After a heated discussion inside, Miria stood alongside Rubel at the top balcony of the white building to cool off.
"You are playing a dangerous game," Rubel said. "Raftella's illusions are powerful but there may be a chance the master will see through them. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"Enough with illusions," Miria said. "A head on strike may be the most effective way to win."
"Perhaps. If the rumors of the master being a dragon are true, he could be a formidable opponent."
"And that is supposed to scare me why?" Miria said, looking over at him curiously. "We have Teresa."
Rubel smirked. "Yes, but do you really? Teresa has not been known to work well with others. Did you have her abduct me or was that a choice she made herself?"
"Wouldn't you like to know." Miria said.
"For all our sakes, I hope Teresa and you are on the same page."
Miria sighed. She did not necessarily disagree. Teresa was not someone who was controllable. She tapped nervously against the railings with her hands, continuing to look outward but saying nothing.
"I know you want a revolution," Rubel said. "but you must ask yourself if such a move is really wise to make right now. The dragonkin will lay siege to this city in the coming days. Maybe focus your attention on that. Perhaps if you're lucky he may even try to flee if he thinks the city will fall."
"Sounds like you're trying to protect him from me." Miria said.
"Not at all, I merely want you to be as successful as possible, and that usually involves having patience. Taking down existing power structures is a dangerous game, especially during times of uncertainty. The master will not keep his guard down."
"Your concern warms my heart, Miria said, "Though, I know you have your own motives for doing all this. I still haven't quite figured out what those are yet, though I do have some idea."
Rubel smiled. "Everyone has an agenda. Is it so hard to believe that ours may be somewhat aligned?"
"Yes."
"You are far more cynical than me." Rubel said. "So then, since you abducted me, I suppose you'll want me to take you to the master, or do you have another plan to all this?"
"I have someone else lined up."
"Who, might I ask."
Miria led Rubel back inside and down towards the playrooms. Along the way, Hysteria and her friends noticed and followed, inscaceoubly curious about what they were talking about.
Even before entering the room, Miria felt like something was wrong. When they did enter, it became clear. Maddy was missing. Hysteria even walked up to the loose chains in the wall just to make sure the woman was not there but somehow invisible. Rubel, however, seemed more confused than anything else.
"You take me down to an empty room," Rubel said nervously. "This isn't a plot to have me murdered, right?"
Miria ignored him. "…Someone must have let her out." She looked about at those around her, landing specifically on Skye. "You were supposed to watch over Matt."
"I don't think it was him," Skye said. "He was with Raftella the whole time. And besides, I hid the only set of keys so he couldn't find them again."
"This shackle is broken," Hysteria said, inspecting the metal and chains closely. "Someone broke her out..."
Clare found Teresa at the top of the Great Wall, gazing out at the Capitol city, her long wavy hair swaying in the high altitude breezes. She looked peaceful but there was an aura of mischief to her. Clare could sense it. She could sense a lot of things recently.
"…What are you up to?" Clare asked.
The faintest of smiles drew across Teresa "Oh, just enjoying the view. Trying to embrace the calm before the inevitable storm."
Clare looked at Teresa skeptically. "Teresa, tell me what's going on with you."
"What do you mean? nothings going on with me."
"I want the truth right now. No more games." Clare said.
Teresa seemed uncomfortable. She tried to hide it behind her faint expressions but Clare saw right thought the attempts like she were transparent. Teresa let out a sigh and transformed into her larger, half-awakened form, eyes turning gold otherworldly whirlpools. "Games? What are you saying, Clare? You already know all my secrets."
Clare approached Teresa in an intimate manner, not caring whether she was in awakened form or not. "Then why do I get the feeling that's not entirely true?"
A pause came between them. Teresa appeared to consider this, but before she could say anything Clare spoke again.
"I know you faked being mind-controlled. I'm just wondering what else you're faking."
Teresa froze, utterly lost for words. There was a moment of Terror across her friend's face and she looked guilty as charged if not more so.
"...Miria told you."
