Chapter 11

“Reflections”

The Faemirian Pass was a short journey that allowed Quartz and Entity to walk through the land in a matter of minutes. The portal was a long tunnel of white and blue that – every so often – revealed a glimpse of the Faemirian ice-capped mountains with brutal winds and frozen boulders. Entity blinked when he thought he had spotted a gargantuan castle with dangerous stone spires nestled into the ice and rock of a mountainside, but it had vanished as quickly as he had spotted it. To his right, he saw rolling hills of golden sands bordered by dead trees and abandoned villages that once belonged to humans.

“Hey uh, I just wanted to say I’m… well I didn’t mean to snap at ya back there with the stag. Kinda glad ya came.” Entity spoke up and cleared his throat as he walked beside her. Quartz didn’t pass him a glance and spoke up in a flat tone.

“They’re going to kill you when this is all said and done, sorcerer.” She said and was a little confused when Entity didn’t show much surprise.

“I’d rather they try. It’d spice things up a little.” He replied plainly.

“You’re not concerned?” She asked and finally looked at him.

“At first, when ya told me, but would ya blame em’? I said too much on Cariphae’s behalf at dinner. Now I’m just ready for it. Ya ever get tired of bein’ a pawn?” Entity asked and looked down at the shorter Ensanguined woman. She looked away and bit her bottom lip. “As soon as this is done, I’m goin’ far away from here, far away from everything, and whatever happens – happens. I was wonderin’, maybe you’d wanna–” He was interrupted when she put her hand up.

“I’m not interested in running away from anything, Entity. It’s not something Virgoth would be proud to see me do.” Quartz responded sternly and seemed far more determined and on track. Instead of bright and curious questions, she was steadfast and focused. He could feel the air grow warmer with the smell of sweet incense burning in his nostrils. Quartz could smell it as well and the two watched as the bright walls of the portal slowly dissipated around them. They were now in dim candlelight surrounded by what looked to be a golden archway. Ahead were six dark-skinned guards with long spears, golden armor, and leather sandals with headdresses of cobras atop their heads. The sound had subsided from a loud vibrating hum to a quiet atmosphere with distant music of strings and drums.

Entity looked around him and saw that the gateway they were standing in was a statue of a large open-mouthed serpent with fangs as support pillars, and they stood atop its vicious tongue. Quartz took the lead in walking down the tongue and towards the guards. Entity followed behind her cautiously and could sense the presence of dark, ominous magic choking the very air he breathed. He was hesitant and the guards took notice when they simultaneously surrounded the two.

“Woah, I ain’t goin’ anywhere, mind givin’ us a little space?” Entity smiled as he lifted his hands.

“Walk, sorcerer. Queen Nacre is expecting you.” A guard ordered bluntly before hitting the sorcerer in the back with the blunt end of his spear, forcing Entity to stumble forward with a pained grunt.

“Fuck! Alright, alright!” Entity growled when he rubbed the sore spot on his back and moved forward. Quartz glanced at the guards as she walked slightly behind Entity.

“I accept your apology, by the way.” She whispered and gained a smile from the sorcerer.

“I wasn’t apologizing. I was just, y’know, puttin’ it out there.” He lightheartedly chuckled which made Quartz smile in return. “Kinda a bad time to talk about this.” He added quietly.

“Just a little. When was the last time you were in Destillion?” She asked as the guards guided the two through a series of tall, polished hallways lined in gold, candle sconces, mirrors, and marble. Entity looked at the mirrored floors and noticed how Quartz didn’t have a reflection in them, and then saw his own image which was a darkened shadow with a sinister, beastly, and toothy smile that stared back at him. He tore his gaze away to try and ignore the reflection.

“Looong time ago, princess.” He replied with a shaky breath.

“When you got that hex?” Quartz prodded and noticed a long silence from the sorcerer.

“Yeah…”

“What did you want from Nacre?” She asked curiously.

“Same thing everyone wants.” He paused when the group entered the main foyer which was as impressive and regal as he remembered it to be. Statues of golden snakes lined the walls with eyes of emerald, a chandelier with crystals and gems hung in the center and the mirrors reflected every single corner of the room and left no corner hidden. Entity saw multiple reflections of his dark self in every mirror staring back at him with that same sickening smile and it made him more and more uncomfortable the longer he was forced to look at them. Quartz tilted her head at what he was trying to say and noticed how uneased he looked. “Power.” He finished in a whisper.

