It has been a few ages since our emperor paid a terrible price. Some say he continues to pay the toll as the Dimperial Twins grow tall. In this family dynamic, Emperor Koriath might as well be a single parent. Within his marriage, even though he is the only heir of the last Anointed Bearer of The Black Lotus Crown, Koriath is emperor only in title. If not for Holy Guardianship, Empress Malencia would no doubt keep him metaphorically, or perhaps maybe even physically locked by some combination of magic, might, and malice within the palace walls; or worse…
Dealing away from speculation and back to the matter at hand- Currently Phantisma and Kurai are in the study working on homework. Lt. D. Vayav accompanies them in the royal family’s private study as Emperor Koriath is attending a Guardian of Darkness matter outside his home dimension. Had he been home, he would be assisting his childlings with their education. Empress Malencia is home for the time being. Tensions will stalk in the shadows of the halls until she leaves to lead the frontlines upon the next lunation of the chaos moon.
Both of the girls are seated at a smaller table, one crafted for very small childlings. The comfortable size for one between the ages of three and six. Cloth seats with soft filling that fit and form with the user, allowing them to sit in different ways. Comfortable for those who often fidget or have difficulty remaining still. The Umbral Lieutenant silently sentry in the drapeway, as if he is a hidden gate from those on the hall side of the fabric.
Phantisma is quietly humming a made up, and up beat sounding little song to herself as she focuses on talon-painting a once empty scroll. Accidentally wiping her brow, getting a cold thick layer of green across her forehead. She looks up at it annoyed. “Aw, I forgot.”
Kurai looks up from her own work, gently laying down a calligraphy brush designed for talons of a three to five age old. Pursing her lips, then moving her tongue through her cheek right behind. Looking at the work, then up at Phantisma, back at her sister’s work, then once more at her.
Kurai relaxes her mouth. “Yea, I think you forgot that the whole world is not green.”
“Well I have to do the green part first. Then the blue goes on top when it dries.”
“Don’t people draw a map before they color it?”
“Too much time, I can do it without drawing.”
Kurai shrugs, “Your grade, not mine.” as she goes back to carefully writing.
“That is not what you said earlier.” Phantisma flashes a mischievous smile. “You were so scared you asked me to present with you tomorrow.”
“Shut it Phasi.” Kurai grips her brush tighter as she tries to ignore her sister.
Phantisma chuckles to herself and then goes back to working on her map. Once she starts wiping the green off her talon she looks over at Kurai’s work.
“What are you working on?”
Kurai serves her own mischievous smirk. “I was hiding in the shadows when Jaques asked Devadas what the realm was like.”
Phantisma’s eyes become wide “Rai! Are you cheating!?”
“Cheating? If anyone is cheating it is you! There is a big map on the wall right over there and I can see you copying it.”
“Reverence.” Phantisma boldly lifts her chin.
“You mean reference Princess.” Devadas Vayav finally speaks, a gentle smile shields his voice from laughter or amusement.
Kurai starts to ignore them both, distracted by a change of direction of the wind, and the full moon, which is actually not a moon but the realm of chaos, this hidden plane within the gravity of life and nature, though hidden from raw light.
Devadas notices her distraction, he bows his head subtly to her. “I know what it is like to be kept in-drapes too long. Some fresh night’s wind would do you both some good.” He begins walking over to the window. “Maybe even help the ink and paint dry faster. Let me just investigate it first.”
Both princesses watch as their guard begins his investigation around the large glass window, almost as large as the arch of a drapeway. Devadas unlocks both the vertical and horizontal latches. Slowly with one talon opening it. At first he peaks only his head out as his eyes scour every angle. Then he opens it just wide enough for him to fly up and slip through, closing it behind him. His investigation blocks the moon rays from seeping onto the timbers of the palace. He returns, opening the window wide, carefully flying through and gracefully landing on his feet.
“All clear.” He tells the girls as he returns to his post.
“Thank you.” Phantisma and Kurai look up at him with their big red gemmed eyes and speak in unison.
