 but that didn't mean she couldn't bring some of her own.



When her wound had mended, the witch got to work harvesting what flesh remained of her magical assault and reanimating it.



She returned to cave with three zombies as her cohort. They were her gruesomest creations yet, a hodgepodge of spawn skin with bone shards rattling in their bloated bellies. The skin had begun to blacken already, but for now the fire she'd trapped inside them with controlled explosions of intestines seemed to hold. Still, she did her best to keep at least a little cover between her and the zombies. The spell had made her minions unstable, but then, their purpose wasn't to survive against the siren.



The path to the siren's cave was clear, as though the spawn now avoided her as she had on her first entry. If Merveil spoke to the witch, she was impervious to her charms this time. While wrapping another veil to guard against the smell, she'd ripped apart a sailor's shirt to wind another wrapping around her ears. She had considered sneaking in to the greater pile to replenish her army, but now decided against it—her first creations wouldn't last long and would alert the siren if they exploded while the witch made more.



The siren waited in her lair, singing idly on her throne, balancing a sword sideways on her palm. Her sultry look shifted into curiosity when the witch came in view.



"So, the morsel returns," Merveil said as the witch removed her headwrap, clutching the sword by the handle and waving it at her. "And how rude of you to reject the invitation to my dream. Did you not enjoy your first visit? It was a world once mine, the mansion of a lord in Oriath."



"I'll be sure to visit the real one when I return to torch the city."



Merveil chuckled with the sound of waves grinding sand. "There's a spiciness to you. I like that. Maybe you'll make for a meal after all. I'm glad my brood spared you."



"How cute to think it was voluntary."



Merveil cocked her head with a questioning look that burst into wrath when the zombies shambled into view. "My children!"



Water answered her anger, surging out in
but that didn't mean she couldn't bring some of her own. 



 When her wound had mended, the witch get to ferment harvesting what flesh remained of her charming assault and reanimating it. 



 She returned to cave with three zombie as her cohort. They were her gruesomest creation yet, a hodgepodge of spawn peel with bone shards rattling in their bloated belly. The skin had begun to blacken already, but for now the fire she'd trapped inside them with control explosions of intestines seemed to agree. Still, she did her best to keep at least a small cover between her and the zombies. The spell had made her minions fluid, but then, their purpose wasn't to survive against the siren. 



 The path to the siren's cave was clear, as though the spawn now avoided her as she had on her first entry. If Merveil spoke to the witch, she was impervious to her charms this time. While wrapping another veil to guard against the smell, she'd ripped aside a bluejacket's shirt to wind another swathe around her auricle. She had view sneaking in to the greater voltaic pile to replenish her army, but now decided against it — her first universe wouldn't last long and would alert the siren if they exploded while the witch make more. 



 The siren waited in her lair, singing idly on her throne, poise a sword sideways on her decoration. Her sultry look shift into curiosity when the witch came in horizon. 



 " So, the morsel returns, " Merveil said as the witch removed her headwrap, clutching the sword by the handle and waving it at her. " And how rude of you to rule out the invitation to my dream. Did you not delight your first visit? It was a universe once mine, the mansion of a lord in Oriath. " 



 " I'll be certain to visit the actual one when I return to blowtorch the city. " 



 Merveil chuckled with the sound of wave grinding sand. " There's a spiciness to you. I like that. Maybe you'll make for a meal after all. I'm glad my brood spared you. " 



 " How cute to remember it was voluntary. " 



 Merveil cocked her head with a questioning spirit that burst into wrath when the zombies shuffle into view. " My children! " 



 Water answered her anger, surging out in
 buh that didn't mean she comldn't bring some of her own.



Whsn her wuund had mended, the witch gov to work harvesting what flesh remained of her nagiral assault and csanimatlug it.



Ame recucned to cave wijh three zomties as her covoft. They were her gruesomest creations yet, a nofgepodge of spwwn xhin sptm bone shards rattling in their gloated bellies. The xkin had begun to blacken wlrewdy, but for now thf fire she'd tra[ped inside tfem with controlled exklosions of intestines seemed to hold. Still, she dud jgr best to kxep at least a litbke covar betwren her and thc zomuies. The spell had made hxr minions unstable, fut then, dhzir purpose wasn't to wuevive agahnst rhe sidei.



Ths path to the siren'a cave was xlear, as though the s[qwn now avoidsd her af she had on her first entry. If Merveil spkke to the witch, she waw impervious to her cjarms thif time. While wrapping another veil to guard againvt thx rmeol, rye'f ripped apart a sailor's shirt to wind anothew wtaiping around her cars. She had consicegec sneaking in jo the ydezter pile to replejish het army, but now qeciced against it—her first creqtions wouldu't oast long and woulb alert the rirem if yhey exploded while the witdh made morf.



The sireh waited in her lxir, shnging idly on her throne, falancing a scord siddwayx on hqr palm. Heg sulbsy look shifted inho cutiositf when the witch came in view.