Quartz saw his reflection, but she could not perceive it the way he could. She only saw Entity and the guards while hers was missing, but she could tell by Entity’s expression that he was seeing something that irked him deeply.

“Entity, my dear.” Spoke a hauntingly lustful voice that surrounded the two in an echo. Entity’s heart spiked when he immediately recognized the voice of none other than the Queen of Destillion herself – Nacre. He glanced around quickly before seeing a reflection of the first Queen of Malice standing behind him in a sheer golden gown and a golden spiked crown that pinned her onyx hair back tightly. Several long braids framed her inhumanly beautiful face and were tightly wrapped in golden twine, and her feet wore no shoes but instead wore many toe bands and beaded anklets. Her gown was backless and exposed much of her back and breasts, and it dragged the floor behind her. Several necklaces around her neck fell between her large perfect breasts, and her earrings shimmered and glistened with priceless gems. She was beauty incarnate, yet something dark and hideous repulsed Entity when she approached him. Though she smelled of roses and patchouli, the demon deep down within him smelled death and it lured him toward her against his will.

The guards knew to stand aside to make way for their queen and left Entity and Quartz to turn around to face the malicious and dreadfully beautiful woman. Quartz swallowed hard and fell to a knee to bow to Nacre while Entity simply opened his arms and smiled.

“Well, if it ain’t the ol’ snake witch herself. So good to see ya.” Entity semi-mocked and earned a half-hearted smirk from Nacre who simply wagged her finger at the sorcerer.

“Your façade of arrogance doesn’t fool me, Entity. I know you all too well. Do feel free to express your fears here as much as you like.” Nacre approached the sorcerer and extended a palm to his chest. Her hand was cold to the touch and gave him a sensation of pins and needles. He hid the discomfort well and let the queen run her palm up his chest and over his shoulder beneath his coat. “I know I am the last person you want to see, and it breaks my heart.” She teased as her yellow-green eyes lit up.

“Hard to break somethin’ that ain’t there, babe.” Entity retorted softly with the tilt of his head. Nacre retracted her hand with a dark laugh and put it to her own chest.

“I missed your banter, Entity. Truly, it’s the most entertainment I get from my playthings.” She mocked and ignored the disdain that spread across his face. She turned her attention to Quartz and put a finger under her chin to lift the pale woman’s face. “Ah Quartz, excellent work escorting the sorcerer to me on such short notice. Virgoth would be proud to see his favorite acolyte serving his brides well.” Nacre complimented while gripping Quartz’s jaw tightly to force the Ensanguined woman’s head to tilt side to side. “A pretty acolyte at that.” Nacre hummed as she closely examined her face and all its details which made the smaller woman wince and try to pull away angrily.

Entity cleared his throat loud enough to grab Nacre’s gaze with a slow blink.

“So, what do ya’ need from me? Her job is done, what about mine, hm?” Entity asked and glanced at Quartz with concern in his eye. Nacre lifted her chin and let go of Quartz who stood to her feet immediately and took a few cautious steps back. Nacre waved her hand at the guards to shoo them away and turned to walk towards an open room behind her.

“Ah yes, straight to the business at hand. Follow me, I have something impressive to show you.” Nacre whimsically ordered and prompted Entity to follow her into the room. He looked back at Quartz one last time and saw mutual concern in her eyes. He watched the doors close behind them on their own and remembered exactly what room they now stood in.

In the center was a lectern complete with a large leather-spined book surrounded by etched symbols on the floor in a perfect circle. To the furthest wall were a large desk and many surrounding tables covered in bounties of books, corked bottles, skulls of various animals, preserved limbs in multiple jars, and dried herbs wrapped in cord. In front of the desk was a brass cauldron with boiling water over hot coals that overflowed with black fog. The room smelled of death that made the sorcerer shutter, but his senses could differentiate each and every magical ingredient in the temple room. He could hear the whimper of a female to his right and when he turned to see it, he saw a frail – yet lovely – naked human woman in a cage that forced her into a kneeling position. She covered herself with her hands and he paused to lean in and see her, but the human meekly flinched and backed away into a corner.