A chill travels down his spine, his chest tightens from within. “Gods I hate when you two synchronize, go back to fighting with each other.” He smiles, trying to hide his discomfort.
The girls continue talking to each other while working as he subtly moves the drape to peek into the hall. Walking to the otherside, he repeats the motion, then stands right in the middle, opening his wings ever slightly.
Kurai and Phantisma turn their heads at the same time to look at him, both speaking and moving with the same quiet motions and whisper. “What is wrong?”
“Just routine, ignore me.” Devadas continues trying to stay calm as the feelings intensify inside him.
The princesses go back to their work, eventually relaxing up, however the Lt. remains hyper vigilant as a tight pain continues to gradually increase in severity from his heart. Devadas begins to pace to calm himself down, the girls take full notice, putting down their class projects.
“Does it feel like doom?” They both whisper to him together.
Devadas looks at them with unease.
“Haunting laughter?” Phantisma asks quietly.
“M-m-mucky slime?” The fear spreads to Kurai.
Devadas walks over to them and squats down beside them in order to be at eye level with them. “How did you two learn to mimic your mother’s vibrations, no- I don’t want to know. Just cut it out, please.”
The girls hold each other’s talon, both looking at him, shaking their heads without a sound. Devadas hears Phantisma speak into his mind, “It is not us.”
He motions them to get back to work with their heads down. They follow his guide and he immediately jumps to his feet, almost hovering as he runs to the drapeway. Bringing up his wrist, he activates his communication gauntlet, dialing into Koriath’s alternate direct line, one that was crafted after the twins were hatched, kept secret from Malencia. Neither the lieutenant nor the emperor speaks, but the line keeps active.
With refined grace the drape door parts with the shadow of a talon, a haughty smile as she greets Devadas. “Are you alright Lieutenant? You should have lifted that for me.”
Emotionless he states “I was just about to, but my empress has bested me.”
“I like your answer.” She continues as she makes her way into the study.
Devadas firmly places himself within the space between the empress and the princesses. “Is there anything I can help you with, Your Dimperial Majesty?”
She struts within her walk, opening her wings slightly wider than his, head held high. He moves with her, keeping her to one side of the room.
“I just wanted to see how my daughters were doing.” Vileness seeps through her smile.
“The princesses are doing their educational work, as you can see plain for yourself they are well.”
Being taller than Devadas, she easily looks over his shoulder to them. Catching Kurai’s worried gaze as Phantisma physically grabs her sister’s head to re-direct it.
“Oh come on girls, surely you two can take a little study break.”
“I am sorry Your Haunting Grace, the princesses are not to be allowed to play until their work is complete.”
“Is this an order from our little emperor?” She snickers. “Poor childlings, all work and no play. Tell me, is that healthy?”
Malencia then steps closer to Devadas, first looking into his eyes, then toward his lips. “You like to play, don't you, Lieutenant Vayav?” She tries to corner him with her voice.
Devadas’s feathers puff with anger, his face twists with disgust as he tries to keep his voice from becoming a shout. His battle is currently to keep his head cool, as heated chords do snap. I won’t hide her flirting with me from Little Brother.
“Empress Consort and High General, you will not disrespect me like that. All members of the armed forces are my siblings.”
Malencia starts laughing “I meant recreational sports, you bird brain!” She takes a step back away from him, sheathing the kiss she had loaded.
Devadas sighs loudly, which transforms into contagiously laughing with Malencia. They both continue, Devadas starts crying as he continues to laugh with her. I cannot stop.
Malencia’s laughter starts to softly wane into a sinister giggle as Devadas is able to slowly but steadily regain control of himself. “Your Majesty, unless you need something from the study; then I need you to please see yourself out. There are others stationed around the palace that would gladly join in your humor.”
“Oh Pardon me great Lieutenant, I hate to reprimand such a loyal, faithful, warrior such as yourself.” She starts walking slowly, her pace a shudder from a dance as she tries to encircle him.
