Fractured God

As Lily contemplated stopping the harassment of Tibaut, she started to hoof it away from the pair when she saw what lurked in the shadows of the dungeon stairway.

Tibaut didn't notice but Ruby wasn't as unobservant as the boy in her grasp. She took one look in the same direction Lily looked and her smile soon turned to unparalleled discomfort. She let go of Tibaut and slowly backed away while keeping her eyes forward.

Tibaut couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed when Ruby let him go but what made Lily back away?

He turned around and saw four of the pale women looking on from the stairway.

“Come on guys, I've told you, these guys aren't gonna do anything (at least while that miserable bitch isn't around)” He said as he signalled for them to come back.

“No way, I saw what one of those guys could do to Tina and Elizabeth,” Lily shouted from afar.

“I know you have them tamed honey, but you really should practise caution around those things. I've heard of many beast tamers getting cocky and being ended by the things they called their friends.” Ruby added, slightly closer than Lily.

Tibaut shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the pale beauties, much to the discomfort of both women watching.

(“I suppose it was a good thing he ingested that powder.”) Ruby thought, trying not to cringe as he approached.

(“Vanessa, I know I joked about Ruby taking this guy away but I think he might have more unique tastes…”)

Tibaut walked closer to the stairway but was surprised the women didn't come any closer. They would have usually had their hands all over by him by now in the dungeon.

Even more worryingly, they looked… timid. They reminded him more of Agnes than themselves.

“Hold on, what's going on with you guys? (Wait a minute, they did attack someone as soon as they were out of my sight. I don't think I've seen them eat either… don't tell me they eat people?)”

One of them soon exited the stairway to walk towards him but she stepped as light as a feather with the grace of a drunken old man. He lunged forward to stop her from slamming her head onto the stone floor (though he doubted it would have caused any serious damage to her.)

The instant she fell into his arms he couldn't help but feel guilty. “Shit, I guess those guys weren't just cultists they were also your-”

(“Over here dumbass!”)

(“She's not gonna make it if you keep yapping!”)

(“Please bring her back…”)

He looked up to see the others shouting at him.

He wondered what it was and lifted her up. Was one of them going to sacrifice their own flesh in order to save her?

No. The result was far more anticlimactic.

The moment he walked back into the dungeon with the pale woman, she immediately perked up and brought him down to the floor. The other pale women joined in the dog pile, grabbing whatever limb they could find and placing it somewhere very soft.

Ruby looked on, wondering if these monsters weren't so bad after all while Lily sighed and walked off, swearing to keep this from Vanessa as long as her heart yearned for that man.

(“Oh, right, I'm pretty sure the priest wrote something about the powder being more powerful in the dungeon. Since he used it on them it probably stands to reason they're suped up by the dungeon as well.”)

With that matter solved, he let himself lay in their soft embrace before eventually saying his goodbyes. Frankly, given their behaviour without him around, he was glad that was the case. But why didn't Elizabeth consider this?

(“I can't believe we'll have to leave his body here. But based on what Tibaut said it seems they focus their attention on whoever ingested the powder. He might be dead but they should still consider something worth attention. He hasn't shown signs of decay so he might keep indefinitely like Saito. Sigh, I hope this works, there's not much for a plan b other than hoping the church gets here in a reasonable amount of time. Though I suppose we could leave Tibaut behind if it comes down to it, but I don't trust that voice for an instant.”)

She thought as she looked at the wrapped corpse over Furor’s shoulder.

An hour or so passed and they began their trek back to the caravan.

They walked through the forest and bunched up in their usual groups, with one new addition.

A blue-haired woman was scuttling behind Tibaut like a shy child.

“Tibaut, you didn't-” Tina asked.

“Tina, if you want to talk badly about a woman who was kidnapped, I feel that says more about your character than mine,” Tibaut responded.

“Tsk, for a woman that had some bad experiences with men she sure does seem clingy to you.” She added, eyeing her down.

“Are you forgetting that most of Albus’s staff was women, Tina? Honestly leave the girl alone, she has been through enough.” Elizabeth added.

Tina didn't know why but the woman just seemed suspicious. She barely had any scars or bruises on her. Her clothing seemed clean and looked similar to the other cultists. But if Elizabeth said nothing was wrong maybe she was just overthinking it.

“Sorry, it's just been a rough week,” Tina added.

“I-it’s fine,” Agnes responded. (“Holy shit she bought that! Why the hell did they kill the others? Shit, would they have killed me if they were with the ones who were caught instead of Tibaut!?!?!?!? This is bad, this is bad, I can't deal with this kind of pressure, they're gonna know, they're totally gonna know, oh no, oh Lord above save me!!!”)

She was shaking like a cold dog and pressed her face against Tibaut’s back praying for this to be over.

(“Poor Agnes, I can't imagine the others would be understanding if she was found out.”)

To help lessen the mental load on her, he stopped, crouched down and had her ride on his back for the rest of the walk.

(“Ah~ My Prince once again delivers. I don't think I've ever been lifted up by a man that wasn't my father. This is amazing… but what if I shuffled around? I turn around and oh my, oh my, oh my!!! If I clutched on his front like this, all he'd have to do is-”)

She continued jittering on his back and Tibaut incorrectly assumed it was still from fear. What he couldn't see was the sickening smile plastered on her face.