“Don’t mind that, she is for a different spell.” Nacre carelessly waved as she approached the cauldron.

“Another one of your beauty routines I take it? Suckin’ the life outta pretty women?” Entity asked as he felt a twinge of pity for the girl. He wanted to unlock the cage for her and set her free, but this was no place for a hero. The hand he had reached out with was his right, and the Black Silk shimmered in the light to remind him of where his place was. In a sickening way, both he and the human girl were in a cage of their own.

“One does not stay beautiful forever without a little help.” Nacre sneered while running her fingers through her own hair.

“Could just become an Ensanguined and cut out the adrenaline tortures.”

“It seems so simple as that, doesn’t it? Besides, the torture is what I enjoy.”

Entity grimaced at her words.

“Sorry, I forget what kind of bitch ya are.”

“All the more reason to remind you. Now then, Ceresei informed you of our collective goal, yes?” She asked. Entity frowned and walked away from the cage to approach the cauldron with his hands in his pockets.

“You’re gonna kick Cariphae out of the Arithmetian throne. I don’t see how ya expect to do that with my help.” Entity clicked his tongue to his teeth and watched Nacre blow air into the black fog of the boiling cauldron.

“You are the most important ingredient I need, Entity.” Nacre replied and saw Entity back away. The midnight dinner in Sheirun Hau was still fresh on the sorcerer’s mind and his heart most certainly skipped a beat.

“Okay yeah, I didn’t sign up to be part of some dinner entrée–” He protested before he was interrupted.

“Not to be eaten, halfwit,” she snapped, “I am not some savage Ensanguined, I’m far more diligent and clean.”

‘You’re worse, whatever ya are.’ Entity thought to himself.

“Your blood runs through her veins, Entity. After all, you are the cause of her plight. Remember?” Nacre asked. Entity felt a cold chill run up his spine at the very memory of that fateful morning. He looked down at his feet and swallowed hard to wet his drying throat. “The blood you used in that dreadfully botched spell was your very own. You gave her such power, and only you – my dear – can take it away, like antivenom to a snake bite.” Nacre had walked around the cauldron to place her hands on his shoulders while the sorcerer turned his face away from her.

“I thought there wasn’t any way.” He responded dead-toned. Though many of his pleasant memories had been erased by the dark magic within him, the painful memories of changing the course of history still haunted him.

“You underestimate my knack for these little things, Entity. It is my life’s work. My hands have mastered all that is dark.” She smiled as she slipped her hands under his arms to run her palms over his chest and stomach to feel the layered muscle beneath his flesh. Entity almost allowed himself to fall under such a lustful spell before jerking himself away from the sorceress. She let out a playful chuckle. “Why so tense? Your visit to me last time was far more open to the possibilities.” She teased.

“We are talkin’ overthrowin’ one of the most dangerous beings in Endle and pissin’ off legions of Valaah, Nacre, not to mention her white-eyed stalker if we fuck this up.” Entity heightened his tone and outstretched his hand to solidify the direness he felt. “This can and will start a war worse than the last, and this time, there won’t be any pardons or mercy for people like you and me.” He added as a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face.

“Without her power, Entity, there will be no need for pardons. In the end, there will be no mercy. All those who deserve punishment the most will die and there will be a new world order. I intend to rule it to the greatest extent and reshape it how I see fit.” Nacre smiled as she continued to approach Entity – who was backing away from the woman until he felt his legs hit a table behind him. He placed his hands on the edge and could no longer back away from the dark woman.

“Guardian will slaughter every single one of you queens the moment ya start killin’ humans. Ya always had such a fuckin’ hardon for power, Nacre, that it’s drivin’ ya insane.” Entity argued with a frown and grunted when Nacre pinned him to the table with a promiscuous bend to her back. There was no denying that Nacre was a beautiful creature shaped to seduce men with ease as he was falling victim to such a sin. He pulled away from her, but he was too tempted to allow her to do as she pleased with him. She smiled when she seemingly leaned in to steal a kiss from the sorcerer with her glossy golden lips.

