“Well, I feel exhausted,” Melissande sighed, thankful that the last of the Rutilus had cleared out. She would be lying if she said she cared to know where they went. She was simply glad they were gone. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Nicolas responded gruffly. Truth be told, he was weary. His body ached and his mind reeled. Anymore stimulation and his head would probably implode.

The door behind them opened and neither of them heard it.

Nicolas was hit with a sudden wave of energy. It swept his feet off the stone floor and sent him hurtling backwards towards the heavy walls. He could scarcely cry out, his breath stolen from his lungs from the jolt. Melissande could only watch in silent horror as her brother hit the wall hard and crashed down to the floor.

Sesana did not move, nor did she pay much attention to the events that unfolded before her. Her mind was occupied by thoughts of Christian and Beryl. She knew, however, that Valerie needed to do this and so she allowed it.

It was interesting to her how little Valerie realized her own strength. It was why she had been chosen. Now, perhaps, the young Seer would be more willing and confident. They could only hope–the times to come were going to be very difficult.

Valerie moved past Melissande wordlessly, her heavy skirts shuffling around her legs. She stopped at the opening of the cell. She didn’t need to see to know that Nicolas had been easily defeated. Her head tilted, as if her eyes could see him slumped over. A small, triumphant smile tugged at her lips. The voice that followed was strong, confident.

“Now we’re even.”

The sound of Sesana’s voice drew the attention of everyone in the room, though she addressed only Valerie. Her eyes were narrowed with concentration, full lips pursed.

“We need to hurry, Valerie. There isn’t much time left…”

Here I start to define it
As a sign on my skin
That I just try to wash away
Reminder infected, it’ll be painful to me

Life is so short
Close to the edge of another backdoor
Life is so sure!
…Life will be ready to twist up your world

Here it starts to enlighten
There’s a frame I can’t change
That I just have to watch again
Reminder repressed inside me
It keeps repeating

Life is so short
Close to the edge of another backdoor
Life is so sure!

…Life will be ready to twist up your world
Close to the edge
Lacuna Coil, “To The Edge”

Christian stopped suddenly, causing Nicolas and Melissande to do the same. They had been navigating the winding, narrow corridors for what seemed like an eternity. It seemed as if they were going in circles, but Christian assured him that he could find Beryl anywhere… even if she was on a different plane.

Unfortunately, his senses were overwrought with something else. It pulled at him, willed his feet forward; it was like a distant cry that he couldn’t ignore. He gave in to it and it had led him here. The walls were lined with cells, occupied by both the living and the dead. Those who lived were barely on the cusp and those who lie dead were emptied husks, skin wrinkled and dry, as if sucked clean.

“Where is this?” Christian demanded of his companions. His voice was heavy, laden with anger.

“It… it’s the holding cells,” Nicolas offered up hesitantly. “But Beryl wouldn’t be here–”

Nicolas was cut off by Christian breaking off into a sudden run down the hall. Melissande shouted after him, annoyed.

“Christian! Where are you going?!”

Still, she could not bring herself to follow. Something about this place was off, even to her. It made her skin crawl. She remained rooted to the spot, nervousness traveling up and down her spine. Nicolas seemed to share her apprehension. They stood in silence.

Meanwhile, Freya and Amon were writhing in agony. Their last bits of strength were being drained rapidly and their spirits had been defeated by all the casualties that surrounded them. It had been necessary, this mournful sacrifice. There had been no other choice. Even if they had saved Laszael, this was hardly an honorable death. To die protecting her or fighting for her, yes… but to die as caged animals, drained of their very souls and energy… no.

