Scarlet stood at the glass window of the little cabin Twilight had built for her to feel just a little more safe. She scanned the surreal expanse of blood, shimmering like liquid rubies under the light of the glassy sky, a sanctum of the helpless from the horrors beyond the veil. It was both mesmerizing and unsettling, an endless sea of red that stretched into eternity.
She could still hear the glory of the singing voices trapped within it and from places more distant than she could fathom. Every facet of the landscape reflected a distorted image of the other, creating an eerie, kaleidoscopic effect into realms beyond reason.
Amidst the singing voices trapped within the red expanse, Scarlet felt an odd sense of serenity as Twilight finished her explanation. With each sip of her hot chocolate, her thoughts settled, and the resonance of her Soul Expansion became sharper. Scarlet found clarity about herself, instilling new purpose.
Cup falling from her lips, Twilight’s golden locks shifted against her shoulders while glancing her way. “It’s almost time.”
Scarlet sensed a gravity in her tone that quickened her awakened heartbeat. Yet, despite the unsettling surroundings outside, the cabin felt comforting—a small island of familiarity in a world turned strange. She didn’t want to lose that.
“So, the Reaper that I knew…the one I fear… It’s the Seed from The Oscillation that was manipulated by Revilla…through my parents. The leader of the Scarlet Hand wanted to use its imperfect copy and my soul to shatter the barriers keeping out the higher-dimensional beings…to allow them to dive through the Red Sea in order to reach what I hid beneath it? I’m in control, though.”
Twilight’s green irises softened when turning to the window, reflecting the crimson hue of the sky. She ran her fingers over the cracked glass, more fissures tracing down its length. The enigmatic woman who had become both a mentor and enemy chuckled, and Scarlet pulled from her calmness; a quiet confidence that helped to settle her nerves at what she’d revealed.
“Indeed, you are. It may seem otherwise, but only because you rejected the crown, so to speak. The Seed serves you, Scarlet, not the other way around. Yes, it encompasses a more brutal, powerful side of you that Revilla and her masters required. You can use that against them. In time, you will learn to rely on this Seed…take on parts of her. For now, you must assert who you are.”
A shiver ran through Scarlet’s frame while observing the fracturing reality of this cabin. “When this safe place is destroyed…the Seed will take control, and I’ve been groomed to not believe I’m in control…my parents dictating every part of my life. I want to be free…to be strong like Rachel has shown me I can be. To be someone who people can rely on, like Illa and Cássia…”
“Cássia and Illa?” Twilight snickered. “You mean Elizabeth and Carmilla? You may not remember all of this when you awaken, but you haven’t lost your memories yet, have you?”
Not answering for a few seconds, Scarlet shook her head. “No, I know they have their own agendas, but I’m talking about the Cássia and Illa I wanted to believe in. I just…don’t know if I can do what’s expected of me… What I expected of me…to go on trial for my crimes in front of all the pantheons I’ve gathered and forced into this conflict.”
Twilight’s warm hand slipped into hers as she nudged her toward the closed door. “You only lose control if you do not grasp the crown yourself, and a lot can change between now and the World Tree. Trust in yourself, Scarlet.” She giggled and gave her a somewhat jealous glare. “What did Rachel tell you?”
“A lot of things,” Scarlet mumbled, following her around the couch and toward the ominous door.
A look that said, ‘You know what I’m talking about,’ made her sigh. “Believe in the me that believes in you… I know I’m not alone. There is so much manipulation around me…but Rachel has been countering so many of them, keeping me afloat. I want to repay her for everything she’s done for me.”
Stopping in front of the wooden door, Twilight put her hands on her shoulders and guided her forward. “Good. Are you ready then? When you open this door, the Seed will understand her position in this dynamic between you. That is the moment you will have to retake control. She is to be your guide—not your feet—to carry you to your destination. Control your own destiny… Help me control my destiny.”
Scarlet closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm strike a chord in her cold heart; her fingers closed around the metal knob, sending an electrical reverberation through her frame. Twilight hadn’t had the chance to make her own decisions when thrust into the Red Sea to further draw a divide between her and the Seed. Twilight was meant to be the fissure between them; her father had reversed that path.
Her blue eyes opened. “I’m ready,” she replied, unsure if that was entirely true.
However, she didn’t feel alone anymore, and, though daunting, she could visualize the many hands at her back, supporting her. Molly’s—her second mom’s—assurances of an amazing dinner when the funeral was over. A welcoming new family, including the friendships she’d built in Omen, were waiting for her to wake up…to be a part of their lives.
