With a cheap phone to her ear, Quinn was grasping the metallic crow pendant left behind by her father. With her new sight, she could see that it was ridden with Galileo's potent magic, yet she could not bring herself to throw it away.
“Do you have any idea what you are asking of me?” a mechanical voice returned her to reality. It had been rather difficult and took a long time, however, the Wardens had finally arranged the long-distance meeting.
“Yes,” Wisdom answered, her mechanical transmitter once again active, “And that is why you should understand how important this is, Red.”
“It will not be cheap. Especially since you insist on not being recorded or eavesdropped on,” the other voice said.
“Name your price. I will pay it,” Wisdom did not even hesitate.
“First I want to know why. You are not the kind of person to squander resources,” Red demanded.
“I do not lose,” Wisdom scoffed back, “Whenever someone thinks they are holding the advantage over me I am already 5 steps ahead, preparing their downfall. Yet Golden mask defeated me, utterly. Not once, but twice. But he also gave me a hint, and if I use that hint correctly our next match will be our last. For that reason, I need to speak face to face with the Immortal. Until then I will not be able to calm down.”
“You should not let anger dictate your path,” Red said, “However, it is in our best interest to kill Golden mask. How confident are you in eliminating him if I allow this meeting to happen?”
“100%,” Wisdom replied with certainty.
“I will hold you up on that promise,” Red said, “Since I have decided to side with you I need you to be in your top condition as you execute the rest of your plans. Arrive at site 1 in a week. Everything will be ready by then. I will settle down for a large favour as the payment,” Red finished and immediately terminated the call. Quinn took off her mask as soon as that happened, sighing in relief and broke the one use phone in half before tossing it into a nearby shredder together with her mask. Calling out of a place like that required that she removed all and any evidence Wisdom had been there.
Thankfully she at least did not have to change from her formal dress during the call. Picking up her handbag Quinn peeked at her personal phone, noticing the time she quickly strode out of the service room. Soon enough she had managed to discreetly enter the large lobby and sat down. Since she still had some time before her appointment she could think for a moment. And lately, all of her little free time was dominated by what she had found out a few days ago.
Only after such an event did Quinn truly realise her feelings. She had perhaps known before, but at that time her emotions became certain. She loved Galileo. Perhaps it was his intellect and wits. Maybe his handsome appearance and nonchalant mannerism also played a role. Despite her usually analytic self she could not identify what drew her to the man, but the force was immense.
Yet Quinn was just a single person. A lovestruck girl without a care in the world. Wisdom on the other hand was a symbol. Wisdom had not been born on the day the Warden council named her an overseer. She had existed so long that despite their shared vessel Wisdom and Quinn were no longer the same person. While Quinn perhaps loved Galileo, Wisdom hated Golden mask more than anything.
Since their youth they both used to exist separately. While Quinn spent her little time carelessly running around, enjoying what she could of life; Wisdom worked hard for the benefit of humanity. The things Wisdom had sacrificed were too much for Quinn to even comprehend. If they were sisters then Wisdom would definitely be the eldest, always shielding her younger sibling from all suffering.
Yet that changed when that man entered both their lives. As the desire and rage; love and hatred mixed within their single body, the walls which separated them began to melt. Quinn had felt it become more and more distinct. Watching Wisdom’s life no longer felt like staring at a movie from afar but rather now immersed her. Even Quinn’s behaviour had changed significantly as Wisdom’s grim and desolate feelings spilt over to her. And Wisdom likely experience the same thing as her always calculative self began to slightly warm up.
But those changes were slow and gradual. The walls were merely cracked and slowly burning away. That status quo could have been maintained for years, if not longer and perhaps they could even be completely separated again. However, that was shattered when they had come to realise that the target of their powerful emotions was the same being. As those opposite intense feelings merged, the dams had broken and the two had been flung beyond the point of no return. Since then they had begun to converge. Occasionally Quinn felt herself suddenly take over Wisdom and vice versa. It was a status quo that could not be maintained.
One of them would have to die.
