Vorden and Raten, engrossed by the peculiar arrangement of the room and its mysterious furnishings, nearly collided with Sil as he halted abruptly. They stopped just in time, narrowly avoiding impact, and turned swiftly toward their brother, puzzled by his sudden stillness.
Sil stood rigidly, his face drained of color, eyes wide in abject horror, mouth agape as though a scream had been trapped in his throat. Following the direction of his stunned gaze, both brothers slowly shifted their eyes, curiosity rapidly morphing into dread as they took in the sight beyond the glass.
Before them stretched a viewing chamber, offering a stark and clinical vantage point over the expansive hall beneath. The floor below was brightly illuminated at its core, casting stark contrasts and shadowy recesses along its edges. The dim corners brimmed with an array of strange equipment and machinery, each object reflecting the sterile lighting in polished metal and glass. Countertops wrapped around the perimeter in a nearly complete loop, crowded with intricate devices, their purposes obscure yet menacing in their alien complexity. Larger apparatuses stood hulking in irregular formations against the walls, crammed into every available space, an attempt to clear a navigable pathway around the circumference of the room.
Yet, despite the unsettling clutter, this was not what riveted Sil and his brothers in stunned silence. At the very center of the chamber, isolated from the chaos by three formidable stone barriers crowned by glass shielding, was an experimental stage, bathed in harsh white illumination. At its heart rested a massive circular stone, its surface meticulously engraved with alien runes, each symbol glowing vividly from within.
Vorden's breath caught sharply, the weight of the moment pressing down on his chest as he recognized the figure restrained against the stone: Bliss. Her lithe form, usually radiating power and elegance, now hung limply, arms and legs stretched cruelly by heavy shackles. Her head drooped to one side, hair partially obscuring her pale, weary features.
An abrupt, cruel voice shattered the oppressive silence, emanating from the black sphere speaker in their room. "I can do this all day, scum," it mocked coldly, filled with malicious glee. "Don't make me do it again. Though, admittedly, I've grown rather fond of the delightful noises you make."
At the voice's taunt, Bliss raised her head laboriously, casting a hateful, defiant glare toward her unseen tormentor, her eyes filled with exhaustion and fury. The air crackled suddenly with an ominous hum, the unmistakable buzz of electricity charging. Bliss' expression shifted immediately to raw terror as a sharp current surged through her body. Her limbs trembled violently, muscles tensing involuntarily, and Vorden felt Sil stiffen beside him, his brother's anguish palpable even in silence.
The brief yet intense torment ceased, leaving Bliss visibly weakened, breathing ragged, head hanging once more in weary defeat. The voice, merciless in its interrogation, echoed again through the speaker, sharp with accusations. "Why did you help the godslayer? What power does he hold over you? Why betray your fellow celestials?"
Bliss remained defiant in her silence, and with a contemptuous sneer, she spat weakly towards her unseen captor. Another cruel surge of electricity tore through her, this time drawing a choked gasp from her lips, her fragile strength visibly waning.
Vorden glanced at Sil, witnessing the war raging within his brother's expression—anger, fear, desperation, each emotion battling for dominance. The voice persisted, more curious now, an insidious edge creeping into its tone. "What could it be? Could it really be that simple? No…surely not."
Bliss looked up sharply, genuine fear flickering in her eyes. "Oh gods, that is it, isn't it?" the voice erupted with cruel delight. "Did you spread your legs for the godslayer, Bliss? You traitorous whore!" Maniacal laughter spilled forth from the unseen interrogator.
Raten and Vorden's heads whipped sharply to Sil, whose face was turning a deep shade of crimson, fury etched starkly across his usually composed features. Vorden's mouth dropped open, a mix of shock and disbelief gripping him tightly.
Bliss turned away, her face flushed deeply with humiliation. The voice persisted, cruelly amused. "You did, didn't you? You sullied yourself with the vile godslayer, filthy creature!" The voice paused dramatically before continuing, even more venomously. "But wait, could it possibly be true—could you actually harbor feelings for him?"
Bliss snapped her head upward, eyes wide, betraying her panic and vulnerability. The voice howled with malicious glee. "It is true! You love the godslayer!" Bliss glared fiercely, pride and anger mingling as silent tears traced a path down her cheeks, the very image of stoic defiance fractured by heartbreak.
"Do you deny it?" the voice pressed mockingly. Bliss, with trembling resolve, lowered her gaze and shook her head slightly in resignation. A fresh wave of laughter resonated, a sound chilling in its cruelty.
"Well, let this be a harsh lesson," the voice intoned darkly. "Loving a godslayer and betraying your kin is sheer folly. You remember what happens to gods who love mortals." The electrical hum returned with a vengeance, searing Bliss for agonizing seconds longer than before. Then, abruptly, the harsh illumination above her snapped off, plunging her into shadow. Footsteps echoed faintly, retreating into silence.
In the enveloping darkness, the only sound was Bliss's heart-rending sobs, fragile, broken, eerily human. Vorden felt a pang of guilt grip him, remembering his previous disdainful comments about her. He turned toward Sil, who stood rigid with barely contained fury, his chest heaving with rapid breaths.
Vorden placed a cautious hand on Sil's shoulder, prompting his brother to flinch instinctively, lost in turmoil. Sil's expression transformed swiftly from rage to frantic concern. "We have to save her," he murmured urgently. "I must go to her."
Raten interjected quickly, voice firm yet worried, "You can't rush in there, Sil. It's too dangerous—we don't even know who that was or where they've gone."
Sil took a shaky breath, visibly struggling for control. "You're right," he admitted grudgingly. "It is too dangerous... for you. Wait here. I'll get her. I promise I won't act recklessly." Sil vanished immediately, leaving a tense silence in his wake, only the faintest whisper of hurried footsteps descending the ramp and the gentle, decisive thud of the door closing behind him.
Left in the shadows, Vorden and Raten exchanged grim, apprehensive glances, neither able to shake the unsettling premonition gripping their hearts.