Monster of Monsters: Series Two Mortem’s Level 1: #3 Devour What Belongs To You

By Kristie Lynn Higgins

The story of Kein (Kīn) continues in the 10th installment of this novella series. Enjoy this story as Kein continues through a difficult situation. Will Kein receive the one and only thing she came into the Mortem for? Will she finally be devoured?

Kein's heartbreaking and yet joyous journey continues as the results of Basement Level are dished out as cold as they can be. Alone, she must deal with the repercussions of the Judicium and a past she only wanted to forget. No one has won the Mortem and now Kein is one. She has no chance of surviving unless she can find some allies in the sadistic game. Her journey started in Monster of Monsters #1 Part One: Mortem's Opening and moves forward at an unrelenting pace.

Light and darkness...

All Kein wanted was to be devoured. As an orphan, she had been told since joining her school that it was very important that a house or clan devour her so when she met a creature promising to devour her, she was confused at first but then she was consoled that someone wanted her.

A world of monsters and vampires and a world of humans...

Loneliness can be a very strong emotion but it can also be a very strong motivator so even when a creature of the darkness invited her to come to her, innocence heeded the call. Kein began an adventure of heartache and joy as she walked the paths of shadow and light. She would discover what it was to be devoured as a dangerous game drew her into a deadly realm of wishes, revenge, hope, desire, love, and terror.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristie Lynn Higgins
• Release date: Jul 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005083328

Kristie Lynn Higgins

You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

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Chapter One

It Is Time

The Mortem…

The present…

Red Phoenix’s safe place…

So much had happened to little morsel, including the events in the last Judicium.  All those she had cared about had abandoned her to her fate within the Judicium, and then later in Kein’s view, the Residents and her Coach had literally abandoned her on the Basement Level.  The lady had discovered she had been on her own for six days while only hours passed for her and those who had been on Basement Level.  The lady couldn’t even imagine what Kein had gone through back then, but she did know what she was going through now.  Little morsel was dying inside as emotional exhaustion had taken its toll.  The lady had several times plunged in her hate-filled daggers to help ravage little morsel’s heart.  She did so, intentionally trying to wall up her own heart so that Kein couldn’t cause her to falter.  The lady thought the Mortem meant more to her… her revenge meant more to her, but she only lied to herself.

The lady felt as if she towered over little morsel like some vicious ogre as she stood before Kein, who was sitting on the couch, sobbing into her hands.  She had heard others call her little lamb… a little lamb among wolves, and the lady had little morsel in her teeth, grinding away who Kein was to her.  The lady did all this while keeping her true feelings from little morsel.  She put little morsel through a hellish ordeal during the last Judicium, and Kein was still paying the price emotionally and physically.

Was this what the lady wanted for the one who brought her out of darkness?  Little morsel… her little light.  Did her revenge mean more to her than little morsel’s well-being?  Had she not given up the Mortem to go and devour young Kein?  Could her heart have changed so much since that time?

No, her heart was still the same, though, buried deep within her.  The lady realized something as she watched her cherished one sob, knowing she wanted the lady to wrap her arms around her and console her.  It was time she let little morsel know her true feelings without giving away too much for the Mortem to use against her.  It was time to stop the lies and give to little morsel her true feelings.  She would do so while in the safe place where no prying eyes could see.

Little morsel…  Little morsel, look at me, the lady spoke with a gentle voice.  It is time you knew the truth.  It is time that I express what I should have so long ago.

At first, Kein thought the lady would scold her for crying and showing any sort of affection toward her.  She lifted her head, expecting a scowl, but then the lady did something she didn’t expect.  The lady smiled at her, smiled as she used to when young Kein would come for her daily teachings with her down in the cavern.  Her smile was so full of warmth that it shined care into the void of uncertainty Kein was experiencing.  It was enough for her starving heart, but the smile was only the beginning.

The lady would show little morsel and leave no room for doubt, so she cupped her hand to her heart.  She seized her chest as if truly pulling out her heart, and then she held out her hand which symbolically held the source of her love, and she held it toward little morsel.

Kein could have just wept with joy as her face brightened.  Had she died in the Mortem and was now dreaming of things that had been left undone?  Did the lady truly care for her?  She dared not move, fearing she would wake.  Kein had been hurting so much, but with this opening action, the one she saw as her mother had quelled the feelings of abandonment, the feelings of losing the lady when she thought she was dead, and the doubt-filled feelings of a daughter never realized… a daughter never named… a daughter never devoured.  The lady was giving her heart to her, showing Kein that all of this time her memories had lived within the lady’s heart.  Kein dared not move, but she must.  She had a part to play and emotions to express, so she stood and did the same hand motion in return.

