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Chapter 288 - Rebirth

(Third Person POV)

[Street of Silk, King's Landing]

Viserra was walking alongside Alyssa, wearing cloaks with their hoods on, "To think they would actually do it so quickly..." She said softly, "Even I am surprised...." 

"Viserra, this is madness...." Alyssa whispered as she held her sister's hand, "We're not supposed to be here!" 

They made their way through an alleyway between two buildings, hearing the sounds of music and laughter from inside the brothels. Viserra heard moans of pleasure through the walls and windows, and she merely gulped and kept walking. 

As they reached a small courtyard between several buildings, they saw multiple cloaked individuals that were gathered there, in front of a brazier that was burning. In front of said Brazier, Ezra stood holding his hands out, feeling the heat that was singeing his skin. 

His hood was pulled down, and his face was illuminated by the light of the flames, with no reaction on it. 

Alyssa looked around, "Trinity worshippers....." She whispered, "There are a lot...." 

She saw that more and more were coming in through other alleys. Not only were there hooded worshippers, but several drunk patrons of the brothel were stumbling into the courtyard.

As Alyssa and Viserra walked up, the worshippers parted away to let them through. They said nothing, merely stared at the two Princesses, knowing well enough who they were. 

Ezra stood there, unmoving, feeling the heat of the flames, "Fire...." He said, "It is the basis of House Targaryen.....Fire....and Blood.....How ironic, don't you all think? That Fire and Blood is the words of the Royal Family.....and it is what we'll use for this ritual...." 

Behind Ezra and in front of everyone else, the black box and the shield were laid on the ground. There was a circle drawn on the ground as well, with runes that Viserra recognized from the night that Sol'Tyr was summoned. 

"I am nervous...." Viserra whispered

"Worry not." Ezra stepped away from the brazier and looked at her, "All will be revealed soon...." 

He then gently shook his hands and patted his cloak, gesturing at a large man who was standing a few feet away. 

"Masks." He said as he placed a black mask on his face, pulling his hood on

Alyssa frowned, "What?" 

All of the hooded worshippers put black wooden masks, with the symbol of the Trinity on them; two eye holes on them. 

"We're....concealing ourselves?" Viserra asked

A worshipper handed two masks to Alyssa, "You too." He said, "There will be a party soon....you Princesses will not want to be discovered, right?" 

Alyssa grabbed the masks and gave one to Viserra, "W-What party?" 

"Lord Drakken will appear." He said with a chuckle, "You think he won't cause a little chaos?" 

As Alyssa and Viserra wore their masks, Ezra raised his arms up, "Fellow Trinity worshippers!" He said, "I am Ezra, a humble Priest that serves the Great One, Drakken...he who listens to Sol'Tyr's commands.....and I have gathered all of you here tonight.....to.....commence the ritual of Fire....and Blood...." 

He then gestured at the large man who walked over to the black box and shield, grabbing the shield and dragging the box over to the drawn circle. 

"As all of you are masked, only my face will remain exposed." Ezra continued, "Tonight....we will feel the presence of The Great One...and bear witness as he does what nobody will be capable of comprehending!!" 

The large man placed the shield in the middle of the circle, opening the box and dumping the ashes right on the ground. Everyone watched as this happened, a bit taken aback by the sight of the ashes. 

"These ashes are remains of a very vile man...." Ezra said, "Someone who left their mark on the Realm.....one might wonder why the remains are still here with us....well....fate would have it that they are used on this night....for I have seen it....we will bring him back.....this man..." 

Alyssa's heart began to beat fast and hard, "Viserra...." She whispered, "I don't like this...." 

"Neither do I...." Viserra said, "But we have no choice...." 

'I..." She said softly, "But...." 

Ezra then gestured for some masked worshippers. They then dragged some drunk men by the arms and brought them to the circle. 

Without wasting time, they pushed them down and cut open their throats, holding them over the circle as their blood began to pour all over the ground. 

Alyssa gasped and stepped back, "W-what...." 

Viserra clenched her hand, "This...." 

They watched as the blood began to converge on the ashes, soaking them completely. Ezra then stepped walked around the circle and stared at this while the men who were killed were simply dragged away. 

"Yes...." He said, "The blood of the impure! The blood of the vile! Compatible with the remains of this horrid man.....and now....the blood of the dragon!" 

He drew a knife and gestured at Viserra and Alyssa. 

"W-what?" Alyssa said

"My blood is pure...." Viserra whispered, "But why would you need Alyssa's?" 

"Impure and pure....it needs to be mixed...." Ezra said, "You are distant relatives of this man...he is but the son of your great-grandfather..." 

"But...." Alyssa started

"Come." Ezra said, "I will have an ointment to heal your cut, worry not." 

"It's fine...." Viserra said as she pulled Alyssa alongside, "It will be fine." 

They both walked forward and extended their hands out. Ezra then gently cut their palms, draining a bit of their blood as it poured into the circle. 

"Ah..." Alyssa said softly as she winced behind the mask

They then watched as their blood began to converge with the ashes as well, the shield becoming stained with blood-soaked ashes. 

Ezra gestured at someone and a person walked up to rub a strange ointment on their hands, wrapping them with bandages without wasting a moment. 

