The door to the study seemed unwarded, swinging open at Janaxia’s touch, revealing a host of eldritch machinery and mysterious devices. Skeletons were suspended from the ceiling, some of them moving, with pieces of flesh trapped within glass, scrabbling and twitching, nails and bone scratch-screeching against it, making Stathis wince at the sound.

A blast of fire flared out, Janaxia throwing herself to the side, not entirely avoiding it, Stathis feeling her armour absorb the brunt of it, heating her up. On the other side of the room were two wizards – a man who was already chanting another spell, fingers weaving magic from the air, a woman behind him gesturing with a wand.

She glanced at Stathis, who felt magic try to reach into her mind. It felt soft and intrusive, wanting to wrench control away from herself. She ignored it, striding forward.

‘Shamuth! Well, I never liked you anyway. It will be little loss to the family when you die.’

The room was so filled with stuff that moving across it was hard, without any direct path, at least that wouldn’t involve breaking through some kind of arcane device, which would probably do something bad. Or release some of the frantically-scrabbling undead-parts, that almost certainly wouldn’t be friendly.

Shamuth’s wife, her face weirdly shiny, looked at her, slowly tilting her head. An assault of mental energy blasted at Stathis, her vision filling with white static, making it hard to keep moving. She staggered against a table, feeling it slide under her weight, glass falling and shattering to the floor. There was an acrid, chemical scent, and Stathis heard a slithering, scrabbling sound.

‘Oh? You think you can win? There is power that you cannot comprehend, granted to us!’ He raised a hand, black gems sparkling, pierced through his skin. ‘As your elder brother, it is my responsibility to punish you for your crimes against the family.’

Stathis shook her head, trying to clear the mental haze, as something clamped onto her foot, weighing it down, strong enough to making the metal screech under pressure. Janaxia’s bolts whipped forward, but they were countered by flashing motes of energy from the woman. The mental pressure continued, making it hard to think, never mind walk. She managed to take several steps, but that was an effort, her mind feeling numb and shocked. She kicked her foot, trying to shake off whatever had grabbed hold of her, just about able to see something clinging onto her greave, a grey and pale thing of twisted skin and bone, that didn’t shift or release her.

Perhaps you should try and enchant my mind?

Skotadi moved, flowing around the obstacles, somehow slipping through the narrow spaces. Her clothing was in full glory, trailing out behind her, blacks and reds mingling together in a flowing cloak. Her horns were larger and brighter now, the stubby bone gleaming. The woman turned to look at her, an expression of horror coming over her features. The colour drained from her eyes, before they turned to depthless black.

The mental fuzz vanished, Stathis’ vision returning. The thing on her leg was a disembodied hand, reinforced with metal, fingers dug into the metal. It tightened, crunching deeper into her armour, sharp parts now starting to jab into her leg.

The woman started to scream, high-pitched and keening, the sound stabbing into Stathis’ ears. The man staggered, his own spell-casting now disrupted. Janaxia’s bolts struck home, slamming into his body and knocking him backwards, as the woman crumpled to the floor, screams cutting silent. More bolts flew through the air, making his body jerk and spasm around, before she let him drop.

If you would kindly check they are deceased?

It was mildly distasteful, but better than being ambushed. Stathis stabbed down at her leg, stabbing through the undead creature, taking several attempts stab into it and detach it. It scuttled away, fingers walking like stumpy legs, vanishing into the shadows. The woman was twisted and sprawled, limbs and neck bent at painful and twisted angles, mouth still open. She checked their pulse, although wasn’t sure if they had even been alive to begin with. Their skin was cool and clammy, covered with a thin greasy oil, but there was no sign of a pulse or breathing. The man’s body was more battered and broken, Janaxia’s bolts having blasted into him repeatedly. His head and torso were both smacked and partially destroyed, and there were no signs of life.

‘Unless he can come back from the dead, then he’s gone. And the woman as well.’

‘Good.’ Janaxia sounded deeply satisfied. ‘Now, we should proceed as swiftly as possible. This way, and be careful for any spells or wardings. Skotadi, please be cautious, and if there is anything that you can disarm or defuse, it would be very much appreciated if you could do something about that. As some care has been taken to restrain your sibling, then it might be best to watch out for anything that might be capable of containing you. I would rather not lose you again.’

Something slammed against the door. ‘Shit, let me go shove something in the way, you start going ahead.’