Twilight nodded, an understanding smile on her lips. “Rise to take your rightful place on the throne and find your own conclusion to this story.”
Turning the knob, she stepped across the threshold, the cool air brushing against Scarlet’s skin as the cabin vanished behind her, and her heel touched the ruby surface. The glass underfoot was smooth and chilling, each step creating a faint ripple that echoed across the vast expanse—corruption of something divine quaked through her bones.
She was the Keeper. She was the Maelstrom. She held the Secret. She was the Answer. She was The End. Scarlet glanced up at the sky, the endless sheet of blood-red glass that reflected eternities without end in her own image. It was a disorienting sight, a reminder of the strange new reality she inhabited, carried by the madness and scars.
Twilight walked in her footsteps, not to get sucked into the rippling distortions her passing left in the stilled Red Sea. The surface was hers, yet beneath this sanctuary was a hysteria of currents, ready to pull everything into their embrace. Scarlet could hear Twilight’s voice in her mind, each word like a rod guiding her forward in the chaos that flooded her entire being in this fight to take back the surface layer.
“Don’t stop. Don’t think. Move up. Don’t blink. Push back. Move back the veil. It’s all here. It’s all you… Clear the way to your ascension. You are the Reaper. Their road to ruin. You are the Reaper. You’re their undoing.”
In the center of the landscape, a throne formed out of the glass; it slowly rose, the crimson liquid solidifying into a sharp, angular shape, and out of the heavens, a shimmering droplet dislodged, floating toward the glittering ruby seat; both beautiful and menacing, its surface reflected the surrounding landscape in a dizzying array of angles and red hues.
“When every blade falls down defeated. When our own champions are slain. You will carry on. They bring you their souls. They bring you their hate. In their name, you did create. They bring you their fear. They bring you their pain…and you destroy in their name… You are the Reaper, and when shadows fall on bitter lands, their fates rest in your hand to protect and make them whole again.”
Scarlet approached the throne, her heart pounding not of its own but of the souls held within it; pulsing strong, it killed her fear. She could feel the power emanating from it, a tangible force calling her to take her place again. Hesitating for a moment, she slid her finger down its length, a realization bringing a tear to her eye that mixed with the ruby seat: she hadn’t killed her father but kept his spirit safe within her heart.
“A somber face across the ocean. Into the wastes, the cold erosion welcomes its chained and condemned mistress. A birthright you have left behind, yet more still to be claimed. As the tides have turned, the field is shifting. Life and death, blood and chaos, a cold heart’s wrath is growing near as you eclipse the dead below flesh and bone.”
A song of icy corruption, a cry of fear from the creeping anarchy beyond the veil, and a reckoning with the strive for power rose within her, keeping her will steady through the darkest hours ahead. The glassy throne was cold yet welcoming against her skin, the sharp edges comforting. Her father was here with her in this realm, bound to it within the safety of her all-encompassing hand. Her mother couldn’t resurrect him because he was with her.
Scarlet stared into the murky depths of the fathomless torrents below the surface of her tamed domain, seeing reflections of herself and what she’d done. “When the nightmare’s begun…are these faces mine…or do they hide things behind the sleeping surface I can’t see?”
“Neither.” Twilight’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “They are keys to knowing the unknown…every life, every stone within your domain. No soul could pay the price you paid… No transcendent being dared. Yet, the Blood Throne answered their pleas.”
A myriad of emotions surged through Scarlet with the otherworldly song that reverberated through her once again. There was a solemn depth below the glassy sheen that she couldn’t know; at least, not yet. Within her, relief, sorrow, and confusion mixed in the tide. What she saw within the throne added a weight of responsibility, and she’d remember that.
Sobering words fell from her lips as each one resonated within her distorted soul. She turned to face Twilight, now kneeling before the throne, and she lowered to its divinity to take control.
“I am the Guardian and the Judge… Their Vengeance and their Sin… Her Liberation and their End… I’m only at the surface of this sea, and already, I’m overwhelmed.”
Scarlet looked out over the blood-red landscape, the reality of her situation sinking in. She wasn’t just trying to survive; she had a solemn duty to perform, and the weight of the throne pressed down on her, but she sat a little straighter as the shimmering ruby droplet touched the crown of her head, forming into her birthright. Determination hardened her resolve.
