Rewrite the Stars

A spoiled surprise was well worth the price of being able to supply room and board for people that so desperately needed -- and deserved -- it. Themesycia had been holding onto the reveal of her little future plans for quite some time, happy to let it build up until she could finally unveil it. And while it was still sooner rather than later, nothing gave her greater joy in knowing that it would be able to provide home and stability to the Xocili, and possibly the Rhaegarians. There were a lot of details that would most likely have to be ironed once the du Wolffs made the transition to living on the island but that was hardly worth worrying about at the moment. For now, the duchess watched in amusement and satisfaction as the very large problem that had been put before them was already answered before it became too much to handle.

Mercury was gracious for the opportunity, saying as much in words. The Silver Wolf Ace needn’t say more than that, as Themesycia more than understood what it would mean to her and her people. And for the duchess, it was enough to know that she was helping her future daughter in law and the rest of the Xocili. She rose to her feet along with the rest of the group and embraced Mercury as she came around, holding her tight against her body. Then she was released and the Silver Wolf Ace was moving to address the rest of her people. Using her magic to create a microphone and speakers, she took a moment and then began to speak in her native tongue. Vandrad’s translation device provided a clear understanding of what was being said but unfortunately, it didn’t have an output for the rest of the du Wolffs to understand. But at the same time, they seemed to comprehend the meaning behind the words, each of the older family members nodding and offering gracious bows when they were referred to. Surprisingly, Mercury had a lot to say, though that may have just been her nerves trying to clear as much information up as possible.

Once she had finished, she lingered for only a moment, as if she was making sure she had covered everything and then gave them all a nod. By that time, Everance had used her magic to craft a gateway, dressed in ivory and gold, that she activated to transport them to the island. The Xocili people were led through to their new homes, with the du Wolffs following after. While they certainly wanted to explore for their own reasons, the entire du Wolff clan made sure to wait and help where they could in getting Mercury’s people established in buildings. It took some time but it went smoothly and without conflict. In fact, the people were rather conservative in their choices, taking buildings that fit their needs rather than going for the larger, more elegant homes. It spoke to their culture, as their mindfulness of necessity over extravagance was put on display. As the Xocili people settled in, the rest of Vandrad’s family had a mind to explore the island some more. For the prince though, nothing sounded better to him than a shower and going to sleep and considering how exhausted Mercury looked, he felt she needed it even more than him.

He practically carried her home, bringing her back to his room and showering with her for a brief time. The woman was still ripe from her injuries and the hot water didn’t hold back its sharp sting but she still managed to get through it. Afterwards, they both seemingly melted into the bed with the Silver Wolf Ace passing right out once she was comfortable. For Vandrad, it took some time, his mind afraid that he would close his eyes and when they reopened, she would be gone and he’d be back on Rhaegar. It hadn’t even occurred to him that it had been days since he’d slept. Eventually his anxiety settled and his eyes fluttered closed, drawing him down into a deep, heavy and needed rest.

When he awoke in the morning, he was still home and Mercury was still with him. He couldn’t tell what time it was but he was sure it was later in the morning. His body refused to get up at its normal time, completely thrown off by his departure into another realm. For a long while he just lay there, telling himself to accept the fact that he was, in fact, home and that he was with Mercury once more. She awoke soon after, clearly still wanting to sleep and the prince had a mind to let her take it. But there was the matter of his family and her family that needed tending to and while he was more than happy to stay there all day and write off the entire day, it probably wasn’t wise. Eventually he suggested that they get up and take care of the responsibilities that were on their shoulders and while she wasn’t happy with the idea, she seemed amenable enough. He put on a simple t-shirt and a button down shirt over a pair of slacks, dressing himself casually for once.

Breakfast was still laid out and fresh when they came down, most of Vandrad’s family still gathered about the table. His cousins had taken off early to go explore the island more, their curiosity not filled nearly enough by the late night exploration. Mercury would find no response when she let Scourge know of the situation, the man seemingly occupied with something else. Vandrad practically ate his weight in food, his body needing to refuel all the missing protein and carbs that he’d been sorely lacking while away. He had noticed it first the night before, as he looked in the mirror, but he’d lose a fair amount of muscle mass. Unacceptable but understandable, given the limited supplies he’d had on Rhaegar. He would be sure to adjust for that and rebuild what he’d lost. Eventually Mercury leaned over on him and stated that she should probably go and check on her people. He nodded. "I imagine many of them had a hard time sleeping, waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Something he understood very well.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea. And Mercury, sometime later, would you mind working with Everance? Her Historia of Magic allows her access to Archive magic and she believes she may be able to scan your mind and craft a spell so that we can learn your native language and your people can learn the languages of Ishgar. At the very least, we should all be able to communicate and we feel it right that we learn the Xocili language as well. Not quite fair to force them to learn and not put any effort on ourselves,” Themesycia spoke up, even as she was standing on her feet.