"No, she didn't..." Clare said, "but that's beside the point. You're a liar, Teresa. I don't know why you lie to those around you, but, you do. I want to know why."
Teresa seemed surprised by the tone. She put on a smug expression as cover. "And what do you have to gain by calling me a liar?"
"Admit it," Clare said. "I need to hear it from you. I know I'm not crazy."
Teresa's expression went neutral. She didn't like what she was hearing. She pressed her lips together as if undecided on exactly what to say. Thoughts of deception no doubt crossed through her mind.
"Fine. I admit it." Teresa said uncaringly. "I haven't been exactly candid with you…"
Even though she saw it coming, for Clare, the confession felt like a gut punch. Teresa was staring at her very seriously, and it seemed as though she tried even harder to not blink for some reason.
"You attacked us...you attacked me..."
"It was days ago…"
Clare said. "….That's beside the point, what else have you done to mess with us? mess with me?…You hurt me, and for what? Your personal entertainment?"
"No one was ever in any danger, least of all you," Teresa said.
"Once again, Teresa, that's not the point."
"You were never supposed to find out. What difference does it make anyway?"
Clare looked at her friend long and hard. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The words came out slowly from her lips. "What else are you keeping from us? Are you even on our side, Teresa?"
"Of course I am on your side, Clare. Honestly, I don't understand why you're so upset. I'm only doing what I think needs to be done. Miria is trying to get to this master. I believe I have a better way of getting to him, so yes, that's what I'm doing. I have it all under control."
"So you're undermining Miria?" Clare said.
"No, I'm doing what I think is best to keep everyone, to keep you safe."
"By undermining Miria?..."
"If you want to see it that way, then fine. I can't control that. But that's not what i'm doing."
Teresa transformed back into her humanoid form and tried to reach for her hand, but Clare pulled it away. There was confusion in her friend's eyes, and for that, Clare felt a little bit bad. But she wasn't going to let Teresa off the hook.
Clare looked at her friend like she had never before. "If you want to keep secrets, fine, keep them. But at least be honest with me that's who you are. Just tell me this, Teresa, and I want an honest answer."
Teresa seemed to already know the question before it was asked. Clare could see it across her face.
"Have you been deliberately holding me back so I could never challenge you?"
Teresa froze and said nothing. For Clare, that reaction was all that she needed to know. The confusion slowly replaced by anger as the realization sunk in.
"I see," Clare said. "I guess I'll have to live with that. But Teresa, I implore you...If you have the ability to stop all this right now. This war with the dragonkin. With the organization. Then just do it. Stop wasting time. Be the hero. Do it, and I'll keep your secret, you know I will."
Teresa's laughed, but it was uncomfortable and somewhat forced. "Listen to yourself, you're making me out to be some sort of a god."
"Are you?" Clare said.
Teresa spoke clearly. "If that were the case, do you think I'd have allowed myself to be killed by Priscilla? Would I have gotten my ass handed to me all those times after my resurrection? This accusation of yours really is quite bizarre. Sure, I faked being mine controlled that one time. And yes, I'm more powerful than I've led you to believe. I admit that. But I, assure you, I am no God, or Goddess should I say. It's only recently I've acquired back all the power that I've lost, so it's not like I've been hiding it from you from the beginning. Look, Clare, the thing is, I'm going to win this game we've been playing with this master fellow on all our behalf. If you're not fine with that, then I guess I'm sorry you feel that way."
Clare looked away shyly. Teresa made her feel like a girl again."I just wish you would involve me in these things. I feel like you don't love anyone except yourself, if even that."
"Clare…that's not true. I love you," Teresa said somberly. "More than anything. You know I do."
"Then, Why are you doing this?"
"Why does anyone do anything, Clare?" Teresa said, red-faced. "What am I supposed to say? You found out something you were never supposed to know."
"I thought we could see eye to eye, that we were on the same level, but it's clear to me now that we don't want the same things. I guess I'll just have to learn to live with that. Can I even trust you? Can we as a group trust you?"
"Of course you can. I would never hurt you or anyone that doesn't deserve it. I have a plan to take down the organization, so perhaps we can postpone this conversation until then."
