|
Post by Willow on Jul 18, 2010 21:30:21 GMT -6
3.The Fantastic Four Asina, Ciel, Danalli, and Zanen Location: Tekania The morning was gray and somewhat melancholy, but it was still early enough that the sun still had a chance to show his face later on, though the clouds did look pretty persistent. The air was crisp and getting colder every day as the cold season approached. This part of the realm got extraordinarily cold during this part of the year, so cold that the Avians had to keep themselves safely tucked inside or risk death. The cold could do that to them, and even this amount of chill was enough to keep the summer-species of the bird people indoors and cuddled up and the winter-species putting on an extra layer.
Like the owner of the infamous tavern that was frequented so often by Asina. She had a nice thick sweater pulled on over her simple tunic and leggings, the sleeves cuffed back just enough to that she was able to pour drinks and carry food without dirtying them. Other than that, she was more than determined to stay nice and warm. When Asina walked briskly into the tavern, the heels of her boots clicking against the wooden floor in an agitated click, she had to turn back and pull the door shut after her when she would normally let it hang open at the sight of her dear friend shiver from the zip of the wind that prowled in through the barren tables and across the skin of the few morning patrons. Of course, then she just returned on her stalk to her favorite corner table and flagged a waitress down for a pot of tea. Something nice and strong. Truthfully, she would have gone for ale if it weren’t so early. Not that it was too early for ale. No, never that. It was more that although Asina would never admit it to anyone under pain of death, she couldn’t stomach ale before she’d eaten something. As of yet, she hadn’t had a single bite.
Delia, the owner of this fine establishment, noticed as petite but terribly powerful woman slid into the corner of the booth that Asina looked a little haggard and horribly irritated as she toyed with the emerald-hued crystal shard she always wore around her neck. It wasn’t like the High Priestess was a particularly amiable person any other day, but she looked more irritable than normal this morning, which was enough for Delia to make a mental not to steer clear until she looked a little more in the mood to socialize.
While the otherwise perky Avian was concluding such an observation, Asina was yet again astounded at how completely stupid people could be. She’d woken up in a bad mood and had proceeded to be unable to find anyone she was looking for, which made her mood worse. Then she’d run into an annoying disturbance in the middle of the market square! Some idiot of an assassin had gone and killed his mark on the doorstep of a bakery and hadn’t cleaned up his mess. Then she had been dragged into it because she had just happened to be walking by and the damn assassin had recognized her. Dammit. Sometimes she wished that she had remained as distant from her people as her sister had in her side of the realm. Then at least people would be too scared of her to bother her.
Then again, she wasn’t completely insane and was actually a rather reasonable person, so that could factor into why her people seemed to have no problem pulling her into stupid arguments when it was obvious that she would rather not be bothered.
Thus, she was in a bad mood. Bad enough that despite knowing that it probably wasn’t the smartest idea to be out and about today she had no intentions of heading back into the palace where it was undoubtedly safer. Last night she’d used too much power to set a plan in motion for the next wave against her darling twin sister, and anyone close to her knew that after a major work of power was when she was most vulnerable. That was the trade, after all. She’d chosen sanity and in exchange she was disgustingly weak for a few days after using a certain extent of her power. Lilani was insanely powerful and could use that power at will. Asina just hadn’t wanted to go bat-shit crazy.
With a silent snarl she glared down into her tea before lifting it to her lips and taking a small sip. People pissed her off. Raking her fingers through her shag of ebony hair, she noted that it was getting long again. It tickled her shoulders, which were uncharacteristically covered only by a light shirt. In her need to wander she hadn’t even put on her usual costume of leather or metal armor. She’d just needed to get away from stupidity.
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 18, 2010 22:15:08 GMT -6
It was a beautiful morning. Every morning had been during these peaceful past months, no matter the type of day. Her wonderful alarm clock awoke her with a tender caress and a soft heartbeat. Her dear Zanen. Their daily duties were completely separate but every night and every morning they were always together. They enjoyed each other’s company and their love. She would try and fight the sleep when she was in his strong arms during their late night adventures and sometimes as he would whisper some exotic lullaby to her heavy eyelids. No matter where she fell asleep she’d always wake up to his heartbeat and he would be near her. Sometimes she felt awful he had to carry her everywhere but his smirks would always tell her she was being ridiculous. He was never ‘away’ from her in a sense.
After nearly living with him for all this time, Danalli had picked up on some of his traits. She knew she was always near the front of his mind and that he was always keeping tabs on her. It wasn’t to be controlling. She completely understood that. He was protecting the one thing he’d allowed so deathly close to him. She was high on his valuables list. She would never object to his ways, because he’d been doing it for over a thousand years. She was perfectly fine with being protected and he never forbid her from going anywhere. It seemed as though she never faded from his senses no matter how far she was.
This morning was no different. He had whispered something loving to her slumbering ears as she murmured a quiet warming waking response. She was barely able to sit up and watch the sunrise with heavy eyelids from her bed… their bed… She remembered blushing as she rubbed her eyes and stumbled to stand. Stumbled into him. His chuckle made her smile. ’Good morning, Pretty’ They had walked together the balcony to enjoy the sunrise like they had been.
A snort shook her from her daydream. Black eyes almost scolded her. “I can’t help it you know,” she offered helplessly in a high voice. He just shook his mane and snorted again. It was as if he was asking her how lovesick she was. “Necromancer it is not every day you find you soul mate.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re just jealous.” He gave a soft push with her head. It must have been a little too strong because it sent her to the ground. Shmuck! Her warm chocolate eyes flashed to the mud that had splattered all over her light violet garb. It wouldn’t have mattered but she’d worn this outfit to surprise Zanen. He’d ordered it for her.
