The Fire Within

Protected

The voice took Cardinal Copia by surprise, he had been expecting Papa's smooth accent. He turned, finding the source of the cry. Cirice looked over as well, pushing herself up to see Alex who was making his way through the crowd. Cirice's face contorted in confusion.

"Alex? What are you doing here?" Cirice shot as Mason moved into the open circle to which Cirice was the center. Alex smiled at her.

"I'm stopping you from doing something stupid, again." he shot, throwing a glare at Cardinal Copia.

"This ends now. Whatever lies you've fed these people will be brought to light." Alex shot, starting over to Cirice. Cardinal didn't try to stop him as he helped her down.

"What about Margaery? Aren't you married?" Cirice asked softly as the crowd watched in bated breath. Alex met her eyes, his hand on her cheek.

"No. I'm yours now and forever." Alex kissed her forehead and pulled her off the table.

"Someone will be our lamb. Cirice we need you." Cardinal Copia said sweetly, Cirice hesitating on the bottom step. Alex looked back at her, giving her a look as she looked back up at Cardinal Copia.

"Enough of this," The room jumped, turning to the doors to see Papa enter. He was in his robes and mitre, his makeup perfect as he strolled towards them. The room erupted in whispers once more, surprise sweeping through it. Behind him, the Sisters floated in quietly, Cosette leading them.

"Ah, Tobias, I see you have finally decided to leave the comfort of your castle." Cardinal Copia shot as Alex pulled Cirice to the side, his arm tight around her. Cirice elbowed Mason harshly in the ribs, causing him to stumble out of the way.

"Whatever fight you have is with me, not my daughter," Papa said, stopping a few feet from him. Cardinal Copia scoffed, descending the platform.

"You know this has always been about her." Cardinal Copia replied pointedly. Cirice frowned.

"Has it though?" Everyone looked at her, Alex's grip tightening on her. Cirice shrugged out of it and stepped forward.

"Before I was even a thought, you plotted against my mother mercilessly. You are the reason she is dead. To what end?" Cirice snapped, stepping forward. Alex darted forward, fighting to get his grip back on her. Cardinal Copia gave her a smirk. Realization crept up Cirice's spine as everyone watched them. Papa shot a glare at Alex.

"This was never about us was it?" Cirice looked to her father and then to Cardinal Copia. "This was about him,"

Cardinal Copia shoved the knife at Delphine, freeing his hands as he clapped. The room so silent it echoed up into the eaves. He gave her a devilish smile as Papa shifted towards her.

"You have an exceptional mind, Cirice. It is a shame it is wasted on valor," Cardinal Copia said, turning to address the room.

"You all have put your faith in me, and for that I am grateful. You trust my vision for the Vale, one that is rooted in traditional beliefs that serve ourselves and the Dark Lord." Cardinal Copia said, a chorus of agreements rising up.

"This man and his spawn threaten that. So I ask you now, who will you trust? The man who fraternized with a snake, throwing our den in danger? Or the man who will save you?" Cardinal Copia gestured to himself as Papa scoffed.

"Oh come off of it, Tristan. You are nothing more than a bastard. My father should have never taken pity on you."

A scream of rage erupted from Delphine as her wrist snapped, sending the knife airborne and straight towards Papa. Cirice didn't think, she just acted. She darted forward, too quick for Alex to seize her. She pushed her father sideways into the crowd, the dagger squelching as it landed in her stomach. Cirice sucked in a breath of pain as Alex screamed.

"Cirice!" he cried, rushing forward as she fell to her knees.

"What have you done!?" Papa bellowed as Cirice fell forward on all fours, Papa rushing to her side. Her breathing was labored, her bloodied hands gripping the floor as a guttural sound escaped her lips. A chilling wind raced through the room, the candles flickering. Mason ripped Alex back as Cirice's body arched up, her eyes black.

The focused on Delphine, the crowd watching in horror as she began to twist and writhe in pain. Cirice smirked as she watched the woman cry out in pain, her bones snapping as if they were nothing more than toothpicks. She laughed, the voice not her own. It was as if she was watching the entire scene through a movie screen--the only thing she could feel was bubbling pain. A blue hellfire twisted from Cirice's bloody hands, wrapping it's bright tentacles around Delphine has she wailed in pain.

"What's happening?" Cardinal Copia asked, terror on his face. Delphine reached for him, blood pooling from her mouth as he shuddered away.

"She's protected," Cosette's voice rang higher than Delphine's screams as she watched her sisters last suffering moments.

"A deal was made with the Dark Lord himself. She cannot be harmed, and whosoever does shall answer to him." Cosette said as Cirice sneered, dark smoke billowing around Delphine's body. Her screams stopped, Cirice's eyes returning to green as she fell backward and onto the floor. Papa and Alex came to her side, the castle beneath them beginning to quake.

Papa pulled Cirice into his lap, rocking her gently as Alex sat by her head, tears clouding his vision.

"What's happening now?" Cardinal Copia asked, his tone worried as Cosette gave a sad smile.

"It's over, the curse is broken." As if on cue, the castle began to shake harder, the crowd rushing to the doors to escape.

"I-I'm scared Dad," Cirice said, her voice hoarse. Papa quieted her, gently rocking her as dark tears streamed down his face.

"Don't be kara en. I am here, I will protect you," he promised as Cirice's head lolled back. She was staring at Alex, her breathing labored.

"You came back for me," she whispered as Papa gave a sad smile to Alex. Alex nodded, a sob escaping him.

"Of course I did. I love you Cirice," Alex pushed her hair from her face as Cirice looked back at her father. Papa cried out as she winced in pain. A dark smoke began to pour into the room as Cardinal Copia panicked. He leapt forward, racing out of the room as the sisters joined the trio. They circled them, clasping hands.

"What's going to happen?" Cirice shuddered as the sisters began to chant.

"I don't wanna lose you again." Cirice cried, using her last few breaths to cry out as tears streamed down her face. Papa pulled her into him, Alex's hand on her shoulder as he whispered to her.

"You were the greatest thing I ever did Cirice. There is nothing that will keep me from you--I love you more than you will ever know my sweet kara en," he whispered as Cirice's breath shuddered and sputtered from her lips. Stone began to crumble around them as Papa sobbed, pulling Alex into him.

Smoke rose around them, large chunks of stone showered the room as the sisters chanted louder. Papa kept his grip on the both of them, his heart aching. He could only hope things would be put right. With all that raged around him, he only knew one thing for certain--whatever happened he would find Cirice. 

He would always find her.