Mystery Woman (1)

Trinity can only see darkness surrounding her and despite her best efforts, she's unable to break free of her binds. She's trapped, yet her limbs flow freely through her cage, almost as if she's cradled by water that will never drown her. She tries to scream, but her voice is stifled too. She feels like this goes on endlessly, but with a gentle thud, she's freed from her prison at last.

"Ack!" Finally on solid ground, she coughs and takes in a deep gulp of air. "What the hell?!"

Trinity quickly looks around, immediately on the defensive after her sudden abduction. She's found herself in a chamber of marble and gold, surroundings that portray elegance and wealth. Before her, a bit further down the way, is a throne, and it's occupied by an imposing figure.

"I said to be gentle you fools!" A deep, yet beautiful voice chastises unseen servants. She gets up and steps down a few stairs before making her way towards Trinity. "It's hard to find good help these days." She reaches the girl, who's scared and trembling like a drowned rat. "Oh, poor dear, you look affright! Well, that's only natural considering the hell you've been through. Please allow me to help you up." She offers her a hand, with a welcoming but also anticipating smile.

Trinity stares at the woman's hand with hesitation. The first person she met in this place she's found herself in seemed reasonable yet tried to kill her. The second was mildly suspicious. The third time is the charm as they say, and Trinity feels that trusting her could lead to her demise.

The woman stares at her dumbfounded and with slight offense. To think someone would refuse her hand, it's not something she's used to. But looking at the girl, she realizes she's likely just scared and is on the defensive. Logically, it's not a bad choice; quite smart in fact. She can see her survival instincts are already competent. The potential she saw in her; it was not misguided.

"Who are you? Where am I? What is this place exactly?" Trinity finally finds her voice and begins shooting off all the questions that flood her mind. "Why did that man try to kill me? Why did he know of my mother? What's this about a Death Sinner Queen? What will happen to me?" She suddenly remembers the scythe she held in her hands. "Shiori?! Where is my sister?" She panics, not seeing the scythe anywhere. "What is Shiori? How could I hear her voice before?"

"Calm down, Trinity dear. All your questions will be answered in time. Forgive me for bringing you here so abruptly when you know nothing and are scared. Allow me to make it right now."

With the snap of her fingers, two women appear on either side of her. "Yes, Mistress?" They speak in unison and keep their eyes down to the ground, as though they dare not look at her.

"Please escort Trinity to my quarters. Allow her the opportunity to bathe and rest herself. Then inform the kitchen to prepare a fitting meal for her once she wakes. Ensure she has every luxury at her disposal and tend to her every need the moment she should ask. Am I understood ladies?"

"Yes Mistress, we will do as you say at once!" Like a pair of perfectly synchronized maids, they gently help Trinity to her feet and whisk her away towards the living quarters. Trinity is swept up in their pace and can hardly refuse to follow where they lead. However, just before they exit the chamber and the doors shut, she notices the woman looking after her with an apologetic smile.

Once the doors shut, Amlith drops her smile. "Eavesdropping is unbecoming of an Overlord."

"Oh, so you did know I was here? Here I thought I was being discreet." A black pool appears on the floor and begins to bubble, until a figure begins to form. Soon, the mystery woman appears.

"Why are you here Symone?" She asks the white-haired woman with an irked tone. "I'm busy."

"Oh, you seem quite preoccupied, certainly, but I can't help but wonder why? For you to take an interest in someone other than yourself? That girl must be special. Or rather powerful, isn't she?"

Amlith takes a seat on her throne. "You and I both know you've been watching her too. You saw her fight. It was your dog she killed, so it goes without saying. You're only mad I got her first."

"Well, you don't quite have her just yet, so I still have a chance. You still have to make her an offer and she needs to accept. You can't force that, unlike everything else. I believe you'll fail."

Amlith laughs. "I fail at nothing, and you never win. What makes you think it'll go differently?"

Symone smiles coyly. "Let's just say it's a hunch. I've seen my fair share of dogs and all manner of beasts for that matter. When they're badly mistreated to the point of becoming wholly broken, they develop a deeply cold, rigid, and defiant heart. That girl will never submit to anyone again."

"Shall we make a bet on that then? If she refuses me, you can have her without my interference. I will respect her wishes and allow you to proposition her instead. I'll even give you my blessing."

"Are you sure you want to make that bet, Amlith? You're right, I've never won once in my life, not even when the prize was rightfully mine. Yet, I've never felt so strongly about this chance."

"Well, if you feel that confident, who am I to deny you the opportunity to sweeten the deal? I'll let you put in all your chips and match you at one hundred percent. Let's both give it our all."

"I'd love to believe that's your genuine sentiment in the name of sportsmanship, but I know better. I'm sure you're just looking forward to a chance to gloat and rub salt in my wounds."

"Oh Symone, you know me so well." She chuckles. "It will bring me nothing but great pleasure to see you fail once again and confirm once and for all that I am better than you'll ever be."

"Yes, you're quite insufferable. Not much has changed since our school days. Well, you've grown more ruthless perhaps. If it's even possible for someone like you, that is. I wonder?"

"Well, you'll see just how ruthless I can be soon enough, because I still have something to gain. For my prize when I win, I'll take everything you have. It's only fair to match my offer equally."

Symone raises her brows. "Oh, you're raising the stakes to the limit. Now I'm even more sure of my chances. If you're willing to give so much and threaten to take so much, means you really don't want to lose this bet. It also means there's a chance you'll lose, and you know it. That's why you're making the terms so severe in the hopes I'll decline. But I won't. I'll call your bluff."

Amlith frowns. "I thought you might've developed some sense in the last few centuries, but it seems you'll never learn. Very well, I will accept these terms and the bet. What's your answer?"

"I accept of course." Her silver eyes show a glint of excitement. "Can I trust your word, or shall we bind it in blood? Though I'd rather not, I just had my nails and skin treated at my new spa."

"No need, I vow on my very soul that I will honor our bet and pay out accordingly. I have no doubt you will, as you know you stand no chance against me if you refuse, and it'll be worse."

"Then we have a deal." Symone nods with a smug grin and dissolves into the ground, vanishing.