Pheoshan Chapter Ten The Giant And The Fish

 Trust

It was the following day when Pheoshan woke up at an incredibly early hour. She woke the other two up and she knew that this would not only be the first official day that she would be undergoing her new role but also to gain more and more of Engleman's trust. After all, she may have gained a great deal of it during the incident the day before but she knew that it would be a while before she had it completely. Once that had been secured then she knew that she should then make her plan to escape. Yet she was also determined to take the Kin siblings with her too.

Enough thinking about that. I need to work on one thing at a time. I can think about all that later. First, work on the trust. Then think of a plan on getting out of here. Which means that this is the most important day so far. So I must make a good impression, or the best impression I can.

She put on her new green maid outfit and brushed and platted her hair. She looked at her reflection in the glass. She felt a shock upon realising that this was the first time she was looking at herself since the sea demon witch had changed it, yet she could not help but feel comforted by the fact that her appearance was back to normal. Yet she still looked deathly pale. This made her purple eyes look almost as if they were glowing and her jet black hair did nothing to make her look any less pale. That was when she noticed the snow white streak on her left hand side.

Sure she looked beautiful but she had a cold beauty, and she could never call herself desirable. Yet she could not help but remember how she caught the eye of that giant. Though she did not want to admit to it, she had to admit that she liked that. 

She remembered all that he had said to her as her hand rested upon her stomach with a smile. She had never even thought about having children. Yet her smile dropped. She could not help but wonder if she would ever have any children? If so then would they be like her? Would they be born human or would they have the power of Wolfox, just like her?

That was when she saw Engleman walk in. He opened the cell and pulled her out. He gave her the potion and once she had grown, gave her a broom. He had a hungry look in his eyes that put all her defences up. She felt all her hairs stand on end.

Did I do something wrong? Have I messed up already? If so, how?

"I need thou to sweep up the carpets and could thee tell Bluerose I need her?"

Good.

"Who's she?"

"The woman with the blue hair and red eyes."

"Right."

She first walked around looking for a woman that fit the description. She soon found her, but she knew that she had to be sure that it was her.

"Urm, are you Bluerose?"

"Yes, why?"

"Our master told me that he needs you now." 

She went pale as fear entered her eyes. She bowed her head and nodded. She walked away and walked to Engleman. Meanwhile Pheoshan went on brushing all the carpets. She started at the upper floors then worked down. She then finally reached the kitchen. She noticed that it was half twelve.

"Could you get on with our master's lunch?" 

They nodded as they all worked around the kitchen and she sweeped the carpets. That was when she nodded that there was a strange bump in the carpet. She pulled it up to see a diamond under the carpet. She picked it up and put it in her pocket. She then finished the carpets.

She knocked on the door of Engleman's room. He opened the door. His hair was a mess. 

"Yes?" He asked as Bluerose left the room with her hair and dress were a mess.

"Found this under the carpet in the kitchen." She said, passing him the diamond. 

His eyes lit up.

"Good girl! Thank thou!"

"So, what next?"

"I think that I would like thee to close my doors." 

He looked at the others in the room.

"Leave us!" 

Then everyone but her and Engleman left the room and she walked in and closed the door behind her. He then pulled out two chairs in front of the window.

"Take a seat."

"Thank you." She said taking the seat.

He sat opposite.

"Look, there is a secret that I only tell those that I truly trust. See, I am looking for a thief. I hath noticed for quite sometime that someone hath been stealing from me and I would like for thee to keep an eye out for him or her alright?"

She nodded.

"I will keep an eye out." She said, yet she could not have a sinking feeling in her gut. "Once you find them…Nah, I don't think that I would want to know."

She looked down, feeling dread that something bad will happen, or she might have to do something bad. Yet even worse, that this bad thing she would have to do very soon.

"So what is my next order master?"

"The library. The librarian seems to need some help."

She nodded and rose to her feet. She then walked out of the room and walked to the library. 

"You need help?"

The librarian looked up, his silver grey eyes looked at her. He had white hair and slight wrinkles. She noticed that he pocketed something gold.

"No."

"Then never mind."

