If someone had told Elise last week that she would very soon find herself hiding in the Du Couteau gardens with Cassiopeia of all people being pelted by a barrage of short daggers, the Spider Queen would have laughed in their face before promptly lopping their head off and grabbing a glass of wine to settle down for the night. But as it stood, here she was, being cornered by a stone-faced but still murderous red-headed assassin and lacking any sort of alcohol or comfortable furniture.
She jerked as another razor-sharp blade thunked into the wood of the tree she was concealed behind, the metal singing from the force of which it had been thrown. "We haven't got all night!" she called, glaring at the snake curled behind the fountain.
The younger Du Couteau sister was attempting to peep around the stone, only to yelp and withdraw jerkily as a weapon was hurled dangerously close to her nose. "Cassiopeia, if you don't do something, I will kill her myself!" Elise snarled.
The snake stopped long enough to hiss at her, lime eyes flashing furiously, "Quiet! You're not being helpful!"
They exchanged angry glances as another dagger flew between them. Inhaling deeply, Cassiopeia darted into the open, and Elise turned away, closing her eyes as she heard the serpent screech.
One week earlier…
"Yes, matron, he has been sending them North to Drugne. This time with a small force of perhaps fifty," the man nodded almost vigorously.
Elise wanted to roll her eyes. Instead, she worked close to the dark ceiling with an air of semi-patience, running a red-tipped claw along a line of silk, smoothing over the slightly frayed edges and reinforcing them with new webbing. She rebalanced herself on all eight legs, searching for any remaining imperfections. It was her ritual whenever she was "encouraged" to listen to reports. That is, when she was asked to be present because another fool had decided to betray the Black Rose's trust. LeBlanc was toying with him at this point, asking him questions that had nary to do with the situation at hand. But of course, their sweating, twitching little "friend" was too nervous to tell. Elise could feel his heart beating at the rapid pace of a hummingbird's wings. It'd be a shame if he died of a heart attack first.
It seemed the Deceiver had finally decided she was bored, uncrossing her long pale legs and making as if to bid the man goodnight. And what a good night it would be. As he bowed, Elise rappelled downward, snatching up her victim and bundling him in a trap of silk. She left him free from the neck upwards so she could hear him scream. However, the man only let out a pitiful yelp, frozen in fear as he dangled upside-down in the air. Elise brushed her chelicera in disgust. He had wet himself.
She crawled past him to the ground, an enormous black widow spider that towered over LeBlanc. Her fangs curled in anticipation as LeBlanc sauntered over to the man, drawing a finger across his cheek. "Fear not," the arcane mage whispered to him softly, "The intel you've provided will be put to very good use."
Elise watched his throat bob as he swallowed, a bead of sweat rolling over the tattoo on his neck and towards his chin. She focused on the dark ink, barely able to discern the shape of a sharp feather in the dim room. The man suddenly began to jerk, finding his voice again at something the matron murmured into his ear. "No, please! I didn't-"
LeBlanc shot her a look, and Elise sank her fangs into his chest before he could continue begging, injecting her venom straight into his heart. She pulled away, and crimson crept over her silk cocoon as the man gave a soft wheeze, blood flowing from his mouth. His struggles died rapidly as paralysis took over, and Elise carelessly tossed him into the web overhead with a jerk of a silken strand.
The hoard of spiderlings on the ceiling came to life, swarming over the incapacitated body like ants until there was nothing but a writhing dark mass. A soft crackle sounded over the hisses of hunger that filled the air, and the carapace receded from the black widow's body. Elise stretched, eyebrow cocked disinterestedly at the scene above her, "What a waste of space."
"I think your pets would disagree. They get a free meal, after all," amusement laced the matron's tone as she turned on her heel and sauntered towards the door, "Walk with me, won't you?"
Leaving the remnants of what was once a man within the chamber, the pair made their way through the winding labyrinths of the Black Rose. Few were active at this hour; even those so enamored with the dark arts had their limits. LeBlanc's well-manicured nails tapped at a particular spot on the wall as they turned the corner, and a stairway opened up before them. The soft tap of their heels echoed as they ascended into the night. The alleyways of this area of the Immortal Bastion were narrow and winding, much reminiscent of the maze that housed the secret cabal.
Illusionary magic danced through the air, disguising them as street urchins once they reached a wider market street. LeBlanc allowed the silence to hang for another moment before she recited, "A broken agreement bound by blood magic is made known immediately to all parties. The offender may suffer a fate of anguish or worse under the discretion of the pact creators. Furthermore, attempts to sever the bond will result in the immediate death of the perpetrator."
Elise's crimson hues searched LeBlanc's face, rather perplexed by the choice of conversation. She waited for her to continue. "The underground consists of enchantments to prevent tampering of the mind. Thus, it is rare that I encounter an instance in which a bond is broken without my knowledge, and in a lowly spy, no less," LeBlanc finished contemplatively.
Elise tilted her head, "The man just then…?"
"Yes."
The spider hummed. "Is retaliation in order?"
"I've never been opposed to a bit of fun. It has been a while since I've had an adversary worthy of my attention." LeBlanc replied.
