It's a disorienting experience, suddenly being somewhere you don't recognize and having no idea how you got there. And as Merrick falls to her knees on the ground, she also can't remember where she was before. Or who she may have been with. It's a type of amnesia where... she knows who she is, remembers her life well enough. But trying to remember anyone else that may have been in it makes her dizzy.
Except for one. She remembers them vividly.
"Hello, child." Violet speaks above her and several feet away, and... it's hood is pushed back. Merrick has never seen its face before now, only eyes that resemble hers a little too closely. A gasp escapes her as she tries to crawl away from it, only causing Violet to chuckle. "Yes, I know... not quite what you were expecting, hmm?"
As Violet begins circling around her, Merrick is trying to look around and figure out where she is. It's all black, empty nothingness. Trying to speak, a strangled noise of fear can be heard from her throat before she manages. "Is this..."
"No, you are not in the Void." It answers, sounding bored. "You are... in between, I suppose. My domain. And I wish it to look like this for now, perhaps to remind you what's at stake."
"Yes." It answers softly, pausing in its movements. Nothing is visible besides its face and the deep purple cloak billowing out around it. "A misleading name for it, as it implies you have a choice in the matter."
Merrick tries to get to her feet, but it's as if an enormous weight is pushing on her shoulders as she's forced back down. "Just... what is it that you want from me? Please, just leave them out of it..."
Tilting its head to the side, a grin much too wide to be natural slowly spreads across it's face as it crouches down a few feet away. "Who do you speak of?"
It's... damn it, it's right there at the edge of her thoughts. How could she forget about them, their face, their name. The harder Merrick thinks about them, the more it almost hurts, groaning as her vision swims before her. "What... what have you done...?"
"Spared your mind from imploding, honestly. I wouldn't think too hard about it... could still happen." A beat of silence as Merrick resigns herself to staring at her lap. "There are a multitude of universes where you exist, child. Many where you go to that fateful party, most of which ends with you being trapped in that Manor for a very long time. And some where you accept my deal. The best thing about that is... well, it gives me an abundance of choices."
Rising to its feet, Violet closes the distance and harshly grabs Merrick's jaw, forcing her to look up at it. Claws barely poking into her skin as she groans in pain. "Lucky for me because fucking hell, all manner of beings were quick to flock to you. Trying to interfere with my plans. Spirits that feel no pain, a fucking God that follows you around like a giant puppy. An angel that fell from grace. The witch king Minotaur was an... oversight on my part. I didn't expect it to actually grow to care about you. And Wilford! Really! The man that shot you, killed you. The reason you ended up in the Void in the first place!"
"But..." Violet continues, letting out a slow breath as Merrick stares at it with wide eyes. "I'm anything if patient. I had to take these risks because if I stayed too close to any of you, then you wouldn't get stronger. And so... I'm left with a handful of choices."
Merrick's head is swimming with the information, several memories converging and trying to make themselves known. She attempts to struggle, to get away, but it's no use. Finally, frustration and anger burst forth. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"
The words ring in the emptiness for a few seconds, then dark, deep laughter as Violet's eyes flash red.
"You, dear Merrick. Or should I say, my new vessel."
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