“I accept this duty,” she said, her voice stronger now as the bells resonated across eternity, and hope rose with her name called throughout eternities. “I will follow this path to its end… I have been protected and supported, so too will I do that to break this Wheel of Fate.”
Twilight smiled a rare, genuine smile that spoke of the ten thousand days she’d spent clawing her way through the Blood Sea to deliver her here. “I know you will. You are stronger than you realize, Scarlet. And you are not alone in this. If I lose my way on the outside…please, remember, I am as flawed as your mother… I only do what I think to be right.”
With those foreboding words, ruby light danced across the landscape from the glassy heavens, weaving like the current of the sea as her copy was forced out of the crystal floor beside Twilight, chained and with stunned eyes that lifted to her.
“I’m…not real? No…”
Power regained, Scarlet’s vision faded, her soul constricting from its colossal push to expand into infinity, and most of the knowledge she’d gained washed away to the few bits of information Twilight had deemed most important for the short term. It would be there for her next awakening…and her trial.
“Scarlet? Scarlet, can you hear me?!”
“Hostia, Fi; give her some space, chica!”
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
Blurry vision slowly coming into focus, Scarlet saw a tiny, twinkling fairy hovering in front of her face, holding up three fingers with worry. “What…happened—did we win… Eh…three? Rachel!”
She bolted upright in bed, causing Fiona to yelp and dart away as Scarlet’s hair whipped around her. She scanned the room frantically for the hare. The room was somewhat fancy yet sparsely decorated, with a blood-red theme. The curtains were drawn back, revealing a starry night and a glowing orange quarter moon. The familiar scents of lavender and chamomile from the nearby garden on the terrace, offering a semblance of peace amid the chaos.
“Where’s the fire? I’m fine, Scarlet. Welcome back to the land of the living.”
Scarlet’s attention snapped to the door, and relief flooded her veins as she saw the white-haired hare woman casually leaning against the frame. Her hair was gradually taking on a golden hue from the reflections of the blood mirrors adorning the walls, mirroring the glow of the Greater Abundance. Rachel’s voice was a soothing balm.
“Thalia says I kind of died, but that’s no big deal since they dragged me down to Hell.”
“Thalia… Hell—what?! Ahhh!” Scarlet's blood formed a semi-transparent shield around her as a bunny child came barreling into the room, face-planting against the barrier. “Nia?”
“Hel—oof! Scarlet, help! Help! Let me in!”
“Okay—I just… What is going on?!”
Scarlet let the panicking little girl inside, hugging the weeping rabbit as she latched onto her. Suddenly, three young wolf-hounds shot out of the hallway, crashing into her barrier and bouncing off. The green-flamed one was the first to scramble back onto the bed, glaring at the bunny child.
“Ahh! Who…”
“Ack! No fair, Nia! You can’t cheat like that. That’s against the rules.”
“Na-na-na! You can’t get me!” Nia sang, her teary-eyed panic vanishing instantly as she stuck her tongue out at the disgruntled pups. “I win! Scarlet’s my big-sis protector… since the Captain is mean and won’t help me. It’s three versus one! I’m such a boss rabbit.”
“Says the scared rabbit, hiding behind her big sister!”
“Scaredy-bun, Scaredy-bun, Scaredy-bun!” the green and red-flamed pups chanted as the blue-flamed puppy pranced over to Rachel for pets. “You’re not fast at all!”
“Nu-uh! I’m super speedy!” Nia shot back, breaking away from Scarlet to leer at the pups and hold an L to her forehead. “It’s not my fault you’re too slow to get me before I get to a safe spot. Losers! Okay, it’s my turn to chase you, so get ready…set…go!”
Lost and uncertain, Scarlet tentatively lowered the barrier, watching as the playful pups scattered in opposite directions down the hallway, with Nia hot on their heels. She playfully tagged the blue hound as it passed by.
“What, already winded, oldy-dog?” Nia teased with a smirk. “You're on my team now! Let's go, Thalia, they're getting away!”
Thalia, however, seemed uninterested.
“I’m going to sit this one out.”
“Aww, Fiona, come play with us!”
“Okay! I’ll be it, so you better run, run, Little Bun! Oh, I’m happy you’re looking better, Scarlet; talk to you later!” Fiona floated forward to hug her neck before zipping out after a squealing Nia. “Here I come!”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Rachel walked forward to sit at the edge of her bed, nudging her head to Maria as the Unicorn gave her a thumbs up. “Are you going to check on the other girls that still need treatment in the city?”
