The Other King

Crow- Ingredients

“Rise and shine.” Colest called out. I groaned from the brightness surrounding me. I had to squint my eyes when I opened them. I’m not sure I fell asleep, I remember thinking for hours over what the god had said. That was a lot of truth I heard so late at night. “I have three routes we have to go to. I did a locator spell to figure out the coordinates.” He bragged as if we even asked.
“What are we even going to find?” Devanar asked as he yawned. He shook Pylah awake and kissed the top of her head when her eyes squinted open.
“We have to find Helaka herbs, Pelko waters and the Sever flames.” The god stood in the middle of our sleeping camp, he was gathering his belongings in which I provided him.
I looked down to see my partner sleeping beautifully. I moved the hair gently from where they covered his eyes. The sunlight hit his pale eyelids, having him groan from the wake. I leaned down and placed my lips over them, he smiled and guided me to his own. I almost forgot we were in the presence of the others when I opened my mouth to slip my tongue into his mouth. I retreated and looked down at him, my hand stayed on his cheek to have him look back at me.
“Good morning.” He said with a smile, his eyes squinted open. I couldn’t help but smile brightly above him. “What’s the plan for today, your majesty?”
I rolled my eyes playfully and said, “We can’t forget I literally killed my father. I don’t think I deserve that title.” A sadness twisted in my stomach from killing my only living relative but he deserved it.
“True, but you’re still my king,” He flirted with his eyebrows and I let out a laugh.
“Okay, slave.” I added onto the joke, he just stared at me as his cheeks grew red. I laughed even more and sat up off the hard floor. My body groaned from tenseness, “Colest, how long will it take to get the items you need?”
“A few days' journey for the first one, it’s in a town called Gebnith by the border of Alkan country. We have long before nightfall, we better move quickly.”
* * *
The day’s travel caused my restless body to feel sore, my hips and ass especially from sitting on Autumn’s furred back all day. I spotted light ahead from the incoming darkness surrounding us. Autumn stopped by the entrance gates so Colest could dismount Mykren and for Jackson to do the same with Dekek. I stayed on Autumn seeing that he didn't have a problem with it and let him enter into the town of so-called Gebnith.
Colest seemed to have been here since he walked with purpose, leading the way to an abandoned bar. A sign lay on the ground with spider-webs taking it. As soon as Colest stepped foot into the room he called out, “Witchess dear, guess who’s here?”
“Great, another witch.” Devanar mumbled. I felt the same excitement of not wanting another witch in my presence after seeing what they could do.
After a moment, a crooked old lady came out from the swinger doors in the back of the room. She wore tattered and shredded dark robes and her hair was cut in different lengths. She was barefoot, her feet looked calaced and hardened from the walk. Colest welcomed her in open arms, hugging her dirty frame against his body.
“Heleka, my dear. I missed you so,” he said. She smiled brightly and examined us.
“My Lord, I haven’t thought of any of the gods to see me.” She backed up to look into his face. Her eyes seemed to tear from joy. “You have come for the herbs, I presume?”
“Ah, my smart girl. You’re always ahead of me.” He said with a smile. For a god older than the planet I live on, this disgusts me immensely.
She squealed and dragged him to the back room. The rest of us followed closely behind. My eyes searched the widened area, the ceiling was made of glass for the sun to easily reach the plants lined up in rows and columns. They varied in color and size. In the back was Moon flowers with a lid so the smoke couldn't exit. Heleka lead Colest to a group of blood red flowers, bleeding black and blue from its mouth.
“Capadar flowers.” Heleka explains, “Once spelled on they’re used as a barrier to either protect you or the others around you. I’m sure you're going to use these on his majesty?”
I see now that Heleka is a subject to the missing king. I’m sure everyone on the way to Honok from The Other will be, and will also be familiar with the god though I’m not sure how. Or perhaps, the king told them he’s in search for his father, though how would they know if not even Jackson knows?
