The Knight's Eyes

32: SHATTERED CURIOSITY

NIGHTINGALE POV

He kept fidgeting, pacing back and forth, bulbous yellow eyes glued on the bolted door. Every scream and yelp they heard, the raptor would freeze in place, ears strained for the slightest indentation of final death. However, none came.

She grinned to her kind of music, accidently cutting the tip of her thumb along the butcher knife's sharp blade. She soaked in the pain with tender love and licked her bleeding thumb dry. She opened her mouth to order the stupid raptor to sit down when a deep-throated screech penetrated through the walls.

Kaahiss gasped, his concern conquering him, and sprinted for the door. Swiftly, she was on her feet, and stopped the raptor in his tracks with her magic.

He hissed, spun around withered in anger and frustration. "Stop. Let me go. He's dying in there."

No. Let him die. That's what he deserves. She voiced, giving a muted snicker.

He stomped towards her, claws clicking along the hard floor. "Please, Gale, let him go. The souls in there will tear him to shreds."

She poked out her chin and peered down at the mystical beast bounded to her by blood, Then let them. He tried to kill me. He shall face his death like every other fool you brought into my house.

The raptor snarled, casting eyes of regret onto the bolted door. She shook her head. Ever since the man was brought into her castle, she'd noticed how soft her raptor had grown. He'd report to her about the man's loose tongue, which had him receiving whips, but he noticed something. Something he couldn't ignore. The Terran was not afraid of the raptor or of the wraiths. At first he was, but immediately, Kaahiss had sensed the man's humor of his unfortunate situation.

These reports made her curious. She had watched him from afar during his first week and thought his brave stance in the hallway was quite funny. Yeah she killed the girl and it wasn't meant for the servant to see so, but maybe it was for good. She hoped she had punched some fear into him that moment, giving him some dosages of her power, except it didn't work.

The little bastard tried to kill her and now he must die.

The screeching within the Room of Souls heightened then suddenly died. Silence washed across her Alchemroom. Of all her years living in this castle, she'd only used this room three times. This one was the third. She didn't know much about the room and its illusions. What she did know was that it could identify one's fear and use it against them.

She grinned and stepped closer to the door. Her magic flowing warm through her veins sizzled. Her grin dropped. Something wasn't right.

"May I now open it, Gale?" Kaahiss shouted.

Beads of sweat formed along his scaly brow. She knew the raptor was really on edge when he'd use her real name. She curled her hands into fists and growled.

Fine, she said nudging her head at the bolted door. Kaahiss swiftly ran to the door, unbolted it, and pulled it open.

She stood where she was, lips twisted in annoyance at her pet's concern for this man. He shouldn't care for this one just like the others. This one was not special, especially, when he's from Terra. He could die right now for all she cared.

"Human," he muttered and entered the room.

A laugh twisted within her empty chest at the raptor's usual insistence of crossing their servants' names from his speech. He did tell her his name was Alsindad a knight of Terra the first night when she returned from the exchange. She had told Kaahiss that his name was silly and sounded like a name for a queen's fool. After that he just called him the human, which gave her a good laugh at times. There's nothing more fun than to dehumanize a person. If he happened to survive this ordeal it would not be a surprise if he forgets his name and claim the new one.