Freya wore her clan’s loss of hope like a heavy cloak that threatened to crush her shoulders. She could scarcely stand, scarcely see, but she gave up these senses freely, willing her strength towards another end. She knew that Sanctus Unus had not left them to die here, not after what they had given to save Laszael. It was this hope that allowed her to stand while others fell, that gave her the strength to call out to any who might still be loyal…

Their cries are blown away with the wind
How passive can we be before humanity is lost?
Turning our backs on those who need love
We must not rest while healing is needed

Tear down the veil
That bars your heart from feeling this
Dedicate yourself
Give your souls to compassion

With open arms embrace this heart
With open eyes behold the truth
Embrace this life

So little time is left
We must be relentless
In our pursuit of those in torment

Can you reject yourself?
Can you feel their agony?
In a world that feeds on disregard
Heal the broken hearted
Killswitch Engage, “Reject Yourself”

Beryl looked away, unable to meet the weighty gaze of Sanctus Unus. It was a difficult thing for Beryl to rationalize, this omnipotent being encased in such a fragile looking form. It had taken Beryl some time, but now she could sense the power that seemed to gravitate toward the figure before her, collecting and amassing there as if the body were its core. It was a lie, a clever guise. There was nothing there, nothing but a signature bit of energy. The true collection of Sanctus Unus was kept concealed and safe from mortal and immortals alike, for it was the heart of all.

It was beautiful, in a way. Almost enough to make Beryl want to believe, to embrace the truth that Sanctus Unus offered. Unfortunately, Beryl had learned early on that belief and faith were little more than tools to confuse and manipulate.

“I get that I’m doing this for the ‘greater good’ and everything. I even get that I have to do this for my unborn child,” Beryl paused, the words seeming awkward coming from her mouth. She shook it off. “But what about me? I don’t get anything out of this deal… but, well, the obvious…”

“I understand that it is not what you wish, Beryl Cross,” Sanctus Unus began softly, a little saddened. “It would be my wish to give you whatever I could, but I can not. That is not the way and for me to do so would endanger millions. Surely you can see this?”

Beryl sighed, “I’m not asking for that–”

Sanctus Unus interjected, though her tone remained soft, like a mother’s caress, “I know, Beryl Cross. I know. Perhaps… there is yet something that I can give you. Something that you do not yet know you desire.”

Beryl said nothing, but her intrigue showed on her face. Sanctus Unus took the silence as a sign to continue.

“It is not much, but perhaps it will give you some… clarity. I hope that even more, it will calm your soul.” She paused, as if a sudden thought came to mind. A frown tugged at her lips.

I did my time and I want out
So effusive - Fade - It doesn’t cut
The soul is not so vibrant
The reckoning - The sickening
Packaging subversion
Pseudo sacrosanct perversion
Go drill your deserts - Go dig your graves
Then fill your mouth with all the money you will save
Sinking in - getting smaller again
I’m Done! It has begun - I’m not the only one!

And the rain will kill us all…
We throw ourselves against the wall
But no one else can see
The preservation of the martyr in me

There are cracks in the road we laid
But where the temple fell
The secrets have gone mad
This is nothing new, but when we killed it all
The hate was all we had
Who needs another mess?
We could start over
Just look me in the eyes and say I’m wrong
Now theres only emptiness
Venomous, Insipid
I think we’re done - I’m not the only one!

The limit’s of the dead…
Slipknot, “Psychosocial”

Christian sat in a heap, unable to go any further. He had no idea where he was, all the corridors were hauntingly similar. He felt like a small mouse trapped in an endless maze. The only thing missing to make it even more disturbing were fun house mirrors. A heavy breath parted his lips and he closed his eyes.

His choice weighed heavily on his mind, pushing down hard on his shoulders. It felt as if the world itself hovered over him, threatening to drop and crush him completely. He had sworn to abide by Sanctus Unus, to do whatever must be done for the greater good… and he had failed. He turned his back on that promise, that oath, and everything that he had become.

The realization washed over him harshly, causing every fiber of his being to cry out in revulsion. What had he done? His stomach rolled and his vision tunneled as the sounds and sights around him dimmed and became distant. He was no better than Onael; he had betrayed Sanctus Unus just as she had.

And for what? Nothing. There was nothing he could do and that fact alone made his skin crawl and his anger build. The lack of control was overwhelming and it made him realize just how little power he truly had. Sure, he could shape his own destiny, but would good was that if any deviation caused everyone else’s to shift? He had already caused a great disturbance, this much he knew… and for nothing. He couldn’t change someone else’s fate, even if it stared him blindly in the face, taunted him, and tortured him until he wanted nothing more to just die and have it be finished.

