Fortuna’s velvet red lips formed a smile and her eyes gleamed. “If by proper training you mean etiquette, then she will learn just that.”

He tapped his fingers impatiently. “You know precisely what I mean. If she is to be my wife, she must become a suitable queen. She must learn to fulfill the needs of her king.”

Fate jerked back her head to look at her father. Her mouth slowly opened but nothing came out, not even a breath. The conversation sounded strange and distant. Her ears rang as she filled with terror and dismay.

Fortuna’s voice grew unusually terse. “I raise my girls well.”

Neco shook his head slowly and laughed. “Fate may be your girl, but she will certainly be my woman.”

Fate’s skin turned cold. Her shoulders, still in Neco’s grasp, trembled. The lights spun and blurred overhead.

Abyssus lost his bearings. “What? Wife! Your woman?”

Her breathing quickened as her brother’s shouting stabbed at her ears. She scratched her throat in hopes of clawing out the forming lump.

The Lady Fortuna leaned down to her wearing a practiced but beautiful smile. “You’re going to be living with me from now on. It’s nice to formally make your acquaintance. I am Ignis Fortuna, the brothel’s new madam.”

Abyssus choked. “Brothel?” No one answered so he turned to Firmus and shook his arm. “Firmus? Firmus, tell me it’s not true. Fortuna is your sister, right? She wouldn’t.... She’s an Ancient!”

Firmus slowly closed his eyes and shifted his jaw to the side, as if struggling to swallow something distasteful.

Abyssus’ voice wavered more with each passing moment. “Firmus, do something! We have to do something!”

Fortuna draped an arm around Fate. The Madam might’ve been able to calm her but Abyssus sent her emotions spiraling again.

He tugged on her hand to bring her back. “No, don’t take her!”

Fate’s eyes chased the shifting shadows, as the darkness loomed around them, just waiting. She closed her eyes and tried urging them forward, but no matter how she pleaded they refused to rise.

Why won’t they rise? Why won’t they protect us?

Neco waved a hand at Abyssus. “Firmus, deal with that child.”

Firmus gently pulled Abyssus back, lost to the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Fate’s voice quivered and she swallowed hard, attempting to find courage. “Always? You always knew? You always wanted to send me away?”

Neco responded with a glimmer of pride. “I have raised you well. You have always been my little princess—” He leaned over to stroke Fate’s head. “—and someday you will be my queen.”

His remarks echoed in her head over and over. She struggled to process the conversation but when she did, she burned with fury.

Neco stood back, watching Fortuna. “Well, I look forward to seeing the results of your teachings.”

Fortuna held Fate closely. “As you should. Come now, Fate. We will show you to your new home.” She carefully led Fate away from the main hall.

The sudden movement pulled the siblings apart and Abyssus cried out for his sister. “No!” He stretched out his hand. “No, bring her back! Fate, don’t go!”

Firmus held onto him tightly, enduring his thrashing.

“Firmus, stop this!” Abyssus wept. “Please!”

Firmus shook his head remorsefully, collected Abyssus in his arms, and sauntered towards the staircase.

The warmth of Abyssus’ hand slipped away from Fate’s grip. Her hand lingered in the air.

Abyssus, don’t leave me.

Neither Fortuna nor the old woman responded. They did nothing but gaze at the path ahead. At their signal, the guards opened the doors.

Fate shook her head violently. “No!” She shrieked and lunged towards the main hall.

Fortuna threw out her arms and pulled Fate back by the waist.

“Let me go!” she demanded, kicking and snarling. As she drew closer to the door, she shrieked again, lashing uncontrollably. Streams of violet light extended from her body, flashing and crackling throughout the hall. The small bulbs on the white lights shattered and sparked.

The old woman exploded. “Fortuna, by all that is, restrain her!”

Fortuna lifted Fate and tried carrying her outside.

The guards closed in, pinning her down by the arms and legs.

She tossed and screamed as the electricity shot from her body.

The old woman removed a long needle from her pocket and stabbed it into Fate’s arm.

Fate blinked hard to fight the drug but it was no use. The room warped and blurred, then disappeared in a haze of twinkling lights. Soon she was drifting in the stars, the way she’d always imagined.

I once dreamt of two kindred spirits whose souls amounted to nothing. The first spirit, a boy of light, sat staring out at a glowing wave that hovered about white space. He watched from a cliff for what seemed an eternity, gazing upon the wash of pastel-colored clouds, as if looking for something.

The second spirit, a girl of darkness, found herself drawn to this boy who endlessly looked at nothing. Eventually, she joined him at the cliff-side to enjoy the scenery—she wanted to know what drew his attention, but became lost to the meaning of his search.

Neither the boy nor the view changed in the slightest.

From the cliff, they heard the sound of other children and a soft chime ringing in the distance.

Occasionally, the boy would initiate conversation. He spoke about the universe and an odd concept called ‘time.’ Time did not exist in the world of light, yet he genuinely believed in it.

I heard the boy and girl speak many times, and recorded each conversation to memory. Their most important exchange still lingers in my mind.

The boy prefaced the conversation with a glance and spoke softly. “Why don’t you go and play?”

The girl watched the pastel-colored clouds with a small frown. “Because a nobody like me has no business here. Everywhere I go I am nothing, and I shall bring nothing but destruction.”

“Nothing....” He saw her the way he saw the scenery from the cliff. He marveled at her display of darkness. Although he emanated an air of light, the boy lacked something important—more accurately— he’d lost something important. “I am also nothing. We can just be nothing together.” He stood and let out his hand to the girl.

“Together?” She cast fearful eyes upon his invitation. “What would come of two nothings being together? I will destroy everything you come to love.”