“Yeah, there’s a lot of shitty ailments and viruses in this world I can purify…it’s damn near in every citizen. Shit’s messed up. Anyway, glad to see you’re up, Little Fang. I’ll let you rest and talk to the liebre lunar. Everything’s chill, so don’t worry too much…”
She grimaced, pausing by the door. “Well, unless those gilipollas mutts that keep busting my balls about healing their toothaches…after testing their teeth out on random shit in this world. I keep telling them bitches to joder, and rest up, but shit. How the hell they keep showing up with cash is beyond me, but paper is paper. They’re still recovering from their fight with those Eldritch merluzos, too.”
Figuring she was probably talking about the two giant wolf twins, Scarlet didn’t cut in as the mouthy Unicorn waved her hand and left. When the door shut, she spread her arms out, asking the hare to explain what the heck was going on.
Rachel chuckled and breathed out a long breath. “Want the short version or the long one?”
“Short, please,” she pleaded, pulling up on the rough blanket she had over her lower half to stare at the silky sheets underneath. “What is up with this miss-match, uh…stuff? It’s like the castle got a downgrade.”
“Not wrong,” Rachel acknowledged, gesturing for Scarlet to rise and join her on the terrace overlooking the city. “When your seal was unlocked, it essentially absorbed the entire castle into this void. During my time under the influence of numerous moons, I granted Elizabeth the power to recreate it and bolster her strength. She's currently in Omen, by the way.”
Scarlet stood up, noticing the luxurious violet nightgown she wore; it felt exquisite against her skin. The sea breeze gently caressed the fabric against her figure as she joined Rachel by the ornate railing. Below, she observed crowds of people in the distance, diligently cleaning up the aftermath of some catastrophe.
“Várc and Colac are assisting with the cleanup from the damage they caused. Elizabeth insists they stay until everything's tidied, and surprisingly, they’re cooperative, as long as they're fed. I’ve had to discipline them a few times with the power of the Crimson and Greater Moon of Abundance,” Rachel explained.
“Wait, hold on! Back up,” Scarlet stammered, struggling to comprehend what she’d just heard. “Did you just casually mention that Elizabeth—the Countess of Blood—is in Omen?”
A knock came at the door, and Scarlet almost jumped out of her skin as Cássia’s face poked out; only, she had brown eyes, and her smile showed no fangs. “Fiona said you were awake. I just wanted to, umm, to thank you. Can I…come in?”
Rachel motioned for her to enter. “Scarlet, meet the real Cássia. I made a deal with Hell, and it seemed Cássia’s revival was a bonus!”
“Huh?! Again—again, Rachel?!” she asked, trying to reconcile with what she saw on Elizabeth’s table and the slightly nervous 13-year-old brunette who approached with two older maids behind her. “How many times is it now!? What did you do—was it because of me?”
“Chill. Chill, Scarlet,” the hare chuckled, seeming remarkably unperturbed by the situation. "I’ll fill you in shortly, but let’s just take a moment to slow down, breathe, and unwind a bit.”
Scarlet’s lips pursed as she glanced up at the Greater Moon of Abundance looming overhead. “Are you... under the influence right now?”
Rachel’s left eye creased with a slight smirk lighting up her radiant, golden eyes. “Are you asking if I’m high?”
“Yes.”
“Mmm. I…guess you could say that. It’s a Positive Moon, so it gives me a certain buzz, I suppose. Is your mom going to join us, Cássia?”
Cássia shook her head, mirroring the demeanor Scarlet remembered from their brief acquaintance. “She’s occupied with Piper, finalizing plans to adopt her into the family and establish her as the rightful ruler of this planet, given Piper’s legal ownership of the barony. It’s still a bit confusing for me, but I’m catching up quickly. Would you like me to arrange some refreshments?”
Scarlet’s confusion began to ease in the presence of Cássia’s innocent energy and sincere demeanor. It was clear she held Rachel in high regard, which was understandable, considering Rachel had brought her back from the freaking dead.
Rachel rubbed her nose and nodded, her big ears twitching slightly. “That’d be great, Cássia. I heard you this morning going crazy in the main kitchen, trying to make cookies for your mom.”
The girl’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “You heard that? I was just…frustrated because all of the ones I made, the other vampire girls choked on. And then, I'm afraid I might have, umm-ahem, inadvertently put Jessica into a temporary coma with some poorly labeled blood... I'm still learning how to properly read their labels. But seriously, who keeps poison in the kitchen?!”