He takes cold calculated movements to keep face to face with her.
She spreads her wings wide with an intimidation display, the feathers on her wings darker than any natural black. “However, you forget your place. I out rank you.”
“You want to pull rank? Have you forgotten your place, Empress? Our Guardian Emperor of Darkness out ranks you. My orders came from him.” Devadas does not move an inch of his folded wings.
Malencia flings her talon to backhand him, he simply takes a large step towards the side.
The custom is to respond in kind when challenged. Not engaging when challenged can be a sign of peace or submission, but to some personalities, it can just as easily be viewed as resistance or saying the challenger is not worth the effort of showing off wings.
Phantisma has her talon on Kurai’s shoulder as they both try to remain silent. Kurai physically shakes, holding back her emotions.
Devadas sees this from the corner of his eyes, and now steps in front of Malencia again, opening his wings wide while taking a defensive stance. “You play with your childlings far too roughly Empress Malencia. Let them finish their work. Come back after Emperor Koriath comes home.”
“I play and go as I wish.” Malencia unfurls not her tendrils, but a blast of dark energy as vastly dark as any space void.
Devadas silently takes a hold of the corrupting force with his talons. Trying to disintegrate it with his own shadow magic. Malencia stares at the force and it begins to squirm between the space of Devadas’s palms.
He tries to force it down between his talons, sweating as he finally starts to make the ball of shadow magic smaller. However the shrinkage is not negation, as the void mass starts to create tendrils from its crushed darkness.
Malencia snickers as she watches the mass extend its reach. One tendril wraps around one of Devadas’s talon-fingers. He winces as he feels the pain of tens and thousands of miniscule bites seeping down from his skin into his bones. His veins blackening with crimson spinel energy beneath his cosmic purple skin.
Grunting, he throws the mass back at her, his arm returning to its natural color as her malevolent magic is expelled from it. She merely holds her head high over it and the mass dissipates as simply void energy.
“Ah so you do play ball.”
“You are truly in a league all your own Your Grace. If you need a sparring partner, please wait for your husband.” Koriath, get here already.
“You look like you can hold your own, Devadas.”
“We are not friendly enough for you to call me so casually. Use my last name or rank.”
“Alright, I will toss you another one, Vayav.” She accentuates saying his surname in a mocking tone.
“Not here Your Abyssal Grace, I will follow you out to the sparring field. I am sure those on break would love to see such a match. My battle siblings would rejoice if I were victorious in our match, and your supporters would love to see me fall at your talons. Make a grand spectacle out of my resistance in public.”
“Only your precious Little Brother can use that tactic on me.” She smirks with cruelty. “No, you couldn’t be jealous. I am not your type.” She leers with a twisted smile as she sizes him up. “-Or could it be, that he is?”
Devadas holds back vomiting at the thought of either option. His face in pain as his skin flushes with sickly undertones.
She then relaxes her frame and turns, catwalking toward the drape. “However, I may take you up on your offer. That is, if you are so willing to forsake the instruction of your precious Dark Shepherd. Are you capable of abandoning your post in order to play?”
This is how Koriath gets her attention off of the princesses. I cannot distract her the way he does, but if playing a few rounds of this foul ball is all it takes, then I must do everything in my power. A room is not my post, their safety is. They are safe if she is distracted.
Devadas turns his head towards the twins as he lowers his wings. “Most Holy Princesses, keep working on your projects. If you need any help, just wait here until your father comes home.”
Phantisma and Kurai nod to him, then turn back to the desk in silence. Devadas walks alongside Malencia, then lifts the drape for her, following her into the hallway. The drape door flows silently closed behind him. Kurai and Phantisma sigh in relief.
Just as the girls turn their heads back to each other to speak, the cloth door flings wide open. Malencia slinks in, coating the room with her magenta and black energy. Blocking the entry with her magic, leaving only the window and ceiling unpainted. Devadas valiantly flies back in after her as a darkened mist.
“Malencia you bitch!” Devadas fights to break through her barrier as he shouts.
