Avarice ran as far as his legs could take him. It seemed that the drug had not completely worn off. Stumbling through Gabriel's manor, Avarice managed to make it to the front gates unharmed. Unfortunately for him, guards were posted at every possible escape route he could take. It wasn't until one was standing right in front of him that he began to panic.
"Ah! You're the young master's guest, right? You shouldn't be out here."
"I was just taking a stroll for some fresh air," said Avarice, biting back the wave of nausea that crashed against his insides.
The guard eyed him suspiciously. "If it's fresh air you want, there's a nice garden behind the young master's chambers. Come, I shall escort you there."
The guard reached for Avarice. Realizing there was no way he was going to get out of this he sighed. Staggering back, he reached down and tore a section of his trousers clean off, revealing a hidden dagger he kept secured to his thigh. Before the guard could retract his hand, Avarice unsheathed the dagger and slashed him. With the guard's blood now collected on the dagger, Avarice took a few steps back and used the time it took for the guard to compose himself to construct a paralysis rune. It was messy and rushed but it would give him enough time to put some distance between him and the manor.
Just as the guard realized he couldn't move and began shouting for help, Avarice threw himself into the river beyond the threshold of Gabriel's manor. With the help of the current, he was able to reach as far as the marshlands bordering the tall grassy fields enclosing the Nightless City. Exhausted and woozy, he pulled himself out of the water, his shimmering scales disappearing as his skin dried.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Sin and Nikiro arrived on the outskirts of Raeha and made their way inwards through the paths previously forged by Avarice and his troops when they first discovered the Nightless City. The darker it got, the more difficult it was to see where they were going. Sin led the way, his eyes shining brightly against the quickly darkening grasslands.
"Stay close. It's easy to run off the path here," he whispered.
"Listen, I know you want him to pay for what happened but don't rough Gabriel up too much. He needs to stand trial. It won't be a good look if he shows up with a broken nose."
Sin groaned. "Fine...I'll just break a few ribs. No one will see that."
"Sin!" Nikiro scolded.
Their discussion was cut short by loud splashing and rustling. Sin gasped.
"...did you hear that?"
Nikiro nodded, silently summoning two blades, a faint blue glow enveloping them as they appeared in his hands. Sin readied his pistols as they approached the sound. In one swift motion Sin pulled back the grass in front of them revealing an exhausted Avarice heaving and struggling to stand.
"Avarice!" Sin called affectionately as he ran up to his brother. "Are you okay? How did you end up here?"
Nikiro dismissed his weapons and went over to help Avarice up. Avarice, relieved to have run into them relaxed and wasted no time in explaining what had happened. Sin and Nikiro exchanged a knowing glance.
Nikiro sighed. "So our theory was correct then..."
"I fucking knew that bastard was no good!" Sin kissed his teeth in frustration. "First let's get you out of here. You take him back to the ship. I'll go find Gabriel."
Right as Nikiro took a step away with Avarice, a large raven came swooping down, stopping them in their tracks.
"Sorry to crash your party but I'd appreciate it if you could return my good friend over there," said Gabriel emerging from the tall grass.
"Oh joy, look who's come to join us," spat Sin. "Unfortunately we can't do that but at least this saves me the trouble of going to look for you."
Gabriel shrugged. "I'd like to say I missed you too but that would be a lie. Now if you'll excuse me, Avarice and I have unfinished business with each other so if you don't mind—"
Even in the darkness, Sin could see a tattoo slip off of Gabriel's body and come alive the way it had during the archery hunt. A much larger, more powerful raven flew passed Sin at an alarming rate, only to splatter against a barrier Nikiro had put up moments before it reached him and Avarice.
Before Gabriel could animate any more tattoos, he was tackled to the ground. "I don't think so."
Gabriel tried to summon more of his tattoos again only to be met with Sin throwing his arms around Gabriel's neck and pulling tight, nearly making him pass out from the lack of oxygen. In a weak attempt to get Sin off of him, Gabriel punched the side of Sin's head but was rewarded with an even tighter grip around his neck. "Stop..." Gabriel gasped weakly.
"Stop? You want me to stop? I bet Tah Min begged you to stop. I know Ea wanted it all to stop. Did you stop for them? TELL ME WHY I SHOULD STOP!"
Gabriel's gaze shifted between Avarice and Sin. Realizing Sin wasn't going to let him go, he thought to take them all out with him. All at once, all of the tattoos slipped off of his skin. Sin brought his hands up to shield himself from the blast of ink he received to the face. Gabriel used his surprise to finally push him off and attempt to reach Avarice. Using his wings to shield himself from the onslaught of various inky beasts, Sin managed to grab onto Gabriel's ankle and trip him.
"NIKIRO! CUFF HIM!" Sin shouted.
In a flash, Nikiro was in front of them, Gabriel's beats splattering sadly against his barrier. Before Gabriel could push himself up again Nikiro grabbed hold of his hands and placed the handcuffs on them. As soon as he did the attacking beasts were reduced to miserable pools of ink.
"What the—"
"I'm afraid you're not getting away that easy. These cuffs are made with shi restrictors. You can say goodbye to your inky friends. You won't be able to use any magic with these on."
