Chapter Three:

Location: Alice's apartment above Grundy's Bar

Goal: Uncover whatever is inside Pandora's Jar.

I - You present the jar to Alice who eagerly takes it from your hands. She holds it for a while, turning it over while analyzing its numerous inscriptions. The other Hexenites in the bar are mad about Violet's demise, despite Alice's reassurance that she was possessed by a Rune Trap and that you had no choice. The others aren't as convinced.

Alice - "I've had dreams of this moment," she says with her voice trembling. "Ever since I discovered how to open it, I've been plagued with visions of what's inside. The God-cursed Immortal..." She clasps her hands around the lid of the jar and begins to turn it like a dial. After several minutes of rotating the lid, a sudden click releases the lid from the jar, allowing Alice to open it. At first, nothing happens, and then an oozing mist emerges from which Alice breathes in deep. She drops the jar and it shatters against the hardwood floor. Her head twitches and contorts until she collapses onto the floor.

Lisa - "Traitor!" She points a finger at you. Her sleek black leather jacket shimmers underneath the single light from the ceiling. "First they killed Violet and now they've somehow poisoned Alice! Take his head!" she continues to scream, but her shouting is broken by Alice's laughter.

Alice - Once an old woman, she now appears to be as young as you are. Her glowing pale skin and ice-blue eyes peer around the room. "Free at last!" She yells at the top of her lungs. Lisa looks over at her rejuvenated master in shock and awe. "Behold!" Alice opens her arms wide to display her vivacious body. "I have taken in the spirit of Cain within the jar. His knowledge and power now reside within me, and with this newfound power, we can unite the cabals in Fayteville and drive out the Consortium!"

Keith - "You planned this all along didn't you!" he steps forward. "You knew Violet was going to die and you knew this stupid pup would play right into your hands!"

Alice - "A sacrifice that needed to be made," she responds with a toothy smile. "I've known about your plot to overthrow me for a while now." She looks at Keith, Styx, and Lisa. "All this power requires sufficient energy..." Lifting both her hands in the air, the three cabalists begin to levitate along with Alice's gestures. Gripping her fingers into a fist, she ruptures the blood vessels of her former followers, draining them of all their blood until they're dead.

I - You stare in horror as Alice consumes the blood, letting it flow into her mouth. Red splatters dotted the room and the smell of copper filled the musty apartment.

Alice - She lights several candles that she pulls out from a wooden cupboard. "Time is of the essence right now, so I'll explain everything later," she says while staring at you with iridescent grey eyes that shift to an icy blue depending on the lighting. "We are without defense now that the traitors are dead, and the Consortium will soon be upon us with its agents. We'll need to build an alliance with another Cabal, or kill its leader and hope the rest fall in line." She smiles to herself.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Cabal of Alistair: Of the many Hexenite Cabals that make up Fayteville, the Cabal of Alistair is considered the most neutral among their kind to the Consortium. They operate much like a business or trade organization and argue that the best way to change the Consortium is through diplomacy and negotiation rather than savage violence. However, while their motives might be virtuous, many of their members are quick to fall in line once their masters have been slain. As long as the new leader offers better benefits, they could care less what the motto is. Their current leader is a man named Krowly, a sly devil whose silver tongue has turned age-old rivals into friends. Going after them would be a death sentence with their protection by the Consortium, and they'd certainly know about Alice's heist.

Alice - "The Consortium themselves will be sending their best huntsman along with whoever is already stationed in this city after me. We'll need to stay on the move for some time until we can find a place to lie low." She sits on the edge of her windowsill, peering out at the city's streets. Her features had changed completely from the withered old woman she was just a few moments ago. Her thinning hair had become a thick wavy mane of white hair that sat above her shoulders. Her jawline was sharpened into a blunted chin. A crooked nose that bent at the ridge stood in contrast to her thin lips.

Cabal of Xenolock: A fringe cabal known for its bizarre rituals and mannerisms. They believe that all rune magic stems from an alien beyond the stars. They proclaim to believe in science and are constantly testing the boundaries of biohex sorcery to summon their mothership. Amongst the Hexenite, the Xenolock is most known for abducting humans and conducting terrible experiments on them. While kidnapping and assassination aren't above the Hexenites, brutal torture that leaves the mortal alive and mentally scarred is often seen as going above and beyond. Their knowledge of the body and their isolation would make them the perfect target for a takeover or alliance. However, no one would ever want to join a cabalist of Xenolock so it'd be a commitment to join them unless their entire council of leaders were replaced.

I - You wonder what you've gotten yourself into. It wasn't but a few nights ago that everything was normal. You woke up in the morning, went to work, talked with family and friends, but something was always missing. Although you wouldn't have picked this life were you given the option, you can't help but wonder what mysteries lay beyond the world you thought you knew.

Cabal of the Tower: A cabal passionate about upholding the ideals of the ancient Hexenites who fought for the freedom of sorcery among all mortals. They hold a grudge against the traditions of the Consortium and sabotage their operations whenever possible. The Tower had taken in Alice after she betrayed the Wykin Order. Eventually, she splintered off into her own cabal to pursue ultimate power and immortality. Their current Leader Leon, was just newly appointed after the death of the longest-living elder of the Tower at the hands of a Wykin Huntsman.

Alice - She stares up at the grand clock tower that looms at the center of the city. Originally built as a way for laborers to know when their shift was done, now it serves as a piece of gothic art in a modern industrial city. The secret home of the Tower, where she fled after deserting the Consortium. "Our best bet is to be accepted by my old cabal," she began, pointing at the old clock tower. "We can hide out in there for a while, they'll offer some protection from the Consortium and their allies while I'm still regaining my powers. "Once I gain control over the spirit within me, we can start to deconstruct the old world and bring about a new age where everyone taught the ways of sorcery! Everyone will be freed from their mortal chains!"

Consequences:

Lost Allies: Keith, Styx, Lisa

Gained New Ally: Alice (Possessed with the spirit Cain)