It was a short walk to the portal and once they were through it, they’d be back on the island. Now coated in the brilliant light of the sun, the full height and size of the town rose up above them with its grand design. Even Vandrad looked impressed as he looked up towards the palace above and around the marketplace that they’d been dropped off. The prince would stay by Mercury’s side as she wandered around and checked in, unwilling to part with her for even a moment, even as the rest of his family walked the streets and chatted with one another.

There was a deafening pause of surprise when Mercury revealed that she was sure the Xocili had already learned the languages of Ishgar from Khelben. Given that it had only been a few hours since they last laid eyes on the extraterrestrials, it was hard to believe that they would already be that tempered in the language, let alone master a magic that would grant them the self-same study. Vandrad and Gren shared a look, both realizing that they had been so focused on finding Mercury that they had failed to let the rest of the family know just how Mercury’s people were like. Luckily the Silver Wolf Ace took it upon herself to fill in the blanks, explaining the reason why the Nazru had hunted them down and what that actually meant. It was a rather straightforward explanation, even if the knowledge of it was vastly complicated. The du Wolffs listened steadily, truly transfixed on the information that was being passed to them. “A perfect mixture of organic and synthetic,” Themesycia wondered aloud as she looked at Mercury with newfound interest, though that quickly faded back into familiarity. “You continue to be a marvel, Mercury.”

“As a scientist, the idea of your people evolving would be considered downright miraculous. Oh I have such questions for you!” Ever said with a warm smile, giving a small applause of excitement.

“And of course miraculous comes in a gorgeous package,” Simon threw in, giving Mercury a small toast with his glass in hand.

“But it does answer a lot of questions we had concerning you. Brings clarity -- but doesn’t change our opinion, mind you. We still love you as much as we did when you burst into the gala and made your grand entrance,” the duchess followed up with a small laugh.

“Vandrad and I uh… kinda already knew. But we were so distracted with tryin’ to find him and then her that it kinda just slipped our minds,” Gren cut in, bashfully admitting the truth.

“Well shame on you,” Themesycia said, leaning over to give him a playful smack on the shoulder. “I’ll have to think of some way to punish you.”

After the small humorous conversation came to a close and Mercury remarking that she should go and check on her people, the entirety of the group went through the portal to the island. Once there, they were treated to the glowing sight of its expansive city, rising up over the main road and topped, like a crown, with a palace at the top. Mercury murmured to Vandrad about the extravagance of it all and wondered what it would be like when Themesycia went all out. "You’ve seen it. My engagement party,” he reminded her. "Though even then, I imagine that was her holding back just to mess with me.”

“Oh you’ve no idea,” the duchess chimed in, having overheard Vandrad’s portion of the conversation. “Those were for women I didn’t care about at all. Just try and imagine the size and grandeur of the one I’m going to throw for you two. That and the bachelorette party.”

"We don’t need any bachelorette or bachelor parties, mother,” the prince was quick to cut her off.

But she was having none of it. “It is hardly about need, darling,” she shut him down and then changed the subject, so that he couldn’t protest further. “What you’re seeing up there isn’t actually the palace -- or rather, it’s not fully. It’s part of the communal flower garden I had put in up there; think of it like a large, grand gazebo of sorts. A metaphorical and literal crown upon the city below, christening it and its people. The manor is just beyond that. A bit smaller than the one in Bellum but I also had it built into the side of the mountain so it goes down several levels. Oh, just you wait until you see the club I have put in there.” The duchess was absolutely brimming with excitement, the sensation washing over her vibrantly and glowingly. It was clear that getting the secret off her shoulders had been a godsend, allowing her to showcase her love letter to her family and to the people she hoped to help.