"You chessboard is falling into a state of disuse," Elise commented.
"That is your doing more than mine."
Elise scoffed, "Ferrying souls into a hungry mouth takes both time and patience."
LeBlanc only threw her a secretive smirk instead of replying. Silence enveloped the pair once more. Elise could practically hear the scheming of the matron's mind as the many well-oiled gears turned. LeBlanc's strides slowed to a stop, and Elise followed suit, wondering what was so important about this specific area of the street. There was no one in sight, for it was quite late into the evening and-
She almost lost her balance as LeBlanc teleported, dragging Elise with her. They reappeared on the rooftop of a tall building, shadowed by a chimney and far above what the regular pedestrian eye could see. The matron snickered, a devious smile upon her face as she successfully caught Elise off guard. The spider eyed her suspiciously, "Stargazing is quite unlike you," she hedged.
"Elise, dear, try a new hobby occasionally. You may find it refreshing," pulling her embroidered cloak more closely around her body, LeBlanc glided to the edge, "Soreana has received word of Marcus's disappearance. Her daughter is on her way to Noxus under the pretense of assisting in the investigation."
"Cassiopeia knows?"
"As much as her mother does. I do not see a purpose in keeping this information from her."
Elise slid out of the darkness and shifted close to LeBlanc, directing her gaze to where LeBlanc's attention was. Du Couteau manor. "The rest of her family may pose an issue," she suggested.
"Cassiopeia is well-acquainted with secrets. You shall understand when you meet her," LeBlanc purred, leaning against Elise and tracing her index finger over her jawline.
Elise's crimson irises turned questioningly to her, but LeBlanc only smirked, amber hues glittering with delight and schemes, "Do me a little favor, won't you?"
Wine red orbs darted quickly from side to side as she skimmed a dusty tome her magic held open, one arm leaning upon the sleek ebony wood of an artfully crafted dining table as the other held her morning tea. All was quiet in her manor. The maids, who were paid handsomely to keep the place clean and organized, knew just as well that they were not to disturb its sole resident. With one of her extra legs, Elise abruptly closed the book with a loud thump, internally lamenting that there was so little regarding the magic reservoir of petricite and its manipulation.
Perhaps she should go directly to the source. Sylas, was it? The Demacian rebellion had long since been quelled, but the word of a mage manipulating petricite for his own whims shook the very base of what so many magic-users knew, sending ripples of both unease and interest alike across Valoran. Elise was, of course, part of the latter group.
Her well-cushioned chair slid back with a soft squeak of protest as she stood, cleaning her teacup with a lazy wave of her finger before sending it zipping back into a cupboard. She brushed some lint off the leg of her pants and checked the gray blouse she wore for stains. She needed a refresher on the history of petricite. Perhaps she could snag a piece from LeBlanc. She knew the matron kept a small store of it somewhere.
Disappearing in a puff of smoke, Elise reappeared just outside her mansion. An unassuming brick wall stood before her, stretching protectively around the property of one Reiné Vauclain. Elise reached out with a slender finger, tracing an intricate circle upon the stone. As the last line fell into place, a soft rumble was heard before the hidden doorway slid to the side, revealing a path that led into a yawning, dark chasm. Elise entered at an easy stride, the click of her heels accompanied by the torches of manafire flickering to life as the entrance closed.
One of her spiderlings scuttled overhead, and Elise waved away a cobweb that dangled from the ceiling. The Black Rose catacombs could be eerily quiet at times. Fears of the unknown (and the multitude of traps and wards) kept the very few who accidentally happened upon them from exploring further. Her path forked. Elise went left, then left again, and a right. The tunnel ended abruptly as a large pile of rubble from a cave-in, but she walked straight through the illusion, unbothered by its presence.
There were a few abrupt clicks, followed by the scrape of something hard against rock. It was pitch black, and Elise had to rely on her arachnid senses to determine the source of the sound. The clack of teeth as a jaw snapped shut directly in front of her face did not make the mage jump. Instead, she let out a tsk and reached forward, petting the creature that had stalked over to greet her. "Very funny, Aevus."
The chimera trilled in response, thrusting his narrow snout into her palm as she scratched his chin. She smoothed his fur down, passing the line of photoreceptors beyond his muzzle. Her fingers dug gently behind his large ears, giving him a good scratch, "You haven't had any visitors, have you?"
A yip. Elise snapped her fingers, teleporting a piece of meat from the cooler of her kitchen into the air overhead. Aevus immediately lunged upward to snatch it within his jaws, swallowing it in one big gulp. He wandered back to Elise, talons tapping against the ground. She trod past him this time, giving his short horns a slight tap before pulling back. "Have fun, dear."
She heard his long tail whip once through the air, followed by silence once more. Aevus guarded the enormous chamber that led to the path of Elise's mansion. It contained multiple tunnels that led to dead ends and unpleasant curses; only those knowledgeable of the labyrinths would be able to navigate it. Murmuring a transformation spell, she shifted into a plume of smoke, zooming towards the heart of the Black Rose. Everything seemed like a maze of rock, but Elise weaved gracefully through the tunnels like it was the back of her hand, eventually reforming to swipe her palm over an invisible symbol embedded into dusty stone. The illusion twisted briefly, and three more steps placed her promptly in the north wing of the cabal. No one disturbed her as she strode purposefully towards her destination. Most were still in bed.
