Chapter 3 - Misplaced

A/N: *Will smith poses at Followmetoyourdoom for betaing and both her and Margoteve for support*

Mephisto had been staring at the mask for the better part of five minutes. He was unable to move, unable to tear his eyes from it. The mask, or Banes, or something, pulled at him. Whispered to him. Not with words, exactly, but with promises.

He was tempted. He was incredibly, overwhelmingly tempted. The mere thought of possessing so much power sent chills through his whole body.

He could finish what he'd started. Avenge his sister the way she'd want to be avenged. The way she deserved to be.

The world would rue the day she was taken from him.

So much magic. So much power. So close. His fingers twitched with the desire to reach for it.

The Princesses would suffer, as he was suffering.

Iris only thought she was sorry. He would teach her the true meaning of the word.

A dark look, equal parts vengeance and greed, had come into his eyes. He knelt down and his hand slowly went out towards the mask, as if of its own accord.

The mask would grant him everything he'd ever wanted, and far more. Unlimited power, ultimate authority. More magic than he'd ever dreamed of having.

His hand shook with excitement, but he hesitated. Something deep inside him was resisting.

As if in response, images appeared in Mephisto's mind.

He saw himself, wearing the mask and surrounded by an aura of green magic, so dark it was almost black.

Ephedia groveling at his feet, and Earth on the horizon.

The Princesses in his dungeon, lamenting their mistake for all eternity, as they very well should. Or maybe that was a kinder fate than they deserved.

Even a suggestion... Just the barest hint of a whisper... Of perhaps getting his sister back.

Tears pricked his eyes. Bitter tears. Angry tears. His expression hardened, teeth grit with sudden determination.

This was what she would have wanted.

Banes purred encouragingly, the stone floor vibrating with his approval.

Mephisto's fingers hovered just an inch from the bone-white mask. The shadows reached towards him, like wicked vines attempting to ensnare his hand. He didn't notice. He was too lightheaded with daydreams of supreme power.

No one would ever hurt him, again. No one would ever dare push him around. He'd do the pushing, for a change.

A black smirk twisted his face. There was a maniacal, insane laugh building in his throat. His eyes were dark with evil thoughts, yet glowed with a spark of madness.

His gloved fingertip brushed the mask. A jolt of dark magic arced through him. Nothing could stop him, now! Nothing could-

Iris' sweet, trusting smile suddenly flashed unbidden into Mephisto's mind.

He jerked back a little, giving a strangled gasp. His evil expression faded.

Iris... had only been doing what she had to do to defeat Gramorr. He'd told her he'd have done the same in her position, and it was still true. Praxina's death was an accident. A tragic accident that would probably haunt Iris for the rest of her life.

Besides, it wasn't as if he and Praxina were innocent bystanders. It was as much his own fault as it was Iris'. A great deal more, in fact. Mephisto had played a vital role in bringing the final Oracle Gem to Gramorr. He'd thoughtlessly handed the tyrant the means to destroy the world. If he hadn't, if he'd given it to the Princesses, instead... Praxina would still be alive.

Mephisto choked on a sob, as his insides churned with self loathing and guilt. It was his actions that caused this. Not Iris'.

The purr shifted into more of a growl as he hesitated.

Mephisto thought, miserably, about how incredibly good Iris and her parents had been to him, in the aftermath.

They had no reason to trust him. They didn't need to pardon him. It didn't make sense to be so kind to him. He should be rotting in the dungeon. Or worse. Instead, they were willing to take him in. Make him a guard. Entrust him with her safety.

Mephisto would be following in his parents' footsteps. He... liked that idea. A lot. It felt... good. Right. Like it was what he was meant to do.

There was a life for him, here. Praxina would have disapproved, he knew, but... Mephisto had lived his entire life in her shadow. Maybe it was time he started thinking about what he wanted, for a change.

With effort, he ripped his eyes away from the mask. He looked at Banes, instead.

There was always something... strange, about Banes. Something unsettling. Something that Praxina never seemed to notice. But Mephisto had. He'd always treated the cat with a healthy respect, because he sensed an uncanny level of intelligence in those demonic eyes.

He had also noticed the way Gramorr spoke to him. The way he placated him when things went wrong. As if the cat were his equal. A very powerful equal.

Perhaps, even, a superior.

Now, Banes was offering Gramorr's power to him, while Gramorr himself hadn't even been gone a day.

Mephisto climbed to his feet, shaking his head.

"...No." He surprised himself with his own firmness. "No! I won't take it! I want no part of this!"

Banes' ears went back and his eyes narrowed.

"I..." Mephisto swallowed. "I want a life without... revenge, or madness, or this... this poison! This is the kind of... toxic magic that..."

