<p>Vitalis was in awe of his friend. He couldn't help but smile at him from behind his mask. He grins and actually pulls Otho in for a brief hug before standing almost triumphantly. A bit ridiculous looking given his almost naturally unkempt semblance.
</p><p><i> "Okay, Vesperid. You're right, Otho. I shouldn't have doubted you. I can do this, we can do this. You are my friend and I'm going to stick around whatever it takes. Nothing is going to get in my way of being here for you and doing what I can to broaden my horizons. Not the fucking Secrets; not anyone."</i> With this he held out a gloved hand to Otho.
</p><p>As the hours passed, Stheno was finally done meandering about the monumental assortment of gatherers to her event. And as she her graceful stride made it's way to the place where she stood at the beginning of the evening, as if she were altar itself, she turned to face the crowd. Her voice ariose despite it's powerful volume. Her mass of writhing serpents eyeing the guests carefully, As her own carefully shielded gaze was rendered tame behind her mask.
</p><p><i>"Hello, Hello. I'm sure you're all wondering why we've gathered you here this night. Well, on behalf of my darling siblings and I, I have an announcement to make."</i>
</p><p><i>"You see, we who embody the Dark have served as
tools in this ever lasting war for far too long now. And well, we refuse to do so. We are taking a stand, we are not pawns in your game. We are... oh, how could you say it? You can call us, the Monster Masquerade."</i> As if to punctuate her statement an intimidating amount of attendees let out cheers of agreement, Elementals of Darkness and Sorcerers alike. A wild gleam in their eyes as many of them removed their masks.
</p><p>Stheno opens her arms wide in a grand gesture, her perfect smile showing off opalescent, pointed teeth behind her porcelain lips. <i>"And just to be sure you know your place, Secrets. We've come insured that you won't get in our way. I hear there's a man, two actually, with the Court of Versailles who've invented a brilliant contraption to pale the creatures of the Abyss, turn them to the Nexus. Well... it is no longer in their possession. As a matter of fact, neither are the fantastic minds from which it sprung!"</i> Her entrancing smile disfigures into cruel sneer as her serpents hissed and tangled into coils of poisonous living tendrils. Her melanoid gown now seeming a lot darker than it did just hours ago, now more easily associated with a starless abyss rather than a calm midnight, the very air in the room morphed by her bewitchingly vicious presence.
</p><p><i> "We have taken them
both under our wings, along with the Crucible they've so meticulously crafted. We will not hesitate to use these aspects to our advantage, If you understand what I'm implying here." </i>
</p><p><i>"Now then, I wish you all a fair night, and I suggest you find the door. You
are in our garden, regardless of where our beautiful pieces have been set for the night, and unless you wish to remain where you stand for the rest of your days, you'll heed my words very carefully."</i> With this as her closing regards, she turns her back on whatever chaos may erupt behind her.
</p><p>With the grace and dignity of a ruling Empress, she leaves the room without another word.
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