The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Eighty-Three

I got stuck down a rabbit hole in a novel that consists of over 1500 chapters... And writer's block hit me hard. Like I know in my heart where I want the story to progress and how... BUT my brain did a whole spiel on "What if this? What if that?"

I wanted to post 2 weeks ago, but I was not happy with the chapter.

.....

"You're the one that keeps interfering in my daughter's life." The large man said as a growl slipped from his lips.

Ora and Azrael finally reached the front while the demon queen turned towards Gem with a brow raised.

"Those are her first worldly parents. Sebastien King and Lavine Zkaldkin. One is a werewolf. Similar to wolf beasts in your world. The other is a dragon."

She huffed, rolling her eyes.

"The two men who look like her partners? They are her true partners. The ones in your world are a mere copy."

"A copy? How could they be a copy?"

Gem shrugged. "You should ask Macey. She created every copy herself. Now, If you will excuse me."

He faded only to reappear beside the others in front of the black dragon who seemed to grow weary.

"Gemanthus, you had best help me, or I swear I will tear this world apart."

His eyes darted from one to the other, seeming more and more perplexed as the tear enlarged, allowing a new beast to step through. A large group of men and women stepped through, one by one as another tear appeared. A man with similar features to Marcenia stepped through, his hair equally red and wild. A man and woman, seemingly complete opposites to her parents as well as two more men who looked like Azrael stepped through, followed by hordes of armed knights. A third tear appeared, and three men with distinct hair colours stepped through, also followed by more men with similar distinctions. 

A fourth tear appeared, and more soldiers stepped through with a similar destination in mind. More and more appeared, worlds that could only be dreamed of and beasts of unknown species and origins stepped through some. 

With each tear, another exact copy of the fox appeared. 

"What is this, Gemanthus?" he sounded almost afraid at the sight of hundreds of thousands of beasts stepping through.

"Did you forget?" Gem asked as he merged with the thousands of copies of himself. "I told you some time ago that I received another charge from the Superior. Marcenia is my charge as much as you are. Well... to clarify, she is my charge to protect. You are my charge to keep under control."

"You never explained how we are your charges. How do you play a role?"

"Me? By your standards, I am a God as much as Marcenia is one. She is my niece, and my charge to care for and protect for as long as my existence allows. You have overstepped your place by using your ghastly power on my beloved little niece."

"Niece?" he frowned as images flashed through his mind, his memory rolling towards the scrolls he had gone through for years. The superior he had spoken of was the god of gods. And always beside him was either a fox or a great general with a fox mask. "That can't be. He was struck down."

"Ah, you mean this?" He held his robe open for all to see a large gaping hole where his heart should have been. "I was not struck down. I agreed to a contract. My heart and soul for a life of servitude to my darling niece who had yet to be born at that point. It was I who led her soul to the mortals she first called her parents. It was the only way to keep you and your ilk from sniffing her out and taking control of the next superior before she grew strong enough. Becoming your friend was a strategic step in gaining your favour and keeping you from finding her too soon."

"What good did it do you?" He sneered, holding her closer. "She's under my control."

"Is she now?" he tilted his head as he eyed the woman in Gaelik's arms. "I'm impressed at your observation skills." the sarcasm in his voice did not go unnoticed.

Gaelik frowned, looking down at the woman who continued to stare blankly ahead of herself and he sighed in relief. 

"You seem to forget the power I wield, dear friend," Gaelik said with a smile.

"Ah yes, you're so powerful, friend."

He smiled as the largest man suddenly turned into a giant black wolf, and growled at the dragon fiercely, the force of their presence felt over the masses.

"You had better release my daughter before I lose my temper." the red-headed woman said with ferocity.

Lavin and Sebia Zkaldkin looked at the man and woman who looked similar to them and finally realized what was meant by her and Marcellus having similar parents. Not only them, but everyone with them was looking between the two sets of parents and then between Marcellus and Marcenia.

Lavin turned his attention to the dragon as well and glared similarly. "I concur, release our child."

Sebastian King growled and snapped his jaws at the pair, to which Sebia smiled broadly. "Woof woof to you too you grouchy mutt."

The wolf snorted, a deep and guttural sound similar to laughter sounded over the confused masses.

Both red-headed parents sighed audibly.

"Would you behave for once in your life Sebia/Sebastian?"

The two red-headed parents side-eyed each other but said nothing further, both smiling slightly. None would know the thoughts that crossed their minds being in sync that they finally found someone who knows their pain with a hotheaded spouse.

Three large men approached them, each with different coloured hair.

"I am Korain, this is my brother and his husband. We were told that Ppalgan is here. I order you to tell us what is going on."

"Order? How dare a little orange-headed copy-paste wannabe tell me what to do?"

"Copy p... I will have you know I am an Ascended Chosen One and a King!"

"Oh boo fucking hoo, every second asshole here is a royal."

The one antagonizing Korain, of course, would be Sebia. She seemed minuscule in front of the man who looked almost exactly like Deimios, but her voice silenced almost all who stared at her like she had grown three extra heads.

"Oh great chosen one, join the rest of the chosen twins vying for my little Macey."

It was only then that the many doppelgangers realized what she said and looked around, seeing nearly a hundred men with similar features around them.