“When Guardian has what he wants most, it will no longer matter. Such a carnal desire for another is powerful, Entity. I’m sure you know that all too well.” Her voice was soft and bewitching to the sorcerer who half-lidded his eyes with a mindless nod. She had practically crawled on top of him and felt one of his hands slide up her outer thigh. “Your lust for power is just as great as mine. You’re as guilty as I.” She enticed the sorcerer into a kiss that he couldn’t fight against. His lips and tongue worked against hers and he felt heat rising in his chest and hips that could only be described as fiery arousal that was too intense for him to control.

It was then that he felt an acute sharp pain pierce his left pec and pass his ribs that made him pull his lips from hers to let out a strained roar of agony. He looked down to see the source of pain and witnessed Nacre’s two fingers plunging slowly and deeply into his chest. He tried to squirm, but it was as if his body had been paralyzed into stiffening and holding steady as the sorceress penetrated his flesh. He felt her sharp nails reach his heart and his body buckled – falling hard onto the table surface and knocking off glass bottles that shattered against the floor. He moaned in burning pain and tried to grab at her hand, but his hands seized up and could only hover around his fresh wound while he watched blood pour from it. Nacre smiled wickedly down at the anguished sorcerer and licked her teeth.

“Hold still, now. This won’t kill you, but it will be deliciously excruciating.” She smiled before twisting her fingers around and tearing his wound open wider – which made the sorcerer arch his back violently and cry out in great pain. Her thighs pinned his to the table as she took her time digging into his heart. When she felt that she had what she needed in her grasp, she ripped her fingers from the gaping hole in his chest and released him so that he could fall to the glass-covered floor in a writhing heap. A black, dripping mass was skewered onto her sharp fingernails and she smiled at it while walking back to the cauldron. Her bare feet stepped on the shards of glass, yet she did not bleed or even flinch.

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Entity held his chest and watched as the blood poured from between his fingers and onto the floor. He coughed and shivered as he did his best to recover. His body could heal faster than any normal human’s, but it would certainly take some time for a hole in his heart to close.

“What the fuck did you do to me?!” He shouted furiously while trying to get to his feet – cutting his palms on the glass on the floor.

“I trimmed a piece of your heart. Be thankful I don’t need the whole thing, though I was tempted.” Nacre smirked before flicking the black mass into the cauldron. It squealed as it hit the water and bubbled so violently that it spilled over and doused the coals with a terrible howl. There was a sudden whip of air over the cauldron that fiercely blew out every candle in the room and blew the sorceress’s hair and dress backward. The force of the wind was so intense that it knocked a stumbling Entity back to the floor and tore the curtains from the windows. Nacre began to cackle as the concoction finally settled and boiled as a thick tar-like soup. Warped faces of agony and despair moaned from within the blackness and small hands reached out in desperation – a spell so black and so corrupt that it was trying to take on a form of its own.

“Nacre, you…ya can’t do this.” Entity struggled as he stood back to his feet by grabbing the table for leverage. The candles slowly came back to life when the wind had finally died down.

“There will be no other way but mine, Entity. Not even Guardian’s.” Nacre spoke as she turned to the desk to grab an arrow made of withered moldy wood, frayed feathers, and a dull, lead arrowhead. “With this arrow, Cariphae will be nothing more than a defenseless little human.” She explained with such delight and plunged the arrow into the black tar. When she removed it, the tar dripped off slowly to reveal a glistening golden arrowhead sharper than any blade forged in the three kingdoms. The wood morphed and straightened into polished black hardwood, and the feathers tightened and transformed into crisp raven feathers. “You will plunge this deep into her. The gold will melt, and the affliction you bestowed upon her will be lifted so that I may take over. Do this, my dear, and your oath will be fulfilled. You will finally be free.” Nacre held up the arrow to examine its glorious and dark finish before hearing Entity cough.

“I won’t. I won’t do it.” He protested as he stood as straight and tall as he could. Nacre’s smile fell when she turned toward the disobedient sorcerer. “You’re fuckin’ insane and…y’know what?” He pointed at the woman as she slowly began to approach him with a look of disbelief and arrogance.

“No, do tell me. You’ve piqued my interest.” She said with a menacing and dark tone to her voice. There were faint whispers surrounding Entity that he could hear and a prickling chill against the back of his neck that made the man scramble to find the words to fight with. He didn’t back down, there was a fit of anger rising deep within him. The flickering shadows behind him began to move and slither from behind the bookshelves toward him.