“Maria got to her in time,” Rachel chuckled. “No harm. And it helped them learn to hide the deadly stuff. Is Anthony still being dragged around by Piper?”
Cássia’s shoulders drooped. “You heard about that, too? The gurgling and frothing blood at the mouth was terrifying. I’m trying. Eh, yeah, Piper…does seem to favor him,” Cássia said with a strained laugh, brushing back her bangs as the maids gave each other looks. “I’m honestly a bit jealous of Piper. I shouldn’t be, but she’s really hogging a lot of my mom’s attention since she does the whole noble stuff…and apparently, we’ll soon be kind of sisters… Yay. Do you want me to fetch him?”
“No. That’s fine,” Rachel soothed, reaching over to pat the girl on the shoulder. “Don’t push yourself, and be vocal about what you’re not comfortable with. Your mom’s dealing with a lot, as well. I’m sure she’s having to fight her own urges like I sometimes have to do.”
Cássia’s smile grew, averting eye contact. “Thanks for the encouragement. I’m trying. It’s just…hard with how everything changed, and I’m kind of terrified to see what my friends back home in Hungary will think when I come back. Oh, you died, girl? Crazy. Your mom’s a super vampire that is taking over a whole world of vampires… Cool…or is that not cool? I don’t know. I should get some poison—I mean, food.”
Scarlet chuckled at her nervous joke; maybe she was a bit different than her mom, but she liked that. “I’d love that, Cássia. I’m sure we have a ton to talk about.”
Rachel tilted her head to the side. “Oh, there’s a lot to talk about. And some blood food for Scarlet would be wonderful to stop her stomach from growling. Thing’s a monster.”
Scarlet’s hands darted to her belly as it snarled at her. “Say what?”
“I mean, it has been three days since she’s been unconscious,” Cássia reasoned with a laugh. “It’s why I mentioned it.”
“Three days?!” Scarlet stood up. “Okay, maybe I want the long version!”
One of the girl’s assistants went to get everything brought up to their terrace; they were not maids, maybe? Cássia was still having a hard time with titles. Scarlet was somewhat thankful to learn that the food that was brought up was crafted by the expert chef of the previous lord.
Sitting at the table, Cássia asked her two maids to join them; they seemed to like the title. Rachel said it was fine to discuss everything with the women present, and went right into the events. Apparently, she did think about leaving early since they’d finished the Legend Quest on the first night, but she’d thought better of it due to it taking time for their spirits to properly adjust to the rapid EXP drops.
Rachel was Level 16 already, and the others were getting close to Level 15. It really did seem like the big level drops came in fives. Rachel was waiting a bit before fully dumping her stats in because she wanted to be sure to have everything available for when the EXP did stop coming; it appeared to be slowing down now.
Selvaria somehow got into Elizabeth’s world using some pirate Legendkin’s [World Plunder] Feat? It was a big shocker, but she came with a few more stunning bits of information. Dracula had already come and gone, and he hadn’t been alone. Selvaria also fought off some ghost ship with Cahira, the ‘questionable’ pirate, when they came under fire. Selvaria wasn’t sure if they were after Cahira or their cruise ship, but she’d handled it nonetheless. She also got infinite salt and pepper mills?
Many of the Myths and Legends had already left. Rachel used a satellite radio to contact Barbara back in Miami, and it seemed Dracula had been after something specific. His vampire attack was handled, yet the mythical man had opted to skip the brunt of the assault, and instead went straight to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens for…something. Some soldiers even reported seeing someone who looked like Abraham Lincoln and a ghost lady around the place when they arrived.
Other than that, you had Kastilla, the mist vampire, who Helsing had gifted to Elizabeth. Rachel scared the living fangs off of the Heitinga Family, so the fear vampires were now cooperating with Omen, as well. It was a total victory! Other than her Seed killing Rachel and almost destroying like…everything, or something like that. No, everything turned out great! Well, no, Cerridwen was apparently captured, but Rachel had more supporting deities now! Just…she kept adding onto her Hell contracts and contacts.
Overall, the whole quest was a success; plus, Aurora was gone! Despite what Rachel said about her being alright in the end, Scarlet had a bad feeling about the woman. Only one thing stood out to Scarlet that made her a little nervous when everything was out in the open.
“Illa…is missing?”
