Verse XXXIII
Alexis looks out the window of the elevator leading to the Capstone ov tha Pyramid ov tha Priestess ov Mars.
The Death Factory smolders like a cigarette butt in the distance.
She is again shackled in Charm Bracelets.
Mistress LaReaux is behind her with the Laser Blade in hand.
A dried river of blood runs across the back of her neck and stops at her butterfly tattoo.
The elevator reaches its destination.
Alexis is shoved from the elevator by Mistress LaReaux onto the black and white checkerboard floor that lines the capstone.
Above the entrance to the capstone is carved the words,
DONT BREAK THA OATH
A ritual human sacrifice, the Ceremony ov tha Opposites, is taking place.
A Destiny lays upon the Altar ov Ashes surrounded by the Runes ov tha Ruins.
She sleeps in a closed-eyed trance.
Xavier is encircled by the Concubines ov Darkness.
They hold candles that burn the Ambrosia ov tha Virgin.
XAVIER
In the name of Oblivion, Master ov tha Ancient Electronic Arts and Lord ov tha Void,
Each new initiate of the Sisterhood ov tha Skull and the Brotherhood ov tha Bones is welcomed to the circle with a kiss.
XAVIER
Quench our every thirst.
Satisfy our every desire.
In the pleasure of every pain.
In the filth that is the flesh.
Mystre sprinkles Destiny’s body with the blood of a baby goat.
XAVIER
In this, the cremation of all our cares, inhale, exhale, then swallow space and time.
In the remembrance of things once thought forgotten.
Destiny’s body is set on fire.
XAVIER
Behold the blazing inferno that is the bayou whose blade is the Midnight Sun, forged in the Fires ov Damnation from the moonlight of the first full moon.
Xavier points the blade of the Midnight Sun towards the inner most point of the capstone where all lines intersect.
XAVIER
Its foul waters shall nourish its children and you shall serve me well.
Xavier lowers the Midnight Sun.
XAVIER
Where the stars will shine eternal.
Where the sky it never ends.
Where all will ride eternal.
Where the moonlight shall attend.
LaReaux tosses Manzini's severed head at Xavier's feet.
Xavier looks over at Alexis still chained in Charm Bracelets.
He motions to Mistress LaReaux to free her.
LaReaux hands the Laser Blade to a Drone and proceeds to unlock Alexis's Charm Bracelets.
They fall to the floor as Xavier takes his seat upon the Throne ov Oblivion between the Pillars ov Eternity.
Maximillion, a robotic black panther, purrs quietly by his side.
XAVIER
Creation is but a ceremony and life but a ritual.
I did not mean for any harm to come to your robot.
ALEXIS
He was your son Xavier!
You let that monster back there kill your son!
XAVIER
That abomination was not my son!
ALEXIS
Yes he was!
Xavier, like a man possessed flies up from the Throne ov Oblivion.
He grabs Alexis by the hair of the head.
Suddenly he raises his hand like he is about to beat her and then throws her to the floor.
Alexis's head is lowered and her eyes towards the ground like a abused puppy.
ALEXIS
Xavier, what kind of lies has Mystre filled your head with?
Xavier looks down upon her like a dog.
XAVIER
That the god ov hate and the god ov love are a man and woman that are in love, my dear.
Alexis looks up at Xavier with tears in her eyes.
ALEXIS
You're not a god, Xavier.
Xavier grabs the hilt of the Midnight Sun like he's about to kill her.
XAVIER
No my dear, I'm not...
Xavier plunges the Midnight Sun between the Pillars ov Eternity.
There is a huge explosion.
A portal opens between the Pillars ov Eternity.
He is consumed by a emerald flame and encircled by all the signs of the zodiac.
The Spirit ov Oblivion begins to build up within his body.
Xavier raises the Midnight Sun to the sky.
The stars directly above the Pyramid ov tha Priestess ov Mars suddenly connect to form the Sigil ov Oblivion.
Directly in the center of the sigil is a full moon.
The Spirit ov Oblivion within Xavier engulfs the capstone.
A beam of dark energy fires from the apex of the capstone.
It destroys the moon.
Fire and brimstone rain down upon the city.
Xavier is possessed.
He has turned into a large, black, robotic, sabbatic goat.
XAVIER
I am Oblivion!
Alexis opens her palm and the censors in her Power Glove jerk the Laser Blade from the Drones hand.
Once in hand Alexis and Oblivion run towards one another.
They leap into the air and both the Midnight Sun and the Laser Blade collide before the two of the them again land on the capstone's floor.
Oblivion heads towards Alexis.
Oblivion plunges towards Alexis and begins hacking over and over again at the Laser Blade.
It takes all of Alexis strength for her knees not to buckle.
Again and again he hacks until finally the Laser Blade begins to crack.
Again and again he delivers blow and after blow until the Laser Blade splinters into a million tiny pieces.
Alexis falls backwards and as quick as she can scrambles to her feet.
She dodges Oblivion's first blow by cutting a backflip.
Again and again he attacks breaking loose the checkerboard tiles of the capstone with every missed opportunity.
As Alexis ducks for to escape yet another blow Oblivion slams her in the face with the hilt of the Midnight Sun.
The blow almost breaks her nose.
It begins bleeding.
Alexis stumbles and falls backwards upon the Altar ov Ashes.
She is trapped. There is nowhere to go. No time for escape.
She closes her eyes.
She awaits her fate.
Oblivion raises the Midnight Sun over his head.
As he is about to deliver the final deadly blow the Midnight Sun is blown from his hands by Sassy.
Startled and seeing her moment of opportunity Alexis reaches into her boot and plunges one of her Ionic Daggers into one of the Eyes ov Oblivion.
Oblivion screams in pain.
OBLIVION
Ahhhhhhh!
Alexis grips the Midnight Sun he has dropped and slit's Oblivion's throat.
His blood spews upon the Altar ov Ashes.
Mystre is mortified.
MYSTRE
Nooooo!
Oblivion drops to his knees.
He is dead.
OBLIVION
Unngphff...
The portal opened by Xavier when he summoned Oblivion begins to close.
Mistress LaReaux fires several rounds from the Tombstone at Alexis.
Several Drones charge at Alexis and attempt to subdue her.
Mystre with Codex Magicka in hand attempts to run into the portal between the Pillars ov Eternity.
Alexis attacks the Drones chopping them in half with the Midnight Sun.
Mistress LaReaux enters the portal.
Alexis takes one of the the Drones Morning Star's and uses it to lasso the Codex Magicka in Mystre's hands.
She gives the Morning Star a tug.
The Codex Magicka is jerked away from the hands of Mystre as the portal between the Pillars ov Eternity as it slowly closes behind him.
The Pyramid ov tha Priestess ov Mars begins to fall in on itself.
The shards of the capstone begin to crush the members of the Order ov tha Trapezoid and the Concubines ov Darkness.
ORDER OV THA TRAPEZOID
Aaagghh!
Alexis has no time to think.
With the Midnight Sun in hand she frees Maximillion from his chains.
She mounts him like a lion as Sassy descends upon her shoulder.
Alexis cracks the Morning Star against Maximillion's backside.
Maximillion roars and they race towards the portal as the floor begins to collapse beneath them.
He jumps into it just as it closes and the entire Pyramid ov tha Priestess ov Mars begins to crumble in pursuit of Mistress LaReaux and Mystre wherever they may be.
But that is another story,
Amongst the riots and make believe…