Kanika

After the Guild meeting, I headed straight home, even as several other members tried to start a conversation with me. Being in Brevil's presence after so long had only reignited old flames and my fingers were itching to shred something.

I quickly changed out of my formal attire and into a loose fitting blouse and trousers. Pulling my hair into a thick bundle at the nape of my neck, I descended the marble steps down to the basement. It was less furnished on this level as it held a small dungeon and a room for my training. No one came down here unless they were on my bad side or wanted to be.

I glanced down the dark hallway lined with four stone cells that I passed on my way to the training room. It was at the end of the narrow hallway, lit on either side by blue pitch torches. The torches were kept burning by the magic that flowed through the house, more for an eerie appearance than practicality.

The door swung open on command and I stalked inside the already lit room. It was small, carved out of the rock and left to look just as jagged. One wall was covered in weapons of all sorts, mostly for training, and the other side held a mat for sparring. On the wall across from me was a thick black door that led to my weapons vault. It was completely and utterly uncrackable. Blood magic secured it in place, making it impossible to open by anyone other than myself.

I grabbed a long scimitar hanging from the wall and swung it around several times, testing the familiar weight. The metal was woven steel, forged to stand the test of time. It had been made especially for me by Brevil when I had first joined the Guild. Now, it was nothing more than a training sword.

I had my magic, after all. And if I was being honest, I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of using the blade he had given me.

Placing the weapon back on the rack, I turned to face the other wall. I flicked my fingers, feeling the magic jump to life, ready to be harnessed at a moment's notice. Ever since I freed it, the magic no longer felt like something I owned. It was it's own force, alive and existing with me. It wasn't an ownership, although Brevil liked to think of magic that way. No, it was a partnership. You had to work in tandem with magic.

At a flick of my wrist, the torches extinguished and darkness filled the room. I swept my hand up, flutters of flame following my fingers, dancing like leaves in the wind. Concentrating on the energy flowing through my body, I turned in a circle, sending out the sparks of light until they filled the room like millions of tiny fireflies. I couldn't help but release a small smile at the sight, and the memories it brought forth.

After a moment, I released the tension on the magic and it faded into dust, darkening the room once again. Another flick of my wrist and the pitch relit on the torches, bathing the room in light. I faced the vault door, sending a gathered fireball into the door only to watch it explode into millions of sparks. As the sparks cleared, it revealed that the wall was unmarked, the dark metal still glimmering in the torchlight.

I approached the door and pressed my palm against it. As the blood magic worked up my hand, I felt a small prick. A bit of my blood seeped into the door, soaking in as the magic worked to detect who was trying to open the vault. It took several seconds, then the door groaned as it shifted and slid open.

Lights flickered on as I entered the vault, revealing rows of weapons lining the walls and in the very center, my Recreant blade. The hilt glimmered in the light, obsidian wrapping around the handle and woven into the blade itself, creating a dark and veiny appearance. The blade was gorgeous, and I regretted that I couldn't use it more often.

Instead, I reached for the smaller blade hanging on the wall to my right. It wasn't as long as the Recreant blade, but the handle was made of partial obsidian and partial scourged stone, giving the blade a smoky appearance, like it was a mirage.

I lifted it off it's display, balancing the weight in my hands for a moment before strapping it to my side. The weight was comforting and familiar, and I hated to be without it for very long. However, showing up to a Guild meeting with such a blade would only attract unwanted attention. Instead, I had opted for eleven hidden blades on my person.

My head snapped up and towards the door of my vault as I caught the sound of footsteps down the hall. I strode to the entrance of my vault as Rashid entered the training room, his steps cautious.

The vault door slid shut behind me as I approached him, locking once more with the secured memory of my blood. I stopped one step from Rashid, looking down at him with cold fury. I hoped he had a good reason for coming down here, because he knew what I did to servants who liked to wander.

"What do you want, Rashid?" My tone held no patience when I spoke, and I made it clear that I wanted him to get to the point straight away.

Rashid's arms were rigid, and I could tell he was doing everything in his power not to tremble before me. He knew he wasn't supposed to come down here, and yet he had done it anyway.

His throat bobbed as he fiddled with a strap on his vest. "Kane is here and he demands to see you."

I caught a glimpse of a red mark around Rashid's neck, and I realized why he had come down here despite knowing he might have to face my wrath. Zuri Kane's wrath was perhaps more worrisome, as much as I hated to admit it. He was a fellow guild member, one of the owners of a Recreant blade, and not someone to be trifled with.