Only a singular talon sticks through, then he forces his arm through. She laughs with her feathers puffed out, her energy infecting him as void tendrils entrap him within the space.
“No silly, bitches are dogs.” Like the Light Guardian. Malencia turns her smile toward her daughters.
She only has her wings like that when she is hunting. Phantisma notes in her head with the stillness of a corpse.
Why is she looking at us like that? She only smiles at Aw’ddy that way. Kurai’s body starts to tremble, her wings twitching in her seat.
Devadas still struggles behind her. He manages to pull half his head forward, as he does it is as if the skin on his face becomes infected as his arm had earlier.
“Girls! Ru-” The energy seizes him with silence and paralysis as his body falls limp, halfway caught in Malencia’s energy field barrier.
Malencia chortles to herself as she stalks slower toward the Phantisma and Kurai. “There we go girls, you don’t have to listen to all of that boring nonsense.”
Seeing Devadas in this state, the girls cower. Phantisma sits lifelessly as Kurai shakes.
“Oh my pretty little childlings.” Malencia’s voice is horrifically sweet as her shadow cast over them as energy starts to slowly form on her back between her wings.
The girls remain terrified in place as she gracefully squats to be at eye level with them. Gently tracing the flesh-tips of her talon over each of their cheeks. “Do you ladies want to take a break?”
If we play along, she won’t hurt us too much. Tears stream down Kurai’s eyes as she forces herself to nod, her speech nervous, purposely trying to talk like a two age old. “Yes Aw’mmy.”
“Good girl Kurai.” Malencia pets her head, then retracts her talon from Kurai. Now turning her full attention to Phantisma. “How about you baby, do you want to play with Aw’mmy and Aw’is?”
Aw’ddy. Phantisma starts to cry inside of herself, her body remains unanimated and cold.
Malencia’s smile starts to wane as she forces her voice to remain sweet sounding. “Ground control to Phasi, come back from space.”
Phantisma can only shift her fear-swollen eyes upwards.
Malencia smiles with fiendish delight, roughly grabbing Phantisma’s chin. “There is my cute little monster.”
Little garnet eyes shift toward the ceiling, where black mass like a stormy tide crashes in. Malencia quickly follows Phantisma’s sight.
“Talons to yourself!”
Within that same moment Adumbra bursts in from above. Malencia simply waves her hand as the crimson void magic spreads to the ceiling. The Umbral Guard Captain punches a part of it away as her whole body comes into flesh form.
“Behind!” Phantisma shouts as the energetic barrier coats the ceiling entirely.
Tendrils of crimson, magenta, and black fiercer than the darkness of space engulf Adumbra’s body. Malencia moves her talon again as her magic fastens the struggling guard captain to the ceiling.
“I must say Captain Ossifragus, as a woman you sure are ugly, and as a warrior you are weak. But the sight of you hanging around-” She teases as black magic silences Adumbra before she can call for aid. “You are exquisite as decor, a true work of art.”
With this she raises her talon high and snaps a closed fist. Malevolent darkness seeps from Adumbra’s skin into her veins. The third and fourth strongest warriors of The Dimperium able to see and sense all horror, yet unable to champion against it.
Malencia turns back to the girls, slinking closer with a creeping smirk. “Now where were we?” She looks into Phantisma’s tearful garnet eyes. “Ah yes, you spoke out of turn.”
Though she reeks of fear, Kurai peeps up, using her survival tactic of mispronouncing words as before. Her arm and wing quiver as she puts them in front of Phantisma in such a rush that Kurai falls out of her seat.
“Aw’mmy, you said me and you were gonna play.”
Rai you are crazy! Phantisma plants her thoughts into her sister.
Malencia looks to Kurai, then reaches her arms out to her, her tone gushing sweetly with malice. “Then come to Aw’mmy baby.”
You are safe Phasi. Kurai thinks back to her sister, then swallows her fear and without thinking runs into Malencia’s arms. Her mother scoops her up gently, then cradles her as if she were a baby. Kurai plays along with it, her wings and limbs hanging off Malencia’s arm.
