interlude III: the symbol
"My love." The man's voice was gentle, almost kind, almost loving. His hand rested on the glass. The woman inside floated silently in glowing blue liquid, her life in suspension while the wound to her heart healed. Her long black hair fanned around her, covering her nude body from all eyes. A symbol shone clearly on her forehead.
"We should be attacking them."
The man did not turn to address the speaker. "There is time for that later," he replied mildly.
"Did you not feel the magnitude of the power that erupted just now? They will come here and destroy us."
"If you are afraid, then go take care of it," the man said with silky venom.
There was pause as the other man hesitated. "You know I cannot," came the dark reply. "That woman did something to me. I cannot use my powers without…repercussions."
"Then there is nothing you can do."
"I—"
"Leave us!" The man snarled, turning his head to glare at the continued intrusion.
Anger wrapped in darkness flared behind him, but the energy faded rapidly, and the other man walked away. He turned back to the glass.
"My love," he repeated softly. "When will you wake my love? Vengeance awaits us. Those filthy mongrels that dared strike us will pay dearly. They are nothing compared to us." He felt hatred course through his veins at the thought of them, shaking his calm into pieces.
A light erupted from the glass, and he backed away with a shout, squinting painfully to see the symbol glow brightly. But it faded quickly and he felt joy, for her eyes opened. He rushed back to the glass.
"My love!"
She stared at him, blue eyes dazed and confused and a little bit fearful, and she stared through him and around him. She opened her mouth to speak but only bubbles issued from her mouth. He hastily snapped his fingers, and everything disappeared, leaving her standing before him. He caught her as she collapsed, choking and vomiting liquid from her system.
Just as she looked up at him, her system finally clear of liquid, her body healed, she went rigid, the words that had been forming on her lips froze, and she collapsed again.
"No!" His yell echoed, lost in the darkness. But his anxiety was short lived, for when she sat up only a split second later, her eyes were clear of their daze. The symbol had disappeared from her forehead, but he was too overjoyed to notice. He hugged her close to him, and she sat quietly, reorienting herself with her minions.
When he pulled back, her eyes glinted at him in the darkness.
"Bring the girl."
Just outside the partially closed door, dark blue eyes narrowed thoughtfully.