The following fanfiction contains examples and mentions of:

Witchcraft, Demons, Human Sacrifice, Apple Shenanigans, Demon Summoning, Dark Magic, Forced Bonding, Blood and Gore, Rape/Non-con Elements, Mind Manipulation

Ye be warned all who enter.

x-x-x-x

The book he long search for glowed a pale golden as he approached it. The Apple pulsed brightly in his hand, signaling the object of his desires had been found. Grinning, he shoved the Apple away into its satchel, and he pulled the book free from the shelf. The Apple still glowed even from its confinement, providing plenty of light for him to flip open the book and glanced through.

Arcane symbols decorated the pages, a language long forgotten, but nothing that could The World's Solider in his tracks. Thankfully, what he'd need for the ceremony was illustrated onto the pages, so at least there was that to go off of. The grin still across his face, he closed the book shut, and made his hasty escape. The last thing he needed right now was to be found in the restricted section of the city's archives.

x-X-X-x

In broad daylight, the book was even more fearsome and arcane. Whatever the material it the pages had been bound it, it surely was anything but leather. Granted, the book was centuries old by this point, and yet it looked as fresh as the day, even if the material that kept it together was…otherworldly. The ink in which the book was written was just as questionable. Desmond was sure the ink of choice changed from paragraph to paragraph, picture to picture. Maybe sometimes it was real ink, maybe sometimes it was blood, maybe something entirely different.

But it was something utterly fascinating to read regardless. With the Apple's help, he was able to decipher the writing one little word at a time. Many of it made little sense regardless however, speaking of powers he wasn't interested in, of monsters that had been long since dead, of kingdoms that had fallen to said monsters, yadda yadda.

He did't care, it wasn't what he was looking for.

Desmond was only interested in a hopeful one chapter of the book, the story of the Mother and Her Child. And more importantly, how to summon one of them. Desmond had…great plans for them, and for himself really. The King wanted him to do something with his life, do something great, something worthy of inheriting the throne.

One would think just being the Prince of an entire kingdom would be enough. Or that he was the only one who could perfectly control the Pieces of Eden, ancient artifacts passed down through his family, nearly uncontrollable things until he had been born. But nooooo, his old bat of a father insisted he do more, something better.

Fine, if that's how he wanted it. So The World's Soldier decided he'd live up to his name, conquer and control a near unstoppable force. Cause really, how cool would that be? Pretty freaking cool, hence why Desmond just had to do it.

Except, he kinda needed a little help with it, and that's why he needed a super forbidden book for it. Couldn't exactly casually walked up to a summoner or a priest and ask them, "Could you summon a super dangerous and deadly demon for me?"

Yeah, that wouldn't go well.

Especially with the whole laundry list of things he was going to need just to put into the circle to summon this thing. Eyelash from a black cat, star of broom, symbols arranged on holy parchment, and oh the grand kicker, virgins. And that was just if he wanted to summon Her Child, The Mother required two virgins and an expectant mother. The Divines would ascend down from the heavens and rip out his soul before that would ever happen.

Desmond had to sit the book down, it was too much. He reclined back into his pillows and stared up at the lattice ceiling of his chambers. The glow of the Apple faded as its power withdrew back into itself, and he felt human again as they both rested. This magic shite was too much work, too complicated, no wonder normal people didn't do it anymore.

Especially using virgin sacrifices. That was like soooo fifth century. How the fuck was he supposed to get virgins? Desmond contemplated this for an embarrassingly long time before the answer finally hit him.

x-X-X-x

"He did WHAT?!"

"Choose candidates to be his potential brides."

"I understand that but by the Divines, WHY did he do it?"

"I believe the word "brides" implies he means to marry them."

"Don't be smart with me, Altair."

The Head Guard simply shrugged. "I speak plainly my Lord. I only know what I have been told. If you wish to know more, then go ask him," Altair said.

