Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

Evian couldn't care less about some council. That was not his matter to deal with. The one he had come for was in front of him. Their bodies separated by a mere few feet that he could easily traverse if he pleased but when he took the first step, he wondered if that was wise and stopped.

It would do no good to make a scene here. Not with no one in the room knowing the context of their relationship and also, despite the look in her eyes that told him Daria was every bit as inclined for a private conversation as he was, she was trying her best to remain stoic which told that there were important, official matters at hand for her to take care of.

He froze in the middle of taking a step and stopped to take it back. Daria saw every bit of this sequence and she let out a secret sigh of relief before turning her eyes and attention squarely on Dolan who was frowning deeply at the news she had just delivered.

"The Pontiff is dead? How? When? Last I heard, he was healthy with many more millennia to live."

"Details of the Pontiff's death are not so light that I can make mention of them here, to you. I have not been authorized to do so."

Dolan's brows furrowed as he looked Daria over,

"Miss…" he started and trailed off suggestively.

Daria picked up on his indication and although she frowned, she went along with it,

"Daria."

"Miss Daria, you have to understand how much of a shock this news is to us. You might think of I and my Party as mere heathens not worth your time but the Pontiff -Well, he was an existence everyone in the Verlice Kingdom could and did look up to.

You can't just drop such a piece of news and immediately order that we leave the City. It doesn't seem fair."

"Life isn't fair, Mr. Karsten…" Daria started.

"Ambassador Karsten," Dolan corrected immediately and a moment of silence passed while Daria raised a brow as though surprised to have been interrupted.

Dolan cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat,

"It's Ambassador, Miss Daria," he said in such a gentle and amicable tone, that even Olivia looked at him with surprise.

Where was the rudeness from earlier? She and many others in the Knight entourage wondered.

The rudeness was still there. It was just slightly beneath the amicable exterior Dolan had decided to present. Evian could see it very clearly. As a Wraith Lord, picking apart the emotions that governed the thoughts and actions of someone like Dolan Karsten, who was beneath him on the Martial path, was easy.

As Evian peered into the young Effeminate man's face, he could see his arrogance to stand his ground as one bestowed power by the Royal Family clash with his desire to appear like a gentleman.

Evian had to say, on some level, he was at least impressed. Dolan sought to go the gentle route first in his bid to impress the Arcane beauty that was Daria and kept intimidation in his back pocket like a secret card still left to play. Smart.

"Apologies, then," Daria said gently with a slight now, "Ambassador Karsten, the world is not fair and with the entire City in mourning at the moment as well as Arcanists all over the Verlice Kingdom distraught at this loss, you can understand why making things seem fair to you is that least on our list of priorities.

I am merely a messenger. These are not my words. I am merely relaying them to you. Decide quickly if you wish to remain and be an observer at the meeting taking place in a few hours. Let us know your decision early so we can instruct the guards not to harass you."

"Harass us?" Dolan asked, incredulous. A small crack in the amicable facade he had put up.

Daria nodded somberly. Unlike the lead Arcanist who had met their group at the landing bay, she seemed forced by circumstance. As though, if it were up to her, their presence at Sacrosanct would have been met with more warmth.

"Unfortunately, yes. Only Arcanists can remain within the Santorum for an extended stay and that extends to the entirety of the Holy City. We are so spiritually inclined that we find your presence distracting to our faith."

Daria said every word like it was an apology and looking around at the faces of everyone in the hall, Evian saw they were buying it. They were buying this obvious act.

Evian found himself so carried away at this interesting thought that he chuckled, not to himself, but out loud. He created a stark contrast to the mood in the hall, drawing all eyes to himself with such intensity that a lesser person would have crumbled but of course, Evian stood strong.

Every one of those eyes glaring at him was outraged. Everyone's besides Daria's and Armin's. Daria looked intrigued, almost amused. Armin looked astonished at this young Master's audacity.

"I'm sorry," Dolan said but he did not sound sorry, "Is there something funny?"