“How do you know of Colest?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“The king, Arlik, was a nasty complainer when he left the kingdom. He complained about my lord and said he lied about trying to fulfill his wish. And my lord sent me herbs from the goddess, right?” She beamed brightly in the gods' direction.
“My bloody son and his complaints.” Colest sighed. “And yes, I’ve had the goddess Benahm send you my flowers I need and others like the living moon flowers.”
“Is it true they live even in the world of the dead? And glow in the darkened sky of death?” Heleka asked.
“I've never stepped foot into the goddess’s part of my given world but she does tell me they do.” Colest says, picking Capadar flowers from their roots. He picks out almost all of the batch and puts them into his bag.
I glance at Devanar to see if he’s following and he shakes his head. I have yet to learn all the gods given that they’re actually real now.
“That is all I need.” Colest concluded, “Thank you my dear.”
“Whatever you need my Lord.” Colest kissed her forehead before turning back the way we came. After leaving the small abandoned town, it seemed she was the only one living there. 
“That was..” I started not finding the right words.
“She’s a good old lady, I’m sure to find the right spot for her after Judgement has passed.” Colest says easily.
“You’ll have to explain to us what you’re talking about.” I said, totally confused.
“The world of the dead, my realm and all my other death gods and goddesses that go under my rule, is a long process of rules of life and death. I should share with you after you have fallen, though then there will be no time until your judgment is decided.” He sighs. “If you must know, I should spare you a time of knowledge before your guaranteed death.”
I blink, “did I hear that correctly?”
“Well, if you are to know the way of godly works with the death after life leaves them, I’ll have to have your Chaser take you to my kingdom immediately once you know the secrets.”
“I seemed to have changed my mind.” I said plainly with dry tongue. The god looked almost disappointed.
“Very well. We’ll have to save that chat when your time is at its end.” Colest said pleasantly and led us past the gates. Autumn and Pylah already started to shift after our quick stop, Colest mounted the red winged beast and Jackson found his way to the brown one.
I should’ve stayed in my form. Autumn complained through the pain. I pat his back and pet his boned face. A low, satisfied rumbling sounds from the deep of his throat.
“The next stop is a few sundowns away.” Colest announced once the dragons were in motion.
“I’m hungry.” Jackson called out. I glanced at Devanar, a hungry ghoul was not in good company.
“We’ll stop at a tavern tonight, do not worry. There should be an inn or some sort of housing building by sundown.” Colest had to raise his voice to be heard above the wind.
“No, I feel the urge to kill right now. Colest, milord, you don’t want to see what happens when there’s flesh right in front of me and I can’t eat. I haven’t eaten in three weeks, it's bad to go this long.”
Colest halted Mykren to a stop, Kedek followed and Autumn and Pylah guided Devanar and I in front of the others to hear the conversation better. Jackson stared at me, drool fell from the sides of his lips.
Colest cussed and looked around, there was no sight of living life.
“He can take a bite out of my arm.” I suggested. Devenar looked at me with concern and Autumn growled loudly.
If he does that, I’ll shred him to pieces. Autumn lowered his head and glared at Jackson, daring him to step closer.
I eyed Jackson, he seemed to be struggling since his eyes already turned to the black ones matching what I saw the first time we met. “He’s done it before, and Devanar’s healing pallet healed me in a matter of hours. I was perfectly fine after.”
Jackson jumped off Kedek. His legs seemed to be moving on his own. “I didn’t bring any pallets with me Crow. And the pills took weeks to make. Healing you after would take longer than a few hours.”
“So be it, besides I can heal myself now, it should speed up the process by half. It’s better than waiting too long and having him feast on us while we sleep.” I jumped off Autumn, he growled in protest and napped his teeth in defiance. “I’ll be okay.” I promised, though I’ve never willingly let myself be bit.
