Exploring and isolation

Before long, Gob had set up the area outside his apartment. He had straightened out the bookcases and he would have plenty to read if he wanted to. He had set up tables and chairs, storage barrels and crates. The place looked almost like an inn. He had even cleaned the other apartments. He wasn’t sure why but if he ever had guests he could offer them comfortable lodgings. He knew he was playing house but he was enjoying himself.

Once that was done there remained the tunnel to the catacombs. Gob stole some chalk to mark the walls and he made himself a bag to carry some supplies. When he wasn’t on shift he was exploring the dark tunnels. Once these were places or burials and there were many chambers with bones resting on shelves cut from the rock. It was creepy but Gob didn’t fear the dead. He did end up arming himself as there were a handful of creatures who were big enough to cause him some harm. He was frustrated to find that, despite defeating several oversized spiders, rats and bats that he hadn’t levelled up at all.

Most of the tunnels led nowhere, just ending in chambers of bones. As he trod the same paths he started to notice that some of the tunnels had passages that led up. Remains of what must once have been ladders could be found near some of these. Gob set to work building a ladder so he could check some of them out.

Initially, he was disappointed. While he found trapdoors at the top of the passages he couldn’t budge most of them. One he found was rotten so he pulled it away only to find that it had been built over. If he wanted to find out where it went he would have to smash through the floor and he didn’t think that it was a good idea. Still, when he found more he would come back with his ladder to check them. Then one day, one of them opened.

He found himself in what looked like a disused storeroom. The room was filled with chains and other metal attachments. Some stone stairs led to another trapdoor. This one was larger and heavy but Gob put his back against it and pushed. It cracked open and Gob could see a lit stone room. Arches lined the walls, each fronted with thick bars. He had fairly keen senses and he could sense that there were people nearby but he couldn’t see anybody near the trapdoor so he opened it enough to step out. He saw a loop or iron on it so he was confident he could get back out so he crawled out of the gap and did his best to lower it quietly.

He looked about and knew where he was. He was inside the dungeon. He knew a little about the place having asked Graff about it. There were no active guards because there was no way in or out of the cells. Prisoners were materialised into the cell, their food, water and slop were delivered and removed by magic. The prisoners were checked on once a week or so mostly to see if anyone had died.

Gob could hear two people in the cells. That wasn’t many but this wasn’t the city Jail, it was the palace dungeon and times were peaceful. Gob felt confident that he would have to be exceptionally unlucky to meet a guard so he began to look around.

The cells had no doors or windows and were fronted by thick metal bars. The cells contained a basic bed, a bucket and a table. Not the worst conditions but the solitude must be ****. He peeked around the corner of one cell and saw a familiar sight. Tallie, still in her maid uniform, lounging on the bed and muttering to herself. She looked remarkably well-kempt considering she had been in her cell for weeks by this point. Her uniform looked as clean as when she had been sent here and she looked well-groomed.

“Tallie?” said Gob, happy to see her.

Tallie’s eyes shot to him. “Shit, I’m starting to see things,” she muttered to herself angrily.

“Who are you talking to!” came a scream from another cell.

“Nobody Annie. I’m talking to myself,” Tallie shouted back.

“Ah yes, oh yes, we talk to ourselves,” came Annie’s voice as it descended into muttering.

“Stupid, crazy old bitch,” Tallie muttered to herself. “Why’d it have to be Gob and not some handsome true demon?”

“Tallie, it’s me Gob. I’m really here.”

Tallie did a double-take. “Gob? What the fuck? How are you here?” She got up and moved to the bars.

“I was sneaking around and found myself in here. How are you doing?” he asked.

“How am I doing? How am I fucking doing? It’s your fault I’m in here and you ask me how I’m fucking doing? You could have taken the slack for me like any half-decent guy would but you, you fucking little creep, you had to put all the blame on me and I’m stuck in this place with only crazy fucking Annie for company. I don’t see anyone Gob. I’m on my fucking own. My food appears and disappears. I don’t even get let out for a wash. A cleaning spell runs through the place once a day and I’m left looking like I didn’t spend the day clawing at the walls. My nails are fucking perfect and the scratch marks on the walls are gone,” She was reaching through the bars to try and get him with a mad look on her face.

She gave up and threw herself onto the bed. “He’ll let me out soon. He has to. I was his favourite.”

Gob had heard enough gossip amongst the maids to know that he had a new favourite. Out of malice, he said, “The Maou’s forgotten you exist. You aren’t the only cunt with a pretty face for him to fuck you know.” His words were harsh but he had been trying to help her when she got sent here. He didn’t feel like he deserved her fury. Why should he have taken the blame for her arrogance? She did this to herself.

“You’re lying.” Tallie was crying. “He’ll remember and get me out, I know he will.”

“He might if I reminded him. I am his servant now after all,” said Gob. “I don’t see why I should. You are still the same arrogant cunt who got herself into this situation. Goodbye Tallie.” He turned and walked back to the trapdoor.

“No! Gob, don’t go. I’m sorry. Don’t leave me here alone. Please. Please!” she wailed. He could see her hands reaching through the bars, not clawing for him but reaching. His heart had hardened slightly. She would say anything to get her way. He slipped down through the trapdoor, her pleading screams still audible through the thick wood.

He went home. Exploring had lost its appeal. He returned to his apartment, made himself some food on his little stove and sat at his table trying to process his thoughts. She was so ****. He could probably get her out if he just reminded the Maou about her. It was only supposed to be a punishment, not a life sentence.

Not yet. She needed to learn a lesson first.

He felt a stirring in his crotch. He realised he had power over her. He could end her suffering and she would be willing to give a lot for it. Maybe he could turn this to his advantage. In her state even having a visitor was an unexpected treat. Maybe he could find a way she could motivate him to stay? Not yet though. She needed to believe he wasn’t coming back.

Gob grinned to himself. He had never permitted such wicked thoughts before. He was too afraid of the repercussions. Now, as long as he was careful, he could be quite wicked and if the worst came to the worst, she could stay there forever.