As the rest of the group walked a different path down the street, Vandrad and Mercury stuck together. The Xocili people were out in force, having begun to adapt to the living situation that had been gifted them. It was clear that the Silver Wolf Ace was unsure how to feel or act around her own people and if Vandrad recalled correctly, she really hadn’t spent much time around her own race. The prince stayed close, keeping her hand in his to provide support. A few of the Xocili approached them as they went, introducing themselves and proving that they had, in fact, already adapted the native language by speaking it fluently to the pair. There was an unfamiliarity in them about their situations though. They had settled in, that much was obvious, but there was the lingering dreamlike state that they all shared. Each one of them didn’t seem to truly believe that they were there, that the joined nightmare they had all been part of was over. And who could blame them for thinking like that. Only time could heal that wound and help all of them adjust and move forward.

Mercury’s name was spoken and there stood Zemenar, a ball of nerves and anxiousness that swiftly infected the Silver Wolf Ace, leaving the father and daughter unsure of how to proceed accordingly. Deciding to pivot slightly, he turned his attention to Vandrad and introduced himself, as they hadn’t had the time to make any origination of one another. "Vandrad,” he said, offering his hand to the man. Zemenar thanked him for his family’s actions, stating that the entirety of the people were grateful for the gifts and care, even if they were still learning how to appreciate it fully. "No need to thank us. My mother… well, my entire family has always been charitable and welcoming to those that deserve it. And there’s little doubt you and your people deserve it.”

Zemenar looked back to Mercur, wondering if he could take a little of her time to talk with her and actually get to know her. The Silver Wolf Ace was happy to, having intended on meeting up with him anyways. Though unsure of how to properly advance beyond just the idea, Mercury suggested that they could stay in the street or go to the home that Zemenar had chosen for himself. Opting for that choice, he brought them a few streets over to his home, taking the time to give them a tour, as the buildings were still as new to Mercury and Vandrad as they were to the Xocili. Once they had finished, they came to rest in the living room, the engaged pair on the couch and Zemenar on one of the armchairs. Still unsure of how to go about it, the man asked Mercury to tell him about herself or to ask questions -- really whatever she was feeling.

The Silver Wolf Ace admitted she had a few but felt she could provide some information before getting to that. She spoke about her position within Silver Wolf and what guilds were and stood for and what Silver Wolf itself had established as its goal. She mentioned that Vandrad was also second in command at Fairy Tail and admitted she didn’t quite know what Fairy Tail’s goal was. "It provides a home for those that don’t know where home is. Though it is a guild for those that wish to fulfill mercenary work, it is also there to protect their own. Not as aggressively as it did in the past but still, to a point.” he explained to the two of them.

Zemenar turned the topic to them, confirming that they were engaged. As Mercury validated his assumption, the older man asked about how they had met. Well, that was complicated. How did Vandrad put this graciously? "We were tasked to complete a job together. She saw how I… was and it amused her so she decided to keep coming around. Over time, we formed somewhat of a kinship, an equally measured partnership. That became something even more after that,” he explained, glancing over to Mercury and giving her a slightly impish smirk, even as he squeezed her hand.

But there were some things weighing on his mind and before they got too deep into any kind of formative conversation between father and daughter, he felt he needed to clear the air. "In regards to my… near actions yesterday,” Vandrad said, his humor disappearing momentarily. "I wish to apologize. I know that Khelben was only acting as he thought it right to protect all of you. I was still caught up in the emotion of seeing Mercury again so I jumped to conclusions and almost made a hasty mistake. I sincerely beg your forgiveness.”

Once that small, very serious bit had cleared, he continued. "And the Xocili people are truly welcome to stay here or travel elsewhere in the world. Whatever you all desire to do is yours to embark on. The du Wolffs charge no payment for housing and protecting you. But should you remain here, I just wanted you to know that my family is… different than most families. They are very familiar, very… flirtatious.” How does one explain that his family was made up of whores? "They are caring, generous and well intentioned. But they can get rambunctious. Just let them know what you are and aren’t comfortable being around and they’ll adjust accordingly.” Vandrad had a sneaking suspicion that, now that the dread had begun to filter away, Themesycia would be yearning to throw a more jovial feast to welcome the Xocili people. And he and Mercury knew very well how his family could get.

Of course Mercury was quick to clarify the truth behind their meeting, speaking in far more plain terms to the origin of their relationship. It hardly surprised him and he gave her a side-eye that was far more amused than annoyed, especially at the mention that they both had no intention of becoming ‘a thing’ as she put it. Zemenar was fairly entertained by it and offered his congratulations to the both of them, amused and thrilled that he wasn’t just getting a daughter back but a son-in-law as well. Of course, he had to know when the wedding was planned for, a matter that hadn’t even been reasonably discussed. It had been such a short time since they’d even gotten engaged and barely any downtime to even think about all the planning that went into it.

