Hi guys! Sage here and I'm back! Now, this is more of a story that has had two versions before this one: "The Witch" and "Of A Witch and Mercenaries". The first story I wrote was years ago when I first started stepping a toe into the fanfiction pool so it was obvious and glorious shit. The second story I wrote was when I was still really bad at story structure and pacing and even character development.

But alas, I have returned to write hopefully the final version of this story that I have had in my head for quite literally 7 years now. This story is now completely different to the last two and the character of Seth Rivers has changed to Celia Alissaint (pronounced: al-ih-scent) Rivers and her personality has also drastically changed.


Consequences of Evanescence

Chapter One:

"Letters Traded"


"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end…"

Seneca


Paris, France - September 1st, 1971

The sounds of a typewriter occupied the large, seldom lit room. The room was heavily decorated, with trinkets and decor from all around the world. A lot of it was animal skins, teeth, skulls and horns, all with varying degree of quality with heads of dead animals mounted on the walls. The room only had one large ceiling high window that seeped moonlight through and the only source of light besides that would be the lamp on the desk. This didn't seem to bother the man sitting at the desk however, seeing as he was typing away, uncaring.

Click, click, click, slide.

This man was dressed quite fancifully, a suit with the finest silk, black, pristine complimented with dress pants made of similar materials and dress shoes, black, polished, perhaps doubly so, with not a single hint of dirt on them. He was obviously an elder man as his features were gaunt and tired with large, black eyes, high cheekbones and greying hair. He was thin and tall and he had perfect posture. He looked very sophisticated and yet stoic.

Click, click, click-

Click.

A new click joined in with his own and he paused. His fingers hovered over the keys as he stared at them. The tension was high as he was still as stone. Before he pulled out a handgun from his belt in the blink of an eye and shot at the air ahead of him from where he heard the other click.

He paused again, looking ahead with narrowed eyes. There was no one there.

Bam!

He shouted in shock as the gun was shot out of his hands without even grazing his skin. He gasped as he turned to look from where the bullet came from and only a couple of meters away stood a figure, drenched in the darkness.

Slowly, he raised his hands up where the figure could see them. And then he smiled slyly. "Ah, what a pleasure it is for you to join us this evening," He said smoothly, his voice was laced with a heavy french accent and it was deep and sophisticated. "Miss Alissaint."

The figure stepped out of the dark and slowly walked towards him, revealing the appearance of said intruder. It was obvious she was female as soon as her form was visible, considering the wider hips and curvier body shape. But also her facial features gave it away - soft, delicate and smooth. Her skin was pale and flawless, almost eerily so with focused, yellowish orange eyes that seemed to glow in the dark, framed by long, thick eyelashes and thick, dark eyebrows. She had a small and thin nose, almost a bit too small for her face with soft cheekbones, a small chin and well-sized forehead. Her most noticeable feature however was her long, wild, blonde, curly hair, which was currently tied back in a bun. She looked young, like she was in her late twenties or early thirties.

She was dressed in a black, form-fitting, strapless dress that eagerly showed off her curves, with black, high heels. Thick, yellow lines wrapping around her arms from her shoulders to her middle fingers, though the closer he looked, he could see that they were tattooed onto her skin (or at least it seemed so.) The most important thing on her however, was the pistol she held, which was aimed directly at his head.

She smiled coyly in return. "Doctor Julian Sulvas Leblanc, it is a pleasure to finally meet you as well." She retorted, giving a smirk. Her own accent was undeniably english with a soft yet dramatic flare to it. "You weren't at the party, so I figured I'd drop in to say 'hi.'"

He shrugged slightly. "Parties aren't my style, miss Alissaint. But then again, you seem to have realized that." He spun his chair back towards the desk, looking away from her as he lowered his arms and placed them on the desk.

"I'm not here to kill you, Doctor. I'm here because I've been told you have some information for me." She said calmly, though didn't lower her pistol. He scoffed at that, humorously.

"And yet here you are, pointing a gun at my face." He retorted with amusement. The woman raised a brow at him.

"We both know why I am still holding this lovely up." She asserted before coming around to sit at the chair in front of his desk, the gun still pointed in this direction. "So, I'm here. And I want answers."

"About?" He inquired, not wanting to test this woman's nerves.

