Oblivion: The Summoning

Prologue

Eros bent his head down trying to fight the unrelenting throb thrashing against the walls of his mind. His sweaty palms clung to the window sill as he attempted to steady himself. He slowly started to gain his composure when an abrupt energy hit him. Eros braced himself for the inevitable.

The door to his study flew open and Asa barged in. "You initiated The Summoning."

Eros kept his back turned to Asa. Eye contact would only make the conversation harder.

"Yes." A simple response. No explanation. No emotion. "News travels fast here." His desperate attempt to lighten the mood went ignored. No doubt the entire Hisar had felt the energy of The Summoning the second it began.

"What were you thinking, Eros? You know the consequences. You will suffer. You will all suffer. There is no such thing as mercy with the High Council."

Eros turned towards Asa. Fear and frustration poured from her freely. She was letting it beat against his shield on purpose.

"It's already done. I will take responsibility." Eros knew that he absolutely could not take responsibility.

"You know who will really have to take responsibility for this." Asa retorted accusingly. "Why, Eros. Why."

It was not a question. It was a condemnation. It was a quiet plea. But how could he possibly explain why he had done it, when he did not even know himself. When he had been finding holes in his mind for over a year. Eros felt completely drained. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling lightly as he went to ease the throbbing. He was in urgent need of a recharge.

The Summoning was forbidden to anyone outside of the High Council. Despite Eros's prominence within the Hisar, he would face brutal punishment. How? Why? Those questions did not matter here. Consequences at the Hisar were indifferent and uncompromising. As a Master that often enforced them, Eros knew all too well that there would be no discussion.

He sighed, defeated, and looked out at the courtyard below. The garden was deceivingly calm compared to the storm coming for him. For them. He looked at the Masters and Disculpi going about their business, completely unaware of what was unfolding. They did not know what Eros had recently come to accept. They were all just pawns in a game with unknown opponents, no rule book, playing the role of the losers.

He felt a pang of guilt as he glanced at Asa again. She was studying him carefully. He didn't need to let his shield down to sense the suspicion and hurt. Eros could offer her no comfort. No explanations. It was best to leave her in the dark until he could make sense of things. No matter how deep he pushed into his memories, there was nothing but that blackness.

Eros was brought back to the present as Asa spoke; her words sharp and ready to shred him into pieces if he disagreed.

"I will guide them to the Hisar when they return. Thanks to you, their arrival will be needlessly painful. I suggest you stay away. Do not confuse anyone's emotions while they readjust."

Asa gave him a look that dared him to question her instructions. He could feel a chasm between them growing but he currently did not have the luxury to care. Eros nodded. Though, he could not deny that he was slightly relieved she would be returning after being separated for so long. The moment Eros let the thought enter his mind he felt Asa's energy assault his unfortified shield almost knocking him onto his knees. She all but growled at him in disgust.

"I'm glad you're excited for your little reunion. Let's see what that will cost us all. Let's see what it will cost her. I don't think you will find that your elation is reciprocated." He could feel the cold truth in her words all the way to his core. Of course, she was right. The pain that awaited her was entirely his fault.

At that moment he felt the The Call from the High Council, effortlessly slicing through his shield. It was useless against them anyway. Asa stared at him with a look that said he was getting what he deserved. They both knew what The Call meant. It was time to reap what he apparently sowed. His body shivered in grim anticipation. A surge of healing energy knocked against his shield and he let it in. He looked up at Asa surprised. She scoffed at him and left his study as quickly as she had come. He was thankful for her pity. He would need the help.

He was about to head to the Kamara when he felt a presence in his room. Suddenly, his body was frozen.

"You've received The Call." Eros silently acknowledged the speaker's words. Still unable to move, he waited. After a long pause, Eros regained control of his body and turned around. The figure stood in the shadows, barely a whisper of a person. Silence echoed in the study; not even a breathe shared between the two.

The voice finally spoke again. "You will not be able to shield your mind from the High Council. I apologize for the intrusion."

The voice did not sound the least bit sorry, Eros thought, before collapsing to the floor in excruciating pain. The room went black as he lost consciousness.
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