That was what Wisdom had concluded. If the status remained all that hey had achieved in their lives would become meaningless. It was logical for the naive Quinn to go, for the greater good. However, Quinn's heart stubbornly refused to give up even as her mind surrendered. In order to resolve this, Wisdom put her life on the line as she presented Quinn with a bet. If Wisdom was right Quinn would die, if she was wrong it would be Wisdom who would cease to be. Although it took a long time, Quinn was eventually convinced and accepted, and thus Wisdom put another of her plans into motion. She even called it her Magnum opus.
With her right hand, Quinn reached to her back, touching the skin below the dress. There her hand stumbled upon an old scar. Quinn had long forgotten about it as well as many others as though they just slipped away from her mind. However, Wisdom remembered. Wisdom recalled every single of those countless scars, even when and how they were inflicted. Lately, those memories slowly reached Quinn who with horror discovered one old mutilation of her body after another each day. Perhaps for that reason she had agreed to help Wisdom drown their eldest demon.
“Quinn Walfort,” suddenly a voice sounded through the lobby, “Your appointment with doctor Carman Walfort is ready,” it sounded as Quinn stood up and walked through the familiar hallways, firmly grasping her handbag. Soon enough she reached a well-known doorway and knocked.
“Come in, Quinn,” a strangely enticing female voice sounded from within, though it made a chill run down Quinn’s spine. She opened the door and saw a woman seated behind a desk in front of a computer screen, “How is my favourite child doing?” Carman almost sang with her melodic voice as Quinn felt that malevolent power enter her body.
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“Well, dearest mother,” Quinn smiled and then quickly returned her face into that of blind obedience as she felt that power fail to dominate her. Although she was still getting used to that newfound sight granted to her by Galileo, she could still see a veil of magic enveloping her mother as the woman believed that Quinn was once again under her full control.
“Come with me, I have something wonderful to show you,” Carman smiled and beckoned Quinn along as she left her office through a side door. Following behind, Quinn found herself staring down at a large hall filled with liquid tanks, at least a few dozen of them. Inside she could see many young zygotes in the early stages of their development. Among the tanks a few people in lab coats walked around, observing the individual containers and taking notes.
“There are so many,” Quinn stated, suppressing her look of surprise.
“Aren’t you excited?” Carman laughed, “35 new siblings in just a few months. I think I might have finally figured out what makes you so special among all my countless children. If I am correct there might be no further failures and perhaps there will be even someone equal to you.”
“I see. That is wonderful,” Quinn spoke what her mother wanted to her though she was repulsed by her own words. In the past she would have perhaps been unable to completely prevent herself from gritting her teeth, but she felt strangely calm at that moment.
“How have my plans been going along lately?” Carman asked as she continued walking down a ramp erected over the tanks.
“Wonderfully,” Quinn said, “I am close to uncovering the identities of the other council members and you will be able to personally meet with the last two wardens soon.”
“Perfect,” Carman’s eyes sparkled as she cackled, “Soon enough the whole world will belong to me. With the Covenant out of the picture and the Church tucked in their little city, there will be no one even capable of uncovering my plans.”
“Correct mother,” Quinn kept playing along.
“You have done wonderfully, unlike most of your other siblings,” Carman nodded, “I am glad I was able to properly educate you through your youth.”
“Yes mother, thank you,” Quinn said as she felt a slight sting in the scar she had touched in the lobby.
“Let’s celebrate, shall we?” Carman said as she took out her phone, “Let’s order something you like. How about it?”
“Actually, I have cooked something for you, mother,” Quinn shook her head and pointed to her handbag.
“You are so wonderful, Quinn!” Carman laughed as she beckoned, “Follow me, I will lead you to the kitchen.”
Their destination was not far away as the duo left the tank room and walked through a small dining room and quickly reached the kitchen. At that time Carman’s phone rang and she excused herself to the previous room, allowing Quinn to prepare their lunch. With care, Quinn took out the two separate boxes, each containing a portion of beef steak with potatoes. Since Quinn had prepared it just before her departure from home there was still a remnant of warmth within them. With care Quinn unboxed and reheated the food, putting each portion on a plate. Then she held both the plates and walked back to the dining room where her mother had already sat down.
