Fiction:Tantummodo Mortem/Tarefnar

A Familiar Place
It was the middle of the day in Dagonris, another busy day in the Grand Cathedral, the galaxy's greatest structure dedicated to the patron deity of the Draconis. Beneath the cathedral a lone cleric was running rounds. She carried a tome in hand, an account of recent events she was taking to a library. Draped over her body were simple robes, a sign of her status in the heirachy of the Path of Drakon. She stopped abruptly as a portal opened outside Arsac's quarters. The cleric stood, frozen as she looked at the portal, timidly watching as figures began emerging from it. The first being a powerful-looking Draconis with a horrid eye implant, four large wings and a swaying, perhaps boneless tail judging by the way iy snaked and curled. The cleric stepped back in fright as the Draconis turned her head for the light to shine right at the girl, its intense and bizarre light burning into her eyes and perhaps deep into her soul. Following her were a Radeon in green robes and equally green, shining eyes, a masked Hserelie, a Basileus with a pair of blades, a dark coloured Inalton, an enormous Zua-Zaoi and a green Zazane with a mouth on its tail.

The cleric watched as the others stepped out and dropped the tome she was carrying, she tried to sprint away from the emergents but tripped, dhe felt a hideous tentacle wrap around her ankle and drag her along her stomach towards the group, eventually lifting the girl up to meet closer to eye level with the intruders, her robe now hanging over her torso as she hung upside down. The Basileus walked around and tutted to himself as he observed her danging.

Mar-Júun - That's no way of treating your guests, missy. Cleric - I-I w-was wnaware...wh-who are you? Geltastra - ''Us? Hah. Why don't you tell her, Arsac?''

The cleric stuttered and was speechless for several moments, hearing the name "Arsac".

Cleric - N-no...the elders...th-they said you died! Mordati - ''Apologies for being an inconvenience, but you, or rather your organization, has resources that we take heavy interest in. I'm afraid that such most probably requires your demise.'' Arsac - They lied, as they always do, you just never realised it. Mar-Júun - You're dead meat! Cleric - I-I'm only a book-keeper, I only come this way as a shortcut I swear, I mean no harm to you! Murangon Nal - Even if you do not, your destiny is now on the High Inquisitor's hands. Mordati - ''Yes, it is unfortunate that you have become so caught up in our business. Well, not unfortunate, but more inconvenient for you.'' Arsac - It would be a shame for such a young girl's blood to spill these, mhmhm, "hallowed" halls. Geltastra - ''They have a lot of nerve, don't they? Deeming you dead like this.'' Cleric - Please, let me go and I won't tell anyone I swear on Drakon's breath I won't tell a soul! Vouinas - ''You could let her go. Or you could let Varugr eat her. Who cares.'' Varugr - I'm parched and starving. Arsac - Her knowledge of the cathedral and the city could prove useful. Geltastra - Let us keep her for now then, until her use has ended.

Arsac's tentacle however, swayed and sent the cleric to dangle in front of Varugr. A slight grin cropped up upon his twisted face as he eyed her hungrily

Arsac - Varugr, was I not informed you were able to extract the memories of your meals? Varugr - ''You are correct, wretch! I could devour her and... use her memories.''

Varugr twitched from the thought of eating her, the jaws upon his tail snapping eagerly and directing themselves to point at the cleric almost as if it knew where she was despite completely lacking eyes. Vouinas lowered his head and cackled, chittering away as he did.

Vouinas - ''See? Everybody wins.'' Arsac - Even if you do not recall all the catacombs, my memory is good enough. Cleric - ''Please! I don't want to die I'm only a volunteer! I work in a cafe during the bulk of the tenday!'' Varugr - Then you may serve me food.

Galtastra mockingly paced around, Arsac's tentacle turning the cleric so she was facing Geltastra upside down, her snout dangling at such a height to be almsot level with Geltastra's muzzle.

Geltastra - ''Let me tell you something, girl. You'll prefer this over the firestorm that's about to hit this place. Be thankful.''

Arsac's tentacle bobbed the cleric up and down before tossing it slightly into the air and above Varugr's maw. The tail rushed upward and wrapped its jaws around her head, quickly ascending upwards as it swallowed the rest of her body. Inside of his tail, the young cleric could feel the fleshy walls inside of the tail close in on her mercilessly, crushing her body and turning her into paste as she was swallowed. Mar-Júun shook his head at the sight of Varugr eating the cleric and grunted, watching with disgust as an amorphous mass traveled up the interior of the tail, shrinking as it did so..

Mar-Júun - Nasty. Varugr - ''I think you mean... d-delicious!'' Mar-Júun - ''No. Nasty. You're a nasty creature.'' Arsac - ''She was a slave to a delusion. Poor thing.''

Arsac walked over to her door and pressed her palm against the console, the hand scanned her but there was a red light that flashed on the scanning panel, the words "print not recognised" flashed in Dracid. Varugr looked at Mar-Júun with that hungry smile he had given to the cleric.

Varugr - And you look appetizing. Mordati - ''Varugr, do not lose focus. Have you or have you not gained new information?'' Varugr - ''...Yes, yes I have. I can feel her mind... integrating with mine, being dominated by my conscious.'' Arsac - ''Damnation! I should have guessed this would happen!'' Geltastra - A disappointing side effect of our blessing. Arsac - No, it has little to do with the blessing. Geltastra - Hm? Arsac - ''The cleric said I died. And you, Mistress, revealed my turning and blessing, the codes have been changed.'' Mar-Júun - Dark nun screwed up. Geltastra - Don't provoke me!...I admit it may have not been the best idea.

Arsac slammed her palm against the brick wall of the tunnel, launching concrete debris and forming a crater.

Vouinas - The look on that Zazane's face was pretty funny though. Mar-Júun - ''Ah yes. He was mad. Very very mad.'' Varugr - Which Zazane do you refer to? Arsac - ''They refer to Tyraz. New plan: When the High Inquisitor is declared dead their codes are kept by the Inner '''Circle. Each member holds one part of the sequences needed.'' Murangon Nal - So we must go for this Inner Circle and take it from them. Varugr - Never expected the new recruit to be taking me to dinner. Arsac - ''We will need one alive as genetic verification. One of the codes is a DNA sequence.'' Mar-Júun - You'll have to point out wish otherwise I might...commit an accident. Varugr - Aww, can I not just-- Mordati - Silence yourself!

Varugr growled as Mordati snapped at him, a mixture of disappointment and anger born from being told off and denied the chance to feast, something he had grown ot enjoy as one of the servants of Shu'Wokerama.

Arsac - ''I know the way to the Circle's chambers. They will be easy prey.'' Geltastra - ''Lead us there, then. We are all aware of the consequences of failing this mission.''

Arsac nodded and paced down the halls. She moved through the tunnels as if she knew them almost-instinctively.