When I realized several moments had gone by and I still hadn't spoken, I waved my hand. "Go. I will be right up." I would have punished Rashid for coming down here, but I knew Kane would probably administer more than plenty to all my servants by the time he left. He had a tendency to be short-tempered, and everyone knew it.

Taking my time so Kane would be good and irritated, I made my way upstairs. He was waiting in the corridor, snooping about at the different vases and pictures I had with all his usual practiced elegance. He wore midnight robes, sleek and elegant on him in a way that made heads turn. His dark, silky hair was pinned back at the nape of his neck, not a strand out of place. I couldn't help but admire his clean, strong appearance. After all, he was handsome whether or not he was a fellow Guild member.

Kane straightened when he noticed me enter, giving me a once over and bowing his head. "Good evening." His voice was smooth, like caramel. A strand of his hair fell forward, brushing across his forehead.

I stood perfectly still as he straightened, only raising my eyebrows slightly. "What a surprise," I said, though I wasn't surprised at all. I had known Kane or one of the other Guild members would come; I just didn't know when.

"I always forget what a lovely house you have," Kane drawled. "Indeed, it is almost as lovely as it's owner."

Perhaps I would have blushed had I not been who I was. Had I not been one of the most powerful villains and Guild members to walk the Empire. Instead, I merely inclined my head, letting a small smile grace my lips. "Won't you come sit down?" I led Kane out of the entryway and into a lavish sitting room I had reserved for guests. As he took a seat, I used a bit of magic to send a message to my servants for tea.

Kane's gaze remained firmly on me as I crossed the room and took a seat on a cushioned lounge across from him. I was still wearing my training clothes, but I kept my back straight and my chin high. My dark sword was heavy at my side, firm and comforting. I didn't need fancy clothes to command anyone's attention. And I certainly would not feel underdressed in my own home.

"Why, might I ask, have you decided to honor me with your presence?" I asked after a moment of silent observation.

Kane's azure eyes held potency as a wicked smile danced on his lips. "Oh my dear, I think you know exactly why I'm here." He slung an arm across the back of the couch, leaning against some of the pillows. "What does anyone have to talk these days besides our good friend Maxim Brevil?"

I allowed myself the pleasure of a small laugh. "He does seem to be quite popular as of late. Perhaps I should try leaving on a vacation for years and then returning."

A hint of mischief danced across Kane's face. "I would miss you terribly, Kanika dear."

I tilted my head in mock surprise. "Me? Why, I thought you were itching to take Maxim's right hand side. If I left then no one would stand in your way." I smiled, adding a touch of innocence to my expression for good measure. Kane knew I wasn't serious, but it didn't change the fact that I had insinuated I was stronger than him.

"I suppose," Kane considered, "but then who would I have left to visit?"

I had a reply on the tip of my tongue when a maid entered carrying our tea. It steamed from the two cups, freshly poured. I could smell the lemon and spices already as I raised my hand and the tea cups floated over to Kane and I. He took the cup I sent to him as I lifted my own and brought the steaming liquid to my lips.

Once Kane had taken a nice long sip of the tea, he set it down on the table before his feet. "What do you suppose we do about Brevil's plan?" The teasing had left his voice and fluid calculation replaced it.

I set down my cup as well. "It does appear to have a chance at success this time." I didn't comment on the fact that it also had the possibility of destroying thousands of innocents as well. Even though I was a villain, I didn't see the sense in killing someone just because. Everyone could serve some purpose, and until that purpose was completed, why waste souls?

Kane nodded. "I overheard some news from the Citadel recently."

"Do share," I purred, leaning forward with practiced interest. Oh, how I loved playing with Kane.

"Apparently the Anax and his Virtuosos are scrambling to find a way to stop Brevil."

"Have they found anything?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

"Not that I have heard. However, I wouldn't put it past the Anax to try anything. After what happened last time with Brevil, I'm sure he's desperate to catch him." Kane smiled, like such a thought was impossible. And maybe it was. Brevil had seemed much more confident in his plan this time.

I chuckled. "They certainly do have their work cut out for them." I could only imagine what was going on in the Citadel right at this moment. Surely Endana and the other Virtuosos were racing around, trying in vain to find some solution to their problem. Perhaps they would come to some sense before Brevil destroyed them all, though I seriously doubted it. If there was one thing I knew about my sister, it was that she didn't give up easily.

A/N: So I just have to say that the more I write of these characters, the more I am falling in love with them ^_^ I can't help it! They all have such thick and rich backstories (Don't mind my bragging there, I just love these cinnamon rolls!), not to mention that they are so different from most of my other characters. Even Kanika, who I wasn't sure I would like all that much, has really grown on me :D

Anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying reading it! Let me know what you think :) I would really appreciate it!