“Now what is a fun little game for two?” Malencia prances with Kurai toward the window as Phantisma, Devadas, and Adumbra helplessly watch.
“I know how about-” Malencia lifts Kurai back slowly with one arm as Kurai shuts her eyes and bites her lips.
“Fly or die!” In one fierce motion, she throws her own daughter, who is about ten ages too young to be able to fly, out one of the highest windows of the palace.
Within that movement Kurai screams while the energy of a starless sorrowful night starts to storm in from outside the realm.
Just like clockwork. Malencia smiles to herself as she senses that particular energy.
“Aw’ddy help!” Phantisma ducks under the table and screams at the top of her voice.
Malencia flies toward Phantisma with abyssal speed. Malencia squats down outside the table. Ferociously reaching her talon under and dragging Phantisma out by her neck. She lifts the little one up to eye level with her. “You will be grateful for my mercy.”
Phantisma wails as her mother leans into her cheek with a venomous kiss. The same magic that holds Devadas and Adumbra trapped now infects Phantisma’s face, slowly spreading through her body.
Malencia hastily drops her then vanishes upon a feathery sulfurous smoke. Her energy fading with her as she makes her exit. Adumbra’s body falls from the ceiling as Devadas’s body falls forward and faceplants.
Koriath’s heart pounds as he flies down into their realm from energetic into bodily form. He reaches out his arms as Kurai reaches for him as she cries. “Aw’ddy!”
He catches her with a dive, then flips them in the air to re-orient them, flying upwards. His wings shadow over her, not letting any of the chaos moonlight fall on her.
“She threw me.” Kurai holds tight to his Dark Guardian’s garb.
“I caught you my princess, you are safe.” He kisses her forehead as she clings and cries.
Koriath holds Kurai tighter as he tries not to become stuck in his darker emotions. Flying them up back into the study from the open window.
“Do not look, Nightshade.” Koriath tenses as he takes in the horror of what has happened. He uses his wing to shield his daughter’s ruby eyes, holding Kurai as if she would somehow save him from an onslaught of inescapable memories. He forces his body to start making his way to Phantisma first.
“We already saw. Devadas and Adumbra tried to save us. Aw’ddy, are they-”
“They are not dead, they are paralyzed. They cannot move.” Koriath gently tries to put Kurai down.
She clings to his neck, so he carefully lays her on his shoulder as kneels beside Phantisma. Fighting the memory of delicately drawing her from their egg as he takes her into his arms. His talons surge with healing magic.
Phantisma blinks with tears as her father’s soothing darkness lays to rest her mother’s infection. Her lips then begin to tremble as her body starts to return to normal. “Aw’ddy.”
“Aw’ddy is here Moonstone Princess.” He hugs Phantisma then gently wipes her cheek, ridding the terror left from Malencia.
“I have to help my battle siblings too though.”
“How do you get rid of it?” Kurai looks at him as he now sets them both down.
Koriath gets up wearily, answering her with solemn honesty. “I transfer it to me, and give my energy to heal.”
He runs to Adumbra who is closest, kneeling beside her as he lays his talon on her head. “Like this.” His night magic envelops her from his hand. Revealing to Kurai and Phantisma that as he gives out the blessing of the night, he takes into himself the void toxin.
“How come it doesn’t get you?” Phantisma asks quietly.
“It does. I just have built resistance to it from all the times she uses it on me. One time… she got me really bad with it… it was too much…” He starts to cry as he continues to heal Adumbra.
Kurai and Phantisma hold each other and slightly jump as Adumbra springs back into a life-like state, sitting up abruptly. Koriath with a silent haste rises to his feet and runs to Devadas. The girls run to the guard captain.
“I think that secret line saved their lives.” Adumbra sighs in relief, then tenses up again as two sets of tiny arms cling to her.
“Captain!” The girls both shout.
