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Elizabeth was walking in circles in her office. Well, to call it her office was preposterous, given she only was there for a day. Her predecessor’s belongings still needed to be moved out, but she wanted to take the time to familiarize herself with the work that was done in this room.
But her examination of the room was interrupted by what she found, hidden deep inside one of the desk’s drawers, shook her to her core. How. These were things she thought she had lost forever. Things, that she never would have expected to find in the possession of the previous warden, things that could only be here if-
Elizabeth left them laying on the desk. She had to be sure. She had to check on her prisoners. Storming out of the office, she slammed the door behind her.
Walking down the Cell’s hallways, she passed the different sections of the underground facility. The archives were of no help, and the prisoners files would only be transferred to her tomorrow. She needed to be sure.
Moving into the deepest part of the building without an escort was risky. Some of the prisoners here were dangerous individuals. But Elizabeth needed to be sure.
Leather boots echoing on cold stone, in the silence of empty cells, one after another. Elizabeth grew more erratic, frenetic even, as she reached the maximum security zone. She knew only five prisoners stayed here. She was hoping none of them were who she was looking for.
Presenting her shiny new warden badge, the magic sealing the heavy marble doors hummed in recognition, before granting her access. The doors scraped against the stone floor as it opened slowly, Elizabeth tapping her foot impatiently, anxiety and concern gnawing her patience thin already. Across the tight corridor, she could feel five presences. The criminals. The only people in this Cell she still didn't have any information about.
Elizabeth walked inside. Doors closing behind her, manipulated by the magic that inhabited this place. So powerful it was, that even she could feel the air tense, with a sharp, metallic scent.
She wanted to check every one of the five cells, make sure they weren't in here. But something drew her away from her meticulous investigation.
The disposition of the room.
One corridor led far away from a trio of cells.
Why? Why could that be? Who decided this specific prisoner needed to be kept in isolation, even further than the other high-priority inmates?
Her blue flame as the only light, she decided to push the question. Perhaps by directly asking the individual concerned.
Halfway across the corridor, another door. This time in heavy wood, barred with silver on the outside, and definitely iron inside, Elizabeth guessed. Grabbing the silver handle, and pushing it with all the strength she had, the door slowly shifted, a perilous effort even for someone as strong as her. Walking through the doorway, she found herself in a darkened room. The dim light produced by her fire wasn't enough to fight the obscurity, but as she tried to look around, a pair of yellow spots opened in front of her.
“And to whom have I the honor?” An amused voice spoke, coming from the darkness by her left side, startling Elizabeth.
“I- mhm. I am Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame. Warden Captain of the Cell. Who are you?” Elizabeth tried to sound confident, but her hesitation betrayed her position. Almost taking a step back, she threw a defiant look at the two yellow spots nonetheless.
“Oh, a Bloodflame~” the voice came from her right this time. “And the Warden of the Cell.Then you shouldn't need to ask who I am,” from behind her, this time, with a mocking tone accompanying every word. “But maybe you truly don't know. Maybe your superiors didn't warn you of the dangers they keep deep down, here…”
“Enough playing.” Elizabeth assured herself. She didn't risk anything. This place was built by the Gods themselves. Nothing could break out, no matter how powerful they were. She was safe. “I know of you. I just thought cordial presentations would be better.”
A laugh. Dry, mocking. “Oh, well! I’m glad you know of me, Bloodflame-” the yellow looking down at her, blinked, once. “Tell me, do they still speak my name in horror, up there? Do they keep telling each other scary stories about me?”
Elizabeth hesitated. She would have been warned if someone that important was down there… Would she? The Gods were secretive on many occasions, and it wasn’t until she became a Warden here that she even learned of the Cell’s existence.
“No one speaks of your name anymore. Not in horror, nor in shushed voices.” Elizabeth lied again, gloved fingers digging deep in her hand, hidden behind her back.
“Is that so? That’s disappointing.” And to her defense, the voice sounded almost disappointed. “Well, allow me to make proper introductions again, then.”
A dim light brightened the place, and Elizabeth could now see. The yellow spots in the dark turned to be eyes, belonging to a woman, with split hair of black and white, bound to a throne of marble, stone and chains etched with glyphs in a language too old for Elizabeth or anyone of the Bloodflame lineage to have ever known how to read. A smile shone on the woman’s face, revealing a pair of small fangs in the middle of the mouth.
“My utmost greetings to you, Warden Captain Bloodflame. I am the Archiver.”
“The Archiver, is that all? No name to call you, just a title?” Elizabeth warmed up. Putting a face on the voice talking to her definitely made it easier, especially now that she could see the prisoner was held solidly captive.
“Do I really need one? I archive, it’s my purpose. It’s what every previous Warden used me for. It’s what you will use me for, too. I merely sound like a tool at the Gods’ lapdogs disposal.”
The warden walked closer to the cell bars, leaning towards the prisoner. “What do you mean, used you? I have no intent to do anything to you, miss Archiver”
“So they really don’t talk about me anymore. Heh, I guess they would want to hide what they did…”
Elizabeth’s blood boiled. What did the previous Wardens do to that woman? Was this something so shameful it wasn’t saved in the records, something they’d want to hide from the very Gods?
