the devil you know.

The prisoner whimpers beneath her teasing claws, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. His wrists strain against the chains binding him to the wooden contraption, his body trembling with the knowledge of what’s to come. Nepharia watches him with a languid sort of amusement, dragging the tip of one claw down the sweat-slicked column of his throat. Not deep enough to draw blood—not yet. Just enough to remind him how easily she could carve him open. ❛ Where is it? ❜ she purrs, voice low. ❛ The Grove. ❜ She doesn’t know who the fuck the Absolute even is, but the words tumble from her lips like scripture, devotion curling against her tongue like the heat of a brand. It should be funny—her, bowing to some nameless, faceless goddess. But it isn’t funny at all. It’s just true. The only thing that matters is the Absolute. The only thing that matters is—

And then, all at once, the world shifts.

A crack, a splinter in her mind, like a shackle snapping in two. The weight lifts, and everything comes rushing back. It slams into her with all the grace of a battering ram. The Absolute, whispering in her skull, a voice she had welcomed without hesitation. No—no, she hadn’t welcomed it. It had simply been. A constant, an inevitability. Her stomach turns. Her claws twitch above the prisoner’s heaving chest. What the fuck. The whimpering man before her ceases to exist for a moment. Her palm itches. Burns. She stares down at it, at the scar seared into her flesh, the grotesque sigil of a god she has never met, never worshipped—never would have worshipped. And then, another sensation. It’s sudden, invasive, a jagged, pulsing thing in the back of her skull. The world darkens at the edges, her vision splitting—not into two, but through two.

( She is falling. Her hands burn—too hot, too fast, magic slipping, failing. A girl’s face. Fear, desperation, love. A last-ditch effort—tucking the girl away, a hidden place, a safe place—before the mind flayer ship takes her. ) The image snaps apart, and her breath catches in her throat. She staggers, breathless from the sheer wrongness of it. Because it was not her own memory. Not her own pain. And someone else had just seen hers. ( A tall devil, attractive. Red eyes, burning like embers in the night. Giant leathery wings carrying her through the skies above the city of Baldur’s Gate—Then pain as a symbol is branded into pale flesh. Nepharia exhales sharply, lips curling as the haze clears. )

Her gaze lifts and she sees him. Ginger-haired, silver-eyed, standing amid a cluster of adventurers she barely registers. Slowly, deliberately, Nepharia lowers her hand from the prisoner’s trembling form and turns to face the group. She tilts her head, silver hair spilling over one shoulder, and lets her lips part into something almost like a smile. ❛ You here to help torture the prisoner for information about the grove? ❜ she drawls, voice smooth as silk, yet sharp as a blade.

❛ What? ❜ she presses, eyes alight with something wicked. ❛ Was True Soul Minthara afraid I’d go too far and spill his guts before he spilled his guts? ❜ She giggles at her own joke—light, airy, wrong. The sound is almost girlish, almost sweet, but it carries something else beneath it. Something jagged. Something dark. And yet, even as she laughs, even as she cocks a hip and plays the part she should be playing, she keeps her gaze locked onto his. Searching. Testing. Because she doesn’t know for sure yet if he’s one of them. But it’s starting to make sense to her as the seconds pass. She remembers the tadpole forced into her eye socket. How could she forget? This must have something to do with that. ❛ You a True Soul too? I ask because of the whole—seeing-each-other’s-thoughts-thing. Apparently all of the True Souls have this disgusting little worm in their heads, but if you tell Priestess Gut that she will swear up and down that she doesn’t have one. Delusional. This is a fucking cult. ❜

Inside the temple walls were not much better. Goblins had made their home here like a festering mould - every surface seemed overtaken by signs of their stay. As well as this cultic signage painted on almost every wall and banner. The wood elf wasn't sure which was worse - the smell of feculence outside, or the roasting flesh aroma they were greeted with once they entered the main chamber.

The goblins here seemed more at work here, conducting their terrible business. Osian knew their blood would no doubt be spilled soon... So to see them walking around, talking - living. It made him feel sick knowing he was going to be one of several to take that from them... To condemn them to darkness permanently. A life for a life...was that truly justice? Who would claim his life in retort? The cycle of murder would never end-

But just as he ascended the steps to the side, amongst the crowd of waywards that had gathered - wanting a better scope of the place - the now familiar pain struck him. It struck him from the top of the head and shocked it's way down his spine in an electric cascade. He grit his teeth hard, the pain so sudden he almost had to reach for a wall to steady himself. A hand to his forehead and visages flashed before him - ones he knew were not his.

A devil. Flight. And a searing pain across his cheeks and forehead. Just as it began, it ebbed away. Releasing the breath he had been holding in a single pant, his fingers felt at this cheeks - the smell of burnt flesh from the Priestess and the haze of the vision made him believe it was true for just a moment.

