Stathis couldn’t look at the mask directly, the squiggles on it in the Unspeakable Script, making her eyes ache if viewed directly. Their robe was of black silk, draping over their slender body, a single, dark hand visible, fingers covered with gold and silver rings. They weren’t alone – she could see other people now, what looked like children in the corners of the rooms, or idly dicing in the corner. Their clothing was plain and somewhat ragged, but they seemed clean, at least by urchin standards. Something above her head chittered, and she glanced up to see something the size of a large bird, although with four leathery wings surrounding a scaled body and far too many teeth in its mouth. It settled on a pile of metal items, coins clinking – Stathis wasn’t quite sure if it qualified as “treasure” or if it was just junk, the metals dull colours, rather than shining like gold.

The figure moved, fingers coming together with a metallic chiming noise, rings knocking into each other. There didn’t seem to be any immediate threat, the winged thing wriggling itself into the coins, making itself comfortable. The mask turned to look at Stathis, impossible to look at without feeling queasy.

You have travelled far.

The voice sounded young, but the tone was strong and certain, as Stathis replied. ‘Uh, yeah, I guess. We heard that there were a lot of attacks here, and came to help.’

Yes, much strife consumes the land. A shame.

Stathis looked away from the eye-hurting mask – now she had the chance to look around properly, she could see that there were quite a few children around, all seemingly quite relaxed. Another of the four-winged demon-dragon things was on its back, being scritched and played with, making strange, clicking purring sounds.

If it wasn’t for the ringed hand, Stathis would have doubts that she was talking to something alive, rather than a mannequin, but the fingers were definitely alive, and she thought the eyes gleamed beneath the mask, at least from the short periods of time she could bring herself to look at it before needing to look away.

‘This isn’t what I expected.’ Amongst the maybe-treasure, she could see stacks of books as well; not just leathery tomes, but also metal plaques, clay tablets, sets of large metal rings inscribed with writing. There was no immediate sign of danger, unless the urchins turned violent. She extended her senses. Intense, chill darkness, thick and all consuming, even more intense than normal, rolled over her – it felt like more than just Janaxia, unless she had developed her power again, somehow.

There is much that you do not know, warrior of light.

‘Right. So, care to fill me in? There’s a lot of attacks on the surface, this city doesn’t seem safe. But you don’t seem to be trying to attack us, so I guess you want to talk?’ She flexed her hand, checking that she could still move, and that she hadn’t been enchanted somehow.

The attacks are not my doing. It seems that my sibling has gotten themselves into some trouble. The masked figure twitched suddenly, fingers tensing up. It would be best if you were to solve the problem as soon as possible – it would be helpful if you could do something about that. The fingers continued to shudder, the head turning, slowly at first, but then with greater speed and urgency.

Janaxia’s voice sounded inside Stathis’ head. Ah. A ruse. Stathis, if you would be so kind as to remove that mask? Not only is it rather gauche, but the wearer is most certainly a distraction.

Stathis turned to look at Janaxia – she was still in her throne, but the armrests had grown up over her wrists, making it impossible for her to leave, the thing still floating there.

Don’t worry, should it be needed I can still defend myself. Although I will be relying on you for more active protection, should such be needed.

She walked forward, towards the masked figure, still unable to look directly in their eyes – the way their robes fell over them made them look slender, if not gaunt, shifting awkwardly in their seat, head still shaking about.

Do not approach! I shall destroy you, flesh and bone!

Janaxia’s voice was cool and precise. ‘Ignore them. If they wished us harm, then it would have been done already.’

That was easy for Janaxia to say! But Stathis walked closer, ready to leap aside at the first sign of any spellcasting. The fingers did twitch again, and she felt the stirrings of something, an attempt to intrude upon her will, but she ignored it and it slid off her.

‘Do you want to take the mask off, or I’ll remove it for you?’ It looked like a simple strap with a faceplate – a simple grab should suffice to yank it off, if needed.

She heard a soft whimper, the silk-wrapped body shaking, pushing itself back against the seat. Both hands slowly came up and pulled on the hood, lifting it up and away. Messily-hacked brown hair, bound into tight braids, tumbled out, surrounding a spotty face, wide and tear-filled eyes staring into Stathis’ face.