The lady lifted her hand above her head, and Kein also moved and lifted her hand above her head, and then the two of them touched the tips of their three middle fingers to the other’s hand.  Kein covered her mouth with her free hand as she continued to cry joyous tears.  The lady leaned to her and gave her the kiss of greeting on her forehead, and then she embraced the human.

Kein no longer hesitated and returned her hug.  The lady… the lady by doing the Kangei Shiki or the Greeting Ceremony with her had accepted Kein into her family.  The lady couldn’t take her into her clan, the lady couldn’t reveal her name to Kein, and she couldn’t give Kein a proper name, but the lady did devour her… she devoured Kein as much as she could.  It had taken her so long to do so… so painfully long, but Kein finally felt her devour her.

Fear also felt the love and joy and couldn’t help but lift her hands and arms out of Kein’s back and embrace both her sister and the lady.

The lady said nothing as the Scorpioid child touched her with the same affection as little morsel.  She didn’t want to take anything away from the precious moment, so she let the unfavorable incident go by.  The lady loved little morsel, and she had outwardly acknowledged it.

Someisa was shocked to see such a thing done in front of him and yet not completely shocked.  He had been with the lady when she returned to the Hanta school for young Kein, but the human child was already gone.  He was shocked that his mistress would show it openly.  Even in her safe place, she still might be giving the Mortem a little leverage over her that could be detrimental.

The lady continued to hug little morsel never wanting to let her go.  She wished to do this the moment they reunited, but the lady held back.  She was afraid someone would see while in her office, see just how precious little morsel was to the lady.  She allowed them to hug in silence for several minutes, but then Mortem business needed to be tended to.

Little morsel, were you alone on the Basement Level for six days?

I was.

The lady informed her, In my realm of time, not even a day has gone by since the last Judicium.

Really..? Kein questioned as she pulled away from her so that they could talk face to face.  What about the Residents?

It is true that they have all been moved up to Level 1, but it only happened about an hour ago, the lady replied.

Kein sighed deeply and then said, Maybe all I have to do is simply move up to Level 1.  I should have a room there.  I did graduate to Resident.

Did you say you spoke to a new Controller?

I did.  The new Controller is a female, Kein replied.  She also said she had no record of me moving up to Resident or that I should have a room or that I should be up on Level 1.  I was so confused.  It was just me and Fear on the Basement Level.  I felt so alone and abandoned the last six days.  I had little food and water.  I thought…  I thought I would die down there.

I have some questions for this new Controller.  Let us go into my office so that I might talk to her, the lady said.

They all left the safe place and entered Red Phoenix’s office.

Controller, the lady spoke loudly.

Red Phoenix, you are the first to call on me… unless I consider Kein more than fodder for the Mortem.  What can I do for you?

I do not know if you know, but I have officially taken on Kein as my Resident, but she tells me that, for some reason, she had not moved up to Resident.  She also tells me that she has been stuck on Basement Level for six days.

I thought she was making all of that up, but since you, as one of the Coaches, have confirmed it, maybe I should look into it further.  I will contact the Mortem Masters and get back to you once I have spoken to them.

The lady told her, I will keep Kein with me until this whole thing is settled.

Kein smiled.  She would be allowed to stay with the lady longer.  She had missed her so much.

Let us return to my safe place, the lady said as she turned and reentered the room.

Someisa and Kein followed.  Someisa quickly crawled over to the lady as she sat on the couch and propped himself on the back of the couch.

Someisa, please prepare us a meal with some tea.

Yes, mistress, he said and then hurried off.

Kein went and sat right next to her and took her hand in hers.  A few moments went by, and then Kein finally asked, Why did you tell me I was only a tool to you?  Why did you…  She got choked up and couldn’t say anymore.

We are in the Mortem.  There are very few places that it cannot see, so to openly express my affections for you…  The Mortem could use them against me.

You mean the people in the Mortem, Kein began.  The other people in the Mortem could see what I mean to you and use me against you.

I do mean the people, and I also mean the Mortem.

I think I understand.  The Mortem does seem to be… alive.

You should also be careful, little morsel.  The Mortem could also use what it learns against you.

I never even thought of that, Kein said.  I really do need a Coach, and I’m so glad that you are her.

Someisa with Mame, the young Kumo’usagi, returned and the four of them ate and had some oolong tea.  It reminded Kein of when she would have picnics with ordinary and much smaller spiders when she was a child.  The fond memories flowed over her.

Kein picked up Mame and began to pet him like she petted Thirteen, and she said, And who are you, my little hard worker?

Someisa perked up as if Kein had said the most intuitive thing, and the old Kumo’usagi asked, Have you met this Kumo’usagi before?

I don’t think so, Kein replied.  "No…