Dawn of the Ritual

"Good morning sir."

Father Perdilius rose from his covers, yawning and rubbing his eyes. An early yawn snuck through as he stood up straight and leaned back as far as he could before he heard a definite crrrack along his spine. Feeling relief from his tense muscles brought an elongated sigh, stretching his arms as the young maid presented him a cup of morning tea.

"Which is it?" He asked, eying the golden brown liquid.

"Green tea with a spoonful of honey."

Perdilius grinned, pressing the cup to his lips and enjoying a fresh sip. He smacked his lips as he felt the warmth slide down his throat before setting the cup down on the table beside him. "Green tea, excellent choice Mesa."

Mesa bowed as he stood, closing her eyes and pressing her hands together in front. It was the formal and respectful way a maid should greet a Master. He proceeded to grab his dark robe, passing each arm through the enormous hoop of his sleeves before pulling the belt around his waist to fasten it well. Another yawn, it was early morning after all and he was rubbing his hands together giggling with excitement as he approached the balcony edge where the jungle lay dormant for his viewing pleasure, the morning sun perfectly aligned to the center of the frame.

"Today is the day, the start of something wondrous. Where is Raz?"

Mesa cleared her throat, standing up straight with her arms behind her.

"Raz has yet to return, Master."

He frowned, turning his mouth from side to side and rubbing his temple. "I see, I shouldn't be surprised. The boy gives in too easily like his... hm, it matters not. Status report."

Mesa nodded. "The contract with the miners expired as of this morning, I gave the coins to the one who spoke for them."

"As I had asked, anything else?"

"Most of the knights are beginning to have breakfast, the Hunter remains in his room. He asks for his payment."

"In due time, he will get what's coming to him."

"Master, may I speak freely?" He nods. "If the ritual requires the retrieval of the two sisters, how are you to continue without them?"

"Aah, that is why I allowed Raz after them. Should he succeed, we have our girls back. Should he fail, they will bring him to me and use him as a term for negotiations."

Mesa tilted her head, her brown flowing hair grazing her shoulders. "They will bring him to us, sir?"

"Of course, I don't see why not. You remember the camp of nobodies led by that prideful elf and her son? I suspect they have integrated for protection, keeping away from our sight. Should they converge, well they were never of any threat to us. What can a kitty litter and a few arrows do, what harm can they accomplish?"

Mesa nodded, keeping quiet and tidying the bed.

"Have the knights on guard indoors and the soldiers on high alert. Take this." He raised a lead box in his palm. "Awaken my pets, take them out to stretch and enjoy the morning light. But be sure to present this to them at all times."

Mesa grabbed hold of the small box, nodding in return.

"One more thing, be sure to have them track this." He asked, reaching from his box to recover a single shoe, dusty and bruised. "The market woman should be with them. If not, they will come to us."

"Today, sir? What if they decide for tomorrow after the Blood Moon?"

"I thought of that, it is a risk they cannot afford. Should they wait and our opportunity goes to waste, what shall we do with our dear tainted kittens? Keep them? No, they know what will happen to them. I doubt they would risk the lives of their clutter and flee. Of course they could do that, in which case I turn to the original plan of cleansing them, one village at a time until the land is pure and saved!" He scowled, landing his fight against the box hard. Mesa jumped and hung her head, feeling her heart slowly return to a steady pattern.

Perdilius sighed, walking out to the balcony and breathing in the morning air. "This ritual will come to fruition. Go now, surely they will present themselves to capture my att-"

Just then, the chains belonging to the lift at the center of the room began to rattle and stretch as a knight came into view. He seemed out of breath, not from exhaustion but from urgency as if aware of an imminent danger approaching. Bowing to him, the knight kneeled down before relaying his message.

"Sir, a young man is outside the front gates demanding your presence. He claims to have Raz in captivity and requests a trade." Mesa sucked in her breath, judging from the high tone there was a woman underneath the heavy armor. It was difficult to tell from the bulk and dense chrome metal wear.

Perdilius turned to sneer at his maid. "As I predicted. Tend to the litter, let us see to it that the Gods are not kept waiting."

From outside facing the enormous building alone, Felix swallowed heavily and squeezed his sweaty palms while standing before a group of armored men with their spears aimed at him. Something was screaming in his head, demanding that he turn around and run as fast as he could from danger. He wondered if it was his feline instinct kicking in at a bad time. The heavy iron double doors groaned as they were pushed open a crack, just enough for several more men to exit the tower to face him. His heart skipped as he noticed a dark-robed Perdilius accompanied by the silver-haired hunter from before named Leone.

No turning back now.

