The boy stared unable to blink, his body adjusting to his newly heightened senses. He stood puffing his chest toward Mephisto with unnerving focus.
"Master," he proclaimed again, his voice brimming with pride. "What is… your will?"
Eri's eyes narrowed, the faintest ripple of hesitation in her voice.
"…I didn't think his ability would work here," she murmured to herself, just low enough that Marisol couldn't hear her.
Mephisto rubbed his chin, his eyes rolling to the side in thought. "Ah, yes, my will…." He spread his arms, spinning once as though seeing the canyon itself as a stage. "Our cast is still a little too small, I'm afraid. I wasn't expecting your friends to run quite so quickly."
The boy lowered his head, his ears catching the faintest sound of their footsteps. "I can still catch them if given the word, my master." His voice deepened, rough and hungry. He didn't even glance at Eri or Marisol, his entire world had narrowed to the monster before him.
Eri's tone cut through the night. "This," she said flatly, "is the gift bestowed upon him by the core. The very first Enforcer, the infecting playwright."
Mephisto froze mid-gesture, as if struck by inspiration. Then his smile widened into something almost childlike. "Oh that's rich," the next arc weaving within his mind, clapping his hands together once. "That would be perfect!"
He turned back to the boy, eyes gleaming with a dastardly grin. "Go," he said, voice soft but full of promise. "Find your friends. Gather intel. If you indulge…" He leaned closer, letting his words trail for a brief second. "Try not to make a mess."
The boy nodded, movements jerky but purposeful, ready to run.
It took Marisol a heartbeat to understand. Her stomach twisted.
He means to spread it.
"Wait, you can't!" she gasped, taking a shaky step forward but Eri's hand shot out, catching her wrist before she could move again.
"Don't," Eri warned, low and steady. There was no panic in her tone, only bitter recognition. "Don't give in to his baiting. That's what he wants."
Marisol froze. "So you're just letting him..."
Eri went quiet. The silent Stonewall the only honest answer she could give.
Mephisto's grin only widened, delighted that she knew yet his queen still couldn't quite stop him.
Marisol pulled away, taking a few steps back, all she knew is she could not let this happen. The air around her shimmered, bending to her rage.
The ground convulsed.
A sound like tearing earth cracked through the canyon as black roots erupted around the boy's legs. They twisted tight, pulsing with shadow before cuffing his hands. He jumped in shock once before they yanked him down, slamming him into the dirt.
His hands clawed at the vines, but they only tightened, coiling over his arms and throat. His muffled cries for his master becoming barely audible.
Mephisto's eyes beamed at her pleased by this momentum.
"Well, well, well." He stepped closer, admiration in every syllable. "So that last time wasn't just a fluke."
Marisol's head darted between Eri and Mephisto. She stood rigid, trembling, it was only a matter of time before one of them made a move. As her focus waned to and fro she could only wait for the inevitable.
Eri stepped forward, slipping between them, her palm open and fingers splayed. The roots froze mid-motion.
Marisol's hands began to cramp. The pain radiated through her fingertips, pulsating throught her entire body. Her mind racing the same words over and over.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts!
Her vision blurring at the edges.
Then.
"Breathe." Eri's voice cut through the agonizing pain, a command with no hint of empathy. "You have to listen to me, Marisol."
Marisol tried to rebut but it was taking everything she had to use this power. Let alone talk.
"Let him go."
Eri's tone didn't rise. However her expression was of clear annoyance. Her voice laced with rage, and her dark aura in the air threatened to devour all in its void.
"You're at your limit," she said, as she took a step closer. "You have to let go."
Marisol took a step back for every step, every muscle quivering as her body trembled against her new foundpower.
Behind Eri, Mephisto's smirk widened. He was watching, enthralled. "As fascinating as this is...," he murmured. " if we could finish this quickly."
"You're the one who escalated this," Eri said, agitated by his act.
"I... I can't let you…" Marisol's voice cracked. Her body sagged under the burden, her hands began to tremble.
Eri's gaze didn't waver.
"Then you leave me no choice."
The air became hot burning from Eri's ever-increasing aura.
Marisol's power recoiled the moment Eri spoke those words, fighting to leave against her will. It felt like a part of her was being drained from the deep within. Her hair frizzed as the darkness bled away, feeding into the roots that slithered back toward Eri's outstretched arm. They vanished into her sleeves, vanishing past the flower blooming on her bracelet.
Marisol staggered, trying over and over to use her power. The ache spreading a buzzing feeling beneath her skin. She tried again to no avail. Her powers were gone.
Mephisto looked amused at eri. Even though they did not exchange words the statement was clear. He was dying on the inside from the princess's little timeout.
Eri ignored him, stepping forward as Marisol swayed on her feet. But the fire in her eyes still burned bright.
"Stop while you're ahead," Eri said. "You'll only hurt yourself further."
Marisol barely heard her. Her eyes lowered to the ground, her voice breaking.
"I won't let you… both murder them."
Her knees buckled, and tears welled without sound. Someone, anyone please help.
Her mind raced for an answer. Deep down she felt there was still something there. Some string of power waiting to reach out to her. She didn't know what it was but she had no other choice but to accept the call.
From the edge of the dark, one of the lingering shapes broke free. The same shadow cat that had blocked her vision in her room reformed. It hesitated, its form rippling with unease. Even the corrupted feared to draw too close to Eri's presence.
She raised her trembling hands.
The shadows answered.
The black cat burst from the dark, its cry slicing through the canyon as it streaked past Eri at a blistering pace. She flinched, her eyes barely able to track the movement before it shot past her.
By the time she turned, it was already too late.
Mephisto chuckled to himself like a child.
"Oh, I like this one."
His hand had shot up with ease, catching the creature mid-leap by the scruff. The cat writhed and hissed, claws raking against his wrist, but his smile never faltered.
"Feisty," he purred. "But, A pity that's all you can muster?"
The cat hissed once more, then went limp, its eyes burning like coals before dimming to ember.
Marisol's eyes rolled into her head. The world swayed, her strength bleeding out.
And then she collapsed. The cat broke free, scampering back to Marisol, before diving down into her shadow beneath her.
Mephisto turned back towards the boy, only to find the roots that had pinned him dissolving into black mist. The boy rose, slow and silent, crimson eyes gleaming faintly.
Mephisto gave a lazy nod.
The boy ran, disappearing into the night.
Silence pressed down like fog.
Eri still stood between them, starring down at the little girls body. She gently scooped up Marisol, her expression unreadable. She lay motionless in her arms, her skin covered in a cold sweat.
Mephisto exhaled softly, his grin returning.
"Now that..." he murmured, tone almost affectionate, "was bloody brilliant."
Marisol stirred faintly, eyes fluttering.
Eri's voice came low, measured. "This wasn't supposed to go this way."
"The deed's done," Mephisto replied, brushing his gloves clean.
He glanced down at Marisol, the humor fading just enough to leave something empty behind his eyes. Mephisto adjusted his coat, watching the two with a smirk. "So? What's the plan now, your Highness?"
Eri looked into the distance over the city one more time. Then, she turned on her heel.
"I know a place."