Eldia, on the night of the Count de L’Enfer’s birthday…

Beneath the moonlit sky and the stars above like silver threads upon the veil of night, all in Eldia were welcome this night at the town square, regardless of class or rank, or even the shape of their ears. And so the people came, elves and humans dressed in their best to dine upon the lavish spread of delicacies and wine that flowed freely for them on the Count de L’Enfer’s coin.

Elena sat close to Grinnaux at the table of honour, dressed to the nines in a scarlet gown threaded generously with gold and diamonds that gleamed like crystalline tears, and her ruby necklace displayed prominently upon her neck. Unbeknownst to everyone else as the festivities began in earnest, the darkness gathered its strength. Born of deepest shadows and darkest fathoms, it stirred and festered at the edges. Watching, and waiting, for her.

With her brother by her side and a glass of champagne in hand, she arose from her seat and presented herself before everyone seated for this momentous occasion. The people clapped and cheered, and as much as it pained her to admit it, Sabik was right. They loved him, their Count, more than they could ever love her, their Countess. Even if earlier this year on her birthday, the wines and delicacies flowed all the same, if not more, on her coin.

“Friends, family, and esteemed guests!” Elena declared loudly, to the deafening sound of rapturous cheers and applause. “We’re gathered here, yet again, to celebrate another year of my brother’s rule!”

“Without your strength and counsel,” Grinnaux declared in turn, raising his glass in a toast towards Elena. “This couldn’t be so!”

Once again, to Elena’s disgust, the crowd erupted with applause.

“Thanks, Elena…” Grinnaux said, lowering his voice as he smiled and looked his little sister in the eye. “I’m glad…”

“Me too. Brother.”

Grinnaux had little less than a moment to react, when Elena revealed the dagger concealed within her gown, plunging it right into his chest before delivering a swift kick to his legs that sent him to the floor. The soldiers and servants loyal to her moved in and revealed their hidden weapons, mercilessly cutting down those loyal to the Count of Eldia. And with each death, as bloodcurdling screams and cries of betrayal filled the air, the darkness waiting at the edges grew stronger, rushing into the ensuing battle to consume any and all.

“Elena, you…”

“I’ve waited for this day…” Elena uttered. “Now, I'll claim what’s rightfully mine…”

“I can’t believe it. I knew you’ve gone astray, but this far gone…?”

“YES. SHE IS LOST TO YOU, IS SHE NOT?”

Elena turned around, bloody dagger still in hand. Sabik stood before her, the hapless elven servant girl it utilised as a puppet bearing a wicked grin beaming with malice and triumph. Much to her shock and horror, everyone else lay dead and bloody upon the snow, be they her fellow traitors or those still loyal to Grinnaux’s crown.

“Sabik!”

“Yes, my little Countess…?”

“What’s the meaning of this?” Elena demanded, her crimson eyes opened wide with fury as she jabbed a bloody finger forward at the corpses and the guardian of the Grimoire. “You’re not supposed to kill…”

“You self-righteous fool,” Sabik stated in reply. “Did you think the final chapter would be so easy?”

“I’m the one in control here!”

“Truly, are you?” Sabik asked rhetorically, with a dark grin. “I am a Shadowlord of Amon, guardian of the secrets of her Grimoire. Your little ritual, is also…”

Cackling madly, it snapped its fingers. Shadows, deep like an ocean of black ichor, spilled forth from the corpses tainted and slain, coalescing around the servant girl like embers gathering to form a great inferno. Writhing and swirling, the darkness gathered up into a titanic form of solid shadow easily twice of Elena’s size and height, bearing hulking claws and shoulders adorned with plates of purple chitin inscribed with runes of Enochian that seemed to sap the very light of the world around it. Leaving nothing, but an air of darkness, black as death itself.

“YES…! LONG HAVE I SEARCHED FOR RELEASE FROM HER ACCURSED GRASP. BRAZENLY, BRASHLY… YOU HAVE GIVEN IT TO ME. YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF THIS FINAL CHAPTER, THAT WILL SET ME FREE FOREVER...”

“You’ll regret pulling this on me!” Elena declared with gritted teeth as tears of blood trickled down her crimson eyes, now focused intensely upon the newly-formed Shadowlord. “I’ll kill you, and finish this myself.”