I was a foot away from Jackson before he lunged and I couldn’t stand the weight so I fell back against the ground. His face was inches away from mine. I was scared he was going to eat my face off because his mouth opened showing a set of hungry teeth. I raised my right arm, his face turned and he grabbed my wrist. I winced from his strength and let out a painful groan when his teeth sank into my forearm. I felt his teeth dragging against my arm, ripping a chunk just like the first time. He sat on top of me, head back with my wrist still in his hand. My blood dripped from his mouth to his chin and continued down his neck. Autumn made a noise but I couldn’t hear. This was a bigger bite than I’ve ever had gotten before.
He then takes my other wrist, I silently beg him not too but his mouth placed on my other forearm and did the same. He took a bite and dropped my arms, swallowing my flesh.
He looked back down at me, my eyes blurred with tears. I watched as his eyes turned back into blue and white, instead of black and red. He got up and Devanar shoved him away to be able to sit by my side. Autumn’s skulled head hovered on the right, making sure I was okay.
The white mist did its magic and began to heal. It was an icy cold sensation, sewing my skin back together. I felt myself healing as well, though it was fighting against the wound and my energy was low making it slower than Devanar’s. Most of the process was a daze, my consciousness slipped in and out of reality. When I finally finished healing, the sky marked a little over an hour later.
Jackson sat in the grass a bit away, staring at me with a worried look. Autumn had shifted back into his elven form, my head was in his lap. Pylah was behind Devanar with a hand on his shoulder for support. This had taken a bit out of Devanar, not just me. Colest stood by the laid down Mykren, the dragon's head rested between his front claws.
“How are you feeling?” Pylah asked.
“I’m okay, thank you.” I sat up and immediately was hit with being light-headed. Autumn stabilized me. “Did you eat enough?”
Jackson got up to stand and made his way over, shrugging before he spoke. “More or less. The tavern tonight should give me enough for weeks.”
“That wasn’t enough?” Autumn said in defense.
“A ghoul has a high appetite.” Jackson replied. “It’s not my fault I was born a ghoul.”
I nodded, “It’s fine. You’ll get the rest tonight, hopefully my arms should last you a few hours.” I look down and see the faint bite marks, still trying to heal. My flesh had recovered and healed back in place.
“Thank you Crow.” Jackson said. My blood still stained his shirt. I didn’t reply, it wasn’t even enough to keep him satisfied.
“Colest?” Autumn asked. He looked up. “Can you make more of those horses, you’ve done for yourself the first ride? Pylah’s and I’s energy is limited in the day because of the light from the son. We’re coming close to not being able to shift.”
“I didn’t know that.” Colest said before generating power from his palms. Four horses broke free from the ground, just like the first horse, they’re skin was invisible in the daylight only showing their skeletons. Each horse trailed to each of us. Mine bowed showing his obedience before side-stepping so it's easier to mount. I patted it consciously to figure out where the skin was. I grabbed onto an invisible mane and climbed onto its back. Autumn rode to my side and Devanr and Pylah rode over after mounting. Mykren and Kedek started off first. We followed after.
“You worried me.” Autumn said. Our horses rode in sync.
“If you’re going to question me, I don’t need it.” I said sternly.
“Not at all. I just didn’t want anything to happen to you.” I looked up at him, not concerned with leading the horse since it seems to know where it's going.
“I wouldn’t do anything stupid to get myself killed.” I rethought that after Autumn smiled. “Okay, maybe a few times.”
“Or all the time, when you have a plan.” Autumn laughs. I couldn’t help but join him. I’ve been too worried with myself and what others want, Autumn and I haven’t had time alone really.
We talked for the rest of the trip, but the sun threatened to set by the time we reached the next stop. Once we dismounted the horses, they crumbled into bone and ash. Colest and Jackson were the first into the building; the first floor was full of creatures drinking wine and legs of free-roamed animals, where the stairs led up into rooms. The troll held the keys and handed us four. I wondered where his master was but I guess it's better to not know.