The Reaper's Trust

Light in The Shadows

When she recorded all she could, the book slammed shut and the pen dropped to the floor. Violet warped to the basement and glared at Senkards, its flower having grown to a terrifying size. There were now many petals, each one covered in glowing runes. The center of the sails was like a dark vortex, full of nothing but blackness. Violet stared straight into it and snarled, "You should've stopped him!"

The flower was still; it almost seemed to stare back at her. After an insulting pause, one of the many vines slithered forward and loosely coiled around Violet's wrist. The cold voice of the plant spoke. "Or perhaps you shouldn't have been so foolish as to fall for his trap, little thing."

"You're trying to make me angry. You knew I'd kill him, and you're always hoping to make me miserable," Violet hissed. Her lack of sleep tried to pull her down, but the hellish rage inside kept her going. It awakened her magic, which seeped violently from her eyes. "Well it worked! I'm so mad that I...I could kill you."

The subtle twitching of the vines stopped as if Senkards froze in fear. It said nothing, so Violet continued, "You're just as disgustingly cunning as your other half. I've hated you ever since I learned of your origin, and don't think I didn't notice how quiet you've been. We both know I can take you down easily."

"I am not your enemy. Those who claim to love you are," the flower said at last.

Violet scoffed, "That's what you want me to think. That's why you let Florian commit his crime...so I'd have to turn on him. You're trying to rid me of every ally I have." She sighed, then smirked. Her voice grew calmer and the dark energy lessened. "But...I'll spare you if you give me a hand. We've been through a lot, after all."

Senkards spoke not a word of denial and instead inquired about her wishes. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the sentence she was about to say. "I need your help to repair my mother's soul," she said softly.

"You intend to cast Resurrection on your own?"

"I intend to try, and you're going to help me if you want to live."

"Why now?"

"There's no other time, don't you get it? Charles is planning something, I know he is," Violet explained. Her cold voice adopted a note of fear. "I'm out of time to think. I have to act."

"But what point will such actions have?" Senkards asked, pushing its vines through Violet's hair. The gesture made her flinch in disgust. "You killed your mother. It will be impossible for you to recover her soul."

A depressed breath escaped the mage. She lowered her head and whispered, "I know...you're probably right. She died because of me." Florian's words from the past suddenly invaded her psyche. She sacrificed herself and gave you her life because she loved you. You didn't take it from her.

Violet welcomed a chill into her spine as the memory echoed. Despite the pain of his betrayal, she still cared for him and treasured his advice. She looked up at Senkards adamantly. "I have to try."

Silence lingered in the cold, dark basement. At last, the king's shadow replied. "If you insist on futile endeavors, so be it."

Everything was soon in place. Violet prepared a small glass bottle to contain Vivian's soul. The body wasn't present so she didn't have many other options. "A person's life energy scatters when they die," Violet told Senkards. "And according to Charles, it lingers at the closest world after the incident. I need you to spread your vines around Frostylia."