shi1313
They survived the impossible, only to find they have traded one hell for another. The Void has a new master: The Marquis, an ancient Vampire King with a refined taste for power and a sadistic obsession with perfection. He doesn't just want to rule the void; he wants to own the most powerful entities within it.
"A magnificent display, Serena," a voice whispered. It didn't come from the hallway; it sounded as if it were coming from inside her own skull. "Your blood is... vintage. But you've left your guests at the door. It's only polite to invite me in."
From the shimmering mercury of the glass, the Marquis stepped out. He was dressed in tattered, high-collared regal robes that seemed to be woven from shadows. His eyes were twin voids, and as he stepped onto the floor, the wood beneath his boots turned to a dull, matte gray. He looked at Silas, who was still trapped halfway through the glass, his gold armor frozen mid-struggle. The Marquis reached out and gently tapped the surface. Silas winced, but he couldn't move.
"The Vault," the Marquis murmured, a thin, cold smile touching his lips. "So sturdy. So stubborn. It's a shame to leave such a fine piece of art in the sand."
He turned his gaze to Serena, ignoring the silver fire still glowing in her eyes. He reached into the folds of his cloak and produced a black crystal chalice filled with a swirling, silty liquid that looked like liquid midnight.
"The Echos were a crude instrument, Serena. I apologize for the mess," the Marquis said, his voice smooth as silk over a grave. "But I've seen what you are. A sun in a world of dying candles. My kingdom is very dark, and very, very quiet. I find I am in need of a Queen to light the halls."
Serena's jaw tightened, her Object thrumming with a warning she couldn't ignore. "I'm afraid you're going to have to find