The enormous Black Rose library was easily identifiable due to the golden circle that marked the towering door, engraved with elegant symbols from a long-lost language - Knowledge has a beginning but no end. Those fortunate enough to be granted access often sought the darkest mysteries of magic or the forgotten secrets of historical Runeterra. The protective ward flared as Elise pushed the entryway open, but it quickly settled upon identifying her aura. She inhaled the familiar scent of papyrus, basking in the wealth of unlimited knowledge and the thrum of arcane magic twisting among the tall shelves. Before her was a podium upon which sat a document – Seek and you shall find was written neatly at the top. Elise made her way over, grabbing the feather pen that popped into existence as she neared.
Petricite, she wrote in delicate cursive.
She set the feather down, and immediately the ink danced off the paper, swirling into the air and upward before being swallowed by the vastness of the library. A soft fluttering sound reached her ears, and several books flew into view, organizing themselves neatly so that she could peruse their titles.
Accounts within Petricite Grove.
Elise tapped its spine twice, and the tome settled neatly into her hands as the others floated back to their homes. She turned the cover, already scanning the near-perfect script of the author as her feet directed her towards a private corner to read. The sound of flipping pages alerted her to the presence of another, and she peered around a shelf to find none other than Vladimir leaning casually against a wall of books, a novel of his own floating before him.
Known to the lesser population of the Black Rose as simply the Crimson Reaper, he was dressed in a fashionable suit with a dash of thin crimson stripes running vertically along his dress shirt. The organization was run by fear as much as respect, and many stayed clear of the hemomancer who had a reputation of ending lives in the most gruesome fashion, a correspondence to his often melodramatic behavior. He spotted Elise almost immediately, and a wide grin spread across his face, "Ah, your majesty! What can I do for you this fine morning?" the flamboyant words were combined with an equally theatrical bow, and Elise rolled her eyes as she stepped into the aisle.
Did using Vladimir as a test subject for curses count as a new hobby? she wondered, recalling LeBlanc's words from the previous night.
"And here I thought I could have some privacy for a few hours," she drawled, coming close enough to peek at what he was reading.
He made no attempt to hide it and turned the cover so that it was directly facing the arachnid mage. She raised a brow. "What, mind-control? Did one of your subordinates accidentally splash red fruit juice too far?"
Vladimir let loose a chuckle at that, shaking his head. "Emi has found quite a few moles lately, hasn't she? I had to expel one from my circle just last week. Such a pity. I wanted to return the favor, and my little contact gave me the most peculiar news," he stopped there, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
Elise resisted the urge to slap him. "And?" she pressed.
His light pupils met her wine-red ones as Vladimir leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper, "The Grand General and the Hand's little brother were spotted conversing like regular people!"
If Elise valued books less, she might have immediately smacked him with her own. Instead, she took a deep breath, internally scolding herself for falling for another of the Crimson Reaper's pranks. "Forgive me for ever having the thought that you could provide useful information," she deadpanned, beginning to back out of the aisle.
"Elise, darling," Vladimir drew out the second word as he melted into a river of blood, flowing forward to block her path before neatly reforming, "do you consider me so dimwitted that I am incapable of proper judgment of others? Why, the Crimson Circle does an enormous favor to the Black Rose and provides a substantial number of sacrifices for the one, true Spider Queen. Most of them are handpicked by myself! I suppose now we must consider that they're not trustworthy at all, and rumors of the terrible fate to befall ever such loyal subjects would spread to-"
The aforementioned Spider Queen, who had been listening to the spiel with increasing irritation as her spider legs curled and uncurled in a manner akin to one impatiently tapping their fingers, shot a ball of webbing directly at Vladimir's face, covering his mouth and cutting off the rest of his speech. She waved her hand dismissively. "Go bother Emi about it. I'm not interested."
Vladimir said something, but it was muffled as he tried to tear the silk from his mouth. Ignoring him, Elise drew her finger through the air, stepping through a small portal that brought her to her regular secluded corner of the library. She emerged atop one of the ledges carved into the wall as part of an intricate design that mimicked the pillars of the Immortal Bastion. She could see the other side of the room from where she sat, high above the shelves and close to the glass ceiling that was enchanted to display a real-time account of the sky over Noxus. Elise opened her book and began to read.
Petricite had previously been thought as an all-powerful counter to magic, and any sort of records to prove otherwise had come from faulty experiments and inexperienced scholars. Then came Sylas's rebellion. Why was he able to succeed where so many others had failed? Elise used her finger to underline the words as she skimmed one entry after another. They were outdated, but the mistakes of those in the past gave insight into the discoveries of the present.
This place is a gift from the gods, a true sign that they seek to entrust us with the responsibility of cleansing all of Runeterra. Those corrupted by magical affliction will hold us hostage no more! From these roots that purify the darkness, we shall build an empire, one free from suppression and fear. Today, we fashioned arrows from the golden leaves and set upon our attackers. They were left defenseless, as this blessed stone suppresses any and all forms of magic. It appears to exude an aura. Proximity affects the mages just as well. There is no limit to this power! It is late into the night now, and our adversaries have yet to cast a single spell. We can sleep soundly, for they are without weapons and morale.
