“Go ahead.” boomed a low, vibrating voice somewhere off in the emptiness. Immediately, my dress slipped off my body and fell to the ground. I eyed my surroundings wondering where the gods were watching from, if they were watching at all. Wanting to cover up my nude body, but remembering earlier instructions, I was forced to keep my arms stiff at my sides.   

 

Taking a deep breath I slipped my foot slowly into the black water. The darkness of it consumed the calf of my right leg, and then the left. I felt the cold thickness of it move inch by inch up my thighs, and then around my hips. I could smell it worse and more clearly as it climbed my stomach, and even more so when it passed over chest, taking the breath from lungs.  As its vapors seeped through my closed lips, and then up my nose, gagging me, I could taste it...  It was somehow thick, like molasses, with a flavour of rotting flesh and blood. As it finally consumed the rest of my body, I felt my eyes burn away and darkness overcome my complete state.  I tried to scream, as the pain was agonizing, but I felt I couldn’t move… 

 

Tears of helplessness poured down my cheeks as I suddenly felt several sharp blades dig into my ankle and rip my flesh.  The heat of my blood warmed my body slightly as it flowed out of my skin, and up towards the surface of where I had entered.  

 

What do you want with me?  My mind cried out in agony.  “Silence!” they replied, as the blades in my ankle dug deeper and further, grinding on the bone, making me writhe in pain...

 

That feeling, however; was quickly replaced with an overpowering wanting feeling. My heart started to beat somewhat swifter as I felt a gentle and soft stroking on the inside of my thigh. 

 

“Changing your mind?” the voices boomed, as I felt long, bony finger slide down my abdomen.  A cold fiend-like hand then placed itself on my neck, digging its thumb into my spine, and its middle and index fingers, deep into my throat. There was a soft whisper in my left ear that sounded almost like a song; their voices echoing in unison, twisting with sounds coming from deep in the places around me, flowing together like an eerie melody… 

 

  “Know this,” they said, “You exist for us.” The sonance rang in my ears as the voices resumed; “That is why it is imperative you do exactly as you’re told.” 

 

Around me I could feel the movement of the mass in which I was placed, as though it were alive. Deep moans of insidious pain and intolerable cruelty bellowed from the depths far below my feet. Occasional crescendos of excessive screams of the utmost misery and torment would rise up around me, ringing my ears to a point where I could feel the blood trickle down my neck. Blood-curdling shrieks of insanity and desperation echoed towards me from all around when everything was silent, making my heart weep with empathy. There was no hope, no light, just nothing. 

 

“At the time of your awakening, your fate will be revealed to you.” 

        

As that was said, a vision of pale, nude bodies flashed in my mind, merging together into one twisted figure. Some obviously trill, with torn and missing wings, others, merian, with their mouths and gills sewn shut.  Their eyes were empty, and black, like a tragedy; tortured by their worthless existence. “There are those that are blessed from birth with a great mighty wisdom, and there are those who seek the guidance of the glorious divine.” 

 

A burning intensity grew in my arm as I felt the prick of a needle at the tip of my wrist.  “You, my dear, are neither of the two.” 

 

An icy thickness started to seep slowly throughout my body. Each vein, and artery, each small vessel, all directly enveloped by this… poison; this vile substance making me itch and shake. “Your discernment is so magnificently created, so remarkable and singular, that I myself am justly wary. For this reason, I claim you as mine.”

 

I could feel it as it transpired finally to my heart, making it palpitate as the toxin was engulfed deep into its chambers. My weak heart forced itself to stop for a few moments as my only breath escaped my body, leaving me unable to inhale.

 

“If you refuse to do as I bid,” it continued, “You will cease to exist.” 

 

Please! What is your will? I begged in my mind, knowing again that I would be heard. “There is nowhere you can run to, and there is nowhere you can hide. Everywhere you go is held within itself, and there is no escape. There is no refuge, or sanctuary.” The voices screeched loudly around me, “There is nothing but the suffering you feel at this moment.” 

 

Each cell in my body yearned to explode, with tiny needle-like piercing stabbing each of them from the inside. My bones fell lifeless, as they were being twisted at the joints, ripping my tendons and muscles. I could hear the tearing of my flesh as it was being peeled from my back, the blood sliding slowly down my legs, warming my freezing skin in thin trails. 

