azera. They climbed out, just barely catching Azera as he passed out. The others were telling me that I did the right thing, that I made the right calls. I couldn't feel happy, because Azera was still dying. Even after Argus cauterized the wound.

I was thankful that mommy had given Scix some of the teleporters, that they could run off elf blood. Aunty Argus took Azera into the sewers and tossed him into it before the other three hopped in with her. They teleported to Scix's den in the Underneath, where an elf with blood magic gave Azera some blood. He still wasn't where he needed to be, but Azera was moved to a smaller one-person teleporter. He would meet mommy, and she would make him better in no time.

I was glad that Azera would be fine, but I wasn't looking forward to the scolding I was about to get. I had let him get close to dying, and I got the others involved. I opened my eyes, back in my cage, it had been a very exhausting night. The guards had changed again, but I wasn't in any mood to mess with them. They talked about Jacky capturing the rat person that tried to flee after betraying the unity. Tonight was a busy night for the tribes, a whole bunch of different plans set in motion by Azera.

Azera, the jerk who probably expected to die tonight. Mommy was going to give him an even bigger scolding (I hope). What was so important that he'd risk so much? I huffed, realizing I'd probably have to lock Azera in his office and pretend he was hurt. Yeah, he's grounded now. No more dangerous missions outside, I'll handle the tribes for him.