Chapter 127: Mask

Chapter 127: Mask

The crowd parted as I led the Intui shaman into the castle. Cheng accompanied us but everyone else remained outside with their baited breaths, large wasps and huge expectations.

It would be untrue to say I didnt feel under pressure. Somehow, I had to avert a fight which would most likely result in my death. Talking my way out of a tight spot was nothing new, but all it took for me to fail was for the other person to say, Nah, dont buy it.

There were still a number of methods I could use to avoid getting involved with violence, most of which relied on convincing others to be violent on my behalf, but my preference was to find a method that didnt require fighting. And that method was called lying.

Lying, when it works, can be better than magic. Poof! The problems gone.

The Worm King is mentioned three times by name, I said, pointing out the places on the wall, and a couple of times indirectly.

The shaman had an awed look on his face. I dont think he had seen the prophecy before and it was probably akin to a religious experience for him; which was all the better as far as I was concerned. If he was off-balance, he was less likely to spot the flaws in my logic.

This line where it says the Worm King will descend on the night is referring to the jabberwocky.

The shaman nodded. The line I had pointed out was the only reference to the jabberwocky, and I only knew that because Cheng had told me. Personally, I thought it was a bit of a leap.

Sure, you could make a case for how the Worm King descending on the night, which was up until very recently the domain of the jabberwocky, was an indication of the Worm King wresting control from the jabberwocky, but tenuous to say the very least.

But, I continued, it also talks about the Worm King bringing Nekromel. Here.

When I had asked Cheng what Nekromel meant, he gave me a list of possible answers. It was the end of the world. It was the birth of a new one. It was the living dead rising from their graves. It was a person, whose name was Nekromel. It was a fountain that granted immortality. And so on.

Of course the true answer was obviousno one had the foggiest idea what a Nekromel was. Which was perfect for my purposes.

After the Bride, the Worm King will bring Nekromel, that part isnt in question. I gave the shaman a questioning look. He nodded slowly. What isnt clear is the identity of Nekromel, and Im not going to pretend Ive solved that particular riddle.

The trick to a good lie is to not have all the answers. If you put yourself too far above others, they stop caring if youre right or wrong, they just want to tear you down.

I have my theories, like everyone else, but that isnt important right now. What is important is that Nekromel isnt going to appear here.

It isnt? said Cheng. He was just as interested in my view of the prophecy as the shaman.

I dont think so. There is a place in Flatland where I saw a fairy. A small creature, this big. I held up finger and thumb to indicate the size.

Fairies do not exist, said the shaman.

What kind of world is it where fantasy creatures insist other fantasy creatures dont exist?

I assure you they do exist, and I dont think my seeing one on the first day I arrived here was a coincidence. Especially when you take into account this line. I put my finger under a word on the wall and dragged it along as I read the line out loud. When the Worm King brings Nekromel to the Home of Fate, the Joy of Old will reign once again. Do you see?

Both Cheng and the shaman looked at me blankly. As expected.

Fate. In my world, another word for fairy is fay. And the plural of fay is fate. And the plural of bullshit is?

Cheng and the shaman looked at each other, I think each wanting some kind of reassurance.

Heres what I think, I said, trying to steamroll on before awkward questions could be asked. After Cheng marries the Bride, the rift will be sealed and the Worm King will travel to the home of the fairies. Which means he will leave this land, and you will be able to return to your home. Since I am the only one who can fetch the Bride there was no actual evidence to support this claim, so I swiftly moved on if you insist on killing me and it doesnt work out the way you hope, you will be stuck with the Worm King until someone else comes along to fulfil the prophecy. And who knows how long that will take?

Yes, it was a stretch. My interpretation required a lot to be taken on faith. But thats the great thing about holy texts that have absolutely no hard evidence to back them upfaith is considered better than proof.

The shaman stepped forward and reverently placed his hand on the wall. So you are saying, once you have produced the Bride, the Worm King will travel across the border and leave us be?