Sin helped Nikiro pull Gabriel to his feet before placing a hand on Gabriel's shoulder and digging his claws into it. "Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you...yet."
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
"Soldiers of Sindaria! This poor goddess bound by war and vengeance has cursed us here today! She has stolen the life of our great King and left us to suffer in her wake! She not only insults our faith, but the very country our King has created and we shall not let this go unpunished!"
The soldiers watched who they believed to be their King bleed out at Li's feet. Their hearts heavy with sorrow and resentment, they listened to Li's words carefully and as they did, hatred for the now limp Illya grew.
"YOU INSULT YOUR OWN PEOPLE'S INTELLIGENCE WITCH!" Yelled Callisto. "Why don't you tell them the truth! Tell them how you stole the King's core to replenish your own!"
"SILENCE SOLARIAN WRETCH! Don't make excuses for your Empress' wrongdoings!" shouted one soldier. His shouts were followed by many more that rose in agreement.
"It seems we've arrived too late."
The soldiers quieted down as all eyes turned to the group approaching the courtyard. The High Council emerged from the darkened corridors of the damaged palace. Favian held his nose, fanning the air in front of him as the stench of burnt flesh and corpses filled the air. Anduran elbowed him as they stepped into the courtyard.
"The damage has already been done," lamented Gwynevere.
"Yes. And it is irreparable," replied Li.
"People of Sindaria. It is with deep regret that we must say farewell to the great King Sana, but rejoice! For we have not come with empty words of pity. The Eclipse Empress has plunged yet another country into a state of despair. She has gone against our decree of peace and shall be punished accordingly."
"NONSENSE!" shouted Callisto. "We did not kill the King. Li did! She let the King become possessed by the old King of Aruma An!"
Gwyenevere turned her nose up at the man. " What drivel are you spouting? Do you have any evidence to support your claim?"
Callisto kissed his teeth, clinging to Illya desperately.
"No? Well then...I know it's upsetting but instead of spouting such outlandish lies, you should quickly come to terms with what has happened. Now hand over the Empress."
Favian and Anduran stood on each side of him, weapons drawn and magic pulsing with violent intent. A weak cough drew Callisto's attention to his lap where Illya lay.
"Lis, you have to go."
Callisto paled at her words. "What? You want me to leave you here? They're falsely accusing you, I can't just—"
A soft hand carefully cupped Callisto's cheek careful not to scratch him with her claw as she ran her fingers across it lovingly. "The others will need your help back home. Don't worry. They can't keep me away for long. If you don't hurry now I'm afraid they'll kill you."
Callisto shut his eyes and leaned down, his forehead touching Illya's. "Lya. No. I promised to bring you back. I promised to stay by your side. If defending you means death then..."
"I'm sorry Lis. Tell the kids I love em' yeah?" her hands reached up into his golden locks to pull him down for a soul-drowning farewell kiss before pushing him away and stumbling to her feet.
Illya's bitter laugh resounded in the courtyard as she let Favian and Anduran restrain her. "I'm beginning to think my family is just cursed to have short reigns."
"STOP! Where are you taking her?" Callisto's shouts left him before he could think better of it and he scrambled to his feet, refusing to be turned away.
"I'm afraid that's classified." Keeping Callisto and the Solarian soldiers at bay, the High Council tore Illya's crown off of her head, her messy hair falling into her face as they pushed her to her knees. "Illya Omarosa, from this day forth, you shall no longer be known as Empress. We, the High Council hereby decree the Eclipse Empress to be no more!"
The Sindarian soldiers erupted with cheers. "DOWN WITH THE ECLIPSE EMPRESS!" Their chants were like a haunting taunt in Callisto's ears.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Illya was thrown against the cold concrete of a cell floor. "Fancy place you've got here. Could use some redecorating thou—"
Gwynevere's knuckles cracked against Illya's face. "Enough of your insolence. You'll be here for a long, long time so I suggest you get used to it."
Illya's eyes remained glued to her as she left the cell, breaking the spell on Illya's handcuffs as soon as she was out.
"Don't worry about Solaria. Soon the world will forget you ever existed." Gwynevere made her way out, extremely satisfied with how things turned out. Outside, the looming figure of the Spirit Asylum towered behind her.
"What should we do if they try looking into our investigation of the asylum?" asked Anduran.
Gwynevere waved her staff, placing an enchantment on the asylum. As soon as she did, the asylum disappeared from view as if it were never there in the first place. "What asylum?" she laughed. "Go ahead and kill that Nasmira and Dante they have imprisoned. No one will ever find this place or Illya."
Gwynevere's laughter echoed in the desolate forest and rung in Illya's ears as she listened from her cell at the old crone's mockery. She leaned back against the wall staring at the streaks of light that rose from beyond the horizon and slipped into her cell. With her strength still recuperating and her pact marks dissolved soon after she went berserk, she found herself sitting in mindless silence, absentmindedly repeating the chants of the Sindarian soldiers.
"Heh...down with the Eclipse Empress."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxuO69UXLG
