Phantasma
by Kaylie Smith
Contents
Chapter 51
Overview
This flashback reveals how Blackwell became bound to Phantasma: the King of the Devils tortured Salem’s mortal lover, learned Salem’s True Name, murdered her in front of him, and sentenced Salem to rule Phantasma with his memories suppressed. The King also built in the game’s central loophole, allowing Salem freedom if he finds the heart and a key. Most importantly, the chapter shows that Salem’s lover’s soul was preserved and deliberately set on a path toward rebirth through Hestia Grimm’s line, linking Blackwell’s past tragedy directly to Ophelia’s present story.
Summary
Five centuries before Phantasma, Salemaestrus returns to the King of the Devils’ palace after learning his mortal lover has been taken. Although he had sworn never to return to the heart of Hell, Salem breaks that vow because rescuing her matters more than anything else. He tears through the palace guards, confronts his father in the throne room, and finds Sinclair being held there as well. The King reveals that Salem’s lover, under torture, gave up Salem’s True Name, which means the King now has absolute magical leverage over his son.
When Salem demands that his father punish him instead of her, the King has the woman brought out. She is brutally injured, and Salem drops to his knees to comfort her, apologizing for not reaching her sooner. For a moment they cling to each other, but the King violently separates them and uses Salem’s True Name to freeze him in place. Forced to watch, Salem and the woman exchange final declarations of love, and she begs him not to forget her. The King then tears her heart from her chest and has her body removed.
After killing her, the King explains that her death is only part of Salem’s punishment. Because Salem chose love over duty and let a mortal wield power through his True Name, the King sentences him to rule a new creation called Phantasma. Salem will be tethered there with no memory of the man he became, though the King leaves a loophole: Salem can go free if he finds the heart and a key. In return for escaping, Salem demands that every soul who knows his True Name forget it, and the King makes an unbreakable vow to do so. Sinclair is then ordered to escort Salem to his new prison.
Once Salem is gone, the King reveals the larger design behind the punishment. He sends Poe the cat to observe the games and report back after each one. Then he confirms with Dahlia that Salem’s lover’s soul has been secured inside a golden heart-shaped locket. The King decides that, after five centuries, the soul should be reborn into a paranormal mortal who would fear Phantasma but still be capable of entering it, so Salem’s test will not be too easy. When a servant mentions the imprisoned Necromancer Hestia Grimm as a suitable host line, the King approves the plan, tying Salem’s lost lover’s future rebirth to the Grimm family.
Who Appears
- Salemaestrus Erasmus BlackwellPrince of the Devils who tries to save his mortal lover and is sentenced to Phantasma.
- King of the DevilsSalem’s father; tortures Salem’s lover, kills her, and binds Salem to Phantasma.
- AngelSalem’s unnamed mortal lover, tortured for Salem’s True Name and murdered before him.
- SinclairSalem’s former friend, present in the throne room and ordered to escort Salem away.
- DahliaDemon servant who preserves the mortal woman’s soul in a heart-shaped locket.
- PoeThe King’s cat spy, sent to follow Salem and report on each game.
- Hestia GrimmImprisoned Necromancer proposed as the line through which the mortal soul will be reborn.