It was a completely preposterous notion, but what if no one had actually attempted to unlock the uses of petricite beyond its shallow character of restraining those who were magically gifted? The fact annoyed Elise, but even she had taken the white stone at face value. Mages feared petricite. They would not seek it, let alone experiment with it. Even the small reservoir LeBlanc kept was only used in specifically dire situations. Elise decided she would indeed procure a piece from the matron.
She marked her page before closing the tome. Tapping the upper left corner of the cover three times produced a sharp, needle-like point, upon which Elise pricked her finger. A drop of blood welled up and she allowed it to fall upon the book, where it snaked across the soft leather before weaving itself into the material near the bottom.
Elise Kythera.
Properly regarded as the temporary owner of Accounts within Petricite Grove, she teleported it back to her mansion before shifting into a plume of smoke, rushing towards the library floor and scattering out the door. Others roamed the halls now, but they knew to step out of the way as Elise's ghastly form swept past. Some that were not quite quick enough and still blinking away the vestiges of sleep were treated to a cold consciousness briefly grasping at their heart as she uncaringly hurtled through.
For the gifted, the Black Rose offered sanctuary as much as power. That is, unless one was secretly marked for Elise's sacrifice. The labyrinths were well-guarded and equipped to house those without a proper home. LeBlanc was legendary at spotting potential, specifically amongst those who had been cast from their circles. She was never one to let a resource go to waste.
Elise entered the matron's private wing and pressed against the privacy charm that led to LeBlanc's study. It gave easily, indicating no other visitors were present. Tendrils of darkness pulled her under the door, and she spotted LeBlanc seated comfortably in a well-cushioned, velvety chair, scrawling across a piece of parchment. A porcelain teacup decorated in black roses sat not too far from her right. Elise floated across the room, swirling teasingly around the woman before finally solidifying with her hip pressed against the desk. LeBlanc did not look up from her work, although the spider did spot a pleasant smile across her lips, "Miss me already?"
"You'd be too preoccupied to speak if I did."
"Touché," the matron finally set her feathered pen down and turned to face Elise, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit then?"
"You have a little supply of magic-absorbing stone nearby?"
LeBlanc was silent for a moment before she reached for the woman's free hand; Elise's other was pressed upon the glossy surface of the table. Long pale fingers, warm from nursing her drink, curled lightly around Elise's wrist. LeBlanc pulled her closer. "For what purpose?"
"Nothing sinister, I assure you."
The matron easily spotted the deflection as she guided her to sit upon the armrest. She patiently regarded Elise as she reached for her tea. "I was reading about the Demacian rebellion against the Mageseekers," Elise rested her arm on the back of the chair, one of her spider legs curling around LeBlanc's shoulders.
"Amazing how so many spent centuries believing what transpired was out of the realm of possibility," Leblanc brought the rim of porcelain to her lips, tilting the cup briefly.
"Tell me you're not the least bit curious."
The matron hummed, "If you wish to play with what I have, do it here."
"Voyeurism again?"
Chuckling, LeBlanc drew the back of her hand across the side of Elise's thigh, her knuckles skimming the silky material. "I will have it ready for you when you bring me what I asked for."
Elise made a sound of agreement, "Fine."
"Tea?"
Lounged upon her antique, but still comfy, couch, Elise tapped one of her nails against an empty vial. A clear sound briefly rang out. She held it up to the light, wine glass in her other hand. A protective spell, only perceivable by those of magical talent, hovered around the small container, preserving the integrity of whatever would find itself inside. She placed it in her pocket, glancing at a quietly ticking old grandfather clock across the living room. Early afternoon. She absentmindedly fingered at the dark onyx ring on her left hand as she debated, feeling the piece of stone thrum with blood magic. The Noxian took another sip of her drink, spotting a spiderling crawl across the back of the sofa in the corner of her eye. It made its way over to her lap, and she trailed the pad of her index finger past its dark abdomen. She downed the rest of her wine and swung her feet to the carpet, standing up. Her pet skittered away from her towards a shadowy corner.
A snap of her fingers made the world spiral, and Elise reappeared wearing a stylish black long coat with golden buttons lining the front, hidden under the shadow of a large tree. Her form had settled into the illusion of a middle-aged woman adjusting her lapels, brunette hair wound tightly into a bun. Placing a pair of sunglasses over her face, she leisurely strode down the path and through the gate of the Du Couteau mansion. The entrance of the massive house would be intimidating to most; the doors that were decorated in golden vines traced into the family's sigil towered as tall as a full-grown ursine. However, Elise wasn't most people, and she didn't hesitate as she reached for the knocker.
There was a moment of silence, and she rested her palm against the hardwood. She felt a set of almost imperceptible footsteps on the other side, indicating to Elise that it was no ordinary servant. Elise knocked again, and the entryway opened with a resigned sigh. A pair of emerald eyes glared at her, and a redhead leaned her hip against the door as she eyed Elise suspiciously. Ah yes, Katarina, one of the Grand General's dogs. "Good afternoon, Miss Du Couteau," the mage offered a sly smile as the name slid off her tongue, "I am one of your sister's associates, and I hear she has returned to Noxus. Could-"
"Cassiopeia is not here," Katarina interrupted.
