Priscilla awoke feeling the world's weight bearing down on her chest— or what felt like it, at least. Her eyes opened to the dull flicker of light in an unknown to her bedroom. She heard the rustling fabric as she tilted her head slightly to see. With a slow and weary tug, she moved her hand just enough to move the bedding, which revealed two bright eyes that shone with curiosity.

Bianca crawled out like a chubby mouse chasing treasure from beneath Priscilla's bedcover. Priscilla, despite her grogginess, could not help but chuckle at the sight of the little girl.

The door hastily opened as Hallie ran in, "Bianca! You naughty little mouse!" The woman huffed, crossing her arms in front of her. Seeing that Priscilla was awake, she did not insist, however. "How are you feeling, dear?"

Priscilla moved her hand toward Bianca's cheek, caressing it softly before smiling, "I'm feeling better now. She's a bit heavy, though."

Hallie couldn't help but burst out laughing, "She really is! It's her grandparents always spoiling the little mouse!"

Bianca stared with squished cheeks before giggling, "Bianca's a moose!"

"Is everything fine now? The mayor— he's gone, right?" Priscilla asked as she pushed herself up to sit.

Hallie walked up and sat near the bottom of the bed, "Yes, the mayor's gone. Calvin's taken over temporarily while the town figures things out— the count's threat still weighs on them, so no one wants to commit to the position."

"But... the problem is the girls." Hallie paused for a moment, "They found one of the girls killed in a gruesome manner. The remaining ones haven't regained consciousness; their minds seemingly numbed by something the healers don't understand."

Priscilla stared silently. The world was changing rapidly, more than she could understand. 'Did Rin know?' She wondered as she held onto little Bianca in her arms.

Hallie leaned in slightly, "Priscilla, you know what's going on, don't you?"

"There are things that I know and things I don't. I have no intention of lying to you; the world is changing, and these strange occurrences are the harbingers of it."

"So, the count then, he's also involved somehow?"

"Most likely, yes. When I went to find the girls, his men were paired up with those who called themselves the Church of Zenith, but in reality, they seemed more like a cult of demons."

"I see... What about the mayor, then? What part did he play in all of this?" Hallie asked curiously.

"I'm not too sure; the creature he became is similar to those that existed long ago, but if he was transformed or was one of them from the start, I have no idea."

Hallie sighed as she lowered her head. "Life is hard for people like us. The empire struggles to keep afloat, and now strange monstrosities dwell in its underbelly. What are we to do? How will we survive when they treat us as fodder for their ploys?"

"You haven't seen the poor girl, torn to shreds by the mayor, her blood drained and life abandoned. What does it say for all the others they've taken or tried to take? If you had not saved me— where would I be now..." Tears trickled down Hallie's face slightly, her arms trembling.

Little Bianca squirmed down, "Mama! No cry!" She sniffled an attempt at comfort as she latched her little arms around her mother.

"I'm sorry," Priscilla said. She partially did not understand what she was apologizing for, but deep down, she knew. These events had very much to do with her, perhaps not directly, but she was likely the only one who knew about them and stood a chance at preventing them.

"I know, dear," Hallie replied softly. "Everyone has their purpose in this world. Just be true to yourself and follow your heart."

----------------------------------------

Within a secluded chamber, a bulbous man sat atop a gaudy throne chair twice his size. He smacked his lips loudly as he ate a bloodied lump of meat with fingers outstretched— a remnant of what once was. Beneath his throne, the men of Zenith knelt silently, their gazes plastered to the ground.

"So," The count muttered with fleshy spittle speckling his trousers, "You failed to get a fresh supply?"

"Is that what you're telling me now?"

"We had an interference, Blackthorn. It was a witch of the old world." One of the men replied.

"Preposterous!" Count Blackthorn retorted as he slammed his fist down, cracking a piece of the throne. "Even if any survived, why would they be in such an insignificant part of the empire?"

Blackthorn contemplated for a moment, "Let's say that there is a remnant in the town; why have you not acted on it?"

"We had to make certain before reporting it," The man replied calmly. "We had the puppet strike; it was enough to confirm her identity."

"From our spectating, she seems unstable and incomplete; if you bring her down, you can achieve great merit from the Lords, Blackthorn."

"An incomplete witch?" Blackthorn questioned. "How is that possible?"

"But you are correct; it would be a great achievement."

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

The man pondered to himself before grabbing a leg from the platter beside his throne and suckling on it. "No matter the reason, you've done well. Prepare for a full assault; let's see if they can hide behind the little witch's skirt forever."

"Actually, no, release the gnats and wear them down slowly. Make them struggle and doubt. Have them beg for the mercy and release of death." Blackthorn chuckled, "Yes, that's far better."

"That won't be a problem. Our scouts say she hasn't moved since the battle with the puppet, so it should be easy enough."

"Good, good. Get onto it then." Blackthorn waved them off, returning to his meal.

The men walked away, turning several corridors and entering a hidden passage that led them down an endless staircase. As they neared the bottom, the putrid stench of decomposition wafted egregiously through the air, paired with the droning of countless insects. The men were unbothered as they approached the room's core, where a blood-red jade sat atop a pedestal. All around it, tunnels branched out, spreading like branches into the unknown.

The frontman pulled out a skull-shaped whistle and blew on it, eliciting an immediate response from the hive. It caused the insects to hiss and swarm in circles. With another huff from the whistle, the swarming critters scattered, splitting across the various tunnels.