Meanwhile, Koriath’s right ankle starts to shake as he kneels again beside Devadas. Closing his own eyes as both his talons gently greet Devadas’s head. This dark lord lays healing dark waves upon his lieutenant. Devadas’s skin starts to return to his normal hues, able to move his black opal eyes again.
He fights to speak, his voice still returning to his normal strength. “Kor-”
“I will be fine. Thank you for fighting for the girls.” Koriath smiles wearily.
“Failed. Again.” Devadas tries to get up.
“You do not know how to fail.” Koriath jokes as he holds tight to Devadas. He starts to struggle with balancing his own emotions while taking up Malencia’s venom.
Adumbra walks over to them with the girls clinging to each of her legs. Devadas lifts his talon, signaling for them to wait.
As Koriath takes the last of the paralysis from Devadas, he shuts his eyes to hide them rolling back, falling to his side. His guardian garb dissipating, a brief magical transformation of shadows and feathers as his usual waist robes and jewelry reappear on him.
“Aw’ddy!” The girls cry together, as they break from Adumbra to run to him.
“Wait.” Adumbra quickly holds them back as worry floods out from her into the air.
Devadas quickly gets up, normally he is able to move Koriath with ease. However, the emotional weight and gravity the emperor currently holds in his body is much heavier than usual.
Devadas looks to Adumbra “He is having another episode, let the girls run to him if they wish to. They usually snap him out of it.”
Adumbra walks them over to their father, kneeling at the other side of him. Together Adumbra and Devadas are able to sit him up.
Phantisma holds Koriath’s talon as Kurai places hers on Phantisma’s shoulder. “He is angry at Aw’mmy.”
Devadas nods quietly, Kurai takes her talon off her sister. Turning quietly to the group with a fist.
“I never want to call her that again.”
“Then don’t.” Adumbra states. “Anyways Devadas, what are we going to do with Little Brother and the princesses? We can’t take the three of them back to the girls’ room.”
“We can’t leave Little Brother alone with her either.”
“Yes.” Koriath grunts as he starts to come back to himself.
“Aw’ddy no don’t leave us for her!” Phantisma cries as she holds his talon tighter.
“Aw’ddy if you leave us you better beat her up worse than what she did to us.”
“If I hit her- I will lose you both.” Koriath slowly starts to sit up on his own, opening his arms to hug them.
Devadas and Adumbra look at each other with new realizations. Understanding immediately the gravity of the situation. They fold their wings around each other to not be read by the royal family as they speak in lip to each other.
She must be still holding that promise made on his soul… She will kill them, and it will not be quick nor painless. Adumbra swallows her anger to keep calm.
Not just that, Malencia’s political pull. You know she would weaponize his words against him in court. Everything she has done to him, she will claim he did to her first. She has her own religion, she sets herself up as a war hero and champion. He loses not just the girls, he loses the empire, the crown, his palace, his reputation, everything. Devadas adds.
The girls are his everything. Adumbra corrects.
Their only hope for salvation is if Malencia dies in battle, but King Haelius is too much of a coward to meet her on the battlefield himself. Devadas holds back his sigh.
Phantisma cries as she throws her arms around her father, he holds her with one arm, then waits to see if Kurai will join. She stands still with her fist and starts crying.
Koriath surrenders his palm to Kurai as Phantisma buries her face into his opposite shoulder. “I know that look Kurai. Here. Hit my talon. You will feel better.”
“If I hit you then I am just as bad as her!” Kurai cries as she takes his free talon and puts it on the top of her head.
“Nightshade, you are not bad, you just have big energy and a big heart.” He gently pets her head as she holds his talon in place, now making her way to lean against him like her sister. Koriath turns his head to Phantisma. “And you Moonstone have big energy and a big mind.”
“Plus, no one is as bad as the empress.” Devadas tries to cheer them up as he and Adumbra leave their huddle.
Except for Evil Incarnate… could Malencia-No. Stay away from those thoughts, Koriath. That would mean… No, we are not going down those thoughts Koriath. Stay up here, in the moment with your family and friends.