01.52 - An Eminence in Shadow

That night, hours after our little regicide, Tia and I stood on a temple ground erected on a hill overseeing the capital of Seth’s former dominion.

The city was in chaos, street blockades, fires, and skirmishes on the roads.

It looked like Lucy had relayed our plans successfully to the rebellion, but the remains of Seth’s forces were eager to go down with a bang.

The two of us were not really alone.

We had summoned company.

I had suspected that Seth’s and his officers all had lingering ties to this world, and I was right.

After a quick chat with the summoned but as of yet still vessel-less souls of his officers, it was time to make a deal with the man himself.

“Jo,” I said as his disoriented soul materialized before us. “Long time no see.”

“YOU!” an angry scream answered back to me. Seth’s soul tried to attack, but his incorporeal hands passed right through me.

He was irritated for another minute or two, before finally calming down.

“Where am I?” he asked.

“Don’t you recognize your own domain?” I asked.

“You know what I mean,” he said. “This ain’t no void, and you don’t look divine to me.”

“Oh, looks like we do have a similar backstory,” I said. “Sorry to disappoint you. I ain’t no god. You're not going to be summoned to another world. But I learned some of their tricks, and have a different kind of deal to offer you.”

“Huh?” He looked at me and Tia with disbelief. “Go fuck yourself.”

“Just hear him out,” Tia said. “Not like you have much to lose now.”

“Actually,” I said. “It’s quite the opposite. He still has a lot to lose, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”

“Stop your little charade and get to the point,” Seth said a little ticked off.

“We spoke with your departed officers,” I said. “They still have family and friends. I doubt you are much of a family man, but if you don’t want to see all your allies and collaborators fall before the rebellion, you better cooperate.”

“We want names,” Tia said. “Organizational structures, informants, everything.”

“We are willing to spare as many as possible,” I added. “If you cooperate. And you might get your revenge.”

“Against your allies and Minuial?” Seth asked.

“Maybe that too,” I said. “I am not terribly fond of my old man. But I am thinking higher up.”

He looked at me puzzled.

“I am talking about the architects of this system,” I said with a smile.

“You must be mad,” Seth said as he shook his head.

“Maybe,” I said. “But I have a plan.”

“Don’t you wanna save some of your allies?” Tia asked.

“If you show your worth,” I said, “I might grant you a new body. Not now though. Don’t wanna hunt you down a second time. What do you say?”

The ghostly form of Seth looked over his burning capital, then back at Tia and me and started to laugh manically.

“Do your worst.”