<em><br/>“Are you in trouble or are you running from Mother? You cannot escape his embrace. Return and face your fate. Even death can't hide you.”</em><br/><br/>Zeranth would hear the words of Rosier, a priest of Kiaransalee,  in his head. Once the bastard child of a young drow priestess, he was now given immortality as one of Abduxuel's undead children. The sending spell would allow Zeranth a brief chance to respond to the message.<br/><br/>“He is taking far to long on the errand I sent him on. Either he has come to harm...or he is about to.” Abduxuel told Rosier. Mother Hunger had changed into an elaborate feather lined ritual robe in anticipation of the sacrifice he thought to be coming. Now Abduxuel had to decide whether to perform a simpler offering to Lolth right away or wait until the following evening for something elaborate, like he had planned.<br/><br/>His instincts told him to wait. He had never been one to observe strict times for prayer and ritual, nor had he ever been satisfied with giving the goddess basic meaningless lip service. “I will not bother The Spider Queen with anything less than what she should expect from me. Clean up here in the chapel then, the sacrifice will take place tomorrow night instead. First get a priestess to oversee you. I don't want males in here unattended.” Abduxuel leaned forward to kiss Rosier on the forehead. “Not even you.”<br/><br/><br/>The matron and priest went their separate ways. By now the servants should have moved Abduxuel's personal belongings into the master suite. Many of Abduxuel's possessions were worth more to him than the servants who were to carry them. For their sake everything had best be whole. He felt a bit naked without Micarmur'ss shadowing him. Abduxuel's brother was the house weapon master. That meant he would have occasional duties that required him to leave Abduxuel's side. The matron wasn't as alone as he looked, Izerel was within him.<br/><br/>The chamberlain Kyorlin had told Mother Hunger that Gul was waiting for him within his boudoir. The matron's breath hitched when he entered and looked upon the large white male.<br/><br/>“How do you like my new boudoir?  I thought a change of scenery was due.” Abduxuel said slyly as he entered and closed the door behind him. Still clad in luxurious velvet lined with feathers, Abduxuel slinked over to his servant. “Through out this place I am seeing the weakness that has writhed under the surface. Financial reserves are low, business is boring, and a male I gave a second chance to has decided to flee like a pathetic rat. Do these vermin have no pride? Their thought processes are all wrong. They must be enlightened to see just how much love their mother has for them”<br/><br/>Abduxuel sighed and looked up into Gul's eyes while laying a hand upon the other man's bare broad chest. “My child. Tell me, at least, that you have not failed me...”<br/><br/><br/>EDIT: Minor changes and colors added