![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSh6AxUcbzoB9LM6BquuQHPMvS5WH8u2DJWqbEApNiCXp/mortis_2.png)
Greetings all

I hope your week was far less stressful than mine was! Trying to squeeze a 33-day project into 22 days. Fun. In other news, ComiCon is next weekend, so that should be fun.

Until then, enjoy reading this update. But before you do, be sure to read @zakludick's [update](https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-983e6d7dbd86) it was a doozy! 

![mortis_custos_divider.png](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQz6qkkxS89GR6Cph2nEXoXvCgbVmRvYHNbQ8KejduPfF/mortis_custos_divider.png)
*Well, this is getting interesting.*

Mortis didn’t appreciate Bellum’s comment at that exact moment. He grumbled internally but Bellum just shrugged him off. The revenant looked to where Derric was staring at Millmor. The boy seemed remarkably calm about the whole situation, while those around him were giving worried glances to one another.
Derric shrugged his shoulders and made eye contact with everyone around him, “It’s not like I knew them. Did you think I would freak out?”

Magna seemed to have forgotten her words and only indicated to Millmor. Derric once more shrugged his shoulders and said, “Millmor has been my guardian for a long time. He must have had a reason.”

“Indeed, he did.” A voice came from the direction of the church.

Everyone, even Vitex looked up in shock when Lucien joined them. He looked paler than normal and was clutching at his chest in pain. The goddess got to her feet and for a moment, the group thought that she would pick up the Lifedrinker and take him right back to the church but instead, she came to stand before him with a frown.

“Why do you fight my healing sleep?” she demanded.

“It is good to see you as you once were.” He said, ignoring what she had asked.

Sighing and then muttering under her breath, she steered Lucien closer to the fire and made him sit down. She then lay her hand on the ground and seemed to be concentrating on something. Within minutes, a fully grown tomato plant had wrapped itself up her arm and produced some of its red fruits. As she pulled back, the plant withered but the fruits fell into her hands. She offered it to the Lifedrinker, and he took it gratefully.

Taking a few bites, Lucien looked up at Derric then settled his gaze on Millmor. After swallowing the light meal, he simply stated, “Queen Mishka and King Charles.”

Millmor startled so hard that even Derric seemed surprised. He turned to Lucien and fixed him with a look.

“Ah, I do have the right family. I suspected a bloodline but never a direct heir. This is good. Very good. It means they failed.”

“Millmor?” Derric looked back to his guardian and asked, “What is he talking about?”

“Derric, I am a ghoul king, you know this.”

“Yes.”

“Have you seen any others?”

“No, I thought since you were a king, there was only one.”

“Ghoul kings only lead a sect, not a kingdom.” Said Lucien. “They are a form of undead, Derric, a kind that usually has a summoner. I always thought it was strange that you never had one Millmor.”

Millmor ignored Lucien and gripped Derric’s shoulders, “It’s true, I had a summoner, one that instructed me and others like me to take over your kingdom. We were meant to spread a sickness, what most others would call a curse. However, this was only for the general public. The royal family needed to be sacrificed.”

“There’s a big difference between slaying and sacrificing.” Snapped Magna.
Millmor gripped Derric’s shoulders harder, “I had to obey. You must understand. It’s like fire in the blood if you don’t obey.”

Derric didn’t brush his guardian off of him but instead looked him in the eyes.
“The sickness spread fast. People were turning into ghouls and the royal house was eliminated one by one. I had to take the snake’s head.”

“Had to?” queried Adiran.

“Had to.” Confirmed Lucien.

Now he had Millmor’s attention, “How do you know any of this? And how do you know the boy’s parents?”

“You think my Master was the only one who was looking for ways to become immortal? No ghoul king, you were a pawn in a larger game, played by bigger fish.”

“What do you mean, Lucien?” asked Vitex.

“Where my Master corrupted the pure to get immortality, others made deals with entities best not spoken out in the open without protection. I suspect Millmor and the rest of his kind were caught up in that ploy centuries ago.”

“If the royals had to go, why do I still live? Why didn’t you finish me off?” asked Derric.

“I couldn’t.” Millmor admitted. “Killing the king and queen was easy, but when I turned my attention to you, I just couldn’t. The fire in my blood from my orders was greatly overshadowed by the fear of what would happen if I ever harmed you. I killed everything else that came close to you. I hid you with the magic I had, and I even took your entire kingdom and hid it as best I could.”

Derric seemed to consider the information that he had been presented with. There was no hate or shock on his face. He had no memories associated with his parents; other than the stories he had been told by Millmor.

“Why target my kingdom?”

“Your people were shapeshifters. Even the lowest serf could change into a simple beast, while the royal family could get more creative with their abilities. You inherited your father’s strength but your mother’s creativity when it came to the creation of beast forms.”

Derric seemed to think this over and then asked, “Were we a threat to someone or did stopping our abilities further an agenda?”

“Transformation requires a lot of energy and I think by forcing your kind to remain in ghoul form, the energy you were using, could be put to some other use.”

“How can we trust you?” demanded Leo as he suddenly stormed to his feet.

Before anyone could give an answer Vitex grinned and said, “Oh that’s easy. I can remove the counter spell that was cast on Millmor when he killed the royal couple. It was used to protect their son. It’s simple enough to reverse if you know what you’re doing.”

