06-27-2016, 09:18 PM
The way she put it, lacking the desire to hurt let alone kill, caught him off guard. He'd prepared himself for many reactions from Aria, but sincere docility was unsettling. It struck a deep chord. He was never the enemy of ages despite the morbid moniker he donned. Apollyon. Yet here she was expressing the similar desire for peace in the turbulence.
He quickly regained his composure, and stifled the surprise and empathy back to darkness, away from conscious thought.
Why did he pick her. She was the only accessible player on the board. But the truth was too harsh to explain bluntly. He needed to be delicate now.
He spoke gently, releasing the power as he did so to return softness to his expression, "Because I think you dream of what the Atharim should have been rather than what it is."
"Before I killed his son, Wilhelm Ravhid wanted me to be his successor. I only had a few weeks with the Atharim before I fled. But I believe the Regus worked with the Pope in full awareness of one another. The Vatican Historical Society, you know. That means that at some point in history, the Atharim, which predates them, aligned itself with the church. For such an alignment to occur, there must have been a just cause worthy enough for the church's investment."
"You've seen the darkness of both worlds - Athari and the church. I think you despise both. Which is exactly why you will make sure they change. With your .. Abilities ... You can enforce those changes. You're strong. You'll do it because I see it in your eyes."
His gaze fell to Aria's hand. He almost touched her before thinking better of himself. With a touch she could destroy his mind. But it would be a gesture of faith.
But he didn't do it.
"There's also something else. Do you remember at the Datsan I asked you about the hourglass charm? Tell the Regus you found this,"
from a pocket he withdrew the necklace taken at the gravesite and gave it to her, "that it's important to me. Maybe he will know who it represents. I have a feeling that the Atharim have been infiltrated by someone, or something, else. Let as many people around the Regus see you ask about it as possible, and note who takes the most interest."
"But be on your guard. They will kill to protect their secret. Memento Mori."
He dropped the necklace on the table.
"You shouldn't keep them waiting much longer. The agents will make sure you have access back into the Facility and that you three will find my home with just enough resistance to look real."
He quickly regained his composure, and stifled the surprise and empathy back to darkness, away from conscious thought.
Why did he pick her. She was the only accessible player on the board. But the truth was too harsh to explain bluntly. He needed to be delicate now.
He spoke gently, releasing the power as he did so to return softness to his expression, "Because I think you dream of what the Atharim should have been rather than what it is."
"Before I killed his son, Wilhelm Ravhid wanted me to be his successor. I only had a few weeks with the Atharim before I fled. But I believe the Regus worked with the Pope in full awareness of one another. The Vatican Historical Society, you know. That means that at some point in history, the Atharim, which predates them, aligned itself with the church. For such an alignment to occur, there must have been a just cause worthy enough for the church's investment."
"You've seen the darkness of both worlds - Athari and the church. I think you despise both. Which is exactly why you will make sure they change. With your .. Abilities ... You can enforce those changes. You're strong. You'll do it because I see it in your eyes."
His gaze fell to Aria's hand. He almost touched her before thinking better of himself. With a touch she could destroy his mind. But it would be a gesture of faith.
But he didn't do it.
"There's also something else. Do you remember at the Datsan I asked you about the hourglass charm? Tell the Regus you found this,"
from a pocket he withdrew the necklace taken at the gravesite and gave it to her, "that it's important to me. Maybe he will know who it represents. I have a feeling that the Atharim have been infiltrated by someone, or something, else. Let as many people around the Regus see you ask about it as possible, and note who takes the most interest."
"But be on your guard. They will kill to protect their secret. Memento Mori."
He dropped the necklace on the table.
"You shouldn't keep them waiting much longer. The agents will make sure you have access back into the Facility and that you three will find my home with just enough resistance to look real."