I still want to go to Aku World, the theme park. And ride every roller-coaster and wear an Aku themed hat and eat at an adorable Aku themed restaurant. I would literally buy the entire gift shop.
“Trust me, if I could release you just to prove a point, I would.” she assured, people would suffer, but she would for the sake of her own sanity. No one, not even her boyfriend believed her. It was enough to drive a person absolutely mad.
Amusement was the last feeling Aku expected to get out of this encounter but here it was. Inside his prison, inside his mind, he grinned.
‘A bit wicked, aren’t we? Or perhaps a bit mad.’ Whichever the case may be, she seemed trapped in a Hell of her own. Again the visions came through her point of contact with the blackened tree. A great mass or darkness surrounded an unknown sun and its satellite worlds and extinguished both light and life as it swallowed them whole.
‘What about that human male who I’ve seen escorting you? Does he know where you are? Does he think you’re crazy too?’
Cinder’s expression slowly faded to a solemn gaze, she knew he would notice her scars eventually- But why does it always hurt so much to tell this story? The scarred skin she bore, and her scarred mind.
“I can honestly blame my Father for why I have these scars… He knew I would be a vessel to this… thing… Unlike his brother or mother.. he tried to stop it by.. trying to kill me when I was only an infant-”
Holding up her hand to the giant before her, Cinder’s eyes were damp before she continued
“Funny thing… Gas fires, all you need to do is keep the stove on, and the gas heater running- I lost everything- But life… clung to me like a disease”
Lifting her head up to Aku, the raven haired girl lifted the amulet up to show him. The hazel brown eyes shimmered with emotion, and wisdom beyond her years.
“Before someone gave me this.. I was unstable- My fathers crazy hag of a sister found me… and during the lunar eclipse.. forced me to become the vessel for this thing… The only one who believed I could break free was Azura. I can’t remember much from that long night, or the days following.. but I do remember her voice calling me back…”
Cinder gingerly lowered her amulet, not wanting anyone to touch it as she ran her scarred hand through the short raven hair.
“I can hear it’s voice.. It speaks in old norse… All I know is that when it gives me dreams… I see a pitch black deer, with glowing white eyes… and it’s in pain.. Is that enough explanation?”
His gaze settled upon the amulet while questions swirled in his mind. Did this mean the creature was contained within the amulet? Or perhaps its power kept the monster at bay. And why had the demon taken the form of a wounded deer? Shouldn’t it be standing upon Valhalla’s rooftop?
“Hmmm…” he pondered while threading his beard between his claw tips. Indeed, he understood much better now but that didn’t mean he was satisfied.
“What happens if the amulet is removed or destroyed?” Others may have been ashamed to ask such invasive questions, but not Aku.
The Shogun of Sorrow 