She then looked back at him and caught the sight of another twinkle of gold underneath his thin shirt. She, knowing that she had the thief, left the library and walked directly to Engleman's room. She knew that this was a good opportunity to gain more of his trust. She knew that part of her wanted to keep quiet, but in order to do that she knew this could cost the entirety of Engleman's trust. Which would have left her back to square one. This was the last thing that she needed to do.

She knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

"Urm…master."

He smiled.

"Yes?"

"I spotted that the librarian put something in his pocket and it was gold and there was more gold underneath his shirt."

His smile widened as he called for the librarian. He was soon in front of them.

"Out turn thine pockets!" He shouted.

"W-what?"

"Out turn thine pockets."

"Why?"

He shoved his hands into the man's pockets and pulled out a handful of gold coins and seven gold chains. He then shoved them in front of his face.

"What is this?"

"G-gold sir."

"Where is it from?"

He looked aside and kept quiet.

"It's from me. Isn't it?"

He bowed his head and nodded.

"Take thine top off."

He looked up like a lost puppy and had nothing but fear in his eyes.

"Did thou not hear me? Take thine top off!" He shouted, ripping his top off and this caused more gold to drop. 

She looked at him in shock as her eyes rested upon more scars. He let out a scream.

"Please don't. My-my heart won't take it this time!"

"Then thou should hath thought about that before you stole from me!" He shouted. 

He then pulled out a leather whip with a small metal spike at the end. This was when Pheoshan felt that sinking feeling from before.

"But no. I will not be the one beating thee today." He said, passing her the whip. "She will."

She felt the heavy weight of the whip in her hands. She could feel her arm shaking as she looked at it. She could feel his eyes upon her. Yet she knew that she could not focus upon that. She could feel fear enter her heart. She did not want to do this, yet she knew that she had to. She had to prove herself to Engleman. She had to make him trust that she would obey all orders that he was given.

"Now whip him."

"I-I." She muttered as she could feel her head shaking.

He looked at her. His eyes told her that if she did not do this then he would eat him. No, she had to prove her loyalty to him and knew that there was only one way to do this. She had to dedicate herself to this. She then looked at him. Feeling ill.

"I'm sorry for this."

She raised her whip. She struck. His scream ran throughout her body. She felt the shock run throughout her. 

"Did I say stop? Do it until I tell thou to stop."

She forced herself to strike him again and again. She heard him scream and weep. Yet she had to continue. It took all that she had to fight against her conscience and compassion to whip him again and again. She could feel her arm shake as she had to drown out the sound of his cries. She bit into her lip so hard that she drew blood. Yet she had to continue. She had to close her eyes to drown out who she was whipping yet that only amplified the cross. She wanted to stop but she could not. She could feel her arm shaking and yet she continued. He screamed and screamed and he wept. This felt like a whip to her.

"Good. Thou can stop."

She dropped the whip and bowed her head, stopping the giant from seeing her own tears and the anger in her eyes. She felt shaken by what she had done as she hardly believed what she had done. In fact she noticed that her whole body was trembling even worse then a leaf.

"Now, Libook, thought art dismissed. If thee art not out of this house by tonight, thee will be tomorrow's meal!"

He crawled out of the room, his body shook. She dared not even look at the damage that she had just done.

"Good. Thee hath my trust, but thee must know, that thou will hath to get used to that. After all, disciplining is now part of thine duties."

The Trip

The following day Pheoshan woke from a short and light sleep. In fact she hardly got that much sleep at all! All she could think about was how she whipped the old librarian. She recalled each whip and each cry in vivid detail. She repeated this in her mind again and again, almost like it was on a loop. A loop that made her feel sick. Yet try as she might, she could not get it out of her head!

What am I tuning into? Why did I do that? Could there have been another way? Could I have not stopped myself or persuaded him not to harm the old man? Why did I not just say no to him?

What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I still doing here? Nevermind that, what will I be once I leave this place?

Yet it was at this moment she realised that even if she and the Kin siblings were to escape, he would only chance after them. Yet even worse she would be leaving others behind to be abused by him. This was the one thing that shifted her purpose of being here. She knew that it was going to be a challenge. Yet deep down, regardless of what she might tell herself, she knew that she was the only one that could do this task. No, more like she was the only one who would do it.

I have to kill this giant.