As Vandrad took the time to express his regret and apologies for putting Khelben in such a precarious situation, as well as give the man and his people fair warning to how liberal his family could be. Zemenar didn’t seem to quite grasp the full context of what Vandrad was saying but there was little he could do to clarify or define it without coming across as vulgar. As much as that usually wouldn’t give him pause, he also didn’t want to intimidate or worry Zemenar or the rest of the Xocili. His family meant well; they were just a little loose in their morals and partner obligations. The prince supposed that they would just have to see for themselves and who knew when or where that would happen. Most likely sooner rather than later, if Vandrad understood his family well enough.

Zemenar turned the subject back to Khelben, admitting that he understood why Vandrad had so hastily ‘drawn arms’ in a way. The older Xocili admitted that life hadn’t been easy for Mercury’s apparent brother and he hadn’t done much of a job in helping to ease that. He went on to explain a bit of how the Xocili had been ‘structured’ by the Nazru, a caste system if he ever heard one. It seemed there were Scouts and Collectors; he understood that Scout was what Mercury had been and from that was able to discern what their duties were. Considering what Khelben had done, and the name itself, it was not hard to figure out what a Collector’s responsibilities were either. Zemenar, however, was an Enforcer, whose job it was to ‘process’ rebellious members of their people and set them back on the right path. It seemed the Nazru insisted on it being that way, as they got a sick enjoyment out of watching the Xocili hurt their own. He admitted, solemnly, that he had been the one responsible for most of Mercury’s more recent injuries.

Apparently he had only earned the position because the last Enforcer had escaped with a group of Xocili. The arrogance of the subjugated had infuriated the masters and they had put numerous Xocili to the sword to set an example. Zemenar was told that any further rebellion would result in the full genocide of the Xocili people and, as such, the pressure of keeping his people safe had overtaken any moral obligation of resisting subjugation. He’d instructed Khelben to follow the rules that had been handed down to them to the letter, as he couldn’t stand the thought of one of his children becoming one of his torments. It must have been truly heartbreaking to realize that Mercury had been his and the agony of what he had done to her was, surely, something that would stick with him for the rest of his days. Tears flowed down his cheeks despite his calm speech, a true showcase of the pain he was feeling inside. He explained that he’d never told Khelben about the possibility of having a sister because as far as he knew, he hadn’t. Their mother had put on a ship to escape from the coming Nazru but it had fallen and Syclla had been killed. He never knew what happened to the daughter she was due to birth but to protect Khelben’s already aching heart, he had chosen to keep the knowledge of Mercury’s existence to himself. That way he would be protected. As he met Vandrad’s gaze, he insisted that they were all culpable for actions against their own people, for their own people’s safety. Khelben’s loyalty was something that had been established by Zemenar’s insistence, even if the Nazru were ultimately the ones to blame. But as he saw it, the prince had no reason to apologize -- he’d been protecting Mercury for years and giving her the kind of freedom that other Xocili could only dream about. But he thanked him for the apology, stating that Khelben would do everything he could to make things right.

There was a ripple of anxiousness that rumbled through Mercury, the tiniest of fluctuations that hinted at something else below the surface. Vandrad’s eyes flicked to her briefly before returning to meet Zemenar’s full on. "You did what you had to do to protect your child and your people. It’s… complicated, I understand but I understand why you did it. And I doubt Khelben holds any blame for you over it.” After all, if he’d insisted on rebellion, there was little doubt that the Xocili would be but a memory.

The conversation moved on, each side sharing stories and facts about one another, so as to better get to know each other. There was plenty to learn about Earthland, even if the weight of the ‘religious’ aspects would take some time to understand, as it had for Mercury. Since they were already on the topic, Mercury felt compelled to bring up the concern that Vandrad had already shared with her. She informed Zemenar that while there were a lot of positives about the world, there were also negatives -- and enemies waiting to strike. She shared what the prince had told her, wanting to give Zemenar and the Xocili fair warning of the potential danger that may be coming their way. She believed the island would be safe, as its existence had only recently been revealed, but there was still the need to prepare everyone just in case.

