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[Solanaceae]

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The magi shivered as the chill wind assaulted his sweat-drenched skin, tossing his thin robes about in a violent frenzy. Brow contracted with intense concentration, his fingers danced in jerking arcs over the green tinged fire. Sparks exploded in sharp pops from the flames, licking the air like serpents tasting for the flesh that hovered barely inches away. He chanted low through chattering teeth, the heat of his breath casting a fog with each breath.

Heed my call ye Guardians of Death and Pain
Banshee, Repcap, Hiisi, Leanansidhe, Bòcan
Aulinuan the Magnus summons, you must obey
Blood of the Ancients, bones of the virtuous
Your master, Aulinuan, binds your will

Again and again Aulinuan repeated the chant, even as the howling wind devoured his words, leaving his voice hoarse and strangled. His right hand continued to move over the fading flames as he reached for the goblet on the ground by his feet, worry slowly spreading over his face. He brought the cup to his lips and drank deeply the plum wine contained within.

Aulinuan’s worried grimace twisted into an expression of terror, and his scream of pain split the night. The clay goblet shattered on the frozen earth an instant before its owners body crumpled beside it. Wine spread slowly from out Aulinuan’s gaping mouth, turning to ice as it kissed the winter air. The shuffling of soft soled boots fell on unhearing ears. The moon’s light silhouetted a figure casting a small shadow fell over the magi’s body.

“Silly, silly Aulinuan. Did your masters never warn you? When you call upon death, she always comes.” Solanaceae leaned close, and stared into the magi’s eyes, stilled forever in terror. Human ego. What a funny thing it was. A man’s grew with his estimation of his own power, yet in the end it was their greatest weakness.

Solanaceae turned her back on the dead man and directed her attention on the brown stone building she could just glimpse through the line of trees. A light glowed from beyond the row of stained-glass windows of the central floor, and she tilted her head, considering to possibilities. Why shouldn’t she take a prize for her efforts? She couldn’t return to the Court. She’d known that from the day she dedicated herself to serve her dark goddess, she who would cleanse the earth of the human’s filth and devourer all. There was no going home.

Even as she moved away from the magi’s body she could hear movement in the tree behind her, signs that the scavengers were already showing interest in her offering. Solanaceae reached for one of the double doors and was pleased to find it opened with ease to her touch, as if the house was already welcoming its new mistress. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, breathing in deep the scent of musty paper and slate herbs that lingered in the air.

Solanaceae saw the image of the future before her and knew now what she must do. Yes, much work would need to be done to facilitate the transformation, but the seed had been planted in her mind. The will of the Goddess of Oblivion would be served. This place was no longer the sanctum of Aulinuan the Magnus. Tonight this house would become Kardak’kesa Gholad, The House of Green Death.