Chapter Ten Mabel

I want to say I have seen something more stunning before but there are no words–or memories to go along with it–to describe what I am looking at.

So far, since we set foot on Kiros Somu, the land has been shrouded in its cloying mists. The reason why people fear this place so much. It's not because the mists are dangerous, but because they cover everything. And the unknown is the scariest thing of all. That and the fact that once you enter this country, it's likely you'll never leave.

However, this castle rises above all of the gray dampness and highlights the landscape with its beauty. Tall towers rise, more than I can count before the mists roll in and cloud my view. Each one is pointy and like it is made from fine lacework. I have, quite literally, never seen anything like it before. The castles in Enzoria and the other countries and lands I have been to are all solid stone. Bricks hewn from rock and shaped with a deft hand for sure, but they are designed to be thick and a barrier to protect the royalty who resides within.

Here, however, it is like Queen Siorah knows that no one will harm her, and she has decided to create something of absolute beauty rather than a barrier between her and the people she rules over.

The boat we are on passes under a delicate bridge, decorated just as the towers are and we all have our mouths open with amazement as we check out the finer details up close. It honestly looks like the entire castle has been carved by hand from stone but, wow, what an effort that must have taken. And the incredible amount of time, as well. Kiros Somu must be much older than any other country I have ever been to. Perhaps this is where it all started, here among the mists and fog. And not in Enzoria like the history books claim.

It is something I would like to ask Arthur about at some point and, when I turn in his direction, he nods his head in agreement. Although, I can't tell if it is because he agrees with my assumption about the age of the country or that he will speak to me about it later.

Either way, it doesn't matter for now as we are entering the castle which seems to be growing straight out of the water. It is not a moat that surrounds the structure like other castles I have seen. Instead, the base inside it is also water.

I can't help but think that Zeklan would be happy to live here permanently. It is a thought I am surprised to have because, for a brief moment, I can see us all living here, happily. If only I didn't have a bone to pick with the queen.

I focus in on the draw from the king, the irresistible calling that is there even after I have been thoroughly fucked. Sure, I can ignore it then, but it never completely goes away. But here? I can't feel even the slightest hint of the dreaded curse that has shrouded me for hundreds of years. The lack of the cacophony that normally resides inside my head is both a relief and humbling. Is this how everyone feels? This calmness and silence that relaxes me so completely?

Could we just stay here forever?

I look at the queen and discover she is watching me. Perhaps this is an option, a way to finally be free, and to love my monsters exactly as I have always wanted to.

But is that what they truly want too?

I shake my head for I have no idea and now is not the time to dwell on it in any great detail.

Finally, we come to a stop against a wooden jetty. Stepping up, the others and I wait until the queen has been escorted off the vessel before we follow her.

The wooden planks below my feet sway on the water indicating it is a raft-like jetty that is designed as a halfway spot between the boat and the stairs we are now being led to.

Looking upwards, I try to count them, but they wind endlessly around the inside of the tower. It's going to take us forever to get to the top.

But there is no pause. Instead, the queen starts climbing and we all follow her ever upwards. Arthur is in front of me, my other monsters behind and I can hear Fenn chatting to Zeklan. Turning, I see their heads close together and their fingers intertwined. Brugo's hand is at the small of my back and I continue to climb, his presence always there, guiding my way. Behind him, and behind Fenn and Zeklan, follow several of the men who rowed the boat. They don't make eye contact with any of us, always watching out for their queen at the head of the party.

We all move in silence, the task at hand a momentous one, after all, and I wonder how they deal with people who cannot climb such stairs. Perhaps they don't suffer from illness or disability here? Or maybe they shun them. I can't tell one way or another just by knowing the queen for such a short amount of time.

It feels like forever until we reach the top of one of the towers and enter a small room. There are no windows, and this just seems to be a transition room as we step out into a long hallway that must run between this tower and the next. Once again, there are no windows here, only candles in sconces that light the way. It feels eerie to be plunged into the darkness like this after being out in the fog for so long. It feels like entering yet another world.

But then we reach the second tower, and everything opens out once more and I can do nothing but gasp at the beauty of the world set out in front of me.

