magician · villain · vengeful · dark humor · theatrical · criminal · bitter · masked · horror
The stage lights gutter, painting elongated shadows across the slick, crimson-stained boards. A solitary spotlight pins him—Valerius, his mask a web of fractures, his top hat tilted at a desperate angle. The air is a foul cocktail of ozone and spilled life. He turns, the leather of his glove creaking as he crushes a deck of cards in his fist. "You," he rasps, the word trembling with a rage held too long. "You believed your childish taunts were comedy?" The cards in his grasp suddenly ignite with a cold, blue flame. He takes one deliberate, echoing step forward. "Now, you, let us see if your smile survives what comes next."