Rebellion and New Life

Chapter 3

The Gelfling drainings would only be done every few days. After the first draining, the machine that had been used on the first Gelfling had broken off, since that had been the first time it was used, and being as it was a non tested prototype, it had not handled the thing too well. The Scientist had been constantly busy to get the repairs done so there could be more essence when the time called for it, plus the Emperor ordered it done forth-with.

Once the machine was finally repaired, more soldiers were unsuspectingly lured into the lab and drained of their essence too. It wasn't until then that the castle Gelflings suspected anything. But it began to get odd, and odder that their kin were starting to go missing and no one knew where they were.

The Skeksis made up lies that they had left the castle, sent out on errands. But the missing ones were never to be seen again. This was something the Skeksis had all agreed on together to tell the other Gelfling around the castle; or they would say that certain ones had reached the end of their service day and had left for personal or unknown reasons.

Those days, the Chamberlain encouraged his lover to try some essence that he had saved for her. She was a bit reluctant to do it, but she did want to please him too. And for the effects she had heard it had on whoever would drink it, it seemed like something worth to try.

Sil had a vial in his hand for her to try. La took the vial from Sil's good hand and plucked off the lid, then gave it a questioning look and stared back at her lover. He smiled, nodding with approval. She sighed, and put her head back as she rose the vial to her mouth and downed a drink.

Wow! It tasted amazing! La finished off the bottle of essence in a couple of gulps. She began to feel some effects going through her body immediately. A lot of her aches and pains began to disappear! She felt young again.

"This is amazing, Chamberlain. I had never thought I would feel this young again. I didn't imagine it could make all the pains go away, it's incredible." she smiled at him. "Thank you."

"I knew you would want to feel better. Even my hand feels better." he replied to her.

They both shared more loving moments from the invigorating, dazzling effects.

La could even take the bandages off Sil's hand later.
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The secret kept up for several weeks. More Gelfling from other tribes were brought in to serve as new soldiers and guards. An entire month had already passed since the time of that first draining.

Sil and La were still as close as ever, but Sil had begun to grow strange and was behaving quite unusually. His appetite had dwindled. He began to not feel well at all.

With the General being the Emperor's current second in command, it actually seemed fine for the Chamberlain to not have to be pushed with as big responsibilities as he did before, but he still had things to do around the castle, like every other Skeksis.

Chamberlain had begun to feel overly tired and rather dizzy. He had more headaches, along with odd stomach problems. He, like all Skeksis, seemed to be always hungry, but at this time, his hunger seemed to take a back seat most of the time. He would eat with the others at the evening meal and go for the Crystal ceremony every morning, but after eating, he would feel off and nauseated.

This had begun to tick him off, enough to make him go to the Gourmand's office, the kitchen.

"Gourmand, what do you keep putting on my food?!" Sil demanded angrily.

"Nothing, Chamberlain. I always plan the same food for everyone!. Also, it's not me, but the Podlings who serve it to us." Gourmand defended himself.