So much for training the colts this morning… She could feel the anger rise in her as Necromancer reared and neigh as if he was laughing. She gritted her teeth. Her outfit was ruined and the mud in her silver white hair only made the fire rise. “You’re dead,” she hissed as he turned to run, bucking and neighing in amusement as if he had planned this. Danalli charged after him, her legs beginning to blur. They were on the edge of the clearing but she didn’t care. She tore off her shirt and her pants fell with it just as her flawless golden skin blurred. An angry whinny followed by hard hooves raced after him as she bit at his tail. She was going to be late in meeting him and she was sure he wouldn’t mind. ‘Stupid stallion.’
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 18, 2010 22:31:54 GMT -6
The past several months had passed quicker than any moment he’d ever experienced, and those months had been filled with long, luxurious moments that had stretched out to a blissful eternity that had surpassed any of the decades and centuries he had lived through in his lifetime. Danalli had lightened his life so much that those centuries of darkness had been nothing but a bad memory, a nightmare, since the moment she’d stepped into his life. It was remarkable what she could do to him. Truly remarkable. Since that day that their hearts had beat together and like the first ray of sunshine over a barren land, turning it into a paradise of color, he had been caught up in this new world she’d brought him into. This new world that was a brighter, present version of the one that had been lost what seemed like eons ago.Danalli. His love. His Light.
In the moment that their hearts had first touched she’d become his savior and he wasn’t even sure she realized the full impact of what that meant. It made him crazy with this possessive, protective need to keep her close, to make sure that he could hold her in his arms in the privacy of their rooms and to know where she was whenever it was possible. She was a woman of fire and spirit, so it was impossible to hold her down or back at all. He wouldn’t want to. To fully contain that amount of Light was just wrong. But… he wanted to hold on to what he was allowed to grasp.
So when she left the palace he made sure that he knew where she was going so that if anything ever went wrong he could be there in an instant. Zanen was no fool. He knew that if the wrong person knew about this and Danalli’s relationship, of her connection to him, there would be a lot of trouble. Because she would be the easiest way to hurt him, and to hurt him in any way would be a direct hit to Asina, both in her protection as well as personally. It was hard to hide the connection between him and his Priestess, but the connection between he and his love? For Danalli’s sake and the sake of their entire kingdom, they needed to keep ‘them’ a secret. Even so much as sharing his rooms at the palace was very, very risky. But he couldn’t not have her there. Have her scent on his pillow, her body next to his, her heart physically so close to his own every morning as he felt it beat within his own ribcage.
He just wouldn’t be able to stand it if she was far away on the other side of the palace at that time.
And who is really going to say no to Zanen? The Oracle?
Well, Asina could, but after meeting Danalli and finding out about the relationship she’d swooped in and the two were like sisters. It was like they’d known each other forever. That, too, was something that made him smile secretively under the swaths of black that hid his face. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but that his two girls got along was very reassuring. Comforting. And something more than that. Especially that Asina was nearly as protective as he was over the Delavis woman he’d found his heart again with. That really meant something.
From the shadows in the darkest and most dangerous corner of the Tekanic Marketplace, Zanen sighed and shook his head, pushing his thoughts away from Danalli for a moment and back to what it was that he was supposed to be doing. After all, he hadn’t come to the edge of monstrosity to pick out some flowers for his lady-love. He’d get those later and in secret from a friend of Asina’s and have them roll discreetly out of the shadows wherever she was later on just to let her know that he was thinking of her and that he was always a short call away. After all, all she really had to do was brush a shadow and call his name and he would be there without a further thought. Nothing could keep him from her side if she needed him.
Violet eyes watched an exchange of information take place before him, noting who the rat was that had been slipping information to one of Lilani’s spies. It angered and disappointed him to recognize the man as someone who worked in the stables of the palace itself.
Well, that would have to be taken care of…. Personally.
That taken care of, he moved, silent like death, from the shadows and made his way to where he was supposed to meet Danalli. He was going to ‘escort’ her to breakfast on the ‘order’ of Asina, who was much more known than himself to form attachments, though neither of them had any known romantic ones. But Asina had friends. Well. She had her people. Delia the tavern owner, Nakiera the owner of the bakery in the center square. Just a few, but they were well protected. It honestly wasn’t strange to see her having a drink with any one of them. Now Danalli was added to that list.
The black-shrouded enigma sighed softly to himself and shook his head as he looked out from the shadows and up toward the palace before toward the tavern in the other direction.
Danalli always kept him waiting. Of course, she was the only one other than Asina that could do so successfully, so who could really blame her for utilizing that ability?
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 18, 2010 22:59:06 GMT -6
Clang… Clang, clang, clang, Kshhht. The black metal seemed to glisten in the dull sunlight. The sword seemed so heavy but he wielded it as if it were a piece of straw. It was a seemingly easy task for him, a pure blooded Zephyr demon. Ciel flicked his wrist. A hissing noise sounded as his self-created shadow pawns rose from the forest floor. They growled and barred their teeth at him. He smirked and they all attacked him at once.This went on from the wee hours of the morning.
His shoulder was still bothering him from his mission a few months ago. He smirked remembering his wonderful welcome home party. His little spitfire was all about the welcoming. That night… Ciel had found a nice thick branch to lie back on. With his arms behind his head, he enjoyed a breather and a few delicious thoughts of his woman… without anything on and himself… His breath caught as he focused on not trailing off entirely. That would distract him just a little too much.
The red gem buzzed with power as it lie on his neck. He was certain she was worried. He’d been gone for a bit longer than normal, but he couldn’t help it.