He stomped his foot, anger coursing through him. "This is what killed my sister!" he snapped. "Not the Princesses! Not Iris! Gramorr! And dark magic! And you!"

The growl was getting louder and more menacing, vibrating in Mephisto's chest. It only strengthened his resolve.

"You want me to be your puppet, like Gramorr was!" His brow furrowed as connections snapped into place. "He was a pawn! A face to wear the mask! I want nothing to do with you! Or with this thing!" He kicked the mask across the floor.

It skidded to a stop just in front of Banes. The massive cat looked at it, then raised his head. His glowing eyes pierced through Mephisto.

His surge of courage starting to wane, Mephisto took a step back and felt the familiar tingle of mortal terror seeping up his arms.

Banes snarled, baring knife-sharp crystal fangs. The sound, along with the sight of the fangs, made Mephisto dizzy with fright.

Then, as suddenly as he'd appeared, Banes teleported and was gone.

Mephisto leaned against the wardrobe, panting as he slid down into a sitting position. His heart fluttered against his ribcage like a crazed bird and he was shaking.

But he was free.

He gave a half-hysterical laugh. He'd stood up to Banes and survived. He'd been faced with overwhelming temptation and denied it.

He desperately wished Praxina could have seen him do it.

"I can't imagine what the King was thinking!" Talia reached across the table for a roll. "No offence, Iris."

Iris shrugged. "He's changed, Talia! Couldn't you tell?"

Talia shook her head incredulously. "Making Mephisto a royal guard is like welcoming a snake into your bed! Iris, he's a bad person!" She paused to regain her composure. "...Even if we ignore the evil things he's done in the past, he's been saturated with dark crystal magic for years. He must be irreparably corrupted, by now. It's only a matter of time before he turns on you."

Auriana nodded reluctantly. "She's got a point, Iris. Dark magic messes with your head. He might not be able to help it."

"He doesn't deserve your trust," Talia concluded.

Iris' cheeks were tinted red, but she stared at her hands and phrased her retort carefully. "...Talia. Do you remember what you told us, about how much you changed when you thought your sister was gone?"

Talia froze, her fork halfway to her mouth.

Auriana gasped. "Iris!"

Iris hurried on to her point. "...You... resolved to be more responsible, to take things more seriously. You turned your whole life around." She met Talia's gaze. "...Mephisto just lost his sister. Isn't it possible that he can change, too?"

Talia stared at her for several seconds, then lowered her fork with a sigh. "...I just hope your parents know what they're doing. That you do."

Iris smiled, relieved, then turned her attention to her food.

"...You'll be great at this, Iris." Auriana beamed proudly.

"Great at what?" She wasn't listening. She was busy studying her plate, trying to figure out what she was eating.

A scoop of small green vegetables, a pile of what looked a little like rice, and a... mystery calzone was the only way she could think to describe the main dish of this course.

They'd already eaten an appetizer, something with a long name she hadn't caught, but that basically amounted to small bowls of Jello that tasted like a cross between an orange and a watermelon.

She'd really liked those, but they were gone too fast and now she was left to pick curiously at this unknown entrée.

"You know," Auriana flapped her hand as if trying to pin down the words she sought. "...General princess stuff!"

"Um..." Iris sliced the calzone-looking thing with her fork. Orange sauce oozed out. She couldn't decide if it looked appetizing or disgusting. The smell was completely unfamiliar, and hard to describe. "...What do you mean, exactly?"

"I believe Auriana is referring to your skills in diplomacy," Talia said.

Iris frowned in confusion, taking a small experimental taste of the orange sauce. "Why, is something wrong-" Her eyes went wide and she cupped a hand over her mouth.

"Iris?" Both her friends leaned towards her in concern.

"Hot," she managed, red in the face.

"Where?" Auriana looked over her shoulder, scanning for the attractive man she assumed Iris had seen.

She shook her head frantically. "No! The food!" Her tongue felt it was being simultaneously frostbitten and scorched. The flavor wasn't like any spice she'd ever tasted, but whatever it was, there was way too much of it.

Iris reached for her drink and chugged the chilled beverage, trying to preserve some level of decorum as she did so. The sweet, slightly viscous liquid soothed her taste buds and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Talia and Auriana shot each other confused looks.

"Um, Iris..." Auriana was trying not to laugh. "There's nothing really spicy in this course."

"Maybe somebody's trying to poison you!" Talia narrowed her eyes and searched for the purple-haired target of her pointed words.

Iris, meanwhile was staring at them both in horror. "...You're telling me this isn't spicy?!" She gestured to the calzone-shaped traitor with disgust.

