The flames were creating an oddly comfortable sound in the chillness of the chamber. They were casting weird shadows across the wall, like some a hero fighting with a villain. The sorcerer observed them with his usual calculated gaze.
Despite his stoic demeanor, he couldn't shake the annoyance and irritation he felt inside. He felt mad at himself, felt it forbidden to want Regan by his side, when he knew she was his sworn enemy, a formidable opponent, an obstacle, and how she would never want to side willingly with him.
The thoughts made him frustrated and pissed off, not at her, but at himself. He was well enough alone; he didn't have to share power with anyone. And yet, he couldn't help but wonder how perfect it would be to have Regan on his side. To rule with her.
But she'd never want to. She'd never try think of him differently. He knew his image in her mind was probably nothing more than a sadistic criminal. He wondered why he cared so much. After all, everyone thought him like that.
A knock on the door snapped him out of thoughts. It was general Vlad, his stoic expression crossed by an unsettled look.
"What's the matter, general?" Sirius indifferently asked.
"There's a situation down the dungeons, my lord. Mathias, one of the traitors has escaped." Vlad informed.
Sirius stood up from the armchair, his eyebrows furrowed, "What? How's it possible? Where the hell were the guards?!" He furiously yelled, knowing well enough the security that he had on his dungeons.
"The guards apparently were handling another one. Mathias had escaped weirdly enough. Sounds like someone helped him.
I found a key inside his cell." Vlad briefly explained.
Sirius ran a hand through his hair, furious of how could Mathias had escaped; he was a dangerous sick man who had done so many dissolute actions around the town, a problem for Sirius's reign at the same time.
"Who would be that idiot to have helped him?"
Vlad shook his head, "There was an intruder. The guards said they saw a dark figure lurking around the dungeons. It was around midnight or something."
Upon mentioning a figure in the darkness, Sirius's mind went immediately at Regan. It was her wandering around in the dungeons.
"She didn't just do that!" he growled.
"Do you suspect anyone, my lord?"
Sirius clenched his fists, seething with anger. "Regan. She's the source of all this trouble. That meddling girl is always causing chaos. I should have never let her out in the first place."
The general nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Shall I order the armed guards to ensure she doesn't leave her chamber?"
"Absolutely," Sirius said. "Make it clear to them that she is not to be allowed out under any circumstances. I won't tolerate any more disruptions to my plans."
Vlad saluted, "It shall be done, my lord. And what about Mathias? Should we launch a search for him?"
Sirius composed himself, his mind focused on the immediate threat. "Yes, find Mathias. Bring him back at any cost. We can't afford loose ends." He gave a stern look to Vlad, emphasizing the matter, "And bring to me all the guards which were responsible for his cell."
Vlad nodded, leaving the chamber.
As soon as the general walked out, he saw Vesper, who was fuming and pacing around furiously. Vlad asked her if she had any problem, but she furiously yelled at him, ordering him to go away.
As he did as told, Vesper glared at him, then fumed again that her attempts to harm Regan were futile and she didn't accomplish anything. She got hurt herself, with few burns in her clothes. Not only that, her pride was wounded and she knew that Allegra was going to mock her around.
She couldn't accept, couldn't the fact that Regan didn't submit to her and defied her.
Glancing once again down the dark corridor that led to Regan's room, she frowned at the armed guards that strictly told her to go away. She couldn't trespass, she couldn't attack them while they held weapons.
As soon as she entered her own chambers, she saw Allegra sitting there, a smirk on her face. Circe was engrossed in some sort of technological device and didn't seem to mind her situation.
"Well, well, what happened? Did you finally kill her?" Allegra asked, her voice filled with mockery.
Vesper glared at her, her fists clenching, "Shut up and mind your own business."
Allegra laughed, looking her up and down, "Did you have a fire bath? It doesn't really suit you. You look really bad, sister."
"Allegra, shut it!" Vesper yelled, her fury palpable. She wouldn't bother to throw her anger at Allegra.
"Or what? Are you going to lunge at me?" She laughed, "Please, Vesper. You're mad that you can't harm Regan and pass security. But you see, it's not my fault. It's not Regan's fault either. It's Sirius. He was the one who put heavy security anyway," the blondie taunted, her voice venomous enough for a fight. "He seems to care more than enough for her. And you're just jealous, sister."
