The Esoteric Design: Civilization Lost

by A. R. Crebs

  “Today, you can be my princess in the tower,” she giggled.

  A hint of a smile irked the edge of his lips. The humor quickly dissipated.

  She leaned in close, whispering, “There is to be a trial. We’re gathering evidence against Euclid. Once we prove he’s the one responsible, we can lock him away as he deserves. If not, we have plenty against him for other crimes. The only problem now is catching him.”

  “He’s missing?” Dovian’s stomach flopped. If Euclid’s whereabouts were unknown, that meant he was hiding, and his power had grown vast enough to shroud himself from the eyes of Azera and Fardon.

  “Azera is searching as we speak. I’m sure Gaius has tasked the Watchers as well with Euclid’s retrieval. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “I have a terrible feeling about all of this.”

  A sudden darkness overtook the cellblock. “And time is never in your favor.” The voice bounced along the stone walls. The gems and spell work etchings shimmered against the blackness.

  “Euclid,” Dovian snarled.

  On guard, I’Lanthe awaited Euclid to show himself, her hands balling into fists. Her throat squeaked as she felt a tight pinch on her shoulder. Out the corner of her eye, she watched Euclid’s golden claws dig deep into her flesh.

  “Sorry, miss, but this is a conversation between two men.” Euclid shoved her into the wall with magnificent force. I’Lanthe crashed into the stone, her forehead slicing open on one side. She collapsed in a heavy heap.

  “Lanthe!” Dovian nearly touched the bars, but paused.

  Euclid held out his hand, casting a cloud of darkness over the woman. He then pressed his palms together, summoning a sphere around Dovian and him.

  “Finally, some privacy,” Euclid grumbled. He thumbed over his shoulder. “Does she have a home? I swear I can’t have one moment alone with you without her interrupting.”

  Dovian’s face contorted with seething hatred.

  “Aw, come now. She’ll be fine.” He wiped his claws on his blue overcoat. “Though she may have a headache later.”

  “Euclid! What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Making some important changes around here.”

  “By attacking I’Lanthe?”

  “You know she would have attacked me first. I was merely protecting myself…preemptively.”

  “Truly spoken like a man guilty of something.”

  Euclid sneered. “Something? Try many things, Dovian.”

  “So why are you here? Is this some kind of confession?”

  “It’s a plea, for your help.”

  Dovian eyed him suspiciously. “Help?” He gestured to his cell. “How do you expect me to help you when I’m locked in here…for your crimes?”

  Euclid frowned, palming the back of his head. “Truly, a mistake on my part. It was a reflex.”

  “A reflex? To frame me? To implant images in that woman’s mind? To let me take the blame and be taken into custody?! I can imagine the rumors being spread about me now! As if I hadn’t enough misinformation against me!”

  “Aw, why do you care what people think of you, Dovian?”

  “Unbelievable. Not even one apology from you! I’m behind bars because of you!”

  “You’re behind bars because of humanity! You being locked away was not my intention in the slightest. I had no doing in the World Council’s decision to demand your placement here.”

  “Don’t blame them for the things you’ve done. You blatantly lied and let me take the fall. You used me, Euclid! That bartender, she believes I killed those people.” Dovian’s emotions cycled between anger, confusion, and betrayal. “If you didn’t want me to take the blame, then why didn’t you step forward and admit your crimes?”

  “Because then I wouldn’t have been able to follow through with my plan,” Euclid spoke casually of the situation.

  “Is this some game to you? Do you not understand the severity of your actions? To betray my trust like that, after everything we’ve been through. I thought you were my friend!”

  Euclid’s eyes brightened; his jaw tensed. “I am your friend!”

  “What has gone wrong with you? That isn’t remotely close to what a friend does.” Dovian eyed the stains of blood and dirt upon the other man’s clothing. “What happened? Where have you been? What have you done?”

  Euclid peered down at himself. With shaking hands, he lightly touched the wet crimson on his robes.

  “Euclid…tell me. You have to tell me,” Dovian pleaded. Despite everything, he still worried for the man.

