The Cursekeeper

Mallacht's Prisoner

This chapter is rated M for graphic content and mentions of abuse.

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Arthur frowned deeply as the door to the bathroom room clicked, implicating that it was now locked and in use.  He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair before turning and looking at people.  "Alright, someone needs to tell me what the hell is goin' on around here," he said bitterly.  "I need answers.  Now."

Rose sighed as she and Babd started preparing the tea table that was by the large patio window.  "If ya got questions about the queen, a lot of those answers are classified," Rose explained.  "She's a very private person."

"Can you at least tell me what she meant about her wounds being underneath?"

"I can," Lugh said with a frustrated look on his face, his fists clenched.  "I know exactly what she meant.  And I know what that key hole on her neck is fer."

Everyone looked at Lugh in surprise.  "What is it?" O'Callaghan asked.

"It's an outer casing," Lugh spat bitterly.  "A cursed shell that covers up one's true form and suppresses many of the victim's powers."  His eyes were watery as he raised his head.  "It's a cage.  That woman isna Mallacht's queen, she's his prisoner."

Arthur's eyebrows raised as he looked at the bathing room door.  "So...what's she look like underneath all that?"

"That's classified," Rose remarked as she began dishing out food on plates.  "Come eat before it gets cold."

Arthur had a lot to think over.  Things really weren't what they seemed here.  Had he been going about it all wrong?  Maybe the queen really wasn't the enemy.  He sat down with the others, they all took their jackets off and began picking away at the delicious looking food.  Everyone thanked Rose and Babd for preparing a lovely meal before really digging in.  It was great food.  It was cooked to perfection.  But Arthur still had questions.

"Rose, can we talk about the door?" Arthur inquired before taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Yes," Rose replied after sipping her tea.  "I made the door tah keep Mallacht from gettin' out.  At the time, it was mostly outtah self-preservation and possession that I felt towards Lilly, but it still scared the right livin' piss outtah me.  Over time, I tried tah figure out how tah deal with the problem.  But, as ya can imagine," Rose took a bite of her sandwich, "I was too busy with other agendas tah really focus on it.  Unfortunately, I didna know the damn bastard had control of Lilly's temporal powers so when I cursed the door tah be sealed, he managed tah make time go faster down here so it's been roughly thirty five hundred years fer him."

Arthur blinked on confusion.  "Uh...temporal powers?  Lilly can manipulate time?  And he's really been down here that long?!"

Rose rolled her eyes.  "Ya know what she is, she has the capability to literally do anythin' she thinks of.  And Mallacht has had access tah all of it ever since Dubh put him in here."

"Uh, Rose..." Arthur cleared his throat.  "We know what she is, but there are people watchin' who don't, so be mindful of what you say."

Rose cocked her head.  "What do ya mean there are people watchin'?"

Scotty the drone flew over to Rose.  "Hello, Rose.  It's Darrach.  We, uh, are using various avenues of technology to view what is happening inside Lilly's mind.  And everyone is here to watch...minus the children."

The dark haired woman blinked.  "Oh.  Uh," she examined the drone with a giggle and waved.  "Hi, everyone.  Uh...how long has it been since we got taken?"