Vesper's eyes flashed with anger at her sister's words. "Jealous? You really think I'm jealous? You're delusional!" she retorted, her frustration reaching its peak.
Circe was engrossed into her tech devices, indifferent to the brewing conflict. She knew they were going to have one of their usual dramas.
Allegra smirked, her irritation transforming into a malicious grin. "You can't deny the truth, Vesper. You've always been insecure and envious. Regan is the center of attention now, and it's eating you alive."
Vesper clenched her fists, her eyes blazing. "You're pushing it too far, Allegra. Don't test my patience."
"Or what? You'll throw another pointless tantrum?" Allegra taunted, her smirk widening.
Vesper lunged at Allegra, and the two sisters engaged in a heated physical confrontation, their shouts echoing in the chamber. Circe sighed, uninterested in intervening in their petty squabble.
As the two witches grappled, Circe continued with her own activities, occasionally glancing over at the brawl with a bit of amusement. The commotion in the room escalated, but Circe remained unmoved, seemingly accustomed to their frequent clashes.
After a while, the exhaustion caught up with both of them. They separated, panting and glaring at each other. Circe finally spoke up, her voice teasing and indifferent, "Are you both done with your little show? It's getting tiresome."
Vesper shot one last scowl at Allegra before turning away, muttering under her breath. The blonde glared back with a mixture of resentment and defiance.
Circe continued with her activities, the room returning to an uneasy calmness. The tension lingered around as Allegra went inside her room while Vesper, to her own.
With her troubled mind, she couldn't get Sirius out of her mind, she was furious and mad at him, was mad that he didn't even care for her and only cared for his own rules and powers.
After she changed into a silky short nightgown, instead of sleeping, Vesper opened her wardrobe again. On one section, there were different kind of potion bottles. She grabbed one, with a purple-burgundy liquid color, similar to that of a wine.
As she started to drink, her throat burned from the sour taste, but soon, the sourness turned sweetly deceiving, and she couldn't stop her addiction to that drink.
After some time, being already intoxicated, Vesper's mind was filled with Sirius again, his cold expression, his taunts, his arrogance, his voice, his charm and everything else.
She couldn't handle it anymore, it was the time to confront and show him his place, no matter if she was drunk or not.
As soon as she got up, her legs felt like melting and betraying her, her head felt spinning and her vision was dizzy. However, Vesper had made up her mind as she stormed out of her chamber.
Her sisters weren't around, they had slept. It was night, a long night after all.
Vesper carelessly wandered around, her mind running with different thoughts such as the hate and the obsession she had with the sorcerer.
Knowing that he would be awake, she couldn't wait but shove her true feelings all on his face and to make him understand what he was missing.
Finally, she found herself in front of his chamber, her eyes blurry and her mind dizzy. She barged in, and found him sitting on his desk, his mind drown on the books.
He looked up at her, confused of why was she here in such a hour, "What are you doing here, Vesper?"
"Sirius," she slurred, "you liar!" she pointed a finger at him, "You have no idea what you're doing to me!" She leaned on the doorway, her legs shaking.
Sirius's eyebrows furrowed. He realized the state she was in, she was drunk and the least he wanted was to hear her ramblings.
"You're drunk. Leave. Go to your chamber," he ordered and looked down at his book.
"No!" Vesper said as she walked forward to his desk and slammed the book shut, "You're going to listen at me! You have no idea...you...you don't know what I feel about you!"
Sirius expression turned from stoic to irritated. He wasn't willing to hear any pathetic confession of her, "Collect yourself, Vesper. You're just embarrassing it."
"No!" she grabbed him by the collar, "You're such a fool! I love you! And I know you do too!" Her voice came desperate, her eyes glossy.
Sirius shoved her away, "Enough with this insolence, Vesper. Get out of here, before I do something you won't like," he warned, his patience wearing thin.
Undeterred, Vesper continued as she walked closer and grabbed his hand, "Why don't you care for me, Sirius? I've always stood my your side, I've always been loyal to you. Why don't you show you love me?" She said, her eyes taking a pleading look. Her short nightgown was worn badly, showing her cleavage and her legs but she didn't worry. It was exactly what she wanted. She thought she could seduce him in that way, make him understand.
