In one strange corner of the universe, just past the dimmest star, hidden in that one cold quarter no one ever wished to visit and concealed in a menacing dimension, was a small, barely-habitable rock (it did not deserve the term of planet for it was so insignificant to those who knew of it). On that rock, in the most tenantable environment upon it - and even then, most was a stretch - nestled amongst inky reeds and situated by a tar-like river, proudly stood a decaying mansion.
That deranged home belonged to a disturbed, fearsome, power-hungry warlock: Baron Judas Alarie-Black, better known by the fortunate as the beastly Baron Black.
Cross-legged, the Baron, whose straggly bob of dark hair fell across his youthfully-aged face in a fearsome way, sat in his sombre chambers, quietly searching the dimensions in his astral form for his next nourishing refreshment. In the astral plane, he was free to glide, to roam, to spy across the universe, undetected, in search of his next victim.
He had felt a pinch when the Entity and Tessa had bonded yet it had not lasted long enough for him to locate them. Then, more recently, he had felt a curious twitch, a tickle, an itch, when the Entity and Tessa had joined briefly with the Other in the most habitable dimension, the one where he once thrived, but when that evil one truly fused with them, the sensation of the emergence washed over him in a maddening way, in a way that made all his neurons tingle with a giddy glee. A pernicious hum of laughter left him as his beady eyes shot open.
Baron Black, brutal usurper and devourer of power, simply couldn't resist the feast that awaited him now.
Patience really did pay off.
"Seraphina-a-ah!" He called songfully, gruffly.
Footsteps echoed out in the hall but they did not approach the room eagerly.
A woman, dressed in an austere sangria sheath dress, accessorised by a thin shawl and a deathly ribbon choker of the same colour, slunk into the Baron's room through one of the two heavy doors. Her gentle blonde curls bounced slightly as she approached the intimidating man. Averting his gaze, her flat, weary, hazel eyes fell to the floor before him.
"You called, Baron?"
"It's here." He hissed excitedly as he stood from his spot of meditation.
"What is?"
"The big one, Sera, the biggest catch of all - a hybrid."
Her eyebrows twitched, "Surely...Orrotan's Leviathan was the largest being of all? What more could you want?
"You know I want it all." Judas paused, "There are great beings and collectives in this vast universe, but once I have devoured the supreme hybrid...I will release you."
Seraphina looked up at him, a flash of uncertain hope in her eyes.
Judas smiled eerily and moved to caress her hair, "You would like that, wouldn't you?"
Uncomfortable, she nodded.
"One last run, Sera, one last ritual, and then I will release you from our contract." He removed his hand, gesturing to a beautifully-carved, mahogany door on the left side of the room, "To the mirror."
When they entered the room that was adorned with candles of various sizes, they headed straight for a vast, uneven fragment of glass. No reflections entertained them in this mirror and, in fact, the surface was hardly reflective at all. Instead, it looked like a gateway to a dark abyss that stood out sinisterly in the candlelit room.
Judas pressed his index and middle finger to his temple, pinching at his skin but instead drew out a wisp of white smoke. Gripping it tightly, he brought it to the mirror and released it near the surface. Once the wisp connected with the glass, it rippled, fading into the scene of a bedroom. It was a fascinating, disturbing sight: a woman lay in the bed, sheets strewn around her body, haunting eyes opened wide to reveal their abnormalities whilst wisps of black smoke, sprinkled with shades and sparks of red, shifted above her resting form.
"Can she see us?" Seraphina shuddered at the sight and looked away from the mirror.
"The scrying mirror keeps us hidden."
"What's so special about this hybrid then?"
Judas, who had been watching the memory keenly, turned to Sera to explain, "A hybrid is a mixture of a powerful mystical being and an ancient Entity. Their existences are long foretold in the multiversal texts that I possess. The books say that the original host's sorcery is bolstered so much so by the immense knowledge, skill and sheer power of a being of supreme chaos, that an existence so formidable is devised that it becomes a testament unto the power of the Gods themselves."