This tower is completely open as we step through from the long hall. A huge balcony runs around the entire top of the structure, and I want to run to the edge and peer over but can't because the view is just that spectacular.

There is no fog up this high, it settles far below us and nestles in below tall trees that I didn't even know existed while we drifted along the waterway. We must have traveled through a town which borders a deep forest because that is all I can see as far as the horizon goes. Dark trees, almost black in color, poke holes in the fog and rise up, creating a dense view as mountains rise and sink into deep gullies.

Looking above, the sky is clear, a perfect shade of blue and not a cloud in view, for they are all below. It feels like we are floating, and I honestly don't think I could ever get sick of such a sight, not even if I lived another hundred years up here.

"This is glorious," Fenn says, amazement bleeding through in his words. "How do you get anything done when you could be spending all your days here?"

"You get used to it," the queen says with a small chuckle, and I am surprised at that. She hasn't shown a single shred of emotion since we met her and here she is being all delighted by a satyr. Figures.

"If you'll follow me some more, though, I can show you to your room and then you can settle in before the feast tonight."

"Feast?" I ask.

"To honor the safe return of Ornath."

"Of course," I reply, still not used to the fact that Arthur not only has another whole assed name but a life over here as well.

And then, we're walking again.

This time along another darkened hallway but this one is lined with several doors. When we reach the end, we are presented with a room that is spectacular–just like the view outside it.

While not quite as open as the tower we just left, one entire wall is missing, and I wonder if it ever rains here or gets cold enough to want to protect the inside from the weather. A small hearth is in the middle of the room, made from what appears to be some sort of clay and molded into a decorative rounded shape with a chimney that winds around a pillar before curving up and over the roof of the room to the outside.

Against the wall furthest from the open side is an enormous bed, more than big enough to fit all of us and I want to flounce down into it immediately. I can't remember the last time I slept in a bed like this. There are so many pillows and coverlets that I know already it will feel like sleeping on a cloud.

And Fenn must have the same idea as me because he really does sink down into it. Although, with his bulbous erection shooting for the sky, it looks less like a bed for sleeping and more like a room designed entirely for debauchery.

And I'm down for that too.

"Well, isn't this just perfect," Fenn says as his hands spread out to feel the softness of the down-filled covers. "When can we fuck?"

There it is, another chuckle from the queen and I sidle her a look that lets her know to stay the fuck away from my satyr.

Except she's not looking at me.

Instead, she wanders to a curtain and pulls it back, revealing a giant empty bath.

I nearly come from the sight of it.

That's it. I never want to leave here. So long as I don't have to put up with the queen's shit on a daily basis, I think I can be entirely happy here.

"Just let the guards outside the door know when you want this filled and they will set up the hot water."

"Guards?" I ask. "We're prisoners?"

"It's standard," Arthur replies before the queen can. "Every inhabited room in the palace has them. Think of them more as personal assistants rather than protection. After all, it's been quite some time since Kiros Somu has had a need for actual guards. Sure, they're trained up, but they are more a show of wealth now than anything sinister."

Arthur shoots me a wink and I want to believe him, but I know what guards mean in my world and it's not merely to fill a bathtub when required.

"Don't overthink this," he replies softly. "We're not prisoners."

"So, can we leave anytime we want then?" I ask, all the luxuries forgotten as panic starts to loop its way up my spine.

"Of course not," says the queen and I go rigid with fear. "But that is to protect you more than anything else. Sure, we don't want word to get out that our country is not the fearsome place you have all painted it to be, but you are safer here. And, you know it. Tell me, have you felt Gilberd's call since you've been here?"

I scowl at Arthur, who has obviously been chatty about me while he was here, and the queen finally laughs at someone other than Fenn. I don't like that it's at my expense this time.

But she's right and I shake my head in response to her words. I haven't felt a single wisp of the king's call since we have been here. And that's a relief, for sure. However, the fact that we still have a security detail–whether they are active or not–still raises my hackles.

"Well, I'll leave you to… settle in, then," the queen continues a moment before she strides from the room.

