TW!!!! (themes of violence, death and ritualistic sacrifice. Skip to picture with words Solstice Festival to skip these parts)
Screams echoed off the stone brick walls, the shadows quivering as the flames writhed. Halls that had been paced in silence for decades now desecrated by the shrill ring of death. A trail of destruction that led down into the depths of the earth, littered with the corpses of those who thought they could keep her from getting what she wanted.
The remaining guardian stumbled into the final room, the place the dark witch had come for; the temple. Sealing the door behind him, the wards lit up as they activated. He pulled several books from the shelves, dropping them across the table and hurriedly turning the pages searching for something - anything that could save the temple. All of their final defenses had been decimated, there were only a handful of beings capable of doing so with such ease.
A loud knock began at the door, first a dull repetitive rap that crescendoed into a cacophony of deafening blows. The guardian couldnât waste time looking up or covering his ears. He continued to rifle through the pages trying to figure the right spell, his eardrums beginning to ring. The doors had been made of elder oak, carved with ancient runes and blessed with divine magic. They had been meant to survive a direct attack by any earthly creature, which is why when the guardian could hear it begin to be torn from its hinges he realized what must be on the other side of the door.
He couldnât help but to watch as the doors to the temple which had stood for centuries was ripped from place, thrown aside like it was trash and not an ancient magical relic. The wards lit up with resistance, a thin transparent veil that would serve as a last line of defense. For the first time, the guardian had time to look at the trespassers. The woman spoke first.
âYou know, you should really let us in.â She said, pressing her blood stained hand against her cheek in thought. âI imagine you know this is end for you. Why prolong it?â
Her English had a slight accent that he couldnât place, not infernal but he could have sworn he had heard them speaking it earlier. He looked back down to the book, running his fingers over the infernal text fumbling for an absolution to banish the demon.
âWho are you?â The guardian shouted.
âI am the Way. There is no other.â The women called out, eyes flashing inken black.
âAnd you? Speak your name foul demon!â The guardian absconded, raising a hand in absolution towards the figure beside her.
Way laughed, looking over to the demon lord himself - Sabazios. It was always entertaining for her to watch as these religious zealots fumbled over exorcisms that might banish some lesser demon. There was always a moment of complete horror as the realization struck them that made their faces freeze in the most amusing expressions.
Sabazios stood beyond his charge, blocking the churning of infernal flames filling the corridor behind them and casting them both in a menacing shadow. He towered over her, his demonic form a bastardization of a human body in every way. Curled horns encapsulated his head and dark hair, protrusions of a similar fashion running down his spine and along his shoulder bones. His skin was dark and in some areas covered in thick scales that glowed with the inner heat of his flames. His eyes glowed with a similar heat as he looked down at Violet, letting her control this dance for now.
âYou know I can get in whenever I want, right? Iâm giving you a chance to earn a merciful death.â Violet taunted the guardian, tapping at the wards so that they lit up. Sabazios stayed put in the doorway, letting his flames lick up his heels and spring around him like a pack of well trained dogs.
The guardian scoffed. âAs powerful as you and your demon may be, only divine magic can break those wards and you two are stained with infernal origins. No way you could ever execute divine will.â
âMm, no - maybe not.â Her voice was teasing, lips curled into a wicked grin. âBut maybe my new friend will.â
A young woman stepped from the shadows, though her face made her look more like a child. She still had the sort of soft features that only youth could provide. Her eyes were glossed over, staring blankly into the distance. Her garb bore the same colors of the guardian, though much more ornate with gold threading.
âNo,â The guardian gasped, âPriestess! Are you alright?â
âShe canât hear you. Well, she can hear you but, sheâs not listening...to you that is.â Violet wrapped an arm around the priestess, ruffling her hair affectionately. âIt was so cute she tried imprisoning me in a crystal. Sometimes itâs hard for me to make new friends too, so I wonât hold it against her.â
âGo on, show him what a good girl you are.â Violet whispered in the priestesses ear, pushing her forward.
The priestess nodded, still staring off into the distance though moving with direction. Bringing the amulet around her neck forward, her hands gave off a soft glow as they moved around the amulet suspending it in the air. Drawing from the amuletâs power, the glow gradually grew into a blistering light. The priestess spoke in celestial, Violet only picking up on every other word but recognizing the formula of the spell. One by one the wards fell, shuddering down the length of the doorway dismantling the final security measure.
âI will not allow you to cross this threshold, demon!â The guardian shouted, summoning a divine light materializing it into a spear. He threw the light bolt towards Violet, raising both her hands to deflect and dematerialize the projectile. Her fingers wound in a hypnotic pattern, surging the shadows around them towards the guardian blowing him back.
Raising her hands as she crossed the threshold, she looked back to Sabazios with an all too toothy smile: like a child reveling in itâs own chaos, asking for teacher to look. The guardian pushed himself upright again to attempt to cast a spell. Violet spoke in infernal as she walked forward, fire emanating from her fingertips into a stream of roaring flames. The guardian reacted defensively, interrupting their spell. They managed to subdue the flames, but his efforts bought Violet all the time she needed closing the distance between them.
