Chapter 8 // Doll

120 2 5
                                    

Summary:
Macaque stumbles upon something he shouldn't have.

In his excitement at showing up Wukong, he's forgotten what dwells within the old palace.
.
.
.
.
There’s wards on the main doors, but they’re stupid easy to pick apart.

To someone else, it would probably be a challenge. But Macaque recognizes his own work, so it doesn’t take him much to find the right place to pull and yank it just enough so to allow them entry into the palace.

As far as MK sees, he just fiddles with the handle before pushing the massive, ornate red doors open. Maybe he feels a sudden, faint rush of air, or a spark of static rush up his spine -but the kid makes no comment, too busy looking up at the massive complex with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

It’s so genuine Macaque almost smiles.

Almost.

He shoves the massive doors ajar just enough to wiggle in, and urges MK inside with a nod. The boy is practically abuzz with barely restrained energy when they enter the main hall.

Just like the outside of the palace, dead silence greets them. A vast, rectangular room, side hallways on either side and a long row of ornate pillars leading forward. The great hall of the Monkey King’s home holds nothing but old ghosts to Macaque -for everywhere he turns, he only sees memories best left to rest.

MK, however, sees none of that -instead he lets out little ooohs and ahhhs as he takes a step forward, then another, eyes so wide that for a brief moment Macaque feels as if they are going to pop out of the child’s skull. The sight is endearing -the boy’s energy at seeing the ancient palace soothes some of his nervousness.

Macaque knows for a fact Wukong will be pissed when he comes back -if he hasn’t felt the wards trip. The shadow warrior didn’t feel any alarm seals activate on their way in, but one can never be too sure -but of what he is certain, is that his older brother must have waited to reveal this place to MK. Keep a surprise, so he could spring it to his beloved student and watch him do exactly what Macaque is seeing him do right now -running up and down the still hallways like a flighty hawk, abuzz with excitement.

…or , part of Macaque wonders, or maybe he never wanted to show this to the boy.

Maybe he wanted to bury this.

(Just like he buried you.)

He watches with a impassive expression as MK comes to a stop before the great hall, his eyes finally straying away from the many suits of armor, statues and elaborate tapestries to rest upon the center of the room, where a familiar -at least to Macaque- structure stands, only illuminated by the lights trickling from the high windows of the room.

MK steps closer to the stone construct, eyeing it with wonder.

“Woah.” Macaque hears him wonder, a small hand reaching over to touch cracked stone. “That’s…”

“Yup.” Macaque hears himself say, flat. “The throne.”

MK pays him little mind, instead cooing and muttering under his breath as he circles the old throne, never truly daring to sit upon it. His amazement at the old stone pile has Macaque’s ears twitching. For a flash of a moment, he wants to drape himself on top of the throne in mockery. It’s a vile, angry thought, one that fades faster than expected, the rage slipping through his fingers like water.

Instead, Macaque finds himself observing the giant carved stone and noticing things.

The top of it was broken.

There used to be an elaborate carving atop of the throne in the shape of a sun -but now that’s gone, leaving only two thirds of the back standing. Macaque narrows his eyes at it, keeping well from letting his expression be visible to MK.

Brotherhood: Destiny Fulfilled Where stories live. Discover now