Chapter 20

Markus rushed into the study, looking for his brother. Wil was sitting on one of the plush armchairs near the fireplace. Covered in dust, dirt, and dried blood, he looked exhausted. Kathryn had arrived ahead of him and was already casting healing spells on the injured man.

“Where is she?” Markus asked. He had been out following up on leads when he had received a message via magic from his wife, informing him of what Wil had discovered. He had hurried back as quickly as possible.

“Banished, trapped in a demiplane until we can figure out what to do with her.” Wil said, rubbing a hand across his face. He seemed surprised when they came away with flecks of dried blood on his fingers. Studying him carefully, Markus recognized that haunted look in his brother’s eyes.

“How bad was it?” He asked, almost dreading the answer. Kathryn’s message had given him a rough overview, but he needed more information before he could decide on a course of action.

“I rescued who I could. But there were dozens of skulls, Markus. And they had been…gnawed upon by human teeth.” Wil answered, looking up.

“Goddess preserve and protect us.” Markus replied in a horrified whisper.

He thought he had known what Tabitha was capable of. He expected that she was involved in a conspiracy, and murder. But a cannibalistic cult attempting to contact and summon a deity from beyond the Aether was almost more than he could handle.

“Have you spoken to her?” He asked.

“Not a word. I was afraid I would kill her as soon as she opened her mouth. There’s nothing I want to hear from her. She’s beyond saving.” Wil replied, his tone flat and final.

“We need to understand Father’s involvement in all this. He has his faults, but I can’t believe that he knew, or suspected, anything regarding this.” Markus answered, sitting on a chair across from him.

“If he did, he can burn with her.” Wil spat out.

“I need to see her. Can you open a doorway?” Markus asked.

Wil nodded tiredly, drawing on the little mana that he had recovered since returning. With a wave of his hand, his magic formed a large archway on a small section of bare wall in their father’s study. It was intricately designed, with climbing vine reliefs and roses.

On the right-hand side of the door, an iron latch appeared, allowing entry.

“I’ll leave it open, I won’t have the energy to recreate the doorway it again. It’s already draining enough to maintain the space within.” Wil said wearily, slowly closing his eyes to rest.

Kathryn stood guard on the entry way, ensuring that no one would enter aside from Markus. Nodding at her, Markus drew in a deep breath, before gripping the iron latch and pulling.

The door opened easily, leading the wall to a bare stone room. Flickering torches lined the walls, high enough that Tabitha would not be able to reach them easily. The room was barren, with no furniture or personal items.

It even lacked windows, cutting it off from everything. The only way in or out was through the doorway Wil had created.

Tabitha sat cross legged on the ground, still wearing her black hooded cloak. She had dried blood on the left side of her face from a blow to her temple. She seemed to have been resting, but her eyes opened quickly when she heard Markus enter.

Leaping to her feet, she thrust her hand out, her mana gathered around her, when ‘Echo’ appeared behind her. The identical twin of Markus, created through magic and special techniques, quickly restrained her, gripping her forearms and forcing them behind her.

With a kick to the knee, Echo made her kneel, while covering her mouth to ensure she couldn’t chant an incantation. Restrained, she looked at Markus with an expression of hatred and rage, her eyes practically burning into his.

Around her, black mana gathered, negative energy that could do little more than irritate the High-Ranking Echo Knight. For a moment, standing there in front of his sister, Markus was at a loss for words.

He thought he knew her. She was twisted, and sadistic, but he wrongly assumed she had limits to her depravity. This was beyond anything he thought she was capable of.

“We’re searching the Crypts. The Imperial Guard is involved now, and we’ll be forced to hand you over to them, Tabitha. There isn’t much I can do…unless you’re willing to cooperate with us.” Markus offered, watching her carefully. The look of contempt she gave him spoke volumes.

“Gods damn it, sister. For once in your life, do the right thing. I need to know who your co-conspirators are. What were you planning with the Third Prince? If you’re counting on him saving you, it’s too late.

The church is involved now, and they do not take heresy like this lightly. You’ll burn, Tabitha, unless you talk to me. I can invoke your status, turning your sentence over to us. It will be quicker, and painless compared to a pyre.”

She still didn’t respond, simply staring at him silently.

“Very well.” Markus stated. Pulling out the Toy House that Wil had given him days ago, he channeled a small amount of mana into the artifact. Placing it on the ground, he stepped back.

“Enlarge.” He commanded. The house swiftly grew, taking up a large portion of the room. In a moment, the door was flung open, his father marched out, his expression furious. Tentatively walking behind him was Margaret.

“You rotten Bastard! I’ll have your head for this! How dare you trap me!” Tiberius roared, striding across the room. He was so angry he didn’t notice Tabitha on the ground, held captive by Echo.

“Silence!” Markus roared, his mana exploding around him.

His Rank 18 power erupted, sweeping the air around him in his rage. With a thought, another ‘Echo’ emerged from nothing, stepping out from behind the Earl and subduing him. The power difference between Markus and his father was so large that there was little the Earl could do to stop him.

“Don’t move!” Markus shouted, pointing his finger at Margaret without turning his eyes away from his father.

“Wil was right to leave. This family is nothing but misery. It’s time for answers, and by Secundus, I’ll carve it out of all of you if I must.” He whispered, his blue eyes hard as he stared at his father.

“While you were detained, we discovered Tabitha conspiring with cultists. Cannibals, murders, sacrificing and consuming the innocent to return their ‘god’ to this realm. Did you know, father? Did you try to hide her crimes in order to have her marry into the Imperial Family?” Markus asked, beseeching his father for answers.

Tiberius appeared stunned, momentarily forgetting his anger as he finally noticed his daughter. Dressed in black robes, imprisoned by Markus’ Echo, with dried blood on her face and murder in her eyes. He finally comprehended the words being spoken.

“I- I didn’t…what nonsense is this? How dare you slander your sister? What proof do you have, aside from how she’s dressed.” Tiberius resorted to anger once more, trying to use it to deny the situation.

“Proof? Aside from the dozens of dead cultists that Wil left after rescuing the innocents they held captive? Or how Tabitha nearly killed Wil when he found her, chanting their hymns, and holding the sacrificial knife?” Markus asked. Tiberius scoffed.

“And I’m to take your word for that? From a son who would detain his own father without merit?” Tiberius responded.

“I told you it was useless, Markus. Let’s hand all three over to the Imperial Guard. Between them and the Church, I’m sure someone will force the truth from them.” Wil spoke suddenly from behind Markus. He and Kathryn had walked into the room. Wil had cleaned some of the dirt and dust away, but he still appeared as if he had just climbed out of his own grave.

“That will not be necessary. I can get the truth from them.” Kathryn offered, stepping up to Margaret first. The noble lady tried to back away, but a harsh look from Markus stopped her in her tracks.

“Geas.” She chanted. “You will only speak the truth from this day forth.” Kathryn said, placing her fingertip against Margaret’s forehead. A Tier 5 spell matrix formed on the ground around her, filled with divine light. In an intense flash of light, it disappeared.

On Margaret’s forehead, the perfect circle symbol of Secundus appeared, glowing blue with power.

“Interesting. What happens if she disobeys?” Wil asked, walking beside her, and studying the mark.

“She’ll die.” Kathryn responded. Margaret’s eyes opened wide and the remark, before rolling up into the back of her head as she fainted.