"I’ve spoken to my mother and aunt and we’re going to dispel the portal to here from our home in Bellum. In the instance that anyone manages to sneak onto the du Wolff compound, we don’t want them to gain access to you and your people. After all, they would be seeking some kind of deceptive manner of gaining knowledge or launching an attack -- they wouldn’t dare come at my mother in open combat. They wouldn’t last long enough to regret their decisions.” Without any means of getting to the island, the Dread Masters wouldn’t be able to pinpoint it. That would keep the Xocili safe, even if things became far worse than expected.

Speaking of his mother… "I suspect my mother is planning on throwing some kind of extravagant feast to properly welcome you all to Earthland and to the island. She rarely needs much of an excuse to have a party. We should probably go and find out what she has planned, just to be prepared for what awaits us.” Though it was hardly the danger that the Dread Masters bore, it was still something that Vandrad felt was better known than unknown.

Zemenar was appreciative of their efforts to protect the Xocili people from any repercussions coming towards Mercury or Vandrad. But he also insisted that if they asked for help, they would find assistance. They wanted a means to help repay the kindness that had been brought to them. "No repayment is necessary, especially one that could put you or the rest of the Xocili in danger. The only thing I want you to be concerned about is taking care of your own for now. We’ll do everything in our power to prevent any danger from coming to you but I’ll still feel better if you’re aware of the dangers and prepared for it. My family and Mercury surely feel the same way.” The last thing Vandrad wanted was these poor people to be subjected to a war that they had no part in. They had just gotten their first taste of freedom and it wouldn’t be right to recruit them against the Dread Masters, even unintentionally.

Speaking of the prince’s, it seemed time to go and check up on her and see where they had progressed to on the island. Zemenar was, understandably, a bit sad that he was losing more time to spend bonding with his daughter but he seemed to know that he couldn’t keep her grounded forever. He expressed his interest in going to check on the rest of the people, including Khelben, as they had been working on something to communicate their freedom to the Xocili people still spread out among the stars. Mercury told him that they would make sure that they gave them supplies and arms to hold onto, just in case the worst came to pass. After another awkward moment between the two, finally the older Xocili took the initiative and hugged his daughter to him, embracing her with all the emotion one could have after all the years spent apart and unknowing of one another’s existence. The Silver Wolf Ace melted into it after a brief moment, breaking down her walls and letting her emotions flow.

As they left to find his family, Vandrad couldn’t help but notice the simmering happiness that was emanating off of Mercury. Her smile was soft but there was an aura about her of lightness and contentment. For the moment, she couldn’t help but grab hold of the happiness and peace that was being gifted to her, appreciating it fully. The prince was honestly moved by it, enthused to see her happy without strings attached, enjoying herself without the overhanging threat of what lay above. There was still much to be concerned about in the future, yes but they were matters that they were already aware of and could make proper preparations later. For the moment, Mercury had earned her happiness and by his own admissions, she should enjoy it and it seemed she truly was.

They caught up to his family somewhere near the middle of the steep city and Themesycia was more than happy to continue guiding them all with the new inclusion. Their trek took them to the top of the island, where the massive garden structure and the garden itself lay. It was a beautiful, colorful set of beds, already lined with several bright flowers from all across Ishgar. Beyond was the manor that Themesycia had insisted was smaller than their current home. She may have been technically correct, as it didn’t spread out backwards as much as the du Wolff manor in Bellum but it certainly had more of a palace feel than a ‘manor’. There were still portions of it being worked on but the rooms that had been finished were furnished as well. The duchess led all of them to the rooms she had established for them and it was then that Mercury stole Vandrad away, retreating to Themesycia’s room while the rest of the group was busy and stealing a quick moment for the two of them to get reacquainted in a quick but needed hook up. Normally Vandrad would have attempted to shut down such an insinuation, especially in his mother’s room, but there was little denying that he needed that closeness with her just as much as she needed it.

Eventually they caught up and finished the tour, just in time for the sun to begin its descent and the feast only a few hours away. The duchess had already asked the cooks and the manor workers to set up a large bonfire near the harbor waters, wanting to provide the Xocili a casual but exciting event that they could very easily get back home from after they’d had their fill. Once the cool evening sky had painted itself over the roof of the world, the call to festivities was given out for all to come and join. Music cheerily played in the air as the du Wolff clan and the Xocili came together to feast and be entertained. The selection of food and drink was even more vast than the night before, the cooks sparing no expense and whipping up some of their finest selections. As time went on, the Xocili’s even began to join the joyous atmosphere with a bit more lightness and even some intoxication. And even Serilda and Mythal joined, the latter having finally awakened from her rest and wishing to see how everyone fared.

