Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Well, yes and no. Ihra sacrificed herself to pacify the draconian god Xlentia. Aj was feeling pretty bad about leaving her without saying goodbye." Artemis explains, a slight sadness in her voice as her suspicion with Alice fades.

The line moves forward again, leaving the water guardian the next person to enter.

 

Alice just stands, stunned.
"...that... wasn't a myth...?"

 

Artemis shakes her head.

"Ihra was a wonderful being, always able to brighten up the group. I just hope she's in a better place now." Artemis says sorrowfully.

 

Alice sighs.
"I'm sorry... I thought it was all just a story... I had no idea you really journeyed with her..."

 

"She was quite the character." Artemis says sadly.

"Next!" The guard calls.

"Wish me luck!" The water guardian says to Alice, before heading into the throne room.

 

"You got this!" She says back happily.

"I... I'm sorry for bringing it up. I just... never actually expected to meet one of my king's closest friends." Alice says, unsure of whether or not to bow.

 

"Girlfriend." Artemis laughs.

 

Alice takes a step back.
"U-um... I d-don't know the customs regarding the king's girlfriend..." She utters, nervous.

 

"Don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong yet." Artemis says happily.

 

She exhales, relieved.
"Whew... this is like, the absolute worst place to mess up." She utters, recollecting herself.

 

"I'm not exactly as strict as Aj in terms of rule." Artemis chuckles.

 

"Thank Tenebrae..." Alice sighs, now roughly back to acting how she had been.

 

"Aj told me he's spoken with her on a couple of occasions. I can't help but wonder what the goddess of darkness is like," Artemis says, smiling, "Then again, I'm curious about Gaia too."

 

Alice stays silent, contemplative.
"I imagine she's always busy."

 

Artemis shrugs.

The water guardian walks out of the throne room, beaming. He mouths a thank you to Alice before running off into the palace happily.

"Next!" The guard calls.

"Looks like it's your turn." Artemis says, smiling.

 

Alice winks at the water guardian before heading inside, making sure her folder and papers are all together.

 

I sit on my large throne, gazing down upon Alice, my red eyes glowing through the darker atmosphere of the throne room. Alice steps in something sticky as she walks in, and upon closer inspection, there's some blood on the floor.

"What is it, Shadow?" I ask impatiently, my voice booming.

 

Alice resists the temptation to lick the blood off her foot and tail.
"There's been increasing gang activity around my house... I brought some notes of their conversations, and the guards sent me up here." She says, bowing as she offers the notes to you.

 

I lean down, taking the notes with a large hand gently.

"Interesting..." I say, reading the notes.

 

"That Alice girl..."
"I think she knows at this point."
"Didn't we send a few to silence her months ago?"
"They never showed back up, and she's still around."
"What do you suppose we do?"
"Burn her place down with her inside."
"That'll attract too much attention... how about a night op?"
"Bitch never sleeps, I swear."
-pause marked on paper-
"HEY! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"YOU WANT TROUBLE, PUNK? WELL, YOU GOT IT!"
That's the end of the first note.
The others are similar, only the last one revealing why she's being targeted; someone caught her listening in on a meeting, and they're held pretty much behind her house.