Chapter 3.2: The Plane In Between

“He is a very powerful sorcerer that watches over your world and mine”, Cyrzana says. They can see the worry that lies in her green eyes.
Mero looks at Bruq to prove his point about wizards and sorcerers, but the satyr is too busy with the matters at hand.
(Intelligence 13)
“I presume your world is Abaddon?” Bruq raises his eyebrows as he asks her.
The fact he knows about this place startles her. For just a few heartbeats, she doesn’t know what to say.
“You are correct, but how is that possible? Abaddon is a world hidden from most mortals.”
The hunter points at Dargothoth. The draconian walks towards to princess and observes her again.
“My clergy struck deals with demons from your world. I can understand why Abaddon is shrouded in mysteries as I know what your demons trade in. If I may be so bold to say, I am a fan.” The cleric smiles. His razor sharp teeth match her almost vampiric fangs.
“I am flattered, but I doubt any demon from my court have dealt with the likes of you. I presume you know what succubi are known for. You don’t look like my target demographic. Or do you?”
She teases Dargothoth and he knows it, but he likes it. Finally he meets a real demon, someone who can teach him more than the dull books of his clergy could.
“On the subject of the Beholder”, Lyssa interrupts them and their intense contact, “what can you tell us about him? Is he a malevolent man?”
Cyrzana shakes her head. “I call him the Voyeur to his slight annoyance, although I think he secretly likes being teased. He only watches and never acts, not outside his own precious plane, that is.” Her eyes narrow and she grinds her teeth. “I am stuck here, because he won’t help me open my portal back home. He says it’s not his place in our realities to intervene, whatever that means.”
“So he won’t harm us?” Oslando sounds hopeful. “That’s good to hear. I am sorry for you, Your Highness. Can you help me understand something? If you don’t belong here and want to be in Abaddon, why enter the portal in the first place?”
She shakes her head. “I did not come here willingly. My mother exiled me here, but I don’t know why. She brought me here with a kind of magic I don’t understand and can’t break.”
(Deception 14 versus Insight 21)
Mero looks up at her.
“Maybe you can bring us to him”, he says. “Maybe we can talk to him on your behalf. I think we can work something out with him.” He sounds hopeful.
The demon smiles. “I can sense you are sincere, little one, but your proposal comes from different motives.”
Her statement changes the expression on his face. If the mask would allow him to raise his eyebrows, he would.
“I believe you want to help me, but there’s something you want more. You want to meet the Beholder yourself. Very badly, I might add. Why is that?”
He looks at his feet, feeling guilty.
“I… I hope he can help me answer some questions that have been troubling me. I thought we could speak to him out of multiple interests. My apologies, Your Highness.”
She shakes her head.
“Don’t apologize. You should not feel guilty because you have wishes of your own. I would question your sanity if you didn’t have any.” They both smile at each other.
“He does have a point”, Oslando says. “We have no clue where we are and how we can leave this place. Can you bring us to him?”
The succubus turns her back towards them. Her hips sway as she walks towards the yellow pathway leading to the pyramid.
“Follow me”, she chuckles.

“Why did your mother exile you?” Lyssa walks beside Cyrzana, while the men are a few feet behind them.
The princess sighs and closes her eyes for a second.
“Honestly, I don’t know. My mother and I have always been close, but when she called me to her court she sounded so different. She was so cold.” Her gaze stays fixed on the path before her. “She shamelessly told me that I wasn’t welcome in her kingdom anymore and that I needed to leave Abaddon immediately... It doesn’t make sense. I am her only daughter and heir to the Black Throne. I would never threaten her reign. I have always done everything the way she told me to. I have done nothing wrong.”
Lyssa looks at her with compassion.
“How can a mother be so cruel? She gave no reason whatsoever? It sounds unlike her, based on what you told me.”
“Exactly!”
It’s the first time she looks directly in her eyes. Lyssa can see she’s hurting. She can read Cyrzana’s eyes like an open book and there are chapters full of sorrow and grief to read. Lyssa knows succubi and sirens are both creatures of emotions and she can’t help but feel for this demon.
“It’s nice to have someone to talk to besides the Beholder”, Cyrzana says and she smiles at her. “We will continue this conversation soon, if you don’t mind. We have arrived at our destination.”

The path of yellow pebbles ends at a cave-like entrance at the bottom of the floating rock. They enter and a dimly lit hallway leads them to a central room within the rock.
“What’s this?” Bruq points at a large sigil on the floor. It’s ten feet in diameter and radiates with magic. The white paint glows and heats up the room.
(Arcana 9)
“I… I don’t know”, Mero stammers. “I don’t recognize any of these symbols.”
“It’s a teleportation circle, of course.” Cyrzana’s voice doesn’t sound belittling. She sounds helpful.
“I expected you would recognize this kind of conjuration spell, but maybe your specialization lies somewhere else. You should ask the Beholder.” She points at the circle. “Let’s go ask him.”