Shattered Reality

[Music]

Darian had left without a trace, leaving the Priestess alone with the shadows calling to her. The coven he had joined had taken him from her. She had decided that perhaps it was best for her to remain all alone, and yet Maron had found her as the shadows were beginning to grow unbearable. The night of the Anniversary Party, he had been watching her and even allowed her to speak to him despite the rule he had placed months ago. Seems both of them had the shadows trying to pry them from the Light. She had met his shadow- Vix'il. The entity of void appeared to yearn for nothing more then fun and parties. There was amusement in his words, at being scolded for running from her feelings. While Maron had heard every word, they had agreed to just start over as friends- nothing more.

She found herself everyday wondering just why it all let her feel at ease. Her heart had been wrenched and torn when Maron had forbidden her from coming near him, and yet now being allowed in his presence seemed to mend the gaping wound in her chest. Delrin- his fiance and mother of his child- had fled with his son. No one knew where she went, and he had no desire to chase her down yet again. She bought solace in the knowledge of that decision, yet knew the moment she returned, she would be forgotten on a shelf again. She found herself standing before the shelves of magic tomes, wondering if she should find the woman or find a way to keep her gone. Shaking her head, she knew better and continued to walk and keep her arms around herself. She hadn't noticed she had begun to cry, or the pain of emotions hiding just below the surface.

That night, she was wandering the artifact archives, moving to make sure they would be secure as her grand-niece was beginning to crawl and would soon need everything baby proofed. A particular jar, heavily warded and wrapped in runed paper, had a shadow that was calling her closer. Staring at the plaque that annotated what it held, her brow furrowed. She would need to seal it as anyone of weak mind may attempt to release the creature within.

"Why do you cry for a boy?" The voice whispered from the jar.

The priestess brought her hand up to wipe at her face and stare at the traitorous tear. She pressed her lips together, refusing to speak for that would give it power.. Yet she couldn't move herself from it's presence.

"You could take back what is yours. You know what you need." The voiced continued its lure.

"I don't need some creature to tell me how to handle my life." She began reaching to reinforce the wards, but couldn't stop the hesitance that her body showed.

"Just a little push, and you will be in his arms." It chimed up.

"The darkness always whispers your desires, but it's never the truth." She moved to begin bracing the wards before a scream from somewhere else in the Manor startled her, causing her to knock her elbow into the jar and send it crashing to the ground.

The snake slithered from the broken glass, sliding and coiling around her leg and along her body. "I can hear your doubts.. Your fears.. Your jealousy. And they're quite delicious." With that, the priestess felt the pain sear into her neck as fangs bore down on her.

When the priestess began regaining consciousness, she found herself looking from within. Her body was on it's own! Snakes surrounding Norris- Maron's brother, and some troll? She felt panic beginning to surge from her. She could not risk the Noraethul's rage- especially Norris'. She began to try and call upon the Light, but found it to be quite painful, causing her body to begin coughing blood as it burned from the inside out. Once she was free, she felt the hollowness that was left behind in place of the snake having been locked away for a time.

After sending Norris and the troll home, she fell back to her knees and began to weep. She had risked everything again because of a careless mistake. When Maron and others heard, she would be left in the shadows again. No one will love such a mess. She found herself wandering to her favored beach to hide beneath the large standing tree.

She just leaned against its wood, her mind wrestling and grasping for straws to hold on. Would it not be easier to banish the creature if she were to take her life? They require a host or form to hold onto. The tears had finally dried as she began to think of a way to handle the creature that had begun to dig into her body.

"Mirith?" His voice rang out to her, snapping her from her thoughts.

Maron had stumbled upon her hiding spot and began inquiring what had happened. She could feel the sting of the pain rise from where she had been bit as it tried to take control. She broke down and confessed to him, though he didn't seem mad from the news. Once she had realized another was there though, she tried to defend him in case of a battle- but instead found herself losing control of her body once more. Shoved back into a prison within her mind. When she became free, she was barely able to bind the creature into a makeshift cell within her amulet. She healed the man she had caused injury to, and then found herself collapsing into Maron before everything faded.

Veredelle should help.