Nameless Ghoul

Family

Shay was already in his office when Itzal arrived. Omega had dropped him off and gone about his business. The old ghoul smiled kindly and gestured for him to sit.

Itzal's eyes wandered the room, and a pang of homesickness struck him. Pictures, books, and artefacts from his home dimension lined the shelves. Most of the books were written in Ghoulish, and as he settled into the chair, Shay handed him a cup of spiced tea; an everyday beverage back home. He accepted it with a quiet thanks and took a small sip.

His eyes closed as the sweet, fragrant taste carried him back to his youth, to memories of family gathered around the table at mealtimes. When he opened them again, he met Shay's knowing silver gaze and nodded his thanks once more.

Shay spoke in Ghoulish, music to Itzal's ears after so long. It had been ages since he'd used it, or even thought in his mother tongue. English and Spanish were his primary languages now, though Santos had spoken Spanish most often, and he knew French from his time in Paris.

"I trust you are well after the ritual yesterday? I am assured it has held. For now."

Itzal nodded.

"Yes, thank you. Secondo seemed confident it will last. I have a new room with some of the other ghouls in their lair. They've all been very kind to me."

"And so they should," Shay said. "I think they've all taken a good look at themselves since meeting you. They've realised they should appreciate their positions here a little more. Too often, comfort breeds complacency." Itzal said nothing to that, but he cast his eyes down. "I'm sure you're curious why I called you here," Shay continued. "As I said, we're investigating your situation. The Ghoul Council on the other side of the Divide summoned your sire and mother for questioning yesterday. We'll need to follow up with your siblings as well, but it appears your sire was the one who dealt with Santos."

The words hit Itzal like a punch to the gut. But the anger he'd felt when Shay first told him his own blood had betrayed him was absent. Instead, a soul-deep sorrow settled over him. Knowledge that the sire he had looked up to all his life, the one he'd tried so hard to please, had sold him to a monster. Shay got up and moved around the table, putting a comforting arm around Itzal's shoulder. He flinched and quickly pulled away.

"Please don't," he said, retreating to stand by the bookcase. His eyes scanned the titles, but nothing registered. He took a slow, calming breath. "Did he say why? What did I do to make him hate me so much?"

Shay returned to his seat, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Do not blame yourself, child. Your sire is a ghoul with a tangled past, it seems. He maintained a respectable public image, but once we scratched the surface, we uncovered all manner of debts and shady dealings. He'd dug himself too deep and did the only thing his twisted mind could: he sold his greatest asset. The price you fetched put him back on even footing, so he escaped scrutiny."

Itzal's mind reeled. He wasn't the eldest. He had two older brothers, both more than qualified to be summoned. So why him?

Shay seemed to read his thoughts.

"We checked your Academy records. You were earmarked for elite training. Your blood carries the markers of a powerful alchemist once fully awakened. You excelled in your studies, making you an excellent candidate for the Clergy to summon when you were of age. Currently, we have no shadow ghoul. Your kind are rare and your Council aloof."

Itzal was puzzled. No one had ever mentioned this. He knew he was near the top of his classes, but he'd worked hard; he hadn't thought he stood out so much. His sire never hinted at any elite training. Surely he should have been proud. Instead, he saw monetary value, and hatched a plan to sell his own flesh and blood to settle his debts.

"Did my mother know about any of this?" Itzal asked, dread creeping in.

He almost didn't want to know. His world had flipped enough in recent days, but he needed the truth.

"No. He fabricated a story that you'd been whisked away to join the Shadow Council's ranks. She believed you were selected for their elite task force and had to sever all ties with family."

Itzal couldn't believe it. All these years, no one had even been looking for him? They thought he was living a secret, privileged life among the sacred warriors of the Shadow Council, enjoying luxury and privilege.

He sank into his chair and buried his face in his hands.

"Do not worry, child. We will investigate fully, and prosecute him to the fullest extent of ghoul law."

Itzal knew what that meant. Beheading. He felt a strange disappointment that the punishment would be swift for the ghoul who had once been the head of his family. The one who taught him and his brothers how to hunt, who told bedtime stories of the old Shadow warriors' glory days, and who had sold him to Santos for a few measly pounds of gold.

He wanted to rip something apart. Wished his sire or Santos were here so he could give in to the bloodlust that roared beneath his skin.