The High King leaned back into his throne, rubbing his temples as he did. He liked to think his son wasn't as much of a buffoon as everyone likened him out to be, but it was on occasions like this that he couldn't help but absolutely agree with them.

"Very well," William sighed. "Return to your duties, Altair. I'll handle this on my own."

"My Lord," Altair struck a fist across his chest, bowed, then departed from the throne room. William remained still, staring off into the far wall as he tried to fully accept that he had to go confront his son over something like this. From what he had gathered from Altair, his son had a gaggle of women up in his private quarters, and he had brought them in with…the apparent intention to marry them?

William couldn't help but feel like this was partially his fault. He had been a little hard on his son lately, mostly about things relating to inheriting the throne someday soon. But marrying three girls at once? Oh what nonsense was Desmond up to now.

With a heavy sigh, William lifted himself off his throne to seek out his wayward offspring. Each step closer to the northwestern wing of the palace caused another thorn of despair to pierce at his heart. His son was not a bad man by any means, but at times, was more or less…misguided. And William was beginning to suspect that this was one of those times.

His son's "room" was extravagant to say the least. Three tiered balconies that reached up to a lattice ceiling. He didn't have to climb up and search, all William did was follow the sound of laughter and giggles. On the first floor, tucked away in a corner, where hot coals sat beneath it, there was a small pool that his son and his "brides-to-be" lounged. Baskets of fruit and bottles of wine sat at the edges of the pool, goblets in one hand, another hand pawing at Desmond's chest.

William cleared his throat loudly to be heard over their laughs, and the girls gasped and squealed, ducked into the water more, and tried to vainly cover their breasts up with their free arm.

"Father!" Desmond grinned as he held up his goblet towards him. "Excellent timing, I have the most fantastic news for you!"

"You're getting married." William stated.

"Ah ah, noooot quite." Desmond corrected. "I'm considering getting married, and these three lovely ladies are the perfect candidates to me by bride. Or brides. I like them all so much, they might all just have to share the role of queen. I can't simply choose between them."

The three girls giggled nervously, batting their lashes at Desmond, but still giving William sideway glances. The High King could feel a vein ready to burst in his head.

"This is a rather unconventional way of going about it," William said carefully. "Are you sure you put enough thought into this?"

"I have it all under control," Desmond assured him. "And if something comes up, I'll ket you know. And I shall further inform you when concrete plans are made. Don't woooorrry, I'm handling this just fine."

William doubted that, a lot. Even with the serious look Desmond gave him, William couldn't help but still be suspicious. Just what game did his son think he was playing at here? He wasn't quite sure, but he did intend to find out.

"Very well then," William sighed. "I'll leave you to your…own devices then."

He have the foursome a small nod before he retreated back out of the room. William really wished the image of his son being pawed at by naked women was a sight he hadn't witnessed.

x-X-X-x

Desmond waited until he felt his father was for sure out of the room before he relaxed, slumping against the edge of the pool as his "brides" chattered to each other excitedly about being caught by the King himself. Desmond set his wine aside tor rub his face, because that had been too close.

"Is everything alright, my Lord?" one of his doves asked him, a gentle hand placed back upon his chest.

"Oh no, everything's fine," he reassured as he forced himself to smile. Just uh….Hold on."

Hidden behind him, behind pillows and baskets, Desmond dug out the Apple from its hiding spot. He clenched at it tightly, the glyphs carved into it suddenly slowed, and he turned around to face his much needed sacrifices.

"So let's go over this again, you're all virgins, correct?" he asked.

"Yes my Lord," all three spoke at once, their face blank, eyes glazed over in golden hues as a bright aura floated between them.

"You've never let another man nor woman touch you, correct?"

"We are pure and blessed for marriage, my Lord" they said in unison. Desmond grinned, knowing that with the Apple's influence, they were incapable of lying. The Apple wouldn't have pointed them out to him if they weren't otherwise.

