An Addition to the Family

Seething with anger Melicinth turned and with a harsh chopping motion of her hand banished Volmat and Ormmon to the nether. Betlia had not returned since the night the warlock and voidwalker had come home from Northrend. The succubus’ flagrant disobedience infuriated the forsaken woman so that she trembled with rage as she made her way to her workshop at the back of the cottage.

Stepping through the door Melicinth paid no mind to the piles of gems that cluttered a tabletop or the spools of copper wire, boxes of settings and ore that she used in her jewel crafting. She made her way to the back of the room, hooked a rug with boney toes and tugged it out of the way to reveal a trapdoor.  She jerked the door open, not flinching when it slammed into the floor with a resounding crash as she made her way down the rickety stairs to the room beneath.

A wave of her hand lit the candles that lined the walls, illuminating the summoning circle she’d painstakingly etched into the stone floor. The warlock took a broom that rested against one wall and carefully swept the floor free of any debris, ensuring that the surface was as smooth as glass. Candles, black, purple and green were placed at strategic points and carefully lit.

Melicinth began her chant, her words slow and measured. She enunciated them precisely, her hands waving in intricate motions as she spoke, emphasizing the chant. The shadows that filled the room began to gather around her, spiraling like leaves caught in a whirlwind. Her skirts rustled and her ragged jet tresses swirled around her face as the power moved. The noise from the fel wind rose around her, bounced off the walls and crashed back into her thin frame as her own voice grew louder still.

As she reached the crescendo of her chant she brought the blade of her dagger across her palm, droplets of ichor leaving a trail on the floor as she twirled in a circle, arms raised gracefully like a ballerina performing a sinister dance. The green substance that served as forsaken blood sizzled when it hit the stone, heat waves writhing beneath her, enshrouding her in shadows and fel-tainted light.

Then, the chant ended, she lowered her arms as exhaustion over took her. She swayed on her feet, the motion of the wind and her own movements leaving her disoriented for a brief moment. The silence in the room was deafening, swelling until it enveloped her in arms of complacency. Then she heard it, a faint snuffling noise in front of her. She raised her head to see the creature looking at her with infinite intelligence and patience.

She reached out; boney fingers extended to the felhound, allowing it to get her scent and accept her as master. The creature sniffed loudly then moved closer to her, leaning lightly against her hip as she stroked its head fondly.

“Find Betlia darling. Find her and bring her back to me. By any means necessary.” She crooned softly.  The felhound grunted its acquiescence and disappeared into the nether.

She stood for a moment in the circle, hand pressed to her breast as if to still a thudding heart.  A few hastily uttered words and a wave of her hands brought Volmat and Ormmon back from the void. The imp took an excited step toward her then stopped in his tracks. Eyes wide, he backed up slowly until he stood behind the roiling blue mass of the voidwalker.

Melicinth turned to see what had affected Volmat. The creature stepped close to her, its mottled red and brown body covered with sparse patches of course, mangy hair. Its eye stalks waved about as if it tried to see everything at once. From a mouth filled with jagged rows of teeth, a high pitched keening noise could be heard.

 The warlock watched the spectacle, a smile spreading across her blue tinged lips. “Oh! You brought a puppy home with you. How sweet!” she trilled as she knelt to pet the creature on the head.  She looked up with shining eyes at the demons who moved as far from the thing as possible, “I think we’ll call him Spike!”

((This is to explain the mini zergling pet Meli has and continue the dysfunctional Collins family saga))