But how? He's bigger than me!

One step at a time.

She wiped away the rest of the sleep in her eyes as Engleman pulled the bars off and gave her the potion. She drank it and soon she was being offered a pair of black leather trousers and a top made of sheep's skin.

"What is this for?"

"We will be going on a trip."

She frowned.

"Where are we going?" She asked out of curiosity.

He smirked.

"I will tell thee on our way."

She forced a smile upon her face.

"Oh, I see. Leave it a surprise."

He let out a laugh as he turned away, giving her some privacy as she put on the clothes.

"Will we be needing any food?"

"Yes."

"Then I will get the cooks on that."

"Good girl. Also do not forget thine whip!" He sang.

She nodded as she felt her blood run ice cold. She felt her stomach churn as she walked to the whip. She felt nauseous as she took it. She walked to the door and then took the whip and walked to the kitchens.

"Look, all of you, prepare some food for the road. We will be going on a trip."

They all looked at her and nodded. She helped them all prepare the food. She glanced at the clock and took a sip of the potion. She ensured that she looked at all the food. Making sure that it was to Engleman's standard. Once she knew that the food was up to standard she joined Engleman at the door. She noticed that he had a fishing rod.

"We're catching fish?"

"Yes, but just one." He said as they left.

"What fish is that?"

"A fish that was created by none other than the Prince Captain himself!"

"Who?"

He looked at her and frowned.

"Never mind. The fish that I am looking for is called the cerlock fish. It hath purple scales with an emerald shine. One eye is green and the other is amber."

She nodded as they travelled for an hour. She took a sip of her potion. She used it to count how many hours went by. They passed a small town before they arrived at an emerald lake. It was surrounded by turquoise trees with purple bark. The whole place almost sparkled as the sun touched it. She had to drink in the absolute beauty of the place.

Then she heard a giant jump out of the bushes. He pounced upon Engleman. He punched down. He dodged the fist and punched him in the gut. He then pulled out a dagger and drove it into the back of the head of the other giant. He pulled it out and cleaned the blade.

"What a waste of my time! Now, let us start fishing."

"Wow, that was amazing!"

"Thank you!"

The Fish

She sat next to Engleman. Both had a fishing rod in their hands as they both looked at the emerald water in the heart of the sun enjoying the soothing light breeze. She found that it was utterly silent other than the beautiful sound of the birds. She took some glances at Engleman, wondering if she should kill him right there and then. Yet the only thing that stopped her was the fight that she had just witnessed. She could not get out of her head just how easy it was for him to take that giant down.

No if I am to kill this monster I am going to have to be smart then that. I may-no I do have a bit of the power of Wolfox in me. But I can not assume that will be enough to kill him.

She then looked at the sparkling of the deep emerald. She then thought about the librarian and what she did to him. She had to admit that he was not the only monster here. Even though she did not like to admit it to herself she knew deep down, she had become one too.

What am I turning into? What will I become?

"By the way I have been wondering something."

"What is it Master?"

"Where did thou get those black glass shoes from?"

She felt a ripple of shock run throughout her body. It took all her power to stop herself from showing her shock or horror. She had to act as calmly and casually as she could. Yet what should she say? How can she tell him without implying who she really was? Nevermind that how could she tell him without giving herself away?

She let out a deep breath.

"It was a gift."

"Poor gift, if you ask me!"

She frowned.

"Why would that be?"

"Because that black glass must hath come from the volcano Dempoweonder. It was named because it is said to produce rocks and minerals that conduct demonic powers. Making it easier to access them. But those kinds of powers are designed to corrupt the soul."

She looked down. She suddenly felt vulnerable and scared. She swallowed like she was swallowing a large price of food with a dry throat. She felt the lady of her colour leave her face as she wondered if that was Wolfox's plan? To corrupt her soul and make her into something similar to him? If so then why would he do that? Why was all this happening to her anyway?

She shook her head, realising that she could not focus upon that right now. Yet she knew that she would have to eventually do something about them.

"Is there a way to get them off? I seem to be unable."

He looked at her and smiled and then bellowed out a laugh.

"No. Thou can only hope that thee can control those powers before they can control thee. Unless King Wolfox himself takes them off you."

