Vaid Empire: Conquest Ch. 14

"You've done well, Lalian." Hesin said, carefully placing the mask to conceal his own face. His voice became slightly muffled, causing his tone to lose a small amount of humanity. "I'm sure the people of Domani have had enough of staring at these ugly scars. Are you capable of producing more?"

Lalian nodded with a hint of pride. "I'll inform the metal workers to begin right away. Do you have a specific number in mind?"

Hesin waved his hand dismissively. "A dozen or more should suffice for now. The God King wishes for me to initiate the creation of an Order of sorts, a group capable of dealing with delicate assignments for the kingdom."

"I see..."

"You'll want to keep that to yourself for now, little Lanthian. I'll inform The God King that you've done as I've asked." Hesin stated, turning his attention back towards the desk.

Lalian raised a finger. "If I could be so bold, I do have a request..."

"Oh?" Hesin replied in genuine curiosity. He turned back around to face the green man, folding his arms.

"I...well, there is a difficult matter that has arisen." Lalian began to say, lowering his voice into a conspiratorial tone. "I would be most grateful if you could provide aid..."

"Then you must explain, little Lanthian."

Lalian cleared his throat, knowing what he must say all while wishing that he would simply leave. "A...difficult matter has arisen, and-"

"Yes, you've said that. Continue."

"...and, it is a matter that concerns Lady Xenia. A particularly unacceptable event occurred between us some time ago...and I am no longer capable of moving past it."

Hesin remained silent for a moment, before releasing an amused chuckle. "I assume I do not need to tell you that I will not harm a concubine of Dominax, correct?"

The green man's voice became slightly frantic, as if trying to expel his words as quickly as possible. "Oh no no! I do NOT wish for you to harm her; I merely want you to observe her! See if you are able to find unpleasant secrets of hers, and I shall do the rest..."

"Interesting..." Hesin remarked, peering at Lalian with his remaining eye. The expressionless mask sent a hint of unease through the green man, forcing him to nervously fidget with his fingers. "I have no particular quarrel with Xenia."

"Merely observe, Hesin. That is all I ask..." Lalian replied, with only the spiteful memory of Xenia's humiliation forcing him to continue. "Report any information to me that may lead to her downfall. Do this for me...and I shall grant you whatever favor you'd wish."

A moment paused before Hesin finally responded, forcing Lalian to endure several seconds gazing at the expressionless face while wondering if he had made a terrible mistake in making such a treasonous request.

"I shall consider it little Lanthian...yet I expect you to uphold your end of the deal, whatever it may be."

Letting out a relieved breath, Lalian bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you Hesin, I shall uphold my word."

Hesin nodded, his mask giving no hint of his intentions. "Very well, now go. I have much to do."

No further command was necessary for Lalian to make his exit as quickly as possible, taking a moment to breathe as he entered the corridor. He had taken a colossal risk in even attempting to move against The God King's concubine, yet it had paid off.

As he walked down the hallway a bead of sweat ran down his forehead, the cruel words of Xenia echoing through his memory.

"Your pretty little cock shall NEVER breed...."

A sting of humiliation and anger flushed through him once more, and he decided that he had made the correct choice.

***

"Ah....The King returns...." Dorian's voice crept through the darkness of the pod's chamber, seeping around Dominax's form. "Has a month already passed...since our last discussion?"

Dominax casually brushed a speck of dust from his shoulder. "I wished to grant you time to regain your strength."

The image of Dorian's ghostly figure came into view through the darkness, huddled in his dark cloak. "Regain? No, my son...you misunderstand. I am far too gone...to simply recuperate now. Each of our meetings...saps more of my strength...and when it is gone, so am I. Permanently..."

The revelation caused Dominax to stiffen. "Gone? Truly?"

"Entirely...my son. Utilize these meetings wisely...for they interrupt an old man's eternal sleep..."

"Eternal sleep?" Dominax thought to himself, before stroking his short beard as he spoke. "Then I suppose we should not waste words, as I had hoped to speak to you of my guest."

"Your prisoner...correct? The woman...you spoke of in our...previous discussion?"

Nodding, Dominax began to pace along the symbol carved into the floor. "Irith. There is...an oddity about her, one that stays my hand in ways that I wouldn't have previously considered."

"Oh? You...care for her?"

"Nothing quite as simple and primitive as that. You'll recall that I sensed a...connection to her the moment she was gifted to me." Dominax explained, feeling his cloak gently flowing behind him as he walked. "Believe me when I say that she is extraordinarily attractive, yet I've encountered countless beautiful women without sensing anything similar."

The transparent form of Dorian could hardly be observed through the darkness, yet he smiled knowingly at his son's words.

"I...cannot lie that I haven't been tempted to simply go into her cell and force myself upon her. Truthfully...such a temptation has become nearly constant, yet the sensation that I shouldn't harm her has prevented me thus far."

"But of course...my son..." Dorian faintly chuckled.

Dominax spun on his heel, turning to face the lighthearted laughter with a glare. "Of course? Then seeking your knowledge in this matter was not a waste?"

"Oh, not at all...your little problem is quite clear. Tell me, do you recall my teachings...regarding familial connections?" Dorian asked, receiving a quick nod from Dominax before continuing. "Show me."

Gritting his teeth at receiving a command, Dominax hesitated before closing his eyes. Concentrating, he slowly reopened his silver eyes to see the spectral rope binding father to son, traveling from his core across the room to the old ghost. He sensed hundreds of spiritual lines extending from his own kingly core, reaching across the fabric of reality to his many unknown offspring spread throughout his kingdom. He could feel Cendra and Vixin's lines, their souls bound to him as their father.