Death would not come for him, for fate is unforgiving and rarely kind. Instead, it would pass him by and leave him to suffer endlessly. How can he sit idly by? How could Sanctus Unus possibly expect him to accept this and do nothing? Perhaps the omnipotent being hadn’t, perhaps he had been played again.

Dark thoughts filled his mind and he found himself drowning in despair and sorrow. What was the point? He was helpless. He would have to sit by and watch it happen and do nothing. He’d sooner die.

Delighting minds
with my shadow
Rely on your way to grow
You want to decide
from your cloud
You’re lost in a world
that I have to repair

You want it all
the greatest smile
Who wants to deny forever?
You’re made of ice
I pay the price
for all you unforgiveness

Enlightening lies
with my shame
Beneath the veil
of your flow
Don’t try to deny
with your mouth
So fine it is knowing
you’re under the shade
Lacuna Coil, “Tight Rope”

“That really isn’t much of a choice.”

Sanctus Unus nodded solemnly, “I know, but it is the most that I can give. It is simply the way of things, Beryl Cross… the way that they must be. Surely you can understand this?”

“It’s a pretty shitty thing, actually. I don’t think I’m going to like what you’ll tell me… I mean, this whole purpose thing. It’s big, obviously, and that alone means I don’t like it.”

“There is no simple path,” Sanctus Unus said, closing her eyes. Her voice was soft and soothing like a mother’s. “No one person has it any better than the other. All must play their parts equally, all must forfeit something for the cause…”

“…because of balance, right?”

“Yes, because of balance. We cannot take without first giving. The balance must be restored for this world to continue its life. Without balance… everything is thrust into chas–”

Beryl interrupted her, rolling her eyes, “and we’re all screwed, right?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“This is complete and utter bullshit,” Beryl spat suddenly, frustrated. She didn’t truly have a choice, it was just a disguise. She had to follow Sanctus Unus, there was no way she could carry the weight that came with disobeying or turning away. “But what can I do? Your choices suck.”

“This is true, I will not deny it… but must you always think of the now? You make this hard choice so that those that follow will not have to.” Sanctus Unus leveled her gaze on Beryl’s stomach. “Sometimes we must do things to protect those we love most…”

A warm, hot pain spread throughout Beryl’s body. It rushed to her, dizzying her. The truth, the responsibility, everything came over like a hard wave. She braced herself for the impact, feeling it spread over her like a great shadow. She would give up her right to choose so that others may have a choice.

It was a mother’s sacrifice.

You wear a cheap disguise
Your only vice until the end
Don’t have an alibi
You never try you just condemn
You pressure everything
You never bring, you take away
I can no longer breathe
You’ve taken me and everything too

Far, to me it’s so disgusting
Wrong, I’ll push myself away
Far, my sanity is rusting
Wrong, I look the other way

This is a war I can’t fight
I can’t let you tear me down
I will ignore all these lies
You will never tear me down

I sit and contemplate
How you sedate what’s in my head
I will not instigate
Or emulate I won’t pretend
You’ll never understand
You just demand to get your way
How all of this began
I never ran and now it’s gone too

Never tear me down
Spineshank, “Tear Me Down”

Samaria ignored Ssedot, whose death was seeming to take longer than she had anticipated. Instead, she focused her attention on Christian’s slumped over figure. She hadn’t truly thought it would work, but here he was… now what was she going to do with him? There were too many things and so little time.

He stirred, causing a jolt of excitement to travel up Samaria’s spine. Toying with him in his head was a much different game than actually dealing with him in person.

Christian’s mind was a fog, his vision blurred. The room was so dark, barely illuminated by the scant array of candles. The flickering of the flames disoriented him worse and he groaned, lifting himself up off the cold stone floor. It took a minute for everything that had happened to come rushing back over him. He was left with a dull ache in his chest–regret.