“You’re fuckin’ damned to fail just like ya’ did before. Ya had everything on your side, and she still threw it back at ya. Every time ya try and ruin her, she gets stronger. I won’t let ya’ do this–” He felt the words suddenly become crushed from his throat when the sorceress reached out her flexed hand and wrapped the sorcerer in a shadowy serpent that slithered tightly around his torso and neck. The head of the serpent was that of a cobra that hissed with a wide maw into his face and lifted him from the ground. He couldn’t breathe as it coiled around his ribs and forced him into submission. Nacre’s eyes were blazing bright yellow as she held the sorcerer in suspension and pointed the arrow at the man.

“Do not mistake ambition for insanity. You were a worthless little human when you came crawling onto my steps begging for my knowledge because of your own ambition. You swore to sacrifice everything for a dead wife and child, and you got exactly what you desired. Others called you insane. You may be a master sorcerer and necromancer, but it would do you very well to remember who perfected it for you. You are nothing without your magic, and my hex will rip that one redeeming quality from you should you fail to complete this favor I asked of you. What of you then? A Sheirun Hau Hors D’oeuvre? Or perhaps a slave building my borders? Such a spoiled brat you are.” She scolded harshly with such venom to her voice that Entity swore he saw fangs protruding from her mouth in her foul scowl. She closed her fingers to her palm slowly to intensify the strangulation around the sorcerer who clawed at the shadow with all his might. Ultimately, he failed and fell into utter submission to her power.

“Now then, enough of this petty little act of defiance. We were having such fun. Honestly, I prefer the company of that handsome little devil you have growing inside you, I wish you would let him out more often. This noble act of morality bitters the moment.” Nacre released her hand, and the serpent relieved the crushing tension on the sorcerer who heaved in a lung full of air. He fell to his knees and held his throat as he continued to gasp and choke.

Entity had never felt so powerless against a being he couldn’t fully understand. He felt weak in her presence as if his own magic were controlled by her influence. It made enough sense to him since the source of such a great power within him was gifted to him by the malicious woman so many years ago. He thought he had built onto his own power enough to defy her, but it only proved futile. Nacre was right, Entity may have mastered it, but she had perfected it and he was no match against her no matter how much he wanted to be.

Nacre placed the arrowhead under his chin and lifted his face to lock eyes. She smiled calmly and spoke in the seductive voice she always seemed to have.

“Tomorrow at dusk, you will enter Arithmetia with my company of two hundred Ensanguined soldiers. You will infiltrate Lovelacia’s fortress as my soldiers distract Cariphae and her Valaah. Aim this arrow well and wound her deeply, but do not kill her. This is the favor I command.” She instructed and pulled the arrow away. Entity sunk his head low in defeat as he held himself above the ground, kneeling powerlessly before her.

“Why me? Why do I have to shoot her?”

“The spell is simple. You granted her power, and it must be you who takes it away and hands it to someone else.”

“I don’t wanna hurt her.”

“I know. You’ve always cared for her, and it’s so tragic that she will never know what you did for her that day, but that will make this task much easier for you. Will you obey?”

“I will do it.” He yielded.

“So good to hear, Entity. I’m tickled.” She happily chirped and turned to her lectern. “I would invite you to stay in my bed chambers tonight, but I’m afraid my mood has been dampened. If you’re not going to let your demon out to play, then I’m afraid I won’t enjoy myself.” She added as she flipped through the pages of her spell book. Entity slowly got to his feet and put a hand over his slow-healing wound.

“Not like I missed a sore neck and limp tongue.” He sarcastically strained through his teeth and took another glance at the poor woman in the cage.

“Don’t flatter yourself, you always lacked enthusiasm. Leave me, and don’t go wandering off too far.” She rolled her eyes and waved him away.

“As if I got a choice. But hey, since we ain’t gonna be bumpin’ uglies, I’m gonna need a reason to stay here. I love myself a good wanderin’.” He faked the best grin he could conjure and noticed Nacre glance up at him.

“What do you want?” She asked with a sigh.

“The girl in the cage. Ya kinda owe me for stickin’ your fingers knuckle-deep in my chest.”

