Cirice Forge doesn't know who she is. Other than a piece of paper with her name on it, she knows nothing about her time before she was dispersed into the foster system. Now, she bartends at a popular gentleman's club with plenty of ogling and still...
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Alex was going to freeze to death, he was sure of it. It had been hours since Cirice and Mason had left and twilight was now upon him. He watched the cold ice and the bank around him, still desperately waiting for the Cardinal to appear. Occasionally a shiver would overtake him. He would ignite his hand momentarilly to fight it.
He had never actually met the Cardinal save for the ball but knew that he was the type of man to revel in his successes. A red bird flittered down over the ice, red smoke encapsulating it, just as Alex had anticipated.
Suddenly he appeared. His cloak and biretta were a deep red that contrasted with the frozen, white wilderness around him. He came to the edge of the hole and knelt down, his hand stirring the water.
Alex watched him for a moment before he stood and chuckled.
"You underestimate my awareness, Mr. Idris," he called, his voice echoing across the frozen lake. Alex shivered as he stood.
"You underestimate us." he shot back as Cardinal Copia turned to him.
"So it seems. You and your princess have managed to outsmart me yet again." Cardinal said, his tone casual as he slowly approached him.
"Whatever plan you have won't work. How did you even know we were out here?" Alex spat, gesturing to the land around them. There was no one for miles--no one to hear either of them scream. Alex thought to himself.
"I have my sources. Some of the trees are even on my side." Cardinal Copia said with a smirk as he patted a tree clinging to the steep embankment. Alex watched him through narrowed eyes, ready to strike at any moment.
"I remember you. Your father is Alpha, yes?" he asked, pointing to him with a gloved hand. Alex's hands were balled into fists as he nodded tightly.
"So I thought. Your bravery is unmatched and quite the talk among my army." Cardinal Copia said absently as Alex's brows furrowed. Cardinal looked over at him, an eyebrow raised.
"Army?" he asked in spite of himself.
"Ah yes, you see I have cultivated some of the finest souls and Vale converts into my command. I will lead us into a new era." Cardinal said, raising his arm as if he were presenting the idea. Alex scoffed.
"A new era? You mean one that capitalizes on death, suffering, and draconian practices?" Alex snapped.
"On the contrary. I wish to return to the old ways--the conception days of the Vale when ruling was subjective and free-willing. You know I could really use someone of your talents." Cardinal Copia said, glancing at him. Alex thought for a moment.
"What does Cirice have to do with any of this? Why are you trying to kill her?" Alex snapped, shaking his head in exasperation. Cardinal Copia tsked.
"I do not wish to kill her. She is merely a pawn in the game to take what is rightfully mine." Cardinal said as Alex shook his head.
"That throne belongs to Cirice by birthright, not you." Alex shot back through gritted teeth.
"You have quite an infatuation with her. I could help you with that." Alex's stomach dropped at his words and Cardinal Copia approached him. In the fleeting daylight, he could barely make out his features save for two beady red eyes.
"How?" he croaked.
"Papa Emeritus is the only thing that stands between you and she, no? Help me, and I will create a future for the both of you, devoid of his judgment. You get me the Immortal Throne and I will get you Cirice." Alex watched him as Cardinal Copia took a few steps back. Glancing up at the sky.
"No, I couldn't hurt her like that." Alex countered, his fists beginning to ignite.
"Shame. Well at least think it over hm. You may find our morals are not as different as you think." With that a red smoke engulfed him and the Cardinal disappeared into the deep blue, starless sky.
