Chapter 8

“The Midnight Dinner”

Entity knew the layout of the palace just well enough to find servants in the guest quarters. He accompanied a large and near-empty room with a mat to rest on and a haori for him to wear to dinner with loose pants. It was deep green with magenta patterns zig-zagging across the broad squared sleeves. He studied it and found distaste in the design but knew it was at least clean enough to enjoy the night in – not that he minded sleeping in his filthy clothes. He couldn’t remember the last time they had been washed.

Two servant women with hair pinned tightly atop their heads worked silently beside him and almost forcefully removed his cloak and leather strap across his chest. He slightly resisted and found that they only pulled at his clothes harder, so he figured it was best to let them take his clothes. One unstrapped his belt that held his sword and reached for the hilt to remove it, and he instinctually gripped her wrist harshly which made her pause. The other servant stopped and stared at what Entity intended to do with the other woman. He gave the woman an intense stare that made the servant shrink and shiver from the coldness of his glare.

“I wouldn’t touch that if ya wanna keep that hand.” He warned before slowly letting go of her and watching her retreat from him. He then removed his own belt and gently set his blade on the mat where he would sleep before unbuttoning his dirty white pants. “In fact, ladies, I think I can take it from here. Unless ya wanna stick around and entertain me.” He grinned and dropped his pants, which received a look of disgust from both servants who promptly bowed and left the room swiftly after collecting his clothing. He chuckled and shivered when he felt the chill of misty air bite at his flesh. He felt like he had forgotten something at that moment but was too distracted by the feeling of being nude. It was always a bad idea to be so vulnerable in Sheirun Hau.

He didn’t waste much time finding a towel to cover himself and locating a squared, wooden, hot bath outside of his room. The bath was steaming on a patio with a sliding wooden door concealed by lush green bamboo. He spotted candles, several glass bottles, and jars with various soaps and salts to bathe with, which he found appealing considering he never knew when he would get a chance to properly bathe while out wandering aimlessly. He sank into the bath and could immediately see the surface of the water brown from the dirt that washed off him.

It was a brief moment for him to relax despite the great anxiety swimming around in his stomach and churning out worst-case scenarios. He was blocking out memories and trying to focus on the sound of frogs and crickets in the brush. He reclined in the tub and tilted his head back on the edge to rest a bit before realizing that it was nearly impossible to relax without a drink. The craving for liquor and an accompanying cigarette would help quell his fears, and he realized that the servants had taken his coat – which held his spare flask and box of cigarettes. He immediately sat up gasping when he came to that realization and stood from his spot in a panic. Hot water steamed off his toned body before he noticed Quartz standing in the center of his room. He was halfway out of the tub by the time he realized she was there. Ensanguined were almost always silent.

His eyes widened in surprise to see the white woman in his room while he was in her full view. She didn’t look away or look too surprised to see him indecently. A grin fell upon his face as he slowly reached for his towel and wiped his chest and stomach while also concealing his pride below, yet didn’t bother to fully wrap it around his waist. He wasn’t certain of what she wanted but his assumption was fueled by his ego.

“Didn’t hear ya knock, princess.” He stepped down from the tub and found himself extending his chest out to impress the small woman. She didn’t give an expression in return for the effort and instead pulled out a small silver box partially wrapped in a cloth.

“Paper doors don’t knock all that well.” She replied before tossing the box, which he proceeded to catch with his free hand. He opened it; It was his box of cigarettes, and he gave it a curious look before smiling at her.

“Ya came in the nick of time. Was wantin’ one of these.” He shook the box and heard the jingle of several cigarettes within.

“I figured you were. The servants were frightened of the box. It’s real silver.”

“It is.” He answered.

“I thought all silver in the land had been destroyed. I haven’t seen it in person, I’ve only read about it. It’s gorgeous despite the burns.” She said as she lifted her fingertips for him to see – which looked to have been burned from touching the silver. Entity set the box down on the tub’s edge and figured it was about time to wrap the towel around his waist, he concluded she wasn’t here for his entertainment.

“Heh, Nacre couldn’t destroy all of it to protect the Ensanguined, I’ve had this on me for…who knows how long. Wasn’t gonna let em’ take it. It’s too special.” Entity ran his thumb over the box’s edge and admired the etchings of lily pads on the lid.

“How so? Aside from it being silver.”

“It was a gift.” Entity placed his palm on top of it.

“I didn’t want them to toss it away. It seemed important to you. Good to know I was right.” Quartz said. She took a quick glance at his body and noticed the number of scars that littered it. From his neck all the way down to his legs, he had scars that ranged from arrow wounds to what seemed like claws that once had torn into him.

“I would’ve guessed you’d be terrified of it since it melts your kind like butter.” Entity sat on the edge of the tub and opened the box to retrieve a cigarette from it and lit the end over one of the candles. He then placed it between his lips and took several puffs.