  The corner of Euclid’s mouth turned upward as he gave a quick puff of a nervous laugh. “It appears that I have…lost control of myself.”

  “Whose blood is that?” Dovian chanced a glance at I’Lanthe. She remained motionless.

  “Would you believe me if I even told you?”

  Dovian swallowed, his nerves making him nauseous. “You never cease to surprise me.”

  “I could just say it is my own blood.” Euclid seemed slightly dazed. It was as if he fluctuated between smothering himself in his chaos and regretting his actions.

  Dovian knew better. “The way you say it seems rather cryptic. I wouldn’t believe it to be only yours.”

  Just then, a dozen bells gonged in the distance. The sound started far and slowly came closer. The nearby tower rang, sending vibrations through the room. Dovian sidestepped, craning his neck to watch the swaying bell from the gap between his barred window.

  “I assume those are for you?” Dovian muttered.

  “Ah, most likely.”

  “Those signify an emergency.”

  “Dovian, I want you to join me.”

  “Join you?” The request was baffling. “You mean, in overthrowing the Elders, ruling over humanity? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

  “Someone’s been telling my secrets. Who have you spoken with? Did she tell you that?” Euclid glared at I’Lanthe’s curled form. “My father…he always coward from fear. Betraying…even his own son.”

  Dovian’s face paled. “Is…is that your father’s blood?”

  Euclid didn’t answer him.

  “It had better not! For the love of God, Euclid! Rhondin loved you!”

  “A man who loves his son doesn’t feed him to the wolves!” Euclid shouted. His eyes ignited with hate.

  Dovian was completely speechless.

  Euclid shook his head. “Join my side. My friend, my brother. You know very well that the way I believe, though extreme, is the correct solution. This world will forever be torn asunder by humanity. We have the chance to make this planet a beautiful place to live, to correct all the past mistakes. To make things the way they’re supposed to be, should be.”

  “In whose eyes, Euclid?”

  “We…are perfect creations. Humanity was the mistake, the greatly flawed, ignorant creation.”

  “We are far from perfect. Do you forget that those of our kind born on this planet are subject to sin just as they are? You are as flawed as they are and as the Fallen before us. I am as flawed. Nobody is perfect, Euclid. Judgment is not our job.”

  The raven-haired man glared with an ugly expression. He inhaled and exhaled noisily, his rage surfacing. “If even my father can go as far to forsake me, why did I even believe for one moment that you wouldn’t?”

  “I am not forsaking you, Euclid. Your actions have done nothing but forsake all of us. You’ve ruined everything, all you’ve ever known, because of your lust for power and control.” It pained Dovian to no end to see his friend behave in such a way. “I…had…so much, so much hope for you.”

  “Don’t you dare look at me in that way! Don’t you dare try to guilt me!”

  Dovian shook his head, frowning. “Euclid. When will you stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility for your actions? Killing everyone who doesn’t agree with you is not the way. You’re taking away life, free will. You’re destroying creation for your selfish gain.”

  “I don’t wa
nt to hear it from you! Someone who has been coddled by everyone in his life. Someone who blindly follows the flock like a mindless sheep! Believing that this is the life we sacrificed our salvation for? Clearly, we were misled to live in this…Hell!”

  “Coddled? Me? How many transgressions have you made that should’ve placed you here long ago? I’ve done nothing but clean up your mistakes and stand by your side all these years. And yet you dare to ask me to join you in your foolish errand, and then blame and insult me when I do not agree? So quick you are to hate, throwing away all the years of love I and everybody else has ever shown you.”

  Euclid turned away, his energies flickering around him with spiraling shadows. He had opened a dangerous darkness within himself. One that Dovian felt he’d never escape. Euclid palmed his fist, gritting his teeth.

  “You and I can rule the world. We can make sure no more wars happen. We don’t have to annihilate the entire human race. We can control them, force them to live correctly. A peaceful life.”

  “You can’t control them, Euclid. It isn’t right.”

  “They love to be controlled! Why else would they elect criminals to pass laws and delegate their miserable lives? They’d be blessed to have a Sorcēarian rule.”

