[sub]in collaboration with [@TheDoctor], [@Shagranoz] and [@Ellion][/sub]

[h1][i][u][Center] "Keeping You" [/center ][/u][/i][/h1]


Mat had regretted his decision almost instantly when he wasn't just simply killed then and there.  Instead, he was dragged and shoved into a dingy cage in the prison arts of the castle.  To his first fortune he had an actual bed and bucket but not too much else.  The lack of light felt to be an immediate problem as well and forced him to feel around for everything.

Mat sat on the mattress during his first night, thinking over the recent events.  His head bursted with regret and questioning of his own actions that transpired as soon as the name was given to Mat.  “Demon...the damn demon lord,” he muttered aloud to himself.  “He knew how to make me lose my senses fast.  I could've been with the other hunters, planning and working with a group.  Instead I worked alone and acted like a deranged killer.  Great job Matrim…” The hunter drooped his eyes, giving a small sigh as he held his hands to his head.  “Don't lose it, don't lose it.  Survive somehow and stay sane.  Don't lose it…”  Mat gave one last deep breath and slumped into his bed, falling asleep rather quickly.

Having a ...specimen so close by was almost enough to pull Any from Medusa's warm bed before the sun came up. Almost, not quite.  It was closer to noon by the time she wandered down to the dungeon.  Bringing along a torch. Not that she needed it, her own modifications made with bats and owls had seen to that weakness. No, the torch was for Little Matty. Both so that he'd be able to see everything and so that he  wouldn't forget the joy of light too quickly. 

"Good Morning Matty," said Ang, setting the torch near by, making enough noise.that she'd wake the boy. "I trust you had found your accommodations to be to your liking and that you slept well," it just wouldn't do to be an improper hostess.

The hunter woke with a shuddered start as he heard Ang next to him.  At her question his instant desired response was to give something snarky back at her, but he stopped himself before speaking.  While coming up with a response his eyes wandered towards the torch and entranced him for a small moment before he snapped back toward Ang.  “Better than most I've had,” he replied, sitting up and leaning against the opposite side of the cage.

Word had reached Phagora that yet another hunter had made his way to Castle Bloodrose, this one as a prisoner. Intrigued, the tiefling made her way down to the dungeons, intent on getting the measure of him. She found him in his cell, with Angharad close by. "Didn't expect to see you here, Ang."

Mat watched as the other witch entered into the room.  He couldn't tell who it was at first but when the torch light lit up her face Mat's eyes widened.  “No…” he whispered, his eyes not leaving Phagora.  It was truly her, as Charon had given him the vision for.  All the years of hunting, torturing, murdering, and now he was sitting in a cage with no way to get to her.  “No…” was all he could say again.

"Yes... Yes... "  Ang parroted in a mockery of Mat's tone.  Grinning maddly she turned to Phagora.  "I'm just playing with my soon to be pet,  isn't he a lovely specimen?  I'm thinking about adding some horns,  maybe some frog eyes on his rump so he can watch himself void his bowels.  Ah... the possibilities."

"Frog eyes in his ass? Not enough room. After all, most hunters already have their brains there." She paused, waiting for Ang to laugh. "Or are you serious? Transmutation of that sort, very delicate magic. I'd find it quite impressive if you could put such an actual working part on him." She then glanced at Mat. "I'm sorry, do I know you from somewhere? Maybe mutilated your pet dog or something like that?"

The conversation between the witches was just tuned out by Mat as the hunter continued to stare at Phagora with wide eyes.  He was that close, so very close to grabbing her and throttling her but instead he was in a cage like a rat.  When she finally turned and looked at him to begin speaking Mat just waited patiently.  “You decapitated my dad and put his head next to my mom's grave and left me a message in front of his head.  I tortured and mutilated eighty-four witches, threw away years of my life, and made a deal with a demon lord in order to find you, and it was a damn bear mixed with a mountain lion that stopped me at the very end.”  Mat banged his head against the cage wall then stepped over to where he was right in front of the witch that murdered his dad.  “Please...just let me know why.  Why did you kill him?”

"Probably for fun."  Ang mused,  bored.  She busied herself examining the man through the cage,  her hands came up as she used them to make measurements.  "I mean... when I decapitate someone and give the head to someone else it's usually for fun,  or I like you."

She turned to Phagora,  head tilted quizzically.  "Did you have a crush on the poor boy!?  How sweet!"

"No, I did not have a crush on him." Phagora rolled her eyes. "In point of fact, I killed him because he attacked me. Tried to hit me with a silver crossbow bolt from ambush, but he missed. I know most hunters train their children to follow in their footsteps, so I hoped to scare you out of seeking revenge. It seems it didn't work." Phagora cradled her head in her hand. "If it's any consolation, I know for a fact his spirit is nearby."

It took all Mat had to pretend that Ang wasn't there and instead focus on Phagora and listen to what she said, but her last sentence but him off slightly.  His soul was nearby?  How did she know that?  Did she have one of those third eyes?  It didn't seem like it.  So how did she..?  “You took his soul?”  He asked, steadying himself and dong his best to not just futily lash out.

"You took his soul!?"  Ang puppeted again,  rolling her eyes.  "Silly Matty!  Of course she did,  she's half demon after all!  Where you hoping to meet him in heaven?"  She burst into laughter,  tears streaming down her face.  "Oh,  that's good!  Silly litte hunter."