‘Please don’t hurt me!’ They looked about the room in fear, the other children suddenly all staring back, several of them now holding improvised weapons, one of the raising a hand, mystical energy crackling. Janaxia gestured at the robed person, a crown of twisted metal flashing into existence, digging into their skull. It flickered and wavered, not able to fully form, before exploding in a puff of black energy. Motes of anti-light rose into the air, hovering there uncertainly, darting back and forth as though being sucked about by two competing winds.

One was clearly pulling towards Janaxia, the other seemed to be from a darkened corner of the room. They danced to and for, before suddenly getting pulled sharply away and flying into the corner. Stathis followed their movements, noticing that the corner was far darker than it should be, thick with shadows despite there being nothing to block the low light. She conjured up a bead of light herself and cast it into the thick darkness. It flared for a moment, before she felt a chill run through her as its power was drained. In that moment, she saw a pale face staring back at her, black lines tattooed across skin, before they vanished from sight.

Stathis walked towards the darkness.

Stay where you are! Do not ignore me!’

‘So you can do the mind-speech thing as well?’ It would have been helpful to have a torch to see properly, Stathis now squinting into the darkness. Was the figure blurry and only half-visible, or was that just because they were wearing dark clothing and standing in the shadows? There was an eldritch crackle from behind her, a force knocking into her back. It had barely any strength behind it, and she took another step into the darkness. The temperature started to drop, the air noticeably cooling off, and she reached forward, grabbing at the vague shape there.

Her hand touched rough fabric and she grabbed it, hand gripping around a small shoulder. They tried to twist away, but lacked the strength as Stathis pulled on them, yanking them out of the shadows.

Release me, mortal! I care not that you be a champion, I shall destroy you!

Stathis ignored their protests, hauling them out so she could look at them properly – small and slight, with messy black hair, their face covered in black tattoos, similar lines tracing down onto the visible skin of their hands. They tried to pull away but their strength was feeble, Stathis able to feel the small bones of their shoulder in her hand. A mumbled growl sounded through her mind, the clothing changing under her grip, becoming spiky against her hand but unable to penetrate the gauntlet.

Now she could see them properly, they seemed even more diminutive, their head not far above her waist, eyes narrowing in the low light, gleaming with a silverly sheen. They tried to pull away again, pulling against Stathis, the force suddenly increasing beyond what a small body should have been able to manage, but still weak enough that Stathis could keep them restrained with a single hand.

‘Ooo, you look familiar?’ Semari brushed hair out of their face, earning an audible growl, too-sharp teeth flashing. Semari moved behind them, tilting their face upwards and grabbing their other arm. ‘You look like Skotadi! Although she dressed up nicer. See, look at them, Janaxia.’ She wrenched their head around to face Janaxia, ignoring their grunt of protest, forcing their face directly forward.

‘Hmmm, there is a certain resemblance. Although they could certainly do with a bit of a wash. So, are you the one that is rude enough to have commandeered my powers?’ She twisted her wrists against the throne. ‘Although you are rather ruder than she was, if indeed she was your sister. Are you also exiled from your kingdom, then?’

Skotadi? A sister… Yes, to think that they would find such as you. They slid out of Stathis’ grip, suddenly smooth and slippery, even wriggling away from Semari somehow. And with you – opposing forces, twisting together. Tell me, have you ever seen a storm destroy the land – where hot and cold mix, and all is made chaos? They laughed, the sound eerie and child-like, echoing against the stone walls. When the winds surge and the rain lashes down, and all is lost in darkness…

Semari tried to grab them again, but there was a twist of shadow, and they vanished, appearing on the front of Janaxia’s throne, their face close to hers. Janaxia looked shocked, the normally slick-smooth surface of her throne seething and bubbling strangely.

Foolish fripperies, gaudy and gauche, halting and… hating?

Janaxia’s hand flickered, a bolt of darkness shooting out. It curved through the air, but faded away into nothingness before hitting anything. They stayed perched on the front of the throne, the position making their small size even more obvious, but their dark robe was getting even blacker, Janaxia’s throne fading away as its bulk was leeched away.