  “You are unwell, Euclid. I think you need some rest. How long has it been since you slept?” Dovian warily asked.

  “Sleep? No time for sleep. Not when important tasks are at hand.” Euclid silenced a moment. “A…year…in my perception, perhaps. I can’t remember.”

  “You’ve been outside time. Have you been honing your power?”

  “No more questions until you give me your answer!” Paranoid, Euclid looked around the room. He had stayed much longer than he was supposed to. Azera could find him any moment, and the power of his privacy shield was waning.

  “To whether I will join you in a war that will involve everyone?” Dovian questioned. “You know the Elders, and those of the other classes, will not idly stand by as you wage war against humanity.”

  “That’s why we dispose of the council. Yes or no?” Euclid spat.

  Dovian shook his head. “No, Euclid. I cannot…will not…ever agree to such a monstrous thing.”

  Euclid’s lower lip trembled, his nostrils flaring. “You…think I’m a monster?”

  Dovian inhaled sharply. “Yes. I don’t know what happened to you, but you’re not my friend. You’re not Euclid anymore.”

  Tears shimmered in the corner of the Azure man’s eyes, but he didn’t dare to let them fall. “You will live only long enough to regret those words, Dovian. In the meantime, enjoy your cold cell. I’ll be sure you know what true suffering is before you ever see yourself free of this cage.”

  Dovian remained silent, evenly matching Euclid’s glare.

  The sphere around them shattered as bolts of lightning spiked against Euclid’s back. He screamed as the tendrils of electric current danced along his body. He fought it for a few seconds before the energy dispersed, and he dropped to his knees. Looking over his shoulder, Euclid caught the sight of I’Lanthe with her palm out. Sizzling tiny bolts tickled the edges of her gloved fingers from the power she had harnessed from the cell bars. Blood dripped down her forehead, causing her to keep one eye closed.

  “I have special plans for you.” Euclid scowled. He grabbed his tuner and promptly disappeared.

  “Dovian!” I’Lanthe wobbled as she stood, her hand daintily touching one of her temples.

  “Are you alright?” He expressed deep concern over her safety, asking about her head, telling her to rest, begging to allow him to heal her.

  “Please, Dovian. Quiet down. I’ll be fine. Truly. I will have Sir Gaius mend me as soon as I leave. I must tell him what has just happened.”

  “Lanthe…Euclid is on a rampage. I believe…he killed Rhondin. It’s true, he plans on overthrowing the Council of Elders, or worse. My God, he wants to rule over humanity. He’s delusional. Absolutely mad. He…he even asked me to join him,” Dovian sputtered as he struggled to form comprehensive sentences.

  “I hope you declined,” I’Lanthe mumbled, wincing as she ran her fingertips along the gouge on her forehead.

  “Don’t touch it.”

  “Seriously, I’m fine.” She tilted her head, catching the ring of the final bell. “Listen, I have to go tell Sir Gaius what just happened. I will send someone else to keep a watchful eye on you.”

  “I’Lanthe, I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “No, Dovian, I believe you do. Euclid has you in his sights. Have you ever known him to miss his target? His powers are astounding.” She straightened her robes, tucking her stray hairs behind her ears. “I’ll check on you later.”

  Dovian gave her a look that told her he disapproved, to which she matched with one of her own. Next, she puckered her lips, made a kissing sound, and disappeared.

  ***

  Orin peered outside the window, watching the rising sun paint a sky of orange and pink. He donned his Emerald gown, golden accessories plentiful. He had always been an early riser, a thing that he had not taken into consideration when he knocked on the apartment door of Ms. Ivanov. Lucky for him, the woman had been kind enough to answer and cooperate without issue.

  “It seems I’m out of milk,” she murmured. “I can add sugar if you’d like.”

  Orin turned, smirking at the smell of hazelnut coffee the woman had prepared him. “I’ll take it as is, thank you.”

  Ivan handed him the mug and eased into her couch. Kitara screeched from the opposite side, the bird’s head twisting to gain sight of the woman. Orin sat in a chair across from Ivan, sipping the hot brew. He snapped his fingers, and the owl flapped to sit on the back of his chair.