Stathis managed to wrench a bench around, shoving it in front of the door. That should hold them, at least for bit, and hopefully whatever spells had been placed on the door would help as well. On the other side of the room, Armoniki was twisting their fingers, trailing black lines behind them. A heavy metal door slowly scraped itself open, fighting him, before Skotadi slipped through.

Stathis shoved a cabinet in the way, before hurrying over, grabbing Armoniki and lifting them up, then following Janaxia through. The metal door slammed shut behind them, with enough force to send a pulse of air down the darkened hallway. There was a rank, charnel odour, a thick scent of blood and gore from ahead of them, the reinforced brick covered with runes scribed in blood and lead. Janaxia was already running ahead.

‘This way!’

There was barely any light, just a thin and sickly yellow glow coming from sparsely-placed mage-lights, another magical barrier at the end. Bolts of dark light started to slam into it, making it ripple and fracture, shattering and falling apart before they reached it. Lingering effects of the enchantment reached out, clinging to Janaxia’s skin, before getting drawn in and vanishing.

The ritual chamber itself opened up beneath them, a large, circular room, sealed and dark. Bodies were suspended from the ceiling, held up by hooks and chains. Some of them still moved, their blood dripping down. In the centre of the room was a large blocky altar, warding circles etched into the floor, heavy chains wrapped around the stone, but there was no sign of the blade. Shining black flakes and chipped-up shards covered the floor, rising up and sparkling in the low light.

Metal rattled, a chain flinging outwards and wrapping itself around Janaxia and dragging her forward. She yelped in pain as she was yanked off the entrance-platform, hitting the ground and groaning, before a cloud of darkness appeared, shielding her from view. Unlike Janaxia’s normal smooth-edged sphere, this was rough and jagged, spikes and ridges rippling over the surface.

Stathis jumped off the edge, the shock of impact running through her knees, before igniting her sword and slicing it through the shadows.

I am intact! Although somewhat…

There was a staccato burst of un-words, Janaxia’s voice broadcasting it still. Stathis’ blade made no impact on the darkness beyond slicing back a spur of shadows, before it reformed. Janaxia gasped in pain, and then her wooden sword skidded into sight, sliding over the floor and bouncing off the walls.

‘You two! Can you get rid of it?’

The spiky bubble of shadows warped and stretched, shifting towards Skotadi, but not enough to reveal Janaxia. Stathis took a deep breath, before plunging into it.#

The darkness rushed around her, bitingly cold, acid starting to prickle her skin. All she could see was the cold twinkling of impossibly distant stars, not even a hint of movement.

A force slammed into her side, her armour crunching under the impact. Vicious cold sliced at her skin, accompanied by the hot stinging of blood. She swung her blade back at it, catching a glimpse of the sunlight-wrapped sword, tearing a narrow gap through the thick darkness, enough that she caught a glimpse of a cracked and fragmented two-handed sword, before it closed up agai.

To your left!

Stathis raised her shield, feeling another strong blow, managing to block part of the impact, some of the force carrying through and slamming into her arm. It was strong enough to knock her off-balance, and she took several steps backwards, still swinging her sword, tearing momentary holes through the darkness spell. She caught another glimpse of the blade, a scarred and swollen hand grabbing an oversized hilt, before it vanished again.

Another blow struck her, glancing off her leg, scraping off the metal with an ear-piercing screech. How much more of this could she take? The cold was getting worse, her skin starting to burn from the acid. She thrust out, stabbing with her blade and twisting it to the side, feeling it impact against something, blade sliding against skin, before the target retreated.

Janaxia gasped in pain, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. Don’t worry, I’m still alive! Just wounded… Four steps backwards, I would suggest a… strategic retreat.

Stathis obeyed, waving her sword around in front of herself in the hopes of fending of her attacker.

Stepping out of the effect was a relief, the cold ceasing to bite. A blade, black and pitted, swung out of the shadows, an attack she could block. The force behind it was tremendous though, knocking her aside.

‘Janaxia! You OK in there?’

Intact, but.

Her voice was suddenly cut off. The surface of the bubble was seething now, roiling with spikes, stirring up the black, shiny dust.

Stathis let power flow through her, feeling her wings burn out from her back, glorious golden sunlight blazing forth, banishing the shadows. Skotadi hissed in pain, but the black dust reflected the light, shining it around the place. The seething of the dome ceased, the bubble slowly retreating. She swung her sword, slicing through the shadow, cutting off a hunk, which faded as it was severed from the main body. Another slice pushed it further back, before she lifted her sword high and cut down, cutting all the way down through it, at least the part in reach. It sheared aside, the size of the dome shrinking down, revealing the rune-pitted floor, before blinking out of sight entirely.

