Ketone Descendants

Royce continued to dig thoroughly through the endless piles of books. “Rachelle,” he called loudly in the library. “Have you found anything yet?” “Not a thing, and stop yelling!” Rachelle snapped, her head appearing from the bookshelf in front of him. “We’ll get booted out if we keep on yelling like this. What about you? Anything?” “Not even a letter about it.” “There had to be something, Royce. How could that much history be so messed up? Surely someone knows the whole story.” The Oracle demon lived in the north-west tower of the palace. She hardly ever left, unless she needed food. She had the lower-body of a snake and a scaly back and the snake-scales covered her chest. Her face was ancient. She was probably the same age as Yami’s father. She sat on her cushion and lowered her cup of tea. “I was aware of your arrival, Prince and Princess.” “If you don’t mind me asking,” Rachelle said quietly. “Why do you have that book?” “When the Spirit Teller was Queen of the Underworld, she entrusted the book to me. And the King agreed to this, so I have protected it. But now I believe I can entrust it to you, Princess Rachelle. But let me tell the story to you. For I have much time on my hands.” She opened the first page and ran her clawed fingers over the yellowing pages. “It had been many years since this book has been opened. Her essence still remains on this.” Royce’s ears and tail twitched with impatience. “Please continue.” “My apologies. Let us begin.” It was nearing sunset when the first child finally arrived. A small boy. Rachel sighed with relief, but the second child came just as quickly and then, all of the pain was gone in an instant. “What do you want to name them?” Blake asked softly. “They’re both boys… right?” Rachel’s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. “The second-born is a girl, Rachel.” “Lucinda. And the other one?” “A boy.” “You name him,” Rachel whispered. “He’s your baby boy, after all.” “Darren,” Blake whispered, holding the small boy in his arms. “Lucinda… she’s so small…” “One has my power! One will fulfil their purpose and create a world of eternal darkness and perfection! The other will die along with the other Ketone and the humans!” She began to laugh. “My body may have died, but my soul is eternal! I cannot die!” “Which song next?” “A classical one,” her mother murmured, smiling pleasantly. “Something my mother sang to me.” She closed her eyes and began to sing. Luci instantly joined in with her flute and they sounded perfect. Soon enough, Jeff found his eyelids growing heavier. He knew the melody very well. The Ketone Lullaby. But Rachel had changed the words. The tune had been changed. It was softer. As Rachel sang, some of the other mothers joined in softly, humming along. So now the lullaby affects everyone else too. Especially the children, the hawk whispered its voice also droopy and tired. “Hear my voice, little baby Feel your eyes grow tired and sleepy… Stop your tears and find calmness, And find true happiness… Hear my voice, little baby May your dreams be sweet and sunny. Fly in skies, glide through the sea And know that’s where I’ll be. Can you hear the trees whistling in the breeze? The birds sing along with the bees. In the trees the sprites dance along the lilies, And the Ketone sleep now in pure peace… Hear my voice, and sleep well, Let the song put you in its spell. Close your eyes and go to sleep And you will no longer weep…” Very suddenly, as if on instinct, Jeff felt his arms spreading out, without thinking. “I’m so going to die for this!” His body began to tingle and shift. His body felt numb for a few seconds and then, quite suddenly, his body exploded in feathers. It was strange. He was going up, up, up and he didn’t even care. He looked behind him and realised that he could see his father flying up beside him. “I never expected that, Jeff. Good work.” Her facial features softened and she took off her hat, letting the tight bun loosen and fall into an outrageously curly mat of flaming red hair. “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kasai Igneous.” She smiled gently. “I’m guessing you’ve heard about my family?” “We haven’t heard the best things, I guess,” Lucinda said and hid behind Jeff, feeling intimidated by this girl. She lifted her shirt, where her stomach resumed a scaly pattern. Lucinda gently ran her fingers over the surface; they were hard red scales. “I was born with these. I covered them up as best I could when I was a small child, but nothing really worked.” “There’s nothing left.” “Stop, Lucinda! If you do that, you’ll die, too! Stop!” the Beast thrashed in the corners of his cage. “Stop!” “I’ve failed them,” Lucinda sobbed. “If I disappear, then everything will be okay.” “Stop! Don’t do it!” Outside of the Seal, her body shifted and changed. Fur overlaying skin, clothes shredding, hands folding over into claws. The pain was unbearable. But it wasn’t Lucinda anymore. The Beast clawed his way out of her body. Her back arched and he appeared, his body taking over hers. His mind took control of hers, killing it. Her body grew, his body cloaking hers like a blanket. When all was finally quiet, the Beast opened his eyes. Below him, the villagers stared up at him in awe. He looked around him, feeling the soft breeze on his face, his fur blowing above in the breeze. He wasn’t happy. He was so sad and angry at her. He was furious at Lucinda for giving in easily. So shredded and crushed by what she saw that she killed herself. So the Beast did the only thing that he could do. The Beast roared.