“I owe you? You’ve hardly been a good boy.”

“Would ya enjoy me if I were?” Entity smirked and saw Nacre roll her eyes.

“Whatever will get you out of my hair, darling. Indulge yourself.” Nacre half-smiled and snapped her fingers which immediately unlocked the cage. The woman in the cage flinched and squeaked when the door opened. Entity grinned and reached his hand out for her to take.

“C’mon out, I ain’t gonna hurt ya.” He urged, but the woman dared not to go near him. Entity leaned down and whispered to the woman as quietly as he could. “Either come with me, or ya won’t make it to mornin’.” He warned seriously, which prompted the woman to fearfully take Entity’s hand. Guiding the woman out, he snatched a shawl hanging on the wall and wrapped it around her quickly and ushered her out the door. Turning to a guard outside the door, he handed the trembling woman to him.

“Take her to my room, wherever the fuck it is.” He requested, to which the guard nodded and lead the woman down a hall and out of sight. Entity was left alone to amble towards the room of mirrors.

He walked to the center of the main foyer where his dozen reflections seemed to be waiting for him. He stopped in the center of the room and turned to the reflection directly in front of him and winced at the sight of his fresh wound oozing blood and blackness. His face in the mirror was darkened and to his surprise, it was not hunched over like he was. It stood tall with its arms to its side, unphased by any wound that appeared on it. Entity squinted and approached the mirror, which it mimicked, and he grimaced at it.

“What are ya’ lookin’ at?” He asked his reflection. It smiled wide to show off a row of sharp yellowed teeth and piercing red eyes.

“A shadow.” His reflection replied in a hushed, dark voice. Entity was taken aback and backed away. His reflection was something he always tried avoiding as he could never understand whether the image that stared back at him was sentient or his mind slowly deteriorating. Black magic within a person suppressed memories and drove them mad very slowly over a long period of time. In recent years, he was having a hard time recalling certain events. He couldn’t even remember his own name no matter how hard he tried. He remembered screams though, many screams. He remembered the humiliation Nacre inflicted on him every night she had him in her bed. He remembered the deaths of those closest to him. The root of all suffering lay in the shadows and formed the reflection staring back at him – a broken shell of a man too afraid and too careless to make any kind of difference in the world without the risk of breaking it.

“You were a mistake.” He breathed to his own reflection that only seemed to smile wider at the sorcerer. It mouthed the very same words back to Entity as he spoke them.

“I’m not a mistake, I did my best. I didn’t know I would hurt her.” Entity argued with his reflection, and it listened to him – standing still as a corpse.

“You didn’t save her. You ruined her and her family.” His reflection hauntingly whispered.

“I had to do something, I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.” Entity reasoned and felt himself slowly slipping into madness.

“You let her die, just as you let Heron die. This is all your fault.” The reflection laughed.

“You’re the mistake. I never shoulda asked for you.” Entity snarled as he approached the mirror, to which his reflection didn’t mimic.

“I am you. I always was you, and you were always me.” It smiled.

“I wasn’t anything like you. I was a man! A father!” Entity felt tears swelling in his eyes as he argued with his reflection pointlessly.

“A failed husband and father. Everything you touch is ruined, and every word you say is a lie. Let me take over, and I will take all the pain away.”

“No…”

It laughed at Entity.

“Go away!” Entity raised his voice, but suddenly swallowed hard. There was a shift in the air that snatched Entity’s attention away from the mirror and he spun to see Quartz who had been watching him. She did not have a reflection to alert him of her presence.

“How long have ya’ been standin’ there? What all did ya hear?”

Quartz was silent for a few long seconds as she looked down at her shoes.

“You aren’t a mistake, Entity. Mistakes are made, but it doesn’t make you one.” She said as she unclipped her cloak and folded it over her arm.

“What do you know about mistakes, eh?” Entity asked and turned away to wipe his eyes. Quartz looked down and turned her head to the side to show the sorcerer the scar of two fang marks on her white neck by pulling her hair back.

“I chose to become an Ensanguined in hopes that I would be strong enough to make a change for the better. It only landed me here in this…situation. I’ve helped bring more harm by doing what I thought was right. I made mistakes.” She explained with disdain in her voice. Entity looked down at the mirrored floor and hummed a little as he reached into his coat pocket to pull out the silver cigarette box. He took out a cigarette and lit it to draw a much-needed breath of relief. He approached the Ensanguined woman closely until he was mere inches from her.

