Point of View: ЦПKПӨЩП, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

"DECEIT?!!" I yelled, tapping my foot impatiently on the floor - the tiny click of my boots bouncing around the throne room.

Deceit popped up into view in the blink of an eye, smirking slyly.  "Greetingsss, my King.  How might I be of assssissstance today?"

"Stop that," I snapped, glaring.  "Your report, Deceit?"

But Deceit merely smiled, not answering right away and stalling as his eyes wandered around the throne room in awe.  The black lights were a nice touch and made the yellow of Deceit's outfit and snake eye glow bright neon green.

I gritted my teeth together - black gloved hands forming into fists, gripping the arms of my throne tightly.  "I suggest you get on with your report, Deceit.  Or perhaps you would rather me tell them that you're inadequate, and incapable of doing your job," I coldly remarked, not a shred of pity in my eyes.

He cleared his throat and reached into the pocket of his cloak, tossing me his complete written report - a long sheet of old parchment paper - his dark curly script against the page.

I quickly scanned the report, making sure it was there in completion.

"Next time I suggest you act less carelessly around the only one who cares about your well being," I said, rolling up the parchment paper in my hand before sliding it into my inner own cloak for me to return to at at later date.

Deceit squirmed in discomfort at the sharp reminder.  "May I take my leave... my King?"

"No,"  I decided.  "How are my sons?  You are, I assume, keeping a close eye on the both of them?  And remember I can tell if you lie so I suggest you tell the truth," I threatened.

"Yes, my King," Deceit agreed.  "Virgil is completely on schedule and arrived at Fairy Godmother's cottage just this afternoon.  Oliver, naturally, lead the way and is in the backyard playing with the woodland creatures while Virgil and Fairy Godmother were inside, surely discussing the current state of their beloved prince," Deceit's snake eye twitched occasionally as he spoke, as it often did when he was telling the truth.

It is not easy to go against one's nature.

Fear is a powerful thing.

"Good," I leaned back in my throne, pausing to think.  "And you are sure that the gem is secure?"

"Yes, my King.  It is under the best protection this imagination can provide," Deceit confirmed.

"And they cannot bring the young prince back without the gem, correct?"

"Yes, my King."

"And the prince's wings?"

"Locked and secure."

"Good.  I expect another report tomorrow.  You know they don't like to wait."

"Yes, my King."

"That will be all," I looked away, giving Deceit a dismissive wave of my hand.  "Begone."

"As you command, King Incubus."

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Point of View: Virgil, First Person

"What do I need to do to bring Roman back?" I asked, jaw set.

"Well ,love, you have to understand," Fairy Godmother continued.  "There are two main parts that make up every side," she explained, grabbing herself another cup of tea and I noticed that her hand was shaking slightly.

"What are they?"

"The body, of course," Fairy Godmother explained, setting her tea cup momentarily on her lap to run her hand through her white hair.  "And the soul.  To bring him back, we have to gather them and convince the body and soul to join each other once again."

I frowned.  "That sounds too easy."

"We must first find Roman's soul, love," she started.  "That's no easy task - and that's assuming that Roman's soul is even all in the same place."

"Wait what do you mean -

"Sometimes, love," Fairy Godmother interrupted, silencing me.  "The shock of death is enough to shatter the soul and the pieces scatter all over the place, dear."

I swallowed, taking a slow and deep breath.  "O-Okay," I continued.  "So how do we know where Roman's soul... pieces of his soul... went?"

Fairy Godmother shook her head.  "Who can say? He could be anywhere, love.  His soul - assuming that it is indeed in one piece - could be anywhere in the Imagination, the Mind Palace.  There's no way to know.  And there's no way to know if Roman split his soul on purpose, and where he hid it if he did."

"Wait - what?!" I went my face turning pale and I felt dizzy.  "Roman - if he WHAT?!"

"Well, love," Fairy Godmother hesitated.  "Roman fights all sorts of creatures in the Imagination - he is their protector.  So there is a... high chance that Roman split his own soul, and hid it away in case something ever happened to him.  Actually, dear, I think there's a very high chance that he did."

I took another deep breath.  "And how are we supposed to find the pieces of his soul if he hid them?  And how many pieces did he split his soul into? How are we supposed to know where they are?  And how the HECK does someone just - just casually split their soul on PURPOSE?!!"

"Oh it's no casual affair, I can promise that, dear," Fairy Godmother stated.  "And, hopefully, he left some clues as to where his soul might be.  And if we find part of his soul, then there's a good chance that it can help us find the other pieces.  Roman's soul wants to be whole, and will help us."

I dropped my hand into my hands.  "This is too much," I groaned.  "How am I supposed to even know where to look?"

"We'll work that out in time, love," Fairy Godmother reassured me with a warm smile.  "I'm actually thinking that the... um, harder part will be getting the body."

I felt like I had just been hit with a sledgehammer.

"Roman... he - he died on the Dark Side of the Imagination," I realized.  "His body... which would be a gem by now... is still there, isn't it?"

I hoped that Fairy Godmother was say I was wrong, but she merely nodded her head.  "Yes.  And it will be no easy feat.  Certainly King Incubus has already taken Roman's gem and hidden it, made sure that it is securely protected."

"I - I can't go back there," I whispered, feeling my hands start to shake.  "Nonono - I - I can't go back there, I CAN'T," I repeated, vision starting to blur.

"Take a deep breath and focus on my voice, love," Fairy Godmother said.  "Nice and slow.  Yes, very good job, keep it up. Just listen to my voice.  One, two, three, four..." Fairy Godmother's voice continued counting and I focused all my attention only on her voice until my panic seemed to just... melt away.

"The tea," Fairy Godmother explained.  "It's very calming, dear.  You should have another cup," she said, pouring me another cup and placing in my hands before I could protest.

"Fairy Godmother," I started once I had regained the ability to speak.  "I - I can't go there, I can't go back.  Last time... last time Roman got killed," I whispered, feeling my eyes water up at the memories.

"I know, love.  Believe me,  I know," Fairy Godmother said softly, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around me.

I didn't usually like hugs, but I couldn't help hugging her back.

"Don't worry," she said softly.  "You're not alone, Virgil.  I promise you are not.  And I will do everything in my power to help you along the way," Fairy Godmother pulled back, reaching for my hands and giving them a tight squeeze.

"... I'm going to have to face him... aren't I?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so dear," Fairy Godmother confirmed.  "Be brave, Virgil.  I know it's a lot to ask of anyone - especially for you - but don't let your mind be control by fear.   That's where Incubus's power comes from.  Your father feeds on fear, but he is powerless if you can stand against it," she encouraged, pulling back completely.

"O-Okay," I said.  "You... you aren't coming with me?"

Fairy Godmother shook her head.  "I am not allowed to go to the Dark Side of the Imagination, the border would simply not open if I was to go with you.  But I shall be here, doing the best I can to help as much as I can here, love," she finished, and shoulders dropped a bit - as if the weight of the guilt she was feeling was physically pushing her down.

"First things first - finding the soul," I remembered, pulling Fairy Godmother out of her thoughts and she immediately stopped slouching, clearing her throat.

"Um yes, love," she said softly.  "Do you have any ideas where Roman's soul might be? It could be someplace or somewhere that's special to him...?"

I smiled.  Maybe this would be easier than I thought.

"I think I have an idea."

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Sorry this took FOREVER, I've been absolutely SWAMPED with all sorts of crazy things all week.  I'm gonna try and update this later in the week, but no promises and sorry for the wait!
- Max <3