“All deadly things are beautiful.” She answered with a half-smile before it faded.

“Like you, for example.” Entity shrugged. Quartz looked at Entity softly and found herself smiling.

“I apologize for my fiancé’s antics earlier. I understand your discomfort. If my superiors can’t offer you the ease of mind, I thought your box of cigarettes would.” She said before pulling out a small flask from her side pack. Entity’s eyebrow lifted when he saw her open it and take a sip before closing it and approaching him. She held it out to him, and he carefully took it, grazing his hand over hers as he did.

“Ya could offer me more ease of mind if ya join me. Get a taste of a real man before marrying a two-pump shmuck.” He smiled and ran his fingers across the surface of the bath water. Quartz looked skeptical and took a step away from him.

“I assure you, Entity, I am not the woman for that. I’m already claimed, and I must honor Karuka.” She protested respectfully. “More importantly, I should honor myself.”

“Ya ain’t married to him yet. He’s a dick stain, ya don’t even like him. Can’t imagine anyone who does, really.”

“That isn’t your place to say. It doesn’t matter if I like him or not, it is my duty and an honor.”

“Why? Because Ceresei says it is? Because your king woulda wanted it? Which I doubt he would’ve.” Entity offered her his cigarette and she took a long stare at it. He urged her to take it.

“Because as queen, I can change things in Sheirun Hau. You’ve seen how things are here. This place is cruel and shameless.” She took the cigarette and inhaled it deeply. “I don’t even attend dinner here.”

“Ya can’t do that on your own? Why do ya need a title to make a difference? Ya really think that bean pole is gonna let ya have a say in anything?” He asked. She seemed to stumble on how fast she could respond as she questioned that herself.

“That’s easy to ask when you’re the most renowned sorcerer in the three kingdoms.” She argued.

“I didn’t earn my title through marriage. I just fuckin’ did it.” Entity argued back and noticed Quartz grow quiet when she took another lungful of the cigarette.

“You’ve been free to do as you want, Entity. Not me. I’ve never been free to do anything. I have a job to do, always.” Quartz muttered and saw Entity hold up his right hand. He pointed to the Black Silk Hex with a small scowl.

“Ya think I’ve been free?”

Quartz fell silent.

“Ya got somethin’ I don’t. True freedom. Ya don’t have a hex holdin’ ya back. If ya wanted to take off and fly somewhere far away where they couldn’t find ya, ya could. I can’t even do that. Stickin’ around and hopin’ that shit will change with a ring on your finger ain’t gonna get ya the results ya want. Even then, some things just can’t change no matter what ya try and do. Believe me, I’ve been there.” Entity spoke softly as he rubbed his wrist and shifted in his spot uncomfortably when silence fell between them.

“I need to get ready and so should you, sorcerer.” Quartz handed the cigarette back to him, which he took before grabbing her arm and yanking her close. She gasped and immediately tugged back but found herself not fighting back as hard as she knew she should have. Entity smiled down at her and admired her finer details. From her dark lips to her purple eyes, she was lovely with her pure white skin reflecting the orange glow of candlelight off her cheeks.

“If ya want change, princess, do it on your own.” He spoke softly and loosened his grip on her. She didn’t pull away too much and stared intensely into his pink eyes as if considering something. There was another set of eyes watching the two – the eyes of a servant who had passed by the room and had been watching the two for a moment. Her own eyes widened at the sight of Quartz and Entity in such close proximity while he was indecent and hurried away down the hall.

“I intend to.” She replied just as softly before pulling away and making her way out of the room. Entity watched her and admired her stride. Perhaps causing mischief and chaos was in his blood as he enjoyed watching her question herself simply by the look in her eyes. She was much more different than any other Ensanguined he had met. She didn’t blow off his blunt – yet honest – advice and heeded it enough to question herself. It was the most human thing he had seen come from an Ensanguined.

There was something different in her eyes that he couldn’t ignore; A fight to break away from what Ensanguined were naturally accustomed to. Ensanguined were obedient to where it almost seemed like a hive mind, but she had individual thoughts for herself. What change could she have possibly wanted? Was it a change that Karuka had envisioned? He doubted that possibility, she was much too kind and restrained. It intrigued him and provided the distraction he had been needing all night. He laughed to himself a little and found himself feeling happy enough to climb back into the tub without bothering to take the towel off. He kicked his feet up and reclined to enjoy his cigarette and whatever was left in his flask.

She was interesting indeed and not to mention one of the most beautiful women he had seen in a long while. He couldn’t help but fantasize and envision her in ways that pleased him, which was a rarity considering that all Ensanguined repulsed him despite their beauty and power. Admittedly, he didn’t want her to marry a brat like Karuka, he felt she deserved better. Not that he was better than Karuka, and in many ways, he considered himself worse. He tried to think little of it. Perhaps it was the fact that she was “off-limits” that made her even more appealing. Entity never was one to follow the rules.