This gave Elise pause. "No? Perhaps you can direct me to her whereabouts then? She asked for me. Something about snake oil," she pretended to muse.
The assassin stared for a moment before shrugging, not taking the bait. "She was gone as quickly as she came."
"I see."
Cassiopeia's condition was, of course, not common knowledge, but only people in her closest circles knew of her current presence within Noxus. "She did not tell her own sister where she was going?" Elise raised an eyebrow.
Katarina's scowl returned, "I respect my sister's privacy. I suggest you do the same."
The door was shut in her face, leaving Elise blinking at the knocker in annoyance. Of the few times she had interacted with the assassin using various illusions, the redhead had always been awfully blunt. It wasn't doing House Du Couteau too many favors, especially now with the absence of its headmaster. She was so unlike her sister and mother. Elise backed slowly away from the door, expanding her magical aura to search for suspicious signs within the mansion. The wards had been reinforced recently, Elise noted. Layers upon layers of magic-canceling charms covered the brick, and any less experienced mage would have simply concluded there was nothing of interest within the massive house. But Elise knew better.
Katarina was likely watching her from the window, so she turned and leisurely made her way back to the main road, only pausing when she was well-hidden behind a pair of shrubs outside the wall that encircled Du Couteau mansion. Magic erupted throughout her body, a quiet snapping sound pouring into her ears as it shifted and bent. Dark carapace slithered across her skin as she shrunk down to the dimensions of a normal black widow, just barely larger than a piece of gold. Elise squeezed through the bushes, crawling up the stone barrier and hopping onto the grass beyond.
Unfortunately, her size prevented her from moving too quickly. It took her a solid few minutes to make her way to the rear of the house and navigate through the maze of a garden. The rumble of the water fountain seemed so loud to her smaller form. Now that Elise was closer, she checked again for signs of magic beyond the wards.
Curses were powerful. They had to be, for often they lasted millennia, hopping from victim to victim. That meant those infused with such magic found it difficult to hide from other mages. And there. It was faint – whoever had done the warding was experienced – but Elise could see the slight rippling of a disturbance on the second floor. She skittered up the rough surface of the wall to a bedroom window with closed curtains. Fortunately, wards never accounted for spiders breaking and entering, so it was a simple matter for Elise to teleport straight through. She reappeared on the sill behind the drapes and crawled around to get a view of the room. Empty.
A large bed, bigger than anything a person would normally have, spanned the center. Accompanying it was a display of variable golden jewelry adorning the wall, with a pair of glowing claws being the most eye-catching in the dim light. On the other side of the room was an enormous ornate mirror with what appeared to be a walk-in closet to the right. An L-shaped black leather couch sat in the remaining space beyond the bed, light fur rugs draped across its back. Elise held very still for a moment but couldn't perceive any vibrations. She realized the magical disturbance she sensed previously had disappeared. It was slightly unsettling, but if anything attacked her, it likely wasn't a good idea to be stuck in the form of a small arachnid. She darted into the nearest corner, a rush of dark magic returning her to her illusionless human form.
Utter silence.
Elise took a step forward, closer to the bed. The thick carpet muffled her footsteps, but she knew someone was able to sense her every movement. There was nothing on the ceiling. Throwing invisible webbing forward, she inched further into the room.
Something thick and cold wrapped around her chest almost immediately, pinning her arms to her sides. Red hues widened in surprise as she was dragged backward, another pair of coils taking their place around her stomach and legs. She felt a huff of breath tickle her ear before a smooth voice purred, "The matron should teach her pets to knock."
A pair of hands encircled the sides of her face, and Elise's magic flared instinctively before her neck could be snapped. She teleported herself across the room as her attacker clutched at air. Elise reappeared leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed in disapproval. There was a massive shadow backed by the soft light of the curtained window, and a pair of lime green eyes bobbed towards her. An annoyed hiss filled the air, and the mass of coils shifted as the serpent slithered closer.
Elise's ring of the Black Rose flared, glowing a bright white. A brief spark from the opposite side of the room answered it, and both remained a neutral color, indicating that the only people present were of the organization. The spider tsked, "Aggressive, yet so slow. That new form is quite cumbersome, isn't it?"
A hiss of a command word filled the room with warm lighting, giving Elise her first look of the transformed Cassiopeia Du Couteau. Gone were her human legs; instead, they had been replaced by a long tail of which Elise could see no end, rippling with muscle and power as the snake loomed haughtily over her. Smooth scales of emerald and inky patterns covered her body neatly from her hips and onward, morphing into a golden underbelly lined with a darker, keeled texture. Various areas of her upper body had patches of the protective plates as well – from what Elise could see, there were some on the line of her jaw and forearms. She wore a loose white wrap top whose low neckline was accentuated by a jade pendant. A sash hugged her waist, and wavy dark chocolate hair framed her face.
