Chapter 3 - Doom

"Canvas..." She pulled her hand back, smearing the blue paint between her fingertips. Nausea befell her. What did this mean? Élodie looked around her. The walls felt solid, as she tested. The wood was firm under her touch. It wasn't as lifelike as she would have wanted, but it was firm enough to stand trial and even the stone she had so painstakingly scraped off looked solid enough, as long as she didn't touch it. What was going on? She flushed the toilet, to make sure her alibi was sound and slipped outside again. As she peeked into the hallway, it was still empty. She heard music behind the door, waiting to welcome her, but she didn't feel ready to return just yet. She needed more information.

Carefully, she stepped out of her heels and snuck out to the back door, looking outside. The further she strode, the blurrier and washed out her surroundings became. What was supposed to be an avenue, turned out to be a washed out path of lines. She touched the bushes and the trees. They barely held up to her, some of them bending or breaking in her path. As she reached the end of what she could see, she could hear a voice echo around her. "Élodie... Élodie, wait!"

It was Adrien. The blonde aristocrat caught up to her. Grass sprouted next to her, bushes formed in front of her eyes, one leaf at a time. Greens and yellows and browns formed around her, accompanied by a brilliant blue sky. "You cannot leave just yet, my dear." Adrien smiled gently, reaching a hand out to her, but trying to stay just far enough not to alarm her. "There is still so much to see." Birds fluttered up around her, their voices crystal clear.

"Who are you?" She asked him. The bits of hair that escaped her up-do fluttered in the wind. "You haven't understood by now?" Adrien chuckled. "I thought you should know best, Mademoiselle. You tried to find me for a while." Her mind remained hazy, but eventually, an image flashed before her inner eye. "The Artist." She felt her heart skip a beat.
"You are the forgotten God." Adrien bowed.
"In the flesh."

With bated breath, she watched him offer her a hand. "Let me guide you, Élodie. If you let me, I'll explain everything. I promise." The researcher knew that she should have run, but something pulled her towards him. She felt her hand rest inside of his. "Well done, my dear. Let's go back." The hallway lit up, candles flickering to their left and their right. The deep red carpet touched her naked feet. It felt plush between her toes. "Now, let's get you back to our people." He helped her into her shoes and adjusted her hair. In trance, she let him lead her back into the dance hall. As soon as they entered, the dancing continued as if replaying a dream.

"How did you find me?"
"Oh, I did not find you. You found me." She shook her head. "How? You have been gone for centuries." - "Only for those that I wanted to avoid." Adrien took a skewer of strawberries and bit into one of them. Chocolate cracked beneath his teeth. "I know how to prevent thieves from finding me," he mentioned between bites, "it's quite enjoyable. Only meeting those that have waited to lay eyes upon me." He giggled, his fingertips resting against his chest in a grandiose gesture. "And now, Élodie, I have finally found the missing piece to my realm. You."

She blinked. "What?" - "You understood me, my dear. You are my missing piece." He lay the skewer aside and reached for a napkin, dabbing his lips. "I have waited so long for the right one and finally, I have what I was looking for. You are the perfect addition to my court." She shook her head in disbelief. "You must be mistaken."
"I am not."

As she lifted her hands to keep him at a distance, her gaze fell into his eyes as she noticed something that struck her right at her core. She could see her reflection and as she felt herself lose her composure, it was unmistakable. Her eyes were losing her shine while his gained another star. Just one thing made him stand out from the rest of his companions. Pupils so dark, they were void of any light. Her signal of death. Her signal of doom.