"Of course not!" Auriana pointed to her own plate. "This is just a mala roll. It's savory, maybe, but it's not spicy. My little sisters love these!"

"More like martyr roll..." Iris eyed it with contempt.

Talia started to say something, but cut herself off to glare across the dining hall. "...There he is. Took him long enough to 'change his clothes.'"

Iris turned to see Mephisto standing awkwardly near the doorway. The unadorned dark tunic made him look pale and fragile, compared to his usual evil regalia. He had also found ordinary shoes and was without his gloves or cape.

Mephisto felt like a misplaced sock; lonely, useless and lost on his own. He wasn't sure where he was supposed to sit. He decided it was safest to just stand against the wall, out of everybody's way. A servant, waiting nearby for orders, gave him a distrustful look and moved away from him.

You don't belong here, hissed a voice in his head. He mentally shushed it.

He'd decided not to mention Banes' little visit to anyone. The last thing he needed was to give them more reason to be suspicious of him. Besides, nothing happened. He was gone, now.

Iris watched him for a moment with pain in her chest.

"...It wasn't your fault, Iris," Auriana said quietly, as if reading her mind.

She turned to them with a sad smile. "No?"

Talia reached across and touched her hand. "It wasn't. Don't blame yourself for something you didn't do. Trust me on this one."

Iris forced herself to look happier. "You're right." She didn't sound convinced. "Thank, guys." She looked at her food again, wondering of any of it was actually edible. Especially with so little appetite.

Unfortunately, Iris soon discovered, the particular flavor she so disliked was exceedingly popular in Ephedian cooking.

"It must be the ximin," Talia said, after Iris was forced to send the third course back uneaten. "That's the only spice in common between all these dishes."

Iris was busy gulping her drink and had to wait a moment to reply. "'Ximin?'"

"It's a spice native to Ephedia. Very common in most of the planet's cuisine."

"But ximin isn't that hot," Auriana said.

Talia nodded. "Not to us, maybe. We've eaten it all our lives. But do you remember how long it took us to get used to Earth's black pepper?"

"Ooooooh, right. I forgot. It was almost two months before we could eat at a restaurant. We had to make our own food, without so much pepper."

"Right, because we weren't used to it. Just like Iris isn't used to ximin."

"So... I'm not gonna be able to eat for two months?" Iris asked nervously.

Talia looked at her apologetically. "...Maybe? Maybe not, though. You might get used to it faster."

"I'm sure they could leave it out, if you ask," Auriana added. "...It might be kinda bland without it, though. Nobody puts ximin in desserts, at least, so you'd be good."

"She can't live on desserts, Auriana."

Iris sighed. She'd have to eat the spice, to get used to it, but her mouth violently rebelled at the slightest taste of it on her tongue.

Suddenly, she found herself craving a plain old cheeseburger. And maybe a smoothie. Which in turn reminded her of Nathaniel and her heart gave a painful little twist.

"Iris?" Auriana's voice broke into her thoughts. "You ok?"

Iris quickly bottled her feelings and looked up. "Hmm? Oh, yeah, it's nothing. Just thinking. What was that you guys were saying? Something about diplomacy and princess stuff?"

"Oh, just that you'll be good at it." Auriana shrugged cheerfully.

"Is something going on that I'll need diplomacy for?"

Talia tilted her head to the side. "Well, things might be a little tense for a while, politically speaking. The kingdoms have all suffered from Gramorr's rule, and many of them currently lie in ruins. Especially Xeris, Volta, Borealis and Ephedia. This castle is the only one of those four that Gramorr left standing, since he desired it for his own. It'll take time to fix everything he broke."

Iris nodded. "Sure, but... what does that have to do with-" It finally clicked. Her eyes widened. "...Oh. Because I'm... I'm the Princess of Ephedia."

Somehow, it was easy to ignore the full weight of her title back on Earth. The only people who'd called her "Princess" were the twins, and even then only in mocking tones. When the girls spoke of their rank amongst themselves, it was deceptively casual, and usually in the context of magic.

Iris hadn't thought about what it really meant. She hadn't considered the responsibilities she was about to shoulder. How incredibly, drastically different her life was going to be.

The fourth (and equally spicy) course was being whisked away before she found her voice again. "So... What am I going to have to do? Exactly?"

It hit Talia and Auriana rather suddenly that they hadn't prepared her for this.

"...Um..." Auriana shifted awkwardly in her chair. "...You'll have to attend court, for one thing. It's important for a Crown Princess to listen and contribute. Even if it is a huuuge drag- Ow!" she rubbed her arm where Talia had elbowed her.