 

“Use it”, they said. This time the voice was low and spoken, sounding almost like a whisper from inside my head. As it was spoken, my pain vanished, my sight returned to me, and I could once again breathe. As I looked around I saw several tapestries portraying the glory of Magnagora, the city of the taint, my home; and Nil, our holy plane. A large, iron bookshelf was at the far end of the room, and I was seated at a desk of dark, gleaming wood set against the wall. I glanced down to notice a few books opened on the desk. Coming to the realization that I was reading these books I lifted the front of one to glance at the title; “The Demon Lords of Nil”.  The other had a quill set atop it and it was entitled “The History of the Ur’Guard”. 

 

The voice from within my mind spoke once more, “Here is my gift to you”

 

“Marta, are you ready?” a different voice spoke, a male, one that sounded somewhat familiar. I turned my head to see a tall, powerfully built viscanti. Thick ebon horns pierced from his shaggy white hair and curved back, their sharp tips pointing towards the sky. His skin was as black as his horns, with a few freckles on his nose and under his eyes, which were just as white as his hair. He wore armor darkened at the edges, and as he moved closer, through the few beams of light in the room I noticed red veins etched throughout metal. 

 

In the back of my head the voices repeated something quietly. Gradually they spoke loud enough so that I could make out their words; “Any pain that you will feel will not give you distress, or hurt, but instead pleasure, and any pleasure you feel will be excruciatingly painful. This will teach you to love pain.”

 

“Marta!” yelled the male viscanti. I looked up at him, his red pupils starring into mine, something about them so familiar, but I couldn’t figure out whom he was. 

 

Different voices started to laugh in the back of my mind, some low and rumbling, others high-pitched and eerie, “Welcome to your new life Marta. Here are your memories.” The laughter faded and I lifted my eyes to the viscanti once again. It was my brother, Lydier. “Ready for what?” I asked him. I stood up and looked down at myself, my hands grabbed the sides of my skirt and shook the silky feeling, black lace free of dust, letting it go to rest just below my knees.  His voice started with sort of a sarcastic tone, “The ceremony my dear, surely you know.”

 

Light shining on the silver buckles on the combat boots I was wearing caught my eye as I reached down to pull up the sides of my webbed stockings. My fingertips slid underneath the bottom of my blood-red corset as I gripped and centered it, sucking my stomach in and pushing up my breasts. I drew the dagger from the small sheathe on my upper thigh and pricked the tip of my finger with it. Opening my mouth and pursing my lips a little, I looked into the reflection on the blade and spread the blood along my lips, staining them a perfect red. 

 

I noticed at that time, or remembered I suppose, that appearance-wise my brother and I were exact opposites. My skin was a creamy white, as well as my ivory horns, while my ebon hair flowed past my face, and the equally dark freckles upon it. Together we were a perfect match; like day and night. 

 

“Deirmon is the grunts name?” I asked my brother as I glanced curiously in his direction, hoping for a quick response. He let out an annoyed sigh and replied, “Yes, sister. You should know his name by now.”

 

“I know his name; I just needed to be sure. There are so many nowadays.” I looked him in the eyes and raised my eyebrows assuredly, though I doubt I believed me.  He nodded it away and we left the Ur’Guard tower. Following him to the Megalith to gather power, I noticed the area being strangely void of people. We continued on to the Southern Gates where everyone was gathered around a large wooden cross facing the city, and the two people standing in front of the gates.  The first was Heresiarch Arzile, Malevolent Sacrosanct, guild master of the Nihilists. The other was Trooper Deirmon, who waited to be knighted. I being the Queens Own, and my brother being the Commander of the Ur’Guard, it was necessary that we tested each trooper before their knighting. 

 

Stepping next to Deirmon, I put my hand on his shoulder and spoke loudly so that all around could hear; “The torturing process is a necessary trial that tests the resolve of a warrior. It enables them to get to know their pain, and learn to accept it, if not love it.”  A wry smile spread across my face as I pointed through the crowd to the wooden cross, everyone's eyes following my finger. “The enemy will try to use pain against you, thinking torture is your punishment. Little do they know their so-called manipulative torment will only seduce our senses, sending us into a blood-lusting rage! They will be appalled at the things we are able to withstand!” My voice spoke loud and fervently, and the inspired cheers of the people carried out into the distance, before fading in with the sounds of the basin. 

 

My hands clenched into fists and I raised them into the air, “We are the heart of the Engine, we beat together, and as ONE, we will survive!”.  Maddening cheers rose up around me, grunts of taurians grumbled loudly; voracious roars of aslarans chilled my bones, and the almost deafening shrieks of the viscanti made me insane with eagerness. 

