Union of Two Shadows

Blackbird Castle, a foreboding and eerie monument to the harsh tyrannical rule of the cruel King Lucius, the last Lord of Minstrel, stood proudly on the Western edge of the country. Constructed entirely from onyx black bricks from the inner castle proper to the outermost defenses, it was a place that at night, could only barely be seen. Overlooking the sea atop a cliff, it was only possible to attack from the South and East without having to worry about being spotted far too soon. Naturally, such an easily fortified location was perfect for any of the vast numbers of criminal organizations that roamed the country. For the last forty years, the castle was held by a single army, never once changing hands. Atop the castle’s ramparts flew the flag of the forces occupying the place; A black rose on a crimson background, the mark of The Coven.

Inside the black stone walls, there was far more activity than usual, members of the normally inactive staff rushing about to prepare for the arrival of a multitude of guests. Though never permitted to become remotely filthy, the whirlwind of cleaning and fixing up that had begun only two nights prior seemed to restore the building to its prime as a royal abode. And all the more fitting as the Coven was ruled by one known as the Queen of Blood.

The interior of the castle had undergone significant alterations since the time of Lucius. All the royal paintings were removed and replaced by works of art depicting grotesque scenes of murders and other violent crimes. Many of the illustrations within the golden frames were done in defiance of common decency or sanity and served as windows into the deepest, most depraved parts of humanity and the Queen had paid exorbitant fees to get the paintings that hang all through her castle, many of which had been condemned by the authorities to be destroyed rather than enjoyed by those morbid enough to be fascinated by the demented art.

Myst Kagekyo, founder and Queen of the Coven, swept aside a rose-hued lock of hair that obscured the gaze of her dark blue eyes as she surveyed the Great Hall of Blackbird Castle. Clad in all black leather save for a pair of onyx high heeled shoes and her white silk cape that provided a contrast without breaking her simple yet elegant theme, she sat on her throne and waited for her guests to arrive along with her underlings. She had arranged to use the castle as both the meeting place as well as a showing of what her organization is capable of, both by keeping the base for four decades and monetarily to furnish it so lavishly. Massive ebony tables stretched out through the hall vertically from her perspective while another horizontal table sat before five thrones that rested atop a podium at the front of the hall. The central throne, her own, stood out especially, being much taller than the other four and made of black wrought iron, giving it a twisted and sinister appearance. Gold inlaid above her head in the appearance of rays of sunlight only added to the effect.

A somber tone reverberated about the castle, signaling the approach of her personal ship, lent out to the Black Vox raiding party. “Seems they’re here. I wonder how it went.” she mused as she strode out of the hall, every step echoing in the empty room. She headed towards the front door where a number of servants awaited the coming party. They all had worked so hard for their Queen’s glory and expected only little in return, and if the meeting went as planned, they’d all be rewarded handsomely for their effort on her behalf, of that she would personally make certain.

The front door opened as Myst walked out to personally greet the members of the Coven who had made the event possible, as well as those who they had freed from imprisonment. “Melissa, tell Saleen to inform our guests that the approach is clear and they may land at their ready.” At her words, a woman who looked startling like the Queen herself, a body double, came forward from the number of waiting hands.

“As you wish milady. I will take my leave for now and retire to my chambers while you parlay with them.” the duplicated ruler said as she politely bowed before walking away, telepathically relaying her lady’s words to the water mage who sat at the bow of the airborne vessel.

“Faer,” the blue-haired girl said as she walked over to the mastermind behind the daring break-in as they sped closer to the castle, “Lady Myst says we can land whenever you want. Everything’s ready for tonight.”