An hour had gone by, and he had used all the heat in the tub to his advantage – cleaning and scrubbing his blackened skin clean to where it shimmered a faint blue-green in the light. His black hair was slicked back and fell past his shoulders and his scars were now more visible. He smelled himself and figured it was good enough before climbing out.

At first, he didn’t have much of a desire to be at his best but knowing that Quartz surely would be at the dinner had him dousing himself in rose water and herbs. He ambled inside and left a trail of water behind him and found a mirror. He then unsheathed a small blade from his belt that rested on the mat and sat down to shave his facial hair into a cleaner and more refined look. He hadn’t noticed just how rough he had let himself get while he shaved. He then took his hair in one handful and proceeded to slice off most of it to where it now only slightly hung passed his shoulders before tying it up into a neat bun at his crown with loose strands at the sides.

Dressing himself was the last thing he did before noticing a bowl of clean water by his bed with a mint leaf floating in it. He took the leaf and chewed it, savoring the fresh and cleansing taste that ultimately bettered his breath that reeked of cigarettes and liquor. Confidence coursed through him as he examined himself one last time and determined that he was presentable. He wasn’t looking to impress the empress, but rather Quartz. He felt excited and couldn’t bother himself with anxious thoughts.

He then heard a servant softly call for him outside of his door and bowed with her hands to her sides.

“Sorcerer Entity, the empress wishes to see you at dinner now.” She informed and kept her head low in submission while motioning to the hall. Entity stood slowly and walked barefoot towards the hall, letting the servant escort him. Entity walked tall and confidently as he passed down many sliding doors painted with demons before smelling the aroma of cooked meats, vegetables, and wine in the air. It was almost enough to mask the scent of iron that had stained the wood.

The palace itself seemed so unchanged since he had last visited it. Paper walls had obviously been replaced but the wood had not. The same paintings still hung in their place, the same lanterns had rusted a bit, and the same scratches on the floor remained. Tapestries lined another hall that led to the dining area and depicted graphic scenes of Ensanguined drinking the blood of humans and animals. Other depictions were far more horrific with human men kneeling at the feet of Ensanguined with skin removed from their backs – being eaten while still very much alive with various utensils meant to peel away the muscle. Entity felt a cold sweat form on his brow and diverted his eyes to the floor.

Even the floor sent a shiver up the sorcerer’s spine when he saw multiple scratches from fingernails being dragged toward the dining room. The distance between each long trail on the wood looked small enough to fit the palm of a small child. He wondered what poor soul had desperately clawed for their life. He paused to kneel and spotted a small, yet full human fingernail embedded in the wood – having been caught in the wood fibers that were too deep to be swept away. It looked fresh enough to be slightly yellowed and he could hear the cries of its owner in his head when he stared at it for too long. He felt his stomach twist and couldn’t look at it any longer.

There wasn’t much in the world that disturbed him, but the feeding habits of the Ensanguined of Sheirun Hau were more than enough to cause him to feel sick to his stomach. To be ritually eaten alive slowly was something that he couldn’t handle, and it was that very fear that forced him to try and run before entering the palace. He kept his head down and tried to think of the woman he intended to see in the dining room. At least she seemed more empathetic than most. He wondered what she would look like and tried to imagine how she would’ve done her hair. A distraction was all he needed to get through the night. He stood back up and continued to walk towards the dining room.

He could hear music in the distant room that he was quickly approaching. The elegant sounds of a well-plucked koto playing in tune with the winds of the shakuhachi filled his ears and he couldn’t hear any voices. The room he entered was lit dimly with candles and paper lanterns with only a dozen people sitting at low tables lined neatly beside each other. There was a small stage behind the dining tables where the servant women played their instruments. Geisha women danced and entertained in motion with the music while other servants carried baskets of freshly steamed dumplings and raw meats to every table. It was hard to tell what was steaming from the thick fog that lay steady in the room from incense and burning oil. It was choking and made Entity cough a little.

The guests were finely dressed in their best robes in a variety of colors and patterns – predominantly red. Men and women were happily chattering as they poured their wine and enjoyed the live entertainment. They all became silent at once and turned slowly to stare at Entity intently with unmoving faces which had caused a deep discomfort in the man. The servant who had escorted him bowed and turned to leave, and he looked back to her in confusion.

“Where do I sit?” He asked and was promptly ignored. He turned back to the other guests and smiled while clasping his palms together. There was a long awkward moment where no one did anything but stare at him.

“Please, no one get up.” He chuckled and made his way deeper into the room and saw a table that was lined with plates, bowls, and baskets of fresh steaming food and various diced bloody meat. Several bottles of wine and sake accompanied each empty seat, and he assumed that the table belonged to royalty. He wasn’t left to wonder where they were as two doors opened beside the stage. Ceresei, Karuka and Quartz had entered the room.