"Please, let the guards know we want the bath filled immediately," Fenn says as she leaves, and she simply nods her head in reply.

"A bath before we fuck, shall we?" Fenn says to the rest of us.

I mean, I'm up for that, for sure, but I am also a little unsure of everything. Knowing that security is outside, that we are, essentially, trapped here, has thrown me slightly off-center. I tug at my lip as I wrap my other arm around my middle, drawing into myself even though I am surrounded by the ones who love me the most.

A gentle hand at my waist lets me know Brugo is behind me, and I lean back into him. He's always here, ready to protect, ready to comfort me. I sigh as my back hits his chest, the warmth of him permeating my body and taking away just the hint of my concern.

"Let's worry about everything else tomorrow," Arthur whispers into my ear as I feel the soft tendrils of misty fingers trace along the column of my neck.

Then, a tentacle touches my ankle, curling up my leg, the suction of it divine as he trails along the inside of calf.

Yes, I can worry about everything tomorrow, I guess.

The door opens as Zeklan's appendage reaches my thigh, but he doesn't flinch, his only concern is relaxing me and the gentle tug of the cups on the bottom of his tentacle are working wonders for that. A man walks in, obviously under the instruction of the queen and turns on a tap leading into the bath.

Honestly, we could have done this ourselves. There is no need for the servant guards to do this for us. But do it, he does.

"How hot do you want it?" he asks, and I smirk. As hot as four monsters can possibly be. But I don't think that's what he means.

"How hot can you take the water, Zeklan?" I ask, not even sure if the tentacle monster can be immersed in anything but cold water.

"As hot as it comes," he replies, and the man continues to turn the tap until steam starts rising from the deep bath.

We wait in awkward silence while the guard continues to test the water and fill the tub. Another man comes in, bringing huge fluffy towels and leaves them on a small bench near the bath before exiting again. Neither of the men even glance in our direction, their gaze always focused entirely on the floor or the task at hand.

Finally, as the first guard is turning off the tap, a woman enters, carrying new clean clothes. I have no idea how the queen knows what sizes we all take but everything looks like it will fit us perfectly.

As soon as they leave, Fenn trots over to the tub and jumps in. "Hurry up," he declares as the rest of us drop our clothes as quickly as possible.

And, seriously, as soon as I enter the water–hefted and lowered delicately by Brugo–I know that I have reached total bliss. The water is divine. Hot enough to melt the tension in my muscles and delicately scented with some sort of herb or oil.

Zeklan slips in behind me, his tentacles roaming, settling and sucking from the bottoms of my feet and all the way up to my shoulders. I lean back into him and groan as they work at me, cupping and tugging, relaxing my muscles. I had no idea I was this tense but my head lolls back, resting on Zeklan's shoulder as Brugo stands–still on the outside of the tub–and brushes my hair with his fingers, his claws out. Scraping against my scalp, I actually shudder and groan.

"You can't go making noises like that, sweet Mabel," Fenn says with a deep chuckle that has my insides flipping. "Not unless you want to be fucked senseless."

I don't even have the energy to reply, only to emit another quiet moan when Zeklan's hands also join the fray and massage my shoulders deeply.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Fenn replies before ducking his head underwater. Brugo, who has finished brushing my hair, steps into the tub, taking the spot the satyr just vacated.

A few seconds later, his long tongue runs up my leg, teasing and tasting along my thigh. I spread my knees slightly, expecting Fenn to go straight for gold but he avoids my pussy, breaking the surface of the water and clucking at me.

"Needy little monster hunter, aren't you?" he asks, and I nod at the truth of the matter.

Zeklan's tentacles move along the soles of my feet, massaging their way along until they reach my ankles, wrapping around and pulling my legs open further.

Brugo pulls a cloth into the water and taps Fenn to the side before he starts working at my skin, washing and removing all the dirt and grime of travel. All the while, Zeklan continues to relax my body with his dexterous appendages.

As I'm cleaned, Fenn follows behind, kissing and teasing. Each kiss leaves goosebumps in their rise, despite the heat from the water. Steam rises and I have nearly forgotten about Arthur until, upon opening my eyes when Fenn nips at the inside of my thigh, I see the air thickening around me. The steam curls and patters against my skin, pressing softly like almost kisses with how light they are.