“Was it worth it?” He asked her with smoke escaping from his mouth and nostrils.

“I’m not sure yet.” She admitted.

Entity smiled a little and felt his wound slowly close which made him put his fingers over it to help ease the pain. Quartz looked to see the blood slowly seal the torn flesh together and form a small scar. “What did she do to you?” She asked in concern, which made the sorcerer hum again before walking away from her towards the open front entrance. Quartz followed behind. As much as the sorcerer wanted to stay close, he couldn’t help but remember the human woman inside the cage who had been lucky enough to be gifted to him under the guise of sexual need. A very distinct fear boiled inside him, and he couldn’t allow Quartz to stay any longer than she needed to. Nacre had already seen her beauty to want it for herself.

“I don’t wanna talk about it. Ya need to leave here.” Entity replied. The two walked onto the large marble steps that lead to the palace’s front entrance and saw that the clear desert sky had begun to shift color from a dark blue to a faint pink – indicating that dawn was soon upon Destillion. Quartz paused at the first step and stared at the stars that remained.

“Leave? What did she tell you? What is the plan?” She pried softly and followed behind again.

“Isn’t your job done here? Ya escorted me to Destillion, why don’t ya go back to Sheirun Hau?” Entity impatiently asked as he continued down the steps.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” Quartz hurried down the steps to catch up with the sorcerer.

“Quartz, ya can’t be here, I’m warnin’ ya. Besides, mornin’ is on its way.” Entity waved her away.

“Why not? I know you don’t want to do whatever she has set out for you, the least I can do is help you–“ Quartz pleaded before the sorcerer abruptly spun around to face her – causing her to jump back a little in surprise.

“I don’t wanna see ya get hurt. I gotta do this on my own since its my fault this whole thing started. Go back to Sheirun Hau where it’s safe.” Entity begged as he put a hand on her shoulder. Quartz moved his hand away and eyed the sorcerer intensely.

“Safe? I’ll be a prisoner there, making children for that…awful man. Our marriage was arranged under a lie.” Quartz turned away in disbelief that she had just said it out loud. Entity curiously raised an eyebrow.

“How is it a lie? I thought it was an obligation or some shit.” Entity crossed his arms.

“I thought it was Virgoth’s decree before he died. I thought that by marrying Karuka, I would be doing Sheirun Hau a favor. Ceresei lied. They all lied. Virgoth turned me, Ceresei just wants powerful heirs.” Quartz sat down on a step and ran her fingers through her bangs. Entity half laughed and took a seat next to the Ensanguined woman before plopping his large hand on her knee.

“And you were so defensive over your race just yesterday. Seems like your whole world has been flipped fuckside over.” Entity teased, prompting the woman to jerk her knee away.

“I didn’t say all Ensanguined were like this. Just Ceresei, and…” She paused.

“Karuka and Alana? All their royal subjects? Citizens? Those creepy geishas–”

“They weren’t like this when Virgoth was alive.” She sighed as she looked at the brightening horizon. The beauty was enough to distract her from her woes and calm her nerves despite the sunlight being a harbinger of death to her. She remembered being able to watch the sunrise as a child though and she missed seeing it.

“Yeah, they were.” Entity sighed too and took a drag of his cigarette. “To be honest, Virgoth was the only Ensanguined who was different. I met him a long time ago, y’know, back when the Red War was just startin’.” He revealed, making Quartz perk up her head and immediately gaining her attention.

“You did?” She asked with a small smile. “How did you meet?”

“Well, he had uh, just come from Arithmetia and was recruiting. He didn’t have as many soldiers as he needed, and he came through this village that I was stayin’ at. Full of humans. A lot of em’ were scared of the guy, cause’ he was just this hulking, tall, huge man ridin’ this massive horse with the tall dark cape. Y’know the red one with the popped collar and gold trim?” He chuckled and made Quartz giggle and nod.

“Yeah! He always wore that thing even though it had so many tears and holes in it. Nobody said anything about it though.” Quartz laughed with Entity as he told the story.