"What exactly are you planning?" Clare asked, then changing her mind, "You know what? Don't tell me, I'm not even supposed to know, apparently.
"I might as well tell you now," Teresa said.
Clare looked away, utterly unconvinced. "We need to return back to Miria, unless, of course, your plans involve not doing that."
"I'll go back with you," Teresa said, "You won't say anything about this to Miria, will you?"
Upon return to the academy, Clare had quickly come to notice that Miria was stressed. Both Teresa and her gathered with the rest to listen to their leader as she addressed them. Someone called Maddy was apparently missing. Clare did not know who that was but she could tell from the faces of those around her that it was a big deal.
Curiously, Teresa seemed to know something about it. Clare could just tell from the look on her face. But Teresa did not say a word and remained unusually quiet and in listening mode.
"There is a chance that Maddy has warned the master of our plans, so a stealth approach is out of the question."
Clare felt her blood pressure rise as she stared at Teresa, who for some reason had an absurd smirk across her face. She knew way more about what was going on than anyone else. Teresa stepped forward to address the group.
"So Maddy escaped," Teresa said. "We shouldn't let this be the end. There's still someone who can take us to the master."
Everyone stared at Rubel, who in turn appeared uncharacteristically anxious. "Me? I don't think that's a good idea."
"No, I'm talking about Evelina," Teresa said.
"We can't trust her," Miria said.
Hysteria huffed. "But how is she any less trustworthy than Maddy?"
"She makes a good point," Teresa said, turning to Miria. "Give me five minutes with Evelina. I'll make sure she does exactly what we want."
"What do you have in mind?" Miria asked.
Teresa told her in private, but Miria seemed uncertain. Clare could tell. But after thinking about it, their captain eventually agreed.
Evelina's eyes shot wide upon seeing them all. Miria untied the woman's hands, feet and removed the gag that silenced her so she could speak.
"Please don't kill me!" Evelina said, whining. "Or wipe my memories. Whatever you're thinking of doing, it would be a mistake! I could still be useful to you!"
"I hope so," Miria said as she sat down on the couch. "Because we need you to be the Goddess again so you can take us to the master."
Teresa sat down across the opposite couch, eying Evelina like a hawk and remaining silent. Evelina struggled to know exactly who to look at and who to not.
"…I thought you were planning to use Maddy for that. What changed?"
"There have been complications," Miria said. "There's been a change of plans."
"What kind of complications?"
"Maddy has escaped," Teresa said.
"Oh, that kind. But how? She's only human. How could she possibly escape you?"
"That doesn't matter right now," Miria said, "We'll need you to take us to the master. Can you do that?"
Evelina sat upright and straightened her hair as she pondered. "Now that it's up to me to do this. Let me ask, how exactly do you plan on taking him out? it's not like he's going to let you walk in and kill him."
Teresa smirked. "Then we'll just have to take him out against his will then, wouldn't we?"
"So you plan to use brute force?" Evelina said. "Interesting, but what if brute force doesn't work? The master will have contingency plans. Better me than Maddy but still."
"So do you agree to take us?" Miria asked.
"Do I have a choice? Of course, I agree."
"Good..." Miria said, turning to Teresa and nodding once before picking herself up to leave the room.
Left alone with Teresa, Evelina shrunk like a withered leaf. Teresa moved to sit beside her in a passive-aggressive manner. They remained silent for a while, the tension on Evelina's face rising until she broke her form completely.
"Look, Teresa, I'm sorry I hurt Miria..." Evelina said. "I know you care about her and I'm sorry...so sorry. I promise never to mess with you or anyone you know ever again. I promise."
A faint smile came across Teresa, and she began stroking the woman's long violet hair in an intimate manner which brought forth a sense of Terror. "Miria is a grown woman she should pay for her own mistakes...whatever you did to her, she deserved."
Evelina appeared confused and tried to smile a fake smile as if that was a joke but Teresa's reaction fell flat and so did hers. Teresa grabbed the woman's wrist and squeezed.
"Before you met us, would you say you were a powerful person?"