For one, he was a loner at heart and sometimes the palace got under his skin. He’d always hated castles and maids at his beck and call. Although he knew Asina was aware of this he couldn’t help but feel like him disappearing in the middle of the night affected her slightly. And that was something he did not want, but his well being had to come first. His strength was what could protect her kingdom, not his heart. And for two, well… he was no fool. He knew how demons worked and he knew how brothers worked. Anyone with someone like Zanen around was someone you just had to be cautious and extremely respectful around. Ciel was not in the least bit intimidated by his kin, he was only cautious and distant because of Zanen’s direct link with Asina. Ciel would not disrupt that link, would not even think of it. That’s not how it worked. He was more than aware that Zanen had discovered this a long time ago. They were words that did not need to be spoken or traded with glares.
So he kept his distance around Zanen and around public eyes. Her relationship with him was not important for the kingdom to know of. To anyone he was simply a guard and a very close friend. He made no moves of affection and simply remained close by. A part of him hated it, but that part knew very well that it was for their own good. Ciel found this… Danalli interesting. She was barely over the level of mortal and yet here she was, having Zanen following her around like a lovesick puppy. Asina had tried to explain the complex relationship and bond they’d found themselves in, but Ciel had snorted in response. ’No matter how you explain it I won’t understand.’ His remark had been vicious, almost envious. He would never admit the jealousy he had when he’d found out Zanen had found a loop hole to feel such a warm emotion and to give it wholeheartedly to someone who completed him. ‘Damn Raves,’ he growled in his mind as he hopped down from the branch. Ciel slid his blade into place on his blade and continued from the outskirts of town into the marketplace. His necklace hadn’t hummed for nothing. He breathed in deeply. It did feel good to be home. He looked to the palace, but it felt empty and hollow. Perhaps his Asina was out and about. Maybe he’d find her in her favorite place… That bird woman’s tavern.
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 0:08:47 GMT -6
Dark eyes seeped fury as Asina glared down into her cup of tea. If she stared any harder at it the steam coiling off the liquid would probably wisp away and the tea turn cold. Maybe it was the anger that was flowing through her at the moment, or maybe it was her state of weakness, or perhaps it was a combination of both, but the slender warrior Priestess was finding that her mind was wandering back further than it had in longer than she could remember. It was something that she tried not to let herself do. Every time she did, especially when she found herself thinking back to the time that her mind was currently drifting, bad things happened because of something or another. Once it was because she was daydreaming and she ended up falling off her horse.
Note: Asina never falls off her horse.
Oh, and another time her dedication to turning things back the way they had been had driven her nearly mad enough in a scheme that had almost gotten her killed.
Another note: Asina is pretty hard to kill.
There were other times, as well. Others that had all ended similarly, had all ended badly. Yet here she was, her mind drifting back as she stared into her tea. Ugh, she could almost see it materializing behind the reflection of her own eyes in the still surface of the steaming liquid. The one-room hut in the middle of her forest where she could hide still existed, she knew it did, but she hadn’t been there in years… in decades. It had become too dangerous and too irresponsible for her to run away and hide when she should be ruling. And the demon tribes. They’d all camped close by. If she wanted she’d just hike over and join in on the bonfire. She ruled her people. Her true people. The demons and the darker creatures, the ones who relished in the fall of shadows as the moon rose and set across the sky. The daylight was home only to some of her people, only some of her creatures loved the daylight and she had met with them, as well. The villages were not far from the edge of the forest, and they were also built up in the huge clearings that were spackled through the forest she called her home.
Her true home
Of course, those had all been burned down. All of them had been destroyed and it had become necessary for her to flee past the plains and into open ground where she could see an attack coming so that she could defend not only herself, but her people. That was why her undercurrent of power kept her side of the realm darker: for her people. Now, not only she but hundreds of thousands of her people were forced out of the place that called to them and out under the sun because of her wretched sister.
Ugh.
That fowl, loathsome, petulant, whore of creature!
A low, lethal growl rumbled out as she shoved the teacup violently away from her, spilling it over the table, but her eyes were unfocused and she didn’t even notice as her mind drifted further away from the present and closer to the past, to the way things had been, to the way that should still be and the way they would have been if it weren’t for that thing that shared the same genes and the same birthday as herself. That person who had destroyed everything in her idiotic compulsion to cleanse the world, as she had insisted was her mission. A stupid, pointless mission that had driven Asina to herd her people out of their home so that they could be safe in a walled city in the middle of the plains.
“I’ll kill her,” she hissed softly, pure demonic rage sizzling in her veins that she lacked the power to back up right now. “I’ll kill her. I’ll kill you, you bitch. I’ll kill you.”