 

With slow anticipation we made our way to the cross, the people in front of us moving swiftly to our sides. “Lower the cross!” shouted Arzile, the long sleeves from his gray robes waving gracefully under his elevated arms. A large igasho standing beside the cross pulled a thick lever in front of him. Slowly the cross creaked backwards to the ground before resting with a loud thump that made the ground shake. With all eyes on us, we took our places and started to prepare. 

 

Aggravating chitchat and obtuse conversations started to make my spine shiver with annoyance. I clenched my teeth and glanced around, noticing then my brother raise his head as well. “Silence!” he yelled, his vicious voice screeching maddeningly, quickly shutting everyone up, though sending the birds in the nearby trees into the air with loud squawks. He then looked at me and nodded pleasantly, “Please, proceed sister.”

 

Smiling wryly, I moved over to a small table where, upon it, were several instruments used for torture, and a small, clear glass with a dark red wine in it. Sliding my hand under the glass I lifted it to my nose, swishing it slowly a few times to inhale the scent before I took a sip.  The thick, frothing liquid slid smoothly down my throat, making it tingle with iciness, and then plunged into my stomach with a delightful burn. I quickly finished the rest and crushed the glass in my hand, blood running dilatorily down my arm.  “Open your mouth” I stated firmly, moving closer to the maggot. He separated his lips cautiously, revealing his sharp, white teeth, and black tongue. I placed my hand on his forehead, and pushing it slowly back I forced the broken glass shards into his mouth and slammed his jaw shut.  He winced with pain, and I could hear the grinding of the glass on his enamel. “Keep it shut” I said, with a firm tone. I began to run a thick thread through the top of a bloody looking needle I had gotten from the table, snipping it quite a length down and tying a small knot at the end. “You mustn’t be able to scream”.

 

Piercing his bottom lip, I forced the needle up, and through his top lip, until the knot was touching his flesh. I proceeded to sew his mouth closed, Arzile and Lydier having to intervene not even halfway through to restrain him. “Pathetic.” I thought to myself. 

 

At that exact moment, everything around me froze.  

 

“There’s something I want to show you” stated a voice from behind me. I quickly turned and there before my eyes was light, incarnate.  A glowing white mass melded into a manly form, constantly moving amidst and inside itself in rupturing, undulating patterns. Bubble-like sparks floated, and dripped from his figure, validating his coalescence to the air and space around him. 

 

Towering over me, his piercing eyes stared down directly into mine. Glowing orbs of amaranthine flecked with a soft sage, and swirled with a sparkling gold, each seemingly with its own individual existence, as if a whole new universe of life.  He spoke again and from his breath came the salty scent of an ocean breeze. “It’s already begun.” He moved slowly to another side of me, leaving behind him a trail of bright liquid bubbles that eventually fell slowly to the ground, leaving small puddles of sparkling gold. “Though you aren’t meant to stop it.” 

 

My heart just raced as he circled me, an extreme burning heat emanating from him. I’m not sure how exactly I could tell, but he then smiled at me, “So afraid…” Stopping as he faced me once more, he extended his hand to mine. “I’m the only one you shouldn’t be afraid of.” His sweet voices sent sweet chills down my already trembling spine, and I exhaled a breath of seduced relief.  With that breath my worries and doubts poured from my chest and dissolved into my timeless surroundings. Calm and astonishingly collected I lifted my hand to his, as if under a spell, or possessed, though not caring much either way. 

 

Gently though hurriedly, he took my hands into his. He laced his fingers with mine and I could feel the heat of his pulse through his wrist, firmly against my own. It beat hard, pounding at my consciousness, and I felt as though it would break through my skin and become me… It tingled my entire body, my blood writhing in my veins, as though longing for it. 

 

 

The sensations pierced my carnal areas like a razor…

 

I blushed deeply and tried as hard as I could to look away from those hypnotizing orbs, ashamed and embarrassed to feel such a way, at such a time. He smiled again, “As lovely as it is to experience you in this present state, I’m afraid its only purpose is your current need for the endorphins this sensation has released.” And with that statement the feelings quickly suppressed, though I still remained extremely flustered. 

 

His eyes, originally moving in a constant orbital pattern, now started to reverse, circling swiftly in the opposite direction. The gold swirls started to glow much more discernibly than before, and continued to grow brighter. Soon brilliant beams of gold light shot up into the blue sky, their luminescence enveloping it, and even overwhelming the sun. 

