Beautiful Eternity
The fierce flames of the Dwarven Realms flicker and flare. Their violent upsurges and ground shattering flares rock the dark palace. Its unusual place at the edge of the mountains near the rim of the fiery sea places its foundations at great risk. Its people, for the palace was inaptly named, live their lives cowering and huddling the closest to land they can reach.
A waterfall of magma erupts violently. "Oh!"
An amused chuckle follows.
A dwarf scurries over to the Crown Prince. "Sir, are you sure this is a good idea?"
Kain sneers. "Of course I am. What do you take me for?"
The dwarf stammers. "Of course, my lord, of course you are. I was only enquiring. It is customary to enquire about the welfare of…"
He staggers back. His hands clutch at his chest. His teeth chatter in terror. The Crown Prince continues to advance on him. The devilish glint in his eyes terrifies the lowly servant. With a swift swipe the dwarf's tunic is caught between his claws.
Kain bears his teeth. "I hope you are not attempting to discredit me, slave,"
The dwarf isn't a slave. He would protest his rank as the King's trusted aide if faced with anyone else - if his life were not on the line. Kain only grins down at him: a hunter, a prey, a game of death.
"My son," a deep voice booms. "Place my aide down. He is not your intended."
Kain throws the dwarf. The diminutive creature spirals through the air. Then, the wall reaches him in all of its malignant, malicious glory. He smiles his arrogant smile.
"My son," the voice booms again. "End your rage! Quell your fury!"
Kain shakes his head snidely. "I'm afraid not, father. I have greater ends to meet,"
His obsidian cloak flutters. The heels of his boots click sharply. A smirk comes to flourish over his sharp features.
The angered cries of the death tempters rise. In the crowded cobbles the white hands whisper. They mock the end, the finality. Their woes are too great for a world so cruel.
"I don't believe this,"
The prince stirs. "What is it, Rosa? What do you see?"
She glances at him. "The peasants are gathering. Their eyes turn to the Palace,"
He laughs. "They wish to wish me well! Ah, the princess, I have been told, is a beauty. I expect her to enchant the peasants into obedience,"
Rosa frowns at him. "No beauty is so great as to quell the senseless,"
She wanders to his throne. The lack of guards has made her bold. She crouches by his side, her hands rest upon his.
"I would not underestimate them, my prince," she urges. "They know nothing of your greatness. They know only their own ignorance."
He laughs. "No, Rosa, you overestimate them. What is this talk of anyway? You're ruining my mood,"
She sighs. "My prince, do you believe in love?"
He leans back and glowers at her. "Are you senseless too, Rosa? I want you to leave me be!"
She looks him in the eye. "Do you believe, my prince?"
His lips settle into a grim line. "No. Of course I don't. Why would I? This is a beneficial marriage to her and to I. There is nothing more to it. Why are you so intent on ruining on my fortunes today?"
She stands. "I give my apologies, dear prince. I shall leave you in peace now,"
She stalks into the deep darkness of the palace. A deep and untamed wrath descends upon her heart. She scowls and it mars her pretty face. To avoid all doubt of loyalty she stalks the secret passageways. The ancient corridors are tilted and the moss infested stone bricks crumble precariously. They lie uncared for and unknown.
The tall pillars climb upwards as the passage declines. The stones shift beneath the rising waters. Its black colour and putrid scent coalesce around her petite form. It clings to her, dragging her deep into their depths. She lets it, savouring the satisfaction of her descent.
"Let this be a lesson to you, fool. No one surpasses me but I," a snide voice calls. "What use has success delivered to you now? I see little other than an ignorant, conceited-"
The pillar he had hid behind crumbles. The tidal wave of its fall into the bleak waters spreads swiftly. Rosa's waist is splashed. The long tassels of her shirt stick to her stomach. She brushes them back into place. Her scowl deepens.
"Have I upset you?"
She glowers. "Kain, you fool. Have you no respect for your father?"
He sneers. "You, my lady, are not my father. You know nothing of his ways,"
She snarls. "Kain, do you dare test me? I-"
He laughs, drawing an orb from behind his back. Its ethereal light lustres in the eternal darkness. The water around him froths in horror. It flees in ripples. He raises it higher, threatening to drop it into the waters. His smirk flourishes.
She straightens and composes herself. "Please, Kain, don't do that. You know it won't survive,"
He glowers. "It won't be the only vitality to wilt at your whim, Rosa. It won't be the only one,"
She stares at him. The memories of their childhood strike calmness to her core. Her hands clasp before her chest. She stares at him with wide and once more innocent eyes. The darkness has faded to oblivion.
She whispers. "Kain, please don't do this. I'm doing everything you want. I have the information that you need. I have an endless source of information,"
He shakes his head. "Not everything,"
She sighs. "I don't love you, Kain. I can't love you. I don't have that ability. I must have been born incomplete,"
He constricts it. The splash of hungry water washes over her. A few rare bubbles of breath rise to the surface. No struggles are made.
The tide revives. It draws her further into the darkness. The deeper waters relish its fresh captive. Kain stows the intact orb in an inside pocket of his cloak. He dashes over the rippling surface and snatches Rosa's hand.
Author's Note: I know exactly what I'm doing. There's no need to worry at all! If the end is a little iffy then it's because I'm tired. I'm always tired, so, you know, not much going on there. Anyway, I'm not going to tell you what the 'orb' is. I know and, for now, that's enough. I promise that it's something to look out for! Oh, and Rydia will return in the next chapter so you have that to look forward to!
Thank you for reading. I do hope that you have enjoyed this confusing chapter. I apologise if I have disappointed you by corrupting canon. Perhaps, though, that deed is not so far spread as you may believe.