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 19, 2010 1:38:10 GMT -6
“Gah! You stupid big lug,” she screeched at the stallion. She had changed back in the deep forest. “Just what am I supposed to do now? I have nothing to wear. Let me just trot through the hallways and fit through my chamber door and change back…” The stallion laid down as if he needed to sit down to brave her onslaught. It must have been hilarious to watch. Danalli, as bear as the day of her birth, scolding a stallion three times her size that had laid down in the middle of her tantrum in order to handle it. “And just ‘what’ do you have to say for yourself?!” Her glare was furious. The horse looked away from her and nickered apologetically. Her eyes softened. “Alright Necro… I’ll forgive you if you give me a ride. Go and grab my clothes I left. And hurry or I’ll tell Zanen that me being late was all /your/ fault.” Nercomancer all but galloped back from his laying down position. It took him only a few minutes to return to her. She reluctantly pulled the dirty clothes from his mouth and onto her body. His eyes were almost scared by her threat and his body was tense. “You don’t really think I would ever cause any harm to you would I, Love?” She nuzzled into his nose before hopping on his back. “Alright it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a horse. So be nice please!” There was a giggle in her voice. She’d never ridden him before. “Let’s go. To the palace.” He leapt in action. Danalli had barely blinked before she saw the landscapes fly by her. She wove her fingers in his mane just to be safe. He was so smooth and fast. It was no wonder why he was Zanen’s. He had a spark in his step that made this sense of wildness grab hold of her. He would stretch his whole body out in one stride and they would cross fifteen-foot spans at a time. He jumped the fence with ease as she melded to him as if they were one. The approached the palace gate. “Open the gate please,” she called politely and they did so. Necro slowed to a trot as they passed. The guards nodded to her and she offered a sweet smile before the stallion tore back to a gallop up the stairs and around the palace to the second entrance. “Did you slip?” Zanen had stationed some of his best soldiers near the second entrance simply because it was closer to his and Asina’s wing. She had become quite close to them. She slid off of Nercomancer. “Actually Bhaal,” she huffed to the kindle demon with her hands on her hips, “I got in a fight.” His eyes and the other guard’s hardened instantly; certainly he had assumed she’d been in a conflict. Oops. “Nonono! Let me finish.” She patted Necro. “This stupid stallion pushed me into the mud. I’m sorry I should have chose my words more carefully.” The demon visibly relaxed. “Miss Danalli please don’t scare us like that.” She glared at him. “What have I told you about titles, Sir Bhaal.” He chuckled. “Sorry… I believe The Oracle is looking for you shouldn’t you-“ “Waa!” She looked frantic and quickly turned back to Necro with a look that mean ‘Stay.’ The stallion pawed the ground. Danalli looked back to the guard. “Sorry thanks! I totally forgot!” She ran past him and smiled at their laughter. She was happy to be protected by soldiers she knew and felt safe around. She past at least 20 more soldiers before reaching her chamber…their chamber… She sighed wistfully and went in.
- She ran back out in light blue, her silver tresses and charms brought a light moonlit glow about her. She waved to the guards who’d nodded back to her. “Milady.” They chimed. She hopped on Necromancer’s bare back. “No titles,” she called, knowing they’d all heard her. Having demons on your side was such a helpful thing.
“Ay oh Necro… do you know where your going?” The stallion had taken off and was making a break for the marketplace. “The gates please,” she called again. Necromancer hopped off the side of the stairs to the dirt next to them. She looked down the stairs to the entrance of the marketplace and the shadowed corner. She chuckled. “Oh Zanen, you silly thing.” She knew he’d hear. The smallest spark in his eyes was all she wanted before he put his walls up for the public.
The stallion slowed to a trot as she flipped a leg over the side, riding with two legs on one side before sliding off gracefully as he turned tail back for the stables. “I forgive you,” she shouted. The smile on her face was wondrous as she turned to the shadows. “Hello,” she held back her pet names with a terrible restraint, “I’m sorry.” The apology was in her warm sad eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 2:16:08 GMT -6
Demons and shifters of all shapes and sizes shuffled past him. The last of the night-creatures who’d been out late making their escape into their daylight retreats and the bustle of the day-walker crowds just beginning to find their swing. Zanen watched it all with a bored and disinterested expression as he leaned back into the shadows and waited for Danalli to finish playing with Necromancer and arrive. After all, spending time with that insufferable horse was exactly what she would have been doing to be late, again, to meet with him and Asina. He would have to properly scold the stallion later. The Oracle was very well aware that he was really the only person that his loyal steed seriously listened to. Sure, he listened to Danalli every once in a while, but Zanen was the only one that could get him to one-hundred percent obey every single time.
Shaking his head, he breathed out an impatient sigh. While he doubted Asina cared at all about Danalli’s tardiness, Zanen wanted to spend as much time with her as he possibly could, especially considering that being who he was it wasn’t like he had a plethora of free time in which he could spend with her. It was a wonder in itself that he had been able to hold onto their mornings, and there were many nights that he returned to their rooms to find that she’d already gone to sleep. Most nights he only took a few hours. True, he didn’t need much more than that, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t prefer to have them so that he could use them to spend with her.
Perhaps Dancing.
The sound of hooves against stone made his ears twitch and he turned his head to watch as the massive black stallion came galloping into the marketplace with his radiant silver-haired beauty on his back. His Pretty. The thought curled his lips into a smile and he shook his head, the expression beneath his mask of darkness of great amusement as he caught her comment on a zephyr of wind that carrying it faithfully from her lips to his ear.
With another shake of his head, he allowed his own violet eyes to spill warmth, affection, amusement, and a plethora of other fond emotions back at her before he opened his mouth and smeared a layer of strict protocol and uniformity over his words.
“Of course you are. I am certain that the Priestess will be forgiving as the two of you are quite close.”
Pushing away from the wall, he began leading the way toward the tavern. It wasn’t a long walk, but he made his steps slow and leisurely. He wanted this time with her. “So, Danalli, how was your ride this morning? My stallion sure has taken a liking to you over these past several months.” His voice was neutral and controlled but the words poked at a little joke that they had between them. After all, Necromancer was who had brought them together in the first place. If it hadn’t been for him they never would have met that one day. Of course, Zanen had had no idea that the pretty mare he’d showed his true face to so easily had been the lovely creature now strolling beside him. Only later on had he discovered it. They’d laughed, he’d been vaguely embarrassed, and she enamored by it. And since then since she’d often been seen around Necromancer, rumors had begun to fly about how she was some sort of a horse-charmer to be able to train such a demon of a horse.
That thought made him smirk.
“Then again, you still haven’t met Nightmare, have you?”
Nightmare was Necromancer’s brother. Asina’s stallion. He was mean and powerful and dangerously smart. The creature kept to himself and lived in the forest or the plains on his own. When Asina needed him, though, he was always right there at her beck and call. He was one of the demon horses that used to populate this side of the realm before Lilani began her purge. There were still several herds, but nowhere near the numbers there used to be. A demon horse bonded with only one rider. Only one. And even then they kept a mind of their own. Nightmare and Necromancer shared the same sire, a demon stallion that had hung around for a while. The mare that had birthed Nightmare, though, had also been a demon.
