"Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun." - The Song of Wandering Aengus, by William Butler Yeats
Arthur Regan sat on his throne with nothing but a bored look on his face. His crown was upon his blond hair; streaks of grey were beginning to colour it, to his dismay, but he also felt that it suited him.
"Your Majesty, the High Priest requests an audience." The emperor's aide spoke. Arthur's eyes were languid and slow as he looked at his aide; his face was still.
Silence.
Arthur slowly raised his hand in a dismissive gesture and sighed. "Let him in, then."
"Yes, Your Majesty." And the aide scrambled off to inform the priest.
Ornate doors made of gold opened to reveal the High Priest, a scroungy-looking man with a long beard, fingers nimble and skeletal in appearance with darkened fingernails. He didn't have the appearance most people associated with priests; if one were to see him walking along a road, they would think of him as a beggar, not the High Priest of Mehir.
Despite the temple's success with donations from the imperial family, Arthur still looked as gaunt as the day he first met the man, who had been digging in the dirt behind the temple upon the emperor's arrival. To this day, Arthur still had no idea why he was digging; Arthur could recall being baffled that someone who was held in such high regard was no more than what looked to be a senile old man.
But anyone who had extensive dealings with the High Priest knew he was not senile in the slightest, he was calculative and greedy, only willing to do what benefitted him the most, and having long ago joined hands with the imperial family, Arthur knew too well of that man's true nature.
"What is it, Your Holiness, that you've come without a prior appointment?"
The High Priest smiled, revealing a set of yellowed and blackened teeth.
"I've heard you summoned the girl." His voice was drawled, and each word was said with emphasis; he always spoke unhurriedly as if he had all the time in the world, despite his body, which looked like it was in the process of decomposing. Arthur could only hope that he'd never age the same as the High Priest. He found the man disgusting to look at.
"I have, and what of it?"
"I only request that you give her this." He reached into his robe to pull out a vial, holding it in the palm of his hand. He handed it off to Arthur's aide, who then brought it closer for Arthur to inspect. "It is a poison, one meant to kill a Titan's descendant slowly."
"How did you come upon such a poison?" Arthur looked almost entertained by the small vial. He seemed to only find joy in taboo things lately: death, poison, curses, and the like.
"I made it myself," He boasted, "The temple has extensive records regarding the killing of such vile creatures, what weakens them and more."
"I see," Arthur mused, "But is it guaranteed to work?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," The High Priest reached into his robe once again to produce another glass vial, this time the liquid appeared dark and thick compared to the previous one he handed to the aide, which was bright red in colour. "And this- is for the girl; she is to take it before she sets off for Zhuria."
Arthur's aide brought that one for closer inspection as well. "What does that one do?"
The High Priest laughs; it is sinister and dark in nature, and it almost makes Arthur nervous; if it weren't for the fact that they were on the same side, he certainly would've been worried.
But before the old man could even share what the vial's contents could do, they were interrupted by the announcement of Lilith's arrival at the palace.
Arthur couldn't help as a sardonic smirk creeped onto his face.
"She has arrived. Hand me the vial. I will give it to her," Arthur demanded, and the aide quickly retrieved the item. "Now, hide the High Priest. She must not see him."
The aide bowed and quickly escorted the High Priest to a different area, away from prying eyes. The ornate doors opened once again, revealing a very nervous Lilith.
"I see you've arrived, beholder of the Black Pearl." Arthur sneered.
Lilith bowed gracefully, "Greetings to the sun of our great empire."
That morning, Lilith's stomach was twisted in knots. She was unable to eat her breakfast, and her anxiety chased her appetite away. Ever since receiving the summons, she had found it difficult to control her facial features and keep her fear hidden from the keen eyes of those around her. Somehow, she managed to steel her face in the emperor's presence, and she felt astonished at her own capabilities.
Practice makes perfect, as she always had to prevent her emotions from appearing on her face. She was glad her past of masking was helpful in such situations.
"I presume you've met your husband-to-be." Arthur spoke, "How was it?"
Lilith felt like running away, being peered at like she was nothing but a bug— something to be squashed underneath one's foot, to be killed. Arthur Regan's contempt was apparent in his gaze.
"It was good," she told him, her voice remained steady, unlike her beating heart. She could hear her own pulse and feel it rapidly beat to the tips of her ears.
Arthur snorted. "Yes, well, he is handsome, isn't he."
It was a statement rather than a question, and Lilith just nodded; she felt at a loss for words.
"I have something for you, a gift for the bride-to-be." Arthur sneered as his aide handed the two glass vials to Lilith. "The darker one is for you to consume, and the other is for you to give to your husband." His eyes narrowed on Lilith as he watched her take the vials into her hands. She eyed the strange liquid in the vials.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. May I ask their purpose?"
"Just to aide you on your first night," Arthur waved dismissively, his humour evident on his face as he did so. "It is important for you to bear the emperor an heir; this is to help in that."
Lilith's face turned red on the first night being mentioned, but she nodded regardless.
"Thank you for the gifts, Your Majesty." She bowed, and Arthur laughed.
"Right, right. Just make sure you both take the liquids." He then waves her away. "Off you go now, much to prepare for the wedding."
"Yes, Your Majesty, may you have a wonderful day." Lilith bowed and turned on her heel without making it too apparent that she wanted to be out of there quickly; she felt overtly aware of her pace before she walked out of the doors.
A moment passed after the ornate doors closed, and the High Priest stepped out from the room he hid in
"What is the liquid for her meant to do?"
"It is to kill her in the most painful of ways, melt her organs from the inside out until she is nothing but a husk, Your Majesty."
Arthur's laugh echoed throughout the halls of the palace that day, bringing a shiver down the spine of every servant that could hear it.
Lilith let out a breath she didn't know she was holding once safely in her carriage to be taken back to the inn she decided to stay in at the capital. They'd begin their journey back to the Valdis estate at dawn the next day, it would normally take around a week or so to get there.
Sighing, Lilith stared at the two vials that were given to her, unsettled by them. She didn't doubt that they were both some sort of poison but she figured getting it tested wouldn't do any harm.
Sighing, Lilith stared at the two vials that were given to her, unsettled by them. She didn't doubt that they were both some sort of poison but she figured getting it tested wouldn't do any harm.
"Here, Francis, take this to be tested at an apothecary while we're here." She instructed Francis as she handed both vials to her.
"May I ask why, my lady?"
"I don't trust the emperor, he certainly didn't arrange this marriage to be a happy one." Lilith told her as she glanced out the window of the carriage, they were already close to the Valdis townhouse.