She was still dressed in her elaborate regal attire with her golden lotus crown atop her head that draped long golden chains from each protruding bejeweled spiral. When she entered, every guest stood from their seat and bowed to her. Behind the empress followed her son, Karuka, who was dressed in a solid black haori with red rope around his waist and a sheathed golden-wrapped handled katana to his side. Behind Karuka followed Quartz who wore a kimono of pure white with purple fades at the sleeves and trim. Flowers danced across the silk, and purple flower pins held her white hair up in a near-perfect bun that shined brilliantly in the light. Entity found himself staring at Quartz and noticed her head bowed down in submission much like the servant girls.

Her eyes glanced to see Entity standing in the middle of the room and gave him a small smile. Karuka scowled at the sight of Entity as he followed his mother and stood at a seat on Ceresei’s right. Quartz sat opposite of Karuka to Ceresei’s left. Ceresei slowly knelt on a red pillow and took her seat elegantly with her back straight. The guests knew now to end their bow and sat back down once the Empress had her seat. Karuka and Quartz sat as well, and all watched the glistening empress carefully.

“You may sit here, Sorcerer Entity.” Ceresei motioned to a singular seat in front of her across the table, and Entity wasted no time taking it to get out of the center of the room filled with bloodthirsty creatures who stared hungrily at him.

“Thoughtful; A seat with the empress.” He smiled as he knelt on the pillow but couldn’t quite sit as elegantly as the rest.

“You did not bow. You dishonor Empress Ceresei.” Karuka spat before seeing his mother lift her hand slowly to him.

“My son, I may speak for myself. Entity is not accustomed to submission.” Ceresei explained with her tongue heavy in accent.

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“See? She gets it.” Entity motioned to Ceresei as he grinned at Karuka. He found himself untucking his feet from under himself and reclining a little on the pillow with his legs opening wide. “Lookin’ snazzy by the way, princess.” Entity winked at Quartz. Karuka oddly enough seemed unphased by the pompous remark and simply poured himself a cup of sake.

“I have been informed by Queen Nacre that you are to arrive at Destillion as quickly as possible.” Ceresei said as she took a bottle of what looked to be wine and poured a glass. The scent of it reeked of iron.

“Yeah, that’s what she was tellin’ me.” Entity nodded as he pointed to Quartz.

“She has requested that you arrive tonight – before daybreak preferably. Since you arrived on such short notice thanks to Quartz here, it would be beneficial to have you on your way once I am done feeding.” Ceresei informed as she picked up her glass of blood and took a sip with her fangs scraping the glass. Entity paused and laughed as he grabbed a bottle of sake and smelled it – making sure it was indeed normal sake first. He didn’t want to risk drinking any blood by accident.

“Tonight? It’d take months at best and that’s without piss breaks just to get to Destillion’s border.” Entity argued as he took a mouthful of the sake and downed it before grabbing a dumpling with his bare hand and popping it in his mouth. He chewed a few times and his face scrunched at the texture of the meat inside. It occurred to him that if there was a mystery meat at this particular dinner, he should stick to rice and vegetables, so he spat it out in his hand and tucked the chewed wad under his seat.

“Not if you travel by Ianuae.” She corrected. Ceresei set down her glass and picked up her chopsticks to take a piece of thinly sliced blackish-red meat. Entity stopped himself from taking another drink and placed the bottle on the table.

“Ianuae? The portals of Nagas? They don’t exist anymore.” Entity scrutinized.

“The Nagas before their great extinction created many Ianuae portals all throughout Endle. Not all were destroyed after Guardian discovered them. In fact, one lays beneath this very palace, and it runs from Sheirun Hau all the way through Faemira – to the bend of the Great Avacanev River. The Faemirian Pass.” Ceresei spoke before laying the meat on her pointed black tongue.

“I’ll be fuckin’ dipped. So that’s why Quartz had me escorted here?” He asked.

“Better to travel as efficiently as one can. We knew you would’ve avoided Sheirun Hau and traveled straight through Faemira if you were not escorted. That would’ve taken months indeed.” Ceresei answered with a smirk.

“What could possibly be so fuckin’ urgent–” Entity continued to question.

“Nacre has a plan, sorcerer. Trust in her wisdom. We know you all too well to spoil such a surprise.” Ceresei interrupted. Entity looked offended and slapped his hand on the table which caused the drink glasses to shake and clatter against each other.

“What plan? All I know is that I’m supposed to return a mystery favor cause’ of this fuckin hex on my hand. I haven’t been told shit. Enough of the vague bullshit, tell me what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve done every bit of dirty work for you queens of malice and I can’t even get let in on the big surprise?”