“Now that would be interesting.”
He had absolutely no intention of letting her anywhere near the creature. The last time he’d seen Nightmare the damn horse had nearly taken his hand off, and Asina had cooed at him and babied him when Zanen had retaliated while Zanen found himself getting yelled at! Where was the fairness in that!?
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 19, 2010 2:42:02 GMT -6
There was something about this place that was so welcoming to him. He had truly grown to love this kingdom and accept it as home. He wasn’t entirely sure if it was Asina or the way people greeted him, accepted him, and didn’t bother to rest their gaze on him for long amounts of time. He knew they were wary, but he also knew they were grateful. These people had two of the most powerful demons on their side next to Asina. Ciel believed this was what welcomed him.
He walked by Center Square and noted a wave from the baker Asina spoke so highly of. He only nodded before continued his trek. The merchants and farmers were putting their crops out and the stores were opening. The daughters of a few merchants ran by him. “Isn’t that…” “Ciel” “Yes, shhhh.” “What an Adonis…” “Liana!” Their hushed giggles and comments reached his ears with ease, as they were more than fifty feet away. The smirk that spread across his was not from their comments, but from the amusement. If they knew what he was and how red his hands were. If they knew the torture he’d inflicted. Oh if they knew… They’d never be able to handle him like she could. He could whisper sinister stories to Asina and she would find it enthralling. He could tear into her and she would crave it. Those human children didn’t know how to spot a monster when they saw one. He’d rip them apart. This he chuckled at. He stretched in the middle of the market. There was still no sign of Asina. That must have meant she was where he’d originally decided she was. His eye twitched from the twinge he felt as he extended his shoulder fully. A growl bubbled in his throat. Why was this wound not healing correctly? The scar was all that was left and he set the dislocation perfectly. He’d had much practice. The annoyance was full blown.
It was only then he realized how quiet it was. Sure the marketplace was bustling and beginning to fill with shoppers. But something was not quite right. He felt her close. He snarled. Something was tense in this crisp air. It was thick as if a flash of electricity would spark from the heat. No something was not right here at all. He jogged over to the tavern, not frantic, not yet. She had better be alright. He walked closer to the tavern when he heard it.
’ I’ll kill her. I’ll kill you, you bitch. I’ll kill you.’
His growl was feral as he pushed passed shoppers to the tavern. Their outrage was lost to him. She wasn’t in trouble… He could sense that. But why was she so tense. He noted the low amount of magic about her. “Damn it Asina,” his tone was murderous.
He entered the tavern and instantly saw her in the corner, the tea split all over the table. But she wasn’t present. He looked to the birdwoman. She had a fearful look on her face. Asina was so deep in her thoughts she hadn’t even noticed him. The other occupants had matching looks with a huge amount of concern. He stepped towards to her and grabbed her fisted hands. They were the only demons around and so he whispered. “Asina… Come back to me.” His golden eyes watched her cold cloudy ones. A little louder this time.
“My Lady?”
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 3:14:18 GMT -6
The last time she’d seen that lovely, golden face had been on the day that Lilani herself had come to raid a tribe of demons that had been a home to Asina since she was a child and her father, the High King, had taken her into the forest to be raised among her people. There had been creatures among the populace of that little demon village that were so old, so wise, and had seen so much. They had shed so much blood with her as a child. Her first kill had been with that tribe. Then she came in with her army of a hundred-thousand warriors, set to purge the entire section of the forest. If Zanen hadn’t dragged her away, Asina would have torn off her pretty little face and fed it to her, watched as the sneer curled into a look of horror and fear.
Until she could taste it.
God yes, she wanted to taste that. She wanted to taste Lilani’s fear, potent on her tongue, so rich with the madness in her dearly beloved sister’s eyes. It would be a feast. Then they would honor her by roasting her body piece by piece, keeping her alive and terrified until they had squeezed every last drop of redemption from her blood and tears. Every. Last. Drop.
Yes, yes, yes.
But no. Zanen had pulled her away. The feel of his hands gripping her shoulders and yanking her backward as she fought to dive into the middle of the bloodshed and rip the pleased smirk right off of that bitch’s face. As she fought to leap forward and grab the wench by her hair and drag her from her mount to suffer at the hands of those she had attempted to purge because of their ‘taint’.
Oh yes, they were a taint. A mar on the bright sunshine of Lilani’s kingdom, of her realm. They were the demons, the night-creatures, and the forlorn. They were the sinners and the victims of poor circumstance. Creatures based on instinct or logic. Creatures without the balance of humanity to set so many idiotic standards for them to live by, codes and rules that dictated the way they should be. They were the souls who could not be chained down by society. They were Asina’s people, her creatures, and even though she and Lilani were of the same get, Asina was one of them. She was a demon, a horror, a creature of the damned and the forsaken. More than that, she was fucking Queen of the Damned and the Depraved. It was a honor that she wore proudly.
And on that day she had been chased out of her realm like a rabbit from its hole.
She needed to get it back, she had to get her claim back, her power. She needed to kill that bitch that chased her away from it. Gods above, she was going to kill her. Slowly.
Distantly, there was a touch to her hands, but it took too long for her to notice it. Then there was a voice.
“Asina… Come back to me.”
A snarl whispered from her throat and her body was as stiff and as deathly cold as iron. Lilani. She’d kill her, yes, she’d kill her, she needed to kill her. But where was she? She’d kill her. Soon. Now? She just needed to find her. Where was she? What was the best way to get to her?
”My lady.”
Asina blinked. Lilani wasn’t here. Not even close. No, Asina was alone in the tavern. No, not alone.