Yet there was something more there, something that tugged and pulled at him like a great pain you couldn’t ignore. He turned, his eyes carefully searching the darkness. He saw her, slumped over, barely breathing. She was dying and he could feel it as her energy lessened more and more by the minute. Soon, she would be an empty husk.

He moved to her immediately, ignoring Samaria’s cry of surprise as he shot across the room. He knelt in front of her, desperately seeking her strand and finding that it only had moments before it was severed. She couldn’t speak, but he found she could still communicate. She was trying to say something to him, though it was broken and distorted.

‘I…I’m… s…’

‘Don’t waste your energy, Ssedot,’ Christian soothed, his lips remaining still. ‘It will only make the pain worse.’

Watch out you might get what you’re after
Cool baby strange but not a stranger
I’m an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

Hold tight wait ’til the party’s over
Hold tight we’re in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house

Here’s your ticket pack your bag; time for jumpin’ overboard
Transportation is here
Close enough but not too far, baby you know where you are
Fightin’ fire with fire

All wet yeah you might need a raincoat
Shakedown thieves walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house

It was once upon a place sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work say baby what did you expect
Gonna burst into flame

My house S’out of the ordinary
That’s right, don’t want to hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house

No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet
Everything’s stuck together
I don’t know what you expect staring into the TV set
Fighting fire with fire

Burning down the house
Talking Heads, “Burning Down the House”

“I have waited a long time for this moment, Beryl Cross,” Sanctus Unus said, calling Beryl’s attention back to her and away from the strange surroundings. “I trust you understand there is no avoiding it any longer.”

“For an omnipotent being, you sure do like to assume a lot,” Beryl remarked, face a mask of skepticism. Sanctus Unus was not easily deterred from the task, however.

“There is much to discuss and little time to do so. I am sure you understand that what I am about to tell you is not to be repeated, do you understand?”

Beryl was hardly impressed, “what? I can’t share my super secret destiny with everyone else? What a shame. And here I was sure I’d win first place.”

“You belittle your importance in this grand scheme,” Sanctus Unus said, mildly amused. Mortals were such strange, strange creatures. “But let it be known that you are the catalyst. You are the beginning and so shall you also be the end.”

“Cryptic.”

“How can you be so indifferent to all of this?” Sanctus Unus was unable to mask her complete and utter shock at Beryl’s countenance. Fear, repulsion, or even vehement denial she expected… but indifference? “Do you not understand what you are?”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” Beryl replied after a moment of silence, her words cautious and guarded. “What I do know is that it doesn’t matter. I don’t have a choice or any control. So what’s the point in caring?”

“There is always a choice,” Sanctus Unus’ voice was uncharacteristically low. “You must simply choose to see it. It is not my will to write the destinies of every living being. Perhaps it is true you are tools… and perhaps it is even so that I am the hand that utilizes those tools. However, there is always a choice, always a split in the path. You may choose to accept your fate or you may choose to deny it, Beryl Cross. That choice is not mine to make, but yours.”

“I can give you a destiny, I can lay the groundwork, and I can do whatever I must to try and guide you down the right path… but in the end, only you can decide to walk. Only you can take the necessary steps, be they for better or for worse.”

Sanctus Unus paused, allowing it to sink in. She saw a change in Beryl’s face, the mask lifting, revealing her sadness, her hopelessness. So lost was she, so completely and utterly confused. An outpouring of sympathy found its way from Sanctus Unus to Beryl.

“I beg you, implore you, to choose correctly, Beryl Cross. Look beyond yourself and see, see what must be done to save us all.”

Massive Attack, “Teardrop”

“Well, have you made your decision yet?” Soundless and without echo, existing only within his head. He closed his eyes.

Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Feathers on my breath

It felt so wrong, so completely and wholly wrong, but Christian could not convince himself of this truth. Instead he opened his eyes and stood, the series of motions mechanical and without emotion. He stared out at the offered hand, pale and gleaming in the darkness. There was no choice.

