The Seventh Entry

 The morning passed by with little notice, the crackling of the fireplace providing entertainment most of the night. There was an archive of books that I sparingly browsed, many of them of the occult, but of little use to me. The darkness outside was lighter when Mira came to me. She knocked before entering, closing the door behind her, carrying a tray of food to the table between the chairs.

“Father had me make you breakfast, but you did not come down. I hope you will settle for lunch instead.” Mira said.

I looked at her, then at the tray of food. I was not familiar with the dish, but I sat down in the closest chair. She stood as if waiting to perhaps no longer be in my presence.

“Sit.” I said and gestured to the other chair.

Mira’s hands seemed to fidget behind her back before she sat in the chair.

“Have you eaten?” I asked.

“No.”

“Then.” I said gesturing to the plate.

She appeared offended by the gesture, and the silence was only disturbed by the fire.

“Do you,” She paused as if either processing or gathering the courage, “even eat?”

“Food?” I asked in surprise looking from her to the tray.

Mira nodded.

“I think.” I replied.

“You think?” Mira almost mumbled.

“I do not nourish the same as others.” I said.

Mira looked away from me and to the fireplace, a tense silence again filling the space.

“What are you exactly? Father doesn’t seem to know, nor does he care.” Mira asked.

“I am called a Dark Lord. My name is Axiom.” I replied.

“What is a Dark Lord?” Mira asked. She was deeply frightened but decided in her questions.

“I do not know.” I said.

“I don’t understand. If you do not know, then who are you?” She asked.

“I am Axiom.” I reiterated.

Mira was silent, processing what had been said, perhaps questioning if she was merely asking the wrong questions.

“What exactly do you do then, Axiom?” Mira asked.

“I lead the forces of the Obelisk, which in turn maintains my being.” I replied.

“The Obelisk?”

“My home.” I said.

“What does the Obelisk want?” She asked.

“I do not know. It does not say, nor does it ask.” I replied.

Mira appeared overwhelmed by the answers, taking short pauses between questions. Her black dress seemed to be of the same standard as her last, and her black hair was again pulled back into a bun. Her brown eyes lapped at the fire, although, appeared to change as she looked at me. My analysis was perhaps incorrect, her eyes a deep dark violet.

“What are you doing here then, Axiom? Why here?” She asked.

“I am searching for something but was asked to come here.” I said.

“So, you are now looking for something else?” She asked.

“Yes, perhaps the very thing your Father wishes for me to destroy.” I replied.

“Father brought this upon himself.” Mira said reaching over to the try and trying some of the food.

“What did your Father ask for?” I asked.

“I think he asked for everything.” She replied.

“And now you are next?”

“I’m not sure.” She said.

“I see.”

She stood from the chair, her demeanor calmer than before, and walked to the door.

“If you wish to seek out the creature Father proposed, it is east from here. Go through the garden and out the back entrance, then head into the woods once you are clear of the city.” She said.

“You know where it is?” I asked.

“I’ve seen it.” She said before leaving the room.

I stared at the fire, the food caking the room in an aroma. I was hungry, but it was not the food that made me so. Mira was not telling me something.