Dark and stormy eyes that were still too cloudy to be considered cleared looked up into the gold of Ciel’s and there was a hesitant moment of confusion, like she couldn’t recognize him, before her brain caught up with the rest of her and she blinked again and looked down at his hands covering her own. Then she looked back up at him. See, although Asina had manage to escape the fate of insanity like her sister by giving up the frivolous use of such a magnanimous power, she had to give up all of her strength whenever she did tap into that magnanimous power. All her strength. Physical, magical, mental, emotional. When she used power like she had the night before, she was unstable. Not as much as her sister, no, but much more unstable than her usual state of mind.
“Ciel.” Her lips moved around the word easily, without having to think about it. “Ah. You’re back.”
The rest of the world still wasn’t clear to her though. There was just Ciel and herself, sitting at the table in the tavern. Nothing else existed. Still, it was something that he’d been able to catch her attention, and so quickly. Even Zanen couldn’t pull her out when she’d gone under last time, not right away. It had taken him time and careful handling. But Ciel had spoke and her eyes had opened at least to take him in.
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 19, 2010 3:36:39 GMT -6
‘Of course you are.’
Well… aren’t we playing escort a little to well today… He must’ve been waiting just a tich too long. She opened her mouth to retort a sassy remark before she remembered where she was. She closed it promptly. Of course he would have loved it. She /had/ told herself that all she wanted was that beautiful spark of emotion in his eyes. She’d gotten it. She improvised. “If you knew what I had been through, Oracle…” Ha! Take that! See if I call you by name today. She knew he did not ‘love’ her calling him titles.
He had only left her about two hours ago so she could go and train those colts and horses… She never did get to those. Oh well she’ll do it after breakfast. It was nice to be around her own kind again. Although she didn’t mind cleaning it was nice to be able to choose and their need for a horse trainer meant she could get out of the castle for a little while at a time. She couldn’t just sit around the castle and twiddle her thumbs… I mean really. She wasn’t the princess type. She noticed a smudge of mud on her wrist and licked her finger to rub it off.
Danalli noticed his slowed stride and that they weren’t taking the shortcut. ‘Precious Zanen,’ she thought admirably. He showed her affection in the simplest ways. His question made her laugh. Good old Necromancer. He was such a good friend to her. Yes he was indeed Zanen’s, but he was her companion and perhaps even a guardian. He was such a good listener. She couldn’t help but think Zanen may had put him up to it with a secret mound of apples she had yet to find. “I lectured him actually,” she stated boldly with a little bit of what seemed to be a hiss, “Your horse has some serious jealousy issues. I told him he was jealous… And he /pushes/ me into the mud.” She threw her hands up in mock distress and hid her giggle. “The mud! He ruined my favorite outfit. I sat him down and screeched at him… after I chased him down. He was seeing a different perspective when I got his tail. “But… alls well. He apologized and I couldn’t really stay angry. He must know I have a soft spot. I threatened him you know. I mention your name and he’s all about listening to me. I swear. You should’ve seen me I was all heated. I could see it. Necro was all scared like I was going to combust and he would’ve been responsible.”
She giggled remembering the other day when she entered the stables. The stable boys had been complaining about him all day. One was cleaning the hooves of a mount when she unlatched his stall. He stared wide eyed and fearful for her life as he heard the stallion’s nervous purr. She’d held the door open for the stallion and walked out with him following her. She’d looked to the stable boy and to Necro’s angry eyes. “Don’t worry,” she’d said, “I’m with him.” She loved causing a small ruckus with that free soul.
Nightmare… “You forget, my lord,” she hid her snicker, “I’m quite the trickster when it comes to horses. I’d be more than happy to try. He couldn’t catch me anyway…” She knew for a fact she was one of the fastest in all of the land. She’d dodged demons many times. She was obviously referring to Necromancer’s ease around her and Zanen’s own obliviousness. She would be perfectly shaded as a normal, yet fast horse. She was certain this Nightmare would recognize her afterwards when she changed back. “I almost want to meet him now. Interesting sounds fun.”
“And your morning? Tell me. Do you ever have anytime for ‘fun?’” There was a small dash of tease in that last word.
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 4:16:15 GMT -6
The recitation of Danalli and Necromancer’s antics this morning had him utilizing all of his specialized control over his composure that he had been tilling up to this point. Thus, he managed to keep a straight face even below the swaths of his mask as she told him of her adventures. He didn’t even nod or make any suspicious movements to suggest that he found it amusing in the least bit: which he did. In fact, he found it utterly and completely hilarious. Oh, he could see it now. His Danalli, as naked as the day she was born bellowing at a shocked and overwhelmed stallion. Danalli hadn’t mentioned that she’d shifted back and forth, but he guessed as much. After all, she’d been with Necromancer. The two of them together were like brother and sister, constantly pranking and trying to one-up each other. He wouldn’t lie, at least not to himself, he found it both endearing and highly entertaining.
“Ah, I see,” was all he said. It was said in a bored and disinterested tone, but he would be sure to get the full story and perhaps some visual demonstrations later on tonight. If he didn’t get help up with something, that is.
Then she came around to the subject of Nightmare, and if anything the warning he’d given her had only managed to further her interest in him. Which wasn’t good at all. Oh no. He couldn’t have her anywhere near that beast of a creature. Even more than the hilarity of her story, the anticipation of an enjoyable challenge in her eyes made it very hard to keep his expression neutral and uncaring. He wanted to frown at her, pull her into an alleyway, and lecture her about how stupid an idea it was to meet Nightmare unless she absolutely had to. That creature had no love or affection for anyone other than Asina herself. Even Necro, his own brother, was terrified of the demon horse.
And Necromancer wasn’t afraid of anything.
“If you really want to meet him that badly then I would suggest talking to Asina. He’s her mount. They’ve been together for a very long time and if anyone could find him, she could. Though on this one I cannot guarantee that she will be so accepting of the idea. Asina doesn’t let just anyone near Nightmare.”