"...Why are you asking me this, Teresa?" Evelina asked.
"Just answer the question."
"Yes...I believe I was. But now that I'm with you, it's apparent I have no real power at all. Is that... what you want me to say?"
Teresa maintained her grip and kept up her deathly calm stare. Evelina began to whimper from the pain "You and Miria have the same tactics...using pain to get what you want."
"Pain is a great motivator."
"But it doesn't need to get to that...Teresa... It hurts... I'll do whatever you want...I beg of you."
Teresa pushed her face up close to Evelina's. "If you ever try anything against me, I'll know. If you even think about it, I'll know. I'll break every bone in your body starting with your fingers. It will be horrible. A pain you can't even begin to imagine. It will be so horrifying that the others will try and stop me, but I assure you, they won't be able to. No one can protect you from me, do you understand, Goddess?"
Evelina quivered and looked as though she were about to cry. She nodded shakily. Teresa then removed her grip and went back to touching the woman's hair.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you, how do you keep your hair so nice and smooth? The smoothness... how do you manage it?" Teresa said.
Evelina swallowed nervously. "It's...called conditioner...it's been a while since I last applied it though...its usually an everyday thing..."
"Oh, what is conditioner? Could you get me some of this substance?"
"Yes...I will get you whatever you want Teresa...seriously...anything you want." Evelina said.
Miria didn't know exactly what Teresa had told Evelina, but whatever it was, the Goddess did not seem the same again afterward. There was terror in her eyes whenever she gazed upon Teresa, so much so that it became distracting. Evelina had become more docile, and easily agreeable. The spark inside had been lit out. It was so apparent and raw, that Clare even managed felt bad for her.
"I don't like this." Hysteria said. "This is not even a plan. It's stupidity."
"It's good enough," Miria said, "Since it's the real Evelina, she has the weight of credibility to her. She can get us closer than Maddy ever could."
"So who is this Maddy again?" Roxanne asked.
"She was uh, an instructress," Miria said.
"Instructress?"
Hysteria could be seen rolling her eyes.
"Sounds kinky..." Roxanne said. "And you were going to use her but she somehow escaped?"
"I have no idea how," Miria said, pondering on it some more and glancing around at all the faces around her. Clare found it curious how Miria paused the longest at Teresa. "But I'd rather not think about it."
"But why would anyone do such a thing?" Skye said.
Miria looked at Evelina who seemed petrified at having all the attention turned on her. "How many regulators do you normally take with you when you visit the master?"
"...depends on my level of paranoia," Evelina said. "But usually, anywhere from two to a couple dozen..."
"We'll disguise ourselves as regulators," Miria said.
"That way you could get us close to him, no?" Teresa said.
Evelina flinched. "Possibly, though there are problems with getting close to him."
"Like?"
"Like...The man lives in a mansion so large even I could get lost in it. He uses body doubles as well. So even if we find him it may not even be the real one."
"So, the guy with the dragon mask that came here and shook my hand, he was a fake?" Skye asked.
"That is quite likely...he is a careful man."
"And why have you not told us of this tactic of his before?" Miria said.
"These are only rumors, ones which we should assume are true so to be on the safe side. I don't actually know anything about him for sure, truth be told. He is called the Master for a reason. It is said the master likes to roam amongst his guests without his mask. No one has ever seen his face so no one would know it's him."
Clare chimed in "Does this master have an aura we are able to sense?"
"My regulators tell me he has no aura whatsoever, though all the times I've met him could have been one of his body doubles, so I don't know, honestly."
"His highest lieutenants must have seen his face at one point, otherwise there is no way he could maintain his grip on power," Miria said.
Miria had chosen a small party which included herself, Hysteria, Clare, Teresa, and Roxanne. Together they traveled to Audrey and Raki's apartment and climbed in through the side window.
"Miria, is everything alright?" Audrey asked.
"All is well enough," Miria said. "Where is the president?"
"I am here, Ms Miria," The president said. He stood up from the couch in the corner of the room "I trust the plan is set to be in motion?"