"Your parents will have a better idea of your duties, Iris," Talia said. "We're not Crown Princesses, and definitely not the High one of Ephedia. We'd only be guessing."

Iris swallowed. "...It's fine. Sounds like I'm gonna be pretty busy, though."

The final course was a godsend, as far as Iris was concerned. Just a very plain iced cake, not much different than the kind she was used to. It had the same subtle flavor as the beverage they'd been drinking. Auriana had told her it was the nectar of a large Ephedian flower, and Iris actually liked the taste a lot. Her slice, while fairly generous, was gone far too quickly.

After the dinner, the crowd moved into a ballroom adjacent to the dining hall. Iris bounced back and forth between her parents and her friends, who were catching up with their families.

Mephisto stayed firmly in the shadows and watched. There was no one present who would relish his conversation, after all. Except, perhaps, Iris and her parents. They might tolerate him, and there were questions he wanted to ask. Things about his parents, about Gramorr, about his new duties. But he didn't dare approach them.

"Ugh! You coward!"

He opened his mouth to tell Praxina to shut up, then remembered. The voice had been a mere echo, his brain supplying what she might say.

Still, he was desperate and lonely enough to let it continue.

"This place looked better before," she might say. "Before all these snobs moved back in." He could picture her, flipping her hair and scoffing at the assembled nobles.

She might snark about the crowd some more, complain about the food, criticise his outfit. For a moment, he almost felt she was still with him.

Then he blinked, bringing the image of her falling before his eyes. His imaginary Praxina vanished and he was left feeling sick and shaky.

The Princesses looked so happy with their families. Auriana was surrounded by a pile of sisters, Jodan at her shoulder. Talia had her arm linked with Izira's and showed no sign of releasing her. Lyna laughed while relating her adventures to her horrified governess. Carissa was talking to her brothers over a magical communicator. And Iris, of course, was never far from her parents' side, and she kept Ellira close.

Mephisto... was glad for the Princesses. Really. They'd never looked truly whole or happy until today. It was partly his fault that they had all been apart so long. He didn't intend to begrudge them their joy, now.

But it hurt. It hurt like a hundred little stabbing wounds. Because he was never going to have a reunion like that with Praxina. Or his parents, for that matter. They were gone. Forever. He was left behind to grieve. To shoulder this agony alone. The Princesses were inadvertently stepping on the shattered pieces of his heart, crushing them further.

Despite what he'd said earlier about not wanting to be alone, he couldn't stay here. He couldn't bear it.

Mephisto edged away and slipped out a door. The movement caught Iris' eye.

"Where do you suppose he's going?" she asked Auriana.

"I guess he wants some air?" Auriana shrugged. She glanced warily at her sisters, for fear of being drawn back into the adoring swarm, but they seemed to be distracted.

Iris was shaking her head. "He said he didn't want to be alone." Something felt wrong. "...I'm going to go see if he's alright."

She had only taken a few steps when her father's voice reached her. She turned and saw that her parents were looking at her as if they wanted her to join them.

She sighed quickly. "...I've got to go. Auriana, please, go check on him."

"What?" Auriana blinked at her. "Iris, it's Mephisto, I'm sure he's-"

"Please?" Iris' eye were huge and pleading. "I'm worried about him! Just... see if he's okay?"

Auriana couldn't argue with those eyes. "...Okay, fine, I'll go."

"Thanks, Auriana! It means a lot to me!"

Iris made her way towards her parents. Auriana narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she watched her go.

She was wondering why exactly Iris cared so much, and she had the flimsy beginnings of a theory. A ridiculous theory, but a theory just the same.

The courtyard was bathed in the warm glow of sunset. The restoration magic couldn't save the plants or flowers, but everything else was back to its former glory. Pink stone paths and low walls led to a series of raised daises, some with benches. On the far side of the courtyard was a massive yet intricately detailed fountain, long-since run dry but fully repaired. There was a stately sort of freedom to the space. A sense of relaxation, of refuge from the everyday stresses of castle life.

Mephisto couldn't help preferring it to the grotesque dark crystal formations that had previously speared the area and cast threatening shadows across the decaying lawn.

Praxina had always liked them, though.

He leaned on a pink stone railing and gazed over the courtyard with tears welling up in his eyes.

Everything reminded him of her. Every new thing he saw. Every thought that came into his head. She was etched too deeply on his soul to forget her.

He sobbed quietly, his face the very portrait of grief. He felt as if a glass-sharp crystal shard were embedded in his heart, and it kept twisting itself deeper.

Someone gently prodded his arm with a finger. "Mephisto?"

He jerked away in surprise and turned. "Auriana?" He swallowed. "What are you doing here?"