“Entity…” Quartz spoke up quietly as she held her own cup of blood to her lips as if to urge him to calm himself for his own sake. There was a moment of silence at the table aside from Karuka’s stifled chuckle. Ceresei put down her chopsticks quietly.

“Very well, sorcerer. If you insist, then I will tell you. The plan is quite simple,” Ceresei spoke and put both her palms on the table in front of her, “we are going to end the false queen’s reign.” She revealed which gained immediate silence from every guest in the room – including the musicians. Entity stared at Ceresei skeptically before slamming his palm on the table with an abrupt burst of laughter that echoed in the room. Ceresei and Karuka didn’t budge from their spot as Entity laughed; Only Quartz seemed visibly uncomfortable at their silence and retracted her head to her shoulders as if to hide.

“You’re gonna kill the queen? Cariphae? The same queen who kicked all three of your asses including Virgoth’s and won the Red War? Oh, that’s fuckin’ funny.” Entity held the bottle of sake upside down and guzzled it down once he had calmed his laughter. The music continued at a slow pace shortly after the laughter. He wiped away whatever spilled down his chin and dropped the bottle on the floor to his side before leaning on the table. “How many assassination attempts have ya tried and failed? Numerous? Or maybe none cause’ ya know what kinda shit would happen if ya did. One foot out of place and you can kiss your palaces and crowns goodbye. I ain’t helpin’ ya kill the queen, that’s your own death wish.”

“I never said kill. Killing Cariphae would be less than satisfactory to our associate’s liking.” Ceresei corrected simply before taking another sip of blood in her glass. Entity looked visibly confused.

“What?” He asked.

“Arithmetia belongs to the Ensanguined and was stolen by that wretched false queen and her fly-riddled, thoughtless beasts. Virgoth allowed such an atrocious insurrection and lost us what rightfully belongs to the Ensanguined regime. Such a perfect world without sunlight and bounties of Valaah blood, cradled in impenetrable mountains, yet here we are – living in the shadows and forced to consume the blood of filthy creatures and human strays. We cannot expand our borders and they grow smaller each day. The rebel humans continue burning our forests. Retaliating would be less than wise.” Ceresei resentfully ranted.

“Looks like ya got enough food here to feed an army from what I see.” Entity crossed his arms with a sigh as if unphased by the empress’s woes.

“Cattle and swine - even that isn’t enough, sorcerer, nothing compared to the blood bounty of Valaah. Guardian cares little for them.” Karuka interjected. “Guardian allows no harm to humans unless they run astray from their place and that cannot sustain our armies. His allegiance to the false queen only strains us more. We are starving.” He added.

“What makes ya think Guardian is allied against ya? He’s pretty cozy with Nacre from what I hear and he hasn’t committed genocide against the Ensanguined like he has every other race, and you’re the ones feasting on men. He’s gone out of his way to kill harmless races that only tried to help the humans. I haven’t even seen a damn harpy in ages. It baffles me how fuckin’ ass-backwards his logic is.” Entity sighed a little solemnly.

“What do you mean ‘cozy with Nacre’?” Karuka asked and simply got a smirk from the sorcerer.

“Guardian’s loyalty lies in his own best interests. Those interests pertain to the false queen. All other alliances are as stable as a house without a foundation. We’ve known this from the beginning.” Ceresei answered. Entity leaned onto the table with a smirk and lifted a finger.

“Y’see, ya keep callin’ her a false queen but I’m inclined to think she’s kinda earned her spot considerin’ how she has a pretty hard high-heel on your backs, and she ain’t even in the same realm as ya. Bare in mind, she’s the one who let ya all live instead of drawin’ and quarterin’ all three of ya after Virgoth died. I’d be grateful to have that kinda mercy if I were you. Nobody wants hell on earth again, not even you.” Entity defended while pointing a finger at Ceresei.

“A sympathizer of Cariphae will earn you a fate worse than drawing and quartering, sorcerer. It would be wise to understand where you currently sit.” Karuka warned before receiving a hand from Ceresei to silence himself – which he promptly did.

“You do defend her with benevolence, sorcerer. You misplace your honor. Is there something I should know about?” Ceresei asked as she laced her fingers together on the table.

“I’m just tellin’ it how it is. Are ya afraid of her or not?” Entity shrugged, plucked a chunk of sticky white rice up with three fingers, and stuffed it messily in his mouth.

“Empress Ceresei, if I may speak?” Quartz finally spoke up softly and gained a raised eyebrow from the sorcerer. He could see in her eyes the submissiveness to her superiors by her lack of eye contact with them when she mustered up enough courage to interject. Her voice had the sorcerer’s full attention and he leaned in to hear her clearly.

“You may.” Ceresei allowed.