There were two Janaxia’s stood there, both stood up, wounded, a few light scratches and cuts marring their skin, both panting for breath. They glanced at her, emerald eyes flashing with concern, raising empty hands, ready to conjure up darkness.

They both spoke at the same time, a confusing doubling of Janaxia’s voice, accusing the other of being the attacker. There was a low mental susurration, fragments of Janaxia’s voice amongst a background shrieking and hissing, but it was impossible to tell which one was making the sound.

Stathis glanced up at Skotadi, who was looking between the two of them uncertainly as well, a dart of black energy in her hand, ready to throw.

‘You have to attack her!’

‘She’s pretending!’

Stathis walked towards them, sword held high, cautious and ready, glancing between the two of them. The wounds were slightly different, but other than that, they seemed identical ,right down to their battle-outfits.

‘A little battle-damage suits you, you look cute.’

The Janaxia on her left went red, face turning the same colour as her dress, Stathis pivoting and thrusting towards the other one. They reacted, moving with blinding speed, their arm turning shiny black, liquid metal flowing over it, the Blade appearing in their hand, just in time to block Stathis’ attack. When the blades clashed, a hot, burning rage flickered through her, her blade locking in place against it.

Their face – Janaxia’s face – melted away, revealing a scarred and marked face, black whorls and lines etched into burned and pitted skin. Eyes, solid black spheres, stared at her, before the face flickered, reshaping itself into a copy of her own. It was unnerving seeing her own face, expression warping into hatred, the Blade now grown into a massive two-handed blade, the edge cracked and fragmented.

She strained against it, feeling their strength, trying to play her own feet securely on the floor, but could still feel herself being pushed back.

They hissed, mouth shifting from a copy of her own to something more broken, the teeth jagged and sharp. ‘Broken and wretched child of light! That you have suborned two of the Triad will serve you not. This is no place for such as you!’ They let go of the Blade with one hand, gesturing with the other, the black dust rising up at their command, forming itself into a long lash. They flicked this forward, the edge hitting Stathis’ shield and biting into it. ‘I have given myself wholly to the darkness, that I may forge this world as I wish! Soon, all shall fall into my domain!’

Stathis broke the lock, the Blade carrying forward and slamming into the floor, cutting a gouge into the stone. The whip lashed forward, cracking in the air, sending out a pulse of chill air.

‘Why? How many have died for this!?’

The whip snaked forward, wrapping around an arm, screeching as it tightened, starting to cut through her armour.

‘They were weak!’ Their voice was dry and raspy, a tongue flicking from between sharp teeth. Their face kept shifting, between the broken and scarred visage, and copies of Janaxia’s and Stathis’, as they twisted the Blade to absorb a barrage of attacks, a protective aura briefly visible. ‘I fought through the blood and the darkness. When I was abandoned, alone and lost, then I found a fragment of darkness, deep beneath the earth.’

They hammered at Stathis with the Blade, strong enough to make her take several steps back, her arms aching. How many more of those attacks could she take? And with that much force behind them, then it wouldn’t take much to shear clean through her armour. The whip tightened on her shield arm, pulling it out of alignment, still slowly slicing through the steel of her armour.

‘Did you ask for help? You don’t have to do this!’

‘Your sister, dear and beloved of the Gods, left me there, to bleed and die! Vengeance is my right, for myself and all those others left alone to suffer in the shadows. Those that wish for power otherwise denied them, those that wish for dominance and mastery! I should thank you for bringing the other two here – the Bell slipped through my grasp before, but will not do so again.’

They flicked their wrist, the whip releasing itself from around Stathis and flying through the air, extending into a dark circle, towards Skotadi and Armoniki. They tried to dodge backwards, but were too slow as it fell into an arc of razor-sharp shards, flying around them, cutting at their skin.

The Blade fell again, this time with enough force that Stathis felt the shockwave from the impact, blasting air around and kicking up a dust-storm of the black shards. A deep, thirsting hunger assaulted her, weakness running through her body. She managed to side-step another attack, giving Janaxia a chance to pepper them with dark energy. Chunks of their skin broke apart, reforming and regenerating almost immediately, coming back just as broken and scarred as it had been before.

‘You will not leave this place! And once I have destroyed and devoured your soul, then none shall be able to stand before me. The world shall be plunged into darkness, and I shall rule forever!’

The hunger was getting stronger, making it hard to think straight, Stathis’ knees weakening as her stomach rumbled. They gestured with a hand, dark bolts flicking out at Janaxia, knocking into her and sending her backwards, where she collided with a wall. Blood was oozing out from a number of cuts and scrapes, but she was still conscious, slowly levering herself up again.