All across the town, insects squirmed out of stopgaps long forgotten in the town's history. Their wings flapped silently yet with such frequency that the youngest were the first to notice. The children paled, grasping at their throats as foamy bile rose to their lips.

It set off a chain reaction of panic as parents grasped at their children. Their hands quivered as they held them, watching the little ones' eyes roll back into their heads. The streets filled with people within a moment. Some carried their young, while others raced desperately to find help. But once they saw the masses converging, everyone realized how dreadful of a situation they were in.

As the people gathered, the frequency intensified, and soon, the adolescents were struck with the plague-like sickness as well. When they started dropping to their knees, true despair set into the crowd.

Within the Eckhart home, the same buzzing happened. Little Bianca squealed before falling flat. Hallie jumped toward her in a heartbeat. "Bianca, what's wrong?"

"Little mouse!" Hallie trembled, holding onto Bianca, who was turning pale as foam rose to her mouth. "Priscilla, help!" Hallie screamed out.

Priscilla came out of the room, still weak, but when she saw Bianca, she rushed over. "What's happening?" She questioned as she put a hand on Bianca's forehead.

The girl burned tremendously— as if a condensed inferno raged inside of her fragile body.

Priscilla closed her eyes as she held her hand on Bianca's chest. She listened and felt her frail, beating heart— and the slow thumps that seemingly stilled. But it went beyond that— Priscilla could hear a subtle buzzing that latched onto Bianca's heartbeat. With every thud, the droning whirr of wings paired with it like a parasitic union of two.

Priscilla lifted Bianca into her arms, facing her toward the floor as she focused on the anomaly inside her. She focused solely on the girl as a subtle warmth radiated from her palm. Despite the fatigue that weighed down on Priscilla from her overreach of duality— she condensed her strength into a flame so pure that it melted into Bianca's essence, absorbing into the body and nourishing it as it made way toward the intruder.

Because Priscilla was so focused, she did not realize that the door barged open as Jensen and several others appeared— Jensen was about to speak, but Hallie stopped him with haste. "Whatever it is, it can wait, Jens."

Jensen's eyes scanned the room, realizing that his daughter was suffering the same way the townspeople's children did. He quieted, focusing purely on the woman who held his child.

Priscilla continued guiding her power toward the subtle noise. Finally, a wretched squealing sounded. It shook the house as the critter caught ablaze in a violent burst of flapping. The little girl retched as smoke and bile poured out onto the floor, carrying with it a bean-sized demonic gnat's burnt remains.

"Bless the Star, it's a miracle!" One of the men knelt behind Jensen as he took in the sight.

Bianca coughed in pain, her little whimpers dreadful to the ears. But they were full of vitality, nonetheless.

Jensen and Hallie held onto one another, overjoyed but worried— would such a thing happen again? Had Priscilla not been there— what would have happened to their daughter?

"Please, save my son!" The kneeling man begged— his tears speckling the floor as he bowed repeatedly toward Priscilla.

"And mine— Divine One, I beg of you! My boys are dying! Please, save them!" Another man spoke up, kneeling beside the other.

Their desperation was visceral. The men were parents before anything else. To them, their children were the most precious treasure— no matter how cruel the world may be, there would always be people who valued their kin.

Priscilla finally realized the crowded room as she noticed the kneeling men. "What's going on?" She questioned as she turned from the men to Hallie and Jensen.

"It's the young! They're all falling ill and unconscious," Jensen replied with eyes glued to his daughter peacefully resting in Priscilla's lap. "It must be the count retaliating after his ploy was discovered. It can't be anything but!"

"The count?" One of the kneeling men gasped, "Are you telling the truth, Eckhart?"

"Damned pigfaced bastard!" The other man snarled while slamming his fist against the ground, "My child is forced to suffer because of his depravity? I cannot accept this!"

He turned toward Priscilla with earnest eyes, "Please, Divine One, illuminate our kin— just as you illuminated the mayor's monstrous form. Purify the evil that corrupts them. I beg of you!"

Priscilla exhaled, "How many have fallen ill thus far?"

"All of them! Everyone that hasn't reached adulthood yet has been struck suddenly!" Jensen replied.

"That's impossible!" Priscilla uttered, "I can't help them all one by one..."

The two men were startled hearing her, "No, Divine One— PLEASE!"

"If you can't help us, who will? Must our children die so miserably?"

Priscilla felt the burden of their expectant gazes, but beyond that, it was a strange feeling. They expected something from her and needed her support. They did not look at her like a monster or a waste but as if she were hope.

"Calm down." Priscilla uttered softly, "Even if I cannot help them one by one, we can still find out what's triggering the change and stop it before it's too late."

"Jensen— gather some men and search the town. Something must have changed to set these events off."

"Hallie— you go and gather all the ill in one spot. Even if I can't help them all, I should still be able to relieve their pain temporarily until we know what's causing this.

"And you two— don't cry and beg. If you wish to save your kin, you must stand up and be strong. Go with Jensen and find the root cause of this plague."

"Now GO!" Priscilla commanded with an air of dignity that jolted the crowded room into action. They moved so naturally as if it were a normal expectation. Even Priscilla did not know how her voice came out so resolutely, but it did. There was no time to question it— they had to stop the count, and they had to do it soon.