The corridors grew quieter the deeper Augustus walked. This wing of the estate was sealed from the rest. A perfect den of solitude that required more often than he liked to admit.

As he stepped into his private chambers, he shut the door quietly behind him. The faint click was swallowed almost immediately. The walls here were sound proof even though he almost never needed it.

At the far end stood the altar, its surfaces of black stone veined faintly with crimson with candles burning low around it. The air was heavy, no one approached the altar mindlessly without purpose.

As Augustus approached, he removed his gloves and monocle , placing them aside with deliberate care before resting both hands against the altar.

He closed his eyes as he tried to reign in his frustration.

"It should have been cleaner. Everything was planned and set perfectly and yet the Archon escaped. I did what you asked of me... and it meant nothing."

His fingers pressed harder into the stone.

"And the girl... I do not understand what purpose she is to serve..."

Questions swirled in his head. He did not understand why his niece was important and it made him uneasy. Usually he had kept his operations away from his family. He wanted no complicated feelings when carrying out his assignments and yet now, he had been required to bring Cassie before the goddess.

He didn't know how else to feel about that, but it didn't change the fact that he had always had a soft spot for her. If he was to offer her up for some grand design, he needed to understand what that design was.

"When you called me you promised me alignment. You promised me retribution and five years later those bastards still walk free... still live as saints."

Almost instantly the candles went out all at once. The darkness that surrounded him was thick and sentient, seeking out all light so it could snuff it out.

"You speak ... as though the world were meant to obey you."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once. Soft, layered and ancient. He watched as two crimson eyes opened in the void and stared down at him.

"My Lady." He said in reverence, kneeling down before the altar.

"You grow impatient." The voice continued.

"I merely worry that time is of the essence." He replied.

His response was met with a low, rumbling chuckle.

"You allow weakness to corrupt your resolve merely because things do not move according to your schedule?."

He could feel the goddess's displeasure as the darkness pressed closer.

"Tell me," she whispered, her voice coiling through the air. "When did you begin to believe chaos would follow your design?"

"I have only ever wanted to serve you as efficiently as I can."

"You forget yourself, Grand Master. You are not the architect." She corrected him. He felt the darkness shift and coil around him. "You are the instrument."

The words settled into him, a heavy reprimand designed to force him to regain composure. The goddess was right, he had grown impatient and in doing so left room for error and mistakes. An impatient man was bound to make many mistakes. He had come too far and sacrificed so much for it to all go up in flames now.

"I chose you," she continued. "Not for you to fail. I chose you because you would bring the world to my feet. My High Priest. My general."

Her voice was velvet and seductive, it caressed him like a soft blanket, lulling him to obey.

"And generals do not falter because the battlefield refuses to behave." she continued.

Augustus exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping.

"...Then guide me."

"There are two flames that have sparked to life. One burns brightly and the world will turn toward it. And the other does not yet understand what it is."

His mind moved quickly. Cassie. It had to be.

"Then why take the girl? In the end she is... unnecessary to your grand design."

His words, though carefully calculated, weighed heavily on him. He was lying. He knew Cassie was special but he was reluctant to bring her into his dark world.

"You hesitate. Is it because she is your blood? The world bought the facade but I know your deepest darkest secret, Augustus Apollos. You let your brother raise that child thinking she was his own." the goddess continued softly. "And you knew all along she was yours. And now that I demand you give her to me, your attachment holds you back. Prevents you from carrying out your duties, General."

"She is nothing more than a piece on a board." He said with an indifferent expression.

"Do not insult me with your false restraint. I know your thoughts and desires. I know your heart!"

Her voice boomed loudly in anger all around him, causing the furniture to shake and he could feel the gravity weigh heavier.

"That child is a vessel. A very powerful one. She draws from the power of the serpent. Raw untamed power and she doesn't even know what she carries." The goddess's voice suddenly took on a more softer tone. " She will become a soldier. One you will shape."

His eyes widened in surprise but he kept his voice steady.

"To what end?" he asked .

"To mine. She will serve in my army as one of my most powerful soldiers. She carries power not granted by order nor bound by rule and that is rare. I trust you will ensure she is trained well." The goddess said. "Break the child if you must, I don' t care. But when she stands she will serve me as will the whole world."

"And if she resists?" He asked weakly as he tried to stand, as he tried to resist her influence but he could feel her power seep into his skin like a poison. The power was addictive, an adrenaline high that kept him prisoner.

At that very moment his resistance melted away and he was once more her most loyal soldier.

"If she resists then her life is forfeit. The girl is nothing but a weapon and one I will not allow to be used against me."

Her words were resolute and left no room for debate.

"Do not lose sight of the greater design for the sake of something smaller."

The implication was clear. Family was insignificant in the grand design of all things.

"Find the other one. She is a vessel strong enough to withstand my power. The Creator has marked her but before my sister claims her vessel I shall be the one to lay claim to it and through the girl I will be reborn in this world and chaos will reign with me."

With those words the darkness all around receded and light returned almost instantly, candles reigniting.

For a moment Augustus stood alone before the altar before he reached for his gloves and pulled them on.

When he turned toward the door there was no visible trace of hesitation left.

He waited until his heart settled before he exited the room and walked towards the library where Lady Kira quietly awaited him. Usually busy, tonight the library was all but abandoned, with its lighting dimmed. The only other presence was the guard who stood by the back row, clothed in a dark robe that concealed his identity.

Augustus took off his monocle and placed it carefully onto the desk. Afterwards, he slowly unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt and stood with his arms stretched out as Lady Kira helped him take it off.

"I take it everyone is here?" He said as she helped him into his crimson robes.

"Yes. They await you in the sacred chamber." Lady Kira replied as she handed him his mask.

"Good. Let us begin."