The Ashen Fortress III

[Kuzuru]

What great fortune! A veritable feast of violence was laid before the demon and he was starving. Kuzuru clapped his hands together and tried to contain his excitement. Pieces were falling into place for plans that the demon hadn’t even considered. He reached across the screen and saved the video, making sure to send a copy to his personal dataverse device. Kuzuru dismissed the video and pulled the map of Death Mountain back on screen. He turned on his heel and stepped past his comrades.

“Thanks for all the hard work you two,” he said, “I’m gonna go take a nap, you guys should get some rest as well, we can come back to this whole Death Mountain thing another day, we still have a lot of planning and preparation to do.”

Without waiting for a reply Kuzuru walked down the hallway and stepped into his room. He sat down at his computer and opened up the video file once again. He licked his lips and watched the thing in its entirety. As the film came to a close a sudden surge of inspiration overtook the demon. He turned to the center of his room and held out his palm. That familiar rainbow orb slipped through his skin and floated above his hand. He had toyed with the idea of summoning a living being, but had yet to find a need for it. This time, however, he had someone specific in mind, and a specific need for the being’s talents.

Omnilium twisted like clay to form a gaunt humanlike shape. Skin, the color of water-stained paper, stretched tight across an elongated skeleton. Thin needle-like fingers formed around the bony nodules it would call knuckles. Small chitinous horns lined his shoulders and joints. Runes tattooed in a violet so dark it seemed black lined its body, wrapping around its neck. The creature lacked any suggestion of genitals, and work not a stitch of cloth. Fangs lined its mouth and two beady yellow eyes were pressed into its skull. Instead of being covered in hair, the top of its head ended in a series of twisted and bony spires. After several minutes of creation the creature’s chest began to rise and fall while its piercing eyes locked onto Kuzuru.

“Kuzuru,” it spoke in a voice slick with oil, “where have you taken me?”

Kuzuru, pleased with his work, sat in his chair and reclined with a smile.

“Mathaziel, welcome to Casa del Diablo,” Kuzuru said with a sense of cheer.

The newly minted being growled and loomed over Kuzuru. Its crown of horns ignited and burned like a brazier. Smoldering coals danced between its needle fingers. All seven feet of its countenance became a frightful image of wrath, and yet Kuzuru’s smile did not fade.

“Have you forgotten your place child?” Mathaziel spoke, its voice still sour with venom, “mankind turned to me first and only after I filled them with desire did they seek your violence, I will not be made into a-”

“Sparkplug,” Kuzuru interrupted.

Mathaziel’s fire extinguished and he collapsed to floor. The elder demon gasped for air and writhed about in agony. Kuzuru stood and turned the creature onto its back with his foot. He allowed it to suffer for a while before opening his mouth.

“Makeup,” Kuzuru said plainly.

As if a switch was flipped Mathaziel’s suffering was ended.

“You may have been my progenitor in another world,” Kuzuru said, relishing every word, “but this is the Omniverse, baby, and in this world you are mine.”

Mathaziel growled and asked, “what do you mean?”

“Glad you asked,” Kuzuru said, relieving the pressure of his boot, “you have much to learn about this place, and don’t worry, I will tell you all in good time, but there are two things you must know.”

“Which would be?”

“One, your life is in my hands and I can end it any time I choose, as I’m sure you’ve realized by now,” Kuzuru’s shit-eating grin grew wider by the minute, “secondly, not only can I end your life with an utterance, but your life is also linked to mine, should I perish you will be right behind me.”

Mathaziel crawled to his feet, “so you’ve brought me here to enact your vengeance? I must say that my pride is outshone only by my disdain for you.”

Kuzuru chuckled, “awh shucks, thanks for the compliment, but, while it is true that the thought of finally subjugating you does send my heart a-fluttering, I am not interested in revenge, in fact I am more than willing to bury the proverbial hatchet.”

“By imposing a geas upon me?”

“Well, no, but you are much cleverer than I, and were these restriction not in place it would have been only a matter of time before you betrayed me,” Kuzuru said, “this way, my life is your responsibility and any act against me is an act against your very existence.”

Mathaziel scowled as much as its alien face would allow, “even if my flesh fails I will simply be reborn, have you forgotten that basic fact?”

Kuzuru held up a finger and said, “ah, yes, while that would normally be the case, my dear kin, here in this wonderful world your death is very much permanent, tell me can you feel the greed of man in this world? Are you intrinsically linked to their desires as you were before? Do you not feel weaker? You are intelligent beyond measure, so surely you know this place is not your home realm.”

Mathaziel said nothing for quite some time.

“So if you did not ensnare me for revenge,” Mathaziel finally spoke, “then why did you bring me to this realm?”

“Well, as I have said, you are smarter than me and possess talents that I do not,” Kuzuru said, “what I ask is your assistance, you will not be my servant, but rather my ally, as I prosper so shall you.”

The elder demon stayed silent for a while as he turned Kuzuru’s offer over in his head, “you know that I will betray you given the chance.”

“It is your nature, as I am compelled to draw blood, I would expect nothing less from you.”

“Very well,” Mathaziel said, offering his hand, “I will play along with your charade, we will see how long you can keep it from falling apart.”

Kuzuru smiled and responded, “it will be fun regardless of the outcome.”