Violet stabbed upwards between the jawline and the spine, ripping the blade across the width of the guardianâs neck. His flesh gave little resistance beneath the edge of her athame, cutting a clean line that immediately made his head bend back in an unnatural angle when she gripped the hair at the top of his head. Spilling his blood over the altar, she struggled to hold him upright as his body went slack. She whispered in infernal as he faded, her eyes turning black as her shadow magic surged through her. His body fell with a dull thud, Violet discarding it with a heaved sigh. The demon lord grinned in the doorway, entertained by his charges unquestionable violence.
âNow you donât get to die until I say so, enjoy the show.â She crouched down before she spoke, making sure the guardian had a good view of her. It was a simple spell, one that trapped a consciousness in itâs body. She had made some tweaks to extend past death - though a dead vessel didnât serve much use beyond being a prison.
âAlright then, letâs get on with it.â Way stood back upright, turning back towards the altar. Her dress had been saturated with blood during the course of their descent. The black silken fabric turned a deep shade of red clinging to her skin. A stark red handprint on her cheek, the only part of her that wasnât covered in blood at this point was her hair. She knew Zios had grown weary of their recent work and while her taking the lead was a bit messier, it was her attempt at minimizing the contention. Though some things were beyond her capabilities and unfortunately it was always the ugliest parts.
âCome now.â Violet beckoned the young priestess, patting atop the altar. Still under Violetâs charm the priestess came without another thought. Guiding the priestess to lay her head down, Violet looked to Zios. She reached across the altar to hand him her athame, tilting her head to the side. âYour turn, Lord Sabazios.â
He moved from the doorway without question, the majority of his flames staying put but a small trail along his footsteps. As he moved closer, he slowly pulled his demon form into himself, his horns and bonelike protrusions sliding under human flesh, scales and molten head simmering under skin. By the time he made it to the opposite side of the altar, the man that stood before Violet and the priestess had a handsome, young face full of roguish charm, but very human. His eyes, though brown and simple, had a darkness to them that betrayed his infernal origin.
âYour nameâ He said down to the priestess, tucking a stray hair behind her ear in a soothing manner as he also reached for the athame offered to him.
âRhea.â Her voice was hollow, drunk on whatever spell Violet had enthralled her under. The demon lord nodded, sliding his hand down her neck, along her collar, caressing her chest bone with the practised ease of someone that has sacrificed thousands. His touches were smooth, hot, and languid- one never rushed this sort of thing, even if their death meant nothing.
âI am sure you meant for your life to come to more than this, Rheaâ His voice was barely a whisper, words meant for only the girl below him, âBut know that at least your death has brought this demon a moment of pleasureâ
He slid the ornate dagger forward, his movement minut but sure, driving the blade through her ribs and upwards. The priestess made no noise, her eyes steadfast on his own entirely black ones. Though he cut directly into her heart, she did not die immediately and he pitied her resilience.
Sabazios held her gaze only until the moment she passed and then stepped back, brushing his hands off on the altar and shoving them into his pockets in the manner of someone entirely done with their predicament. âAre you finished?â He asked his charge, casting bored eyes across the high ceilings of the hall.
Violet had already moved on, rifling through a blood spattered book with mild interest. She glanced up with mild confusion, as if she was surprised he was still here. The demon could be anywhere he wanted at any time after all. Though he never left before the job was done, that much she had to give him credit for.
âHuh? Oh, yes. Thatâll be all for now.â She said, forgetting herself for a moment before adding. âThank you, Lord Sabazios.â
He disappeared with a *crack*, leaving behind a wisp of smoke and a subtle sulfuric odor. Violet set down her book, looking back to the guardian who remained trapped in his lifeless body. A smile split across her face, taunting the lingering spirit. âDonât think Iâve forgotten you, we havenât even gotten to my favorite part yet.â
Midgrasp was the center of Ariosas, making it the focus of the celebrations. Though there were parties rippling out through the entire city, the festival took place along the fringe of the inner ring of the city. There were stretches of vendors, street performers, stages scattered. Earlier in the day there had been a parade but the sun was beginning to set which was when the real festivities began.
The nest was located just off a side street from the festival, itâs door open with a few folk lingering near the entry chatting politely as they shared a smoke. There seemed to be a welcoming presence radiating from the place that illuminated the otherwise dingy cobblestone passageway that led to the abode. It was apparent that the nest had been designed with great care. Every room was decorated meticulously and with great extravagance.
The harpy who owned the nest had an eye for treasures, and an even better eye for how to showcase them. He had created the nest as a way to facilitate his true work, but it ended up becoming a project in itself. Arlo had transformed it into not just a place for the wandering traveler to lay their head, but also a place for people to come together. He provided a neutral zone that wasnât as common these days, at least when it came to where you could get a good drink.