As his hand fell away, he felt eyes upon him from a smaller room. Looking in, he saw a pale visage of a tiefling...and a man strung up in chains - bleeding. She was speaking as if familiar to them. Seemed to single him out amongst the small crowd. Osian swallowed thickly, taking one step backwards - as if hoping to sink behind someone who could speak more clearly than he. Yet, there seemed to be a collection of either concerned side glances or smirks at the idea of watching him fumble once more.

So... Was he a True Soul? If she was one of them, and he denied it... No, no. This was different to the connections he felt with what seemed to be regular True Soul's. Stronger...more dangerous. He took a deep breath through his nose and spoke up.

"A True Soul...? No... A-At least not by choice." Osian tried his best to ignore the stronger glares from his companions - well they were welcome to step in at any moment now! Gods, what did he do in his previous life to earn this oppressive spotlight?

The elf stumbles over his words, uncertainty woven through every syllable. He speaks as if the weight of all eyes upon him is suffocating—like a boy thrust onto the stage of a play he never rehearsed for. Is he supposed to be the leader of this little band of misfits?

Nepharia’s silver gaze flickers over his companions, assessing, sifting through their faces like cards in a losing hand. Her eyes catch on the small green one. That one stands firm, poised like a blade mid-swing, eyes hard, unreadable. She has the stance of a leader. The elf does not. But his words interest her nonetheless. The smirk curling at her lips is slow, deliberate, but her eyes burn with something far sharper, far uglier. Her rage is a thing with teeth, slithering beneath her skin, coiling in her ribs like a caged beast. She is furious. Not at him, but at herself. Or—no. Not herself. The thing that stole her, the parasite writhing behind her skull, the Absolute.

She was owned. Again. Controlled like a doll on a string, bent to the will of something she never agreed to follow. And the worst part? She hadn’t even fought it. She had embraced it. She had spoken its name with reverence. She had believed. The prisoner shudders against the chains, but Nepharia has already lost interest in him. She steps back, claws flexing absently at her sides, her mind still unraveling the weight of her own fury. In truth, she’s done worse to men than this, and with far more enthusiasm. But this time? This time, she can say with absolute certainty—it wasn’t her choice.

Nepharia steps closer, slow, measured, her wings half-folded behind her, their edges skimming the torchlight. ❛ You’re sharp, aren’t you? Not well-spoken, but sharp.❜ Her lips quirk, but the smirk never quite reaches her eyes. ❛ No, I’m not here by choice. But now…❜ she exhales, silver gaze flickering, ❛ Now, suddenly, I do have a choice again. ❜ She gestures lazily, sweeping a hand toward the temple walls, the goblins still reveling in their drunken festivities. ❛ One moment, I was a True Soul. Whatever the fuck that means. And now? My mind is mine. ❜

𝕀 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕒𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖

a collection of lyrics from the album I Disagree (2020) by Poppy, use as you wish, adjust as needed // violence + dark themes present

These lifeless flavors don't satisfy me.

I need the taste of young blood in my teeth.

Everything in your life is a tragedy.

Burn it to the ground.

We'll be safe and sound when it all burns down.

Everything is going how it's meant to be.

If only all of you could see the world I see.

You keep preaching insanity.

What do you believe when no one is around?

Keep telling yourself that you've been playing nice.

Beg for forgiveness.

I finally know what it feels like to be dead.

Your soul can't be saved from the sins you've ignored.

I feel her heart beating in me.

Sorry for what I've become.

I'll stop when it's no more fun.

Let's see how far you're gonna take this.

You shouldn't be anything like me.

You'll never be anything like me.

This isn't a fight to be won.

I'm everything she never was.

Stop, you're making a scene.

You're coming at me with blood in your teeth.

Love is never-ending in me.

You can be anyone you want to be.

I believe you're the one who's meant for me.

Forgive your spirit.

Forfeit your life.

I'll keep you safe.

All I ever wanted, it was nothing I need.

All the power that you had, it just slipped away.

They would die for your position.

I'll never ask for permission

Do what you've been told

Sit.

Stay.

Lie down.

I will not obey you.

Don't cry, just bite your own teeth.

Don't ever, ever cry.

Keep on trying.

I'm sick of the sun.

I just want to float away.

I want it to go away.

Can someone turn the lights down?

Everyone told me that it would get better.

Every day feels exactly the same.

Lock the doors and find a place to hide.

Everyone is bland.

Don't go outside.

Shut your mouth, give up, and fall in line.

Everything will be okay.

Hey there, tool, I'm looking at you.

Why is everyone screaming so loud for no reason?

Why do words have no meaning?

We know you're losing it.

You can't be bothered to try.

You're in a mindless rush to die.

I dare you.

