I had done nothing but read it since taking it from Gibbon Rey's sanctum.
My first time through the text had given me a sense of familiarity.
I knew this book.
By the third time through, I knew something was wrong. Something was missing. My code was shifting the meaning, but this was something more.
Something fundamental was missing.
None of it resonated with me. There were no passages which sparked even a mild sense of understanding. I started to read the first lines again.
And then the suspicion grew some more.
There was no mention of void in the opening lines. And, as I thought about it, I hadn't read the word anywhere else. I had used only Abyss every time.
Why would I do that?
To keep my enemies from understanding my secrets?
That would be part of it.
"Master?" Molly's voice blew my thoughts away.
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt." She motioned to the large number of books surrounding her. Vela had left to bring more from a list I had given her. "But I had a question."
Impatience threatened to make my words sharp, but I pushed it down.
There was no need to take out my frustrations on her.
"What is it, Molly?" I asked as gently as I could.
"Do I really need all of these?" She wriggled uncomfortably, looking around at the stacks of books. "I mean, doesn't Scholomance have a proper library?"
"Of course it does." I felt a warm smile as I remembered the rows of books I had seen there. Not that I could remember much of their contents anymore. I really should return there one day. "But those are Infernal."
"Infernal?"
"They're the Books of Hell, Molly," I said. "Kalista is a tricky tutor. She'll have you searching her library for scraps of information which isn't even in there because it'll be from Picatrix or something. She will want to waste your time, Molly. Remember, you will have a limited time to learn. And, while it suits her that you become a powerful sorceress, she doesn't want you to become too powerful or you won't need Hell's particular services again."
"That sounds… sneaky. Won't she be angry you told me this?"
"It's the way of demons," I told her. "Don't take it personally. Kalista doesn't. Nor is she stupid. She told you I would supply you with what you need. This is what she meant."
"Okay," she sighed. "Its just… There's so much. And most of it feels… useless."
"It is," I told her. "But it's also foundational. Often a thread of knowledge will spark understanding of a greater truth."
"That's a bit too mystical, Master," she said wryly.
"When you get back from Scholomance, you'll speak in riddles, too," I chuckled at her. "All the best sorcerers do."
"They must also have very sore backs," she sighed.
"Oh?"
"From carrying all this," she said, waving her hand at it all.
"Carry?" I smiled again. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm going to need to buy a lot of suitcases, aren't I?"
"No no, Molly,' I laughed. "You just need to get a… a…"
I trailed off as my skin crawled with sudden understanding.
"Master?"
"Void ring!" I leapt to my feet, my eyes blazing with realisation. My body burst with a profound and senseless pleasure that overwhelmed me. "Molly, you glorious fabulous beautiful girl!"
I scooped her into my arms as she let out a startled squeak.
Then, as Vela returned with an armload of books, I kissed my little Renfield with all the joy and passion of a mortal who'd found his first love.
"Mmf!"
Letting her go, I turned my gaze to Vela and pointed at her, too. "Come here!"
She froze. A deer in spotlights.
I pounced.
Bent her backwards as I kissed her, too.
The thrill of understanding was burning in my veins as I felt Vela slump in my arms. Behind me, Molly swayed in a dazed state, her eyes smoky and her mouth open.
When I let Vela go, she dropped to the floor with a little moan.
"Hina!"
The little Renfield appeared out of nowhere. Glanced at her two sisters.
Frowned.
"What-"
I hit her like a lightning bolt.
Swinging her up, I kissed her with as much eagerness as I had the others.
Her body was a tight wire. Rigid with shock.
But she melted fast, her mind overwhelmed by the abrupt change in my mood and attitude.
She staggered back as I let her go, her hand on her heart.
"Master!"
I laughed, spinning around and around. Dancing a happy jig in the middle of the room as three sets of eyes shone brightly in my direction.
"My Renfields," I purred. "How I wish I'd had you with me before!"
"Master," Molly giggled, touching her lips. "Umm…"
"Without you, Molly, I wouldn't have figured it out." I reeled towards her. "It's so simple, but I feel I'd have gone insane trying to understand it on my own. I'd read this damned thing over and over, but felt nothing. Nothing was prompting my memory to return. But, you! You with your questions! You broke the memory open."
"Y-y-you… k-kissed…" She shivered, still touching her lips.
"Me too," Vela peeped, still panting breathlessly.
"Umm…" Hina leaned against the doorway.
"Well, I can't just kiss one of you, can I?" I felt a slender ribbon of sadness slide through my body. "If there were still three thousand of you, I'd have made you form a line and kissed every single damned one of you."
"I feel strange," Vela said, blinking.
"Ah. I'd forgotten that part."
She looked up, her expression soft. Making me want to kiss her again. But now wasn't the time for that. "What part, Master?"
"A vampire's kiss is…" I pursed my lips, trying to think of the right words. "Similar to that of a succubus, I suppose. Or, in this case, an Incubus. It tempts and teases. It makes you feel… nice."
"Umm, I have a question," Molly asked, putting her hand up.
"Hmm?"
"What do we need to do to get another?"
"Molly!" Vela gasped.
"It's a… valid question," Hina rasped, pulling herself together and adjusting the little apron on her uniform while smoothing her skirt. She kept her head down, but I could see her ears were bright pink.
I looked from one girl to the next as the hysterical joy ebbed away from my heart. Smiling, I felt like patting all their heads at once.
"Be careful what you wish for, Molly," I told her. "I may, for the most part, have the manners of a gentleman. But I am a monster still. I am boundlessly cruel. In many ways, I am held back by the weakness of my body. But as I strengthen it, I will seek vengeance on those who betrayed me. And I will burn their world to the ground."
"And what of us, Master?" Vela's voice was small. "What will you do with us?"
I peered deep into her eyes and saw her fear.
Fear not of the monster.
But of being abandoned.
I crouched in front of her and put a hand on her cheek. "You, Vela, I will protect. I will treasure." I felt my heart grip tightly as the truth of my words sang true to my soul. "Because you are mine. Now and forever."
She shivered, her cheeks turning the same colour as Hina's ears.
"Oh!"
"I can protect your body, Vela," I said. "But I cannot protect your heart. My concern for you has been that, when you see the truth of the monster I am, you will regret your choices. My Renfields, you have a strange idea of who I am. Of what I am. Make no mistake. I am a monster."
"Not to us, Master," Hina said, her voice managing to be both meek and firm at the same time.
"We shall see, Hina," I said, smiling at her. "We shall see."
Then, with a gleeful grin, I spun away and planted myself in my chair. Snatching up my grimoire, I lifted it up before me. I had no doubt it would give me its secrets this time.
I stretched my awareness towards it.
And felt it.
Hidden inside like a bubble of air.
Behind a lock.
A lock which needed only one thing as key.
Me.
I rapped on it like I was rapping on a door.
And felt it snap open.
I reached.
Reached into the void space which existed within. My awareness grasped the tome within and tugged.
With a little pop, another book appeared in my other hand.
The Abyss was the plane. The Void was the pocket.
***
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