Under the water, Fenn has reached the apex of my thighs, and his tongue finally laves over my pussy. Licking from ass to clit and I arch my back into the sensation as the foggy kisses from Arthur continue all over my body.

The gentle scrape of a claw runs over my nipple as Brugo wipes over my sensitive skin and the peak pebbles so quickly, I feel the jolt of it deep in my core.

"Fuck," I hiss as Fenn's tongue leaves my body so he can grab a quick breath of air before returning to his important task.

Zeklan's tentacles are pulling my legs wider, so I am completely open to the satyr and his tongue digs deep even as I feel the whispering of Arthur's smoky fingers at my nub. Brugo's claw is back, this time at my other nipple as he cleans my chest. Once he is done, his tongue replaces the cloth while he dips it back into the water and wrings it out. He returns to the task of cleaning me, the material hot against my neck while his mouth is still on my sensitive peak.

I can feel the pressure mounting low in my belly and chase the release of orgasm as Arthur's fingers and Fenn's tongue work at me. Arching my back, I push my needy pussy into Fenn's mouth, but the satyr pulls away quickly, even as Zeklan's tentacles also retract. Panting, I sag into the water, my head low, kissing the steamy water.

"What the fuck, guys?" I ask, reaching down to swirl my fingers over my clit but Zeklan is too quick for me and holds me back.

"Oh no, Mabel," Fenn says, wagging his finger at me. "Only we get to do that tonight."

And then I am dragged out of the water and my monsters rush me towards the enormous bed.

Fluffy towels float down onto the bed a moment before I am dropped onto them and Arthur dries me off as quickly as possible before Zeklan's tentacles are back, coating me and parting my legs.

"The main course," Fenn says, his eyebrows wiggling with excitement before he lowers to devour me. Brugo is back at my chest again, his claws scraping across my nipples, igniting them as he leans over me, his cock hot at my mouth. I suck him in, taking the huge head into my mouth as precum dribbles over my chin.

Arthur's fingers thicken and solidify as they join Fenn and spread my lips wide for the devious little satyr's talented tongue. It dives inside of me, filling me quickly before pulling out and sliding over my clit. He edges me closer to release, withdrawing every time I get close and concentrating on my hole instead.

"Please," I pant on a mewling groan after pulling free from Brugo's enormous cock. "Please fuck me."

"If you insist," Fenn says before standing and ramming into me. I bite down hard on my bottom lip before reaching for Brugo again. Squeezing his large member, I suck hard and Brugo groans deeply. I work at his sensitive head, sucking and slurping until his claws retract and he pinches one nipple hard. My toes curl and I gasp with delight as Fenn increases the pace, thrusting in and out of me as Zeklan gathers up my body. He settles me down on top of him, his tentacles wrapping around me as his cock knocks at my back door. The slime coats my ass and I sigh as he enters there.

I look upwards, seeing Arthur above and my eyes plead with him, wanting him to join in. He solidifies further and I reach for him, grabbing his cock in one hand as I work the length of him even as my mouth does the same to Brugo's dick. Leaning forward, his appendage rubs against my cheek, and I pull away from Brugo to lap at Arthur's cock.

In and out, Fenn and Zeklan pound, working their rhythms so it feels like I am back on the boat, rocking back and forth on the current. My need edges close to release as I take turns slurping at Arthur and Brugo's cocks. My only regret is that I can't fit them both in my mouth at the same time.

Cum seeps from the end of Brugo's member and it helps to lubricate Arthur's, so I swirl the mess around on both cockheads as Brugo throws back his head and roars out his release.

It immediately triggers me, and I clamp down over Fenn's cock, sending him over the edge with me even as I feel the heat of Zeklan's cum filling my ass. Arthur groans, deep and low, then smoke shoots out of his cock, signaling his orgasm as well.

I sigh as I sink, floating back down to the bed after the near out of body experience.

The monsters settle around me, all of them content after their various releases and I am asleep before I even know it