A quiet vibrating, humming sound reached her ears, and Cassiopeia spoke in a drawling tone, "I enjoy playing with my food. I wouldn't get too comfortable." A forked tongue flickered out, briefly revealing a gleam of sharp fangs.
The spider let out a mock gasp, a hand to her mouth. "Hesitating at an opportunity to take a life? My, what would your sister say if she knew?" she whispered scandalously.
Cassiopeia exhaled, unamused at the jab as her bright eyes roamed Elise's form covered in her fancy coat. Her pupils had been transformed into thin slits like those of a cat, and as they caught each other's gaze, the spider felt control of her body slip slightly, her next inhalation coming sharper than normal. The serpent caught this and smirked. Naganeka's curse, Elise thought, her interest flaring.
"Katarina, unlike you, is more respectful of my privacy. Now, to who and what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" Cassiopeia settled back, her movements smooth and graceful as she lounged casually upon her coils, still eyeing the other with the same predatory gaze.
Elise noted that when she spoke, anything with the "s" sound contained a soft hiss, only further adding to her serpentine features. Her red lips quirked, "I simply wanted to see for myself what form of exotic monster the power of a great Shuriman curse produced. I'm delighted to say I'm not disappointed."
"Many ambitious men and women alike have fallen before me playing games they cannot win. Do not tempt me to lead you to the same fate." There was the rattling sound again.
The arachnid mage released a breath of laughter. "Are you challenging me?"
"Only if you desire to become a stone decoration in my garden."
Elise's answer was her confident grin, "Ooh, kinky."
The chartreuse gaze narrowed. Taking a step forward, Elise produced the vial from her pocket, tossing it toward the serpent with a flick of her wrist. A hand shot out to snatch it from the air, much like a viper striking its prey. "For your poison."
Cassiopeia tapped the mouth of the vial with a sharp nail, producing a high-pitched ringing sound, "And what do you plan to do with this?"
Elise shrugged sarcastically, "From my experience, high concentration toxic substances tend to be used to murder people."
She received a chortle at that, but Cassiopeia now carried a secretive smile that made the mage's crimson hues intensify in suspicion. The snake languidly uncoiled and began to circle Elise, "Ah, you didn't know, did you? I can make anyone's heart stop in seconds…or I can make it beat so fast it bursts from their chest. I can blind them. Paralyze them. Or maybe," she floated closer to Elise, daring to walk two fingers slowly up her arm, "I can keep them aroused for hours,"
Elise would not give her the victory of pulling away. "I can see why you would have issues doing that the normal way nowadays."
Cassiopeia's expression didn't change. "Perhaps I'll allow you a sample when you least expect it and you may inform me how you feel afterward."
Another challenge. Elise leaned closer. "I'll consider it a gift," she taunted. "LeBlanc wishes to do away with a member of the Trifarix's court. You decide what she needs."
The younger Du Couteau sister hovered for a moment as she thought, "Very well. Why not something undetectable?" She retreated, a sickly green mist now trailing from her finger.
She tapped the vial, and a clear, viscous liquid slowly dribbled in, almost as invisible as it was dangerous. The serpent held it up, glancing at the arachnid mage curiously, "You're not going to carry this upright the entire time…?"
Elise did not dignify that with an answer and raised her hand forward, fingers humming with magic. The top of the vial folded in, enclosing the poison in a cage of glass. "Ooh, a neat parlor trick," Cassiopeia's tone was teasing.
She held it out for Elise to take but snatched it back as the mage reached for it, tsking playfully, "Ah, ah. You didn't tell me your name yet."
The spider raised an eyebrow at her, "What, and rob you of the opportunity to discover it for yourself?"
The naga pretended to think. "That would be dependent on how soon the matron wants her little concoction..." she trailed off.
Elise sighed dramatically, "You may call me Elise."
The serpent hummed, "Very well, Elise," she put extra emphasis on the 's' and then shook the poison slightly, "What do I get in exchange for this?"
"The matron will owe you a favor," the mage replied, but Cassiopeia shook her head in disappointment, a malicious glint in her eye.
"Considering my father's recent untimely disappearance and her request that I return to Noxus to appear as the desperate daughter in search of her loving father, I would think she already does. She has quite a lot on her plate, and I would hate to add more to that, don't you think?"
This was why LeBlanc had sent her, specifically. The weasel. "I will not be owing favors in her place. If you have an issue with that, you may take it up with her. However," Elise pondered for a moment, a plan forming in her mind, "If you wish to know more about your father, then that can be arranged. With a price of course."
The serpent's tongue flicked out as she considered the offer, "That is…?"
Elise grinned. She began to draw a runic circle in the air, "Contact me tomorrow two hours past midday. You may use this."
A blue crystal encompassed by a soft glow dropped out as she finished the teleportation spell, and she held it up for the naga to take. Cassiopeia's cat-like eyes narrowed in suspicion, "An awfully vague proposal. Tell me more," she hissed.
Elise was careful with her next words, "Your curse hails from ancient origins, and with it comes powers only held by the ascended of Shurima. Your aura is unique. I wish to see how it reacts to various…substances I have been observing."