 

As though surrounded by cold, smoke seeped slowly from his lips as he exhaled, though they never really parted it seemed, his breath hissing in a grieving murmur. It reminded me of those I’ve seen pass, the instant before their death; their last breath carrying their hopes and memories into the savage battles close by, to be forever forgotten.

 

A loud buzzing sound like frogs mistaken for crickets in the summer rang around me, igniting the area with a scent of lavender and honey… Bolts of lightning shot through the air in all directions, most connecting with him, and each time they did, a shock pierced my heart; reviving and refreshing me with each pulse, as if I was being born again. 

 

The earth started to softly tremble and I watched as the beings around me moved slowly backwards in ways they had just been only moments ago, as if recreating everything we had just done, though in reverse. Their hideous faces scowled and obscured, each fold and line on their skin disgustingly visible. The flocks of birds flew swiftly back to the trees, seemingly flying away just as they had when my brother screamed for their silence. The sun raced across the sky from west, to east, setting just as it had risen. Arzile following closely behind a group of followers exited to the north, filing slowly back into the city, his face becoming agitated as his heels slid beneath their toes. The moon raised slowly overhead, the stars coming into view one by one; a few that had fallen raced back through the blackness, disappearing just as they had appeared before. 

 

As time moved backwards, so too did we move. With no effort at all, and without any special movements or sudden gestures, we were in the sky; still standing side by side, but my body and his shifting presence now moved far above the city of Magnagora.  "My brothers want you for themselves, but we mustn't let that happen." His warm, liquid finger trailed affectionately along my cheek. I watched the thick tainted smog diminish as we passed over the Sea of Despair, and then to the Inner Sea, where it was all but gone. Pity, I thought to myself. 

 

As the darkness of night continued to grow, we found ourselves over New Celest. Time slowed its reverse as our forms descended to the Pool of Stars. I looked around, taking in the surroundings. I had never been here, aside from once when I was fresh from the portal and decided to explore, and maybe once again during a raid on the city. 

 

Too bright I thought to myself as I squinted. And it was. Even in the low lighting of the moon, the glistening pillars shone brightly.  Every statue we passed disgusted me, each tile along the walkway. "Why are we here?" I asked as we approached the Star Palace. 

 

"You'll see" he responded, his soft voice rippling across my body. 

 

We found ourselves in the Star Chamber council room, which was strangely, I thought, void of people. I looked up at my escort, obviously confused. Extending a hand, he gestured me towards the black curtains beneath the raised platform. As he did so, a soft light passed by the windows from one of the obnoxious hummingbirds outside, alerting me to the return of the flow of time. 

 

I took a few steps forward and began to hear muffled voices from behind the curtains. As I stepped up, I readied my hands to part them, though looked back for a sense of reassurance. His eyes met mine and I knew, and so pressed forward, slipping into the chamber unnoticed. 

 

Every political and combatant leader from Celest was there, huddled around a table at the center of the room, and someone else; my brow furrowed as I squinted my eyes to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. It was Arzile. He was standing there in the midst of the fish folk as if he belonged among them. My heart began to pound as I thought of every possibility; Was he a traitor? Was he captured? Would he escaped?

 

"Breathe"  came a voice in my mind. So I did, and began to listen. 

 

"It is unwise to advance where they will be assembled. I suspect that this is a ploy by the Heresiarch." An overly aquatic decorated lucidian spoke in a flat, monotone voice. He glanced at Arzile, his face never changing.  

 

"I agree with the Archmage." said a merian man, whom I recognized from battle as the champion of the Celestines. "I trust you, Lady General, but how can we know the information the Heresiarch has provided is legitmate? How do we know it isn't a trap?" Her eyes along with all others fled to a tall Paladin woman. Her hair and skin were unusually white for a human, and her platinum armour was bulky, but flattering; it reflected all light tenfold, as if its own source. She stood beside Arzile, her hand resting on his shoulder in defense and support.  "We don't..." she began, "But I do."

 

"I trust my father with my life." She lifted her eyes to him, a soft smile working its way across her features. 

 

Father? I thought to myself. This can't be

 

"Your life?" chimed in another. "The Heresiarch has been the cause of many deaths you have suffered, Lady General, not to mention the rest of the city. He has been the reason several within our walls were put to rest, some to never wake again. He and his have tortured ours, even the very young, and you would follow him into the tainted city, to a group of fully armed taintlings, who may or may not be aware of our coming?"