Sera scoffed, "This woman sounds out of your league, Baron. What makes you think you would be able to - "
A sharp smack echoed in the room.
Seraphina gently stroked her burning cheek as Judas continued.
"You dare to question the power of the God you serve?"
Sera wished she had the guts to insult her charlatan captor again but, this time, chose to remain quiet.
"What do you say?"
"My apologies, Baron Black." She straightened her back and stared darkly, deeply into his eyes, "I am but a stupid wretch who knows nought of what you speak..."
"Correct. So hush while I explain the situation to your feeble mind." Judas sneered at her, "You will promptly recall that I said they may become a testament to the power of the Gods themselves. This is not a given for only few hybrids have survived a bond with an Entity as long as the one you see in the mirror. The host often expires due to being incapable of coping with the vast consciousness of another."
"Sounds agonising."
"Death by being overwhelmed by another consciousness is hell." Judas walked back to the glass, gazing at the woman, pining for her power, "I have only come across one other hybrid in my long life, long before you, half a millenia ago...they did not know what they were so they were an easy target but this one...this one is more advanced in its knowledge of itself. We must tread carefully."
"So, Baron, I will ask again: how exactly do you plan to devour a being more - " At the glare she had received, Sera altered her words, "Similar in power to yourself."
"This is where you come in, Seraphina." He swiped his hand across the scrying mirror and the image faded into another.
A restaurant appeared, small and quaint, Italian judging by the name. Outside, two people sat at a candlelit table: a man in a black suit and bowtie and that hybrid woman in a pretty black dress, talking, smiling, laughing.
Seraphina couldn't help but acknowledge that the man was rather handsome.
Judas turned on his heel and strolled behind his servant, gently nudging her toward the mirror as he rested his one hand on her shoulder. Pointing at the man, he neared her ear.
"Seduce her lover, enchant him. Tear him away from her," The Baron's hand gently stroked Seraphina's fair cheek, "Be his lover. I'll twist some things too until we isolate the woman - then, she will come to us."
"But - " The soon-to-be enchantress tried to turn her head to protest, but Judas gripped the back of her neck tightly, forcing her to keep her gaze on the mirror.
"Sera," He drawled, "You're my girl as promised to me by your mother - "
Hatred burned in her eyes, as she tore away from his grasp to face him, "It was a dying wish forced upon her."
"A dying wish to spare you."
"You forced her." She hissed, letting her composure crack, "If she knew what kind of...beast, what kind of monster then - "
As expected a sharp back-handed blow struck her cheek once more. Before she even had time to compose herself, Judas harshly grabbed her chin and cheeks in his one hand, roughly bringing her face back up to look at him. No matter how much she struggled to get out of his grip this time, he held her tighter still, his grip vice-like. Her nimble fingers could not pry his from her face.
Intensely, he stared at her, watching a sole tear stream from her left eye and down onto his index finger. With a crazed, severe look in his dark eyes, he laughed dryly, releasing Seraphina's face.
"That stubborn feistiness of yours will be useful for this, I imagine."
"Find someone else." Seraphina shook her head as she soothingly rubbed her jaw, "I won't be able to coax him away from her."
Judas scoffed, moving to stroke her cheek (but smirked when she flinched away), "Seraphina, you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever come across. I find it a shame you refused my proposal but that just makes you more useful now."
"I won't be able to do it."
He finally lay his hand on her cheek, much to her dismay, a petty look on his face as a sarcastic smile crossed his lips, "Do this and you'll be free. Don't..." The Baron's hand travelled down to the choker, caressing the material gently, "And we'll see what my ribbon will do to that pretty neck of yours..."
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A/N - Ahhhhh so I decided to move onto the sequel as you can see - the decision most certainly brought about after having seen MoM which was ✨wild✨ and I loved it but still have some reservations of my own about the plot and certain other thangsss.
Feel free to discuss it in the comments as long as you put a spoilers warning in your comment!
Orlando Bloom is the faceclaim for Baron Black:
- Mickey, out 😎