The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, dusky glow across the room. After a day filled with shared moments, Cassandra completed the intricate drawing she had been crafting on the floor.
"So, that's a magic circle," asked Maeve.
"Indeed," replied Cassandra.
Maeve, ever curious, inquired, "And this circle is gonna let you talk to this Maxim person that's from your world?"
"If all goes according to plan, yes. I'm not at full strength yet; the magic in this land is not as potent as I'm accustomed to. This magic circle will help bridge the gap," Cassandra explained, her eyes focused on the intricate patterns beneath her feet.
Cassandra walked to the center of the magic circle.
Maeve, captivated by the unfolding mystery, asked, "Can I stay and watch?"
"Do as you wish, but this could take some time,"
* * *
Several hours had drifted by, and the room was now cloaked in a serene quietness. In the center of the magic circle, Cassandra floated, her eyes emitting a bright mystical green glow. Though her physical form resided in the room, her consciousness ventured into the expanses of the multiverse, navigating the realms of magic.
Meanwhile, Maeve had succumbed to a peaceful sleep on the newly constructed settee. The two of them, one immersed in a magical journey, the other in restful repose, blended together in a quiet harmony within the grandeur of the penthouse.
Cassandra stopped floating and stood up, her perfect form regaining an upright stance.
"Okay, that should suffice. I've left a message for Maxim, one he should have no trouble deciphering with his intellect," she said while stretching the hours of stiffness away. Her attention then turned to Maeve, peacefully asleep on the settee.
Approaching Maeve, Cassandra knelt down before her. As she brushed a strand of Maeve's hair to the side, she found herself contemplating.
"Why am I so lenient with this human?" Cassandra mused, her gaze lingering on Maeve's face. "Is it because she reminds me of her?"
Cassandra gently lifted her into her arms. Pushing off the ground they floating off towards the balcony. With an effortless grace, Cassandra phased through the windows as if they were mere illusions, meeting the cool night breeze beyond. Carrying Maeve, she ascended into the night sky.
Higher and higher Cassandra flew, the city lights and neon signs below creating a mesmerizing tapestry of colors. Looking down, she beheld the serene figure of Maeve basked in the fluorescent glow of nightlife, still sound asleep in her arms. "Let's get you home," Cassandra whispered, the night embracing them as if it crafted this very moment for the two.
#
In Cassandra's domain, nestled within the confines of her grand castle, Maxim tirelessly roamed through the corridors, desperately seeking a way to bring back his mistress. In this world only several hours had elapsed since Cassandra's mysterious disappearance, and during this time, Maxim had not ceased his relentless search.
The evident toll on his well-being manifested in his disheveled appearance, having foregone both sleep and sustenance completely. Being a vampire he didn't require either, but that didn't mean he didn't want to, a man of his calibre prided himself in appearance and etiquette.
With urgency, Maxim burst into Cassandra's spell room, where an enigmatic figure named Frank toiled behind a desk, surrounded by an array of mystical concoctions. Frank, though appearing like an average man, bore the distinctive characteristic of being undead – a zombie.
I'm sure you've all heard the legend of Frankenstein's monster, well this was Frankenstein himself. The genius mind behind the legend.
His appearance was marked by thin-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, scruffy unkempt black hair, and he donned a white lab coat. The off-pattern stitching crisscrossing his limbs and entire body, along with patches of sewn and replaced skin, bespoke his undead nature in a macabre yet fascinating display.
"How goes the research Frank?" Asked Maxim.
Engrossed in his arcane pursuits, Frank remained oblivious to Maxim's presence.
Opening the door with a deliberate force, Maxim slammed it shut to capture Frank's attention. Startled, Frank spilled one of the potions scattered on the table.
"Ah, sir you're here. How long have you been standing there?" he asked, adjusting his glasses on his face.
Maxim wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter, "Any progress?"
"Yes, actually," Frank replied, picking up a vial and approaching Maxim.
"You see sir, every magic user has their own unique mark, think of it like a magical fingerprint. You have one, and so does Mistress Cassandra. Having had the pleasure of working alongside her in the past, I'm aware of what her magic signature looks like. Everyone in this castle should be aware of it, seeing as it's all around us. It's that faint purple glow you see everywhere – in the trees, along the riverbed outside the castle, in the air."
Frank continued to pace back and forth, his explanation unfolding as Maxim listened diligently.
"The substance in this vial is the magical residue left behind after Mistress cast that final spell – it should be her magical residue," Frank elucidated, holding up the vial.
"It should be purple." he said
"It's green! What does this mean?" Maxim pressed for answers.
"Well, it's quite simple sir. This magical residue belongs to someone else entirely, and I feel once we find whoever this person is, we find Mistress" Frank revealed.
"Excellent work Frank! Do you think you can trace the origin of the signature?" Asked Maxim, a glimmer of hope evident in his eyes.
"Give me a few hours, I'll build something that'll do just that," replied Frank, his mind already immersed in the prospect of unraveling the magical mystery.
"MAXIM!! MAXIM!! COME QUICK!" A voice echoed through the castle, a call that spurred Maxim into action.
Utilizing his vampire powers, Maxim's physical form melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight.
"Gah, I hate it when he does that. Just use the door," grumbled Frank, not particularly fond of Maxim's dramatic exits.
Unperturbed, he returned to his ongoing research, leaving the disturbance behind.
The voice calling out to Maxim belonged to Mimi, a beastfolk. Beastfolk are an array of beings that range from human looking hybrids with distinctive animal traits to full blown animal humanoids.
The diverse spectrum of beastfolk ranges from species like lizardmen and dragonkin to wolfmen and bunnygirls, each with their unique blend of human and animal characteristics.
In the case of Mimi, she was a wolfgirl, with human features save for her wolf ears, her huge fluffy tail, and razor-sharp nails that almost resembled claws.
Mimi was in one of the numerous spires situated at the castle's upper extremities, offering a panoramic view of Cassandra's enchanting garden and the nearby flowing river. Even within the confines of the cavern, Cassandra's castle was so enriched in magic it gave off the illusion that the space was outside.
Maxim materialized behind Mimi, a concern etched across his vampire countenance. "What's wrong, child?" he inquired.
Mimi pointed toward a tree just outside the castle, typically inhabited by fairies. Maxim focused his gaze and noticed the fairies in the tree moving in an unusual, synchronized pattern.
"Come," Maxim said to Mimi.
Without hesitation, he stepped onto the ledge and descended effortlessly, falling hundreds of feet in an instant. Maxim landed without even so much as a flinch & Mimi following suit shortly after, landing on all fours with feline finesse.
Approaching the tree, Maxim observed the fairies' peculiar behavior. "What in the nine realms has gotten into them?" he pondered.
"They've been doing that for the last hour," Mimi informed him.
As Maxim contemplated the oddity, a realization struck him. "These fairies aren't behaving strangely; they are trying to say something."
Maxim began to float off the ground, he rotated his entire body 180 degrees. Suspended upside down, he connected the dots.
"Of course! The scroll!" he exclaimed.
He slowly returned to the ground.
"It looks like Mistress has finally sent us a message."
The fairies, utilizing the glow of their wings, had spelled out the arcane symbol for 'scroll' in the air, and Maxim deciphered the magical message with clarity.
"Is it Mistress? Is it really her?" Asked Mimi.
"I'm certain it is, now come, we have much to do" they both turned and made their way back to the castle.