nightmare

Basil falls into a deep sleep...


To feel sleepy... To feel tired...
To feel yourself slipping away.
...From...
Reality.


Yet; how can you still be awake when you are asleep? These are thoughts that would cross anyone's mind when everything around them seems so real.

A dream... One filled with blood, one filled with bodies. Hanging from the ceiling, dangling above both of them. And a table, cushions set out for both of them to sit on. Henrietta is sat on the one opposite of him, not smiling or frowning.

But those bodies, each of them had an identity. Grunbeld, Cayden, Virgil, Owyn, Del. Even some that were still alive hung, creaking as they swung slowly back and forth. Kofe, Tea, Penelope, Dornar, Basten. Every single hanging body had a face, it had a personality... But as they hung in this dreamlike world? They had nothing, they were empty.


"Sit."


She asks, pouring herself a drink. Unphased or uncaring of those bodies hanging from the ceiling, despite one of them not hanging at all. One body took the seat in between herself and Basil, and that was Tiernay.

It was probably obvious, what this was about.
(Henrietta Monroe)

His heart was filled with ache a moment ago.

Reminded of him taking the life of Tiernay; for the truth is, he was desperate to hear from his brother that he would like another chance, that he would like to reconcile, that he wants to live. And yet, no matter how much Basil dragged it out, even directly asking him whether he just wants to die...

He never heard a simple statement.
'I want to live.'

What he awakens to is the dream of blood, of the nightmares that are placed upon the faces of the people of his past, present and even future. For while there's a steady observation made to it all.. he seems largely unaffected. Why?

"The nightmares of Vro'diark.."

He was never the same after facing that creature. Was that one of the Dark Lords? Do they even exist in multiple numbers? Or was that Shaytan of incredible strength, commanding the armies of Nethradin? In all truth, until this day, he wasn't sure what exactly he faced. What he knew is..

It was a creature of Helheim.
One that possessed almost similar powers.

His gaze drifts towards Henrietta. He seems somewhat.. surprised to see her. He seems uncertain as to why she would even want to see him this way.

Did she decide ahead of time to attack him here? To test her might against him? Or to simply speak?

Whatever the case, he merely walks over to take a seat; soon enough, he faces directly against the woman, but what follows is not the name that she's grown to call her own.

"Hello, Nox."
(Basil)

"You know that's a fake name." Moving a hand over to the quiet sitting of Tiernay's empty shell, she brushes her fingers through his hair. "My name is Henrietta Monroe, but if we wanted to get technically... You can call me Henrietta Mimes, saved by a coven when I was lost. Given a family that aided me, and treated me as if I held great potential."

Taking a cup, and even trying to give him a drink. But most of its content falls down his chest, before completely vanishing into the air. "And I am sure you know I am going to kill you, Basil. False king of Alabaster, false friends of those that supported him for years."

She wasn't going to lie, he was going to die. "And if you don't die quickly? I'll just start killing those around you, as you can't keep them all close... Right?"

Placing the cup down again, the Scythe hanging from her back begins to hum. An odd melody that rings out throughout the room, causing the walls to vibrate and even the water to bubble. A need for essence, a hunger unlike any other.

"I wanted to ask you why first... Why would you take him away from me? A free man, to do as he pleased. He never wronged anyone, even while by my side. Despite him being so loyal to me, it was love... And nothing more, he could have left whenever he wanted. But he never killed anyone unreasonably, and I never forced him to do anything. So why? Why kill someone who has no problems or issues? And even if you thought so, why would you do it?"

Tilting her head to one side, she frowns. "Even if you felt like he wasn't himself, you could have taken him in and tried your best to sway him. But instead, you killed him... Because you were afraid, weren't you? Afraid because they made you what you are, and without them to start you'd be nothing. Still a rat in the city, most likely in the sewers too."

Eyebrows furrowing, she leans in a little. "Admit it."
(Henrietta Monroe)

Seething.

In silent rage. For while she does not shout, she does not cry out in anger, the words and actions that she speaks of are anything but calm- and he can tell of that; but truthfully, Basil is by far done feeling much about it all. He is by far done with standing idle when something like this happens..

And even when the drink spills upon him, only to vanish, all while hearing her words.

"So much anger.."

"Careful. You might lose it and do something terribly unwise."

Is it the experience of the Rhoynish King? To know to stay calm around the creatures of the dark? Perhaps. Or maybe, that's merely a message to Henrietta- that all which she says has little to no effect against him.

"You will have a chance soon enough to face me, I'm sure." A promise of what's about to be completed- something that ought to put the end to witches for good..

Or end tohis life.

"It is my duty as Rhoynur to oppose you, and all that serve you. The only reason I had ignored you for a while is Mars.. because she possesses heart far bigger than anybody in this world deserves." Even him.

"She's too kind. Too good - but there comes a time when I don't listen to anybody, even to her. There comes a time when I do what I must."

