Crimson Red, Cerulean Blue

Argot entered his master’s room, taking no notice of how dark it was in there. There was no window in Mask’s room, and no source of light, either, for Mask preferred the dark, remaining hidden among the shadows. It added to the terror, because while Argot’s master had no trouble seeing in the dark, he himself didn’t possess this skill. Any second, Mask could become displeased with him and his life would be gone, faster than his mind could register. He would never see it coming.

Argot knew this well, from experience. Many of Mask’s followers, who had displeased him like the failures they were, had come to meet the same fate. He didn’t like to think of the ones Mask had kept for his own amusement. It gave him nightmares, and Argot was a person who preferred being well-rested.

From all around him, a voice echoed, bouncing off the specially designed walls so that Argot couldn’t tell where it came from.

“You’re late.”

“I apologize,” he replied smoothly. “What is it that you desire, Master?”

“You know very well what it is that I desire.”

Ooh. Wrong words to say. Argot swallowed nervously. ‘Master, the Opposite Plan is nearly complete. I – ”

“Why is it that you insist on failing me, Argot?” Mask’s every word was calm, precise, designed to send fear through every inch of Argot’s body. “Why is it that you have not managed to kill a single member of the Seven so far?”

“Master, Violet’s public execution will happen in three days, as you know, and I have managed to capture Indigo again as well.”

“But why are they not dead, Argot?” Mask hissed. “Why do you insist on leaving them alive? We have had four of them in captivity before, and yet none have been taken care of. All we need is one of them. You only needed to kill one of seven measly children.”

Argot swallowed as his master’s voice took on a dangerous tone, the one that signified when he was debating whether or not he would have to get his hands dirty. “All I need is for you to kill once, and Spectrum will be mine. I have informed you again and again that the longer you wait, the stronger they will become. Tell me, Argot, are you deliberately procrastinating so that this will happen? Is it your intention for them to take back Spectrum from my rule?”

“No, master. Never.”

“Then tell me. Why do you insist on failing me?”

Argot chose his words carefully. “Once the Opposite Plan is complete, we will not fail. There is no way we can fail. Not when you, my master, have managed to twist the strings of fate itself. There is no way.”

“Ah, yes. The Opposite Plan.” Mask’s voice was deadly calm. Emphasis on deadly. “What phase is it in?”

“The Revival spell is nearly complete. We only need the final ingredient.”

“Good.” Mask’s tone relaxed slightly. But just slightly. “Where are they now?”

“They’re headed to the Collectors’ Mines.” A cruel, cruel smile spread across Argot’s face. “As we planned.”

“They do not suspect anything?”

“No, master.”

“See to it that they do not. Oh, and Argot?”

“Yes, master?”

“Which member of the Seven do you intend to use this spell on?”

“The pesky new girl, the one who insists on ruining our plans. Which one is she? Ah, that’s right.” Argot’s smile took on a distinctly predatory gleam as he stroked his cane, where he kept his poison-dipped weapons.

“Blue.”