Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

***

Aren stirred from beneath the covers. Her injuries had been healed and her body felt refreshed to match the fact that she had just come out from a delightful nap but she retained a deep frown on her face. Partly because of the events that had transpired and what she had learned about Evian but largely because she knew her sleep was a magical kind.

She could still 'taste' the energy signature unique to the one who had cast the spell on her and she knew instantly that it was not someone from her camp. It was not someone affiliated to her and Cardinal Lillian Krion.

She looked around the room she was in and did not recognize it but it didn't take long, thanks to deductive reasoning, for her to posit a guess on whose home Evian had brought her to.

She got out of bed, looked down at the robe she had been put in, and let out a sigh as she walked out of the room and into the adjacent room where she found Evian and Daria sitting at a table. They both had small cups in hand, taking sips of refreshing beverages.

"You're awake," Evian said with a smile.

Aren looked at him and it was clear that many thoughts were running through her mind at the sight of Evian's face.

Evian let out a small breath before he gestured at a third chair by the table with his smile unchanged,

"Join us."

"We need to talk about— you know what," Aren said with a pointed stare as she took her seat.

"Oh, you can say it out loud. Daria knows I'm a Wraith. You are among friends here," Evian said.

"That's a massive stretch," Daria said under her breath as she took yet another sip before glancing up at Aren who pursed her lips.

"She knows?"

"Yes, I know. And believe me, if you so much as breathe a word of it to anyone, I'll carve out your tongue and feed it to you!" Daria said menacingly.

"Threats, Arcanist? Have you forgotten that I am your Superior?" Aren asked calmly.

Daria sneered and the barest of glimmers of the Eldritch energy now in her form flashed across her eyes,

"Go on and tell someone and see what happens to you."

"Please, please, there's no reason to be hostile," Evian said while holding out placating hands.

Once Aren was away and back at the church, she would be free to tell anyone anything she wished to tell and not even Daria's threats could intimidate her enough to keep her mouth shut. At least that was how it was supposed to be.

However, Evian remembered what he had seen when Daria absorbed his Eldritch energy during intercourse.

That Apparition of hers was a manifestation of her soul in an Astral form and was getting further and further along in creating a seamless combination of Spiritual and Eldritch energy to the point where its possible applications were of the sort that even Evian was not sure he could very clearly state.

With the confidence with which she spoke, Evian found himself believing Daria had enough resources to make good on her threat especially now that she had reached the Sixth Circle and had access to Wraith Prince-level of Eldritch energy through him.

Anyway. if he let the hostility fester, it would do them no good.

"No reason to be hostile? By the goddess! She is allied with my opposition," Daria said while hitting the butt of her cup against the desk so that it shattered into tiny pieces.

"She is not really your enemy. You're both just being pulled into a political battle when there are far more important things to be worried about—" Evian started still in his calm and placating tone,

"I still can't believe you told her. I knew you being at The Sacrosanct would be dangerous and just a day after you arrived, you proved me right by revealing your secret to a Priestess."

"I didn't reveal it. Not by choice at least but now that it's out, I'd like to believe that Aren can let go of prejudice and understand that I mean her no harm," Evian said.

Daria scoffed at the idea that Aren would be willing to be amicable but she said nothing.

Aren looked up at Daria after the scoff and then looked down at the table with a frown. What she knew of Wraiths came to mind and although she had been preoccupied during the battle, she had still been able to watch as he showed off the Decadence she and every other Arcanist had been warned about. Experience more content on m v|l e'm,p| y- r

Aren felt that she should have been looking at Evian with trepidation, she knew she should hate his very existence but every time that was starting to surface, it was stifled by the memories of last night. His hands all over her body, his lips on hers as well as on other parts of her.

She remembered the way she had felt when they bonded and was aware that her desire for more did not go away even in light of what she had just learned.

Besides, she had been unconscious, prone and at his mercy, and yet, here she sat in perfect condition so that had to count for something at least.

Eventually, the Priestess let out a sigh,

"I won't tell anyone. For now, your secret is safe with me," she said. The words came out more easily than she had anticipated.

Evian eyed her. He could use force if he so wished and brand her with his Seal but— he didn't want to.

Daria frowned at this and through their telepathic connection, she advised Evian to ascertain Aren's loyalty.

Meanwhile, Aren was not yet done,

"I choose to believe you are not allied with the enemy. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt so let's put that smaller matter aside and discuss more urgent matters."

"The rogue Arcanists are all dead but the Wraith escaped. Behran, he called himself. I was able to read into the memories of the rogue caller Neb and I got glimpses of how large the operation against the Arcane Church is and they were not exaggerating when they said they had allies.

However, something was strange about the memories. Whenever they came together, there were always gaps in conversations where they defer to someone- something unseen. At least not visible in the memories I looked into."

"Mind tampering. Powerful magic," Aren mumbled under her breath.

"We thought the same," Evian said, "And it's why we've come to an important conclusion."

"What is it?" Aren asked but it was Daria who answered.

"Someone is working with the Revolution from within the Church," she said.

"That's— insane," Aren said in disbelief.

"Is it?" Daria asked in a condescending tone.

"It is," Aren affirmed and she looked over at Evian who furrowed his brows,

"It makes sense. A member of the Church should have access to the hall used last night and he able to arrange the anchors in preparation for the plot.

Also, we suspect it's someone high-ranking. To use such powerful magic to manipulate the memories of the Rogue Arcanists who were all at the Sixth Circle requires exceptional fortitude that I fear can only be found among the very elite of the Church," Evian said with a pointed look.

"The Cardinals," Aren said while releasing a breath, "You think one of the Cardinals is involved?"

"You have to admit it has merit," Evian said.

Aren looked from Evian to Daria,

"Him, I understand, given what and who he is but, You, you've been an Arcanist all your life and you'll make these blasphemous claims?" She asked.

For the first time, Daria relaxed her expression. She looked kinder even if her lips were still in a perpetual frowning,

"It's because I've been an Arcanist all my life that I know it's not a divining rod that always points the right way. It's a path we follow to improve our spirituality but personal greed still exists and gives way for many diabolical plots.

I think a Cardinal may be working with the enemy but I -we- are not yet sure of their motives."

A few minutes of silence passed as Daria and Evian allowed Aren to process what they had just told her but eventually, she looked up and stared hard into Daria's eyes,

"I hope you are aware that to say this is to put Cardinal Callum Lorient under suspicion," Aren said.

Daria rolled her eyes as though that response was expected,

"Cardinal Lorient would rather die than ally with Rogues as he's cast more Arcanists out in the last few centuries than anyone else in the history of the Church. He also absolutely detests Decadency.

But if you would like to point your finger at him first, I'll point mine at Cardinal Vorden."

"Yes, pick my cousin just to make a point," Aren said with a deep frown, "Typical."

"I didn't pick Vorden because he was your cousin. I honestly couldn't care less.

However, I did pick him because he's detestable enough to betray the Church."

Evian leaned forward,

"No one should be exempt from suspicion which means we must be careful what we reveal to anyone. My true nature being as delicate a topic as it is.

That said, through the two of you, we have connections to two Cardinals and it'll be much too wasteful not to make good use of it."