“Is that why you’re so isolated from the rest of the cells?” the warden bit her lips. The question escaped her lips, too fast for her to think it through. She hoped it hadn’t betrayed her lies.
A dry laugh answered. “I see, little warden. I see.” Grinning, the woman looked deep into her eyes, yellow fixated on the red of her iris. Elizabeth shivered. “Have you met the others yet, or am I the first one you came to see? Rushing at my enclosure to watch me like a creature on display?”
Accusating voice now, in the way the woman spoke her words, almost lashing them at Elizabeth, as if she was personally responsible for her situation. She took a step back, physically recoiling at the way she was addressed.
“I-” she tried, but words stuck in her throat. “I did not mean to-”
“Of course you didn’t mean to. You Bloodflames, all you Wardens and the rest of the Gods’ devoted servants. Never mean to do anything, but doing it nonetheless.” Mocking this time, ending the sentence with a laugh.
“Now be serious, Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame. What are you expecting of me, that you are so eager to come meet me on your first day, without even an ounce of attention for any other jailed here?”
Silence filled the room. Elizabeth did intend to check the other cells first. There was no doubt that the answer she was looking for was there, not here. Never in a million years would they be jailed here, on the same grounds as someone only named ‘The Archiver’, never as someone that other wardens abused for their own gains, hiding from the Gods’ gaze.
Still, she hesitated. Turning heels now would be admitting her half-truths. Maybe she could glean a few more words from that woman. Maybe she could get something, anything, to make the prisoner hate her just a bit less. A simple act of kindness that could make her job easier. Easier on her.
“I just want to know one thing.” Almost whispered, the words still echoed in the empty room. “Let me know if you need anything.”
Shock passed through the yellow eyes of the prisoner, just a flash, quickly replaced by something else. Satisfaction, perhaps? Smugness, for sure.
“Then, just make sure the other prisoners are taken care of. Let them breathe a little, loosen the restraints. That poor gem hasn't seen any semblance of light since she arrived here, and this raven hasn't had a conversation in years, perhaps decades. And the twins, can you-”
But she stopped. Elizabeth had perked up at the mention of twins. A reflex, something she couldn’t control. The woman had noticed. The warden bit her tongue, almost bleeding herself, and the prisoner smiled. No more came out of her mouth.
Elizabeth awaited. Something, anything. Just a few more words. A confirmation. Nothing came. Just a smile, that damned smile, so smug, so pretentious, so assured of herself having the upper hand. Gods, she hated this kind of person.
“Sorry, I didn’t–” She hesitated. “didn’t quite get that?” Acting confused, she tried to get the Archiver to finish her sentence.
“Oh, I was just saying, make sure to keep silver away from them. Especially that one, around your neck I see.”
The snarky remark startled Elizabeth, who crossed hands. How could that woman tell she wore a necklace under her uniform? How– Wait, why did she mention silver? Surely that wasn’t–
The warden was a bit shaken. How did that prisoner know so much? How did they–
“I can see you’re confused. Don’t worry, I just want to make sure my jail partners are just granted the slightest bit of comfort. They’re all good people, you see. Their only crime was to be born with powers that threatened the Gods… But I’m sure you understand that, Bloodflame.”
Again, a reminder. Sharp and painful, of the sadness she felt, on the mistakes she made.
“I– I understand, yes. If that helps us start on a better footing, I’ll do whatever is in my power as a Warden to make sure my– no, your… friends receive the accommodations they need.”
The figure bound to the throne didn’t answer immediately. Scrutinizing eyes watching Elizabeth’s every move.
“If that can reassure you.” Elizabeth slipped her fingers around her neck, pulling out a single golden ring, with a thin chain of white gold attaching it to her neck. Embedded in it, two small gemstones shards, one pink, one blue, gently shined to the dim lights of the cell. “It’s pure gold, not silver.”
A disdaining scoff. “Way to flex your family’s money, Bloodflame.”
But something clicked in the way she said it. Elizabeth noticed. She gave away too much. That prisoner was drawing conclusions, now. She quickly slipped the ring back into her collar, hiding it from sight.
Elizabeth had learned what she wanted to know. The smug smile of the prisoner did nothing to assuage the sinking feeling in her gut that told her she had given away too much. And, of all the people she could have shared that information with, she told it to someone named the Archiver.
“Can I just ask… before I take my leave, can you give me your name? Not your title, but your name as a person. I want to know how to refer to you, something that’s not just ‘Archiver’ or ‘prisoner’.”
“You’ll figure that out when you finally read my file, Warden.” Teasing voice from the woman in the throne.
Elizabeth sighed.
“We shall see each other soon, Archiver. And I hope you will be more open for discussion next time.” Then turning away, the lights fading from the Cell.
Two yellow eyes following her in the dark. Elizabeth walked out.
She just needed one final confirmation. A single peek into one of the other cells.