The Xocili opened up much more than anyone anticipated, as they spoke of the music they once played on their home world. As they described their instruments, Mercury was able to craft them using her magic, amazing her peers with both her ability and generosity. In no time, the new residents of the island had overtaken the music with their own and were performing their own dances, the du Wolff clan happy to watch and take in the joy that was being felt by the former slaves. Of course, VAndrad was dragged to his feet more times than he cared to normally but oddly found himself happy to participate, if only to spend more time with Mercury. Whereas the feast from the night before had been about compensating for the weight of reality and recuperating from a rebellion, this was one about celebrating the future moving forward. And they all felt it deep within them, especially those that finally got to see Mercury without her strings, without her guard and her walls.

Sometime later in the evening, when everyone had ventured off to bed, either in a drunken haze or yearning for a food coma, Themesycia made her way back to her room, with Gren escorting her. They’d stayed behind to help with cleaning after the feast had settled down. “Well, it’s safe to say that the Xocili sure do know how to cut loose when the mood strikes,” the duchess remarked with a chuckle.

“Yeah but I doubt they’re ready for your version of ‘cuttin’ loose’,” Gren commented back.

Themesycia continued to chuckle. “Few are. Vandrad told me he gave Zemenar and the rest of them a fair warning about our particular ways of celebrating. Though I highly doubt he mentioned the fact that Mercury has slept with damn near all of his family, including his father,” she said, shooting the former Knight a glance. “And here I thought you would feel all honor bound not to fool around with your son’s fiance.”

“Hey, hey, she was not his fiance at the time. There were no lines drawn,” Gren insisted, his speech a bit slurred. He’d had a decent amount to drink and was feeling quite good about himself. “Besides, just between the two of us, it’s hard to say no to her, huh?”

“Oh I’ve just made it a point never to say no to her. Luckily she just never says no to me either,” Themesycia shared with a wicked, impish grin. “I’m glad that you’re feeling more… casual about those kinds of things. Once upon a time, you were ready to drop to a knee for me after only one night.”

Gren shrugged. “It’s been a long time, Themmy. I’ve been with plenty of other women since you.”

The duchess raised a brow curiously. “Oh my, I do hope they provided some juicy stories.”

“Not as juicy as ya might think,” he admitted.

As they came to a stop outside her door, Themesycia turned to face him fully. “Are you still planning on staying in the guest chambers tonight? I wasn’t sure if you were going to head out, now that Vandrad and Mercury are back and safe.”

“You heard Van. I don’t think I can let my guard down anytime soon. Best I stick near you and the rest of them. Better protection in numbers, ya?”

She nodded. “Agreed.” After a moment she chuckled and leaned in a little, drawing her hand over his arm. “It was… quite the sight to see you fighting again. I was brought back all those years ago, when I was a younger woman.”

Gren smiled back at her. “You ain’t that woman anymore. Ain’t anyone here that racked up a bigger body count than you on that ship. You were… dazzlin’ to watch, Themmy. I always knew you were strong but damn if it wasn’t somethin’ to see.”

“Mmm you always had a way with words,” she hummed pleasantly. Realizing that she was getting perhaps a bit too familiar for his comfortability, she let her hand drop back down to her side momentarily. “It’s probably best if we each get some rest. We’ve had quite a bit to drink.” With that said, she lifted her hand up to his face and drew him down gently so that she could give him a gentle but lingering kiss on the cheek. “Rest easy, Gren.”

And frankly, Themesycia was fine leaving it there. He’d drawn his line in the sand months ago, insisting he wasn’t interested in restarting any kind of spark between them. As much as it pained her to think she’d never get a second chance at her ‘what if’, she respected the man too much to encroach on it. Giving him a gentle and warm smile, she turned and reached for the door, ready to let herself in and most likely relieve herself of the tension of being so close to the handsome man. Imagine her surprise when his hand reached around her waist and practically twirled her like a professional dancer. As she came back around, eyes wide in surprise, she found his lips on hers, his musk and the sweet scent of wine filling her nostrils and the taste of him on her mouth. She barely realized what was happening before her arms naturally swung up to wrap around his neck, the duchess pressing herself against him tightly as she deepened the kiss, now unwilling to let him go.

