Chapter 155 Rise of Darkness
Dark clouds boiled and twisted in movement, obscuring the sun and covering the firmament above Araidne's mansion.
Thick pressure clung in the air, like iron, a feeling as though the earth beneath it knew there was a tide change.
Craters and smoldering cracks radiated from her point, her eyes glowing in that dark crimson hue, like embers ready to burn up everything that crossed the line.
And with every heave of her chest, new powers gotten from the Underworld Lord emerged. Black smoke curled around her fingertips, and at the flick of her wrist, shards of dark energy exploded in jagged bits from her hands. Sharp laughter cut across the courtyard.
At her side stood Finley, her constant companion, staring with wide wonder-filled eyes; his whisper sounding awed and amazed, his voice low. "Incredible, my Queen-you have come to be one past the understanding of creature."
Araidne's eyes flashed on him, the red light in them unquenched, a nasty curl to her lips. "This is but a little of what I am capable of doing, Finley. The Lord of the Underworld was right-there's nothing quite as intoxicating like true power.".
The great wooden doors of the hall creaked open before Finley could get a word in edgewise, and the council of elders filed out into the courtyard, robed deep in emerald and gold, with the symbols of their ancient authority stitched into the cloth. Their faces set with concern, some with ill-masked fear, they came to Araidne with cautious steps.
Elder Thalos, the eldest among them, with a silver beard cascading down to his chest, stepped forward, leaning heavily on his ornate staff. His voice, though aged, carried the weight of centuries. 'Araidne," he began, his tone firm yet respectful, 'we've heard whispers—rumors of a pact you've made. A pact sealed in blood and shadow. Is it true that you've consorted with the Lord of the Underworld?"
Ariadne didn't bother to mask her amusement, which deepened as she cocked her head. "Whispers? Rumors? That's the word you're using?" she asked, the hand curling tendrils of energy that rose and snaked darkly through the air popping like living shadow. Does that feel like rumor to you?
The elders recoiled a step, face tightening in fear. But Thalos did not back: "This is unnatural power; it comes at a price-and one which you would not understand. Why go that far?
Araidne's laughter erupted again, but this time it was colder, filled with malice. She took a step forward, her voice dripping with disdain. 'I went this far because power is the only language this world understands. Respect isn't given; it's taken. And I've taken it."
Next in line was Elder Vanya; her keen features were framed by long raven hair, her voice attempting composure, but a slight quiver broke through. "At what cost, Araidne? The soul is not some plaything one bargains away so easily."
Araidne's smile fell away to a scowl, and her eyes flashed dangerously as she narrowed them. "My soul is mine to gamble. And if any of you think to oppose me, I suggest you reconsider.".
With that, she blew into action, and her hands shot up; both of them launched an explosive wave of dark energy in all directions. The ground burst in a most violent fashion as the very air seemed to ripple. Elders were thrown onto their knees, their staffs clattering on the ground. The earth shook beneath Araidne's anger, the very sky seeming to roar in sympathetic response.
Till the dust settled, and until all the elders were still shaking in the places they had been thrown none dared to rise to his feet. At last Thalos swallowed hard, raised his head toward her elevation, and stutteringly managed to croak, "W-we, Araidne, obey.".
Ariadne positively shone victory. "That is so much more respectful."
Finley stepped beside her, his laughter mingling with hers in an echo of evil that filled the twisted chorus-filled courtyard, the sound of dominion, the laughter of those who were above and untouchable.
But the mirth didn't last.
A sudden, searing pain stabbed through the pointed tip of Araidne's breast—a hot, searing bond cut. She controlled her stumble, but her hand leapt to snatch at her heart. Her eyes darkened further, their crimson glow fluttering like a dying flame before roaring to life with renewed fury.
"One of my monsters," she spat, snarling gutturally. "It's been killed."
Finley's grin faltered immediately. "What? Impossible! No one should be able to defeat—"
Ariadne cut him off, with a gaze that would turn any man to air and scatter it upon the winds. "Someone has. And they will pay."
With that, she whirled round, stormed into the fortress as her feet may have thundered across stone floors down into some sanctum-a room thick with residuum of dark magic, thickly strewn about with ancient tomes and artifacts pulsating with malign energy.
Araidne crossed to the great obsidian mirror set into the wall, its surface churning like liquid ink. Setting her hands to either side, she spoke a word of the incantation that shook stone. It was showing the destroyed beast and its body, mangled to such a state that the strange mark on the neck of the beast was just barely visible out of all that carnage.
And therewith her rage brimmed, and she swung a single fist into the stone wall-it cracked from the floor up. "They think they won some kind of battle killing it? They've just sealed their fates."
Finley, still in shock apparent in every fibre, slowly began composing himself. "Wha'. what would ye do?
A gleam of madness Finley had never seen before was bright in Araidne's eyes as she spoke, "I will fortify my powers, be more than what the Lord of the Underworld has gifted me. And if it takes burning this world to ashes, so be it. I'll find Reika and those responsible.
Then she began to gather these dark things from the shelves: runes etched in bones, vials of blood on a curse, talismans pulsating with forbidden energy. And Finley watched in awe as Araidne spiraled down deeper into the depths of the abyss, her thirst for vengeance wholly consuming her.
Her voice was low and venomous, echoing in the chamber as she readied the next dark ritual. "They think they have defeated a monster. They have only awakened one."