I can make you afraid.

I can make you obey.

I can make you ugly.

Look away if you feel unsafe.

I'm happy that the world is gonna end.

Do you get the feeling someone's after you?

Now they're closing in, there's nothing you can do.

It's just a dream.

I tried my best to find my peace.

Don't disconnect everything we've built up.

I've given up too much to let this take me out.

Don't ask me how I'm feeling.

There's nothing to talk about.

How could anything ever be the same?

Change is on its way and it waits for no one.

It’s not my fault.

Warning Sentences

(Sentences for warning muses of upcoming trouble. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"You've lost your reputation, and a reputation's life glass: once cracked it can never be repaired."

"Say that again and your career is over."

"I'm trying to warn your that your attitude is going to bite you in the ass!"

"I warned you; don't get involved."

"Once you've opened your heart, you can't close it again."

"If you think I'm the type who won't shoot you in the back, you're wrong."

"Let me make it clear to you that you are in no position to dictate terms."

"Bite my hand, and I will put you down."

"Be careful. You're too beautiful to die."

"There was a time when I would have gladly killed you, and there may come a time when I gladly shall."

"I'd tread very carefully if I were you. You, of all people, should know what I am capable of."

"Before you speak another word, I ask you to consider this: how valuable is your life?"

"You're causing everybody quite a bit of trouble. If you want a word of warning: don't keep it up."

"If you keep going where you're going, you're going to find trouble - whether it was there to begin with or not."

"I warned you not to succumb to temptation!"

"The danger is not over. It's just begun."

"You'll end up falling out with everyone if you carry on like this!"

"I'm warning you once: stay away from things that are none of your business."

"From now on, you will stay out of this. "

"A wise man would walk away from this house and make a concerted effort to forget everything that occurred last night."

"Don't you know it's dangerous to sneak up on an armed man?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to destroy you."

"Don't look for it. You may not like what you find."

"This whole thing is a trap!"

"If you want to live to see another day, you'll be out of town by nightfall."

"Do I need to remind you what happened last time you pushed me too far?"

"You're either really dumb, or you're trying to provoke me, which also makes you really dumb."

"Sometimes, what we wake up can't be put back to sleep."

"You've used the threat of violence against my family twice now, for the sake of your own personal well-being, I really wouldn't again."

"You're not going to survive coming after me."

"You are delving into areas over which you have no authority."

"I'm warning you; no more questions!"

"If this continues, it won't be long until you've got nothing left."

"You're coming up on your last chance to turn back."

"I must warn you that my patience is not inexhaustible."

"We stay out of other people's business out here, if you catch my drift."

"Don't ever defy me again."

"I warned you, but you didn't heed me."

"Don't ask again or I'll kill you."

"I must warn you, you are about to set a very dangerous precedent."

"Mark my words: I'm not one to play games."

Penny Dreadful Sentences, Vol. 3

(Sentences from Penny Dreadful (2014-2016). Adjust phrasing where needed)

"My shame is my own to live with, and I shall."

"True evil is, above all things, seductive."

"You're a very interesting man. You can't be as pure as your face suggests."

"You must like hidden things, for you hide things very well."

"Tell me your secrets, and I'll tell you mine."

"Scientifically speaking, life's nothing but a series of chemical reactions."

"I have been much feared and hated in my life."

"I've not had many friends in my time, but I'm proud to count you among them."

"Do your ambitions not exceed this?"

"I've tasted success, and it's a meal I now wish to devour."

"How many scattered corpses will you leave in your bloody wake before your life has run its course?"

"You offer me a normal life. Why do you think I want that anymore?"

"I was not made to scream."

"I promise you we'll be less afraid tomorrow."

"You can't die until you've served your purpose."

"You know you have a further destiny. Let this be it."

"Don't flatter me. I know what I am."

"Hunting a man is no great thing. They're slow and predictable, and they can be found always where their appetites lead them."

"I'm not the man you knew. There's blood on my teeth, and in my soul, I think."

"I've always loved the ocean and felt great affection for creatures of the deep."

"Thank you for tonight. It's meant more to me than I can say."

"I'll never forget your name again."

"Has my utility not been amply demonstrated?"

"Has my allegiance not been proved?"

"If you cannot endure the nightmare, you should not lie down for the sleep."

"Before you speak another word, I ask you to consider this: how valuable is your life?"

"Because I murder with will and not like a blind animal, you think me a monster. Yet, how many corpses have you left in your wake?"

"I want to liberate your truest self: the beast that prowls around your heart."

"In this mortal world, you'll always be shunned for your uniqueness - but not with me."

"I will love you for who you are."

"You have no sense of the terrors I will bring onto you."

"You think we're the same? Fellow outcasts?"

"I have no intention of repenting."

"You must be quick, and you must be vicious."