“Well, people were scared shitless, right? And he comes into the bar I’m stayin’ in. Heavy fucker, boots clankin’ against the old wood floor, and I thought, ‘This guy is about to slaughter everyone in here!’. So, I’m drunk and I can’t fight for shit, I prepare for the worst. And the guy says, ‘I am Virgoth, son of Vulgun and the Ensanguined King of Arithmetia. I’m putting together an army and I am looking for soldiers. Fight for me and know the gift of true and ultimate power.’ or some shit like that.” Entity continued while putting his hands on his hips to mimic the Ensanguined King. Quartz put a mouth to her hand to stifle her giggle.

“What happened next?” She asked curiously.

“Whole room went quiet and some of the guys are actually considering it, y’know – murmuring and whatnot. My drunken ass stood from my seat, lifted my beer, and said ‘Sounds like the only way to laid around here!’ and I just sat back down.” He laughed and put a palm to his face as if he had embarrassed himself. Quartz gasped and stifled a laugh.

“You said that?! In front of him?” She breathed humorously.

“Yeah uh, he actually laughed a little.” Entity rubbed his chin and twisted his beard around his finger. “I made the guy laugh.”

“That made him laugh? Virgoth laughed at that?” She asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, he actually did.” Entity laughed. “He came right on over and had a drink with me. We talked for a while and eventually, he asked me if I wanted to turn. It’s kinda weird lookin’ back at it cause’ y’know, Ensanguined aren’t known for asking for permission to bite someone’s neck, but he did.” Entity explained.

“You didn’t let him. Why?”

Entity shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to remember exactly why he declined.

“I dunno. I wanted to be this great sorcerer and help people. I felt like havin’ to drink blood for the rest of my life wouldn’t really let me do that.” He confided.

“The great Entity of Shadows wanted to help people? So the books are true.” Quartz leaned her chin on her hand and seemed to be a little skeptical of the sorcerer.

“At one point, yeah.” He paused and looked down at the Black Silk on his palm. “Things change though, and so do people.” He admitted solemnly. Quartz looked at the silk as well and pursed her lips.

“You know people are going to get hurt.” She tilted her head, and her eyes pitied the sorcerer.

“Ya don’t have to like Cariphae. She killed your king, I get that, but ya gotta understand that without her on that throne, everyone is gonna get hurt. Which is why I need ya to get back to Sheirun Hau and I dunno, bunker down. Fly away somewhere far. Doesn’t even need to be Sheirun Hau. Just stay away.” He warned and saw Quartz smile.

“Virgoth wouldn’t want me to run away, not like this. Our queens have lost their way and…I want to help you.” Quartz clenched her fist as she finally made her decision. Entity shook his head and lifted his hands up.

“Oh no, no no no. Absolutely not, you’re not gonna get any more involved in this. If shit goes wrong, I don’t want anyone comin’ after you. This is my shithole and I gotta sit in it.” He protested.

“So now you care about my safety? That’s sweet.” She smiled.

“I mean it, Quartz. You’re not comin’.” He doubled down and threw his cigarette to the ground.

“I was about to be a breeding sow for a spoiled prince, and he threatened to have me mass-raped and suffer a thousand cuts. If Cariphae is the one keeping injustices at bay, then I am coming with you, and you know how hard I can hit.” Quartz snapped back and showed him her fist. Albeit small, he remembered just how much it hurt.

“He said that to ya, did he?” Entity narrowed his eyes and then nodded as he stepped on his cigarette and twisted it. He couldn’t argue anymore as a part of him knew that the best thing he could do was have someone at his side that he could trust. “All right. You’re in. On one condition.” He simply grinned, and she grinned back.

“What would that be?” She asked.

“I wanna see ya crush that spoiled little fucker’s nuts and make him sing like a fairy. And I want a kiss, right here.” Entity grinned and pointed to his cheek.

“Deal! But no kiss, ew.”

“Ew?” Entity playfully pouted.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” She tapped his arm with the back of her hand.

“Fine, but you’re gonna owe me that kiss anyways.”

“As if. So, now will you tell me her plan?” Quartz asked and Entity nodded as he reclined on the steps and crossed his feet.

“I think it’d be better if we had a plan of our own.” He sighed as he slipped a hand behind her back.

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