Stolen (A Grumbo/Vampire Mumbo fanfic)

Chapter 25- Xelqua

Oh, what a lovely day it WOULD BE if GRIAN stopped bugging him.

"Come on, give me a little bit of leeway." begs Grian.

"No, I told you. I'm in charge now. You have no power."

"But I do have power. It's just not showing itself." retorts the parrot hybrid.

"No, not here, and not now."

Xelqua quickly pushes Grian's retorts away and finished the preparations for the executions the next day. Now, the only thing left was where to hold them... OOOOH, the arena! Lots of seating, big field... but that would be boring, especially to our guests downstairs. The dungeons? Then it wouldn't be a show.

A watcher comes in as Xelqua debates on where to host the executions.

"Sir, where do you want to put the platform?"

"I can't decide. Any suggestions on where I should put it?"

"The arena?"

"No, too boring. Dungeons are too private, and I'd much rather keep my newly installed carpet nice and clean."

"Would the plaza work? It's wide and open, and there's lots of people going through there on a daily basis."

"That... is perfect actually. Put the platform in the middle of the plaza. It'll be done by tomorrow by half past ten, correct?"

"Yes, sir." responds the watcher, giving a bow.

"Very well. Do that, then report back to me. I must check on the prisoners in the... basement, for lack of a better term."

"Yes, sir." The watcher leaves and Xelqua walks down to the dungeons. As he's walking to the cell, he sees Technoblade coming from the human's direction.

"Your highness." Techno says as he bows.

"Techno, call me Xelqua. And no need for the formalities. You have my permission to do so."

"Yes, Xelqua."

"How are the human prisoners?"

"Human, and two vampires, sir."

"What?"

"One is a human, the other two are vampires, sir."

"No need for sir, Techno. How are they doing?"

"They're doing okay, but one of the vampires tried to paralyze himself earlier."

Xelqua hears Grian, much louder, trying to break free and help Mumbo, but Xelqua couldn't have that happen. He'd gain the confidence to break free from Xelqua's grasp entirely.

"How? Vampires can only be paralyzed by stabbing a wooden stake in their heart."

"One of them got a wooden pickaxe past me. I don't know how, but I've got it right here."

"I'm surprised you didn't find it earlier. Glad you grabbed it."

"Of course, Xelqua."

"They didn't get out, did they? Were they trying to break anything with it?"

"No, sir. Still locked up in their cell."

"Good."

The two of them sit in silence for a little, with Grian's pitiful attempts to break free keeping him entertained.

"Sir," Techno starts, but Xelqua quickly interrupts. "Techno. You don't have to call me sir. Call me Xel if you want. I don't care."

"Yes, Xelqua."

"Good. What were you going to say?"

"Do they have to watch the executions tomorrow? They know it's hopeless. Why would they do anything stupid?"

"I want to ensure that they don't do anything stupid. The mustached vampire, what's his name?"

"Mumbo, si-Xelqua."

"I have a feeling that he's going to do something stupid. I want to ensure that that isn't the case. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Xelqua. I'll leave you to do... whatever it is you're down here for."

"Thank you. See you later, Techno."

Techno walks away from Xelqua and Xelqua continues onward. He passes the cell that Beef, Mumbo and Xisuma were in, and a little bit later, he comes upon the cell holding King Aziel's high advisors, loyal guards, and his right hand man.

"Are you guys prepared for your fate yet?"

"Why...? Why are you doing this?" asks a watcher, who Xelqua noticed was Axel, Aziel's right hand man.

"Because I can, and because I don't trust any of you to disobey me."

"Your highness... please, have mercy." says a watcher who went by the name of Xahlia. "Please..."

"No. Your execution is tomorrow. Finish preparing in any which way you want."

Xelqua walks away as the watchers start crying, screaming and yelling in protest. As he gets farther away, they get louder and more frantic. As Xelqua looked back, there was only one watcher who did not say anything, or really even react, except for a tiny bow. He couldn't trust him, but maybe he'd save him until last.

"You won't get away with this." warns Grian's voice, ever present in his head.

"Oh, yes. Yes. I. Will."