"It's action time. How are things on your side?"
"All those assassinations you and your friends have conducted have caused a round of special elections all over the Capitol. Humans have retaken control of the congress and senate again. Your bill should have a vote later on today which I'm quite certain will pass. All I have to do is sign it and it becomes law."
"Good," Miria said, "ill reconvene with Karter and synchronize the military response. Hopefully, we will take over the Capitol before the dragonkin arrive."
"This city is a big place," Audrey said. "Are you sure we can get rid of every yoma in time?"
"It has a big military. All one million regulators will swarm the city and kill anything that isn't human. The job should be done in less than a day." Miria said.
As Miria spoke further with Audrey, Clare spent some time with Raki on the balcony.
"So this is it, huh?" Raki said. "Miria's plan is finally going into effect?"
"Someone's plan definitely is, I'm just not sure it's Miria's." Clare said.
Raki looked at her strangely. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Never mind. Forget I said anything."
They both remained silent then. The howl of the wind blew past them as they looked outward at the city center. After a moment Raki looked over with eyes of question.
"Everything alright with Teresa?" Raki asked.
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"I don't know, you seem a bit tense."
Clare smiled. He did know her far too well it seemed. She locked eyes with him and it didn't even feel strange. "Teresa is...when I'm with her, I feel safe..."
"Well that's good." Raki said. "Safe is good."
"Yes, but, she's very reclusive. I think she's gone back to her original full power and it's gotten to her. She thinks she doesn't need help from anyone."
"Maybe she doesn't." Raki said.
"But no one should go alone in anything," Clare said.
Raki smiled "I think everything she does, it's to protect you, Clare. And maybe that isn't such a bad thing."
"But it is, Raki," Clare said, "how would you feel if Audrey kept secrets from you? You think you know someone but then they reveal their true selves and its daunting..."
"Maybe you've overthinking things. There's a lot happening now. Teresa is probably just a bit stressed as we are all. I bet after all this is done, the situation will calm down and everything will return back to normal. Teresa included."
Whatever normal is... Clare thought.
Afterward, they met with Karter in the military district. Miria and Karter spoke in private inside the general's tent while everyone else waited outside. Teresa walked with Roxanne past all the other tents towards a contained field where regulators sparred.
"They aren't half bad," Roxanne said. "Anything non-human in the Capitol won't stand a chance. Assuming nothing goes wrong, everything always seems to go wrong when plans are laid out..."
"Liberating the Capitol..." Teresa said, glowering. "I suppose it does feel good, doing the right thing."
"There's a first time for everything for me," Roxanne said "I like to think the same but the truth is neither of us would've been here if it wasn't for Miria. So the real question is, how good are we really?"
Teresa turned to her. "Good enough to know to follow her."
"True that. I suppose Miria is the kind of person you'd follow, even to the very end if it comes to that. Though I really wish she'd have better taste in women. It really is such a pity."
"You sound jealous," Teresa said.
"Of course I am, and I know for a fact you are too. I can sense the tingle inside you when you look at her. I don't need my powers for that."
Roxanne put herself closer to Teresa and nudged her across the shoulder. "By the way, I'm liking this new confidence to you."
"New confidence? was I not always confident?"
"Not like now...It terrifies and arouses me at the same time..."
Teresa's face grew intrigued. "If you want to play this game with me, careful, you may just end up getting burnt...By the way, I did not forget our little deal. I promised to kill you. I did not forget that."
"The deal was you teach me everything you know," Roxanne said. "I've learned the secrets to your clairvoyance technique, but that's all."
Teresa raised her shoulders. "To be fair, that is all you need to know. But I take your point."
"Care to spar with me so I could learn more?" Roxanne asked.
"Not really," Teresa said coldly.
"Aren't you at least curious to see how far I've come? Perhaps I've even surpassed you?"
Teresa looked at her with both amusement and only a hint of skepticism. "I highly doubt that. But I don't do things without stakes."
"How about this...If you spar with me, I'll give you one of my special massages. I know how much you liked it last time, Teresa."
