Breaking The Villain

Chapter 3: Deviating Dreams

Plotting his revenge was Sylas' third favorite past-time. Right under world domination and cuddling his bats. He'd be lying if he said that the thought of Emilia Vanis begging for mercy didn't excite him just a little bit. Of course he was going to have to be careful. She'd proven herself a worthy opponent, especially in strength and he'd be a fool not to admit it. Foolishness and over confidence was for heroes who got praised for breathing. Sylas was cunning, he was smart. He sat by his dark rosewood desk, feeding mice to his bats, thrumming his fingers on the rich wood. He smirked.

There in Hypnos Tombs of Dreams and Nightmares sat a familiar spell. The ink fading and the page a stained yellow. The paused over the words. It was a spell he'd used often when trying to gain information - nothing told the truth like someone's subconscious. He'd also used it often when attempting to drive the Queen to madness, it was a useful spell. But it would also mean showing his identity and leaving his body vulnerable in the cave.

Currently, the only real threat to his life was Emilia Vanis and if she was under the spell then she couldn't come here to kill him but it was risky - the spell was old and temperamental at best. It's stability relied heavily on the user's emotional control.

It'd be fine, he decided. Emilia may be stronger than him but he's a beast of shadows. She won't be able to unravel him and she won't see this coming.

He uses the day to summon up a golem, to protect his body while he phases into dreamland. It's a sticky process, boiling mud and bones into a cauldron, until something vaguely terrifying comes out. Usually it's hit or miss. A tiny bee sized creature coming out of it or something the size of a goliath.

Rarity is a good omen though, and this time a fairly reasonable sized creature pops out of the cauldron. Rangy limbs and grey fleshy skin. A long nose and a pair of bat wings. It's eyes are charcoal dark and doe like. It clings to him once it awakens. "Papa, papa," it wails.

"Yes alright," he tuts, patting it's head softly. It dries it's tears on his shirt and he wonders if he poured to much unicorn horn into the mixture - it always tends to make things so much more emotional. He sighs, ruffling the creature's droopy ears. "Do you know what you have to do?"

The golem looks up at him in contemplation before his eyes light up in recognition. It nods it's head, "Proteccc papa."

"Yes, that's right. I'm going to sleep for a while and you'll stand over me and guard me alright?"

It nods it's head vigorously.

Sylas glances at it with skepticism. It is somewhat cute he supposes. In the way blob fishes have their charm. "Suppose I'll name you Blob then."

Blob smiles shyly, wringing his hands together, "Blo.."

Satisfied, Sylas moves over to his potions cabinet and tabs a few drops of Night Amores, on his tongue, which should stabilize the spell a bit.

He drapes himself on his chaise lounge like a gourmet meal presenting itself to the feast and repeats the incantation three times. Always ending on Emilia Vanis. Emilia Vanis. Emilia Vanis. He pictures the golden hair and blazing eyes. Imagines her holding him down, her hand gripping his jaw, turning him to face her. He sleeps.

Moving through the dreamscape is like travelling on train tracks, completely naked and at the speed of light. You know exactly where you're going but there's no steering wheel and no seatbelt.

He finally shifts into an elegant white room. Immediately recognising the architecture as that of the royal castle. He snarls, he thought she'd be staying at the academy like all other magic users but she'd apparently wormed her way under the king's charity. The slimy git. Two of his least favorite people, joining forces. Just what he needed.