What secrets are hidden inside of you?

Absolute darkness overtook her moments later; Irina had no time to contemplate the meaning behind the words spoken to her by the black goddess before she hit the mucky earth. Her entire body was as cold as ice; so much so that she swore death had taken her. But she was still alive.

When she woke again, she heard faint voices echoing around her. The mask on her face dug into her skin as she lay on her side in a heap on the stone floor. Where was she? A sleep-induced haze blinded her from seeing at the moment, but she was free to move. Irina rolled onto her back with a grunt; some of her bones cracked in protest. Her head was a hurricane of pain and incoherent thought as she struggled to make complete sense of her situation. The big question was: why was she alive?

A high-pitched laugh made her head thump as someone leaned over her.

"Rise and shine," the voice said with a cackle.

Irina swatted at the source but hit nothing but air.

"Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up," they ordered.

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them, and tried to focus. A shape began to form, then moments later, an inhuman face. Irina gasped in alarm. The voice came from a doll robed in a wedding dress. Its neck cracked as it leaned its head to the side. Irina wasn't sure it was real – perhaps a figment of her imagination – but it appeared to be staring at her. She shivered in fear; the hunk of wood and lace was creeping her out.

"I'm gonna have fun with you," the doll remarked.

A boot came into her line of sight and kicked at the doll. It shrieked as it backed away.

"Fuck off," someone familiar shouted.

Irina leaned her head back and was relieved to see Heisenberg. He ignored her as he bickered with the doll, taking a seat on a church pew near her. Easing into a sitting position, Irina took a quick look around the room. She was both terrified and in awe at what she witnessed.

Mother Miranda in all her unholy glory stood in silence at the pinnacle of the room – akin to a church or a medieval stronghold – as she oversaw the exchanges of the four Lords. The dollmaker, Beneviento sat in a chair to her right, dressed in black with her wooden terror sitting in her lap. Down from her, in a massive chair sat Dimitrescu, who turned up her nose at Heisenberg in front of her. He had yet to acknowledge Irina, but she understood that he was covering his ass by ignoring her. Standing in the shadows behind him was Moreau; she was more surprised that the rumors about him were correct, as opposed to his actual appearance.

Even though she was confused about their sudden meeting, the Lords being in the company of Miranda was expected, but she never thought in a million years she'd see the Duke with her.

He sat on the corner of the stage, smoking a cigar as he ogled at Dimitrescu. Irina choked on a snort; of course, he was himself even in the face of danger. But what was he doing here? Wherever here was.

"W-why am I alive?" She was so confused.

Miranda brought up her hand and hushed the room.

"Remove that mask. I want to see your face."

Irina was hesitant but did as she commanded. Angering Miranda was not on her to-do list. The mask rested in her lap as she eased back her hood and revealed her face to the room.

Dimitrescu hummed.

"With a proper bath and some minor alterations, she would make a fine addition to my castle,"

Heisenberg snorted.

"Is sating your big appetite all you think about?"

She shot him a heated look.

"As opposed to whatever sick and disgusting thoughts are running through your one-track mind, my needs are harmless," Dimitrescu argued back.

Heisenberg squeezed the seat of his pants and flipped her the bird.

"Barbarian," the tall woman hissed.

"That is enough," Miranda interrupted. Her voice echoed around the room, laced with annoyance. "Your backbiting is intolerant and I will hear no more of it."

Irina's eyes widened. For fuck's sake their dislike for one another was unreal.

Miranda cleared her throat.

"What is your name, child? And how did you get outside the village gate?"

The Duke raised a finger.

"Irina is an employee of mine. Her reason for being between the gates is because she runs errands for me," the Duke mentioned.

Miranda narrowed her eyes and quickly walked down the aisle, tearing the mask from Irina's hand

Stepping down from the stage, Miranda walked quickly down the aisle and tore the mask from Irina's hand.

"And this? Explain the rumor spreading around the eastern village; the workers and the factory," she demanded.

Didn't Miranda know all? Regardless, Irina wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want to sell Heisenberg out, but she also didn't want to die.

"You're getting all bent out of shape because I had that worm bring me some new toys," Heisenberg snarled, pointing a finger at Irina. "Whoopty fucking doo."

Irina was irked that he called her a worm, but she understood his reasoning. Heisenberg was trying to cover any personal connection the two had; her assistance with his experiments. He might have even thrown her under the bus if Miranda hadn't have figured out about her aiding him.

The said woman tossed the mask onto the floor.

"Remember your place," she scolded him.

Miranda walked back to the stage and hummed.

"I've heard enough about this for now. Return my children to your territories until I call," she ordered.

"And what of my employee?" the Duke asked.

Miranda hummed.

"She and I have something to discuss, then we shall see."

What did she mean? Irina knew that it meant nothing good.

Lady Dimitrescu stood and glanced down at her as she passed.

"Truly a waste," she uttered.

Irina averted her eyes and ignored the others. She wanted to see Heisenberg, to gauge his expression, but she also didn't want to showcase her fear. Perhaps she should have never suggested bringing him live specimens. This must be her fee to pay for sacrificing humans for her gain. It figures.

Miranda approached Irina once the room was vacated.

"Put on your mask. I have something to show you," she ordered.

Irina puckered a brow, resetting the mask over her face. She trailed close to Miranda as the winged woman led her from the room and outside. The sun blinded her for a minute or two, but Irina was thankful to be outside again. Taking the trail down from the church, the horned woman frowned as she was brought to the western village; her home was beyond the statue and though she longed to see it again, she turned her back on it and followed Miranda.

Some of the villagers were out and about, doing their chores before diner; it concerned Irina, being seen with their prophet, but she paid them no mind as a few of them said their praise to Miranda and the Black God, and once they were near the ceremony site, Miranda averted her eyes to the woman.

"How convenient, the timing," she uttered. "But what do you know of the Black God?"

Irina hummed. She knew nothing much.

"I know that you are its chosen prophet and that the village prays to it for protection."

Miranda grinned.

"And you?"

Irina shook her head.

"The faith I once had is gone," she admitted.

She watched Miranda approach the altar, placing a flask into a vacant slot. To her astonishment, the altar came to life and began to lower them into a cave. Torches lit up the cavern as Miranda led her forward. What was this strange place? Irina had no idea a series of caves was beneath the village.

"The Black God exists," she stated. "But worshiping it does not matter. It doesn't hear your faithless cries; it exists for me and me alone."

Entering an open cavern, Irina noticed something inhuman bound to the rock; a large pulsing entity she could not describe.

"It's real," Irina uttered.

Miranda laughed.

"Its scientific name is Megamycete, a bacterial super-organism that thrives here beneath the village," she explained.

What in the hell was its purpose? Was it dangerous?

"You said that it exists for you. But how?"

The Prophet hummed.

"That is no concern of yours," she answered back. "Come along."

Irina stared at the organism a moment longer, then followed Miranda to a small room up a set of stairs carved from the rock. The room in general was crammed from wall to wall with notes and books Irina had never seen before. She stared in disbelief at the strange pictures on the wall, having trouble reading the words scrawled beneath them; they seemed to be in a different language. What was this place?

"How long have you been sleeping with Heisenberg?"

Irina felt sick to her stomach.

"I don't––"

As she turned, a sharp pain shot through her neck. Miranda yanked the needle from her and watched as Irina fell to the floor. She was so tired. Did the bitch drug her?

But why?

"In due time, child," Miranda uttered.

Irina's eyes rolled back as darkness took her once again.