Wait, what? Did-did he just figure out who I am? If so then when does he not call me by my real name? Unless… He hasn't figured all of it out. Well that would make sense. Which means that it would only be a matter of time until he does. Once that happens then it will only be a matter of time until he hands me over to Wolfox himself!

Which means that I must kill him before he figures it all out.

She closed her eyes to alleviate the fear that was coursing through her. She let out a long and deep breath. This helped calm herself down. She put on a false smile as she wanted to appear calm and enjoying the moment. She wanted to change the subject so she did not have to focus on it. Anything but that.

"So why did you pick this moment to try to catch this cerlock fish?"

"Because this is the only time of the year when they're easiest to catch."

She nodded.

Makes sense.

That was when she felt something nip at her line. She looked on, wondering if that was just her imagination, but the second nip told her that it was not. Then she pulled. She felt the tension build in her rod? Yet she continued to pull. She felt her muscles tensed as the fish on the other end started to fight back. She pulled and pulled but she still could not get the fish out. So she stood and bent her legs and she felt the push of her legs add to her pulling strength. This matched the strength of the fish. Yet she heard the snapping in her rod. She then reached up and grabbed the top of the rod. She then pulled and pulled. She then let the tension go a little before she whipped back and the fish came flying at her. She dropped the rod and caught it in her arms and landed on the ground.

She looked down at the fish that was in the shape of a blade and the tail looked like that of a fan. With fins at either end was like that of flower petals and a spine like that of a long petal. The scales were like that which Engleman described.

"Wow! That's beautiful!" She exclaimed before she could stop herself.

"Congratulations! Thou caught it. Come, we need to go back home!"

By the time that they returned, it was night. She  looked down at the bottle and noticed that it was almost empty.

"I'm going to have to get more of this."

"That's alright. I will get the ingredients ready tomorrow."

She nodded.

"Also thee art to cook this tomorrow. I don't trust anyone else."

"Right. Thank you."

The Power Of The Fish

She woke up at an early hour. She took her last sip of the potion. She put her clothes on. She made her way to the kitchen. She took out a knife and started to gut the fish when Engleman walked in. He looked at her and smiled. She could feel him, watching her. She placed the fish's guts to the side. Then worked on cutting the bones out. She, to her surprise, spotted that they were the colour of emerald! Yet she did her best to cut the bones yet as she put each bone aside she spotted that they were not just the colour of emerald, they were emerald!

No wonder he wants them so bad!

No time, continue working.

She cut the bones carefully making sure that she cut as much meat off the bone as she could.

"Good girl, thee cut that well."

"Thank you my master. Although, I do have to ask why do you use thee and thou or thine?"

"Well, it is our way of speaking, when thou humans started to use you, we, on this land, decided not to. Although the giants to the east hath kept up with thine changes."

"And hath?"

"Is our word for have or has. Art means are in thine tongue."

She nodded.

"Thank you for the insight."

"Thine art welcome. Now, Alex, I will be heading out to gather the herbs and other ingredients to make thine potion."

"Thank you, I will have the fish ready when you arrive."

"Good girl. However I warn thee, do not eat a single piece of that fish."

"Right."

"I mean it. If I find that thou ate a single piece I will eat thee alive!"

"Understood." She said as he left.

Like that isn't a lie.

She thought as she put the fish in the pan and started cooking.

Oh well as if it isn't any of my business. Just keep cooking, just like how that demon taught you!

She could feel the heat as time went by, yet she noticed that the fish was not coming normally.

How strange. I wonder if there is more to cooking this fish than like all the others I cooked. Either that or this fish takes longer.

She waited and waited, yet it still did not seem to cook. She wondered if there was something wrong so she put her finger on it to see if it was cooking. She felt the heat flair up and she had to put the finger in her mouth. Yet she could taste and felt the fish on her tongue. It tasted like a sweet lamb. Then the moment she swallowed she somehow knew that she would have to kill the giant the moment that he returned.

But how?

There is a weakness in the centre of his eyes. If you are able to get there you should be able to kill him.

How?

Use the weapon.

What weapon?

The one you have when you access the power of Wolfox.

But that will corrupt my soul!

Not unless when you access them you keep your soul strong and you should slow the corruption comfortably.