Yes, I said. And if it doesnt work out that way, you can always challenge me again. Assuming they could find me.

The shaman thought this over for a few minutes. Then he turned to Cheng. Our homes have all been destroyed. Will you let us wait here until he returns?

I lowered my hands. They were shaking. The rest of me was shaking too. All around us, the Mezzik and Intui were kneeling. Even the wasps and dragons seemed to have their heads bowed. It wasnt me they were showing fealty to.

Jenny had got to her feet and the girls were all crying as they comforted her. Maurice and Dudley stood awkwardly to the side not sure what they should be doing. That part was at least reassuringly normal. But looking at Jennys disfigured face made me want to scream.

Was I being shallow and superficial? I dont know. She was still a good-looking chick. Half of her face looked completely the same as before. The other half didnt look real. It was like she was wearing a mask. It felt like if only I could find a way to take it off, Id be able to see her whole again.

I wasnt sure what I should say. Tell her it was going to be okay and Id find a way to fix everything? Lying can work like magic, but sometimes lying is just lying.

I took a deep breath and walked over to her. She looked up at me, nervously. It occurred to me that she hadnt actually seen the way she looked, so probably had no idea the extent of her injuries, but she kept touching the scarred skin so she knew her days of porcelain skin were done. Still, at least she wouldnt have to worry about zits any more.

Come on I said, taking her hand. Lets go.

I led her back to our room where a the tub had been filled with water. I removed her clothes. She still hadnt said anything. Everything was fine until she leaned over the tub and saw her reflection in the water. She screamed and ran away into a corner of the room.

She slid down the wall and sat there in a huddle, sobbing.

She stayed there for a long time.

Every time I got closer, she flinched and scampered away. I tried to hold her in my arms but she pushed me away, violently. She punched and kicked. You could tell shed been training. I couldnt get near her.

Just go! she yelled. Leave me. Leave me. The pain in her voice was horrible and I had no idea how to alleviate her distress.

What I decided to doand Im not suggesting this was correctwas jump on her.

We fought. I mean, we really fought her. We rolled around on the floor, me attempting to get hold of her, her doing everything to push me away. She did most of the hitting, but I got a couple of blows in.

You might be thinking that attacking a girl who was traumatised by a near-death experience possibly wasnt the ideal way to help her process the complicated emotions she was facing. I would say, you have your way of dealing with girls whove been assaulted by dragons, and I have mine.

I want to point out, she wasnt messing around. Once she got into it, she really wanted to do some damage. Just defending myself wasnt going to achieve anything. Eventually I managed to get on top of her, pinning her with one knee in her stomach and both hands held in mine, our fingers interlaced.

Get off me! she spat through gritted teeth.

Stop it! I spat back through equally gritted teeth. Can you for one second stop thinking about yourself.

That brought her up short. Her eyes searched mine trying to understand what the fuck I was saying. I slid my knee off her, but remained vigilant for an attack to the groin.

Im in pain. My face is burned. I look like a monster. Me, me, me. Thats all you ever think about. Did you for one second consider what would happen if I lost you, Jenny? I was perfectly fine on my own, but you forced me into this fucking relationship. And you think you can walk away? No. I refuse. I dont care if I have to raise you from the dead, you dont get to leave. Now stop being so fucking selfish.

She had stopped struggling but her body rose and fell under me as she gasped for breath. You still want to be with me? Even though I look like this.

Yes, of course. I bent down and kissed her. Your vagina still works, right?

She laughed. There were tears streaming down her face, but the storm had passed.

I thought you wouldnt want me any more.

I let go of her hands and sat up straddling her. Would you stop caring for me if something happened to my face?

She pushed herself up on her hands. Thats different.

Why is that different?

You arent that attractive to start with.

She grinned at me. It was a huge relief to see her mocking smile. Still, you cant let women get too cocky. I dragged her over to the bed and soon wiped the smirk off her face.