“I mean this respectfully, Entity. It’s a great insult to not only our empress, but to all of us – including me - when you defend Cariphae’s honor when she has taken our beloved king, our home, our food, and our dignity. We may have kingdoms, but they are weakening. We do not want to disappear like the nagas and harpies, we face more than just genocide. If we could survive on the food of man, we would, but it isn’t in our nature. Please, Entity, I ask that you hear what we have to say.” She pleaded and watched as Entity leaned his chin on his palm with a glazed look in his eye.

“And I mean this respectfully, princess. Ya did this to yourselves. Not my fault, and it ain’t Cariphae’s fault either.” The sorcerer responded with a sigh. “Ya look good by the way. I’m likin’ that color on ya.” He added and saw a small smile appear on her face which made him smile in return. Both were short-lived when they heard a glass slam on the table that shook the plates. Karuka stood from his seat and grabbed the hilt of his sword as if he was going to withdraw it and strike the sorcerer down.

“Karuka, calm yourself.” Ceresei calmly spoke as she closed her eyes when her patience began to thin.

“He dares gawk at my bride-to-be! At our own table!” Karuka barked as he glared at the snickering sorcerer with malice and rage, prompting Quartz to advert her eyes to her lap silently. “My patience has run out with this imbecile. I should cut you down where you stand.” He snarled at Entity.

“I’m sitting, actually.” Entity shot back sassily and heard a furious growl erupt from Karuka’s throat.

“SILENCE!” Ceresei commanded malevolently with a voice so powerful and so haunting that the very candle flames flickered and dimmed. Such a cold and audacious command sent the room into an immediate silence with every gaze locked onto the decorated empress. Karuka too had gone silent as he slowly sank back onto his seat with his eyes fixed on his plate. Entity wanted to laugh until he noticed that Quartz had seemed to shrink down and was slightly shaking. His grin fell and he felt a small sliver of guilt swell in his chest. Ceresei turned her attention to the sorcerer and calmly spoke again.

“It matters not to me where you place your respect – if you have any at all. What matters to me is your usefulness. You will play a part in a revolution that has been destined for the last two centuries. If that is an issue for you, you are free to walk away at the cost of your hand. From there, you will no longer be under my protection from my guests.” She stated as the guests in the room turned and stared at Entity with haunting red eyes hungry for blood. Entity swallowed and did his best to ignore them.

“I ain’t gonna hurt the queen, Ceresei.” Entity argued flatly.

“I’m afraid you do not have much of a choice in the matter, Entity. A Black Silk Hex is a lifetime bond until the favor is returned.” Ceresei argued back as she watched the sorcerer rub the silk on his hand. “You must have wanted something great to have placed yourself in a position like this.”

“Bit off more than I could chew - somethin’ you’d know too much about, Ceresei.” Entity growled through his teeth.

“More than I could chew? My dear sorcerer, you know not the limits of my bite.” Ceresei smiled and clapped her hands together once.

Summoning her servants through the doors from where she entered, a blindfolded man wearing a white robe was ushered in with a rope tied tightly around his neck. He had been shaved bald and was sweating. He stumbled as if heavily drunk while two female servants held his rope taught to keep him balanced. Entity slowly stood from his spot and studied the man and noticed the white cloth on his back had been stained pink in blotchy areas. His stomach dropped and he took a step away from the table with his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Quartz adverted her eyes to her lap and dared not look at the blindfolded man.

“You defend the false queen passionately; This I understand considering your resentment against taking sides. You are – in the best sense of the word – neutral. I was expecting you to find it difficult to cooperate.” Ceresei spoke slowly as her eyes didn’t break contact with the Entity’s when she lowered her chin.

The servants guided the blindfolded man onto the table and had him clumsily walk over the plates and food before forcing him to kneel in front of Ceresei right on top of her plate. He didn’t make a sound and he didn’t struggle – only wobbled as he tried to keep his balance. Ceresei smiled and ran her fingertips over the blotchy cloth on the man’s back and pinched it before chuckling deeply.

“Know that this will be the kindest warning that Nacre, Alana, and I will bestow upon you. A generous gift if you will. You are only as valuable as the last favor you return. Once you have fulfilled your oath, you are no different from this human here. You all are alike beneath the flesh, in fact. Anatomy is something I truly appreciate when it comes to the food I choose to eat – most importantly when it is a delicacy.” Ceresei said as she pulled down the man’s robe off his shoulders and down to his hips, revealing a raw, flayed open back with every muscle exposed. The man didn’t flinch or pull away as if he were under a dark spell but there was a small whimper that Entity could hear over the music. Blood trickled down the crevices of the tight muscles that Ceresei wiped away with a fingertip and licked clean.

Entity felt himself become weary and his stomach turned at the horrible sight. He shook his head to try and deny what his eyes were witnessing but there was no escape from the nightmarish reality of Ceresei’s brutality. Quartz closed her eyes and kept her head low, unable to watch when Ceresei slipped her long nails under the man’s muscle. She peeled it away with ease when the tender flesh snapped from bone and tendon and held it between her bloody fingers. The blindfolded man didn’t protest nor flinch.