Right.

She looked at the time she could see that her hope was almost up. She could feel herself shrinking already. She knew that regardless of what happens now, she would have to fight. She closed her eyes to focus. She soon forced herself to get into the mind that she would be in when she would use the power. She soon felt that power course throughout her body. She could feel the dark joy that works fine with it.

Then she heard the door open. She took the pan off the hob, knowing that it was already cooked. She also knew that the fire would come in handy in the fight.

"Alex?"

She looked up at him. He looked down at her, his eyes widened as he sniffed and then smirked.

"I thought that I could smell the Demon King on thou. Now I know why."

She rolled her eyes and jumped up. She rose higher than a normal girl would have done.

"What? Thee think thou can kill me?" He mocked.

He pulled out a pan and went to bring the base down upon her. She raised her legs and ran under the base of the pan, using the gforce to stop her from falling. She then reached the handle and ran up the sides and onto the giant's hand. She brought down the blade as hard as she could. The giant let out a slight grunt, but he seemed to be unaffected by this. Seeing this she then drove the blade deeper and deeper into his flesh. She then turned the blade as she pulled it out. She then slashed again and again, yet to her shock the giant was laughing the entire time.

"Keep going girl! That tickles!" He laughed.

She tried to ignore this as she continued. She looked up and saw that he had his eyes closed. She then reached the bone and she slashed through it. Soon his thumb fell. He dropped his pan.

"Thou witch!"

He then went to whack her with his hand and she stabbed him right in the palm of his hand. She then ran along the hand and slit the wrist, where the bones met. He drew back. He then pulled out a fork and drew it down upon her. She quickly moved out of the way, she noticed that she was moving faster than a normal human should. But she knew that she did not have time to dwell upon it. She then ran up his arm and he drove it back down again but she had already ran on before he could even get close to her, causing him to stab himself in the process. 

He then flung her away and she flew off his arm. She then spotted a cupboard in front of her. She flung her feet out in front of her and pushed off from the door propelling herself to the giant. He then swatted her away like a fly. She then hit the kitchen table. She felt her shoulder break as she rolled again and again. She had no time to focus on the pain and had to push through it. She soon flipped back on her feet.

She looked up to see the giant took out a wooden rolling pin and drove it down to her. She dived out of the way. He then brought it down again and again and she ran out of the way again and again. Then he brought it down upon her again and she was about to run out of the way but he swung it to her. She knew to hit her so she spun back and sliced the thing in half faster than she could blink. 

She then jumped up and ran along the arm again. She then jumped up and threw the blade right into between the eyes. It soon dug in deep and he fell backwards, his head crashed into the fire behind him. He let out a scream as the fire ate deep into his flesh, soon reaching his brain. His body went limp. 

She looked at the dead body with a satisfied smile.

Now get the others. You also need to get out of here as soon as you can. You are not ready to face Wolfox yet. 

But-

Eat the rest of the fish, it will heal you.

She ran on and jumped on the table and pulled a chunk of the fish off and ate. She soon felt satisfied and her body soon healed and she felt a surge of energy flood her.

Golden Freedom

She looked up at Bluerose coming in.

"What-"

"You are free."

"What?"

"Engleman is dead."

She looked down. Her eyes were filled with shock.

"By the gods! Engleman is dead! Thank the gods!"

She looked down at her.

"D-did you do that?"

She shrugged.

"What if it?"

She looked at the body and then looked at her with a frown.

"What are you?"

"I dunno. Now could you help me, I need to free Egoso and Cimus." She told her.

She nodded.

"A-alright!" She said as she picked her up and pulled the key from his belt.

She then walked to the room of the giant. She then turned the key.

"What does he want this time?"

"Nothing but being free from the Demon Realm!"

"What?"

"I have just killed Engleman."

"Alex? How?"

"It's Pheoshan. My real name is Pheoshan."

"Then why?"

"I read that there was a link between giants and demons and I-"

"Wait, you're not the Pheoshan, the Demon Princess!"

"Yes."

"When did you wake?"

"A while ago. I would like to get…"

"So you're the new master of the Mirror Realm and six of the Dream Hells!"

"What?"

"What? Did thee not know?"