Luckily, departing was the last thing on his mind. Reaching a hand down to cup her rear -- earning him a surprised chuckle against his mouth -- he used his free hand to push open her door and carry her into the bedroom, clearly not planning on staying in the guest room. Farther down the hall, Hosrius was out on one of the public balconies, pulling up a communication device. As it flickered to life, the holographic image of a figure appeared. Dressed in heavy armor, with a white hood and a skull-like mask, the glowing yellow eyes shifted slightly. “Hosrius, this is a surprise.”

“Not a pleasant one, I’m sad to say. I’ve gotten confirmation that Maker is, in fact, still alive. It looks like my perfect record can be crossed off,” the extraterrestrial confirmed, his voice low and soft. “I figured I should let you know before I let the Taskmasters know.”

The figure was quiet for a moment, processing the information. “And you’re sure it’s him?”

“I didn’t see it with my own eyes but I have a trustworthy source. They’re sure.”

“Vun'bicn,” the figure swore. Then, after another brief moment of consideration. “Don’t tell the Taskmasters. We both know what they’ll do to you if you failed a bounty. We’ll handle this together.”

Hosrius looked surprised by that. “I thought you didn’t want to get involved.”

“I didn’t. But this is clearly fate telling me I can’t avoid it. It was cowardly to send someone to kill my brother in the first place. I need to make things right. Send me your coordinates.”

But not everyone was celebrating or making intergalactic calls. Miles away, beyond the borders of Bellum, Scourge was busying himself looking for records. The Dread Master had found a secret stash of protected information, a cache of knowledge that the Dread Masters had hidden away even from their own order. To say that all of it was interesting and worth looking over was an understatement but Scourge was looking for something in particular. His finger traced along the locked boxes, the man humming to himself as his eyes scanned the room. “Now if I were a hidden box of information pertaining to Ataxia, where would I be..?” he wondered aloud to himself.

Unfortunately he wouldn’t get a chance to check. A sharp pain shot through his mind, causing him to grimace and grab at his temple. The old familiar system of alerting Dread Masters that a gathering had been called was unconventional and irksome, to say the least. And while Scourge had half a mind to ignore the summons, he suspected his absence would raise questions he wasn’t prepared to field at the moment. Sighing in resignation, he took one last glance around before he raised his fingers to his forehead. Locating the familiar magical signatures of the Dread Masters took only a moment and then, once locked on, he dematerialized from the vault and reappeared in the base.

Manifesting into existence among the gathered number of Dread Masters, he glanced over to the one he’d locked onto particularly and smiled. “Thanks for the ride,” he added graciously before another odd sound caught his attention. It came from the inside of his cloak, curiously. Reaching in, he found the device that Mercury had given him -- the customized iLac. Raising a brow, he turned himself slightly and dropped his hand down so that no one else could get a proper look at what it was or what was on the screen. She’d sent him a message some hours before, undoubtedly blocked by how deep in the ground he’d been, letting him know that she and Vandrad were safe. Well that was a relief -- he’d hoped his efforts to provide something of a lead to her whereabouts would pay off. Now, at the very least, the prince of Bellum wouldn’t be on the warpath against him.

His attention to the message was drawn away as three cloaked forms entered from three distinct hallways. The Triad -- the three Dread Masters that were considered the de facto leaders of the organization. Though it was believed that they answered to someone above them, a shadow superior not unlike what Marka Ragnos used to operate as, though no mention or sign of them had ever been given. The three aligned themselves together in front of the gathered group, even as Scourge quietly pocketed the iLac.

“The next step in the Vandrad Ragnos conundrum has been decided,” the middle one spoke. “After much research and deliberation, it has been decided that the Union shall move forward as originally planned.”

The Union. That wasn’t good. Scourge frowned. But the Triad continued. “For too long the Ark has remained unbalanced. It is time to return it to its former glory and reclaim it for our purposes, not those of a reckless half-breed.”

Half-breed. That was news to Scourge as well. “You’ll have to excuse the interruption,” he spoke up, stepping through the front of the gathered Dread Masters and putting himself in the limited light. “But as the one that is directly involved in the Union, I have some questions. I was led to believe that the Union required more study to be completed against Vandrad’s wishes. And what is this about being a half-breed?”

“Ah, Scourge. So busy chasing shadows that you haven’t been watching the events unfolding before us. One might think that you’re slacking,” the familiar, sinister voice of Maker came from one of the interceding hallways. There stood the alien, his mask removed for once, looking pleased as punch.

