The twin moons hung in the sky . A radiant silver-white moon dominated the heavens, flanked by its unsettling yet beautiful companion— a small, blood-crimson orb.
Inside The Fenice castle Arthur was laying in his bed, unable to sleep. His expression too pale and drawn; he looked like a man holding back a sickness or a curse.
Beside him, his wife, the countess Alina, slept deeply.
Suddenly, something on a table near the window began to hum and shake.
Arthur pushed himself up, careful not to wake his wife, and held the vibrating orb - 'The Moonpool'- in his hands.
The orb started to glow faintly in his hand, emitting a black magical aura.
It was an urgent message, a request for immediate contact.
The request came from Sebastian.
Arthur sat on the chair beside the table and casted a spell with a hissed incantation and sharp gesture from his hand.
The air around him grew thick and the surroundings became still. Muffling every sound, even the rustle of linen and Alina's soft breath.
Arthur activated the moonpool and the Sebastian's anxious face materialised like a hologram above it.
Arthur leaned closer, his lips moving in urgent and soundless shapes. His spell smothered every syllable–no eavesdropper, not even Alina, knew about the conversation that took place.
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It was going to be a long day. Elijah had already prepared for the things he needed to get done.
He hadn't slept–couldn't sleep, not after everything that happened after meeting with Carmilla and the piano girl– yet, his body radiated with energy.
Elijah was planning to meet with Alexander, the first thing he wanted to do was to get to Carmilla's cell and form the 'contract' with her. But, he needed the Alexander's permission and Sebastian's help for doing the same.
He had just awakened his magic and didn't know how to form a magic contract.
Elijah rang the bell to call Sebastian.
The door opened,
"Good morning, young master." The page boy greeted Elijah.
Well that's unusual, has he gone somewhere?
"Good morning, where's Sebastian?"
"Sir, I'm not sure. There was no one, so I answered your call."
Where could he be? Well, I should start by meeting the Duke first.
"Never mind, please deliver my message to the Duke– that I request an audience, and it's an urgent request."
Elijah emphasised on the last part.
The page quickly left the room after giving Elijah a short bow.
The room became quiet, Elijah sat on a chair beside the window and started fiddling with his rings.
His rings have already been charged by the Sebastian. After some time he became tired from waiting and decided to take a walk in the castle's garden.
Taking his sword with him Elijah started walking towards the garden, which was located in the adjacent wing of the palace.
Elijah was walking through an arched corridor when he felt something weird.
He had not seen a single guard since he left his room. It was a feeling similar to the one he had when he followed the music earlier that morning.
Don't tell me I'm still in that illusion.
It was not an illusion, but the palace was unusually empty. It felt eerily quiet.
Elijah hurried his steps, the sound of his steps echoed in the empty surroundings. He grew anxious as he passed through the corridor and entered an empty guard post.
Suddenly, an overwhelming sweet scent slammed into him. It was not floral. The smell was cloying, like a rotten fruit dipped in syrup.
The scent invaded Elijah's body, it felt like it stabbed deep into his throat piercing his lungs.
His hands flew to the hilt of his sword. His instincts were screaming as he tried to move his body, but it was useless against the poison in air.
None of his rings activated.
Elijah's vision started to blur. The darkness seemed to seep in like ink through the walls.
A figure clad in a dark cloak appeared in his vision. The figure's face was covered by a white mask, similar to those worn by the ones who aided Carmilla.
His last thoughts wasn't fear, but fury,
Not like this. Not yet…..
——————///——-///——-///——————
The sweet-cloying scent lingered faintly in the back of his throat, mixed with a damp and earthy smell.
Elijah stirred slowly back to consciousness. He could feel something rough and jagged, like bark, biting into his back.
Elijah's eyes opened and a vision of towering trees reflected in them. The afternoon sun was mostly blotted out by the canopy of the huge trees, casting a perpetual twilight over the forest.
Elijah found himself sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.
There was no time for observing the forest as his gaze finally focused on the cloaked figure, who stood ten paces away with his back turned to him.
Without a word, Elijah sprang to his feet and lunged, his unsheathed sword aimed straight at him—only to stop just before it struck.
"Young master! it's me, Sebastian. Let me explain."
A familiar voice came from behind the mask as the man dodged Elijah's attack.
Elijah's gaze dropped as he noticed the gilded cage held in the Sebastian's gloved hand. And inside…..
....was her- Carmilla's severed head.
She stared back at Elijah, her blue eyes flickering with excitement, while panic lingered in them like a low mist.
"What's the meaning of all this?" Elijah asked still holding his sword.
He was unwilling to doubt Sebastian. He subconsciously let his guard down, not even wanting to consider the possibility of betrayal.
"They have already sensed his disappearance, we need to hurry."
The head spoke in a tensed voice. Her expression turning dark as anger grew in her eyes.
"Young master, we must hurry. I'll explain it all later. Just know that I act for your safety, and on Count's orders."
Though every instinct screamed of betrayal, Elijah's blade lowered-a reflex forged by years of blind trust in Sebastian, a habit as comforting as it was perilous.
Sebastian opened the cage and hurriedly pulled out Carmilla's head as he walked towards Elijah.
"Young master, you need to erase the mark from her."
"But, how?"
I'm not an expert in erasing curses.
"You need to pour your blood on the mark, while using the same power you used to slice me up. That's the only way to remove this accursed mark."
Carmilla hurriedly answered him.
Sebastian handed him a dagger as he turned the head upside down, making the half destroyed mark on her severed flesh visible to Elijah.
Her long silvery hairs brushed against the dirt on the forest's floor, yet a smile filled with hope remained on her face.