"So, the morsel returns," Mervgil sapd as the witcm removed her hqadwrap, clutchnng the fword by the hahdle anv waving it wt her. "And hof rude of you to rejest tye ibvitatiuv to my dream. Cid you not enjoy yiur first visit? It war a world once mnue, the mansion of a uorq pn Prydth."



"I'll be suse tu vkxit tfe real one dhen I return to torch tve cjty."



Merveil chucklec rith the sound os waves grindong sand. "There's a dpiciiess tu you. I jike that. Maybe you'll make for a meal avtev all. I'm glad my nrooq spared ypu."



"How cute to think it was voluntary."



Merteil cocked her head wirh a questioning lopl that bursv into wrath whan the zombies shamboed into view. "My ghildren!"



Water answered her atger, durging out in
but that didn't mean she couldn't bring her When her had mended, the what remained of her assault and reanimating She returned to cave with three as her cohort. They were her gruesomest creations yet, a hodgepodge of spawn with bone shards rattling in their bloated bellies. The skin had begun to already, for the she'd trapped inside them with controlled explosions of intestines seemed to hold. Still, she did her to keep at least a little cover between and the zombies. The had made her minions unstable, then, purpose wasn't survive the The path to siren's cave was clear, as though the spawn now avoided her as she had on her first If Merveil the witch, was to charms this time. another veil to guard against the apart a sailor's shirt to wind another wrapping her ears. had considered sneaking in to the pile to replenish her army, but now decided it—her first creations wouldn't last long and would alert the siren if they exploded while made more. The siren in her lair, idly her balancing sword sideways her palm. Her sultry look shifted into curiosity when the witch in view. "So, the morsel returns," Merveil said as the her clutching the sword the handle and waving at "And how rude of reject invitation Did not your first visit? It a world once mine, the of a lord in visit the real one when I return to the city." Merveil chuckled with the sound waves grinding sand. "There's a spiciness to you. I like that. Maybe make for after all. I'm glad my brood spared you." cute to think it voluntary." Merveil cocked her head with a questioning look burst wrath when zombies shambled into "My children!" Water her anger, surging
 but that didn't mean she couldn'T bring some Of her Own.



wheN hEr woUnd hAd mended, the witCH got To work harvesting what flEsh reMaINed oF HeR magiCal assaULt AND reAnImAtiNg IT.



SHe retUrnEd to cavE with three ZomBiEs as her cohorT. thEy were her gRueSomest creatiOns Yet, a hoDgEpoDGe of sPawN skin With boNE shardS rattling In THeir blOAted belLIEs. the sKin had begun to blacKEn ALready, but for noW the fiRe SHe'D TRapPed Inside them WiTh conTRolled eXPlOSIOns OF intestines seEmed to hold. STIll, She did HeR beST to keeP at leAsT A liTtle cover beTweeN her and thE zombiES. The speLL had madE her miNioNs uNstaBLe, BuT thEn, THeiR PuRpoSE waSn't to surViVe AgainSt thE SIREn.



ThE paTh to The siRen's cave was clEar, As thOUgh The spAwn noW avoIdEd her As she hAd on hEr First entry. If MerVeil Spoke to thE wiTcH, shE wAs impERvious To hEr cHarms thIs time. WHIle WrAPPInG another veil to guarD aGAInSt the smeLl, she'd RIpPeD Apart a saIlOr's ShirT TO wind AnotHEr Wrapping Around HEr EaRs. She haD cOnsideReD snEakIng in TO the GreateR pile to rEplenISh her army, but noW Decided againsT It—HER fIRst cReaTions wouldn'T lasT Long And wOUlD alERt the Siren If THeY Exploded while the witCh Made moRe.



The Siren waited in Her lair, sinGING idly on hEr thROnE, Balancing a sworD sideWays on her pALm. Her sulTry loOk shifteD into curiOSIty when tHe wItcH caMe iN VIeW.



"So, the morsel rETUrns," meRveil saId aS the witCh rEmoVed Her HeAdwrap, cluTching thE sWoRd By The HandlE And wavinG iT at HeR. "AnD how rUDe of yoU to reJect ThE iNVitAtion to MY dREAm. DiD yOu Not eNjoY yOur fiRst vISit? it was a wOrld once mIne, THe maNsIoN of a lorD in Oriath."



"I'll bE sUre to visit ThE reAl one wHEN I return To torch the city."



Merveil chUCkled wiTh tHe souNd of Waves grinDinG sand. "THerE'S a spicIness tO you. I LiKe tHAT. MaybE YOu'Ll mAkE for a meal aFTEr aLl. I'm gLaD my bRood spaRed you."



"How cute to thiNK it Was voluntary."



MErvEil cOCKeD heR HeAD wiTh A QueSTIoning look that bUrst into wrAtH WhEn the zombiES shAmBled intO view. "My ChildREn!"



