Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Chapter 93

"And what do we have here?" The Fiend said with spiteful curiosity. "Is this the human mage that summoned you?" He asked, seeming to know quite a bit about the matter.

Kath’tan glanced at his half-brother. Zoltan thrived on tormenting him; he had long learned that ignoring the pest was sufficient to deal with him. It would explain why Lady Valrena had sent men to Earth to search for him, a few had to have seen him taken away by a summoning circle in the middle of a battle.

Zoltan held his gaze, black eyes condensed with hate. "I do wonder, why you would remain a slave to a human for so long."

Kath’tan went back to ignoring him, turning into the hallway that led to his father’s throne room. He knew that more than spiting him, Zoltan was curious about his meeting with their father, it was something the Fiend wouldn’t miss for anything.

Dulce saw more of the suns, their light flooded the hallways, reflecting off the gold and making the reds shimmer. The color red was revered by Wrath Fiends and they made that very clear.

He wisely stayed quiet, letting Kath’tan deal with everything. He already knew that the Demon had a bounty put on his head by his own father, it was no surprise that his brother would share the same opinion.

Their journey came to an end in front of intimidating double doors which were manned by armed guards.

"Lord Zoltan," They bowed respectfully, flat red eyes passing over Kath’tan in disapproval.

"We’re here to see my father," Zoltan said confidently, impatience threading his words.

"Grand Duke Zazrel is currently having an audience-"

"It’s Tarraz, isn’t it?" Zoltan cut in, clicking his teeth.

The guards shared a look and reluctantly stepped to the side to open the doors.

"Announcing, Lord Zoltan and... Lord Kath’tan, here to see his Grace." They introduced.

Zoltan sauntered right in, surly. "Did you tell the guards outside not to let me in?" He demanded as he marched in.

Grand Duke Zazrel was seated on a gold throne inlaid with rubies, his elbow resting on the padded arm of the throne, supportinghis jaw. The Fiend Duke was larger than life, dominating the intimidating throne which was the only furniture in the large hall.

By his right-hand side holding documents for him to read was a Fiend that looked eerily like him, with the same matching fiery red hair and eyes. But while an endless flame burned in the Duke’s eyes, his first son, Tarraz, Archduke of Threnval, had simmering embers.

"And yet, here you are." Tarraz said coolly, his gaze passing over Kath’tan to settle on the strange human next to him.

"You brought your summoner with you," Zazrel directly addressed his son, his voice deep, booming.

"The Lady Valrena?" Kath’tan asked shortly, having no interest in a conversation with the man who wanted him dead.

"How impatient, just like your impulsive mother." Zazrel muttered, instantly losing interest in them both. "I’ll have a messenger summon her from Ashford."

"How long will it take her to arrive?" Kath’tan asked bluntly without etiquette. He would have made the trip to Ashford himself if things weren’t so delicate, not wanting to spend even a moment more in Threnval. Dulce’s shabby farm was paradise compared to this.

A flash of anger showed on the Grand Duke’s handsome face, it seemed to show a glimpse of how he truly felt. "The mad minx might very well arrive within the hour. Remove yourself from my presence."

"There’s a banquet tonight," Tarraz spoke up just as Kath’tan turned away without hesitation.

Kath’tan glanced over his shoulder at his older brother, as he expected those cold red eyes weren’t even looking at him. Instead, they were fixated on Dulce who never lifted his eyes off the ground.

"Not interested."

"I wasn’t asking." The Fiend said without inflection, his red hair in a thick braid down his back.

"Why does he have to come to the banquet?" Zoltan protested, sneering. "Let that lawless Chaos Demon take him away."

"Go play, Zoltan." Tarraz dismissed him, watching the doors.

Kath’tan had already walked away before Zoltan even spoke, the mage by his side, leaving without having ever spoken a word. It was strange, tainted it might be but the blood of the Grand Duke ran through Kath’tan’s veins, for a mage to summon him, he had to be incredibly strong.

Yet, he had been docile next to Kath’tan, it was hard to see him as the master of a summoning contract.

"Quite an interesting mage, don’t you think?" Zazrel said more to himself after Zoltan stormed off, no doubt to go take out his anger on his half-brother.

Tarraz didn’t reply, he knew his father had already noticed his interest in the human mage. Instead, he went to arrange for messengers to be sent to Ashford.

The messengers would arrive in mere moments, but as nobility, Valrena would be forced to take a carriage across the Red Plains, it may very well take her days to arrive in Threnval.

-+-

Kath’tan warped away with Dulce as soon as he stepped out of the throne room. Warping in the royal castle was seen as a dishonor to the Grand Duke but Kath’tan no longer had any use for that.

Dulce didn’t handle warping the second time any better, catching onto Kath’tan’s coat with his free hand so he didn’t go sprawling. "I apologize for that," He muttered, slowly lowering himself to the ground.

Kath’tan was forced to let go of the Vampire’s hand, staring at the Vampire curled up on his faded carpet. His pale hair was barely held together, his clothes in a disarray.

"We might be here for a handful of days," He admitted. "Ashford is across the Red Plains, and there are rules for nobility they have to abide by."

Dulce looked up, shaken from all the traveling they had done that day. "Will it be fine to wait?" He asked, considering how likely it was for them to return momentarily to the desert.

Unfortunately, neither of them could create a portal, and there was no hope of relying on anyone in the castle.