  “Wonderful view you have.” Orin glanced toward the oversized windowpane. The apartment was old but had fresh paint, carpet, and appliances.

  “Hm, I got lucky with this place.” She nodded.

  “Seems to be in a better part of town, too. How long have you lived here?” He noticed a pair of boxes in the corner of the room.

  “Not long. I had just moved right before the…incident. I’m much happier here. I was living in the apartments above the bar before this.” Her green eyes drifted to stare into her mug. “I can’t go back to that place.”

  “Looking for a new job?” Orin asked with concern.

  “Uh, yeah. Not sure if I want to bartend anymore. Maybe finish up some schooling.”

  “Anything in mind?”

  A hint of a smile crept along the edges of her pale lips. No doubt she wasn’t feeling well. The bags under her eyes proved she hadn’t slept well at least. “Maybe audio engineering. I’ve always loved music. It runs in the family. My brother plays for an Italian symphony. My mother and father didn’t pursue it professionally but enjoyed it as a hobby. Perhaps I will DJ or write my own music and sell it to some talentless celebrity.”

  Orin chuckled. “Sounds like a good plan.”

  She shrugged. “Just need a change.”

  “I understand. How are you holding up?” Orin already knew the answer, but he needed to ask. He ran his fingers over Kitara’s feathers; her eyes and ears logged the conversation.

  “Ah, well, okay…I suppose.”

  Orin nodded. He read her mind, felt her emotions swirling around him. “You’ve been having nightmares.”

  “How did you know?” she whispered. “Ah, you guys know everything, don’t you?”

  “I hope that doesn’t worry you. I’m merely curious about the state of the nightmares. Could you tell me about them?”

  She seemed confused but agreed. “Sure, but why do you want to know? Is it important to the case?”

  “There could be specific signs within your nightmares that may present some evidence that illusionary spells altered your memory. If you have any doubts at all, it is pertinent we use all that we can during the trial.”

  Ivan bobbed her head. “I know what I saw. It was Dovian in that room. However,” she hesitated, “it’s funny. I don’t f
eel like it was him. Something seemed off. The room was full of a strange energy if that makes sense. When I had met Dovian not long before, the air was completely different. If it were possible, I’d say it was his evil twin in that room.”

  Orin tightened his lips. “And your dreams?”

  “I have dreamt of the murder.”

  “Only once?”

  “Many times. Every time, it’s nearly the same.”

  A bit of relief filled Orin’s heart. “That’s good.”

  “Good?” She nearly laughed.

  “Repetitive dreams are often a cause of illusionary influence.”

  “Isn’t it also a side effect of PTSD?”

  “And that is the reason why this will be difficult to prove in court.” Orin tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair. The fabric was soft, beige in color. Ivan had good taste in furniture, he noted. “Let’s say a Sorcēarian, specifically one of Azure status, influenced you.”

  “You mean Euclid?” Ivan scowled.

  “I’m not mentioning any names.”

  “I imagine you being here isn’t exactly protocol.”

  “No. It could also be considered leading the witness. For a situation as this, human judges may assume that I am influencing you right now. This is a most difficult case for all of us. However, I intend to gather as much evidence as I can. Nothing would please me more than to ensure we imprison the right man.”

  Ivan looked to Kitara. “I am of sound mind and would like to discuss every detail of this case and the possibility of the framing of Dovian.”

  Orin smirked. “That certainly helps.”

  “Tell me more about these effects on my dreams.”

  Clasping his hands, he leaned forward. “The powers of illusion and suggestion are based on dark magic, or energy, depending on how you interpret it. Azure members hone these energies for their status and powers of manipulation. So far, no one has ever been able to cheat a Truthseer. Your visions were proven to be true, but many believe there was some foul play involved with your memory. Dark energy settles deep within the recipient’s mind. A common side effect of encountering this energy is nightmares. Your fears come to surface within the dream. In this case, you are having repetitive visions of the murder. Now, another common trait is metaphoric imagery. Is there anything strange or out of place in the dream that you can remember?”