The Revelation
Spotty
Spotty sat back in her chair, her crystalline blue eyes narrowing as she processed Ila’s words. The soft warmth of the private dinner with Elizabeth faded, replaced by the icy clarity she wielded in moments of crisis. Her fork, which had been halfway to her mouth, hovered for a moment before she set it down carefully.
"An apocalypse," she repeated, her tone measured but tinged with curiosity. "And a species of vampires—Turokhan, you said? Led by something called the First Evil?"
Her thoughts raced. Ancient, powerful, and corporeal? That’s rare. And it became corporeal during its conquest? She tapped her fingers lightly on the edge of the table, her expression calm but calculating. If it’s stronger than Ila or even me, this won’t be simple. But we’ve faced overwhelming odds before.
"How bad?" she asked, her voice steady, though her mind braced for the answer.
Ila
Ila stood near the portal she had just stepped through, her presence commanding yet slightly tense. She crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful but shadowed with unease.
"There was a battle," Ila began, her tone serious. "Against an ancient, more powerful species of vampire. The Turokhan. The databanks say they were… relentless. No fear, no mercy. Their leader—an entity that calls itself the First Evil—was originally incorporeal, influencing events and manipulating others from the shadows."
Her amber eyes darkened as she continued, her voice lowering. "But as its forces gained control of that Earth, something changed. It became corporeal."
Ila hesitated for a moment, glancing at Spotty. She didn’t often admit uncertainty, but this was different. "The fragmented data suggests that its corporeal form is… vastly powerful. Greater, perhaps, than mine. Maybe even yours."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, though there was no malice in them. Ila’s respect for Spotty was deep, but this revelation clearly unsettled her.
"I hate to admit it," she added quietly, "but if it’s as powerful as the databanks suggest, we’ll need more than brute force to deal with it."
Elizabeth
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, her auburn hair catching the soft light of the room as she fixed Ila with an intense gaze. Her plate sat untouched now, her appetite forgotten in the weight of the conversation.
"Wait," Elizabeth said, her voice sharp but steady. "You’re saying there’s something out there stronger than Spotty? Than you?"
She glanced at Spotty, her brows knitting together in concern. It was hard to imagine anyone—or anything—stronger than the woman sitting across from her. Spotty was practically a force of nature, the embodiment of power and control.
Elizabeth’s thoughts turned to her training and the countless enemies she’d faced alongside Spotty’s forces. Even the most formidable foes fall when you hit them hard enough. But this? An enemy with powers greater than Spotty or Ila? That was unsettling.
"Why didn’t we find this earlier in the databanks?" she asked, her tone tinged with frustration.
Ila
"The databanks from the Night’s Embrace were badly fragmented," Ila replied, her voice even but tinged with irritation. "It took time to piece together what little we have. We’ve only just managed to extract these coordinates and the details about the First Evil."
She paused, glancing between Spotty and Elizabeth. "And to be clear, we still don’t have a full picture. The databanks don’t explain how it became corporeal or what its full range of powers are. Just… warnings. A lot of them."
Spotty
Spotty leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on the table as she steepled her fingers. Her expression remained calm, but there was a spark of determination in her crystalline eyes.
"The First Evil," she said softly, tasting the name. "It sounds like more than just a power that be. If it’s tied to this apocalypse, it’s likely left scars we can use—patterns, weaknesses. Something we can exploit."
She glanced at Ila, her voice sharpening slightly. "And you said this Earth might hold more information about Illyria’s location?"
Ila
Ila nodded. "It’s possible," she said. "The databanks suggest that Illyria may have interacted with this world at some point, though the details are vague. If there’s a chance we can find more clues there, it’s worth investigating."
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "But if we go, we’ll need to be prepared. This isn’t just about finding Illyria anymore. If the First Evil is still there, it won’t take kindly to our presence."
Elizabeth
Elizabeth folded her arms, her mind racing as she considered the stakes. An ancient evil, perhaps stronger than Spotty or Ila, leading a species of vampires on a ruined Earth. And now we’re supposed to just walk into that mess?
But there was no fear in her heart—only resolve. Spotty had granted her strength and purpose, and she wouldn’t back down now.
"Then we go prepared," Elizabeth said firmly, meeting Spotty’s gaze. "Whatever this thing is, we’ll face it. And we’ll win. We always do."
Spotty
Spotty smiled faintly, the warmth returning to her expression for a moment as she glanced at Elizabeth. "That’s the spirit," she said, her voice tinged with approval.
But as she turned her attention back to Ila, her expression grew serious once more. "We’ll need to gather more information before we move. Anything—maps, survivors, data. If the First Evil is as powerful as you suggest, we can’t afford to walk into this blind."
Her crystalline eyes glinted with determination. "Prepare the portal coordinates," she said to Ila. "We’ll go soon. But we’re doing this my way—methodically and with overwhelming force."
The room fell silent, the weight of their decision settling over them like a storm on the horizon. And then, with a small nod, Spotty rose from her chair, ready to face whatever lay ahead.