Chương 111: Sacred Flame

"Welcome to the Tower of Sorrow."

Peering beneath the hooded figure, the sight of flesh peeling, twisting off the bone, that reeked of pestilence, and rot, reflected over the eyes of the Golden Eye girl. Never before has she seen such a sight that made her stomach turn and her legs weak.

The creature, hidden away by its robes, peered up, locking eyes with its good large round eye with the fallen. It smiled, tilting its head, releasing a burst of depraved laughter.

"Who are you?" Said Aurelia trying to mask the cracks of her tone with a confident demeanor.

"The Keeper of Sorrow," she raved beneath her tattered cloak, flailing her shriveled arms thin as an infant. "And you, my child. You are Sin! How I see your darkness." she added, leaning up from the rocking chair, startling Aurelia where she stood. "How I see it! I can taste it, ye child of sin. Broken is thy path, shattered beyond the truth and lies. Will you seek it?"

"What are you talking about?" Aurelia spat, wishing to pull back, but was held in place by a strange force. The Keeper of Sorrow, squealing in her ghastly voice crackling with broken laughter. "Dearest Sin. I welcome thy to the Tower of Sorrow! Seekest your truth, or lie. It matters not. For thy Light of Dawn will reveal."

Horrified beyond measure, Aurelia attempted to run Acana through her body only for a deep fear to touch upon her feeble heart. No matter how she tried or forced, her Arcana remained motionless as the river's lake.

Melding into a sea of azure embers that trickled off into the midnight breeze, the Keeper of Sorrow vanished. But the intangible force around Aurelia did not, locking her body in place. Her breath swallowed in fear grew jagged as the gate to the Tower of Sorrow shot open, revealing endless darkness covered in mist.

"aaaah~" Screaming till her throat burned, Aurelia could not help but panic. Force to watch her body forcefully dragged towards the darkness. A glint of madness filled her golden eyes when all of a sudden, an emerald-black flame foul as the Nine Hells sprung from her flesh. "Let me go!" She howled as the Necrotic Flames of the Young Fallen stormed her flesh, Searing the supernatural force holding her in place. Freedom touched upon her soul.

Yet such a thing was for not as the very darkness stormed from out of the Tower of Sorrow, swallowing the fallen before she could react. Aurelia Morningstar was stolen away under the glow of the moon, leaving a gentle breeze and a Tower standing grimly under the glow of moonlight.

---

It was dark, darker than the deepest night, but hidden away in the deepest cellar. A small azure flame shone atop a candle within a corner. Bearly casting away the eerie darkness, a small child with long silver hair laid still.

Twitching her small delicate fingers for an instant under the glow of Azure, a soft groan escaped her plush lips, leaving behind a faint echo. Stirring herself away, Aurelia released a dreadful cough that wheezed.

"So your awake," Eldritch remarked.

"What happened?" She feebly questioned, touching her throbbing head. "Wait! Where am I?" She coughed, growing alert in an instant.

"Calm yourself, my queen. You were only taken. Nothing has happened as of yet."

Clitting her tongue, unable to understand how Eldritch could be so calm, Aurelia glanced around at the surrounding darkness, filling her with dread.

"That thing." Eldritch mentioned grimly, "It could have been a seer. She seems to have an idea of who you are, my lady. I say we inform Lord Zariel. Seers are the followers of fate, and fate is the enemy of those that wish to surmount the undefeatable."

Touching the pommel of her sword, Aurelia released a sigh of relief as she felt her sword at her waist. "Dumb-Dumb is watching. Since he hasn't contacted me, then it must not be dangerous. Right?" She uncertainly asked.

"Now. Now." A sudden voice colder than the darkness around the fallen spoke out with charm. "Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, he can't?"

"Mephisto," Aurelia instinctually hissed.

"Down little tigress," The Elder Fallen chuckled, materializing like a ghost. He placed his arms over his niece, "You have gotten yourself into quite the predicament. The Tower of Sorrow, eh. It sounds a little edgy, don't you think? And do call me uncle. Less you wish I give you a spanking little lady. We may be fallen, but we show respect."

"Zariel said not to trust you," Aurelia swiftly remarked in a guarded manner.

"And you think you can trust him? Has he told you that he was the one who killed your very first friend? What was her name again? Yes, Clara. That little priest who was so kind to you in the Hollow Marshes." The Fallen Angel cracked a thin smile and lowered his lazy eyes that gleamed scarlet onto Aurelia's, whose blank gaze spoke everything. "He didn't tell you, did he? Trust is such a fickle thing."

"My Queen, who are you talking to?" Eldritch cried out.

"Your lying," Aurelia muttered.

"Maybe, but what better way to gain your trust? The specter timing was just a little too perfect, don't you think? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm not. It doesn't really matter, does it? Aunty Clara is dead."

"I was a fool back then," She justified shaking her head, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, trying to mask the sting of betrayal.

"True. Trusting strangers is never advised. But does that apply to family? Your father, my dear brother, has granted you the Necrotic Blade. A mighty Enchantment I created long ago. How about I bestow you another bloodline Arcane Spell? One not from the line of Fallen."

"I don't trust you." Said Aurelia sharply.

"My lovely niece is so mean. Sticks and stones, my dear. The Spell you are about to receive is called Sacred Flame, created by Archangel Ariel, and dear sister." Mephisto warmly explained. Pursing her lips, he continued, "Although if she appears, don't tell her I said anything. Big Sis is still quite angry with me and lucifer. Who knew angels knew how to hold a grudge."

Taken back by Mephistos, indifference over her distrust, Aurliea was lost for words. She wanted nothing from him, but as his arms pressed against her shoulders, she could not help but feel a sense of security in his grip. It was confusing. Unsure how to respond, a warm glow touched upon her soul as a string of information raced through her mind.

"I hope with this you will live my dear nephew, but do remember, this. The Blade of Death will purge the Sacred Flames to bring forth the darkness. I made, Necrotic blade to destroy the Angel's Sacred Flame. You had best to remember your origin, dear Aurelia." Mephisto warned, fading away without another word.