Yotrohtsothian Space- Time is different in both dimensions

  For the second time, since sitting down to dinner, Cthulhu Yoth watches Lilchta play with the food on his plate. To the right of the youthful Cthulhu kin, Captain Hilyard appears utterly disgusted by the trappings offered to her. Aurelia's mouth is twisted into a weary grimace and she uses her fork to push around a pile of sofsof ears.

  "Are you not hungry, Aurelia?" Mr. Yoth says with a kind smile. "If the food is not to your liking...We can arrange for something more your taste."

  "More to my taste?" Aurelia exclaims. "Since when have I ever eaten Yotrohtsothian food, Mr. Yoth? I'm sorry. No. I can't."

  Captain Hilyard pushes the heaping plate with her food away. She glances at Lilchta, feeling only slightly apologetic. Lilchta offers Aurelia a knowing grin.

  "What is all of that anyway?" Aurelia whines.

  Lilchta, thoroughly enjoying Aurelia's discomfort, leans forward on the table and begins listing the various types of food on display. He dramatically points to each item as he speaks.

  "The giant platter in the middle contains razirthoth tongues. A rare delicacy on Yotrohtsoth. Only available after the beast grows its third head and the first head withers. Best to eat them fermented...Or they're rather gamey tasting. The plate next to it? Those are sofsof ears. It's a beast which dwells in the Cithathlrn Sea. However, the sofsof come on land to mate and lay their thousands of eggs. That's when we hunt them. Or, so I am told. I've never hunted a sofsof. The eggs are quite good also. The items you were just toying with on your own plate. Those are bijit hearts, fluuti livers...vorgis eyeballs, and druid beans. They're not really beans. However, that's what the druids used to call them. And we're not really sure what the particular organ is...Or what it even did anymore. The animal it comes from is similar to an Earth pig. They have hundreds of these little structures...All clustered around their tiny little..."

  "Okay. Enough, Lilchta!" Aurelia squeals, holding her stomach with one hand. "Enough. Please excuse me, Mr. Yoth. I believe...I'm going to be sick. Excuse me."

  Aurelia climbs from the table and makes haste from the dining room. Cthulhu Yoth peers at his son with narrowed eyes, displeasure evident on his ancient face. Lilchta, having meant no malice toward Captain Hilyard, jumps up from his seat.

  "Uh...Excuse me too, Father. I must see to Captain Hilyard."

  Hurrying across the room, Lilchta remembers himself. His form quickly dissipates.

  -

  -

  Aurelia purges bile into the sink of the elaborate guest bathroom. Blindly reaching upward, she yanks a towel from the rack beside her head. She stands erect, peering into the elegant mirror. The mirror is absolutely beautiful, its edges covered with hand carved designs. Aurelia traces one edge of the mirror with her fingers, while examining the puffiness under her eyes.

  "You look like hell, Aurelia," she whispers. "Sleep doesn't come easy these days."

  "Why not?" Lilchta inquires, materializing behind Aurelia.

  Aurelia whirls to face her intruding host. She bumps the small of her back on the sink's edge as she makes eye contact with Cthulhu Lilchta.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "Why do you keep doing that?" Aurelia screeches, her eyes searching the space within the ornately decorated bathroom. "Have you ever heard of privacy? That's actually a thing, you know?"

  "I know," Lilchta says. "But...I could sense you were...In need of reassuring. I'm only here...To help."

  Aurelia flinches as one of Lilchta's tentacles stretches forward and lightly brushes her left cheek. He approaches her very slowly, his gray-blue eyes never once leaving her face.

  "Your father's death...Still worries you," Lilchta says in a soft, but deep voice. "Seeing me...Loving me...Causes a great disruption in your soul. And in your mind."

  "Loving you? Ha!" Aurelia half-heartedly chuckles, folding both arms over her chest. "Now, there's a laugh. Ha."

  "Why do you pretend, Aurelia?" Lilchta continues, taking yet another step closer. "You and I once shared the same body and mind. I know what you feel. I have felt it as well."

  "So...You were messing around in my head?" Aurelia squeaks. "You bastard! Get away from me, Zifawid Lilchta. Don't you even touch me!"

  Aurelia moves to storm past Lilchta, but he calmly reaches out with a tentacle and grips her right forearm. A ripple of energy courses Aurelia's body and she stops with her left foot hovering above the ground. It is almost as if she were frozen in stone. Cthulhu Lilchta studies her very closely, walking to stand before the unmoving human captain.

  "You are tired, Aurelia. You are not thinking clearly. Perhaps, you should rest. Things will be more clear to you...When you are awake again."

  Passing a hand across Aurelia's face, Lilchta causes a deep sleep to fall over her. Aurelia slumps and Cthulhu Lilchta takes her into his arms. He twists his mouth to one side and shakes his head.

  "Silly woman," Lilchta whispers, and carries Aurelia from the bathroom.

  -

  -

  It is sometime later when Aurelia opens her eyes yet again. She finds herself in an unfamiliar room. A mountain of soft pillows surrounds her head; and the silken covers slide down her body as she sits up on the overly comfortable bed. Aurelia takes a moment to scrutinize everything.

  Dark lace curtains are draped around the enormous bed, with only a dim light managing to penetrate the tiny patterns of the fabric. Tiny little somethings, which look and smell like black rose petals, are spread over the blankets. Aurelia takes one between her fingers and crushes it. Yes, rose petals. Lilchta!

  "Oh no," Aurelia whispers in the dark. "No no. I can't let this continue. I...I have to go. Oh, I feel so stupid. I should never have accepted his invitation. Why, Aurelia? Why? Silly woman."

  "I've been saying that for the past few days," Lilchta's voice says from the other side of the dark lace curtains.

  The young Cthulhu sorcerer reaches his hands into a split in the curtains and separates them. He peers at Aurelia with soft, concerned eyes.

  "That's how long...You've been asleep. The spell was only meant to keep you in a state of rest until your mind was healed. It would appear...You were wrestling with more than was usual. You were asleep for almost a week. In human time."

  "A week? You let me sleep for a while freaking week?" Aurelia shrieks, scooting to get off of the bed.

  Cthulu Lilchta gently puts out a hand to stop her. He stares into her eyes.

  "I did not kill your father, Aurelia. It was another Zifawid who ordered the destruction of your father's ship. As caretakers for the girgoghs...We only did as instructed. Many of us had no family. No place to call home. The girgoghs weren't only our masters...They were like our parents. Their orders were--. Oh, Aurelia. You must believe me. I would not lie to you about something so grave."

  "It isn't just that, Lilchta," Aurelia confesses. "I don't like that you know my deepest...Most inner feelings. I don't like that you just appear and tell me things I don't want to hear. I don't like that I..."

  "That you...What?"

  "Nothing."

  "Hmmm. I think I know your problem, Aurelia," Lilchta says, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

  He lightly caresses the captain's cheek. This time, Aurelia does not flinch.

  "You are restless. You need something to occupy your mind."

  "What? What are you...?"

  Lilchta presses the small tip of one of his neck tentacles against Aurelia's lips to silence her. He leans forward and kisses her, his tentacle the only barrier between their lips.

  "You need something to take your mind off of everything that has happened. You need an adventure. I say...We go and find one."

  To be continued.......