Janaxia’s fingers twisted through painful-looking contortions before she spoke a single un-word. The throne vanished, along with Janaxia’s clothing, just for a moment before she dropped to the floor, threads of fabric already wrapping outwards from her skin, a tight sheathe of some lacy mesh forming over her torso, along with a sleek skirt. Stathis caught a glimpse of her tattoo – it was in a different position than normal, before sliding upwards to her heart, twitching spasmodically. Part of the mesh peeled backwards to show it – was it alive again, or whatever it was?

The other person didn’t react as dexterously, instead falling to the ground, stumbling and falling on their ass, the wound to their dignity not helped by Semari’s cackle.

Janaxia drew herself up, horn-jewellery clinking. ‘There is no call for such rudeness, even for migrant royalty! I assume I am correct to think that you are Skotadi’s sibling? Although she was far more polite and better dressed than you were – one of your rank really should comport themselves better, even if your “court” is rather… bedraggled.’ She pulled them to their feet, using her hand to wipe some of the dust of their robes, the unearthly darkness fading away to a more normal, dull darkness.

Unhand me! Think not that a pact with my sibling will…

‘Don’t be rude.’ Janaxia wiped away another smut from their face. ‘You really should try and follow her example. And have some manners.’ She gripped them by the chin and tilted their head, forcing them to look up at her – whatever arcane powers they possessed, it didn’t seem to give them any protection against being manhandled, even Janaxia able to shove them around.

Before Janaxia could bully and mother them further, Stathis stepped forward. ‘So, what is all of this? I’ve heard of street gangs and things, but this place seems a bit remote. And there’s all the demons – was it you that broke the cages and seals?’

They batted at Janaxia, their arms deflected by an arcane barrier that shimmered around her body, before she squeezed their face harder, making them wince in pain, facial tattoos writhing.

I will not be…

‘Children should respect their elders.’ Janaxia’s tone was harder now, a scouring force of energy wiping their skin, cleaning away dirt, leaving black tattoo-lines behind.

I am older than this world! I have seen a world burn to desert, civilizations rise and fall to gphh!

‘While a little dash of vainglory can be pleasing, you should perhaps dress up to it better? Now, I am afraid I bring sad tidings regarding your sister. She was, I regret to say, killed in a confrontation with my mother. Needless to say, I will do all I can to ensure her death is avenged, and then perhaps erect a suitable memorial.’

The low telepathic growl made Stathis’ hair stand on end, but the strange child-figure seemed rather less threatening now that Janaxia was tidying their hair, unruly strands twining themselves into order, not long enough to form into a braid or tie. Janaxia tugged on their hair, hard enough to make them wince. None of that! And your clothing should be a little more impressive. ‘Although I suppose the ruse with your imitation spokesperson does show some cunning. Now, other than skulking rather uncomfortably in the dark, what is your purpose down here?’ And I do hope that you won’t be rude enough to depart midway through the conversation. It would be most inconvenient to have to hunt you down again, although I’m sure that some of your companions may have a good idea as to where your boltholes are.

‘Maybe try to sound less threatening?’ The other kids were all watching intently, a few of them armed, but unless they were far more powerful than they looked, they didn’t seem to be threat. ‘So, if you’re Skotadi’s sibling, then where actually are you?’ She glanced over at the book on Janaxia’s hip – the metal looked shinier than normal, the shadows between the edges of the pages darker than they should be, wondering what the insides would display.

They managed to twist their head out of Janaxia’s grip, although their hair was still cleaner and better-ordered than it had been. So, the child of the light is aware of my true form?

‘I just want to know what’s going on, and how to resolve it without everyone dying. If you can help with that, and I’m pretty damn sure you can, then let me know. And I’d also be interested in knowing what you’re up to down here – it’s not the most comfortable place. And who is helping you.’

The fake in the throne was looking somewhat terrified now, Stathis giving them a hopefully-comforting smile. Was there some Janaxia-equivalent, commanding them? All of the other orphans and urchins seemed much the same, without anything to distinguish them from each other.

My sister spent long years lost to herself, isolated from her power, before finding a kindred spirit to awaken her! But I never lost myself, and so have spent these years extending my knowledge of this world and those who dwell here.