The snake hummed, not seeming fully convinced, "You do not appear to be the scholarly type."
"Appearances can be deceiving. You will not be harmed. You have my word." In theory, what Elise had in mind shouldn't hurt her.
The sending stone she had conjured was abruptly plucked from her hand. Cassiopeia flipped it in her palm before her attention darted back to Elise. A playful smile snaked its way to her face, "Pinky swear on it?" she opened her mouth, pricking the pad of her last finger with one of her fangs.
Cassiopeia then held her hand out, a bead of blood gathering at the tip of her finger. Elise held her ring underneath, allowing the red liquid to drip onto it. A hum of magic gathered between them, and Elise felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She sliced her index finger open with a quick, muttered spell. The humming stopped as soon as her blood touched the onyx of Cassiopeia's ring. "Very good," the naga purred, tossing the vial of poison at Elise.
She caught it deftly and slipped it into her pocket. "Don't be late," Elise gave her an exaggerated bow, arm sweeping to the side, and was gone before Cassiopeia could reply.
The Spider Queen strolled casually through the hallways of the Black Rose, relishing in the way the younger mages hurried to step aside whenever they encountered her. Her lack of involvement in the outer circles, namely the newly recruited, left an air of mystery about her as one of LeBlanc's closest accomplices. People were often curious but too fearful to approach her. This left them with only rumors of what she was – a demon, a Vastayan, a Void being. She never put a stop to these whispers; they were all too amusing.
Stepping into a quieter, more restricted hallway, she approached one of the doors. Feeling rather mischievous, Elise shifted into a small spider, a black widow crawling underneath the entryway. The murmur of voices grew clearer, and she heard a particularly gruff one, "With all due respect matron, those details rarely reach anyone not part of this assembly. How are you positive there is not a traitor within our midst as well?"
Teleneus, a middle-aged mage who wanted more than the Black Rose would ever give him.
Granted, in their line of work, it did pay to be paranoid, but some used it simply as an excuse to step out of line in an attempt to garner more favor. The arachnid darted across the floor, still unnoticed by those seated around the wide table. She made her way to her regular spot, but decided to take a detour as she heard the last of Teleneus's speech, "…In fact, have you questioned the Spider Queen's lack of presence for this urgent meeting?"
He dared to imply that she was actively sabotaging the Black Rose? A tap of one of her forelimbs manifested a spiderling skittering undetected up one of the legs of the man's chair and onto his body, disappearing into his robes. LeBlanc's response was calm, "You accuse dear Elise of treacherous intent? I expect you have evidence for your claim."
"An associate of mine reported her presence at Du Couteau manor shortly before this meeting started." Teleneus answered proudly as he stood, "As we all know, both Katarina and Talon are blade masters under the late General Du Couteau, who was an avid supporter of the Grand General."
Very odd that someone had been able to tell that it was her, Elise thought. "Interesting. But where is your proof?" LeBlanc only sounded curious, as if she were truly considering his suggestion.
Teleneus bowed, "I shall have my contact send you a scry recording."
Elise made her way under the table to where LeBlanc and Vladimir sat. "Good," the Deceiver replied pleasantly, "And Teleneus?"
"Yes, matron?" His voice sounded hopeful, like a dog wishing for a treat after performing a trick.
"Who gave you the order to spy upon her?" Her voice turned eerily cold, and every member of the table grew still.
Elise chuckled internally to herself as she crawled up the leg of an empty chair. "Well," he sounded hesitant and a little fearful, "I took initiative to ensure that we do not have anyone who falsely pledges loyalty-"
"So you admit to spying upon everyone present?"
Elise didn't need to look to know people were throwing glances amongst each other. The old man was silent now, having lost his words after being chastised. LeBlanc's amber hues were narrowed, but she leaned back, the rest of her form relaxed. "However, I am impressed by your results, so perhaps this once I can make an exception." For those who knew her all too well, it meant he would soon find himself on the chopping board.
Teleneus looked as if he wanted to throw himself to his knees in praise of the matron. "I expect to have that scry recording as soon as possible," she finished.
"Y-yes, matron! Thank you!"
Silence still pervaded the chamber as he sat down and attempted to make himself scarce in his chair. LeBlanc's lilt tone soothed it, "If there are no more objections?"
No one dared voiced their dissent. "Very well," the matron purred, "Dismissed."
Elise leaped to the top of her seat on LeBlanc's right as people began filing out, noting that the arcane mage placed a hand on Vladimir's shoulder as a gesture to stay. The Crimson Reaper's displeased gaze followed Teleneus as he exited, "Well Emi, it seems you were correct. The old rat couldn't resist pointing fingers," she murmured telepathically to the pair as the door clicked shut.
Dark magic filled her being as her body twisted into her human form. She stretched and flexed her spider legs, propping her head up with a hand as she leaned onto the table.
"Elise, how wonderful for you to finally join us," Vladimir greeted cheerfully.
"You heard the entirety of his speech, I presume?" LeBlanc asked.
The spider nodded in affirmation, still rather perplexed, "I wove an illusion before I arrived, a ways from Du Couteau manor. I teleported from my place, but no one should have been able to follow me from there."