Teresa flushed and was tongue-tied. But she soon regained herself and cleared her throat "Well, my shoulders are feeling quite tense as of late, probably due to my wings...I suppose that is a fair deal..."
Clare did not like it when Teresa spent so much time with Roxanne. The two of them first sparred for a short period and then curiously retreated into a large empty tent. Clare did not question it, though. Teresa could do and apparently did do whatever she wanted. Perhaps space was something the both of them needed.
As she waited for Miria to finish with Karter, Hysteria approached her. Clare briefly glanced Hysteria's way, wondering what the woman wanted.
"...Are you doing well?" Hysteria asked.
"I think so..." Clare said.
"That doesn't sound very convincing."
Clare let out a sigh and remained silent. Hysteria let out a sigh too and there was more silence.
"I do not mean to provoke. I will leave you alone."
Hysteria turned to leave, but Clare grabbed her hand to stop her, and by doing so, she caused Hysteria to wince in pain. Feeling bad, Clare pulled her hand away as if she had done something wrong.
"What's wrong?" Clare asked.
Hysteria went red and turned her face away. "...Nothing."
"That doesn't sound very convincing." Clare said.
Both of them looked at each other and shared a mutual smile and lowered their guards.
"Do you really care what happens to me? You probably resent me for being close with Miria."
"I don't resent anyone," Clare said. "But I would like to know if what you have with Miria is genuine or if you're only doing it to gain advantage. You can understand my thinking on this."
Hysteria paused. A playful smile drew on her lips. "I can understand. Rest assured, my intentions for our Captain are all in the positive."
"I'm glad to hear that." Clare said. She noticed a shake in Hysteria's arm."...Have you asked Cynthia to look into it?"
"I have, and unfortunately, There was nothing she could do...What does it even matter If we are all to be slaughtered by the dragonkin anyway."
"It won't get to that. We will beat the master, then the dragonkin, and then we will find a way to help you, if not before then."
"Your optimism is welcoming. Thank you." Hysteria said.
Miria finally emerged out of the war tent alongside by Karter. Clare and Hysteria moved over to them, eager to know what was next.
Later that night, they all gathered in the secret apartment in the central district of the Capitol. Clare looked at all the familiar faces about. Teresa. Helen, Deneve, all the original ghosts, as well as Roxanne, Hysteria, Skye, and Rafaela. The President of the Capitol was there too. He attempted a handshake with everyone around him but received a less than enthused reaction from most. Evelina was free and back to her old self, at least externally. She wore an extravagant red dress and even had the time to make her hair and brush the rest of herself up until she looked glamorous again.
"So the plan is to basically get Teresa and Clare close to the master? Kind of simple, don't you think?" Helen said.
"Sometimes it best to just go for the front on assault," Miria said.
"Both Clare and I can sense dragon aura," Teresa said. "So if this master is in fact one, he won't hide from us for long, mask or no mask."
Miria turned to Teresa. "Let us hope that if this master is a dragon, he is not more powerful than Arrylys."
"That won't be a problem," Teresa said.
"Your assurance means a lot to me, Teresa," Miria said. "I have no doubt you and Clare together are an unstoppable force."
"We should be... if we work together," Clare said.
Evelina rubbed her hands together in excitement. "Oh, I cant wait to do this. Honestly, I'm so glad to have been captured by you, this is way better than sitting and being served all day. The thrill of the unknown... It's almost too much."
"We'll need you to keep yourself together," Miria said. "Otherwise you are of no use to any of us."
"Oh you don't have to worry about that," Evelina said. "I am a Goddess after all, did you all forget already?
Evelina had organized them all pink regulator uniforms to wear. Clare didn't like the feeling of the plate. The helmet hid her face but the armor was restrictive and cumbersome. She figured she could quickly remove it if needed but it was still an inconvenience she'd rather not have. But that was the least of her problems. Teresa was being far too friendly with Roxanne, again, and it was beginning to get to her.
When they were all ready, Evelina took them through a secret tunnel beneath the cities' streets that led them a fair distance deeper into the Capitol. The tunnel soon rose up to reach the surface where a lavish garden greeted them with golden gates that hid a giant mansion behind. Guards stood at the gate. One had silver and the other had Snow White eyes.