 

All eyes in the room moved back to the Paladin woman. As she gathered her thoughts, she opened her mouth to speak again, but was cut off as Arzile stood. 

 

"I have done many terrible things in my life, yes." as he started, the Celestian faces scowled. "I have killed and tortured those loyal to you. I have murdered your beasts, the stewards of your city, and even your children." He began to circle the gathered slowly. " I have sent spies and gathered intelligence, I have turned those loyal to the Light into traitors. I have done everything I possibly could to tear New Celest apart from the inside out." 

 

A tae'dae Paladin reached for his sword, a growl rising up from his chest. 

 

"All of this, I have done for one reason, for this moment. So that I could tear the Engine apart from the inside out."

 

The Celestians looked around at one another with confused faces, except for the Lady General, who simply gazed at Arzile with adoration. 

 

"There are some here, who may remember when I was a Priest of the Light. In my youth, I was excited to serve. I was happy to protect. I loved my home and those within, but most of all, I loved my wife and children." He glanced at his daughter, his old, sharp face wrought with distress. "The weave they brought my pregnant wife into that city, and violated her.. And let their.." He paused, choking up. Bringing a closed fist to his mouth, he took a deep breathe. When he continued, his voice was filled with rage rather than sadness. "They let their beasts and dogs violate her... They murdered her, over and over again; bringing her back to life just to make her suffer a new death... " A single tear snaked its way down his  face. "They cut her stomach open, and tore her unborn children from within... I-"

 

Arzile shook his head, and stood a little straighter. "That was the weave I allowed myself to become tainted. That was the weave I vowed that I would do anything to stop Magnagora, to stop the evil they inflict upon the world."

 

The room was silent. I was enraged. Traitor I thought to myself.

 

"That is certainly a convincing lecture, Heresiarch." said the lucidian, still no emotion in his voice. "But-", interrupted the merian, "How do you expect to end evil, with evil? You cannot away darkness, with more darkness."

 

"Aaaah, and that is exactly why I have come here, for the Light to cast away the shadows that dwell within this darkness." Arzile smiled softly, his mouth hidden within his white beard. 

 

"Right den" said the igasho Paladin, "What do ye propose?"

 

Arzile smiled with brief relief, then his whole demeanor changed. He began spouting off his plan like a seasoned military officer, giving short instructions with a confident tone. "I will go back to the tainted city, and be a part of the ceremony tomorrow as planned. My daughter will lead a small strike team to Nil after I inform her that the grunt is secured to the cross. I will send Lydier and Marta to investigate, while I continue the ceremony. The team on Nil will capture the two, ALIVE, and bring them to a designated area. While that occurs, the rest of you will rush the Southern Gate, where we will kill every last one of them." His face grew enraged. "We will take out every member of their ancient families, and tear their houses down brick by brick. We will burn their city to the ground. The taint will be nothing but a distant nightmare when we're done."

 

As soon as he finished speaking, time stood still once more, and instantly I found myself high above the Basin. "What have you learned?" spoke the gentle,  lulling voice of my escort. "That blood will be shed today, and it won't be from me or mine" I said through gritted teeth, not trying to hide my anger. His fluid form moved his face to mine, looking me directly in the eyes. "Look deeper Marta." Slowly his iris' began to pulsate in quick, dimming patterns and I couldn't look away. As I stared helplessly into his hypnotizing gaze, tendrils of light emerged from from them, inch by inch, obscuring my vision, and eventually consuming me. I felt empty, like I was floating, and around me I heard the soft sound of tinkering bells. All I could see was white, blinding white light. 

 

"Look deeper" I heard again. I blinked in confusion and found myself back at the Southern Gate, as if I had never left. The light in my vision faded into the people and objects around me. Surveying my surroundings I tried to figure out where the Celestians were waiting, but before I had a real chance, a call went out over the city aether. "Nil." 

 

Immediately I looked at Arzile, hidden rage in my eyes, knowing what was coming. "Would you mind dear?" He asked me. "You and Lydier should be able to handle it, and I'll handle him". The traitor grinned as he dug one of his long nails into the grunts cheek. 

 

Oh I'll handle it I thought to myself. "Come sister, to Nil." said my unaware brother. I stepped in line behind him, he touched his Iron key, and we were off. 

 

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