In her room, Dalanesca could hear nothing but silence.  Of course, there were muffled voices outside the door of her chambers, but she could not hear them.  They begged her, pleaded with her to come out - but she would not.  She sat on the floor, her back against the foot of her beautiful four post bed.  In her arms was cradled the tiniest body, though it was cold and still.  Her daughter.  The child that should have been born into the world with love and care, into the arms of her loving mother and father.  Stillborn.  No father to be seen.  Marth had gone out on assignment some time ago, with plans to be back far before the child was supposed to be born, but he had not returned.

Something had gone wrong.

Dalanesca had cried, screaming for one of her magisters to call to Angela - she could tell that the baby was coming, but she was alone.  Marth was not there to comfort her, to assist with the birth - and the magisters had trouble finding Angela.  They had tried to assist to the best of their abilities, but when the child was born, it was lifeless.  No cries accompanied its birth.  The magisters, silently crying, handed the child to her.  She took her from them, cradling the lifeless body in her arms.

Dalanesca could not cry.  She could not speak.  Instead, with one look to each of them, the magisters were willed to leave the room.  As soon as she was alone in the room, the doors slammed shut and sealed magically.  Nothing could breach them - not even the power of the goddess Angela Rose as she finally arrived.  She was too late - but she called to Dalanesca through the sealed doors.

Dalanesca cast her gaze to the precious but lifeless face of the child in her arms.  “Get.  Out.”  Her words were calm, and quiet - but distinct enough where she knew that Angela and the magisters could hear her.  Her fellow Triune goddess pleaded with her to leave the room, but she only stood up, holding the stillborn infant close to her chest.  “GET OUT!” she screamed, and a power flowed forth from her in the form of a black cloud, bursting through the walls.  

The magisters in the hallway began to choke, and soon a thick, black liquid was pouring from their eyes, ears, mouths, and noses, and they were falling to the floor, dead.  After a few moments, a burst of power cast Angela Rose from the realm, as Dalanesca screamed wildly in her room, still holding her dead child in her arms.

She screamed, and the world around her began to crumble.  The walls of the Courthouse began to disintegrate, and soon, there was only darkness.

-

But then….

There was Darkness.