Rachel hopped up onto the railing to balance on it and stare down at the city far below them, likely following Maria’s healing escapades; Selvaria was off exploring the blood ocean.
“I won’t lie to you, Scarlet,” the hare sighed; she took a more serious tone as the iron-tasting wind increased, blowing back her golden locks. “I’m sure Illa was an enemy. I don’t know who she was. I don’t know what she wanted…and that is what bugs me about her disappearance. There are more than a few mysteries I wasn’t able to crack…or didn’t want to know since I could have had Anthony relay the message to me. All I can say is that she’s gone. How do you feel about it?”
Scarlet picked up one of the flaky and scrumptious blood pastries the chef made, using her blood to coat her fingers to act like gloves. She twirled it around, smelling the rich aroma that really did remind her of how Illa smelled; it was like she’d been rolling around the dough or some other ingredient, which wasn’t a settling thought, but it did make her a little depressed.
“Sad, I guess… She seemed nice, and it felt nice having someone who looked up to me. Hehe. I think it kind of made me feel a bit capable or something…like someone was counting on me. Maybe she was just using me. I’d like to think the Illa I knew wasn’t a fake, though. Whoever she really is… I hope she’s a good person. And if she’s not…I hope I don’t meet her again so I can keep that image.”
A silence passed between them as she began snacking again, Cássia enjoying the company and listening with interest; it almost felt like she was proud to be at the ‘grownup’ table. Hah! She was supposed to be a grownup. Rachel’s next question made her almost choke with laughter.
“Umm… I know I saved this topic for last,” the hare mumbled, dropping to her butt to look at her with concern and utter seriousness. “I haven’t been able to find your father’s corpse yet. Scarlet?”
“Ack-ack! Haha! No, no, it’s fine. Umm. Sorry, no, it slipped my mind with everything, but Twilight said she has his body. She said she’d return it to me before I go. I’m guessing she’ll show up when you leave because…oooh, Rachel is her boogeyman! Ooooooh! The hare hiding under her bed at night…waiting to curse her!”
Cássia really did choke, tears coming to her eyes and her frame shaking with laughter as her maids fussed over her.
Face softening, Rachel shook her head. “Really, Scarlet?”
“Sorry! Sorry… You know, I threw a cup of hot chocolate in her face…and then threw the cup at her! It’s my turn to tell you what I know…about what she taught me. At Level 25, we get the first stage of our Soul Expansions. Let me explain…”
* — * — *
Aleera glided over the planks of the cruise ship, auburn-copper hair glowing and murder on her heart; Dracula had only just landed with their escort moments before, and, as his first concubine, she had a duty to fulfill. Then again, she also had a dangerous secret…one that put her life in danger, and one person made that reality all too real.
He’d sent her to collect his newest concubine. Hopefully, the young fangirl would be ready, and Aurora wouldn’t have gotten her wrapped up in anything she shouldn’t have. Selene’s mission was simple. Pick up a body, bring it to their lord. Aleera didn’t have high expectations for the sixteen-year-old—especially when Aurora was involved.
She paused as the mist around them collected into a deadly and formidable woman with long, flowing black locks. “Verona…”
Her intense, light-blue eyes drifted to her in that stoic, mysterious way that unnerved Aleera. “You have been acting unusually compliant these last few days, Aleera. I sense something…is troubling you. Our lord may be too preoccupied to see it…yet it is as if you are a completely different woman.”
Aleera’s normally controlled demeanor crackled with tension as she glared at their master’s wife, her eyes smoldering with anger.
“You’ve overstepped your bounds, Verona,” she hissed, her voice sharp with disdain. “This is the second time you have confronted me in the last twenty-four hours when I have done nothing but what our lord has demanded. You may be his wife, but we three are equal. What does Marishka think of your suspicions? Your meddling has caused nothing but trouble for us all. It’s time for you to leave me to do the duty our husband has dictated to me.”
Verona remained calm and composed, her expression unreadable as she regarded Aleera with cool detachment. “…I have done what was necessary for our family,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of reproach. “But if my actions have displeased you, then I will take my leave.”
Aleera’s nostrils flared as she took a step closer to Verona, her fists clenched at her sides. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what you’ve done,” she spat, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Your selfish ambition has endangered us all by putting suspicion on all of the concubines. Dracula will hear of this, and you will answer for your treachery.”