"No. Well, actually, yes," Evian said unable to keep from smiling.

"Care to share?" Dolan asked with the corner of his lips twitching with irritation.

"You wouldn't get it," Evian said while shaking his head.

"So when matters of importance are being discussed, you see it fit to enjoy a private joke?"

Evian shrugged,

"Hey, if the mood strikes."

Dolan glared even harder at him,

"Apologize to Miss Daria," he said suddenly.

"What?" Evian asked with a blink.

"Your lack of decorum has insulted both me and Miss Daria but as your superior, I must bear some of the blame. So I repeat, apologize," Dolan said calmly. He looked perfectly at ease as though he was in his element but of course, it wasn't at all hard to know what was going through his mind.

'This idiot wants to use me to score points with Daria. Oh, the stupidity of it all,' Evian said laughing in his head and it took a bit of work to keep from letting the laugh out of his mouth.

Daria paused for a second, looking from Evian to Dolan and then back before she raised a hand,

"An apology won't be enough. What is your name, Knight?" she asked.

'Playing along? Clever girl,' Evian thought with a smile.

"Evian. Evian Stygian," he said.

"Come with me," Daria said.

"If you insist," Evian told her with a shrug and took a step forward. This was perfect. An excuse to leave this sorry gathering without revealing prior entanglements they did not need to know of.

But then,

"Wait," Sir Armin said with an arm across Evian's front to prevent him from taking any further steps, "What do you plan to do with the Young Master?"

"Young Master?" Daria asked, a bit put off by the tone of respect Armin used.

She searched her mind but did not remember this Knight in the employ of the Stygian Estate. Granted, she did not know them all and a lot could have changed since they had been apart.

"Don't get in the way," Dolan said but even he was curious what Daria planned to do. It was just that he believed asking would be too probing and reverse the goodwill he hoped to have already built up.

Evian placed a hand on Armin's arm to push it down gently while adopting a martyred look of self-sacrifice so fake, that Daria had to work hard not to roll her eyes. Read additional content at m-vl-em|p-yr

In seconds —moving so gracefully, anyone would be in awe—, Evian was by Daria's side while she gestured behind her and a host of Arcanists charged into the hall to form a wall in front of the still-open double doors.

None of the Arcanists held back from showing off their Spiritual pressures in evidence of their readiness for combat should it prove necessary.

"Miss Daria," Dolan voiced out in outrage, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Precautions. Unfortunately, we cannot have you strolling the halls of the Sanctorum. You will have to remain here until the time of the meeting," Daria explained in that falsely pained and somber expression that everyone besides Evian ate right up.

"So we're prisoners?" Olivia asked now, speaking faster than Dolan but his sentiment was the same.

"No. You're guests," Daria said, "Knight Stygian will return to you shortly once he has been… disciplined for his misconduct."

Daria and Evian left the Hall after that and the doors promptly closed, leaving the delegates from the Martial Temple and Royal Family trapped with the Arcanist Guards.

"Come with me," Daria said urgently and led the way down the corridors.

They passed many Arcanists and they all gestured to Daria with reservations and respect but she ignored it all in her eagerness and impatience. Emotions Evian felt and shared but hid better.

With Spiritual energy, Daria unlocked a door and pulled Evian in with her, and the moment the doors closed shut, she felt Evian's hands on her hips. With the tingle of electricity that coursed through her body through that touch, Daria could not help but moan as she turned around to face a smiling Evian.

"When you said you were returning to the Church, this was not exactly what I had in mind," Evian said.

"I told you I was going to the Sacrosanct… What did you think that meant?" Daria asked with a smirk with one hand on Evian's shoulder and the other at the back of his neck while staring into his smoldering eyes.

"I expected to find you strolling the streets of the Holy City."

"And this is a disappointment?" Daria asked.

"How could it be?" Evian asked before pulling her against his body and sealing their lips together in a passionate kiss that was a long time coming.

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