Despite the harpy not having much weight on his own to enforce the neutral ground, he was strangely well connected to the elite of Ariosas giving him and the nest an extension of their influence to maintain the peace. It was without a doubt that at any given major party at the nest the guest list would be stacked with large names. One of the harpies' closest friends was Princess Briar Celestia Lightfoot, the two often photographed with Sebastian Flores - a less prominent figure than the princess of course but still of high pedigree.
It would surprise no one to know the three of them had been preparing the nest for the party all day together, now all piled in the same nook of the nest together looking out onto the fruits of the labor adoringly. The entire place was picture perfect ready as Dianaâs instagram story had demonstrated. Sheâd been one of the first to arrive, never one to miss a photo opportunity. At her side was the devilish minx, Kayleigh. The two next to one another were lethal, all legs and curves.
Sitting among all these stars huddled in their own little world was Percy Lawless and Wren Caprine. Neither were really that notable, but they both seemed to be somehow sucked into this fantastical world leagues beyond their own. It made sense, the two were outright adorable snuggled together in the egg shaped hanging wicker chair. Their love seemed to radiate, warming the entire room around them. Percy hung from that chair so often it was a wonder he hadnât imprinted his shape into the cushion already. Though the halls of the Nest were full there were still some notable names not in attendance. Chiyoko Ito had already been photographed at some political function, though she had a reputation of partying well into the night along with the rest of the girl squad as the tabloids so cleverly called them.
The sun elves considered the Solstice a sacred holiday. Back in their oasis in West Bengal the Aarush family had leagues of sun elves throwing light shows into the sky above. There were some sun elf troops that performed in Ariosas, as well as fireworks - but it wasnât the same as the night sky lit up by flashes of sun.
Her aunt and uncle hosted a traditional sun elf celebration and though it wasnât the same as home it was still glorious. Usually their festivities would last way into the night but here they would end at sunset, many having other obligations at night. Raavi and Maya Aarush would usually go to some corporate party. Previous years they would ask Priya to come along but she usually would end up breaking out at some point.
Due to Arloâs less admirable ways of making income, the Nest was relegated to the âHigh Riskâ list of locations her security team werenât allowed to let her go to. However Priya had pleaded and begged and with some tears and promises she had no intentions of keeping, she was able to get acquire permission to attend Arloâs Solstice party - after they had they completed their solstice ceremonies.
Leaving straight from the sun elf ceremonies Priya had no time to change, arriving in full traditional regalia of the Aarush Sun Elves. Gold coins hanging from her clothes jingled as Priya all but skipped down the passageway towards the nest. Two large figures followed behind her, the sun elf looking back at them both with excitement.
âOh my god, arenât you so excited?â Priya squealed, falling back between the two to link her arm through both of theirs. Even in the dimly lit street Priya still seemed to glow gold. Not just the rich tones of her skin but the bits of gold brushed on her face and the delicate and ornate golden henna on her hands and feet.
âHey Nia,â Priya said with a polite smile. She kept her pace as she walked by, making sure not to give her security detail the opportunity to ask her to hang back so they could both catch up with Nia. Besides they had made it to the party, they didnât have to follow her every second. Within a couple minutes she was able to find Diana and Kayleigh, Priya coming up behind Diana to wrap her arms around her resting her head on her shoulder.
âHey babies,â Priya smiled to both Diana and Kayleigh. âWhat I miss? Anything good?â
Looking around she could spy Arlo, Seb and Briar all together in a corner. Priya gave a little wave and a smile, holding up a finger to indicate sheâd be over in a minute. The nest was big enough that it was possible some other people of note were around, but she doubted if Briar and Diana were here that Chiyoko and Ziran would be somewhere else in the nest, unless . ..
Priya shook her head, rotating the golden bangle around her wrist to reveal a screen sending Chiyoko a message.
âim mad im here and ur notâ
She sent it, biting her bottom lip nervously. Priya hated how much she over analyzed every interaction between the two of them. They had drawn that line in the sand and they kept trying to make that barrier thinner and thinner. She knew the moment they crossed that line Chiyoko would realize Priya wasnât the girl she imagined she was, and sheâd leave. Just like Diana, and Itsuki before her. As fun as it was to fantasize, it had to remain just that with Chiyoko because it wasnât worth the heartbreak.
That being said, Priya did keep picking unavailable people to spill herself into. Be it emotionally or physically or maritally, she kept picking people she knew it wouldnât work with. She wasnât mature enough to figure out why. Unable to help herself, she shot Arturo a message as well.
âhey outlaw, if you donât want to get into some trouble definitely donât show up at the nest right now :pâ
It wasnât her most mature way of handling the insecurity of where Chiyoko and Ziran could be right and what they were doing and who they were doing it with. . . Priya couldnât let her mind go there. The night was only just starting and she didnât want to spend it pouting. Looking back to Kayleigh and Diana she wiped any residual emotions from her expression flashing them both a smile. âBy the way, did I mention how hot you both are tonight?â