Gods above, please let Asina say no way in hell.
At her jibe about him having any fun, he actually looked over at her. “Fun?” he asked before taking a quick scan around and shifting their route minutely to put them momentarily in a shallow crevice between two walls that was bathed in shadows. Those shadows he wrapped around them like a favorite blanket and pulled the bottom half of his face scarves down as he pulled her to him quickly, mouth attacking hers in a hot, fast kiss that had him breathing in her sweet, sharp scent that he loved so much.
Then it was over and he had put himself back together before pulling her out of the shadows and walking on toward the tavern as if nothing had ever happened.
“Fun?” he asked again. “Danalli. I am The Oracle. I have no time for something as frivolous as fun.”
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 19, 2010 4:26:59 GMT -6
Now that he had come into contact with her he could truly tell how sapped of her energy she truly was. It seemed her tantrum had sent the rest of the customers on their way through the door. The snarl shocked him. Something was holding her back from him. A sneer graced his beautiful face. Whatever it was he would not have it. The hardness of her features drew to a blank expression as she came back to him and he ran a hand across her cheek. He forced out a chuckle. It gurgled. “Yes I am back. I am sorry it took me so long this time.” He heard Della walk through the door outside, no doubt to dismiss customers by saying she was not open yet. She had such good intuition. The hue of Asina’s eyes almost worried him. Almost. They were more wicked than normal. Though that trait stirred the erotic lion within him this time was different. She had barely any control over herself. She was unstable. It seemed as though he had hushed her for now. “Asina. Are you alright?”
He truly was concerned he had never seen her so recessed in her thoughts like this before. Something must have been truly bothering her. It seemed her temper had been messed with. She still was not entirely back to this world. She was somewhere else. Ciel was willing to bank on the past. He eyed her attire and growled lowly. “What were you thinking?” His voice was so volatile, so concerned, and so filled with rage. “You have nothing to protect you. You didn’t put anything on and your energy is entirely sapped…” He sat down next to her and rubbed his face with his hands as he breathed and gained control of his emotions that were heating to a boil. Why did she have to do this to him? Why!?
“Are you yourself, Asina? You mustn’t be here alone… It’s either that or you’re meeting someone,” he tried to pull her out of whatever it was she was stuck in.
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 12:50:54 GMT -6
The vision of his face before her swam and faded as her memories and her rage beckoned her back into her past again and she was pulled under the surface of her own thoughts one more.
The lovely, musical sound of screams littered the air, accompanied by the percussion of bones snapping and steel clanging. It was one of her favorite melodies. Except there was something wrong with it this time. It was slightly out of tune and the timing was off. There was something that just wasn’t quite right about it all…. And then she could see it. Smell it. Taste it. The wrongness. It was everywhere, and it was all tainted by that bright bitch.
Her joyous giggle scratched at the inside of her ears, making her lips curl back in a silent snarl, her eyes dark and filled with seething hatred as she could do nothing but watch as her people fought to defend themselves and were slaughtered. Asina was fine with war and blood-soaked battlefields. She was fine with her people taking the risk of death when they marched forward to kill each other or someone else for one reason or another. But this was different.
It was an abomination. Lilani would pay.
Somewhere outside herself she felt Ciel’s hand graze her cheek, heard him talk to her, registered that he was confirming that he was back. It reeled her in toward him again, inch by inch, pulling her back into her own body, into the tavern.
“Asina. Are you alright?”
Dark eyes blinked and shifted back to the now and she took in Ciel again. There were a lot of things she felt when her gaze registered him. Relief, rage, this honestly just good feeling that touched her whenever he was around, confusion, several levels of irritation, and sheer exhaustion. All of them were real, all of them pulled her back into her body until she could actually feel herself inside her skin again. She was hovering under the surface still, but her mind was now more securely attached to the blood in her veins. It settled even more at his outrage as he commented on her lack of armor and energy. It stirred up her pride, which was very corporeal, and for the first time she actually moved.
Cold, pale, and shaking slender hands unfisted and rose to rub over her face as she took a deep, shuddering breath and gathered herself enough to realize that she’d been drifting, that she’d been pulled into the past.
“Zanen. He and Danalli. We were meeting for breakfast. They should have been here by now.” Her voice came out softly but coherent, and as she looked around, gathering herself, she took care to make sure that she was seeing the here and now instead of the past. Asina took a couple more moments to breathe and measure herself before looking over and up at Ciel. A quick flick of her eyes told her that for the moment, they were alone. Returning her gaze to the zephyr demon, she frowned at him. “You were gone an awfully long time,” she commented and in the back of her mind, she was plotting another plan to get rid of that nuisance that was her twin sister. She wanted it to be personal. Oh yes. Very personal. Because it was personal.
She would go in herself and take the bitch, drag her back here and into her private room. The private room that only three living people had ever seen. Her, Zanen, and Ciel. Yes. That room. And inside that room she would make sure that Lilani lived, surviving off that power that had driven her to madness as Asina made her suffer for her foolishness, for her existence.
|
|
|
Post by libellule on Jul 19, 2010 15:05:53 GMT -6
She loved to watch his self-control and see the way he worked. It was so amazingly entertaining to her. She knew that if they were alone, if she was laying in his arms, draped across he bare body with hers in their bed he would stop his caressing to throw his head back in laughter and she would kiss him to ease his laughter into something much different. Danalli had to know him. She had to be able to read him because at times like this it was nice to know her story was being heard and enjoyed. She loved it. She loved being one of two who could read his eyes even if they were coded in his enigmatic sheen. It made her feel so incredibly close and special to him.