“We intend to fill our needs to the fullest in whatever way we see fit once Cariphae has been removed from the picture, as will our allies.” Karuka frowned as he mimicked his mother and peeled a strip of flesh from the man’s back. “Ensanguined are above all. Men, women, children; All are simply meat in the end. What makes you any different if you aren’t one of us?”

“I assume you understand. Perhaps you should recognize that loyalty and obedience will reward you with our grace and protection. Or is a plate more enticing to you, sorcerer?” Ceresei slipped the fresh tender meat into her mouth and smiled as she chewed with blood trickling down her lips. Entity stumbled backward and ran out of the room in such haste that he tripped over one of the other guests and knocked them down – receiving an angry hiss from him. Ceresei laughed maliciously as she relished in Entity’s horror before helping herself to another piece of the blindfolded man. Quartz watched Entity run while her heart sank for the sorcerer.

“Quartz, my dear, do have a taste. This is a delicacy you have yet to experience. Celebrate your success.” Ceresei offered and Quartz swallowed hard. It was not that she wasn’t appetized by the smell or sight of fresh meat and blood – especially with the heart still beating – it was the fact that the prey was subjected to torture without the ability to struggle or even scream. It twisted her stomach just like it did Entity’s. Quartz couldn’t deny what she was or ignore what her body needed to survive, but she knew better than to create unnecessary cruelty and anguish. It was not something her king would have wanted for her or any Ensanguined to do. Not even the most terrifying of predators tormented their prey the way Ensanguined did.

“I’m honored, empress, but I’m only parched.” Quartz politely declined as she did her best to look away from the large, flayed torso. Ceresei hummed as she peeled a strip of muscle from the man and pierced it with her long sharp nail to examine it.

“You have only had two sips of pig’s blood, Quartz. You are not as parched as you say. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I have ever seen you eat human flesh or drink human blood. It is why you are skinny. Not good for baring Karuka many sons.” Ceresei observed. Quartz was quick to snatch up her glass and forced the red blood down her throat. Ceresei smiled as she laid the still-twitching muscle onto Quartz’s plate. “You are to wed my son and honor him as a perfect bride. An honorable bride will feast with the family and indulge in every delicacy that is offered. You are no longer to feed on your own in the forests, you are royalty. Now I will tell you again… have a taste.” Ceresei glared down at Quartz while Karuka leaned over to eye her.

Quartz swallowed the remaining blood in her mouth and stared at the meat on her plate. With shaky hands, she picked up her chopsticks and plucked the meat from her plate that had left a pink stain on the ceramic. Her mind screamed at her, and her stomach felt like it was swaying in the waves of the sea. Every voice in her head cried out to resist but fear overwhelmed her. Fear of dishonoring an Empress as creatively cruel as Ceresei was unwise, and she had nowhere to run and no one to assist her. Her mouth watered at the sight of crimson against her will and she bit her tongue to fight it. However, the fight was a lost cause, and she slowly ate the meat with disdain and disgust.

Ceresei watched her chew slowly while Karuka glared at his bride with scrutiny.

“Do not think I’m unaware of your visit to the sorcerer’s bed chambers this evening, nor your little smile, Quartz.” Karuka growled as he reached to take a piece of the man and exposed bare white ribs. Quartz stopped chewing and felt her chest seize with embarrassment and fear. She wanted to explain but couldn’t find it in herself to swallow and try to speak. “Should I find you with another man, I will have you fucked by every soldier in Sheirun Hau, tied to a post outside naked and experience lingchi until daybreak. Am I clear?” He threatened, prompting a fearful nod from the small pale woman.

“Good. Now swallow your food.” Karuka ordered heartlessly. Quartz swallowed and felt the bitter meat slither down her throat and fought the hot tears forming in her eyes. The torture was suffered by more than just the man on the table. She could feel the anguish of it swimming in her stomach.

“Permission to be dismissed, Empress Ceresei?” Quartz requested with a shaky breath.

“Granted. Do make sure that the sorcerer remains here until my dinner is done.” Ceresei allowed and watched as Quartz stood from her spot and bowed. She calmly made for the doors where the servants stood. Karuka watched her as he carelessly chewed his meal and drank from his glass of blood in a near-sloppy manner. Ceresei handed him a white napkin while her eyes glared daggers at the small white woman.

“She fancies that wretched sorcerer. I fear she will not be loyal in her journey to Destillion. I should go in her place.” Karuka said to his mother as he took the napkin.