"So either," the hemomancer started, "this so-called spy knew your precise location at that exact time, or they were there for a different purpose, and your presence was a pleasant distraction."
"It may be helpful for me to mention that Cassiopeia seems to prefer maintaining the image of her absence. News of her curse has come and gone; it would be beneficial to take advantage of people's curiosity at this point instead of sticking to the shadows."
"His spy may have been there to watch her," LeBlanc suggested, "I will speak with her in the event she has noticed something amiss. It is futile for us to speculate, presently. Teleneus will reveal his hand to me in due time. For now, we carry on as usual."
Vladimir simply shrugged in agreement but then he shot Elise a mischievous smile, "Did you manage to 'bug' that old crone, at least?"
She rolled her eyes at the pun, "Yes."
LeBlanc made a sound of amusement, and Elise glared at her accusingly. The matron met her gaze steadily, daring her to comment. "At least someone appreciates me," Vladimir sighed forlornly, but his expression brightened almost immediately, "Ah! Speaking of scry recordings, I have something of interest – from this morning. Thank you for your continued support, as always." The last statement was directed sarcastically at Elise.
"I try my best," she replied innocently.
He reached inside his jacket, producing a small piece of papyrus upon which a circle of symbols was engraved. Opening it and setting it on the table, Vladimir pressed one of the characters. An image manifested before the trio, showing the familiar frames of Draven and Jericho Swain conversing within the military stronghold, judging by the charcoal black walls. However, the words were unclear due to the distance of the recording. They stood tensely with their arms at their sides, and as Elise observed the Glorious Executioner's face, she recognized that his familiar boastful grin or haughty smirk were missing. Odd, but not groundbreaking.
Then Draven saluted before sauntering away. Elise blinked.
He never saluted.
Arrogant as he was skilled with his throwing axes, he respected those with authority as equals, never as superiors. That much was obvious upon watching him in the Reckoner's arena. Vladimir paused the recording, holding up a finger at Elise as she attempted to speak, "If one manipulates the recording such that it identifies magic signatures…"
He waved his hand at the image, and both men dissolved into swaths of blue light. The Grand General's appearance was expected, but Draven, who had no magical inclination whatsoever…
"An imposter," LeBlanc breathed.
"One who needs to hide their identity within Noxus itself," the hemomancer nodded.
"Does the recording follow him?" Elise queried.
Vladimir shook his head. "Swain was to hold court immediately after. This Draven disappeared shortly within the crowd."
"Have your contacts carry on. Cast a locator spell upon the impersonator if they are found again," LeBlanc murmured, still eyeing the screen before her, "I will personally see to a signature tracking charm at the Crimson Circle. It is a predictable point of interest."
The hemomancer leaned back with a sigh, "Time to trim the rosebush again, I suppose."
LeBlanc turned to Elise, an eyebrow raised. Taking that as her cue, Elise produced the poison Cassiopeia had given her, rolling the glass orb across the table towards Vladimir. He snatched it up with a curious eye upon its inner contents. "A gift? Elise, you shouldn't have."
"She said it cannot be detected. It may be wise to verify that before taking any chances," she turned to the matron, scarlet orbs narrowing in exaggerated displeasure, "When were you planning to tell me that she wishes to know the whereabouts of her father?"
LeBlanc had the decency to look sheepish, but it lasted for approximately half a second. "Cassiopeia never directly informed me about it, but I don't see a reason to hide that information from her," she shrugged innocently.
Elise must have still had a disgruntled look on her face, because LeBlanc suddenly blinked into her lap, her arms wrapped around Elise's neck, "If it caused you any trouble, dear, I truly apologize," LeBlanc cooed, "Shall I make it up to you? Let's go for lunch tomorrow, yes?"
Feeling as if she was being spoken to like she were a child, the arachnid mage refused to make eye contact with her. "Vladimir," the matron called when she received no response, "any suggestions?"
The hemomancer put his hand to his chin in thought. His eyes lit up, "Ah, a place serving a mix of Ionian and Shuriman recently opened in Mortoraa. I guarantee it is suitable for your exquisite tastes."
LeBlanc let go of Elise to press her hands together. "Excellent. Tomorrow at noon. You'll be there won't you, Elise?" she leaned against her with a pout.
Finger's twitching, LeBlanc summoned a swirl of magic in her palm. A tan leather pouch popped into existence, and the arcane mage presented it to Elise. Wine-red hues finally darted downwards to glance at it before it was snatched from her palm, "Get off of me."
"I'll take that as a yes," LeBlanc patted her cheek before moving back to her seat.
Elise raised the tiny bag to eye level, feeling the weight of the petricite shard within but none of its magical properties. She fixed LeBlanc with an inquiring look. "Vastayan leather," LeBlanc replied, "Mixed with certain ingredients, it wards off the effects. Unfortunately, less useful for warfare since it requires the petricite to be completely enclosed. And the fact that it is more…complicated to procure."
Elise hummed in thought and tugged at the drawstring, already picturing the feats she could accomplish once she was able to manipulate the stone to her will.
She had barely loosened the knot when three sickly green bolts burst from the bag and hurtled towards the occupants of the room.