The Black Unicorn

The Creatures Grim Warnings

" Hello, there child." A bubbly and oily voice oozed past the shriveled-up tentacles on its face. My mouth hung open in shock, I could not tear my widened eyes away from the creature.

It kept its lower half-submerged in the water portal inside the Cauldron. Only keeping its body stomach up from the water that was pooled around it.

" I don't know what your doing here, but I'm needing to talk to someone else. Would you mind being a little squid and keeping me company till he comes back?" The creature purred. Crossing its skeletal arms on the rim of the Cauldron and laying its octopus-like head on them.

I stared at it with eyes so wide I'm surprised they did not fall out of their sockets. My jaw hung open slightly and I tried to talk or say something.

" I... I can... How about... I can just... Go find him for you." I was able to get that last part out rather quickly. Continuing to stare at it, as stiff as a stick, as I dreaded its response.

" I'm sure he will be back shortly. He was here a few minutes ago, and he's never one to keep guests waiting. Stay here and humor me. What is some girl doing in Ambrose's study?" It hummed, tapping its clawed fingertips against its cheek.

I really did not know what to do. I wanted to run away as fast as I could. I absolutely wanted nothing to do with the creature in front of me. It did not look like it came bearing good news, especially if it was working with Master Ambrose.

" I'm...I'm his assistant. I help him here in the Laboratory." I was able to bodily speak after strangling down a glob of spit. Though I was still tremendously scared on the inside.

The creature ceased its nail tapping, causing the room to go silent once more. It narrowed its eyes slightly, studying me as if I were a book it could read so easily. Finally, it gave a snort, shifting in the water and placing its other cheek on the other hand. Letting the other claw that once held its face draped down the side of the Cauldron.

" I would have assumed he would have despised the mere presence of other humans, especially when it comes to Midoral's." It commented mostly to itself.

Midoral's...People from Midora. That was this kingdom! Why would Master Ambrose have a specific disgust for the kingdom of Midora?

" Why... Do you say that?" I questioned the creature, trying to keep my gaze firmly on it and make myself appear less afraid than I actually was. It gave another sort of chuckle, the tentacles around its maw bouncing up in down as it let out its laughter.

" Do you really not know? How old are you?" It criticized, looking at me with eyes full of mockery. I could not help the embarrassed blush that spread over my face.

" I'm sorry that I lived most of my life as a poor peasant whose only teachings were how to live on a farm and grow special plants!" I could not help the burst of slight anger that I let loose. Before I came here I did not even know how to read. It was not my fault that apparently this kingdom did something to piss off Master Ambrose and I did not know about it. " I'm 20." I finished through gritted teeth.

" Hmmm, your only 8 years younger than the Master! is that a surprise." It cackled. I looked at it in shock as the new information came across me. I'm...only 8 years younger than the master!? He looked like he could be forty though! The creature continued.

" Still, if you did grow up in a poor and uneducated environment then you probably would not know about it, especially since everyone tried to kick it under the rug anyway." It said the last part more to itself than to me.

" Midora tried to kick what under the rug? stop being so vague please!" I pleaded, hoping that it would tell me. Neither my father nor my mother, my neighbors the villagers, anyone that I had ever met in my entire life had even mentioned something About Midora doing something bad like this creature was suggesting.