Sirius's irritation was palpable. He was tired of that, he was tired of having women throw themselves at him when he didn't even care. He jerked his hand away by rzs harshly and walked over to the window, "I don't have feelings for you Vesper. Don't bring love in your pathetic drunk confessions. Leave, and don't embarrass yourself further," he coldly ordered, his irritation growing by each second.
His words shattered Vesper's plan. She had been wanting him since the start of their alliance but he never, ever saw her in that way. He was like a stone, he had no feelings or desires, all he cared for was authority, power and prestige. He was so cold, so cruel. And on top of all that, he was irresistibly handsome and charming.
"You're lying!" Vesper shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Who is it that you love then? Allegra, Circe? Are they better than me?"
The sorcerer sighed, knowing that it was worthless to argue with her when she was intoxicated. He knew that Vesper was infatuated with him, like most of the women that knew him, but he simply didn't really care.
And then, he thought about her. Oh her, the princess. She wasn't infatuated with him. She hated him, she was his sworn enemy. And yet, he couldn't help but be fascinated with her. She was different, so so different. If only she was on his side.... If only she saw him like he saw her. But now, he had to get rid of Vesper.
"Please, Sirius, tell me you feel the same, tell me you love me like I love you," Vesper persisted through tears, her posture uneven.
"You don't know what love is, Vesper. You're simply obsessed with me and my power. That's all," he calmly stated as he turned away, staring out of the window.
"I'm not! Or maybe I am! But aren't you the same? You're also obsessed with me and my power!"
Sirius let out a humorless chuckle, "I couldn't care less for you, Vesper. Neither do I for your sisters. You're all amateurs and insolent," he sneered, not looking at her once. "Now, get out."
"You're lying, just like everytime! You keep talking about...." She trailed off, her mind almost freezing in thoughts and she immediately remembered Regan, "Regan! Of course!" she yelled desperately. "You're enamored with that wretched princess!"
Sirius's expression shifted darkly as he heard the princess's name. He couldn't believe Vesper dared say that. "You're crossing the line Vesper. Get the hell out of here!" he furiously ordered.
"Don't you dare deny! You protect her! And you tell me lies that she's your enemy. You tell me lies that you'll destroy her! You care for her, only for her! You have eyes only for her, never for me!" Vesper vented, her voice venomous, her eyes blazing with fire.
Her words stung and his jaw clenched. But then he sighed, holding his composure, "Don't involve Regan in your matters Vesper. She's just a means to its end."
Unfazed, the potion clouded her judgment, and she pressed on, "Admit it Sirius! You're lying to yourself! You love her and you're mad that she doesn't reciprocate your feelings!"
"I don't have to justify anything to you. Now, leave before I change my mind or I'll let you root in the dungeons for the rest of your pathetic life," Sirius snarled, his icy eyes burning with anger.
But Vesper was a fool. She wasn't going to go like that. She approached him, her movements turning seductive and predatory. She stood behind him, her fingers trailing his arm. A wave of disgust washed upon him but he didn't react. He was waiting for her to go further and make a mistake. And then, he'd show her the consequences of her actions.
"You know, Sirius," she whispered, her voice laced with sweetness, "you can't deny that you want me. You may feel lovey-dovey about Regan, but deep down, you know she's not for you. She's... complicated. She's so skinny and ugly. I, on the other hand, am sweet, hot, obedient and willing to do anything for you." Her hand went up his coat, slowly removing it, revealing his shirt. She smiled and then her hand reached his shirt's buttons, aiming to unbutton but then, in a swift move, he grabbed her wrist and twisted it hard. Pain shot through her arm and she yelped, but she didn't let go of him.
"You insolent witch," he snarled, "you dare defy me? You dare play games with me? You dare compare yourself to Regan?" His grip tightened, forcing her to let go. As she cradled her injured wrist, he stepped back, eyes blazing with anger. "Get the hell out of my sight."
But Vesper kept rambling, her words slurring from the potion, her mind refusing to accept the truth. He grew extremely impatient, his anger palpable. He grabbed her arm and guided her to the door, shoving her roughly out of the room.
"You're just a useless nuisance. Deal with your delusions elsewhere." His tone was stern, cold, and unforgiving.
Vesper, dragged out of the door, shot one last glare at him before stumbling out. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Sirius alone in his chamber, frustrated by the interruption.