Three figures sat under the crystal roofs at the top of the tower. August leisurely swirled the ice cubes - or rather the amber liquid in his short round glass. Elijah seemed visibly annoyed, choking one glass after another whilst shooting murderous glares between the High Priest and the Void.

“Tone it down, will you?” August spat through clenched teeth. “It’s not as if you’re the only one here who’s concerned about her wellbeing.”

“Concerned?” red eyes were blazing. “That’s one strong understatement. Who knows what that lunatic will do to her?”

“Now now, we all ought to calm down,” Alaric slithered his way into the tension. His mismatched eyes shimmered in cold silver and deep violet, bringing out the rich purple tones of the magicians' mantle. Short dark brown hair contrasted with pale skin and his tall fragile figure moved across the room with impeccable grace and elegance.

A gorgeous walking contrast he was, so brittle, so innocent looking.

But Alaric might just be the deadliest being in the High Priest’s quarters right now. Immediate and merciless, the Silverthread was known to be a ruthless magician and advisor to the Temple. No doubt, all beings gathered here today were one of a kind.

“I should have gone with her,” remorse washed over Elijah as another mouthful of mead poured waterfalls down his throat. “One of us should have been there for her.”

August scoffed. He sat back and made himself more comfortable - if that was even possible - in the deep blue chaise longue. “Deidre’s a big girl. You both know what I mean. She’s not to be trifled with, have some more faith.”

“Oh, no doubt, we have faith in Deidre. What we do lack, however, is a good track record for the wench she’s meeting with.” Over the centuries, Alaric seemed to have acquired peculiar tastes.

“I’m glad at least one of us finds this entertaining,” Elijah mumbled as another glass of mead found itself to his lips.

“Well, would you say it’s not?” the High Priest raised an eyebrow as a malicious smile stretched through his handsome pale face. “I’m plenty entertained!”

“You might just be more sick than he is,” Elijah pointed his head towards Alaric as swearwords cascaded from his mouth.

“I’d say it comes with age, dear friend. And as someone civilisations and millennia behind, I believe you have not yet had the brilliant opportunity of abandoning the path of chivalry and virtue.” August grinned. “But fear not, it shall come. It always does.”

“And we’ll be here to support you - front row audience and applause when appropriate!” a pat landed on Elijah’s back as Alaric brushed behind him, rummaging through the snack table and desperately looking for sweets.

“Well, that would no doubt come as one humbling experience, one I shall do my best to avoid,” Elijah snatched a pack of dark chocolate from unsuspecting hands. It was accompanied by a purpled-silver glare.

“I’m sure Deidre’s having one right now,” August interrupted. But a smirk was finding its way onto his face. “But who knows, Audra - and all of us - might just be in for a surprise. No, I’m sure of it.”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

“The bastard’s smiling,” Alaric’s teasing met no resistance.

“Our girl will do just fine,” the High Priest concluded.

The sound of mead pouring and men making distasteful remarks about females in the Temple’s premises echoed throughout the High Priest’s quarters.

The Void soaked in the alcohol-dampened chatter as well as their selfish and heartfelt concerns. It observed them for a half second and decided to shift its hungry black-hole eyes to something more delicious, a delicatessen of sorts.

***

“Come in, don’t be shy! I’ve been dying to meet you!” a velvet for a voice spilt throughout the airy corridors and echoed as it fell on the white marbled floors.

I pushed the heavy arched doors as a pair of gorgeous purple eyes pierced into what seemed the depths of my inner being.

Her strong features were framed by gorgeous silver-grey hair, cascading in luscious big curls and covering the shoulders, falling as waterfalls over her full breasts and reaching towards the abdomen.

She might have been shorter than I was, after all, there was quite a distance between her and me, and I could not tell. But the creature in front owned this room.

She owned me.

And sure as hell seemed to own the whole damn Temple. If not Hiraeth, for that matter.

“You may call me Audra,” deep purple eyes narrowed as they peered into me. Full lips curled into a cheeky grin. As if mocking, or maybe just playful - the so deeply lost me could not tell.

“You may talk, you know?” Audra tilted her head and the beautiful waterfalls of hair cascaded down the shoulder.

She was a force of nature, I could tell. A strong creature. But above all, she was a gorgeous woman.

“I’m Deidre,” I wiggled myself towards the centre of the room. “Apologies for disturbing you. I swear I took the left turn as I always do when heading back to my chambers. But you see, today the marble flooring was white. And it’s usually blue.”

I felt overpowered.

This encounter didn’t quite make sense and I wasn’t sure I could hold her piercing gaze, so I stared at the mahogany flooring instead. The room seemed similar to mine - it felt similar, yet somehow I could tell it was not.

“It’s about time we met, little girl,” the mockery in her voice was real. “Like everyone else, I’ve been dying to meet you.”

Something hit a nerve.

I was in an unknown room with this condescending figure, openly seeking to entertain herself at my expense. As if finding myself in Hiraeth was not challenging enough. As if the gruesome scolding and lessons did not serve me well.

Heck, I’ve even died once!.. For all I know, might not have been just once - August sometimes acts as if he had known me for a lifetime…or two?..

So this being - this - is not something I’m willing to deal with.

I might be in her room. And I might have just walked here myself. But sure as hell I can show myself out too!..

I’m not taking it.

“You don’t seem much older than me,” I was burning holes into her face. “For all I know, and do kindly correct me if I’m wrong, after crossing the River of Fates we all succumb to our true nature. How we look, how Hiraeth reflects our appearance, is in accordance to our being, What and how we are.”

I continued rambling and each word was a breath of confidence as my eyes sent daggers to this arrogant creature. She did not blink, not that I expected it, but that didn’t stop me.

“You don’t look that much different from me.”

I’ve done it.

Don’t know how, but I could tell. It was instantaneous.

The room went white.