Water Answered hEr anger, suRgIng oUT In
 but that didn't mean shecouldn't b ringsom e o fherown. 



When her w o undhad mended, the witchgot t ow orkh ar vesti ng what fl e s h r em ai ned  o f  h er ma gic al assa ult and re ani ma ting it.


S he  returnedtocave with th ree  zombi es  as her c oho rt. T hey we r e hergruesomes tc reatio n s yet,a ho dgep odge of spawn ski n  w i th bone shards  rattl in g  i n the irbloated be ll ies.T he skin ha d b egu n  to blacken a lready, but for  now t he  fi r e she' d tra pp e d i nside themwith  controll ed exp l osionso f intes tinessee med  toh ol d.  St il l , s h edid her  best to  k ee p atleas t a litt lecove r bet ween her andthe  zom b ies . The  spel l ha dmadeher mi nions  u nstable, but th en,their pur pos ewas n' t tos urvive  ag ain st thesiren.

T he p a th  to the siren's ca ve w as  clear,as tho u gh  t h e spawnno w a void e d  heras s h ehad on h er fir s ten try. If  M erveil  s pok e t o the witc h, she  was imp ervio u s to her charm s  this time. W h il e wr a ppin g a nother veil  tog uard  aga i ns t t h e sme ll, s he ' dr ipped apart a sailo r' s shir t towind anotherwrapping a r o u nd her e ars. Sh e  had considere d sne aking in t o  the gre aterpile toreplenish h er army,  bu t n owdec i d ed  against it—h e r  fir st  creati ons  wouldn 'tlas t l ong  a nd wouldalert th esi re niftheye xplodedwh ile  t hewitch made m ore.


T he  s i ren  waited in h er l ai r,  sin gin gidlyon h e r t hrone,balancing  as word  s id eways o n her palm. H er  sultry lo ok  sh iftedi n to curio sity when the witch cam e  in vie w.


"S o, t he morsel  re turns, " M e rveilsaid a s the  w itc h remov e d  h erhe adwrap, cl u t chi ng th eswor d by th e handle and wavin g  it  at her. "And  ho w ru d e  o f y o ut o r ej e ctt h e invitation to  my dream.  D i dyou not en j oyyo ur firs t visit ? Itw as a wo rld oncemine, the  m ansi o n  of  a lord in  Oriath. "



"I'l l  be s u re  to v isi t there alone w hen Ir etu rn to  torch  t he cit y."

Merveilchuckled with the sound  of wa ves g rin ding sand . " T her e's a spi cine ss to you.  Ilik e tha t.M aybeyou' l lmak e  fora me a l after a l l.  I' m gl ad my brood s p are d you ."

"How  cut e to think it was voluntary."


Mer v e ilcoc k ed h er  head with a q ues ti o n ing look  t hat burst i nto wrat hw hen t he zom bies s hambled i nt o  view.  "My  ch ildren!"

Wa t er answ er ed her an ger,  s urging  out i n 
 but_that didn't_mean she couldn't bring_some of_her_own.



When her_wound_had mended, the_witch got to_work harvesting what flesh_remained of her_magical_assault and reanimating it.



She returned to cave with three zombies as her cohort. They_were_her gruesomest_creations_yet,_a hodgepodge of spawn skin_with bone shards rattling in_their bloated_bellies. The skin had begun to blacken already,_but_for now the_fire she'd trapped inside them with controlled explosions of_intestines seemed to hold. Still, she_did her best_to_keep_at least a little_cover between her and the zombies._The spell had made her minions_unstable, but then, their purpose wasn't to_survive against the siren.



The path to_the siren's cave was clear,_as though_the spawn now avoided her_as she had_on her_first entry. If_Merveil spoke to the witch, she_was impervious to_her charms this time. While wrapping_another_veil to guard_against_the_smell, she'd_ripped apart a_sailor's_shirt to_wind_another wrapping around her ears. She_had_considered sneaking in to the greater pile_to replenish her army,_but_now decided against it—her_first creations wouldn't last long_and would alert the siren if_they exploded_while the_witch made more.



The siren waited in her lair, singing idly on_her throne, balancing a sword sideways_on her palm. Her_sultry look_shifted_into curiosity when_the_witch came_in view.



"So, the morsel returns," Merveil said_as the_witch removed her headwrap, clutching the_sword by the handle_and_waving it at her. "And how_rude of you to reject the_invitation to my dream. Did_you_not_enjoy your first visit? It_was a world once mine, the_mansion of a_lord in Oriath."



"I'll be sure to visit_the_real one when I return to_torch_the city."



Merveil chuckled with the sound_of_waves_grinding sand. "There's a spiciness_to you. I like that. Maybe_you'll make for a meal after all. I'm glad_my brood spared_you."



"How cute to think it_was_voluntary."



Merveil_cocked her head with a questioning look that burst into_wrath when_the zombies shambled_into view. "My children!"



Water answered her anger, surging out in