Auriana was gazing at him with sympathy and pain in her eyes. "...Iris sent me to see if you were okay."

"...Ah." He sniffed and tried to compose himself. "She did? That was, um, kind of her."

He was obviously tense and awkward, so Auriana shifted a step away so as not to crowd him. "...So, are you?"

"...Am I what?"

"Are you okay?"

He scoffed and a sneer crossed his face. "No, of course I'm not. Who would be?"

She turned to look ahead, her cheeks burning pink with shame. His face softened. That was unfair. Just once, it'd be nice not to cause pain to everybody around him.

"...I'm sorry," he muttered, looking through the courtyard rather than at it. "I shouldn't have snapped."

"No, it's ok," she told him. "...I... can kinda imagine what you're going through."

He indulged a bitter train of thought about how she could never imagine what he was going through, that nobody could, until he suddenly remembered.

"...Because of Jodan?" he ventured.

Auriana nodded, looking sadder than he'd ever seen her. "...I... thought I'd lost him, until he got a message through to me. I have a lot of siblings, but... he's my big brother. He's extra special to me. After everything that happened, he's lucky to be alive."

Mephisto hung his head and sighed. "That was our fault. Praxina and I, well... We were excited to have an underling. Somebody to push around and punish and..." He squeezed his eyes shut. "...I'm so ashamed of how we treated him. I'm sorry, Auriana."

Auriana thought about this in silence for a long time. "...It wasn't really your fault, Mephisto. It was more Gramorr's fault."

He didn't respond to that, partly because he disagreed, and partly because now he was wondering exactly how many of Gramorr's actions were actually Banes' doing.

After a few moments of awkward silence, he finally managed to ask, "How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Live without your siblings for so long." He looked at her, desperation and panic waring in his eyes. "You went from having a ton of family to having nobody! How did you ever cope with that?"

Auriana bit her lip. "...I didn't, really. I sorta... ignored it, as much as I could... Then I made friends with Talia, and then Iris later, and they were like sisters, and that helped a lot."

"But didn't you feel empty?" Mephisto leaned on the railing again. "Like... half of you was torn out?"

"...A little," she said gently, "but then again, I don't know how it feels to lose a twin."

"I'm nothing without her, Auriana! I'm just a- a shell!" Despite his efforts to stem them, tears rolled down his face. His voice became choked. "...I just... I need her. I don't... know what I'm gonna do, without her..." A sob forced its way out of him.

Auriana, uncertain how to help, touched his shoulder comfortingly. He flinched instinctively for a moment, then relaxed. He leaned into the touch, savoring the contact.

She swallowed hard, realizing how touch-starved Mephisto must be. They'd only seen Praxina touch him every once in a great while. Not a big hugger, Praxina.

She felt so bad for him that she ended up holding his back as he sobbed. Words couldn't begin to express how grateful he was for the touch and the comfort.

Once he began to regain his composure, he suddenly laughed through his tears. "It's... kinda funny. I've cried in the arms of two Princesses today, and just this morning, I was trying to destroy you."

Auriana moved back to the railing. "Well, this morning, we'd never have let you cry in our arms. But things are different, now."

He nodded, frowning thoughtfully. "...Are we... friends?" The word felt strange on his tongue.

She was taken aback but considered the question seriously. "...I think... maybe we could be, yes." She smiled. "I think Iris already thinks of you as one."

He colored slightly and looked away. "...Yeah, I guess she does."

Auriana took a deep breath. There was something bothering her about that. "...You know, Mephisto... Iris trusts you."

"I know she does," he said quietly. "I can't imagine why."

She hesitated. "...I just don't want to see her hurt. She gives her kindness so easily. Don't, you know, take advantage of that. Of her. Okay?"

He thought about this. "...I know my word probably doesn't mean much." He looked her square in the eye. "But I promise that I have no intention of hurting her. Ever."

His eyes and voice were so earnest that Auriana found herself believing him.

"Okay, good." She smiled.

Mephisto had just mustered his own small smile in response, when something moving in the courtyard caught his eye. He froze, suddenly tense.

Auriana looked over her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

He stared for a few seconds, then shook his head. "N-nothing. Just... I don't like the dark very much. I didn't realize how late it was getting. We should go back inside."

Auriana looked between him and the growing darkness in confusion. "Um, okay?"

He kept glancing around as they made their way back to the party. Auriana knew he wasn't exactly comfortable in dark and unfamiliar settings. He never had been. But she couldn't help thinking he looked very pale.

Mephisto was probably just being paranoid. He scolded himself for being so easily spooked.

Still, he could've sworn he'd seen a flash of a fiery black-red tail vanishing into the shadows.