The grating song of the Nightmare Fluttaleav made King Mephitic sit up on his throne. Unhooking the lanky leg hung over the armrest, he looked up to see the bird soaring down through the canopy straight to him. The armed guards around the king barely flinched at the sound, recognizing it well, though the Nightmare Lirionox lounging at the foot of Mephitic’s throne stirred and its heads let out low growls.
King Mephitic detached a tiny scroll on the Fluttaleav’s leg and it flitted off to light on a half-rotten branch above his head. Reaching over to smack the Lirionox into silence, he uncurled the note with filthy fingernails, then was silent for several moments as he read the minute writing. His grey face suddenly split into a nasty grin.
“Call for the Triskull,” he commanded, and one of the guards around the king’s throne dashed off. King Mephitic read the note several times over before the guard returned, followed by three imps clothed entirely in black. Even their talons were silenced by special fitted boots.
In the darkness of the imp’s kingdom even King Mephitic’s eyes seemed to slide over the trio. Master spies all, like shadows themselves with claws.
The three lowered to their knees before the king and bowed their heads. King Mephitic stood, drawing his moldy green cape around himself dramatically as he grinned down at them. “I have good news,” he announced, unable to hide the glee in his voice, “soon, we will have a new ally! One that will make those sprites and their humans cower like beaten dogs.”
“What do you need of us, Your Majesty?”
In response, Mephitic handed the foremost Triskull imp the note the Fluttaleav had delivered. “Coordinates,” he explained as the imp looked it over, “to your next target. She will only be there tonight, however, so all of you must move quickly!” He didn’t have to tell them to leave no trace of the abduction; they knew as much already.
“Very well.” The Triskulls rose as one, bowed again and trotted off, swallowed quickly by shadows.
King Mephitic settled back onto his throne and laughed. The Triskull had managed to snatch a princess from her bed, so what chance did a lone scientist have?
Uh oh! Who is King Mephitic's target now?
~Mistic Team