-crown of thorns II-
image [https://i.imgur.com/Lc3JDtl.png]
The walls of the palace shook, as if trembling in awe of the coming storm.
Reddish-brown streaks of viscera stained my beautiful marble floors as the useless fools who called themselves my vassals hurriedly cleared my throne of the undesirables I dispatched.
“Vincent.”
A mass of dark, shadow-like void magicka stirred to life, and a man stepped out.
He knelt reverently before me, “I am yours to command, Your Majesty.”
I glanced him over for a while. Inspecting the near-perfect state of his attire, the neatness of his hair, and the spotless shine of his boots.
After a lengthy time—one spent dismissing the nearby burdensome idiots with a glare or two—I finally acknowledged him, “What of the Roses? It has been too long since their last reports to be coincidence. Have they abandoned me? Traitors in league with that foul girl…”
I felt Vincent’s hesitation to speak, and anger exploded in my veins.
“Sebastian? Masson? Those disturbing twins that Renaire created, my Azure Rose!? Where are they? Desertion? Betrayal? In any case, they're losing me this war. I'll not let them take my kingdom again. I can't. I won't.”
I slammed my fist hard against my throne. The sound echoed through the silent room.
“SPEAK!” I commanded, “What are my commanders doing? How can we be pressed like this if it isn’t sabotage!?”
Vincent shrank down under my voice—then my vision blurred and a coldness crept into every fiber of my being.
The breath in my lungs caught as the whispers of my Master sent a shiver down my spine.
YOU RISK FAILURE ONCE MORE
FAILURE WON’T BE TOLERATED
WE WARNED YOU BEFORE
THE HERETICS KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
AND YET, WHAT DO YOU DO?
THE HEIRS CANNOT TRIUMPH
YOU RISK FAILURE
YOU RISK FAILURE.
THE GRAND DESIGN IS IN RISK OF FAILURE.
YOUR SOUL WON’T SURVIVE WHAT’S IN STORE
YOU RISK FAILURE
WE CAN TAKE OVER FROM HERE.
LET US TAKE OVER.
YOU CANNOT FAIL
YOU CANNOT FAIL
SO LET US HANDLE THIS
DO NOT FAIL
WE WILL HANDLE THIS WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT
DO NOT FAIL
DO NOT FAIL
DO. NOT. FAIL.
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“—cques?”
My mind reeled. A loud buzzing trailed in my ears as the cold abated and I caught my breath.
“Jacques?”
I blinked.
Renaire stared into my face. Her haunting blue eyes glowing unnaturally as always.
She was unnerving.
I swatted her away.
“You—gah!…” My teeth clenched as a terrible ache split its way through my head. I recovered after a moment and continued, “Why have you come? My orders to you were to unleash the weapons from the laboratory. Not to return to me or leave that musty lair of yours.”
I don’t know how long I had been distracted by the Master’s warnings, but Vincent was nowhere to be seen and the floor was spotless.
“Now, now, Jacques.” Renaire tutted, “I assured you I would prepare everything as it needed to be. And that is what I’ve done. I made no promises to remain locked away in your time of need.”
My time of… this lowly woman!
“I have no need for your two-facedness! Begone from my presence. I wish not to see you until this is all over.”
She turned and left without a word.
It looked as if she was smiling.
Truly unnerving.
“Vincent, you cur!” I shouted, my voice ringing through the empty hall, “Find the rest of the Roses and bring them to me this instant!”