“She will remain loyal. Her fear and blindness keep her obedient and if she doesn’t, then I expect you to make an example of her. You may not kill her, for she is Noble Turn – a direct bite from Virgoth like myself. She is far too valuable.” Ceresei was no longer smiling as she ran her finger over the blindfolded man’s ribs before cruelly flicking her nail against an exposed nerve. The man flinched and opened his mouth as if to scream, but nothing came out – only blood, as the chefs had removed his tongue and vocal cords. “Noble turns have far more power than those turned traditionally. She is dedicated to my late husband and will honor his every wish – even marriage to my first-born son. Your heirs will be far more valuable than any other Ensanguined – far more powerful.”

“It was his wish?” Karuka asked.

“No. Virgoth couldn’t stand you and for obvious reasons. Alas, you are my only son seeing is how Virgoth refused to bare children with any of his brides.” Ceresei scowled in disappointment.

“Quartz believes this as truth?” He prodded curiously and ignored the insulting comments from his mother.

“Without question, she would have refused otherwise. Virgoth raised her to be anything but passive. The little impudent child was his prodigy.” Ceresei answered jealously.

“And what of the sorcerer?” Karuka asked as he wiped away the bloody mess trickling down his mouth with the napkin. “He seems like he will be a problem once he is free.”

“I have faith that Quartz will keep him loyal. Virgoth did well in making her blind. If Entity rebels, then he will be yours.” Ceresei answered before turning to her son and saw Karuka chewing yet another piece of his meal openly. She grabbed his jaw to force it closed. “Do not chew with your mouth open, it offends me.” She snarled.

Quartz had been standing by the door and overheard Ceresei and Karuka speak. Her unbeating heart sank and her stomach felt as though it had been twisted and torn from its place. The realization that the sorcerer was right was far harder to swallow than human flesh. Now they planned to stab Entity in the back the moment his Black Silk Hex was cleansed, just as her beloved Virgoth was stabbed in the back. She had been lied to in a way she didn’t think was possible and she shut her eyes tightly to fight the bloody tears swelling in them. A part of her always knew something wasn’t right with her empress and the prince but she was simply too afraid to speak out or question it aloud. Virgoth had taught her that loyalty was of utmost importance but had not learned to see where loyalty should lay.

She ran out the back doors of the palace and grasped the wooden pillar as she felt her stomach grow queasy and restless. Her chest seized in anxiety and her stomach twisted violently from the miserable meat inside it. Though the meat was saturated with fresh life-giving blood that her body so desperately craved, she couldn’t stand to keep it in her stomach any longer than it needed to be. She could taste the agony and anguish in it as it mixed with her own despair, and it was revolting. Her body was beginning to reject it. She fell to her knees and heaved as hard as she could – throwing up the blood and meat onto the grass and watching the thick crimson vomit trickle down the sharp green blades. It tasted just as awful coming up as it did going down and she wretched repeatedly until she had no more strength to continue doing it.

Blood dripped from her fangs, and she ran her hand through her bangs, allowing her body to adjust and settle. She couldn’t understand what she was doing or why she felt so inclined to be a part of an Ensanguined culture that thrived on misery. Now she understood that it was nothing but a lie told to her long ago by Ceresei shortly after Virgoth had been slain. The sorcerer was right; Karuka wouldn’t let Quartz make any kind of difference even if she wore a crown. She was merely a tool and nothing more.

Quartz sat with her legs to her side and leaned on the pillar for support as she stared into the misty skies to watch light rain fall and wash away the blood on the grass. Bloody tears streamed down her cheeks, and she fought back the urge to cry. She felt more lost and lonely now that all hope for her had been crushed. A crown would not fix anything for her or her people and a lifetime of enslavement to a cruel man was all she had to look forward to now.

Queen Cariphae killed her beloved king, yet the very same queen kept tyrants like Ceresei, Nacre and Alana at bay. It now crossed her mind that without the Arithmetian Queen, would acts of cruelty like the one she saw at dinner spread to every inch of Endle? Would Karuka take over the Unclaimed Lands and rule it just as savagely as Sheirun Hau? Would he truly consume every man, woman, and child like cattle? Would he raise their children to be just as cruel?

Running her fingertips over the bite scars on her neck given to her by Virgoth, she began to remember his words of wisdom spoken softly to her as he tucked her in at night. She could hear his voice echo in the shadows of her mind as if he were standing beside her.

The hardest thing you must face in life will be choosing which way to fly. To glide down the mountain will be swift and easy, but to climb to the peak will open the entirety of the compass to you.

She looked at her hands and studied the burns on her fingertips from where she had touched the silver box. Her eyes blinked away the bloody tears and she could recall Entity’s own words of wisdom. Much like Virgoth, Entity did not bow to anyone if he could help it. The sorcerer was right. He did not possess the same freedom that Quartz did. She was free to make her own choices and fly free wherever she pleased. She wiped away her tears and stood to her feet with what felt like a fire in her chest. Ceresei was right about one thing – she was indeed Virgoth’s prodigy and she would follow in his footsteps, no matter the risk.

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