Call of the Remains

Chapter 7

On the other side of the palace, the royal guards maintained their vigilant watch over the Book of Peace, their expressions stern and focused. The room housing the ancient artifact was heavily secured, and the guards were trained to detect any threat.

Unbeknownst to them, the commotion and darkness that had engulfed the grand ballroom had not reached this secure wing. They were blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding elsewhere and of the unwanted guests lurking nearby.

The mysterious man with the blue cape—Rasputin—had dispatched his men to infiltrate the palace's most guarded area. These operatives moved silently through the corridors, their movements calculated and precise. Their objective was clear: to seize the Book of Peace and deliver it to Rasputin.

One guard shifted uncomfortably, feeling an odd sense of unease but dismissing it as mere paranoia. Little did he know, the real threat was closing in, and the sanctity of the Book of Peace was about to be challenged.

The guard's attention snapped towards the haunting whistle, his eyes widening as he beheld the striking figure approaching. The woman moved with an almost ethereal grace, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her purple eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light, and her red lips curved into a captivating smile. The purple dress she wore clung to her form, shimmering in the dim light.

She began to sing, her voice a mesmerizing melody that seemed to wrap around him, drawing him in. Each note echoed through the corridor, creating an almost magical atmosphere. The guard felt a strange pull, his duty momentarily forgotten as he found himself entranced by the mysterious woman.

**Guard**: (muttering to himself) Who... who are you?

The woman's song continued, her voice weaving a spell of enchantment. She moved closer, her eyes locking onto his, and the guard felt his resolve weakening. Her presence was intoxicating, and he struggled to remember his duty to protect the Book of Peace.

The guard, now fully under the spell of the enchanting woman, felt his sense of duty slipping away. Her song continued to weave its magic, each note a lure pulling him deeper into her thrall. As she approached, her eyes never left his, holding him captive with their mesmerizing glow.

**Woman**: (softly) Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm.

Her voice was like silk, wrapping around him and soothing his mind. The guard's grip on his weapon loosened, his thoughts clouding with each step she took closer.

**Guard**: (dazed) Who... who are you?

She reached out, gently tracing her fingers along his arm, sending a shiver through him.

**Woman**: (smiling) I am merely a friend, here to ensure everything goes smoothly. There's no need to worry.

Behind her, Rasputin's operatives crept closer to the guarded chamber, their movements silent and purposeful. The woman's distraction was working perfectly, diverting the guards' attention while the real threat moved in.

Rasputin's operatives moved swiftly and silently past the distracted guards, their mission clear and their actions precise. Vanessa's bewitching presence had provided the perfect diversion, her hypnotic song holding the guards' attention just long enough for the operatives to slip through unnoticed.

As the guards stood entranced, Rasputin's men closed in and swiftly incapacitated them, each guard falling silently to the ground, knocked out cold. Vanessa's song lingered in the air, a haunting echo that seemed to mock the fallen defenders.

**Vanessa**: (whispering to the unconscious guards) Sleep now, and dream of peace.

With the guards neutralized, Rasputin's men turned their attention to the chamber containing the Book of Peace. The artifact's aura seemed to pulse with its own light, casting an otherworldly glow in the dim room.