Tribal

42

Hollow woke in a dark space; he felt as if he was floating in the air. He tried to look into the surrounding darkness to try and make out something, anything, but there was nothing, until they spoke.

"You have a duty to your family, your true family. Ghost must die. You must kill him, Hollow, for us, your true family." Hollow looked deep into the darkness and saw eight white glowing eyes looking back at him.

"Who are you?" Hollow asked.

"I am your true father, Hollow. I blessed you with the void. I am Shade." A snapping noise was heard, and Hollow shut his eyes as a harsh wind blew past him.

When he opened his eyes, he was sitting at a small table in what seemed to be a very cozy home. It was well lit and gave a feeling of comfort. He looked around the room, and his vision eventually landed on the one sitting across from him. He jumped.

"There is no need to be so startled, my child. I will not hurt you," Shade said. Their voice was soft and gentle.

"Where am I? I was at the palace just a few moments ago," Hollow said, keeping his eyes locked with the shadowy figure.

"Simple. We are inside your mind. This is your subconscious, a place entirely inside your mind," Shade said, sliding their hand across the table. The table became overloaded with food.

"Then what are you?" Hollow asked.

"You see, when Wyrm and Root placed your egg in the Abyss, they tasked me with imbuing your unborn fetus with void energy. Technically, making you a part of me, so I can appear to you at any moment." Shade lifted a cup and waved their hand over it; the cup was suddenly filled with tea.

"So why only just now reveal yourself?" Hollow began to slowly loosen his grip on the chair he was sitting in.

"There was never a need to. You have done a wonderful job of being a good son, brother, and king. Unfortunately, the situation calls for my intervention." Shade lifted the cup to their mouth after they finished speaking.

"What situation?" Hollow asked, intrigued.

"Ghost is trying to kill me. He wants to kill me and remove void from you and all of your siblings," Shade said, looking down into the tea.

"Why would Ghost want to kill you?" Hollow leaned forward in his chair.

"He believes that void is dangerous and has to be removed from Hallownest. He believes that I am evil and seek the fall of Hallownest," Shade said, taking another drink.

"Are you?" Hollow asked in a flat tone.

"What?" Shade gave a soft chuckle.

"Are you evil? I'll be honest; I've had my fair share of higher beings that claim to be benevolent but in reality are cruel and twisted. Answer my question: are you evil?" Hollow's eye sockets stared daggers into Shade.

"No, I am not," Shade said, unable to remember the last time he was frightened this way.

"I do not believe you," Hollow said, standing and drawing his blade.

"This is your only chance, Hollow. Do not make the same mistake as your brother," Shade continued to drink.

"Oh, I plan to. In fact, I plan on being exactly what I'm supposed to be. I will be the brother that Ghost, Hornet, and all my other siblings need. I will be the son my Mother can be proud of. I will be the king this land deserves. But most importantly, I will be your end." Hollow lit a pale flame in his hand.

"Very well. You have made a powerful enemy, Hollow. Good luck." The last thing that Hollow heard was a horrid shrieking before he woke up surrounded in a pool of void.