Bride of the Crimson Beast

Chapter 6: The Castle that Walks

Itbaki lay awake that night, thoughts flowing through his head.

"..."

An image filled his mind.

"If I'm gone they'll be happy, but you'll be sad, so I'll come back different, but I'll still be me."

Itbaki sat up. Looking down, he was dressed in his robe still.

He took it off, making his fur push out from being held back by the robe.

His fur was black as night.

Getting up, he walked to the living room over to the fireplace.

He snapped his fingers, making it flare alive.

"Rrrrrrrahhhhh!"
A dragon made out of fire formed out of a still flame.

"Been a minute. Do you want the castle moved?"

Itbaki nodded. "Don't wear yourself too hard."

"Eh, it's fine. I may be a dragon without a body, but I am inside this castle as a soul. Besides, you're a good man, Itbaki."

Itbaki sighed and sat down.

"Still a monster to humans."

"Eh, who needs humans? Besides, I think that girl likes you."

Itbaki thought of how she said he was beautiful.

It was a strange but comforting term. For centuries, people shunned him and called him a monster, but two hundred years later a girl says he's beautiful.

The castle shook lightly.

Outside, it started to rise. Feet made of stone sprung out.

It took a few steps east. They were little but large, going at least a mile per step across the plains.

No one could see the castle clearly in the dead of night.

Itbaki got up and stretched his long skinny fox body.

"Heat a bath, Coal. Take your time."

"Will do, boss."

He went upstairs in the washroom. Inside was a natural magical spring.

It overflowed a little bit important from that that flowed throughout the castle.

He took a toe claw and dipped it in.

"Little hot, but that should be good."

He got in, splashing water all over. There were vents on the floor too, so no water ruined the floors.

"Ahhhhh. So warm."

He immediately took a snooze.

Lily awoke the next morning to the sound of birds. She was then surprised to see clouds. She got up and opened the door, feeling wind rush in and blow her hair.

She left her room to find Jacob reading a book.

"Oh, you're awake," he said, getting up. "Um, I don't think we were properly introduced. I'm Jacob."

"I'm Lily. Nice to meet you."

Jacob nodded.

"Do you know where Itbaki is?" Lily asked.

"He might be in the spring upstairs."

Lily went up to see a row of paintings and stopped, mesmerized. Inside of them were people talking and moving. She saw two cats juggling chairs, then a man trying to eat a huge sandwich. He looked at Lily.

"I'm a priceless work of art, yet I still cannot eat a bite of this sandwich," he said.

"The size of it must be intimidating," Lily noted. She continued up the stairs until she reached the door of the washroom. She knocked on it, but got no response. After a moment, she opened the door to find Itbaki face up in the spring, asleep. She gazed around the room to see all sorts of flora and fauna. She stepped forward and accidentally stepped on a brick that cracked, waking Itbaki. He started to rise, confused, but then saw Lily and got bashful. Lily felt awkward as well.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like this!" Itbaki said, then ran out of the room, leaving behind a trail of water. Lily cleaned it up quickly before heading back to the living room.

"I'm sorry for leading you to that," Jacob apologized.

"It's okay. It was just interesting," Lily said.

Itbaki came out into the living room, now dressed, but still a little wet.

"Was your sleep pleasant?" he asked Lily in a formal tone.

"Yes, thank you."

"I was wondering if you'd like a tour of the castle," Itbaki said.

"Yes, that sounds fun!"

Itbaki beckoned for Lily to follow and told Jacob to come along with them. Going up a hall, they emerged through double doors into a huge circular ballroom. A couple of pillars covered with flowering vines formed a circle near the walls, supporting the ceiling, which had a very large window in the center where light shone through. The floor was made of white and gold tiles.

Going through another set of double doors, they emerged into a huge garden with lots of chairs.

"This is a very lovely garden," Lily said, looking at the flowers.

Itbaki got a bit bashful.

They sat on a lookoff, drinking tea.

"How are we so high up?" Lily asked, astonished.

"The castle moves by its own will," Itbaki explained.

"Can people see it?" Lily asked, seeing the farm hills below.

Itbaki snapped, summoning an orb into his hands. "This moon orb masks the entire castle as a shadow so I don't scare people."

The moving castle then came to a halt.

Itbaki got up. “We better go in. The castle has found a good spot to stay for a bit.”

After heading back inside, Lily spotted a cat down the hall. She turned to Itbaki to ask him about it, but he was busy talking with Jacob. When she looked back around, the cat was gone.

Once Itbaki and Jacob finished talking, Lily followed Itbaki to the living room, where they could see the castle lowering itself to the ground.

Around nighttime, after dinner, Lily went upstairs to the spring to take a bath.

She laid back and soaked in the spring, feeling relaxed.

Just then, a voice spoke to her. "You're new around here. I haven't seen a lady here before. Well, unless you can count me."

Lily turned to the mirror to see a black cat with a pink gem collar.

"The name's Aria," the cat introduced herself.

Lily introduced herself as well.

Aria hopped onto the side of the tub, looking Lily over.

"You're interesting. I sense a different power in you," she said, a bit surprised.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

Aria hopped down. "Well, with that sort of power, you should be a monster. But you're not."

She then flicked her tail, using magic to open the door leading out of the spring.

Aria turned. "You make Itbaki happy, so it would be good that you are here."

She then left, shutting the door and leaving Lily puzzled.

Chapter 6 end