The vampire took the pendant that was in Chandra's hand. She had completely forgotten about it. The vampire clasped it around her neck, "A phoenix. Interesting choice."
Chandra looked up at her in surprise then down at the pendant. It was slightly twisted and malformed from the fire it had managed to survive. Some of the feather detail had been worn out but it did still look like a phoenix.
"C'mon. I'll start by showing you around. And proving to you that you can trust me."
Chandra looked around. Well it's go with her or get lost and probably die. She warily followed the vampire through the dark streets. She spent about two years with the vampire but never learned the woman's name. She ignored her talent with flames and buried the memories it brought up.
Chandra learned a lot of things. Since she couldn't actually kill the vampire, she served as a practice dummy for Chandra. She developed this obsession with fair. She wanted life to be fair and would ensure it was.
The vampire taught her how to kill almost anything but she also didn't give Chandra much time to think on the morals behind the errands she frequently had the girl run. The redhead was always busy and the vampire saw to it. That left Chandra little time to herself and little time to question anything. When she did have time she did a lot of questioning but that was often cut short by another errand.
The city was run by ten guilds. Each guild had a job, though some were harder to determine than others. Chandra was told exactly what each guild did. She was also taught how to manipulate the members of the guilds using the common interests of members and the guilds ultimate goals. She didn't manipulate them beyond the practice the vampire had her do because it made her uncomfortable to do so. This went on for two years before the Azorius, the guild in charge of arresting criminals, finally caught the vampire.
"You're under arrest for a multitude of crimes," the arrester said sternly.
"Oh really?" the vampire purred.
"Yeah," the arrester flicked their wrist and three soldiers quickly arrested her.
The vampire smirked and didn't bother fighting them.
Chandra watched from the shadows.
The arrester noticed her almost instantly, "Bring her too."
Chandra cocked her head to the side. Oh boy. Here we go.
"We won't hurt you," the arrester promised, "You just need to come with us."
"Don't worry about it dear," the vampire smiled reassuringly, "they won't hurt you. Besides the Azorius are easy."
Chandra swallowed nervously and followed them out of the alley and through the city. The Azorius guildhall was brightly white. The walls were white and the floor was white. The sun shone in through skylights set at regular intervals. Everything was regular and ordered. Even the way people walked through the place was orderly. The vampire was taken into a special type of detention cell. Chandra watched uncomfortably, "What are you going to do?"
"Worst case scenario is she dies," the arrester sighed, "but hopefully we can purge the curse from her and then let her return to life in the city."
Chandra glanced at her, "Wouldn't it be fair to kill me too then?"
The arrester shrugged, "Sure, it's fair but it's not right."
"It's not?"
"No," the arrester shook her head, "You are just a kid that was misled and taken advantage of. Killing you would be cruel."
Chandra blinked in surprise, "But—"
"There is a difference between what is fair and what is right," the arrester explained patiently. She glanced at the vampire, "Every helper of yours we've come across has been similarly naïve."
The vampire shrugged indifferently, "Naiveté is valuable. It's what helps people retain their innocence and outlook on life."
Chandra shifted but remained silent.
"Life is not fair," the arrester turned back to her, "if it was then you'd deserve everything that happened to you whether it was good or not." She grabbed Chandra's arm and led the girl away, "You don't seem like the type to follow blindly."
Chandra shrugged, "I didn't really have much of a choice. I would've been lost and dead without her help. Then she didn't give me time to think or argue."
"Alright," the arrester nodded. She continued to walk, "I'm Vala."
"Chandra," Chandra shrugged.
"So, introductions are out of the way," Vala smiled, "what do you want to do?"
"What's the difference between fair and right?" Chandra asked.
"Fair is nice in theory. If everything was fair then every bad person would get what's coming to them. However if you mess up on accident then it would give people the ability to punish you as though you had done it purposefully. Right is backed by a moral code that someone holds. It's different depending on the person. Unfortunately these are concepts that you have to figure out on your own. What's right to you cannot be imposed upon you," Vala smiled wryly, "No matter how much this guild might try to impose right on others it won't always work. Society provides common rights for people to live by and common values to uphold. Not everyone born into the society will embrace those values."
Chandra nodded, "So I have to figure right out by myself?"
"Yes," Vala nodded, "Just know that it is not the same as fair."
Chandra nodded, "Okay." That makes sense I guess. If fair isn't right, then I guess I'll have to decide what that means to me.