"No, but-"

"So the rumour, that you have the power of Wolfox, is that right?"

"Yes but-"

"Have you ever wondered why Wolfox is the demon king?" Cimus asked.

"No. But I would like to know but-"

"That's because he can absorb the abilities of other demons. If you really do have that power,that also means that you should have that ability too!"

Her eyes widened as she felt a ripple of shock run throughout her. She remembered how since she defeated the White Demon she was a shade paler than she used to be. She remembered how she was able to use her very own power against her. She remembered how she was able to break free from the Sweet Demon's sugar. It all made sense now.

That was when another thing came to mind. All the times that she had unwittingly used that power came to mind. Those memories flooded her mind. Suddenly she was able to know how she was able to kill the last Dream Demon in the final Dream Hell. Then how she was able to kill the son of the White Demon. Then the way she was able to kill the White Demon. All of it! She remembered it with nothing but horror! Yet the most horrific thing was the dark joy that she felt when she was in that state. She looked at her hand and she remembered the weapon that she was just using. She could still feel the echo of the dark joy that she had just felt. Yet she felt shocked just how much she liked it.

She looked up.

"Do you think that I could become-" She started to ask, yet she dared not finish. She did not want the answer.

"No. I think that you and your descendants will be human. But I think both of you will be tainted by this." Cimus said. "That is how some of the giants came about."

She nodded.

"Thank you. You ought to heal faster than normal too."

"But how did I even get this power?"

"Probably it is due to the fact that you became his house near when the day you were born. Now, enough of that, as we ought to throw a party."

"Urm…"

It's alright enjoying yourself. You will be able to reunite with the other two after. You can also be able to make it up to that librarian too. But you must leave this place before tomorrow afternoon.

She nodded.

"Alright, but would you tell the liberation that Engleman is dead?"

"Sure. We will find him."

"Do you think that he should be the new master too."

"Yes in fact I think that we will all be freer under him?"

She nodded and smiled. So they all got out the prisoners and celebrated. The giants drank until they were drunk. Then, this led to a good night's sleep.

The following day they all have the three all they needed. Pheoshan and the Kin all walked out and sniffed the ice cold fresh air. Finally free at last. They soon came to the edge of the island. She looked down to see that the beanstalk that brought her up here had regrown. The branches wrapped themselves around their hips and they descended. They went lower and lower and lower. They were soon back on land and left the floating island of giants behind them.

The first thing that she did eat look around as the beanstalk withered away and died. She knew that she had to get her barrings.

"So what now?" Asked Egoso.

"I have to find my…urm…"

Could I call them that? Well they do care for me. So I think that I can.

"Need to look for your friends?" Purred a man from behind.

Pheoshan recognized the voice as the one that gave her the beans.

"It's you!"

"Yes. Now if you please, you don't have much time. After all, if you don't go in that direction you'll miss them!"

"Right. By the way, why did you find me those beans?"

She felt her body cringe as she could feel the creepy smile under his hood.

"I wanted to see what you would do! Although, I do have to admit, I was impressed by your actions. I can see that you have the potential to be great. Although you do have a lot of room to grow."

"Right." She said as she looked at the two. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure!" The Kin siblings said together.

With that she grabbed their hands and they ran and ran in the direction that the guy pointed to. She soon saw that he was telling them the truth.

"Pheoshan?"

"Where have you been?"

She smiled.

"That's a long story."

✴️

Meanwhile, the stranger was approached by Wolfox.

"Do you think that was wise? She could become a great threat!" He purred.

"Well, she could. Although that is admittedly a bit rough from someone like you!"

The man licked his lips as he let out a laugh.

"What can I say? It's been boring since the Sixth Age Of Legends came to an end. Although-" He licked his lips. "-things are getting serious lately. I just hope that someone does something great soon."

He let out a chuckle.

"Do you think another Age Of Legends is on the horizon?"

"But late to the party aren't you? We've been in one since Reho Rosecastle took down Grasharlo!" He sang, pointing at him. "Should have been catching up on all that you have missed! Other than doing that little favour for my dear old father!"

"Speaking of which, a little warning, your father's hunting for you."

"Sounds scary! Speaking of which, I have a date in Bohen."

"Take care!"

"Okay!"