"That's all I needed to hear, thank you my loves." Desmond said, and the Apple's glow faded away.

x-X-X-x

Desmond gave Shaun the cheekiest, feces devouring grin as he walked into the scribe's office. The other man looked over his spectacles at him with a deep frown and furrowed brows. They both knew that Desmond was desperate if he was coming in here.

"Well, well, well, it looks like the Divines have blessed me this day," Shaun greeted him none too enthusiastically. "Or perhaps I've been cursed instead. To what do I owe this unfortunate pleasure, your Highness?"

"Just on an errand run, won't take much of your time," Desmond promised him. "I just need some paper."

Shaun quirked a disbelieving brow at him.

"Come again, my Prince?"

"Paper. Just a blank scroll….And a quill of course."

"Yes, certainly, plenty of those," Shaun replied slowly as he moved about his crowded office for such a thing. It felt like there was more scrolls and papers and things than there was the last time Desmond was in here. And Desmond wasn't in here very often, only to practice calligraphy when his father pushed him to do it. As such, he could completely understand why Shaun was so skeptical of him being here.

"If it's not too much to ask, eh," Shaun started. "But uhm, what do you need paper for? Trying to catch up on your studies?"

"HA!" Desmond barked out in laughter. "I mean, uhm, kinda, yes, a little, not really, sorta."

Shaun paused in his search to shoot him a look from across the room.

"What I mean is, yes, I just wanna uh…Practice my calligraphy is all." Desmond nodded. "You know, in my spare time. I'm so busy with all my Princely duties that I just can't sit still for long to write all day. I'm sure you understand."

"I honestly can't say I do," Shaun said. "But then again, buffoons aren't meant to be, now are they?"

Desmond's smile faltered, became more strained.

"At the very least, here you are, your Royal Majesty." Shaun had a bundle of scrolls that he deposited into Desmond's arms. "And an ink and quill." He produced a small box from his desk, a quill sticking out from it, an ink well inside. "For the love of the Divines, don't spill it, you'll ruin everything and I won't be giving any more if you do. Understand?"

"I got iiiit," Desmond assured as he took the box. "Thank you, a lot, so much, I appreciate it."

"Yes yes, you're forever grateful. Pleasure seeing you again Desmond, but please get out and leave me alone."

Desmond blew a raspberry at him as he walked out of the scribe's office.

x-X-X-x

Sunset was beginning to fall when Desmond return the book back to its rightful place. The city archives were next to deserted, not another soul in sight, and Desmond was able to sneak back into the restricted area just fine. He didn't need the Apple to find it either, merely the power of his second sight led the way. The restricted section was hidden cleverly, in the back of the archives, the fourth floor in the southern corner, a magical barrier covering it up.

Only a priestess could find the barrier and pass through it, but thanks to Desmond's more than unique lineage, he was able to locate and bypass the barrier with ease. The same powers that let him wield the Apple without going mad were the same powers that gave him his second sight.

At the very least, he wouldn't run into anyone in the restricted area. Unfortunately, the book's place was an obvious, glaring hole in the rest of the collection. Hopefully, no one had been back here since he took it the other day, and the book's absence hadn't been missed. Desmond slid it back into its proper home, no longer in need of it.

Half of the scrolls he got from Shaun were used to copy the most important few pages of the book that he needed, the others would be used to house the arcane symbols needed for the summoning ceremony. It was probably the most intensive session of calligraphy of his life, but Desmond felt it was well worth it. Intense because he HATED sitting still to write, and having to keep his brides-to-be entertained. They didn't ask what the book was or what the scrolls were for, or at least, they didn't remember asking in the first place after another wielding of the Apple.

(It had to be what it felt like to actually run the kingdom, and Desmond figured it was good practice for when he one day became King himself.)

But the book was back in place, and it was finally out of Desmond's hands. He retreated from the restricted area, back through the barrier, and hurried away from the southern corner. He dashed down a few rows of books, took a turn here and there, and then-

Nearly collided with the High Priestess of all people. His sandals squeaked as he came to a dead stop, hands out in front of him.