Verona’s gaze remained steady, her resolve unshaken. “I have always acted in the best interests of our family,” she stated firmly and with a hint of a frown on her enigmatic facade. “But if you believe my presence is a hindrance and abhorrent, then I will depart. Know that I always have my sister’s best interest in mind.”
With a final glare, Aleera turned on her heel and stormed toward the cabin the arrogant sea dragon had told her the concubine was in, leaving Verona alone on the dark deck; the lights sputtered and broke in her passing. Despite the confrontation, Verona seemed to remain unfazed; without a doubt, she suspected Aleera…and she would be right to suspect her.
How does she know? It has to be her doing… How does she know I’m not Aleera?
In the world of vampires, alliances were fleeting, and survival depended on one’s ability to adapt and thrive, no matter the cost. Ruby was an expert at such maneuvers. However, there were a few things that truly did fall outside her ability to predict. One such person came into focus as she strolled down the ship corridor, opening the door to quiet the shock—her patron deity spoke directly to her for the third time ever, her words a toxic dagger inserted into her chest.
Give me your body… Now.
Breathing deeply, and feeling a tremor flow down her entire soul, Ruby let herself drift into oblivion as puppet strings attached to her figure, burning her with cold fire.
* — * — *
Opening her eyes and silently gliding into the room, she slowly shut the door as the charming 16-year-old concubine came into view. Gently closing the cabin door, it clicked softly in the ensuing stillness, the girl’s eyes locking with hers with a silent understanding that passed between them.
A white adder mask appeared in Selene’s hand as she donned the item, an innocent smile in place that couldn’t fool the embodiment of deceit; Selene spoke first, igniting an inferno within her. Aurora was nowhere to be seen, and for good reason.
“Apate… What a coincidence! What do I owe the honor; is Ruby serving you well, My Lady?”
Apate’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “Do not presume to play games with me, puppet… What brings you to insert yourself in my affairs, Sister?”
The air in the room took on a different cadence—a far more powerful one than her newly fashioned Mystic—as the adder mask dyed black, and Selene transformed between various forms the Mystic had taken. Hopping up and holding her hands behind her back, she drifted toward her, her avatar converting to smoke to spin around her.
“I could ask you the same question, beautiful,” she cryptically replied with a mischievous tone, prompting Apate forward to take a seat and picking up a brush. “But, oh, you know me. Just a little chaos here, a little havoc there. But enough about me. What mischief has my dear little sister been up to? Stirring up trouble in Dracula’s court, looking to snatch this enhanced artifact he is after in Miami?”
Sitting as she was guided, Apate laughed, feeling her sister’s fingers deftly weaving through her coppery hair as she began to brush it. “Just a little game of deception… I’m just between fun—a preemptive quest, you could call it. I have my hands aimed at a certain eye in Ireland. And what grand scheme have you concocted this time?" she inquired, genuinely intrigued.
Eris leaned back, her eyes glinting with mischief behind her mask. “Me? Well, my troublesome puppet has been getting a little full of herself lately, but there is a certain temptress I’ll admit has my attention. Sadly, she has slipped in unbeknownst to the host and her guests’ notice. You know who has had my eye, Little Sister…”
A knowing smile tugged at Apate’s lips. “Ah, yes… The Queen of Magic herself has stepped down from her lofty, prideful throne… The Legend of Adelaide Herrmann.”
“Indeed,” Eris chuckled, leaning in to whisper hot sweetness into her ear. “My little puppet is so very worried about her new hare friend, and Adelaide plans to steal a few holy artifacts from the hare’s trusted steed. She really should watch her misfortune. She is lucky I'm in the mood to shake a wobbly tower a bit. Didn’t Adelaide boast to the gods atop the prideful pile of sand that she could steal an artifact right from under my dear little sister’s nose?”
Laughter shook Apate’s chest at the audacity of these Seed-bearing mortals. “Did she now? Well, we can’t let that stand, Eris…can we?”
“No, we cannot. So, allow me to sow a little chaos here to give you enough time to do what you do best,” she chimed, giving her a peck on the cheek that left a chaotic whirlwind rushing through Ruby’s quivering soul. “Let me handle your Verona trouble. I promise, when Eden is done playing her games, her mind will be far from you.”
Smoothly rising to her feet, Apate drew in her fake Big Sister; both of them knew they weren’t their true sibling, but that didn’t really matter in the end. All that mattered was that Deceit and Chaos had come together to poke a little prideful tower.
“Our first sister-bonding moment! Let’s make it a habit.”