The only thing that ever seems to affect him is mulling over the death of Tiernay. From absolute calmness, there seems to be..

Sorrow.

"He could not be swayed.."

"And you know that, too."

His gaze drifts elsewhere. For while she asks all these questions, while she claims that she could tear the world apart for him..

"I asked him to reconcile. I asked him to give another life a chance - one where he does not aid you in the things that directly threaten our livelihood and thousands of people."

"Such as meteorite." A pause, to which he adds.

"He could live freely, even after our fight. He could still do what he wants - so long as he never aids such dark rituals ever again. And I asked him.."

"Tiernay, do you not want to live?"

No other words follow. His lips idly purse and where his gaze bounces from the floor, to the figures, to the empty shell of Tiernay, and finally back to Henrietta..

"You can guess his answer."

But to say that he wanted to kill him because he was afraid would be terribly wrong. If anything, he doesn't even entertain the idea of killing him for that reason..

Instead, he gazes upon her, almost expectantly.
(Basil)

"Anger?"

She tilts her head to the side, blinking. "Do you think there is anything unwise I can do? What about I bring something toppling down and crush Alabaster? Maybe it'll happen when you're asleep... And Mars will die too?"

Humming, she brings a finger up to tap her chin. "It wouldn't be too difficult to do, as I could walk into the middle of your little pathetic settlement. And sacrificing my own life? It sound's quite grand, as I would be returned to Hel and so will all that die too."

Shaking her head, she grins. "It is unwise, isn't it? To assume I am just angry, no... I am much more than anger itself, and Wrath does not compare to the hunger I feel. You've unhinged me, Basil... And death is nothing but retirement for me when I take many down with me in the process."

But his reasoning, it only brings a tired look to her face. To hear that it's in his blood to act, but wasn't it too late now? All those times he could have done something, he stood by idle and even observed their demons feast.

"You are nothing but a liar, a filthy disgusting nobody. You stood by and watched others get beat down, and don't blame it on Mars either. You could have acted at any moment, but you are a coward and hid behind a false façade. Trying to play friendly, acting as if nothing was wrong. But all this time, you were simply scared of those results."

Each of those hanging bodies begins to whisper, each of them muttering those words. 'Coward, coward, coward.' 'Liar, liar, liar.' Constantly, even the empty shell of Tiernay sat on the cushion mutters it. Echoing throughout the hellish landscape filled with darkness.

"You could have locked him up, and killed me first. You could have spoken to him, but you don't care. Do you hear me, Basil, you don't care about anybody. Owyn is practically dead and killed by Osrona, and you can't even blink an eyelash in his direction. Did you even tell Mars yet? Maybe hiding more information from her too? Del had been in Alabaster for years, and talked with you all and even helped the city at times. But you've thrown every piece of family and friends you've had under the beast to be devoured."

Laughing, every single body present would copy her words now. Each of them saying it word for word. "Who's next? Urizen? Osiris? Maybe we should put Mars next, it's not like you would care. You don't care for any of them, and more for an undeserving title you've labeled yourself with."


"So I am going to kill you... And anything you love."

(Henrietta Monroe)

The cacophony of thousand whispers.

Echoing around him, speaking of the mistakes of the past that he's done; for while much of it was false, some of it does indeed touch upon his mind, if only briefly- for all the things that happened between their family, for all the things that happened in the past..

He does hold these sorrows, doesn't he?

What he doesn't want to feel, however, is regrets.. and while these furious words of admonishing him leave the mouth of the witch, the Rhoynur continues to stare off elsewhere- to the empty shell of Tiernay, to the voices that speak of his failures and the things he could've done sooner. It could shake the strongest man..

And it is here that his resolve is tested.

He could've prevented many things. He could've chosen to lock up Tiernay after what he said- but he chose otherwise. He didn't act for the longest time, and while his eyes close for a moment in such thought..

What re-emerges are the golden eyes, piercing with their gaze upon Henrietta.

"Very interesting, Henrietta.."

"To think that I would listen to the ramblings of a witch."

His resolve remains unshaken.
Where she hoped to sink him in regrets..
She fails.

"Your ilk specialize in this- to get in the hearts and minds of men and ruin them from inside out."

"You won't get in my head."

Ironically, all of these things she speaks of almost happened. The death of Mars which almost happened twice - and each time he saved her. The fall of Alabastre, which almost happened numerous times on different occasions.. and even the fall of his friends which he cherished once..

Could she not understand?

She deals with the warrior of Njorun- they're the natural predators of the dark; the natural killers of it.

"Your threats are empty."

"Act on them now, or face me on the other side. But remember this, witch.."

He leans forward upon the table, where his golden eyes stare upon her, what flickers is something that nobody wishes to see.

The murderous intent of the Rhoynur.

"I will kill you."

"And then, me or my ancestors will kill you a second time in Helheim."

"You will never have peace."
(Basil)