Perdilius stood firm several meters from his visitor, his eyes scanning around wondering of the remaining whereabouts of the girls. With no clue and no cat in sight, he settled his sights on Felix which left him feeling unsettled, as if he were being targeted by a predator waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Raising a brow, the older man's voice boomed as he spoke to him.

"You look bloody familiar, have we met before?"

Squinting his eyes, Perdilius careful studied his face when a smile crept through as realization hit. "Aaah, you're the stranger from the bar at Kershin Market! I recognize those amber-colored eyes of yours, those pupils are most unnatural to a human. I take it you are mated to one of them?"

Leone raised his eyes, his hands fixed to his belt where numerous weapons and items hung from, a scarf wrapped around his neck exposing his eyes and hair alone. From this height, the air had grown thin and Felix couldn't tell if he was shaking from the cold or fear. Most likely it was from both.

Felix nodded. "You're correct. I'm mated to KuliKuli, the one you know as Nityri."

"Nityri, the little one grew so fast. She was still a youngling under my keep before." Felix felt his fists clench as the priest carried on. "Such a beautiful specimen, if she wasn't tainted in darkness that is. What is your name?"

"Felix."

"Felix, where are your pets, the litter box? Surely you didn't come here alone, did you?"

"I came here to request a trade. Your son for-"

"No, I'm afraid my son isn't worth the value of your friends lives." Felix looked baffled as Perdilius waved his hand in sheer dismissal. "Your friends are near, that much is certain, so there is no need to act tough when you've brought them here already. As soon as my own keep catches their scent, one of your own I believe? The Head Mother."

Felix swallowed and began to pace his breathing. "Emyri."

"That one, she's made a fine addition to my collection, my own little pet."

At least he knew she was alive still, Felix thought. "Is there no love for your own blood that you deny his life when offered to save it?"

Perdilius raised a brow. "My blood?"

"Your own son, your only son. Why are you so intent on this crusade, what have the monsters done to you to deserve extinction?"

"My son is an embarrassment and a cruel reminder, a submissive child begging to be recognized. If I am to sacrifice him in order to cleanse the world of sin, so be it."

From far away, a pair of cat ears fell out of hurt and sadness while eavesdropping.

"What kind of father speaks that way about their child? Don't you have any heart, any love for him? You can't be all hateful, he is yours isn't he?"

Perdilius lifted a palm to silence him. "Your words have no effect on me. You speak of love because you are under the false belief that you found one through a monster, yet you've never questioned that love yourself. What do you know of these Monsters?"

"I know not all of them are evil. I know they're trying to survive, like you and me."

"Did you know the Nekomata's seduce their prey through sexual appeal and submissiveness? That they appear to be inferior and rely on your care, so that you fall under their spell? Are you aware of their corruption, the transformation you've fallen under without your consent? You know they use you to reproduce just to maintain their existence, it isn't love."

"It's better than your own, I couldn't fathom loathing my son and leaving him for dead."

"Fine, let's play your little game. You claim to be here under my palm through a guise of love, I too was in love once. I had a wife, a beautiful mother, who would tell me I was her world. Who convinced me we could handle the world, who stood by my side for years to come. One day we conceive, all is well and I continue my practice, having faith that our lives were turning for the best. Then I realized the mark on her neck and heaven began to fall. Paradise had fallen, all of our work, our love, our lives were ended as she came to admit her deepest sin of infidelity. WITH A DEMON!"

His voice echoed through the mountain as the guards and hunter stood awkwardly beside.

"My wife in a moment of weakness was seduced by a Monster, and it corrupted her just as it corrupted you. She changed, she wasn't human anymore and my father looked down on me in shame and disgust. I was alone in my defeat. How could I, a preacher of faith, not have foreseen this? How could I allow this-this to happen under my own nose? I banished her, I lacked the strength to cleanse her of her sins when I should have, the shame has since remain a burden that I carry. In months time she left our child to my doorstep, unable to care for him I suspect due to her whorish ways. So no, I don't care for your speeches of love. I don't care for compassion. The only love that exists, incorruptible and everlasting, lies there!" He raised his hand to the skies. "And I will do them proud, I will show them my gratitude by removing the filth and evil in this world myself! Now give me the Monsters!"

Felix stepped back, silent and shocked, with a serious look in his face as he wondered what to say next. Perdilius glared, staring him down demanding for a reply.

"I'm sorry you lost your family, Perdilius."

Sorry? This man is sorry for me? Perdilius chuckled in disgust as Felix began to raise his head, his eyes locking on to him.

"But I won't let you take away mine."

The tower shook and groaned as a sharp roar pierced through the air, sending them to ground. Felix fell on his knees as brick and stone toppled around them, crumpling to dust. Scrambling to his feet, Perdilius' eyes scanning around as to what he could only detect to be a thick sickly gray cloud erupting from the towers backside.