“You are going to fucking do it!” Quinn heard Carman yell at the top of her lungs as soon as she entered, “Or I will have you killed. Do you understand, you thick-headed, worthless piece of shit!?” the woman had completely lost her cool, “Good,” she eventually lowered her tone after she received an answer, “Once you are done you should come and visit me at the usual place. You could really use some motherly talk,” she said and angrily terminated the call, “Oh Quinn, you are already done!” Carman exclaimed as soon as she noticed that Quinn was once again with her in the room, “I am sorry for the noise. One of your moronic brothers cannot do even the simplest task properly.”
“Not a problem mother, I hope you will like the food,” Quinn replied with a smile as she placed a plate in front of Carman, careful that it was the correct one. Then she seated herself opposite to the woman.
“Oh, it’s been a long time since I have had beef steak,” Carman nodded and dug in, Quinn following suit. The meal was mostly silent as Carman seemed to genuinely enjoy the cooking.
“Wonderful!” Carman exclaimed when she was done, “What gave you the idea to make that in particular?”
“I thought it was symbolic,” Quinn smiled, genuinely this time, “You see, my father used to love that meal.”
“Your father?” Carman frowned and Quinn felt that power trying to affect her mind intensify.
“Yes, I thought it would be an interesting irony if you were to be poisoned by the same meal,” Quinn laughed as Carman turned wide-eyed, touching her throat and beginning to choke.
“It’s no use,” Quinn shook her head, “0.3 grams cyanide is about double the lethal dose for someone with your body weight. Especially without any medical attention,” hearing those words Carman attempted to reach for her phone, however, Quinn was already jumping over the table at the time. Before Carman had chance to react she was knocked to the ground and held down.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” Carman exclaimed, struggling against Quinn’s grip and attempting to invade her mind again, hower, Quinn would not budge. She had not lied to Galileo about receiving a military training.
“Quinn wanted to kill you quickly,” Quinn stared down at her as she felt her own self slipping away, “Yet Wisdom wants to see you suffer. For all, you have done to us. To our siblings. To our father. And to everyone else who ever crossed your path.”
“How can suddenly resist my power?” Carman was startled as her muscles seemingly began to lose strength.
“Not suddenly, wretch,” Quinn, or perhaps rather Wisdom, spoke, “It had never worked in the first place.”
“No, that is impossible!” Carman exclaimed, “You had been obeying me for so many years.”
“Whenever someone thinks they are holding the advantage over me I am already 5 steps ahead, preparing their downfall,” Wisdom repeated the words she had told Red earlier in the day, “Every time you listened to my advice. Every time you gave me leeway. I have been plotting against you. This will not be enough to offset all you have done, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Stop this! Your siblings will die without my support. Even you will lose your position once the truth is uncovered!” Carman screamed
“Death is still far better than life in your service,” Wisdom scoffed, “I had waited for such a long time. For the day I would have enough power to murder you and destroy the corrupted stain that is your research.”
“You are one of those stains!” Carman screamed but Wisdom did not react. Instead, she smiled she held down her mother, speaking no further. Carman kept screaming for some time, until her muscles began to spasm within’s Quinn’s grasp and her strength began to abandon. Wisdom merely kept staring with a wide smile on her face until Carman breathed her last. Carman’s death would have far-reaching consequences. It would not take long for her disappearing influence to be detected, together with the fact that she coerced the Warden council into electing Wisdom with that vile magic.
“My part is done,” Quinn called someone and spoke, “Carman is dead. I will leave levelling the place to you in accordance with our orders,” she waited for affirmation and then terminated the call. Wisdom and Quinn glance at Carman’s corpse one more time and a smile appeared on her lips. Their Magnum opus was in motion, and no one would be able to stop it. Whether it was Wisdom or Quinn who ended up victorious.