“And aren’t you looking amused, Maker. I see the cuffs they dragged you away in have been removed,” Scourge remarked to the extraterrestrial. His eyes flicked to the Triad. “I thought my warning about his methods and goals were enough to have his life ended. He’s a far worse threat to our world than most of the gods and demons we’ve come across lately.”

“Maker has proven his loyalty to this order by providing key information about Vandrad and his associates -- information that you have been sorely lacking in dispensing lately,” one of the Triad replied coldly.

“Well excuse me for my ever evolving methods. I figured a softer touch was needed,” Scourge dismissed the accusation with a wave of his hand. “After all, I made my plea to Vandrad to surrender peacefully. It seemed a bit heavy handed to make a move on him after such a public attempt on his life”

“A public attempt on his life followed by the kidnapping of his extraterrestrial fiance and right in front of you even, Scourge. One might be surprised that you wouldn’t have felt compelled to share that with your fellow Dread Masters.”

How the hell did Maker know that? Scourge’s eyes met the alien’s briefly before melting back into his casual, charming self. “I simply intended to try and utilize the situation for mine and the Dread Masters' benefit. My methods have never been scrutinized before, have they?”

“Perhaps they should have been,” the first of the Triad spoke once more. “Maker has been candid of his results as of late while yours have been hidden and secretive. But now is the time to prove your loyalty. You know what the Union requires, Scourge -- we expect it to be done. In the meantime, we will enact a plan to wipe out Vandrad’s allies. The du Wolff family has already been marked for extermination and our sources have provided ample evidence for Bellum to denounce them once the act has been done. Mercury Arseneault, the Silver Wolf Ace and Vandrad’s fiance, must also perish. Maker has enlisted fifty of our people to ensure the act is done, as his research on her has proven that she provides very little danger to us.”

That wasn’t true but fifty was still an enormous amount of people. And there was no telling what state Mercury was in after whatever she had gone through after her kidnapping. “If I may interject. I’m sure Maker has spoken of the… testing we both performed with Mercury. I’ve fought beside her, seen the limits of her ability. She isn’t dangerous at all. Fifty is an exorbitant amount of resources to be used when there is still the matter of Themesycia du Wolff. I’d suggest twenty people to take out Mercury and then use the rest to guarantee Themesycia and the rest of the du Wolff’s destructions.”

The Triad stared at him silently for a moment before their mutual gaze shifted to Maker. “Scourge is… correct. She didn’t seem to possess much ability beyond technical prowess. She’ll hardly stand up against ten of your number, let alone twenty. And though I am certain of my ability to stop Themesycia du Wolff, having more members to help plant the explosives would help the process go much easier.” The extraterrestrial bought in. It was a blessing that Mercury had kept her magic use to such a minimal level, providing Maker with little evidence of her abilities. At the very least, that would help the threat imposed upon the Silver Wolf Ace.

Scourge could only hope that the Ashen Dread was more than up to the task to take out the rest of them. “Well tally-ho and hip-hip and all that. But what will we do to ensure the Order of Souls doesn’t attempt to intercept our attempts?”

“That won’t be a problem,” another voice came from the opposing hallway. The source of the voice came around the corner, stepping into the light to stand beside the Triad. There was little Scourge could do to hide the surprise on his face as Zifu Kuttuvan stood before him. “The Order of Souls will either join the Dread Masters or perish. Those will be their only options after our number infiltrate their base and annihilate their defenses.”

“Allow us to introduce Zifu Kuttuvan, the hidden member of the Dread Masters leadership. She has been undercover within the Order of Souls for years, attempting to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses.”

“Well that is surprising. Should we expect Master Chishan to step out from another hallway next?”

Zifu smirked. “Unfortunately, my soon-to-be deceased husband has proven too soft of heart for our goals. It’s a terrible shame but he must share the fate of so many others on our journey of ruling over mankind as the rightful heirs to the divine throne.”

“All at once, our enemies and obstacles shall be struck down and removed. In one fell swoop, we shall put ourselves back on track and once more continue our pursuit of our destiny. The destiny that Marka Ragnos saw for us all. Prepare, Dread Masters -- the slaughter awaits us!”

Scourge stood, stunned, as the members of the order cheered behind him. His eyes turned towards Maker, smug and smirking back and then over to Zifu, looking just as pleased. In one fell swoop indeed… everything he’d been building toward would be wiped away. And all for a goal that he now believed had corrupted a once sincere destiny as savagely as it had corrupted the deities and demons themselves. There was only one path ahead for him.

And if he figured it right, it would result in his death.