Chapter 10: Malice

Killing two people is no fun. But if they happen to be a couple…

Back at the Mirror Mansion, Narcissus played a record of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons at full volume while he lay on the couch. The second movement of Summer was his favourite. The shepherd’s weary limbs, cowed by the storm’s fury, quivered beneath the crash of thunder and flash of lightning, while pests swarmed in a noisy haze. The movement ended with a high note that lingered in the air, reverberating softly.

As Narcissus opened his eyes after the piece's climax, the twins, Noga and Noha, were hovering over him silently. He waved at them, but they slunk away without returning the greeting. Moments later, he picked up Siren’s presence.

“Ooh, that’s rare, a full house today! On a late night as well!”

“The night is still young,” Siren said. “The Lord requested our presence today. I assume that he’s finally ready to see us.”

“Noga, Noha, how have you been? Why didn’t you join Siren when she returned a few months ago?” Narcissus diverted his attention to the twins, who were already starting a round of Monopoly. Noga reared his head and grunted. “That means ‘Shut the fuck up’ ,” Noha said as she shook the dice in her hands and threw them onto the board.

I don’t command as much attention as I used to. I guess they truly are adolescents now, Narcissus mused. He had forgotten how long ago it was when they first kicked down the door to the mansion to announce their return. His only complaint was their choice of dying their hair orange and getting multiple piercings. Every time Noga got a piercing, Noha would follow suit after seeing what it looked like on her twin.

Absolutely nauseating, thought Narcissus as he spotted half a dozen more piercings on their bodies.

As he often spent time alone, Narcissus found himself remodelling the sprawling mansion many times. He had added gold streaks to give some lustre to the black marble floor and the oak walls. However, the one place he did not touch was the Lord’s chambers. Even though both of them lived under the same roof, he had never seen him step out once. Narcissus had long forgotten his voice and appearance.

“He is ready,” Siren announced. With a clap of his hands, Narcissus brought them before his chambers. The double doors opened. The four of them headed in, and the doors slammed shut behind them, the room illuminated by nothing but moonlight.

Immediately, Noha fell on one knee before the seated man, who was dressed in nothing but white robes that covered most of his body. “M’Lord,” she said breathily while Siren and Noga bowed deeply.

Narcissus, on the other hand, stood tall with a hand on his hip.

“Noga, have you not told her about the kneeling and the formalities?”

Noga shook his head. Noha shot a sideways glance at Noga. There was no hint of disgruntlement towards him for withholding the information from her. Noga slanted his head, and Noha scrambled to her feet.

“From this moment onwards, call me Meursault.” Meursault’s face was behind a smiling white mask. His violet eyes shone in the darkness as his narrowed gaze raked the floor beneath him. Beside him stood another man. His presence, though subdued, was formidable enough to intimidate an average human. He stood shrouded by the shadows. Only his blackened hands were illuminated.

So this is pure malice, Narcissus smiled.

“Pure malice?” Meursault asked. “For that, I offer my humblest apologies.”

When Meursault spoke, his voice was magnetic but hollow, perhaps because his mask covered his mouth. “I called upon all of you today to offer my sincerest gratitude for the work that you have done.” His smiling eyes peeked from behind the mask, conveying nothing but genuine pride.

“We could have done better,” Siren said and knelt before Meursault.

“Did I give you permission to kneel?” Meursault's tone grew harsh. With a wave of his gloved hand, he seemed to summon an invisible force that yanked Siren up to her feet. “You have done enough. I would not consider it a failure per se, even if it were, the damage has been done,” he said. “Proteus has done a very commendable job. Moreover, thanks to his efforts, we have created strife within the upper echelons. That’s fine by me.”

“How did you know?” Siren asked.

“You forget. I can see what you see whenever I please,” Meursault said.

There was a hiss and a soft crackle as a black viper uncoiled itself from around Meursault’s neck. It was so black that it had blended into the shadows. “I suppose I no longer need this for companionship. My face has healed enough for the sun's grace,” Meursault said, massaging his neck. The boa phantom slithered towards Siren and became one with her hair.

“I take it that you know of the Aberrant child?”

“Yes,” Meursault eyed Siren keenly. “But another one? Will they be able to grant this world salvation this time?”

“I have not seen this child in person,” Siren said. “But I thought it would be wise to consult you about this new development first.”

Narcissus cleared his throat. “I suppose you have a plan in mind? Or perhaps I could lure them out.”

Meursault turned towards Narcissus and Siren. “Stand down, Narcissus. Siren, I’ll leave you in charge of finding the child.”

“And what if this child is useless?” Noha grumbled. "The previous one ran away like a rat."

“Then, plans would remain unchanged,” Meursault said, placing a hand on his mask. “Either way, we would still have the upper hand when it comes to obliterating the Elders.”

“But yet, we'll ultimately remain men of no consequence,” Narcissus sang with a flourish. He wanted to see if he could rile up Meursault. "The world shall wither and die around us, the undying. Wouldn't that be the ultimate failure?"

“Enough, Narcissus.” Meursault’s grip on the mask tightened. With a loud crack, it shattered. His red hair fell across his face. “I wonder if the fat on your tongue bubbles like it used to.”

“Would you like to find out?” Narcissus offered.

When Meursault spoke, he barely moved his lips and jaw, as though he was getting used to doing so. “Before I do, we shall settle some old scores.”

“How old? Are we avenging Proteus?” Narcissus asked cheekily. “What if they find out that we are behind those devious plots to bring them down?”

“By the time they see this face,” Meursault’s eyes sharpened, “I would have painted the land in the blood of the guilty.”