She turned to Phagora frowning slightly.  "Seeing as you two are distracting me from my thoughts about what to graft on my little pet I'm going to fondle Medusa for awhile."  She turned to leave.  "Don't kill him,  and let me know when you're finished chatting."

"Indeed I did. He's spending his afterlife in here," Phagora said, pointing to her stomach. "Feeling the agony of being digested for all eternity. I could let him out for a few minutes, but he was my first human meal, so he's rather special to me in that regard. A man of great taste, too. A little sweet, with a touch of rose honey... would that all men were as delicious as him."

Mat wanted to scream, yell out, do something to show his fury, but he knew it was useless.  He had made the wrong choice, and now he knew that his father’s soul was a meal for a witch.  Mat's eyes closed for a moment, then opened back up and looked at Phagora with a sullen expression.

“One day, you will die.  For the longest time I thought it would be me standing over your corpse, but I made a fatal error and am in this cage to be the pet of some witch that should really just go ahead and choke on her own blood.  Instead, you'll probably die by another's hand, be it a hunter, a witch who stabbed you in the back, or some random moose you pissed off.  In the end, you'll die, and I would hope that I can meet up with my father either up above or down below so we can have a good talk about everything.  We'll have a lot of catching up to do.”

"Well, since we're going to be together for a while, I'll give you a chance to chat with him. Consider it a truce offering." Phagora turned away from Mat, and the clear, disturbing sounds of retching could be heard as her jaw dislocated. When she came back around, jaw hanging around her knees, what was clearly the ethereal form of Mat's father could be seen from the waist up. "I'll give you five minutes," Phagora said, though her voice was somewhat muffled. "You have no idea how excruciating this is for me."

couldn't believe what he was seeing as Phagora turned around.  While he had seen several creepy sights as a hunter this one would certainly come close to the top.  But inside her, Mat could see a familiar person inside.  “Dad?  Is that really you?”  Mat asked slowly, standing up straight.

His dad had not aged at all from the last time Mat saw him, still with a hard knowing face and eyes that could bore into him.  “It's me Matrim, I'm sorry that this is how it happened.  I'm sorry for a lot of things,” Mat's father replied.  “But, I want to know how my son's fared in this world.”

Mat spoke of his life over the next few minutes, giving a couple lies here and there to make his life seem slightly better than the hell it was.  His father listened for a while and near the end of it he said, “I'm glad you gave progressed.  Try not to lose hope Mat.  Remember, [i]amin’ny anao aho[/i].”

Mat's head bobbed in agreement, his eyes going glassy.  “I'll try, I'll hold.”

Phagora's jaws snapped shut with a deafening crack, and Mat's father disappeared back into her once gaping maw. "There, that's better." She rubbed her aching mouth. "Here, let me get the cell keys for you. I can't let you out of the castle, but I can let you out of this cell. That's the best I can offer you."

Mat made a distant nod as Phagora spoke, still drawing back on the conversation with his dad.  Finally he snapped out of it and looked at the witch to get a better understanding.  His mind felt like it was a trap for something, but Mat felt she was being honest.  “Why offer me something in the first place?” He inquired, authentically curious.

"Because I don't feel any personal animosity towards you, and because you'd have to be the world's greatest idiot to assault me in the home of myself and all my sisters." The heavy lock clicked open as Phagora threw the gate wide. "Come on, I can get you to a room. If Medusa has a problem, she can take it up with me. I promise, you will suffer no consequences on account of my actions." 

Mat slowly stepped out of the cage, standing tall and looking around as he emerged.  “It's not Medusa I'm concerned about…” he mumbled, but nodded to Phagora in respect.  He was out of the cage, but she was correct that he would be a fool to attack her.  Mat would do his best to not die, at least not today.  “Very well, lead on.”

Phagora took Mat out of the dungeons and upstairs to the dormitories. She noted a new door had appeared that hadn't been there that morning. Apparently, the castle was enchanted to provide space for everyone, not matter how many people there were. "We have several available rooms, so just pick out whichever one you wish. We can provide you with clothes and other necessities by the end of the day."

Mat walked silently next to Phagora as she explained the castle, taking note of everything around them.  His weapons were around somewhere, but he figured he shouldn't risk something like that yet.  [I]Main priority is to avoid Ang until I'm able to kill her,[/i] he thought as they continued walking. Stopping at one of the doors Mat looked over at Phagora.  “This one taken?” He asked, already moving to open the door.

"No, it should be open for you. I'll be leaving for now, but I'll be back in a little while." Phagora walked off. There was still so much to do, between preparing for the feast and getting ready for the battle that would ensue soon after.

When Phagora had left, Mat stepped into the room and gave a look around it.  The room appeared quite comfortable, especially for a castle's standards.  “They really do get the high quality with magic,” the hunter commented as he gazed around the room.  The room even had a slit window that allowed him to look outside but was far too thin for him to fit through.  Drawing a long breath of relief, Mat sat down on the floor and leaned against the side of the bed.  Things had certainly taken an odd turn, but he would need to remain wary in a castle full of witches.  “Survive, stay sane, escape.  Easy…” he muttered to himself.[hr]