Before anyone could stop her, she walked over to the hulking Millmor and tapped his shoulder.
![mortis_custos_divider.png](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQz6qkkxS89GR6Cph2nEXoXvCgbVmRvYHNbQ8KejduPfF/mortis_custos_divider.png)
With the counter curse possibly being lifted, what's going to happen Zak?
![mortis_custos_divider.png](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQz6qkkxS89GR6Cph2nEXoXvCgbVmRvYHNbQ8KejduPfF/mortis_custos_divider.png)

Here is an explanation of [Chain Stories](https://ecency.com/chainstory/@zakludick/introducing-chain-stories-interactive-fiction-writing) and here is the current Chainstory [Library](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@zakludick/chainstories-how-it-works-library)

### Mortis Custos
[Start](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/mortis-custos-part-one)
### Sanguifex
| by @zakludick  | by @lex-zaiya|
| ------------ | ------------ |
|    [Part 1](https://ecency.com/category/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex) |     [Part 2]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex)     |
 [Part 3]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e2e9fba39bc1e)| [Part 4]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-d9926648ae683)     | 
[Part 5]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-f543b04f74447)     |[Part 6]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-d73e542a25cba) | 
[Part 7]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-319d728aa89f8)    |[Part 8]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-dac6a49a97738)|
 [Part 9]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-1cc15c88b80ea) |[Part 10]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-10a75d18f5577)    
 | [Part 11]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-0c2876fac4ea4)     | [Part 12]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-41af9f6994ab3)
| [Part 13]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-9f611f42b3395)    | [Part 14]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-91d337f4995b1)    
| [Part 15]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-1824800c234f9)     | [Part 16]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-a0a8d1ce2f856)    
| [Part 17]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-9bc6fd0da3cc1)     | [Part 18]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ddb04dc84bb97)    
| [Part 19]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-90c1b719b62f7)    | [Part 20]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-8d4dae8f707e1)    
| [Part 21]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-8ec198c3293e3)   | [Part 22]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-da05e3db2abf7)    
| [Part 23]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-c70c4f9d328080)    | [Part 24]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-cadaad85d059)    
| [Part 25]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-4c0372d257f75)   | [Part 26]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-5d66c28d2783e)    
| [Part 27]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-cd4b32979fcae)    | [Part 28]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e7ce1bbe89294)    
| [Part 29]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-361986b91c598)    | [Part 30]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ac81c9814291a) 
| [Part 31]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-45e5047a9fd85)    | [Part 32]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-5d97305664e4b)
| [Part 33]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-af24e132142d5)    | [Part 34]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-6e3163b74e08d)    
| [Part 35]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e9755682e5362)   | [Part 36]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-9b4835b25fe7f)    
| [Part 37]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-b60e21df4031d)    | [Part 38]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-d35b90bce3aec) 
| [Part 39]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-d984eceafb9d8)   | [Part 40]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-426bcf454683e)    
| [Part 41]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-f510b4ba5a5cc)   | [Part 42]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-aaf5a1146b267)    
| [Part 43]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-part-43)    | [Part 44]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-a300bf0d4baf9)    
| [Part 45]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-3e80ff7dff0d7) | [Part 46]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-46a533770666f)    
| [Part 47]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-536d02d9d0ea7)    | [Part 48]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-2c5add66f84a6)    
| [Part 49]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-6763a7de3c62d)    | [Part 50]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e9b1b639ccd4c)
| [Part 51]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-847be4d45c13c) | [Part 52]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-c184f68d57bba)
| [Part 53]( https://ecency.com/hive-167922/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ab1edf2881fbc) | [Part 54]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-8fe5d6913479)
| [Part 55]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-fa0909e030307) | [Part 56]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-a16d246a42aae)
| [Part 57]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e41da3284a68d) | [Part 58]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-6adae2f86d708)
| [Part 59]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-770d978053047)| [Part 60]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/fell-dragon-book-6-part-4035a3dd27ad6)
| [Part 61]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-0300149390fb4) | [Part 62]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-6f3cf564d803b)
| [Part 63]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-a9c4c1ae7439d) | [Part 64]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-f47a1e9bc803e)
| [Part 65]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-dcd7704523d06) | [Part 66]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-f6001e9290925)
| [Part 67]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-7065a813a1c8c) | [Part 68]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-bd2f8697416d5)
| [Part 69]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-20d0170cf8912) | [Part 70]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-bf8078b118be)
| [Part 71]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-56705d32770d1) | [Part 72]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-218a4df445a15)
| [Part 73]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-c14ecc274d019) | [Part 74]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-216b6e8b1a1f9)
| [Part 75]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-7d3d27f627748)| [Part 76](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-18156306eb1b5)
| [Part 77](https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-dcd29670d8eb) | [Part 78]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e47343c844d23)
| [Part 79]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-7e98963fcf486) | [Part 80]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-4ee8083fbcbe1)
| [Part 81]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-daddd435bf354)| [Part 82]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ee77cf5185c8)
|[Part 83]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-c9c859388dd79) | [Part 84]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-bd70b1b51a693)
| [Part 85]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-c5e6ac23794a5) | [Part 86]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-7c3a2a3c7d348)
| [Part 87]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ce19134af0d02) | [Part 88](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-3e93c01c806ff)
| [Part 89]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-b0cf0006dcd43) | [Part 90]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-6d985475fa216)
| [Part 91]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-71d2993cf7619) | [Part 92]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-ac78a61a6047c)
| [Part 93]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e399c0f6b4d7) | [Part 94]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-232d54cf398c3)
| [Part 95]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-e125791db2253) | [Part 96]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-b325ca4c466d5)
| [Part 97]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-5a9dc7d6fa444) | [Part 98]( https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@lex-zaiya/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-3ed52e37adf05)
| [Part 99]( https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@zakludick/maledictus-terra-book-2-sanguifex-983e6d7dbd86) | Part 100 – Coming Soon
| Part 101 - Coming Soon | Part 102 – Coming Soon


The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
The Watchlist:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @beeber, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @uop, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @seki1