‘With all the Triad broken to my will, then none shall stand before me! The Black Triad shall be my tools, as I remake the world according to my wish!’

The haze around Armoniki and Skotadi was even thicker now, mostly hiding them from view, their faces occasionally visible through it all, a barrier seeming to shield them. Hopefully they could keep it up for long enough to get through this! Stathis side-stepped the Blade, finding enough space to launch an attack. Light from her own sword washed out, banishing the shadows for a moment, as it slid into skin, bone resisting the attack. The gross smell of burning fat, along with a hissing sound, came out, but the wound was already knitting itself shut as Stathis sliced the weapon through them.

They hissed at her, the Blade changing shape in their hands, becoming a narrow rapier. They thrust, the tip sliding into Stathis’ shoulder, penetrating her armour. Burning cold washed through her, making her vision swim with exhaustion, her energy getting drained away, sunlight dancing along the length of the Blade, the hunger searing through her stomach. She managed to pull herself backwards, the weapon sliding out of her.

‘Surrender, and I will make your passing faster!’ Their jagged-tooth mouth formed into a savage grin, the Blade forming itself back into a crack-edged two-handed weapon, brutal and rough. It whistled through the air, barely missing her head. She stepped in close, hitting them with her shield, trying to slam them backwards. They were far heavier than they looked, resisting the smack of the shield, pushing back at her. Their face morphed into an eerie copy of her own, blonde hair flowing into shape. They became the same height as her, giving Stathis an eerie sense of vertigo as she stared at herself. Still in close, she tried to bear them down, but they were stronger than she was, shoving her backwards before bringing the sword around.

She just barely blocked it with her shield in time, some of the momentum getting absorbed before it sheared through the wood, slamming into her arm. Her armour cracked and shattered, shards splintering inwards, snagging on the padding beneath.

‘This world shall be mine! Drowned in darkness, the light extinguished forever!’

They maintained her form, although unarmoured, still attacking. Stathis managed to dodge a few of the strikes, but her parries still hurt, the impacts making her arms ache.

Stone cracked, stone debris falling down, a large block of stone shattering the ground beneath Stathis. Another loud rumble, more stone falling down, getting in the way of the attacker, as they vanished beneath a cascading torrent of debris.

Stathis moved backwards, back towards Janaxia, now stood up again. The black haze still surrounded the other two, as Stathis made her shield light up, banishing back the thick shadows somewhat. There was now a hole in the roof above them, a large stone having crashed through. The building shook again, before more of the roof collapsed, a stone falling through.

Stathis let her wings erupt from her back, the sudden brightness stinging her eyes, grabbing at Janaxia and picking her up, flapping her wings and sending up a great torrent of grit and dust.

Skotadi! We can’t leave her!

Stathis jumped-skipped towards the spinning, rustling aura, whatever it was made of spinning and twisting through the air. She extended a hand towards it, hearing high-pitched screeching as the dust scoured at her armour, wedging itself into gaps and cracks. Ignoring the sound, she shoved her arm all the way through, feeling it buffet her limb, trying to wrench it around. Something grabbed hold and she pulled, “hearing” a psychic hiss of pain as she pulled them through the barrier, Armoniki’s face now blood-stained, scoured raw by the spell.

More of the ceiling shattered away, Stathis trying to hold both Armoniki and Janaxia. The roof was starting to give way, no longer able to support itself. ‘We need to get out of here!’ She saw Janaxia shove her arm into the darkness, her dress getting ripped away, the stuff scourging her flesh, rending skin red-raw before she withdrew.

‘We have to get out of here!’ She fluttered aside as another heavy block slammed downwards, before flapping her wings to lift up, pulling Janaxia in tight.

‘Skotadi, try and hold out, teleport away if you can! Get out and we’ll try and meet up outside.’

She was starting to lift off now, the light from her wings shining off the walls.

But…

‘I know! But this place isn’t going to stay standing much longer! If you can, call her, or try and get her to get out or something. But we can’t stay here, or we’ll be crushed.’ She lifted herself higher up, swaying to avoid another plummeting rock, before boosting herself upwards towards the gap. Was that movement below? There was so much grit and dust in the air it was impossible to tell.

Janaxia was gesturing with her hands, fingers flickering with black energy around them. Some of the chain-impaled figures groaned, reaching out for Stathis, but she shoved them out of the way, managing to angle through a gaping crack in the roof.