She didn’t like the rumors she’d heard of her taming Necromancer. He wasn’t tame, he’d never be. She wished they’d understood that He had simply chosen her as a companion he could put up with and perhaps look out for. Just because he allowed her to ride him meant nothing and she only rode him when he said she could. They were very special circumstances. He was still as wicked and awful to anyone. Just the other day someone decided to feed him oats to be nice and broke an arm because they were kicked. She’d rolled her eyes at him later that night as she read her book in his stall. She wasn’t very close with any of the palace staff and Zanen was busy with Asina and the other generals. Necromancer was her only true friend. Danalli couldn’t just sit in their chamber and wait all night… alone. And she knew he would much rather prefer her to be around someone he knew than to be out and about into the light hours of the morning in a much more dangerous situation. Zanen had never objected, Danalli simply hoped he understood. Besides it wasn’t like Necromancer was the most popular horse in the world either. He must have needed a companion every once and a while. Zanen was quite the busy bee. The stallion never seemed to get too annoyed with her.
She listened to the speech pattern of the swathed demon when he spoke of this… Nightmare. She guessed it was named as such for a reason. Zanen seemed too tense after she displayed her excitement to be in such a terrifying position. But honestly… was her position in loving and living with one of the most powerful beings of the Tenkanic Kingdom any different or safer? Ok perhaps, considering that creature would protect her from anything. She could tell by his crisp and thorough description that he would not willingly allow her to meet him. And Zanen was willing to let her do anything. She couldn’t cause him a distraction, she would not cloud his precise mind with worry she took up enough space and thought process. “Perhaps,” she thought out loud, easing his annoyance, “It can wait. I’ll steer clear of that section I suppose.”
‘Fun?’ Oh dear… had she set off something…dangerous? Hn. She watched him look back at her and held back the hot shiver that flew up and down her spine in luscious heated zaps. She raised a brow as they changed the direction of their route. She’d been so distracted she’d failed to notice the shadowed gap they’d walked into until she felt them, those amazing little shades, wrap their protective and almost loving grasp around her. A small breath left her sharply as he hungrily pulled her to him and she slid her hands underneath his armour to give him a good digging scratch he seemed to enjoy so much. She was shocked to watch him pull his scarves down and even moreso as he stole the breath right out of her with his sexy lips. “Oh,” she moaned so softly, angelically, just enough to make his mind go crazy, “You’ll pay for that.”
Oh why did she not make him stay with her this morning? Danalli bit back a shuddered breath and balled her hands against the want and the freedom. She wouldn’t be this wound up if he would have stayed and been oh so good to her. Maybe that was his plan… He always seemed to have some silly card up his sleeve.
‘…I am The Oracle. I have no time for something as frivolous as fun…’
“That’s really a shame, Oracle,” her voice still wasn’t quite even as hard as she was trying, “You’d be surprised with the kind of things you could come up with if you had the time to.”
Damn he left such an effect on her.
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jul 19, 2010 23:28:45 GMT -6
The little sounds she could make, the way she could touch him, they all made him just this edge of crazy for her. It made him want to pull them through the shadows to a place more secluded where they could spend a few hours together, just talking and touching and pressing their bodies together in the mating of shadow and light. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. Not here and not now.
Maybe later.
That thought was reassurance enough for now as they continued slowly on their way, slipping away from the shadowed corner. He heard the way her voice betrayed what he could do to her, as well, and it made him extraordinarily pleased.
Mm. He loved the effect that he could have on her.
Zanen smirked only in his mind though as he steered them slowly back on path toward the tavern, which would come into view shortly. That internal smirk almost spread to his physical lips at her comment, though, and he found himself looking back over at her for a moment. It was ironic that she would say something like that, her knowing him so well. Or perhaps not. After all, this was their banter, filled with little hidden meanings that conveyed the actual conversation between the words and the cadence of the formal one. So when she commented on his own proclamation of having no time for things like ‘fun’, he found his mind travelling to all of things that he did come up with in the corner of his mind no matter what he was doing. The part of his mind that was always occupied by thoughts of Danalli was constantly turned on and working fast.
There was no way that anyone could ever say that he wasn’t inventive, that was for sure. This was concerning a multitude of things. Like the flowers he was going to surprise her with later on when she was taking a break training those colts that she undoubtedly hadn’t gotten to this morning since she’d been off playing with Necromancer. Or like the time he’d whisked her off via shadows in the window of time before dawn to the middle of the Certann Forest so that they could stand in a place that was once of great Rave power when the sun touched them that morning.
There were other things as well. Things that made his belly tight at the thought so he pushed them away and continued to walk.
“Oh?” he said. “Then I suppose there are a lot of people in this world that are glad that I have no time for such a thing as fun, lest they be one of the unlucky few to be able to discover what it is I can come up with when I have the time to please myself.” His voice was neutral if not bored, a stoic professional doing what he had to do to serve his Lady, that was all. Of course, someone unwelcome might pick up on something that he didn’t want them to know if his voice was anything but, so he had to keep himself in the character of the cold and shadowed darkness that he had always been for the sake of protecting himself and those he loved. Not that that particularly bothered him. He rathered that people saw him as someone who was distant and cold, someone who they would be wise not to approach, someone powerful and cruel. After all, he was powerful and cruel. Much like his stallion, Necromancer. Just because he accepted Danalli, that he loved her and cherished her and would do anything to protect her didn’t mean that he was tame or ever would be tame.
Zanen was still a Zephyr demon. He was still a Rave. Neither could every really be tamed because both were wild, the children of darkness and love respectively. Zanen just happened to be both. He was the son of love and darkness, the shadows’ treasure.
Looking over to Danalli again, he studied her for a brief instant before looking away again and just keeping his gaze straight ahead. Yes, he was the shadows’ treasure, and he had found a treasure of his own. His Light. He’d found her, and it amazed him to this day.
“It seems you and Asina have been getting along rather famously,” he said then, rather nonchalantly.
|
|