"What are things you value?" Vala asked.
Chandra looked at the pendant around her neck, "Freedom. I want to be able to do what I want."
"Alright," Vala nodded, "What would you do if you saw someone's freedom being taken from them against their desires."
Chandra paused, "I'd intervene."
"Then that would be a value you would uphold. Being able to be free would be right to you." Vala nodded, "What if said freedom made a person want to hurt themselves or others?"
Chandra cocked her head to the side thoughtfully. Well they'd be hurting other people unnecessarily but it would be there choice. If they were hurting someone I cared about then I wouldn't be very pleased. But it's not like I have anyone like that anymore. "It depends on who is getting hurt."
"Alright," Vala nodded. It seemed as though she had had conversations similar to this often.
Chandra glanced at her, "The vampire? Have you dealt with her before?"
Vala nodded, "Before this all we got were her helpers. They've always been innocent. They've all just been misguided kids similar to you. They had very black and white perceptions of the world."
"Oh," Chandra nodded distractedly. So if I can figure out how to live in these worlds on my own and figure out what this means for me then I'll be able to do what I want.
Vala smiled, "I'll leave you to it then."
Chandra nodded, "Thanks." She turned and hurried out of the guildhall. She quickly left the world. She wandered through the Blind Eternities without a real destination. The burning sensation crept onto her skin again. Chandra started to panic. Uh-oh! I really don't like that feeling! She took deep calming breaths and closed her eyes. I'll be okay. I'll just find somewhere to be and be there for a while until I feel like braving this again. She clenched her jaws shut on a cry of pain as she landed on hard ground. She sat up, "That hurt." Where am I? She looked around worriedly. Swiftly and silently she scaled the closest building. They were much shorter than on Ravnica. She crouched on the roof and looked around. It was raining and the streets were empty. Flames flickered in oil lamps by doorways but otherwise the streets were unlit.
"Welcome to Innistrad little one," a smug male voice said from behind her.
Chandra whirled around, "What do you want?"
"Just a little morning snack," he smirked.
Another vampire? Chandra's eyes narrowed, "I don't think I'd be very tasty."
"Oh you might turn," he chuckled and slid his finger under her chin, "and then you can spend an eternity with me. I can spend a thousand lifetimes staring into those angry defiant eyes and laughing as you try to fly with clipped wings."
Chandra's eyes narrowed angrily, "How bout no?" Flames filled her pupils and began to crawl along her skin.
The vampire pulled away from her, "Oh, so you're a fire mage? Interesting. You just pop up out of nowhere and you can use fire. You are immune to it right?"
Chandra sighed, "Are you really that stupid or are you just playing games?"
"Watch your tongue," he hissed angrily.
"The last one to tell me that died," Chandra shrugged. I'm really sick and tired of you. Sure these flames scare the hell out of me but if it'll get you to leave me alone then I'll blow the whole town up. I don't care anymore.
"Marcus, that's enough, don't you have somewhere to be?" another voice cut in.
Chandra looked behind the vampire. Another one stood behind him. His yellow orange eyes looked her over quickly. His white hair fell to his shoulders.
Marcus growled, "Really Sorin? I was just having a snack before the meeting."
"A snack?" Sorin asked, "In case you hadn't noticed this girl could single handedly destroy you in a matter of seconds."
Marcus snarled, "She doesn't know how to use that power!"
"That's the problem," Sorin shrugged, "It's what makes her so deadly. She can't control it. Scare her and she could kill you unintentionally."
Marcus growled, "And what are you going to do with her?"
Sorin's eyes narrowed, "That will be my decision and you do not need to know. Leave now."
Marcus snarled angrily and ran off.
Chandra watched with wide eyes.
"Come with me," Sorin turned and began to walk away.
"Why should I?" Chandra asked defiantly.
"You are as defiant as you are powerful," Sorin shook his head, "That power will attract vampires more powerful than Marcus. I get the feeling you don't want to be turned."
"Not particularly but you're a vampire too," Chandra's tone took on an accusatory hint.
"I know," Sorin turned back to her and walked up to her, "I am a vampire. I'm also trying to help you. You obviously have the potential for a very dangerous person. That ability at your age is easily exploited due to your naiveté."
"I know," Chandra nodded, "I don't trust you."
Sorin smirked, "I'm not surprised. Very well, don't get in trouble and I will introduce you to someone you might connect to better."