"By the Divines!" Desmond cried. "I'm so sorry!"

"Quite a hurry you were in, my Lord," Dana observed passively. "If only I had known we'd be entertaining your presence sooner."

Of ALL the priestesses to run into, of allll of them, it had to be Dana. The High Priestess of Mercy she was ironically called, because when others crossed her, she had none to spare. She was by far the strictest, no nonsense priestess in the whole order that governed the keeping of knowledge for the entire kingdom. That included maintaining and stocking the archives, lording over the scribes, and acting as advisors to the kingdom officials (his father included).

And Dana-

Dana was very good at her job-

And she was the most dangerous person for Desmond to run into.

"Sorry for not alerting you sooner," Desmond smiled painfully. "I wasn't going to be long, didn't want to take up any of your time. In fact, I was just on my way out…"

"Oh, then allow me to escort you, my Prince. My archives are closing in a bit anyway, and even though you are the Prince, I have to kick you out with everyone else."

"Ack, you wound me for treating me like the common folk!" Desmond faked grabbing at his heart, then laughed. "But alas, I must obey you, High Priestess."

Dana giggled back, and they fell into step with each other. Yet, the air around them felt most frigid. They weren't friends by any means, despite Desmond knowing Dana since his boyhood. And there was a time when she tutored him, as beautiful and young as she was then as she is now. Even one of his first crushes was on her when he was a squirmy adolescence desperate for some sort of attention.

That still didn't make them friends. Hardly even acquaintances. And Desmond was reluctant to be so much as around her right now, given where he just came from and what he had been doing. There…there wasn't any real way that she could sense the magic off him, right? The dark witchcraft that he was planning? He had been handling a very dangerous book, and if he had been caught with it, the punishments…

"So, my Prince, if I may be so bold…"

"Hm?"

"What did bring you to the archives today? Was there anything in particular you were looking for that you needed help with?"

Juno's tit! Did she know? She didn't know. But could she? Was he being an…open book right now so to speak?

"Oh I was just uhm…My father was talking about something the other day and I thought I might be able to find something on the subject…Uhm, I didn't find it." Desmond lied.

"Is that so?" Dana questioned curiously. "You are free to ask for assistance if you need any. Perhaps you could have found your readings with some help."

"Nuuaahh I didn't wanna bother any of you with my needless search. I know it's your duty, but I couldn't possibly ask you to assist me on a wild goose chase." Desmond assured. "I'll just have to try again another day."

"Stubbornness is most unbecoming of you, my Prince." Dana replied cooly with a slight grin. "I thought you were taught better than that."

"Not much has changed as you can tell." Desmond chuckled.

They both laughed, and the mood around them eased slightly, but only slightly. They traversed the rest of the floors to the bottom in a less than awkward silence. Dana bid him farewell at the doors, and reminded him to come back again during daylight hours.

x-X-X-x

It was hours later that Dana returned to the archives by herself. With a staff in hand, she worked her way back to the fourth floor and into the southern corner where the restricted section was. Dana muttered incantations under her breath, and a Piece of the Divines imbedded into the staff began to pulsate dully. A series of footsteps glowed brightly in the dark of the archives, leading into the barrier and then back out.

Dana followed the glowing trail inside. It led her down a few sections then down two rows before it abruptly stopped. Dana frowned, muttered another incantation, and the Piece glowed brighter. She swung her staff around to cast the light upon the books. Everything remained undisturbed, nothing missing from its place, all looking untouched as they had been for centuries.

If any had been touched, they would have glowed as well. But none did. Dana didn't understand, how could there be nothing here? The footsteps were proof enough that someone- Desmond- had been in here. But what had he touched? How did he get in here in the first place? How did he even know where to look?

She wasn't sure what his game was here, but she intended to find out if he ever reared his cocky grin around here again. She could only hope it was soon. The dark aura around him had been unmistakable earlier, Dana knew he had been doing something.

But just what could that have been?