She stared into his eyes deeply. "About the way the beginnings end." She answered, her voice deadly serious. His eyes widened for a moment before he closed them, leaning back in his chair, relaxing slightly. She stared at him unblinkingly.

"And the way the endings begin," He chuckled softly as his eyes reopened slowly to study her features, as if he had recognized her. Alissaint's eyes widened briefly before returning to their cold stoicness.

"Yes…" She finished quietly, almost surprised.

"So, you're Whysteria's daughter? Celia, is it?" He asked calmly.

"Yes." She answered, lowering her pistol slowly. "So… the letter? What of it?"

He chuckled as his eyes looked away from hers, studying his room carelessly. "Yes, indeed, I know of what you speak of," He foretold. "Your mother and I were… like siblings, I should say. But she was always smarter than me, as hard as that is to admit. Anyways, you have come here for answers to what that letter you received pertains and I am here to deliver."

"Go on," Celia pressed, a tad impatiently. He laughed slightly at her tone, finding it incredibly funny that such a being, like herself, was impatient. She glared slightly at him, finding it insulting almost.

"I however, do not have all the answers you seek," With her brows furrowed and eyes narrowed, Celia was just about to cut him off, before he spoke up again. "However, she did give me something to safe keep before she disappeared." And with that he stood up and proceeded to walk over to a large, expensive, baroque painting, his strides graceful as he stood before it. Celia, curious and cautious, followed him, standing a few feet behind him. The man then pressed his hand to it, whispering something unintelligible and the painting disappeared, slowly fading into nothingness.

What remained however, was a small, black envelope in his hand. He nodded once before turning to her and handing it to her gingerly. She took it, looking at it with bemusement. "What is this supposed to be?" She demanded quietly.

He shrugged, ignoring her indignant attitude as he turned to walk back to his desk, seating himself back down. "I haven't the faintest clue. Any way I've tried opening it, I cannot. The magic binding it has it sealed tightly." He responded, almost disappointedly. Celia smirked slightly, amused that he thought he could open an envelope protected by her mother's magic. He sighed, defeatedly as he looked up to where she stood. "Besides, I'm sure you'll find some way of opening it-"

He paused when he realized she was no longer in the room. Scoffing, he scooted his chair forward to return to his typing. "Fille arrogante…"


Celia sat on the roof, which overlooked the beautiful and elegant city of Paris, night lights filled the streets, illuminating (in Celia's opinion) the most beautiful city in the world. She sighed heavily as she stared at the city before her before looking down at the envelope in her hands. She flipped it over and saw the golden wax seal with the letter 'R' imprinted on it, carefully holding the envelope closed.

Determined, she began to recite a series of phrases, all in a different language. There was no reaction from the envelope. Nothing seemed to achieve her goal at the moment. She glared at the envelope.

"How the hell do I open you?" She yelled irritatedly. Closing her eyes, she huffed indignantly. She briefly wondered if the world was simply out to get her and why when she was so close to getting answers, she could not… damn it all…

Frustrated, though unconvinced of her actions, she pulled up the wax seal manually. To her great surprise, the envelope opened. Blinking once before she groaned at her own stupidity. Of course it was that simple. Rolling her eyes, she pulled out the letter before placing the envelope to her side, and proceeded to read it.

My dearest Celia,

I know this may seem like a strange thing, to receive a letter from me after I've undoubtedly disappeared, but you must listen. There is something very important I need you to do. There is someone who will have answers for you. Her name is Helen and she undoubtedly knows what has happened to me.

But before that can happen, you need to go to a place. All I need you to do is to go to:

Teufort, New Mexico, United States of America by September 5th of whatever year this is.

And I need you to find a woman by the name of Miss Pauling. I've trained you well, you should be able to find her easily, my dearest.

You will receive further instructions from her. And remember this phrase "The Admin awaits." That will be what she will tell you, all you have to do is tell her "She has summoned us here." to confirm your identities.

Good luck, my sweet Celia.

Truly with so much love,

Your mother

Celia, confused and yet intrigued, closed the letter and put it back into the envelope. Before suddenly, yellow flames erupted around it as she burned it to ashes. A method of destroying any obviously sensitive material after she was finished with it. An old habit but one she didn't dare risk not doing for the fear of someone else reading it was too great. Besides, it didn't matter.

She had a plane to catch.