"You've been busy...in your time as ruler..." Dorian chuckled, sensing his countless grandchildren through Dominax. "Remember my words...regarding conception...my son. Just as sperm and egg combine to make a child....so too do souls. A piece of the father's soul...and the mother's combine to form the offspring..."

"I am aware. Do not think I'd forget your teachings easily, yet I see little of how this relates to Irith."

"It has...everything to do with her. You are of my blood, my son...and with such power lay subtle abilities." The old man explained, his tone heavy with an unnerving mysticism. "You easily sense your own bloodline...of course, yet you may also sense...the bloodlines of other beings. You see Irith, you see the essence of her soul...and you see the potential that mating with such a soul could create..."

Dominax's pacing came to an abrupt stop, placing him in the center of the large floor symbol.

"If you feel such potential this intensely...then the possibility of producing...an exceptionally powerful offspring with her is high..." Dorian explained, his translucent form moving slowly through the darkness.

"Ah...I see..." Dominax replied, grinning insidiously as his mind quickly worked to accept the implications.

"There is no certainty that children...resulting from such a pairing will be as powerful as their potential...suggests, yet the chances are high my son. Mate with Irith...and you may just produce an heir...worthy of your power." Dorian finished explaining, his voice strained from the enormous effort that was required to communicate.

Dominax's unwavering grin only grew wider as his silver eyes began to faintly glow, ambition radiating through his mind. "A worthy heir indeed. I must ponder this further..."

"Go then...do so on your own, as my strength is fading." Dorian replied, his image growing fainter.

"Yes, though tell me Dorian, would it not simply be easier to speak in person?" Dominax asked, giving voice to a thought he had held for some time. "Could you not descend from The Chimira, or allow me to board? I'd...be very interested in visiting the vessel that I was conceived aboard."

"No." Dorian replied without hesitation.

Dominax waited for the old ghost to elaborate, yet Dorian remained silent. "No?"

The man nodded firmly. "Such a thing is impossible...my son."

"And why would that be?"

No answer came forth as the figure of Dorian slowly became nearly imperceptible.

Tightening his mouth with a hint of frustration, Dominax turned and approached the sealed entrance of the pod chamber. "More vagaries? So be it. If you do not wish to meet me in the flesh, I shall not force you."

"No, my son...you could not possibly understand...just how BADLY I wish to be with you, to embrace you with my own arms..."

Dominax stopped walking and whirled around to face the direction of the old man, allowing his frustration to leak through his control. "You wish, yet are you not a God? The creator? Yet you...wish? Oh, I wish too, Dorian. I wish that you had descended from your ship the day they drowned my mother."

As his words came harsher than Dominax intended, the effect that they inflicted upon Dorian was immediately visible on the old man's hooded face.

Silence lingered in the chamber, only interrupted when Dorian finally spoke. "You speak...of what you do not understand..."

"Make me understand!" Dominax exclaimed, returning to the center of the chamber.

Dorian hesitated, observing his son as he pondered. Then, with a reluctant nod, he waved his hand through the air.

Instantly, Dominax's mind was assaulted with visions, forcing him to take a clumsy step backwards as he viewed the interior of The Chimira. The colossal flying ship's ancient corridors weaved endlessly, stretching for miles until the visions centered on a single chamber at the heart of the vessel. There, in the depths of the floating structure, a large metal throne sat surrounded by dozens of otherworldly machines, their many wires and tubes winding into the body of a man.

Dominax let out a horrified gasp, immediately sensing his familial connections to the man in a manner that left no doubt to his identity. The old decaying body nestled on the throne was that of Dorian, unmistakably deceased.

"My boy...never doubt that I would be with you...if such a thing were possible." Dorian's voice echoed beyond the vision, his tone drenched in despair. "Yet I am not merely...projecting my soul to you...from afar. I am truly dead...my son. The machines...could only sustain my body...for a few short years after you were born. I knew my time was limited..."

Dominax gazed upon his father's corpse, unable, unwilling to move. He stood still, frozen in time.

"There was...SO much more I had hoped to create...yet I must rest eternally." Dorian explained, struggling to continue speaking. "A body...is only a soul taking physical form...yet my body could not sustain the power of my soul indefinitely. The power of our bloodline killed my father...killed me...and will one day kill you if given enough time. You may live a thousand years...my son...yet you shall one day join us all in endless sleep. No man lives forever."

The vision slowly faded, bringing Dominax back to the reality of the pod chamber. He wanted to fall to his knees, to collapse to the floor, yet he forced himself to remain standing.

"I must go now...my boy. We will speak again soon...yet I must return to my peaceful slumber..." Dorian explained, his ghostly form finally fading from view.

Left entirely alone, Dominax made no move, no sound.

His father was dead. Their creator was dead. The Chimira remained hovering over the surface of Ayphieal, no living being at the helm.

A deep sensation of dread poured into him, realizing that no God watched over them. No gods protected their world. They were but a single planet, alone in an endless void with no divine beings to guide them.

Finally taking careful steps, Dominax slowly made his way to the exit of the pod. How could he inform his followers and citizens that their true God was deceased, floating on a decrepit throne high above them? How could he tell them that The Creator was gone, leaving them on their own?

The door slid open, revealing a corridor of white stone deep inside The Grand Pyramid as the structure had slowly buried the pod inside of itself over the years. The large pod chamber was now no more than yet another room in the massive fortress.

Would he tell them?