>>5137724“Unprofessional,” he says. “Distracted.”
You glare at him, but another steps forward: Madame Mina, your Kamunu identity’s employer at The pretty Kitty Lounge & Brothel.
“Disloyal,” she says. “Seditious.”
Wait… Mina? What is she doing here? Surely she should be captured and sacrificed by this mass of Reptilians? But they do no such thing.
Two more figures step forwards, holding hands. They remove their hoods with their free hands, revealing Edwin and Paula.
“Liar,” Edwin says, quietly, eyes full of betrayal.
“Manipulator,” agrees Paula. “Abuser.”
You are struck dumb for a moment, feeling their pain as if your own… But you muster yourself, rallying.
“Yes,” you snap. “Obviously! All that and more, in service to The Dark Gods Below and Beyond! In service to The Grand Design of the Serpent priests! In service to the… The Master Race, you stupid surface-mammals!”
But then, the Dark Gods fade from view, and the Serpent priests step forward. You realize that, oddly, they to are hooded, and masked… And when their masks come of you see familiar, distinctly non-Reptilian faces: Tokunbo, the Aardan occultist who taught lady Zivic. Lady Zivic herself, former host and ally to The Incubus. Estellia, your rival exotic dancer at The Pretty Kitty, who you slew in the sewers to keep your secret. And… Irinnile.
“In service to foreigners and devils,” Tokunbo suggests, stroking his chin.
“What?” you balk. “No, I use them to—”
“In service to yourself, to your passions and fantasies,” says Estellia sadly. “In service to hedonism.”
“I…” you hesitate to speak.
“In service to revenge, and bloodlust, and personal power,” says Lady Zivic, in the voice of The Incubus. “In service of procrastination, and personal ambition.”
“I am working as swiftly as can!” you protest. “Look at all that I have discovered, all that I have done!”
“For me.”
You turn and face Irinnile now., who smiles lovingly and stretches her arms out to you, beckoning you into an embrace—a bond of bodies and souls.
“In service, she says, “to me."
