Monster (xMale!Reader | FIC)

Chapter Fourteen: ...or Is It?/Blood Rising

Knight stood behind them once they were in front of the Emperor, not blocking their way out, but more so their way to the others. Karma tried not to make the realization obvious. Just as he had been with Uraraka, they were prepared for them to try and run. Karma tried not to look at the drying brown puddle behind where the Emperor was sitting. 

For it to seem so run down upon first appearances, the actuality was surprisingly cared for. Everything here was clean, yet homey. It felt lived in. The only hint that there was something off (other than the fact that this fairly nice place was in an abandoned car park in a town that had been left to rot decades ago) was the puddle. Karma tried to ignore that he knew whose blood it was.

The Emperor's mask was an emerald-like green. Starting at the top-right of his face, the mask curved sleekly to a point. It covered his left eye, the top of his nose, and the part of the left side of his head—the point ended an inch to the right of his mouth. It resembled a Greek or Roman wreath. Karma's attention was brought away from it when the Emperor removed it from his face. He smiled kindly, barely sparing him a glance before locking eyes with Mr. Karasuma.

"The General," he said, his tone unreadable. His grin widened. "what do I owe the pleasure? It isn't often I get to see someone as influential as yourself."

"I feel as though I'm the one who should be flattering you."

"You're correct," he said. Despite no physical changes, his smile was beginning to seem less friendly and more excited—hungry. "did you know that the wreath headdress wasn't awarded as much to royalty in Greece as it was to the Olympic winner?"

Karma had to keep himself fidgeting. This was the first time the predatory gaze had been on him instead of from him. He tried to calm his heart as adrenaline began to be sifted into his veins. "I did know that, and clearly so did you when you chose your mask. No one would recognize the Radiata."

"Corona Radiata, Crimson Raven. Important distinction," the Emperor correctly. He's picky... "Coluber Constrictor made the same mistake."

Karma tried not to panic. Is that a threat? Is this what determines how this goes? I can feel that he's alive, but if I screw this up...for how long? There's been enough loss already.

"However," the Emperor continued, now catching Itona's eye. "he gave enough compliments to persuade me to let him run. Given his disadvantage, he was allowed a headstart. The only condition was that he had to make it to his territory before King caught him. He got very close, you know."

Itona felt sick. This was a game to them, cat and mouse. Sometimes, the mouse got away, but a lot of the time, the cat eventually caught it. He wondered if Nagisa knew what he was doing when he stopped at the sight of Uraraka.

"You know, General, I've admired you for as long as I can remember. Always such a good role model for young ghouls, and then you went and mentored those children a year ago. Six ghouls and about twenty humans, plus a sentient computer, right? My dear Rinka refused to tell me much else—smart girl, got all the questions right."

"You know Hayami Rinka?" Mr. Karasuma asked.

"I'm acquainted with everyone eventually, but enough talk. You're here for Coluber Constrictor, which is to be expected. Is there anything else you want?" The Emperor looked up affectionately. "Be a good boy and grab him for me."

A long, armored kagune slid from the ceiling to behind where the Emperor was sitting. It wrapped itself around Nagisa's ankle and dragged him to the Emperor's feet before dropping him roughly. He groaned weakly, dazed and out of it. Karma resisted the urge to grab him and run. We wouldn't get far, then we'd both be food.