"Blood...." Ezra said, "That is the first ingredient!" 

He then walked around and then grabbed an unlit torch, taking it to the brazier and lit it on fire. As he walked back to the circle, he looked at the others. 

"Watch...." Ezra said, "This is the power of The Trinity!" 

He then dropped the torch on the ground and flames erupted all over the circle, the blood-soaked ashes combusting in flames as a foul stench filled the air, causing most of them to step back in response. 

"The power of death..." Ezra said as the flames began to swirl, "The stench of the dead is prominent!" 

"What is the meaning of this?!" a voice bellowed

Everyone turned to see that several armored knights had burst through an alley, causing them to step back in alarm. 

"What?" Alyssa exclaimed, "Are we found out?!" 

"Blasphemous cultists!!!" a knight drew his sword, " Cease this at once!!!" 

Another Knight walked forward, "In the name of the Faith..." He said with a serious scowl, "We will bring you all to justice!!!" 

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Viserra by the arm, "What?!" She exclaimed, "Who?!' 

"The two of you!" Vaegon exclaimed, who was wearing a hood, "You're coming with me!" 

Viserra tried to pry herself free but someone bumped into her as the shouts of the worshippers filled the air. 

"Viserra!" Alyssa reached for her, grabbing her by the hand and pulling away as someone bumped into Vaegon, "Come here..." 

"It's Vaegon!" Viserra said

Vaegon was on his knees, "Shit...." He said, "You two...! Where are you?!" 

Alyssa and Viserra were covered by a barricade of worshippers who conveniently got in front of them as the Knights began to attack the others. Fortunately for this large group, some came armed and decided to fight back, taking the Knights by surprise. 

Ezra stood there, unfazed by the chaos, "Hm...." 

"Make way!" a voice bellowed as some knights pushed worshippers aside

Everyone then watched as Septon Barth walked forth, two tall knights walking behind him. He had a serious look on his face as he slowly stopped, staring right at Ezra. 

"You are the head of the cult here in the city?" Barth asked

"Cult? No....I am but a Priest who relays the message of My Lord." Ezra said, "The Great God of War and Death, Drakken. Someone you've met already....." 

"A vile man...who is no god." Barth said, "You will stop....whatever this is...." 

"I am afraid this is not possible." Ezra gestured at the swirling fire, which had completely covered the inside of the circle, "There is no stopping what is coming. A storm of the past, one that crushed The Faith completely before..." 

Barth narrowed his eyes, "What madness are you-" 

"Oh good." A voice said, "You're here." 

Barth then froze, a cold chill running down his spine as Drakken stood behind him, a slight smirk on his face. 

Barth slowly turned to see that the two Knights who were behind him had collapsed on the ground, bleeding out. This was happening as some of the Knights that Barth had brought with him were pushing away some worshippers. 

"What...?" Barth said

Drakken tilted his head, "Septon Barth...." He said, "A man of The Faith....you are about to bear witness the power of Death that I possess...." 

"Drakken...." Barth narrowed his eyes, "You..." 

Drakken clapped his hands, and suddenly, everyone was on their knees, including Barth. They were pushed down hard by a powerful pressure that they could not resist. 

Even Viserra and Alyssa were caught in this pressure; the two of them looked over at Vaegon, who was on his stomach, trying to fight it. 

"What...." Alyssa managed

The only one who wasn't targeted was Ezra, who merely stood in front of the swirling flames, "My Lord...." He said, "Great One....I have prepared this for you....it was but a trivial task...." 

Drakken smirked as he walked past Barth and towards the flames, pitch black dragon wings sprouting from his back, and the sclera of his eyes turning pitch black. 

"I bet it was...." He said as he extended his arm towards the fire, "This won't take long. Blink and you'll miss it." 

"Black-Winged Rebirth" 

Suddenly, the flames turned into a mass of pure blackness, which immediately dissipated and there was but a swirling miasma on the circle. It resembled a whirlpool, except it was pitch black and Drakken stepped back as he began to chuckle. 

"I didn't think it was this easy." He said, "But oh well....with my Calamity being at a proper level...I can do something like this...."

Then, a hand sprouted from the miasma as a loud shriek was heard. 

Barth saw this, "W-What have you done?!" 

Drakken's wings returned to his body, and his eyes turned back to normal. "Oh....nothing special..." He said, "Just....brought someone back...." 

Suddenly, the figure of a tall and muscular man emerged from the miasma, holding the shield in his left hand. There was a cold mist that spread throughout the area, hitting everyone present as the man was hunched over as he fully came into view. 

Vaegon saw that the man had white hair and, as he straightened up, saw the Targaryen Purple in his eyes. 

"W-Who...?" He said as he scowled, "Who is this...?" 

The Man simply stood there as the sclera of his eyes turned pitch black, giving an unsettling appearance. 

He then looked at his shield, a serious scowl on his face, "Grrr....." He opened his mouth and only a growl was heard, "G-Guuhh...agghh....." 

His body shook as he stepped forward, stumbling hard as he left the circle. 

Drakken crossed his arms, "Welcome back...." He said with a chuckle, "The Third King of The Targaryen Dynasty...." 

"Maegor Targaryen." 

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