Evelina brushed at her hair as she strutted forward with confidence. "Allow me to do all the talking..."
They followed in two neat rows, pink protectors in plate mail following their goddess. The guards at the gate did not budge as Evelina came up to them.
"Open the gate," Evelina said.
The two guards glanced at each other as if uncertain what to do. One of them spoke back. "We have specific orders not to let you in."
"Really?" Evelina said, seemingly annoyed and even somewhat embarrassed. "Well, the way I see it, you have two options. One, you leave your post and live, or two, you die here. Either way, I'm getting through, so it's really up to you which way you want this to go.."
After a moment of thinking, the guards looked to each other again in a moment of indecision. One of them dropped his weapon and ran off. The other followed right after.
"Is this the extent of the Master's security?" Roxanne said. "Seems lacking if you ask me."
They opened the gate and walked across another garden path which led right to the entrance of the mansion where an overly bulky double-sided door with engravings of dragons greeted them. Booming music leaked through the door and the walls and vibrated the ground beneath their feet.
"Remember…" Evelina said, "Stay close to me at all times. Do not get isolated. Do not speak to anyone except for me. This will be the hard, as well as the fun part."
The door was unlocked, and Evelina simply pushed it open.
They were all blown away by a grand lounge and even grander party packed to the brink with guests. Exotic dancers on raised stages danced along with the guests below them, lost to the rhythmic trance-like music. There were thousands of small neon lights embedded in the walls as well as the floors, giving the place an almost mystical look to it. A white odorless smog collected on the floor that was the thickest at the ankles and thinning up to nothing up to the knees. The air smelt sweet like sugar and the music was loud but not so loud they could not speak to each other, perfect for cutting off any eavesdroppers.
Evelina strolled through the lounge like she owned the place, and her 'regulators' followed. Half of the partygoers wore masks of animals. Some were dressed modestly while others donned not very much at all. After reaching the end, they passed through an archway and came upon another section of the mansion where the theme was somewhat different. There was glass everywhere. Glass seats, chairs, poles, and stairs up to higher levels. The walls were mirrors and made the whole place seem bigger than it really was.
In the middle of the room was a woman sitting atop a glass throne which in itself was on a raised glass dais. Servants fed her fruit from small bowls while others held large feather fans to blow her with air. Clare had never seen Maddy before, but she was sure that was her just by the way Miria reacted. Clare noticed the captain noticeably stiffened as she stared down the other woman.
Upon noticing them, Maddy shifted in her throne and let out a curious smile. Evelina moved forward to the base of the dias and stared at her intensely, crossing her arms. The music stopped, and everyone in the room looked at them like intruders.
Maddy reached over for a glass of what looked to be wine and took a slow, savory sip from it, then twirled the contents in her hand as she looked at her new guests.
"…Is that the real Evelina or the fake?" Maddy said. "That illusion really is so convincing…"
"What are you doing here Maddy?" Evelina asked.
"I'm home. Whatever do you mean?"
"You were a spy for the Master this whole time. How could I not have seen it?"
"Because you're a fool, Evelina," Maddy said. "You're a talentless, no good whore who would be on her knees pleasing ugly fat men if it wasn't for me. That really is the truth. Sorry if it hurts."
Maddy took another sip of her glass as Evelina strode up the dias' steps with a face of fury, stopping right before the throne. "I may be a fool...I admit that...but at least I'm not a lowlife who fucks my own brother."
Maddy's face was emotionless. "Love is a beautiful thing, but so is power. Yes, I lied to you about my parents. The master never killed them. I'm a power addict I just can't help it. Power suits me just fine, don't you agree, Miria?"
Maddy's gaze shifted to the 'regulators' behind Evelina, It was surprising when Miria took off her helmet to reveal herself. Maddy's smirk only widened when they saw each other face to face again.
"Ah, Miria, there you are," Maddy said, "Why don't you have a drink...the party is just about to get started."