‘Right. So were you anything to do with what happened at Redcastle?’

I felt the stirrings of my other sibling, long since lost to the world. A few meddling occultists caused some problems, trying to seize my power.

‘They damn well did! There were demons bloody everywhere, the whole thing was a nightmare!’

Janaxia turned to look at her, eyes cool and green, before staring down at the robed figure. It is rather rude to have a conversation in private – kindly include me. Although you need not let Semari here, not that she would be capable of understanding anyway.

Semari was poking some of the street-kids, one of them throwing a punch back, and getting tossed through the air, Semari then catching them and spinning them around. Stathis wasn’t sure if it was roughhousing, intimidation or both, but no-one seemed in any danger, so she let it slide.

‘So what are you doing down here, and what do you know about what’s happening up there? You know there’s loads of demons and undead around, right? Is that anything to do with you?’

That is… not my doing. Shards of my sibling, empowered and twisted.

‘Right. So you’re hiding down here? And I guess you’re responsible for all of the broken cells as well? What was that for?’

They grinned, mouth like Skotadi’s – far too far of overly-sharp fang-teeth. I hunger! And better they serve as sustenance than wasting away in the darkness. Most were only too happy to be reunited within my essence.

‘So what do you know about what’s happening on the surface? And can you do anything to help stop it?’

They hissed, the effect rather less fearsome when they were being cleaned and groomed by Janaxia. Shards of my sibling! Broken and twisted, used to empower and warp my lesser kin. And infused into mortal flesh, so that it can flow like water. I have no desire to be broken and used in such a fashion!

‘Well, if you help us locate whoever is controlling them, then you won’t have to worry about them. It’s probably one of Janaxia’s siblings, and they must be hiding somewhere. Anyway, aren’t you worried about this possibly killing everyone?’

What of it? The world shall turn, and I can entertain myself until gphh!

They broadcast a spluttering sound as Janaxia squeezed their cheeks. That is rather callous! A world with no-one in it would be very tiresome. And it seems likely that there would be enough night-dwellers and the like to make your life uncomfortable. She squeezed again, making their lips puff out. Now, it would be helpful if you were to aid us. And then perhaps we could help you? I’m sure that you want something rather more than a dank tomb to reside in. She glanced around, taking in the stacks of tomes. And perhaps a wider selection of reading material? Something from this century, maybe?

From how ineffective their wriggling against Janaxia’s grip was, they must be truly feeble, or perhaps Janaxia was using some spell to hold them there?

‘I’m guessing there’s something you want other than to be stuck down here. So help us against the demons and the necromancers and we can work something out.’

Janaxia nodded. Yes. And you can help me arrange a memorial to your sister. Her death was tragic, and it would be fitting for her sibling to assist with such matters. Sometimes it’s as though I can still hear her voice…

The book on her hip shuddered, lock clicking open, pages rippling. Stathis caught sight of densely-scribbled black text, flashing by too fast to read. Janaxia tried to push it shut, but the thing resisted her, pages flapping like they were in a strong wind, although there was nothing that Stathis could feel.

It fell away from Janaxia’s hip, dropping in an improbably extended arc and falling against the small figure, who tried to pull away but was too slow. Black lightning started to streak from them, into the book.

Even when Janaxia stepped away, they stayed there, frozen in place, a low telepathic groan sounding out. Their eyes turned into deep black pits, their body becoming shadowy and translucent, a crystalline bell visible in the centre of their chest. The dark corners of the room seethed, tendrils snapping out, before Stathis conjured up a protective aura, doing something to calm them. Although the lines of light and dark were twisting together in strange ways.

They tried to pull themselves away, but seemed to be frozen in place. Stathis reached forward, wanting to help them, the air around her cooling rapidly, condensation forming onto her armour.

She managed to grip their shoulder, but as soon as she touched them, dark lightning sparked through her, making her hand tense up. Bright and spasmodic surges of light slammed out of her, through the figure and then into the book, the lightning now mingled darkness and sunlight. Her vision started to waver, before a silent shockwave slammed outwards, sending her flying backwards, knocking her head against the wall.