Gentle impulsion
Shakes me makes me lighter
Feathers on my breath

He would do anything to prevent that, anything. Even if it meant making an enemy of himself. There was nothing he wouldn’t do…

And so he took the offered hand, skin touching and twisting his innards, blurring his vision. Everything that happened next was a flux of motion, sound, and sensation.

Teardrop on the fire
Feathers on my breath

Oh no,
here it is again
I need to know
when I will fall in decay

Something wrong
with every plan of my life
I didn’t really notice that you’ve been here

Dolefully desired
Destiny of a lie

Set me free
your heaven’s a lie
set me free with you love
set me free, yeah

Oh no,
here it is again
I need to know
why did I choose to betray you

Something wrong
with all the plans of my life
I didn’t realize that you’ve been here
Lacuna Coil, “Heaven’s a Lie”

Eckhard had been listening to Valerie ramble on for nearly ten minutes now. Although, to say he was listening really wasn’t proper–he wasn’t listening at all. He hadn’t heard a single word she said the entire time. His attention was focused across the room–he didn’t need his eyes to know; Beryl was standing there.

Beryl Cross, Christian’s living obsession. He hadn’t thought he would ever meet her in person, he didn’t think Christian would be stupid enough to let them near one another, and for good reason. She was pregnant, very much so, and Eckhard had heard her speak only a few times. She was brash and tactless.

It had taken him a considerable amount of time to get a good reading of her with all the people in the room, not to mention her tainted energy. He wouldn’t touch that for a ten foot pole, not for all the power of Sanctus Unus. She was a ticking time bomb and there was no telling when she’d go off.

She was fat, as he had expected. Pregnant women weren’t really an attraction of his. The only woman he’d found beautiful waddling like a duck was Abigail… but then again, he had found her lovely when covered in mud.

Meanwhile, Beryl pretended to listen to Sesana and Quinn’s conversation, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. For several nights, she had tried to rationalize Christian’s increasingly erratic behavior, but found herself unable.

She had spoken to Valerie about it, but only briefly. The young Seer didn’t know, either. She was still new to this.

What worried her the most is that Christian said he would meet her here… and had yet to show up.

Answer me, it can’t be so hard
Cry to relieve what’s in your heart
Desolation, grief and agony

Trying to move
down in this grave
Trying to believe in every faith
As another bridge to clarity

Want to stay another way

Take another chance
to find a distant sanity
and turn your pain in truth
Take another chance
to fight a different enemy
and try to free it

Dance with me,
it can’t be so hard
Time to reveal
what’s in your heart
Desolation
grief and agony

Walking through a life decayed
while you’re repeating
your mistakes
There’s another chance
to try to get away
Lacuna Coil, “Daylight Dancer”

She hadn’t missed his presence, she was simply choosing to ignore it. She focused instead on the tender skin of her arm, long nails gently moving across the surface. The scars were gone now, but not forgotten. Her body was a ticking time bomb, there was no telling when they would return, bleeding as if they’d just occurred a moment earlier.

Until that time, she’d enjoy her ability to wear short sleeves without feeling like some sort of mental patient.

“Beryl,” he began apologetically, knowing full well she was ignoring him. Eye for an eye, but she was very much awake and not being harassed by a mirror of her past. “I wasn’t trying to ignore you on purpose.”

“You were just having a nap,” Beryl shot back, though made no motion to acknowledge his presence. “As if that’s any better.”

“I wasn’t sleeping,” he replied, desperation and frustration obvious in his voice.

Beryl rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, “then what were you doing? Or is some super secret thing I’m not allowed to know? Why is everyone allowed to have secrets but me, did I miss the super secret meeting where the decoder rings were passed out?”

Bracing himself against her sarcasm, he sat down on the tile. She avoided looking at him, her acrid tone more than enough to show that she would rather be anywhere else than in his presence at the moment. Still, he was adamant. The last thing they needed right now was for Beryl to be obstinate. He just wished he could explain, though he knew that wasn’t an option.

“What did Sanctus Unus say, Beryl?”

“Oh, now you want to know.”